Question Need lite, family friendly camper!

[Akjordan90]

Hi everyone! We are a young family of four hoping to start camping regularly during the summer with my parents. We have a Pilot that is able to tow a maximum of 5000 pounds, so we know we will need to be well under that. We won’t be traveling far to camp!

I grew up with a pop up but am hoping for something a bit sturdier. We have considered hybrids (pop out beds) or extra light bunkhouses like the Coleman Lantern. Anywhere I look, reviews on everything are extremely mixed or very negative.

Advice?? Thank you!!

 

[jaydee325]

Keep in mind that the manufactures seem intent on listing the dry weight of a RV. That weight is meaning less in determining if your tow vehicle can tow it. What you want to look for is a travel trailer that has a gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) of less than 5000 lbs.

 

[Kevin D Pem]

Hi everyone! We are a young family of four hoping to start camping regularly during the summer with my parents. We have a Pilot that is able to tow a maximum of 5000 pounds, so we know we will need to be well under that. We won’t be traveling far to camp!

I grew up with a pop up but am hoping for something a bit sturdier. We have considered hybrids (pop out beds) or extra light bunkhouses like the Coleman Lantern. Anywhere I look, reviews on everything are extremely mixed or very negative.

Advice?? Thank you!!

I had a car that told me ratings that included frontal area. You might look for that data as well.

As an example! A boat of the same weight as a camper may not have any issues, but the trailer would.

It may prove you also would need to change out the car to get the camper you want. Tent, and fold down trailers are not just about weight!!!

 

[Bigblockyeti]

Get an idea of your budget and start shopping used (doesn't have to be very used) and see what's available locally. As soon as you Google the year, make & model, RVUSA is likely one of the first 5 sites that will pop up. Looking through their page you can see the floor plan, dimensions, weight capacities, new MSRP and other units available throughout the US. I'm still shopping as you but for something that will sleep more and still weigh in at or under 5000lbs (a real, scale verified 5000lbs, not an approximate manufacturer generated #). My truck has a stated max trailer frontal area of 60sqft and the exact same truck had that # cut to 30sqft with zero changes made just two model years later. It will certainly do more than 30sqft, but 60sqft would be a struggle with a 2000lb trailer.

Bottom line, know the real specs of what your getting before signing on the dotted line. If possible, rent the same or something very close to what you're considering before buying,. The rental will be money well spent giving you an opportunity to actually pull the size and weight to confirm it's doable instead of learning it's a bad idea after you own it.

 

[Buly]

We are looking to tow Sol Dusk travel trailer with Lexus GX460

inTech Sol Dusk Travel Trailer

Sol Dusk is an all aluminum travel trailer like no other.

intech.com

That’s the plan anyway?

 

[Akjordan90]

Keep in mind that the manufactures seem intent on listing the dry weight of a RV. That weight is meaning less in determining if your tow vehicle can tow it. What you want to look for is a travel trailer that has a gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) of less than 5000 lbs.

Great point, thanks so much

 

[TheLooks]

All the points made are great. No one will tell you about wind load and how it increases with speed and that dry weights are never ever what you are actually towing. Figure that the vehicle builder was optimistic about tow capabilities and you won't get surprised. Judging from your wants and needs, another tow vehicle will be in order.