What length bumper pull for a couple?

[cptqueeg]

We've been considering a travel trailer primarily to camp at FS/BLM, National Park campgrounds and dispersed campsites. Hookups are not our thing and one of our primary destination is Yellowstone off season, which sometimes means snow and cold temps.

It'll be towed w a 1 ton, crew cab, LWB truck at 22' overall length. The truck has a pop-up camper (4 wheel camper) to carry a substantial amount of gear, 21 gallons fresh water, 400 Ah lithium w solar, and a king size bed to sleep additional people, if necessary. The primary needs are a suitable toilet/shower and some more comfort at night and during poor wx. What length would suitable to strike a balance between comfort and maneuverability?

 

[Kevin D Pem]

Most women have issues with a bed that needs to be "rolled out". Having a real bed puts you at 27+ft

 

[Rosy]

My wife's parents have one that's about 21' that they're happy with other than lack of storage, which it sounds like you can get around with the space in the truck.

 

[rjshiflet49]

Everybody's case is 100% different. I've known people completely happy in a teardrop camper, and others miserable in a 40' fifth wheel. This is pretty much an impossible question to answer by anyone other than the purchaser. Even couples are going to disagree - we did, but "happy wife...happy life" as the saying goes.

 

[cptqueeg]

I appreciate the comments above and realize it's an impossible question to answer for others, but based on your own experiences and the details provided how did you or would you in my case balance comfort and space w maneuverability?

Our favorite cg's 4 favored sites are maxed, 1 @ 30' and 3 @ 35', but I'm pretty sure a 25'+ trailer would need to be backed in 1/4 - 1/2 mile. Doable w a 27' but keeping ones anxiety to a minimum is important.

 

[TheLooks]

We had a 2011 Jayco 26BH with no slides. We loved it and hated to move on. Lots of storage for 2 people as we used the bunks as a storage area. Bed was adequate, short but so are we. Never would have parted with it just camping around home, but travel out west is a must and we have changed our game.

 

[Kevin D Pem]

If you are willing to backup or learn to as I did many years ago. The longer a trailer,the less reactive, just what you need to back a long distance. However in tight narrow roads, the shorter the better they will follow the track of the tow vehicle.

In the Case of tracking, bumper pull will track better than a fifth wheel, they cut inside the tow path, but back better than a bumper pull. I know you didn't ask, about fifths, but was moved to include them.

 

[Rollin Ollen]

I appreciate the comments above and realize it's an impossible question to answer for others, but based on your own experiences and the details provided how did you or would you in my case balance comfort and space w maneuverability?

Our favorite cg's 4 favored sites are maxed, 1 @ 30' and 3 @ 35', but I'm pretty sure a 25'+ trailer would need to be backed in 1/4 - 1/2 mile. Doable w a 27' but keeping ones anxiety to a minimum is important.

I know size is important but foremost must be the floor plan. You will want a unit that you will be comfortable in and not just during nice weather. You need to consider what it will be like when you happen to run into a bit of bad weather? Two days stuck in a Tear Drop would drive anyone nuts. We full timed in a 28 foot Class A for over 7 years and found it comfortable. There are just the two of us and a small dog. If one were to just count the living space we had in that coach, I would suspect it would be down to maybe 25 feet but it was laid out very well. Opposing slides certainly helped along with a full sized bed and usable bathroom including the shower.. The biggest issue was the placement of the TV. It was front and center but watching it from the dinette was difficult for one of us as that person faced the rear. Since one of us didn't watch much TV it wasn't that big of a deal but if you both did, it would be a problem. That was small issue that could easily have turned big.

 

[John&Andrea]

It’s time to go look and kick tires. Sounds like you have plenty of truck. I can’t say on the size, we had a 30’ and a bunk house for grandkids. I’m guessing there are good options out there these days under 30.

 

[cptqueeg]

We have a deposit at Peak Mtn Camps, a sheepherder wagon derived design for a build date of 10/2027 with no size specified. It'll be a side door to save 3' of overall length from their normal front entry. They build to order so it's a custom layout, but they do not offer slide outs, which I know expand the living area considerably.

I have recently remedied an off season storage issue so the length constraint has been eased a bit, which is prompting my interest in going to a longer length.

The backing issue is just at this one cg and I can back trailers, but the wide turning radius of the 22' long truck presents some extra challenges.

The absolute minimalist design was an 18' box, (22' overall length) w a 20' box (24' overall) being a better fit. The next significant jump in length would allow the addition of a dinette, which my minimalist design doesn't have because a pair of recliners take up the space where the dinette would normally be.

Responding to the comments has clarified my thoughts a bit. I think that at this point rather than push up the length to fit a dinette we'd be better off figuring out a table so we could eat at the recliners. At this point a 22' or 24' box (add 4' for overall length) seems to be a good balance of comfort and maneuverability.

Attached is a drawing I made several months ago based on a 20' x 8' box.

Again I appreciate the comments, they make me think!