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stollywag · 03-09-2013, 01:56 PM

This is a new question, not a reply to the above, sorry new to the site....
We are long time minimulists, tents and "go" in the woods. We are tired and old and ready to transition to an RV to see our world. We are considering the TT & tow vehicle over a 5er. I LOVE the interior of A/S, clean, sleek no tacky contact paper, however the $$ is ridiculous, not to mention the expense of towing the weight. The goal is to be out on the road for months at a time, just 2 of us with our faithful fido. The question is to all of you learned ones...if you could start fresh what would you do with the aforementioned parameters in mind??
Vehicle?
TT w/ closet space, nice bathroom, rm for kayaks, bicycles?
oh and the cost, let's be reasonable total new around $100-150,000.00, gently used is OK too.
thanks!

cb1000rider · 03-09-2013, 06:56 PM

One thing I've learned with RVs, motorcycles, cars, trucks, and planes:
Don't buy new. Ever. Buying used will greatly expand your budget.
You'll need to give us a realistic budget and a realistic guide of the kind of lifestyle you live for meaningful advice...

TXiceman · 03-09-2013, 07:03 PM

Welcome to iRV2.

If you like the silver trailers, look for a 1980's Avion. These were the Mercedes of trailers in 1980's. You can find some great old trailers for a decent price and put a little money into updating an be good to go. The Avions are built better than Airstreams and still better than anything on the market today.

Avion classic travel trailer - For Sale (west of Tyler) - RVs, Tows, and Toads for Sale - Escapees Discussion Forum
Here is a 30' 1989 for sale neat Tyler, TX. I have no interest in the trailer, but we had a 1989 34V (35') and loved the trailer.

Ken

CampDaven · 03-09-2013, 07:23 PM

Dont even consider a motorhome, cuz then you would be able to tow a Wrangler 4-down and go off-road.

Caveman CBB · 03-09-2013, 07:24 PM

I would you suggest renting a few first. That way you can see what you do and don't like about them. It's tough to just jump in with no experience of any kind and get the right thing. I'm on my 4th TT because it took me that many to find a floor plan I like but, whats right for me may not be right for you.

Wolfpack Fan · 03-10-2013, 01:57 PM

We went from tenting to a class A ourselves. We might have considered a 5th wheel or travel trailer, but our pickup truck is only a half ton Tundra, so we would have been limited in size and weight. Looking back, if our truck was a 3/4 or 1 ton, we probably would have gone with a 5th wheel.

wincrasher · 03-10-2013, 02:09 PM

The aesthetic of the A/S is very alluring. The classic is the one they promote as for full-timing, but I don't like the interior. I prefer the International Signature (particularly the 27FB) You may be able to save a bit by finding one a few years old. I don't know what air streamers do with all their outside gear, as most of these have very limited compartments (if any) for that. Their interiors have incredible storage and neat features you don't find in mainstream trailers.

Not too long ago I was a critic of A/S not being "worth it", but then spent some time researching them. They do have their downsides - don't buy into the notion that the quality is so much better than anything else - it's not. There are design benefits and compromises/issues that come with the territory. But any RV has it's issues.

But is paying $80k for a sweet trailer any more crazy than spending $500-$700k for a high-line DP?

You can make just about any rig work for your traveling dream. You just need to think through what you want/need for this adventure.

Clay L · 03-10-2013, 02:15 PM

I don't see very many folks staying for several months in TTs. The TTs I have looked at don't have much storage. Going from a camping mode to a long term mode means most of us need a lot more stuff and a FW has a lot more storage than a TT.

From what I have seen FWs don't have as much exterior storage as a Class A and not enough interior storage to make up the difference but I think there are about equal numbers of long term/full timers in FWs and Class As.

It does cost some dollars to set up a car for towing but if you tow one with good MPG it's a lot cheaper to drive it around at your destination than a big ol' diesel truck.

Can you do it in a TT? Sure you can. Heck I have seen people full timing in a small slide in pickup camper. But it wouldn't suit most of us.

Barndog · 03-10-2013, 02:34 PM

There are many good rv's to choose from. I would suggest you attend a few rv trade shows or if your bones will take one or two more tent camping trips, go to a campground and just talk to the fellow campers. I went to multiple dealers before settling on my tt.

MSHappyCampers · 03-11-2013, 11:05 AM

We pulled a 36' 5er for 10 years before going to the Class A last year. We loved it! I personally would never pull a TT. I've seen too many of them fish-tailing on the road and we have some friends who rolled one before going to a MH!

I think going to a large RV show and spending a couple of days looking would be a good way to start!

Good luck, happy trails, and God bless!

Caveman CBB · 03-12-2013, 08:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MSHappyCampers

We pulled a 36' 5er for 10 years before going to the Class A last year. We loved it! I personally would never pull a TT. I've seen too many of them fish-tailing on the road and we have some friends who rolled one before going to a MH!

I think going to a large RV show and spending a couple of days looking would be a good way to start!

Good luck, happy trails, and God bless!

If they were fish tailing they had something terribly wrong. We have had trailers on the farm all my life and never had a problem. But, I have read about people with problems . A MH is nice but, you have all the extra maintanance of a whole nother drive train to keep up on. And, then you have to have a toad or else you are stuck at the park. A 5th wheel is not a bad way to go but, there are advantages and disadvantages to everything so to each his own.

MSHappyCampers · 03-12-2013, 08:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Caveman CBB

If they were fish tailing they had something terribly wrong. We have had trailers on the farm all my life and never had a problem. But, I have read about people with problems . A MH is nice but, you have all the extra maintanance of a whole nother drive train to keep up on. And, then you have to have a toad or else you are stuck at the park. A 5th wheel is not a bad way to go but, there are advantages and disadvantages to everything so to each his own.

I really should have clarified my statement. I have never pulled a TT and never would, but as you say, to each his own. I pulled three different 5ers for 11 years before getting the MH last year. The 5ers were rock solid at any speed with any road conditions behind my F250 PSD. JMHO