Travel trailer experiences?

[Mavster Mechanic]

I'm definitely playing the long game- no rush here at all. At the moment I'm trying to get an idea of what my reasonable options are. I see that despite the 4k towing, these have a maximum frontal trailer size of around 40 sq ft, which limits quite a few models.

That is the "no compromise" any speed value.

You can go much larger if you are willing to SLOW DOWN.

This is fine, at 62 MPH (100 kph) and under. Hybrid too!

Ideal size for a couple and a dog or two. Entry level. Basic construction.
2750 lbs dry. Tows better wet.

The "ballast" makes it feel more stable to me. Not a luxurious trailer. But priced right at $15,000 before tax.

17RX (light version is ~250 lbs lighter so basically you can take water with no weight penalty)

Sponsored

 

[NeoPhoenix83]

That is the "no compromise" any speed value.

You can go much larger if you are willing to SLOW DOWN.

This is fine, at 62 MPH (100 kph) and under. Hybrid too!

Is that the 17BX/RX? That looks a lot bigger than a 2,700ish lb camper!

 

[Mavster Mechanic]

Is that the 17BX/RX? That looks a lot bigger than a 2,700ish lb camper!

Yes. See my revision above.

I brought it home empty and dry in a 20-25 MPH crosswind and it was uncomfortable.

Never been in wind more than that.
But have towed it about 2,000 miles since.

 

[NeoPhoenix83]

Yes. See my revision above.

I brought it home empty and dry in a 20-25 MPH crosswind and it was uncomfortable.

Never been in wind more than that.
But have towed it about 2,000 miles since.

Interesting. That's a really cool camper, but it does track into the fear I have going hard sided. I do a lot of my camping in the northern midwest, IL, MI, WI. While I personally don't mind slowing down, going 55 through Chicago or in the UP of Michigan can feel pretty unsafe at times when traffic around me is going 80+ and I'm just trying not to get run down going 70 towing what I have now.

Add onto that, parts of especially Michigan (not to mention the Mackinaw Bridge) can get insanely windy. If going 55 in good conditions is the limit, then it probably won't meet the needs for some of the places I travel.

I'm really glad it's working for you, and this is the discussion I want to have about the various options and their limits. I probably need to go with something lower profile than that to safely (and calmly) get where I want to go.

 

[Backin15]

Our Grand Cherokee pulls our Rpod effortlessly, but it has a V8 and the high rear end helps with diverting the air over the trailer. I am selling it in the spring, we just dont use it enough but I am going to tow it with the Maverick before I do, I am really curious how it will handle it. I think if I was looking for a camper that would do well with it I would go with a hardside popup like an Aliner or a trailmanor.

 

[NeoPhoenix83]

Our Grand Cherokee pulls our Rpod effortlessly, but it has a V8 and the high rear end helps with diverting the air over the trailer. I am selling it in the spring, we just dont use it enough but I am going to tow it with the Maverick before I do, I am really curious how it will handle it. I think if I was looking for a camper that would do well with it I would go with a hardside popup like an Aliner or a trailmanor.

You'll have to let me know on the rPod. The smaller ones at least seem to be ideal for towing with a Maverick, but real world experience is much appreciated!

I forgot about Trailmanor. Those things are cool, though I don't know much about them at all. I'll bookmark that for future research.

I've honestly not heard great things about the A liners. It would solve the bed issue I have - but the shape makes them seem smaller than they are, and I've heard a lot of stories about how if they twist even a little, the walls don't line up and they won't seal against the rain. Additionally, even the nicest ones don't really have the amenities to justify the price/size.

Time to do some added research though, you are reminding me that there is a glut of non-traditional "pop up" campers that are coming onto the market that I need to look into. I briefly considered them before I bought my pop up, but with a pretty strict comfortable weight limit of 2,000 lbs previously, I disregarded them.

 

[Mavster Mechanic]

R-Pods are a nice choice.
I almost got a 5 year old used one for $15k.

But the allure of "brand new with warranty" for $15k got me into what I have. I'm happy with it.

62 maybe 65 mph is about it.
55 is very comfortable.
45 I don't even know it's there and truck rpms are low. It has trailer brakes.

I use the interstates least possible.
Many state highways are 55 mph.
I can go 62 and not bother people too much.

 

[Nw_adventure]

You'll have to let me know on the rPod. The smaller ones at least seem to be ideal for towing with a Maverick, but real world experience is much appreciated!

I forgot about Trailmanor. Those things are cool, though I don't know much about them at all. I'll bookmark that for future research.

I've honestly not heard great things about the A liners. It would solve the bed issue I have - but the shape makes them seem smaller than they are, and I've heard a lot of stories about how if they twist even a little, the walls don't line up and they won't seal against the rain. Additionally, even the nicest ones don't really have the amenities to justify the price/size.

