Join Early Retirement Today
Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
Old 05-12-2015, 10:09 AM   #21
Give me a museum and I'll fill it. (Picasso)
Give me a forum ...
travelover's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2007
Posts: 14,328
Quote:
Originally Posted by REWahoo View Post
+1

What a vehicle can tow (pull) is rarely the limiting factor. Check the cargo weight capacity (on the same sticker with tire pressure info). Do the math and you'll see your tongue weight will be too much to allow you to get to that 5000 lb tow number.
What it really comes down to is front and rear axle weight ratings and cooling capacity.

By the way, the 17 foot Casita has a really high tongue weight for a trailer of its overall weight. Use of weight distributing hitches are common with these.
travelover is offline   Reply With Quote
Join the #1 Early Retirement and Financial Independence Forum Today - It's Totally Free!

Are you planning to be financially independent as early as possible so you can live life on your own terms? Discuss successful investing strategies, asset allocation models, tax strategies and other related topics in our online forum community. Our members range from young folks just starting their journey to financial independence, military retirees and even multimillionaires. No matter where you fit in you'll find that Early-Retirement.org is a great community to join. Best of all it's totally FREE!

You are currently viewing our boards as a guest so you have limited access to our community. Please take the time to register and you will gain a lot of great new features including; the ability to participate in discussions, network with our members, see fewer ads, upload photographs, create a retirement blog, send private messages and so much, much more!

Old 05-12-2015, 12:26 PM   #22
Give me a museum and I'll fill it. (Picasso)
Give me a forum ...
NW-Bound's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2008
Posts: 35,712
"Small Travel Trailers - Should I?"

Yes, you should. But then, I am biased.

But what you can pull with a CRV is limited. We personally would insist on something with a real toilet. A wet but permanent bath is OK - the type you find in class B's or truck campers. This kind of amenities in a travel trailer makes it weigh more than what a CRV can pull.

I also vote for a SUV against a truck, due to personal preference. We almost bought a small 17' travel trailer, because we already had an SUV will 5,000-lb towing capacity.

I would never get anything larger than what I am using now: a 25' class C with a toad. Anything more, then I would not be able to get into national park campgrounds. I usually disconnect the toad at the campground entrance, so I can drive the MH around looking for a slot. Disconnected, they are individually more flexible for parking than a travel trailer-vehicle combo of the same total length.

We just spent some nights at Kalaloch campground, and we were lucky to get one of the absolute best slots with the view of the ocean out the door and windows. And the MH and the toad barely fit!
__________________
"Old age is the most unexpected of all things that happen to a man" -- Leon Trotsky (1879-1940)

"Those Who Can Make You Believe Absurdities Can Make You Commit Atrocities" - Voltaire (1694-1778)
NW-Bound is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-12-2015, 09:38 PM   #23
Full time employment: Posting here.
CCdaCE's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2006
Posts: 897
A couple years ago, we went with a 18' travel trailer. It was around $12k brand new, after delivery. Used were selling for MORE!? Pull it with a Toyota Tacoma. Probably pretty close to max. tongue weight, about 3500 lb. dry weight. Approx. 1000 lb. less than max. towing. 8-12 miles/gal. at 55-65 mph depending on wind. Live and camp in relatively flat ND, MN. Tows pretty well, except long grades (1/2 mile or more). The only thing the wife complains about is bed length and width (she's too used to a queen mattress). So, yes, in order to upgrade trailer size, I'd want a bigger truck.

Same, except for interior color, to what we have: Used 2013 Forest River Wildwood 18 Travel Trailer For Sale - Camping World RV Sales - Indianapolis

It all comes down to what you're comfortable with. I'm fine with bed size, the gas mileage, and not sinking $60k (or however much more) into truck and something we use 3-5 long weekends a year.

-CC
__________________
"There's those thinkin' more or less, less is more, but if less is more, how you keepin' score?
It means for every point you make, your level drops. Kinda like you're startin' from the top..." "Society" - Eddie Vedder
CCdaCE is offline   Reply With Quote
Love Our R-Pod
Old 05-13-2015, 10:35 AM   #24
Dryer sheet aficionado
JTOrt's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2014
Location: Alberta / SoCal
Posts: 34
Love Our R-Pod

Over the last 40 years I completed the whole RV procession; backpacking, tent, tent trailer, 16' travel trailer, motor home, 30' travel trailer, 5th wheel and stopped at at a lakefront park model. Last year we picked up an R-Pod, gets us back to basics comfortably and is easy to tow with the Jeep GC. Pretty sure a CRV wouldn't handle it though.
__________________
Life is Grand
Live Long & Prosper...
JTOrt is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-14-2015, 06:32 AM   #25
Give me a museum and I'll fill it. (Picasso)
Give me a forum ...
NW-Bound's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2008
Posts: 35,712
In the previous post, I forgot to add a photo showing the view from my spot at Kalaloch. It was taken a foggy morning. Not at all a bad place to camp for $14/day, but most of the ocean-front spaces are only good for tent camping. Did I say that I was lucky with my motorhome and toad?

