RVing/Travel trailer questions

[skidmark1510]

Sorry about posting on top of your post, newbie here and still learning. Thanks

 

[Case485Guy]

5th wheels pull much better than bumper pulls by far. I have had several popup trailers, bumper pull was a 35', also a Trail Manor which similar type of popup but hard sided-still have this one. Just bought an 04' 5th wheel ultralight, paid 3k for it. I did not buy it for going on camping trips all the time, rather to put at our property. I pulled it with my 1/2 ton Chevt with a v-6 without much fuss on the 120 mile trip. Held 65-70 on highway and felt good pulling. This trailer has a nice floor plan to where its not uncomfortable for me/wife/15yr/16yr to stay in. Though they have "their" camper now.
I found this deal on a hunting forum similar to the TBN, lots a deals cause some hunters have to get their trailers off the lease.

 

[grsthegreat]

Thanks! Why do they all leak? Is there some routine maintenance I should plan on doing to keep it from leaking down the road?
Sorry for all the questions but this is all new to me!

nothing about the trailer...but here are some more armed critters to go with your avatar

 

[timswi]

Thanks! Why do they all leak? Is there some routine maintenance I should plan on doing to keep it from leaking down the road?
Sorry for all the questions but this is all new to me!

I grew up around travel trailers..My parents always had one...I currently have a motor home, same principle, just more to worry about.

They don't all leak, but you do have to go up on the roof once a year and look over the joints and fix anything that is failing. I got that duty when I was old enough and I only had to fix things about three times and they were minor...TT's are something else to keep up with but they are way more fun than work.

As was said, watch the refigerators in AC units in a used unit..both can be expesive to repair/replace. Generally they are very durable though.

As far as towing, I pulled my parent's 32' with a 1/2 ton Chevy 4x4 without issue. Sure, a 1 ton dully diesel would be better, but if you're within the truck's limits, have a good WD hitch and brake controller you'll be fine.

As someone said, watch tractor trailers, they'll blow you all over the place--especially the younger guys who don't realize/care what they can do to you...The old timers tend give air space from my experience...Usually just lightly applying the brake controller keeps everything nice and striaght if you get hit with side air pressure.

It's mostly common sense in maintenance and pulling...Can't have a coffee in one hand and a phone in the other while towing..

 

[mowin]

Were on our second camper in as many yrs. Bought our first TT last spring. We new NOTHING about campers, and bought a used 32' bunk house with a slide. Theres 3 of us(me wife kid)..Oh and 3 dogs...lol
and after 3 weeks, we new the floor plan didnt work for us. Think real hard about the floor plan that you need. Go to manufactures web sites and look at different floor plans. It will give you an idea of whats out there, and what will fit your needs. Just tradded it in last week for a new one with the floor plan we needed....

 

[timswi]

Were on our second camper in as many yrs. Bought our first TT last spring. We new NOTHING about campers, and bought a used 32' bunk house with a slide. Theres 3 of us(me wife kid)..Oh and 3 dogs...lol
and after 3 weeks, we new the floor plan didnt work for us. Think real hard about the floor plan that you need. Go to manufactures web sites and look at different floor plans. It will give you an idea of whats out there, and what will fit your needs. Just tradded it in last week for a new one with the floor plan we needed....

That's very true...TT's are strange in the respect that as soon as you walk into one you know you love the layout or hate it...At least that's been my experience...Took a trip through about 40 of them at the RV show before we found one that we loved.

 

[mowin]

You knew...lol WE didnt. Our TT was a private sale, and luckly we got it cheap. We got $500 more for it last week when we traded it in then we paid.
What I'm trying to say is dont get a used TT because the "price is rite"..Really look at the floor plan and figure out what will work best.
Problem with our first rig, is we liked it a lot. It was Very clean and well priced, but if we knew the floor plan wasnt what we liked, we would have waited.

Last weekend we knew what we wanted. Told the salesman what that was, and he showed us 2 TT's that fit. Pick it up this Saturday...

 

[Dmace]

I also don't agree with staying under 30ft just because of the tow vehicle. With campers, the weight is not the problem it's the drag. My 5k camper feels heavier at highway speeds than my little 6x10 10k dump trailer loaded to around 9k lbs. With that said, most the campgrounds around here are tough to navigate around with my crew cab short bed and 27'+3' camper. Another 3' longer and the axle further away from the truck would really make it interesting. Especially compared to 5th wheelers that can cut it 90 degrees. Sure a 30' camper has that much more drag but not a problem for most half tons let alone a 3/4 ton diesel. I still highly recommend a WD hitch.

 

[timswi]

You knew...lol WE didnt. Our TT was a private sale, and luckly we got it cheep. We got $500 more for it last week when we traded it in then we paid.
What I'm trying to say is dont get a used TT because the "price is rite"..Really look at the floor plan and figure out what will work best.
Problem with our first rig, is we liked it a lot. It was Very clean and well priced, but if we knew the floor plan wasnt what we liked, we would have waited.

Last weekend we knew what we wanted. Told the salesman what that was, and he showed us 2 TT's that fit. Pick it up this Saturday...

Congrats....Please post some pics...i'd love to see what you finalized on.

The wife an I are debating selling the MH and going back to a TT for a variety of reasons...Mainly space issues..there's a huge difference in useable space between a 30' MH and 30' TT....The great Dane is the main problem in the decision...He's easier to haul in the MH as opposed to sharing the rear seat of my truck with my daughter.

 

[AGRIMAN]

Campers are a lot of fun but can be expensive. I highly recommend keeping it under a shelter when not in use. This will help prevent a small leak from becoming a big problem. It will also help to keep the water stains off.

Keeping a close check on the problem areas and the regular maintenance will keep some of the cost low. I had the rubber roof on my 36' 5th wheel checked and resealed last year for around $400, but my fridge is giving trouble now and a new one is nearly $4000.

I had a Goose Neck adaptor hitch with a 7" offset built for mine and pull it with the regular GN ball in my F250. This makes it a lot easier for me since I don't have to mess with a 5th wheel hitch.

The most important thing is to just have fun and enjoy it.