The search is on

[Lariat54]

Thanks to the many great suggestions in my first post regarding purchasing a tow vehicle, as well as some unforeseen events, our plans changed and we ended up purchasing a 2023 Wagoneer Series II last weekend. It does not have the tow package but has tow rating of 6120Lbs, going by the 80% rule suggested in the other post we are well within the weight of our desired camper type. If anyone has any experience or suggestion I am all ears, this is our first go at a camper after tent camping for the past few years. We are empty nesters so not expecting more that the two of us (no kids or pets) for weekend trips, at least for the next few years.

What we have found that we believe we like:
Jayco Jay Flight SLX 175FQ
Jayco Jay Feather Micro 173MRB
Evo East 16RBLE
Flagstaff E-Pro E19FD
Viking 17FQ (or 18FQ)
Wildwood FSX 161QK

The main reasons behind these picks are the Front to Rear (North/South) bed layout and larger bathroom with decent size shower. I'm sure the choice between them will come down to availability and personal preference but wanted to see what experience or suggestions there may be.

 

[IBTripping]

Congrats on your tow vehicle. I've got a similar travel trailer to the one's you like. I like my queen size bed in the north-south orientation. It's gvwr is 4,400 lbs. I could tow it with a smaller tow vehicle than my F250. But, it's the tow vehicle I happen to own. Please let us know what trailer you decide to purchase.

 

[Kirk]

A great deal of most RV ratings depends upon the people that use it, but since you are coming from tenting you will likely find any of those to be nicer than your tent. Like you, we much prefer what they call a walk around bed, meaning that there is access to both sides and the foot. In nearly all cases for smaller travel trailers, that means a bed that is parallel to the length of the trailer. We had one RV that was not that way and would never consider another. We also agree with the choice of a dry bath with a separate shower. When we downsized from our fulltime class A we went to a KZ Sportsman of very similar size and floorplan. After watching our son with a trailer that had a Murphy bed, no way would I ever do that. I suspect that you would soon leave it down all of the time like our son did. The only question that I have is the location of the TV isn't shown on any of the floorplans?? The addition of a wall for the bedroom only wastes space and is of no value when only 2 people who live together are using it.

I am assuming that you are buying new and of those I would choose the Evo as my first choice by far, with the Jay Flight as second choice. We have spent as long as 5 consecutive months in our Sportsman 19' length, inside and about 21' over all.

 

[Lariat54]

Appreciate the feedback, good to know that stays longer that a weekend aren't out of the question for a camper in the 20' range. That has been a topic of discussion between us regarding if/when an upgrade to a larger camper would be wanted. It is also a good point about the TV, we have discussed this a few times as well. I believe the only one on our list with a TV is the Jay Feather Micro 173MRB, although a couple had noted locations for outside TV connections. I'm sure everyone thinks when they get started in a camper the intent isn't to be in the camper watching TV, but... the intent isn't to be in the camper watching TV. The wife doesn't watch much TV and if I want to sit and watch TV I can do that from my couch at home, so it's not high on our priority list.

I will update as our search moves forward and when we find what we are looking for. New is also not a preference, we are in no hurry, the tent still works and since we were forced into jumping the gun early on the truck we would be fine with a few year old used one that fits our desires.

 

[Kirk]

I believe the only one on our list with a TV is the Jay Feather Micro 173MRB, although a couple had noted locations for outside TV connections.

While they may not come with a TV, I'd bet that all of them have provisions for one with an antenna and inside connection for it. Most will also have a place that is suggested for mounting the TV wall bracket. Our KZ was that way. The dealer we bought from didn't add them if optional because customers can buy one elsewhere for a lot less money. They did install ours in make-ready at no additional cost.

The length of time that a couple can stay in a small RV is a very subjective thing. We know many who would not have liked our KZ even for weekends. The physical size and girth of those in the RV play a part as does the attitude that they have. I suspect that moving from a tent you will find a small RV to be luxurious.

 

[Sunnyfalls]

Don't bother with obsolete TVs. We have a home theater in our 17' Casita trailer that we enjoy from our King sized north-south sleeping area or in our gazebo screened-in tent. And we frequently do 3 month, long distance trips with our trailer to very remote destinations too...like the coastal jungles of Costa Rica. Do your best to avoid going big...or you may end up just being another bloated RV pig. Photos and details may be found by Googling our trailer name if interested.

Gayle & Bob
"Los Gatos Casita"

 

[Larry N.]

Do your best to avoid going big...or you may end up just being another bloated RV pig.

Why the insults to folks who don't choose your philosophy? Please be more tolerant -- after all YOU don't have to do as they do.

 

[Kirk]

I will update as our search moves forward and when we find what we are looking for.