__________________
"Old age is the most unexpected of all things that happen to a man" -- Leon Trotsky (1879-1940)

"Those Who Can Make You Believe Absurdities Can Make You Commit Atrocities" - Voltaire (1694-1778)
NW-Bound is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-14-2015, 07:07 AM   #26
Give me a museum and I'll fill it. (Picasso)
Give me a forum ...
Midpack's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: NC
Posts: 21,204
Having never owned an RV or travel trailer, I don't know whether you should buy one or not. But if was to buy a small travel trailer, I always thought these were clever T@B Teardrop Trailers. Best of luck whatever you decide.
__________________
No one agrees with other people's opinions; they merely agree with their own opinions -- expressed by somebody else. Sydney Tremayne
Retired Jun 2011 at age 57

Target AA: 50% equity funds / 45% bonds / 5% cash
Target WR: Approx 1.5% Approx 20% SI (secure income, SS only)
Midpack is online now   Reply With Quote
Old 05-14-2015, 09:07 PM   #27
Recycles dryer sheets
SteveNU's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2010
Posts: 416
We've been through the whole progression from tent to popup to motor home to trailer to nothing and back to a trailer. I'm spending the summer in our 19 foot trailer as a campground host. 150 sq feet of living space is pretty cozy but it is plenty for me. I like the small size as it is lighter and easier to tow and maneuver. The only thing I don't like is the corner bed but in a small trailer you just don't have the room for a walk around queen!
SteveNU is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-15-2015, 12:57 PM   #28
Give me a museum and I'll fill it. (Picasso)
Give me a forum ...
 
Join Date: Dec 2014
Location: Huntsville, AL/Helen, GA
Posts: 6,002
Quote:
Originally Posted by Midpack View Post
Having never owned an RV or travel trailer, I don't know whether you should buy one or not. But if was to buy a small travel trailer, I always thought these were clever T@B Teardrop Trailers. Best of luck whatever you decide.
I used to camp in a Teardrop when we were 16 years old. And they're really popular trailers to tow long distances. But new units are also expensive.

You still cannot beat a pop up camper if you're going to be traveling many miles. Their beds slide out, the top raises, and an a/c-heat unit can be mounted on the roof to keep you comfortable.

The best thing about pop ups is that they're readily available on the used market, and you can use one for a couple of years and resell it for what you paid for it.
Bamaman is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-17-2015, 08:55 AM   #29
Thinks s/he gets paid by the post
 
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: Pasadena CA
Posts: 3,340
Quote:
Originally Posted by Midpack View Post
Having never owned an RV or travel trailer, I don't know whether you should buy one or not. But if was to buy a small travel trailer, I always thought these were clever T@B Teardrop Trailers. Best of luck whatever you decide.
Our small trailer was made by the T@b people, its a T@da, 18.5' total length, 2,200 lbs empty. We tow it with our Jeep Liberty diesel which is way overkill (it can tow 5K lbs here but rated at 7K+ lbs in Europe with identical drivetrain). They only sold the T@da a couple years and it has the same value as new although DW says I can sell it when I pry it out of her cold, dead hands.
Attached Images
File Type: jpg T@da.jpg (56.4 KB, 122 views)
__________________
T.S. Eliot:
Old men ought to be explorers
yakers is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-18-2015, 07:28 PM   #30
Give me a museum and I'll fill it. (Picasso)
Give me a forum ...
Sarah in SC's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: Charleston, SC
Posts: 13,566
Yakers, that is adorable! I love your teardrop!
__________________
“One day your life will flash before your eyes. Make sure it's worth watching.”
Gerard Arthur Way

Sarah in SC is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply


Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)
 
Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are Off


Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
No more FEMA trailers REWahoo Other topics 1 12-31-2010 09:30 AM
Got small kids? Got small grandkids? cute fuzzy bunny Other topics 5 09-10-2008 09:52 PM
Keystone camper trailers theloneranger Travel Information 1 10-04-2007 08:45 PM
IJS vs. VBR (iShares small value & Vanguard small value) Fttaw FIRE and Money 1 01-22-2007 04:10 PM
Good Travel Site or Boards for the RE Travel Lifestyle???????????? dex Other topics 6 11-04-2006 11:43 PM

» Quick Links

 
All times are GMT -6. The time now is 12:21 PM.
 
Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.8 Beta 1
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.