New to this site and to camping/RV-ing

[Berrie]

Hi!

New to this site, and looking at camping/RV-ing in the future (retirement is not too far out).
We're not new to traveling in small accommodations; we have a 30' express cruiser which we have taken to many different places (Midwest, Southeast, Gulf, Bahamas).
I like to make informed decisions, so before I jump in and buy a camper, I hope to hear from others, what their experiences are, and what they feel would be important to take into account when selecting a tow-behind or 5th wheel.
Since we will be living in the Florida Panhandle, I am targeting heading north for a month or two during the summer. Northeast, Midwest, Northwest. I probably could also be talked into a 3 month or so trip to Alaska
I would envision a smaller dual axle, maybe in the 18-23' range.
As time goes on, I am sure I will have a lot of questions, and hope to come here and post for advice.

Berrie

 

[DutchmenSport]

I think the most important thing when considering any towable RV is the type of tow vehicle doing the tow. Towing a trailer, if that be a travel trailer or a fifth wheel, can be a pleasure or a nightmare. It all depends upon how the tow vehicle and the towed trailer are matched.

The single most important thing you can do is to make sure your tow vehicle is capable of, not only simply "pulling" the trailer, but can it also carry the weight of the trailer (if that be in the bed of a pick up truck or the end of a hitch off the rear bumper).

An undersized tow vehicle will cause a nightmare towing experience. So, the most important thing to do is to make sure the tow vehicle can handle the trailer. Something to seriously think about..... If the trailer looses brakes, can the tow vehicle stop not only itself, BUT can it stop the trailer also?

 

[Gary RV_Wizard]

Much depends on how you intend to use it and the degree of convenience and comfort you want. Many folks would consider 18-23 feet rather small to spend 1-3 months at a time, but the living accommodations are probably on a par with that 30' cruiser. Small trailer seem great at first glance, but they typically have a number of shortcomings that can grow wearisome for longer trips. Some (admittedly subjective) examples include:

• Tiny bathrooms
• Small fresh & waste water tanks
• Close quarters when the weather keeps you inside
• Lack of storage space for the extra things you may want for longer trips, e.g. outdoor furniture & grill or alternate clothing for different weather conditions.

The driving and handling advantages of a 5W become more apparent as size increases, so you won't find many under 25 or so feet. I'd suggest sticking with a travel trailer up to about 28 ft. A modest-sized travel trailer gives you the option of towing with an SUV, if that's an advantage for you.

Newcomers to RVs tend to shy away from bigger rigs but many find that they soon want to upgrade in size. Two-foot-itis is a common disease, always wishing the RV was about two feet longer than what it is.

 

[Berrie]

I think the most important thing when considering any towable RV is the type of tow vehicle doing the tow. Towing a trailer, if that be a travel trailer or a fifth wheel, can be a pleasure or a nightmare. It all depends upon how the tow vehicle and the towed trailer are matched.

The single most important thing you can do is to make sure your tow vehicle is capable of, not only simply "pulling" the trailer, but can it also carry the weight of the trailer (if that be in the bed of a pick up truck or the end of a hitch off the rear bumper).

An undersized tow vehicle will cause a nightmare towing experience. So, the most important thing to do is to make sure the tow vehicle can handle the trailer. Something to seriously think about..... If the trailer looses brakes, can the tow vehicle stop not only itself, BUT can it stop the trailer also?

I have an F-250 gasser that I utilize to tow my 13,000lbs boat, oversized and permitted load. It should be able to tow a 19-24’ camper.
And you are correct, pulling it is easy, but can you stop it?

 

[Berrie]

Much depends on how you intend to use it and the degree of convenience and comfort you want. Many folks would consider 18-23 feet rather small to spend 1-3 months at a time, but the living accommodations are probably on a par with that 30' cruiser. Small trailer seem great at first glance, but they typically have a number of shortcomings that can grow wearisome for longer trips. Some (admittedly subjective) examples include:

• Tiny bathrooms
• Small fresh & waste water tanks
• Close quarters when the weather keeps you inside
• Lack of storage space for the extra things you may want for longer trips, e.g. outdoor furniture & grill or alternate clothing for different weather conditions.

