Smaller TTs fading away?

[1bigmess]

I've had my OR 19B for a few days now, already full timing in it. The dog and I have plenty of room and all the amenities we need, we sleep well after replacing the queen sized foam pad with a real mattress, and the only problem so far has been adjusting the pressure switch on the water pump.

It's a keeper.

[Mr_D]

Originally Posted by popcan

Well, you are certainly doing your part!

Yep, 55+ years of it!

[lgarcia]

We got a 14ft Dutchmen 4 years ago and just upgraded to an 18ft Shasta with bunk beds.

Feels like the Ritz to us. Went from sleeping on the dinette and having only a tiny love seat to a dedicated seating area - we take out the dinette table and use small folding tables for even more room - and a real queen bed. Our old shower was the shallow stall type, and this one has the deeper tub.

We looked at a 21ft Catalina and a 24ft Grey Wolfe, but didn't need all the features, or the extra cost.

Felt it was one of the best constructed 18ft we looked at.

[scbwr]

Market demand impacts what is available to some degree. The emergence of the hybrid travel trailer has resulted in far fewer popup trailers on the market (in my opinion). Customer demand has resulted in a market flooded with longer, larger and cheaper travel trailers. We've seen companies that made only higher quality trailers go out of business, especially during the recession. The RV industry is a tricky one. On one hand, larger companies are able to offer products in different sizes and formats. Then, there are some companies that are doing well offering specialized products. The only thing consumers can count on is that the availability of different types of products will continue to evolve. And, hopefully, new innovations will improve the products available.

[TDI-Minnie]

I would add that the ever expanding medium size SUV market will help the small TT business. If you can tow a camper with the family daily deiver, and that camper only costs around $15k new, there is going to be a lot more of them around.

[1bigmess]

There's a gal in Vancouver WA that restored one old travel trailer and turned it into a rolling bar that she calls the "Tin-Cantina". Another one she vacations in and rents out.

[chaps2018]

The April 2015 issue of trailer life has a spread on smaller trailers called "its a small world"

[stormrider15]

We recently downsized to a 27 ft. trailer for the ease of towing and it opened up a lot of sites that we couldn't get into before. We are now building a 5' X 8' teardrop so we can get back to real camping (sort of). I'm guessing it will see more use than the TT.

[Cliffy]

Had a fold out tent trailer 40 yrs ago. Had a Class A 28 ftr 10 yrs ago and now we love our little 20 ft box 39 yr old TT. It has everything we need for two. Dragged it 12,000 miles last year over 14 or so weeks. Narry a problem.

[LittleHouse]

A smaller trailer can get into more spots. We like provincial park camping. As long as we have electric and a place to dump it's our main needs. Only the 2 of us plus the chi so our 18 ft is roomy enough, but we do see a lot of larger ones out there. Saw the most tent trailers ever at Bon Echo. Everyone was having a great time.


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[joss]

I think slideouts in the shorter tt's have pulled in a lot of buyers [like me]... being on these trailers sites ...like forest river and googling rigs that people are talking about made me realize now [after pulling my 21 fter 8000 miles and some 20 nights] that I had i spent a little more time on research, even tho I love my 2015 rockwood 2109s I would have bought maybe 6 ft longer which offers way more floor plans...but this baby is gonna have to do...the ol upgrade aint gonna happen ..... say again...whats that you're sayin...lil man on my shoulder speaking ! .

[Wild Card]

Originally Posted by joss

I think slideouts in the shorter tt's have pulled in a lot of buyers [like me]... being on these trailers sites ...like forest river and googling rigs that people are talking about made me realize now [after pulling my 21 fter 8000 miles and some 20 nights] that I had i spent a little more time on research, even tho I love my 2015 rockwood 2109s I would have bought maybe 6 ft longer which offers way more floor plans...but this baby is gonna have to do...the ol upgrade aint gonna happen ..... say again...whats that you're sayin...lil man on my shoulder speaking ! .

Yeah, within 4 yr I went from tent, used tt, used th,new th to big new th...then new tow vehicle.

I sold my offshore fishing boat and Harley to spend quality time with the family in the great oitdoors. Offshore fishing was cheaper...

[buddaman]

Just picked up a nomad 170 19ft with a couch slide more room than our old 22 ft and a lot lighter

[Intothewild]

I bought a 2014 skyline weekender 170 with the couch slide out and we love it. We have been on 6 trips this year so far and can't wait for the next