Also check out the Forest River 240BHXL and 263BHXL. The 240BHXL does not have the couch. I think you would be hard pressed to load up either of these over the 7K weight. The overall length of the 263BHXL is over the 30' mark, but to squeeze a couch and dinette table with bunks, I think 30 foot is tough to meet. That Grand Design is pretty nice looking floor plan. Which I had seen one of those when we were looking - probably still prefer my 263BHXL.
When looking for space for 2 adults, 5 kids, and a dog, having a slide to create a more roomy layout is going to be nice to have. We can put our dogs in a kennel if we need to isolate to calm them down.
Be aware, the bunks and queen size bed are okay to sleep on, but converting the versalounger to a bed, or the dinette, not the most comfortable. I do like how the Grand Design has a more open bunk for air flow - the 263BHXL bunks are pretty enclosed, could be claustrophobic for some.
Depending on the size of kids, the u-shaped dinette on the 263BHXL will probably seat everyone. The separate door into the bathroom allows a place to clean up the dog or kids before turning them loose in the main cabin. On the 263BHXL, you can access the entire cabin without having to extend the slide. Not sure on the 240BHXL layout.
I am towing the 263BHXL with a Silverado 1500 CCSB, 5.3L V8. It is the max I would want to tow, anything more and you are in 3/4 or 1 ton range, I believe. Not sure where my comfort level would fall with a Suburban.
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2020 Chevy Silverado 1500
Forest River Wildwood XLite 263BHXL
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