The driving and handling advantages of a 5W become more apparent as size increases, so you won't find many under 25 or so feet. I'd suggest sticking with a travel trailer up to about 28 ft. A modest-sized travel trailer gives you the option of towing with an SUV, if that's an advantage for you.

Newcomers to RVs tend to shy away from bigger rigs but many find that they soon want to upgrade in size. Two-foot-itis is a common disease, always wishing the RV was about two feet longer than what it is.

Points well taken, not much different from boating.
We will have to go look at a few different sizes and see what we think.

 

[Gary RV_Wizard]

That F250 gives you the capability to tow relatively large trailers, TT or 5W. Probably up to 30 ft & 10,000 lbs anyway. The upper limit will depend on the trucks specific configuration. For 5W towing, the truck payload (cargo capacity) is usually the limiting factor - 5W place a LOT of weight on the truck bed.

Definitely spend some time looking at various RV sizes and floor plans. Ignore the sales person and take time to think about how you will actually live in it. Stand in the shower, sit on the toilet, lay on the bed, imagine where your dishes and coffee maker and dirty clothes will go, etc. You can make do for a couple days, but that can get real old after several weeks.

 

[Bearcatrp]

Your truck can pull a 32 foot 5th wheel at 10,000 lbs. I have done with my current 5th wheel. I upgrade to get a larger gas tank since I have a gas engine. You will not like the size you’re considering. You will want to upgrade within a year of that small size. Do it right the first time. Floor plan is key. Go sit in a few to get an idea. Good luck.

 

[CharlesinGA]

There are many Youtube channels of people traveling full time or part time. What I consider one of the best, and is the longest running RV oriented Youtube channel, is Long Long Honeymoon who in 2006 bought a new F250 diesel, and a lightly used 2003 25ft Airstream, and have been traveling part of the year ever since. They live in the Birmingham AL area and generally travel anywhere from 3 to 8 months of the year. Their channel is unique in that they don't just show you the traveling, but rather show campgrounds, equipment, how to, and how not to do things. They do gear reviews too.

Charles

 

[MN Blue Skies aka Max]

Your truck can pull a 32 foot 5th wheel at 10,000 lbs. I have done with my current 5th wheel. I upgrade to get a larger gas tank since I have a gas engine. You will not like the size you’re considering. You will want to upgrade within a year of that small size. Do it right the first time. Floor plan is key. Go sit in a few to get an idea. Good luck.

Bearcat might be right about a decision to upgrade to a larger rig in the future. That's what happened to us when we started traveling for 3 months at a time. Of course a larger rig meant a larger truck. We now have a 38' 5th wheel and a one ton RAM. It was an expensive growing process.

 

[Berrie]

Bearcat might be right about a decision to upgrade to a larger rig in the future. That's what happened to us when we started traveling for 3 months at a time. Of course a larger rig meant a larger truck. We now have a 38' 5th wheel and a one ton RAM. It was an expensive growing process.

Yes you are right.
My current truck is struggling pulling my boat (13klbs), and I have been eyeballing the 7.3L, but trucks have gotten sooooo expensive.

 

[Adventurous Traveler]

I'm with Gary suggesting at least a 28' TT. When my DW and I bought our first RV, a used 32' class A she commented that it's too big. My reply was Honey, it's not always nice out when you are camping and I want room to move around when stuck indoors. Cost-wise or towing there shouldn't be a big difference from 23-24' to 27-29'. Plus, as mentioned the bigger the rig allows for larger fresh water and waste tanks. These are huge considerations in the camping community, your freedom to dry camp (no hook-ups), or limited utilities found at most state and national parks.