RV Tips & Tricks

[Timothy]

We used to camp and travel extensively in my youth so I’m not a newbie but, any lessons learned from your experience will be welcomed.

We’re looking at small towable campers because I don’t plan on buying another vehicle.  It’s just the two of us...  3500 lbs is doable.

[MikeBjerum]

What are you going to pull it with, and what activities do you anticipate on your trips?

[Timothy]

Ford Escape 2.0L Turbo.

Camp, fish, golf, full service campgrounds.  Maybe a hunting trip or two.  Small units have limited waste tanks.

[billt]

I thought about that after I retired. Getting a small pop up RV so the old lady and the dog and I could get away for the weekend. Up into the cooler high country in the hotter Summer months. But after talking to people who have had them, I found out they had the same attitude that ex boaters do. Of which I am one.

And that is the 2 greatest days in boating is the day you buy it, and the day you sell it. With mostly depreciation and maintenance in between. So we decided to take a pass. The older I get, the less maintenance I want to deal with.

And with boats you have to deal with idiots at launch ramps. Of which over half are drunk. With RV's you have to deal with idiots at campgrounds. Of which the same amount or more are tanked.

[Timothy]

I’m not worried about the occasional dickhead.  Just looking at a more affordable way to cruise New England without paying 2-300.00 bucks a night for clean sheets.

I just spent a grand over memorial weekend for a sad excuse for a cottage on the Maine coast area.  Granted some of that was food but still not something I can afford when I quit working.

[Sponsor]

[bulldog75]

Timothy look at the used market. I have been wanting to do this myself when I retire. Under a certain feet the national parks will let you in. Use your military veteran status at national parks to get reduced or free rates. Now the pop up I would pass on. Get a hard top type and go to a reputable camper sales have them give you a tutorial. I had the salesman give me a class on the camper and then told him I was going to my bank to get a loan quote and never called back. Then look on the buy sell trade on facebook in your area. I found one that is a 28 footer for 5 grand. The new one like it was 20 grand. The people had kids and now that they are grown they want a smaller one.

[Big Frank]

My family camped in trailers in the middle of a national forest, not in campgrounds. We went nearly every weekend except in winter. In the winter we usually went a lot farther away to our cabin, and had to take everything in by snowmobiles and a toboggan. That was a lot less frequent. The trailer maintenance consisted mainly of draining the tanks, rinsing out the sewage with a garden hose, and flushing anti freeze down the toilet before winter. That, and after the trailer was really old, resealing the roof every other year. My dad used a gallon of cheap windshield washer fluid in the toilet but there are more environmentally friendly alternatives.

I did a quick search for 2 person travel trailers and the first result was Top 5 Best Travel Trailers For Couples On The Go. Number 5 on the list, Forest River R-Pod Travel Trailer, would work with your weight limit. No. of Floor-Plans - 9. Unloaded Weight - 2342-2836 lbs. Sleeps 2-4. Length - 18-20 feet. I'm not recommending that one specifically, but something that size would be better than a pop-up. If I got one it would be without any slides to make it bigger inside. Simpler is better IMO. And if you want something smaller there are several hard-side pop-ups available.

https://www.rvingplanet.com/blog/top-5-best-travel-trailers-for-couples-on-the-go/

My friends have one of these older than dirt fiberglass sided pop-ups that they leave up all year, in case anyone visits them at their cabin and doesn't want to put up a tent. They just prop the roof up in the winter so it doesn't cave in from the weight of the snow, and fix the occasional leak. Since they aren't folding it up and setting it back up they can use silicone caulking or whatever to seal it.

[Timothy]

The issue with non-pop up types is that since there’s fewer sold, there’re fewer inventoried.  Not much to look at or check the build quality.  The Forest Rivers I looked at today seemed pretty cheap (flimsy) for the price, the mini “Winni’s” weren’t much better which surprised me.  The Keystones were junk...  Jayco get terrible reviews and the nearest dealer is 50 miles away.  Another day...

I have the class II hitch that I’ll install this fall on the shopping list already.  There’re lots of sub 3000 lb campers on the market but to find good quality you’re gonna pay, as well.  I’m not dropping 40k on an Airstream!

[Big Frank]

Fewer non-popups sold? They don't sell many popups around here, or at least I don't see many on the road when I go on vacation. Fifth-wheel trailers seem more common than popups, with regular travel trailers maybe outnumbering them and truck campers combined. Cars pulling popups seem to outnumber motorcycles pulling trailers but that's about all there are fewer of.

[MikeBjerum]

Looking at Ford's towing specs on line, I think you are pushing the limits of the 2.0L turbo. 

Keep in mind that as you shop, all weight specs are "dry weight."  This means, no water, no waste, no lp, and none of your crap.  Oh, and empty waste tank as well.

I did find several in the 14' to 20' range that were 2,000# or under.  But, there are two other items I would look for:  Single axles pull easier than tandems, and aerodynamics matter.  These two items alone can make more difference than what you pack into the camper (added weight).