Looking for a travel trailer

[Addicting]

Thanks guys. Being able to stay out on some BLM and cut down on driving from a hotel to hunt or fish is a huge plus. And also we had a crappy air b&b last year and made us loose a day on our sage grouse hunt and cost me a couple expensive hotel rooms. And I like being able to have my gear packed in the camper and ready to go

I could be persuaded to let go of my Outdoors RV 23dbs. It would be perfect out on some BLM.

 

[David58]

One of the best days of my life was the day i sold my trailer.

 

[Scott85]

I’m bias but we love our ember. Ours is a 221MSL

 

[Turkeygetpwnd38]

I could be persuaded to let go of my Outdoors RV 23dbs. It would be perfect out on some BLM.

That's the exact model I am looking for. Is there anything you didn't like about it? Problems you ran into? What year is it?

 

[Addicting]

That's the exact model I am looking for. Is there anything you didn't like about it? Problems you ran into? What year is it?

It’s a great unit for out west with smaller kids. I don’t pull it out west like we intended. I don’t want to own a 3/4 ton diesel again. It weighs 8800lbs loaded. Throw in all my hunting gear and we are heavy for going up hills. When I had my mine it pulled like a dream. The heavy half ton with the 6.2l and 10 speed has the power but not the suspension. It’s rated for the weight but even with air bags it feels like the tail wagging the dog.

So for our use here locally I can get a significantly lighter version with seating.

 

[Turkeygetpwnd38]

It’s a great unit for out west with smaller kids. I don’t pull it out west like we intended. I don’t want to own a 3/4 ton diesel again. It weighs 8800lbs loaded. Throw in all my hunting gear and we are heavy for going up hills. When I had my mine it pulled like a dream. The heavy half ton with the 6.2l and 10 speed has the power but not the suspension. It’s rated for the weight but even with air bags it feels like the tail wagging dog.

So for our use here locally I can get a significantly lighter version with seating.

Yea the 4 season ones are pigs. I had a the small arctic fox (22g), no slides, loaded it was probably getting close to 7000lbs. I wouldn't want to pull it with a half ton, or stop it. Thanks for the info.

 

[Addicting]

Yea the 4 season ones are pigs. I had a the small arctic fox (22g), no slides, loaded it was probably getting close to 7000lbs. I wouldn't want to pull it with a half ton, or stop it. Thanks for the info.

Mine is a 2021 and there really isn’t any problems per se. It really depends on what you are wanting to use it for. Just because the literature says it can doesn’t mean you should.

You and your 3 adult buddies hunting, Nope. There is no place for adults besides the queen bed. Taking the table up and down sucks. Climbing in and out of the bunks REALLY sucks. They are ment for smaller kids/young teens. We have slept 4 adults and 3 kids at the same time for a couple days. Not in a hurry to do it again.

You and your small family for weekends, sure. We have two teens now and have used it for 15-20 trips all around MI. Pulled it to the UP 3 times and off gridded in the National Forest. We can go 3 days without issue. If I upgrade the batteries we could do 5 before I pull out a generator and worry about water.

I want to switch up seeing the kids are getting bigger. I would love to have someone with some seating for rainy days. Outdoors RV doesn’t offer a floor plan that really works for us. Two opposing sex teenagers need more than just bunks you have to climb in and out of like a cave.

 

[Wheatgrass]

I bought a lightweight 18' single-axel model with high clearance thinking this would be perfect for my needs. I wish that I would have bought something bigger. The 18' model is barely big enough for me +1 other adult. Mine has bunk beds for kids, but I think that was also a waste of space because it is very hard for an adult to get in the lower bunk and I would not let an adult use the top bunk. I had to rebuild the bottom bunk after it it broke, but it was not too hard to make it strong enough to support an adult. Anyway, I recommend getting something a little bigger than you think. I can see how having a slide-out would be beneficial.

 

[El Jason]

We have a 22’ with no slide outs. It’s great for me and my wife. I wouldn’t be too excited about pulling a single axle TT.

Slide outs add room. They also add weight and logistical issues if you are using them in snowy weather.

 

[MTLabrador]

I’m no camper pro, but I believe my dad’s Dutchman camper that I borrow on occasion is a 24’, also 2 axle with no slide outs. It’s not bad, like most campers it’s built a little on the flimsy side to keep weight down. I think that one is a little over 5,000 fully loaded. That’s about the max size of camper I would personally want to haul with any half ton pickup, no matter what weight it’s rated to tow. Use a good weight distributing hitch.

The weight isn’t the issue as much as stability and wind when hauling a relatively light, high profile trailer. I’ve hauled horse trailers, dump trailers, heavy flatbeds, ATVs, sleds, gooseneck, bumper pull, etc. with a bunch of different 1/2 ton and 3/4 ton pickups for work and for fun, and campers tend to be a pain in the ass to tow comparatively.

Also, don’t trust the tires that come with any camper and keep them aired up. If I were to buy a camper myself I would figure out how swap for some E rated truck tires instead of cheap trailer specific tires.

 

[Dakotakid]

I have been able to sleep four adults in my toyhauler on cots. One(me) on the happijac queen and three older brothers on cots on the floor.
They were whinny but from my comfy bed above them it was great.

 

[Chama Grande]

One of the best days of my life was the day i sold my trailer.

The day I sold my pop up that had way too many ammenities was a great day. No more fiddling with the furnace, the onboard water tanks, the toilet, the sink, the water heater, the stove. Blaghh.