And be a little careful of whose advice you take. While we have a lot of very experienced RV folks here, we also have a few who think that they know all there is to know about every subject.

 

[Adventurous Traveler]

The length of time that a couple can stay in a small RV is a very subjective thing

A lot of time spent will depend on the weather. The nicer it is outside, the more time spent outside reading, hiking, touristy things, campfires, and cooking outside. Cold and rainy, then the camper size can bite you quickly. When we bought our first used 32' motorhome, my wife complained it's too big, and my reply was, "Love, it's not always nice outside when camping". Case in point, we spent over a day stuck in our now 36' motorhome in Moab, Utah (Arches and Canyonland NP's) when it was 88 degrees outside, but also 50+ mph winds and sand storms.

.or you may end up just being another bloated RV pig. Photos and details may be found by Googling our trailer name if interested

But, by Far the vast majority.

 

[Lou Schneider]

A lot of time spent will depend on the weather. The nicer it is outside, the more time spent outside reading, hiking, touristy things, campfires, and cooking outside. Cold and rainy, then the camper size can bite you quickly.

When my dad retired, my parents bought a new 27 ft. 5th wheel and embarked on a grand 3 month tour of the US. We had rented and later purchased a series of trailers and had taken 1-2 week trips in them while my sister and I were growing up, so they were familiar with the RV life. I was housesitting for them while they were gone, taking care of the lawn and plants, paying the bills as they came in (this was pre-Internet), etc.

A couple of issues came up. First the RV wasn't large enough to allow for any kind of personal space, compounded by long hours driving together in the truck. Second, my father was a compulsive Type-A personality who spent his career optimizing tanker routes and creating annual financial forecasts for the company. Rather than start with a rough outline and plan as they went, he treated the trip like his job, plotting the entire 90 day adventure down to the day. If something came up and they stayed longer than they planned at a stop he just drove longer and harder until they caught up with the schedule. Even though I told them to take their time, I was between apartments and would house sit as long as they wanted.

My mom wound up flying home a month early and they almost divorced after 30+ years of marriage.

I tend to do the opposite. When I was working so my RV trips were time-limited sometimes I'd find so many things to see and do along the way that I'd never make it to my original destination - I'd realize it was time to turn around and head back if I wanted to get back to work om time.

 

[Kirk]

I was about to add a thought, but: Lariat54 .. Last seen May 8, 2025
None the less, the minimum size still depends on the people inside. We lived fulltime in a 36' class A with no slides quite happily for 12 years, while some folks consider that too small for a weekend or vacation. Later we traveled in a 20' travel trailer and we spent 5 consecutive months in it and a month or two several times. We have only been married for 60+ years, but I'm thinking that we will make it.

 

[Lariat54]

I do agree with the comments regarding the weather conditions, the primary reason we began discussing ditching our tent and going to a camper was due to a long anticipated trip to Unicoi State Park in the Blue Ridge Mountains for an extended weekend. Unfortunately that weekend that we had booked for over a year ended up raining most of the trip, then over Memorial weekend we had a long weekend scheduled at our local favorite and had to leave early due to severe storms moving in Sunday afternoon. We are actively looking, finding additional models that fit our desires. It just comes down to finding the one that works for the budget we want and has the features we desire, we aren't in any hurry.

 

[Kirk]

Sorry to hear that the weather didn't cooperate! I have not forgotten our tenting years and even more years in a tent with our sons in Boy Scouts. There is no doubt that an RV would be more comfortable than a tent when it rains. I wonder if you have considered the possibility of a tent-top trailer or possibly a hybrid trailer? Either of those can provide more space for the weight of the RV and if you only camp in the warmer part of the year, they could be a good option for you. We moved from a tent to a pop-up with our 3 sons and found that the large windows of the pop-up gave us much more feeling of outside when weather was bad, than do any of the smaller travel trailers.

 

[UTTransplant]

After camping in tents with a toddler in cold weather and rainy weather, we got a pop up camper in 1986. Loved it, and we stayed with pop ups for about 20 years before moving to hard sided trailers. Our TTs have been anything from a 17’ Casita to a 27’ Outdoors RV model before our current motorhome. In our experience with multiple rigs and multiple friends with a variety of rigs, your individual needs will make the decision for you. I have hobbies that take up some space, and on trips longer than 2-3 weeks I miss not having them. A lot of people have hobbies that take up hardly any room. Some people can wear the same clothes for months at a time, washing them of course, and always stay in the same environment. On the same trip we may be in cold weather with light snow at elevation and in 100 degree temps in a canyon, ie we need more clothes to manage the variation. Those are just a few of the reasons people like/need different sizes of rigs. But whatever you decide, make sure you sit down in the trailer. Sit on the toilet, climb in the shower, envision where your clothes will go, envision where your cooking supplies and food will go. You will find that rigs that are almost the same floor plan will have one that fits your needs better than another. Enjoy!

