Looking for Empty-Nest'r RV

[MtBiker791]

Greetings RV family. My wife and I are days away from both of us being fully retired. I am very experienced in RV ownership, having RVs in my family and owning several in the last 20 years, but I need suggestions on our next RV. I want to converse with retired couples who are weekend/2-4 weeks travelers to see what they are pulling around.

I am looking to purchase a bumper pull in the 20-26 foot range. We want one large bed (I'm 6 ft tall) that is comfortable size, queen or RV king. We dont need bunk beds for additional kids or travelers and want to have that space for larger bath, kitchen and living space. In other words, made specific to husband/wife/dog happy campers.

if you reply, please let us know the year, make and model and how long you've owned it. After that, just tell us what you like or don't like about it. If you've seen one that you just love (someone else's) let us know that too. Thank you so much in advance.

[Sunnyfalls]

Same with us and here's what we did:

https://www.borstengineeringconstruction.com/Our_Los_Gatos_Casita_Spring_2023_Trip.pdf

Gayle & Bob
"Los Gatos Casita"

[Beamer2022]

When we became empty nesters, we bought what we thought would be the perfect, and last TT, and iGo. 3 years later, we traded it in. Being 6' 1" I hated the corner shower. The wife hated only having dinette seating, even though the table on it's own legs and could be moved around.

We got a KC Connect 261RB. GD Imagine has a very similar floor plan and I suspect others do too. The last 5 ft. of the TT is bathroom so large shower, double medicine chests over a large counter, and lots of storage. The up front bedroom has a full-size queen bed. The center section has the dinette and kitchen in the front half and twin recliners across from the fireplace and entertainment center with a walk in storage/pantry in the rear half.

The trailer is 7,000 GVWR so tongue weight can get up to 1200 lbs. depending on how and what you load and if you carry fresh water. Check your TV payload rating. Most 1/2 ton trucks don't have enough payload/cargo capacity for passengers, gear, and that much tongue weight. I highly recommend a 3/4 ton for towing this.

We've been towing with our 1500 Ram with 10,160 lbs. tow capacity, but only 1,289 lbs. cargo capacity for the last 4 years, so it's payload is overload every time we tow. We've done four 6-8 week trips and several 4-5 day local trips over the last couple of years. It tows OK if we keep the truck empty and watch how we load the trailer. Upgrading to a 3/4 ton this spring. We will not give up the TT. Love the floor plan and layout. Haven't found any TT we would consider upgrading to in the last 4 years.

[CecilD]

We fit your criteria as far as being retired and travel frequency. When we first retired eleven years ago, we had a 25 ft. Bigfoot (22' box) that we liked very much. Without slides, the trailer became too small real fast as our geezerly demands for comfort increased. its main downfall was a comfortable place to sit when it was raining, which is often where we live. We settled into a short fifth wheel, but that is a different story.

My must haves for a retirement rig are: A nap-worthy recliner, a really comfortable mattress, a roomy bathroom, and sufficient storage. My wife would add an agreeable kitchen, but I'm writing the post.

[Cumminsfan]

Have you looked at Northwood MFG and Outdoors RV?
ORV has a nice TT in the 26' range.
https://www.outdoorsrvmfg.com/timber-ridge-22fqs/

[db4570]

We have this one that we've owned for 2 years or so.


Forest River Wildwood 24RLXL.

We had pretty similar criteria. Big bathroom, manageable size, decent kitchen living space. We also wanted large windows. The bedroom is a little tight, but has a queen bed.

Easy to tow with a 1/2 ton or equivalent SUV.

It looks like Forest River doesn't list this model any more, but they do under the Salem brand, and it's the same camper.

[MtBiker791]

Beamer,

Thanks. I love the floor plan. This is the kind of respsonse we were hoping for; RV's being used in the manner we hope to use our future one. Thank you so much. TJ

[MtBiker791]

Thanks Cummins (have a 2003 Dodge 2500 with the 5.9 and I love it!
I found the Timber Ridge 24RLS to be real close to the floor plan we're looking for!

[MtBiker791]

DB, Thanks for your suggestion. I like the floor plan and I am going to research more under the Salem brand name. TJ

[JDT]

We've been empty nesters for years and thought we were done with that part of our life until we weren't. We have a Grand Design Imagine 2600RB on order. It's within specs for our F150 but I would think a 3/4 ton would be better. We have no more long trips in our future so I'm not too concerned as long as it handles and stops well. It's similar to the one Beamer22 has floorplan wise. A reclining love seat and full size queen bed was an absolute must, which it has.

To keep weight down I'm going with a single lithium battery at 45 pounds vs the 2 Group 27 lead acids at 75 each the dealer ordinarily installs and a lighter weight Anderson weight distribution hitch. We got rid of most of our rv stuff when we sold our fifth wheel and F350 last fall. We are going lightweight as possible as we decide what we absolutely must carry with us.

[CharlesinGA]

The bed requirement may be the limiting factor. I was going to suggest the 25 ft Bigfoot but its either a Queen or Twin setup. King beds are difficult to find in trailers. The BF 25 ft has a section of couch extending past the dinette, but no recliner. (I love a dinette and have no use for recliners).

There may be an Airstream that fits the bill. Several different 25 ft models and floorplans.

Charles

[Sunnyfalls]

Our 17 feet, 2480 pound fiberglass Casita Liberty trailer has the highly desirable north-south king size bed configuration (i.e., which enables going to the bathroom in middle of night without disturbing your partner), but we modified it by adding a cabinet (for both tongue weight reducing storage capability and to create a space for a large cat litter box) which thereby divided it into two separate sleeping berths. A king size bed is very difficult to sheet/blanket unless you can walk around it. And we wanted to always be able to sleep and dine inside our trailer without needing to reconfigure anything. And perhaps most importantly, we wanted a trailer that we could easily tow and get mid 20s MPG as we often travel far and often very remote...currently in Costa Rica. Details and photos of our travels and trailer modifications can be found by Googling our trailer name if interested.

Gayle & Bob
"Los Gatos Casita"

[fluffywhtdgs]

I have a Heartland North Trail 21RBSS and love it. It may be too snug for longer trips for a couple but there are a couple models up from it but still under 26' and they all have king beds.

[JDT]

Originally Posted by Sunnyfalls

Our 17 feet, 2480 pound fiberglass Casita Liberty trailer has the highly desirable north-south king size bed configuration (i.e., which enables going to the bathroom in middle of night without disturbing your partner), but we modified it by adding a cabinet (for both tongue weight reducing storage capability and to create a space for a large cat litter box) which thereby divided it into two separate sleeping berths. A king size bed is very difficult to sheet/blanket unless you can walk around it. And we wanted to always be able to sleep and dine inside our trailer without needing to reconfigure anything. And perhaps most importantly, we wanted a trailer that we could easily tow and get mid 20s MPG as we often travel far and often very remote...currently in Costa Rica. Details and photos of our travels and trailer modifications can be found by Googling our trailer name if interested.

Gayle & Bob
"Los Gatos Casita"

An electric bidet? I'm envious. We have 3 of those at home and will have one in the new trailer. I think it will be the old fashioned kind since no outlet nearby.