Howdy howdy

[DeadGrandpa]

OK, I'm officially in the RV community, after several months of research. I bought my first RV, a 2015 Camplite 21RBS travel trailer. It fit the first three most important criteria: 1) My Tundra can pull the 5000 lbs GVWR with ease; no truck upgrade is necessary; 2) The Camplite design, structure and build quality appear to be superior to most other brands of similar size/price; and 3) It fits in my RV garage.

I did make one strategic mistake in the purchase: it wasn't possible to include the fiancee in the decision to buy this particular trailer, or even to buy this size trailer. Previous discussions focused on larger 5th wheels, and then smaller fifth wheels, and the requisite truck upgrade and the financial ramifications thereof. I found it necessary to make an 'executive decision' on a travel trailer from a private seller, and life since that decision has become 'more interesting'. Logic tells me I made the correct decision to purchase. My gut tells me that actions have consequences. I'm looking forward to learning more about the RV lifestyle and going camping.

[Desert Flyer]

Oops! Those pesky life lessons. Don’t worry...it won’t be your last. I’m still “learning” after 32 years of marriage. I had to learn that large purchase decisions must be made together, even if you don’t think your partner has much basis to make a decision. Obviously, your fiance feels slighted or unimportant. You need to trust her...that’s what marriage is all about.

Part of me says you should offer to sell the TT right away and then you two go “re-shopping”. Another part of me says you go camping (if she even joins you) for a year and you both learn what you like/don’t like about this unit with the promise you will sell and buy exactly what you BOTH have decided would be perfect. No expert here...just two thoughts.

Good luck.

[DeadGrandpa]

Well, a funny thing happened when we made our next trip to our brick and stick house. We'd had the floors refinished and they weren't quite dry. The fumes were intolerable. We retired to the RV garage where we installed mattress cover, sheets, blankets and a space heater. We still had to use the facilities in the house, since the trailer had been winterized, but that was a short walk. I explained that, with all the expenses of the last few months adding up, THIS trailer was affordable and would allow us to access more remote areas than the bigger options that we had talked about. I had judged that this was the smallest option that she would find acceptable. In addition, the build quality blah blah blah and the trailer should hold its value better than most others that size, and we can upgrade in a year or two.

The next morning, she declared that she loved the mattress (a memory foam upgrade by the previous owner). The jury is still out regarding the storage, the kitchen area functionality and overall livability, but she has a positive outlook. Can't ask for more than that. And she had to admit that it's a big upgrade from backpacking or even car camping, and sleeping in a tent on the ground.