I picked up a utility trailer that has only a battery and a solar panel to it. I'll move anything else I need in or out, that thing is a breeze to maintain

 

[Gr8bawana]

After I saw a video on how the put an Airstream together I would nevr buy one now...I did see this all new full fiberglass one that looked good in a video, was not cheap, but I trust that way more than the crap I hear and see from other vendors. found the video...https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oAjLQcAhvv0

For years we used this 1963 Airstream Globetrotter. We gutted it and built extra beds to sleep 4 grown men but also slept 2 more down the center aisle.
Back then they were very well built, it went anywhere we could pull it with its' smooth underbelly it would just slide over brush and weeds. The frames were made of what looked like c-channel 4x2 steel. They were solid.

 

[NewTroutBum]

I've done hunting trips in everything from a cheapo walmart tent, to a travel trailer, now to a wall tent.

The cheapo walmart tent works fine if the weather is mild.
The travel trailer works great if the weather is not, but you are limited to where you can park it.
The wall tent I have found is the best of both worlds. I can heat it if need be, and it can be hauled in much deeper than a travel trailer.

I have found for antelope trips, the travel trailer is superior. The terrain you are hunting is mostly flat so you will have plenty of area to park the camper.

If you are in rougher country or want to be closer to your hunting area, then a tent or a truck camper is superior.

I think my next truck I am going to build out so its got a roof top tent mounted above the bed. Maybe heat it with a diesel heater. That seems like the ultimate rig, but of course comes with a price tag.

For now, I am going with the wall tent and wood stove.

 

[mxracer317]

Buying used isnt a bad idea like southern elk said. No experience with your 2 brands. But my parents have a grand design, stay away from them. I have a keystone cougar and rent it out to other people. Minimal issues, most fixed myself, and its done great. Constant use for the past 4 years and still looks nice inside and out.

The cougar is a "luxury" model and the fit and finish was better than other models we looked at. Unfortunately better still means poor overall. All trailers are built like junk, with the exception of a few like airstream, maybe outdoors rv but ive seen and heard mixed reviews on them. To own a trailer and not be handy enough to fix things is an expensive combo.

Why is Grand Designs bad? Are Brinkley’s?… i think those guys came from Grand Designs

 

[mxracer317]

Anyone look at Trails West RPM free ride trailers?

Their aluminum and built by guys who built horse trailers so they take a beating. Kind of what I’m thinking of switching to because my cargo trailer isn’t quite big enough and I need to be able to haul my side-by-side, but don’t want to roll a big toy luxury hauler travel trailer down forest / dirt roads.

I really like them, but they’re propane furnaces and where I hunt is really high altitude where propane doesn’t work great at elevation or even in cold. The only problem is those guys don’t allow for customization so I’m like $6000 in sunk costs taking out the propane furnace and replacing it with a good diesel heater.

 

[Chingon]

Why is Grand Designs bad? Are Brinkley’s?… i think those guys came from Grand Designs

All Winnebago. In the end, they're better than most stick and tin budget campers, but very few companies build in the same level of insulation and ruggedness as ORV. ORV interiors are a bit dated, so generally my wife prefers the lighter/flashier models.

When I get into the walls to modify/winterize/etc., I just don't see meth-head level workmanship like I did with my previous Passport and Winnebago. Complete lack of "give-a-$hit" from those other companies where knockouts/wiring/construction waste was just left in the walls.

That said, most of my friends still run the mid-range campers, and over the years they have had to address insulation issues and fixes but are now running pretty well. ORV just get you dialed in faster and will likely last longer all things considered. Also they still have to worry about cold temps whereas I don't.

 

[mxracer317]

So looking into these Outdoors RV's look pretty good... Really need to pull my 4 door Polaris general inside and to maximize space really wish they had a short Goose Neck version, and a little more modern interior! Would love to keep hearing feedback on them...the good and bad.

 

[Chingon]

I had a toyhauler and those sucked. Super heavy, long and lots of compromises on floorplan. Plus you still need a way to get your SXS to different trailheads across pavement much of the time.

I landed on a 24RKS which puts me under 30' tip to tail. Good storage and workable with two boys, but will be a good couples camper when they're older. I also run a ramptek SXS rack on my longbed F350 and carry my Ranger on top of my truck. I don't like it, and I'm slightly overweight fully loaded (rear axle capacity scaled), but there's just no great solution without having to have another truck trailer the SXS. Double towing isn't something I want to try.

Doing it all over again the only thing I would change is to go F450 since off-roading in a one ton diesel sucks anyway and that's what the SXS is for. I would still recommend getting the smallest camper you think you can live with. It makes you pack smarter and we always find ourselves spending more time outside anyway. The onboard generator of the toyhauler was nice, but you give up good storage. Ideally I'd have 400W+ of solar with inverter powered outlets and just a smaller generator to help charge up on cloudy days/for AC.

 

[mtmuley]

I had a toyhauler and those sucked. Super heavy, long and lots of compromises on floorplan. Plus you still need a way to get your SXS to different trailheads across pavement much of the time.

I landed on a 24RKS which puts me under 30' tip to tail. Good storage and workable with two boys, but will be a good couples camper when they're older. I also run a ramptek SXS rack on my longbed F350 and carry my Ranger on top of my truck. I don't like it, and I'm slightly overweight fully loaded (rear axle capacity scaled), but there's just no great solution without having to have another truck trailer the SXS. Doing it all over again the only thing I would change is to go F450 since off-roading in a one ton diesel sucks anyway and that's what the SXS is for.

You are one of those guys that scare me on the highway. And the tandem towers. mtmuley