 

[Firstime RVer]

All I can say is that it sounds like you found the Rv of your dreams.
We can identify with you choice. Our Aspen trail 1900RB has the features you describe and after 8 years of use we still find it very comfortable and functional.

For what its worth, we started out tent camping. Then moved up to a Van converted by yours truly, which we used for many years. Some years later after retirement, we were shopping around for a TT and found our Current Aspen trail. It has a north south bed, Dry bath and plenty of room for the two of us to comfortably spend weeks camping. We did replace the dinette with a credenza with drop leaf table and two reclining office chairs. It gives us so much more useful floor space without sacrificing storage space.

As for TV location, we installed an extendable TV wall mount with a 30" diagonal, flat screen tv, that can be aimed toward the bed or dining area. When traveling we just move the tv against the wall and secure it with a bungie cord.

It all depends on your what is important to you. In our case we shopped until we found the trailer that we were comfortable with.

Best of luck in choosing the "trailer of your dreams"

Safe travels and all the best.

 

[RV_Lee1]

I like the e-pro / geo-pro trailers but Grand Design makes a really nice small trailer too, unsure what it weighs though.

 

[Professor David]

When my dad retired, my parents bought a new 27 ft. 5th wheel and embarked on a grand 3 month tour of the US. We had rented and later purchased a series of trailers and had taken 1-2 week trips in them while my sister and I were growing up, so they were familiar with the RV life. I was housesitting for them while they were gone, taking care of the lawn and plants, paying the bills as they came in (this was pre-Internet), etc.

A couple of issues came up. First the RV wasn't large enough to allow for any kind of personal space, compounded by long hours driving together in the truck. Second, my father was a compulsive Type-A personality who spent his career optimizing tanker routes and creating annual financial forecasts for the company. Rather than start with a rough outline and plan as they went, he treated the trip like his job, plotting the entire 90 day adventure down to the day. If something came up and they stayed longer than they planned at a stop he just drove longer and harder until they caught up with the schedule. Even though I told them to take their time, I was between apartments and would house sit as long as they wanted.

My mom wound up flying home a month early and they almost divorced after 30+ years of marriage.

I tend to do the opposite. When I was working so my RV trips were time-limited sometimes I'd find so many things to see and do along the way that I'd never make it to my original destination - I'd realize it was time to turn around and head back if I wanted to get back to work om time.

That’s a really interesting story about ur parents. I can be like ur Dad, which drives my wife crazy. Ur story about ur parents reminds me to slow down. We are in Yellowstone and just drove down to the Tetons. Currently picking up some groceries in Jackson, WY. I find Jackson to be one hectic place. Too small for all the people packed into the place. Time for me to slow down and let all the people in such a big hurry to go ahead of me. I keep telling myself to slow down, take a breath and slow down. Thanks for ur story.

 

[DutchmenSport]

"bloated RV pig. "
I had to laugh on that one. I guess I'm one of those creatures. Our fifth wheel is 41 feet long, 13 feet high from ground to tip-top. It's a big sucker!

But, we did not start that way. This is our 5th "RV" after tent camping. First was a pop-up, second 18 foot travel trailer, third 31 foot travel trailer, fourth a 35 foot travel trailer, and finally a 41 foot fifth wheel.

Our needs changed, the trips got longer and longer, the kids stopped traveling with us, they grew up. Their lives changed. Ours lives moved on too. I finally retired after working from home (including working from the camper over 3 years) and the wife still works from the camper full time. We still own our home, our son lives in it now, and we return home, ..... maybe .... a total ... of ... 2 months a year. Meanwhile, I do camp hosting, and when not camp hosting, traveling everywhere!

Yes, we became "RV pigs". But necessity called for it, times changed us, and we changed with time. Our needs changed, the demands changed, and our lifestyle changed as we got older. Our goals in life changed at very specific points in life which ultimately took us to the path we enjoy now, more than anything.

Television inside the camper? yes. It serves its purpose. And THAT my friend is the success to any camper you acquire ....

DOES IT FULFILL THE PURPOSE FOR WHICH YOU PURCHASED IT..... regardless of it's size or anamniotes. When it no longer serves it's purpose, you either get rid of it and get out of RVing altogether, or you get a new-to-you RV that will NOW serve your purposes. Life changes .... that's the only thing that stays constant. Life changes and those changes change us.

 

[Professor David]

Some of the type of RV you feel comfortable in depends on ur size (hobbit size vs Wilt Chamberlain). I am tall. I really like the style of Airstreams but they feel too cramped for me, plus they seem over priced. The guy always pushing the Casita brand may be really small in stature and/or have stock in the company. Who knows. The point is, each person/family finds what works best for them at their particular time in life.