Time to do some added research though, you are reminding me that there is a glut of non-traditional "pop up" campers that are coming onto the market that I need to look into. I briefly considered them before I bought my pop up, but with a pretty strict comfortable weight limit of 2,000 lbs previously, I disregarded them.

Spent a couple years getting info on trailers from folks who had years of experience- I kept hearing to buy your 2nd trailer first and I guess that does make sense. We really like some of the features of the A/frames but the toilet with just a curtain was a hard no for the wife - A friend said they bought a new A/frame and returned it after one weekend of use since they had to pack it up in a rainstorm and if its not perfectly level the sides don't seal and bugs get in- etc- The last thing I want to do after 3 + hours of towing is having to worry that the sides will not hinge together.

We really wanted two sperate sleeping and sitting spaces and that's a rare fine under 15 feet-

The newer Rove travel light trailers have some pretty good features and layouts without being 35K - Also liked the Modern Buggy trailer but they usually just have a single king bed but seem to be built well-

 

[Ranko Kohime]

If you are willing to drive 55 (MPH) you can tow almost anything.

Fact Check: True!

 

[Ranko Kohime]

Interesting. That's a really cool camper, but it does track into the fear I have going hard sided. I do a lot of my camping in the northern midwest, IL, MI, WI. While I personally don't mind slowing down, going 55 through Chicago or in the UP of Michigan can feel pretty unsafe at times when traffic around me is going 80+ and I'm just trying not to get run down going 70 towing what I have now.

Add onto that, parts of especially Michigan (not to mention the Mackinaw Bridge) can get insanely windy. If going 55 in good conditions is the limit, then it probably won't meet the needs for some of the places I travel.

This is when you go into whichever maps you use, Apple or Google, and tap that "Avoid Highways" toggle.

25' empty cargo trailers have a LOT of torque on the ass end, which is especially bad with semis passing. Get off the highway, take the path less traveled, and that immediately changes. Especially if the change gives you some forest-type protection from the wind. I do this for my business, where time is money, it's a no-brainer when the whole point of the trip is to stop and smell the roses.

 

[NeoPhoenix83]

This is when you go into whichever maps you use, Apple or Google, and tap that "Avoid Highways" toggle.

25' empty cargo trailers have a LOT of torque on the ass end, which is especially bad with semis passing. Get off the highway, take the path less traveled, and that immediately changes. Especially if the change gives you some forest-type protection from the wind. I do this for my business, where time is money, it's a no-brainer when the whole point of the trip is to stop and smell the roses.

I love the idea. But at the same time I just can't do that all the time.

This is when you go into whichever maps you use, Apple or Google, and tap that "Avoid Highways" toggle.

25' empty cargo trailers have a LOT of torque on the ass end, which is especially bad with semis passing. Get off the highway, take the path less traveled, and that immediately changes. Especially if the change gives you some forest-type protection from the wind. I do this for my business, where time is money, it's a no-brainer when the whole point of the trip is to stop and smell the roses.

Trust me, I like the sentiment, I really do.

But for instance if I want to go to Wisconsin Dells, it would take me 4 hours and 45 minutes with my current trailer.

To both slow to 55 and try and route around Chicago and major interstates? We are doubling that time. What was a long weekend trip is now not possible.

Additionally, to get to the UP, I have to cross the Mackinaw Bridge, which regularly is subject to high winds. If I can't tow across that bridge, I've lost most of my favorite places to go.

I don't need to be a speed demon. But I really need to comfortably tow on any roads at a speed that's reasonable for surrounding traffic. I can do that now with the pop up, and for my purposes, it's not something I'm willing to let go of.

 

[Mavster Mechanic]

I love the idea. But at the same time I just can't do that all the time.


Trust me, I like the sentiment, I really do.

But for instance if I want to go to Wisconsin Dells, it would take me 4 hours and 45 minutes with my current trailer.

To both slow to 55 and try and route around Chicago and major interstates? We are doubling that time. What was a long weekend trip is now not possible.

Additionally, to get to the UP, I have to cross the Mackinaw Bridge, which regularly is subject to high winds. If I can't tow across that bridge, I've lost most of my favorite places to go.

I don't need to be a speed demon. But I really need to comfortably tow on any roads at a speed that's reasonable for surrounding traffic. I can do that now with the pop up, and for my purposes, it's not something I'm willing to let go of.

So you have decided you want a small teardrop trailer or a larger truck.

Indecision is the worst.

 

[Escapologist]

95% of the time, you see dual axles in the pic of the trailer and think "Nah, gonna be too heavy" since they are probably 3500, 4000, even 5000lb axles... but there's that 5% ...

It used to be more common before the 2000s that they'd use two 2400lb axles and smaller wheels to limit wheelarch intrusion and offer flatter floor, I think there were a number of small dual axles between 60s and late 80s. The last of the holdouts for common brands was the Fleetwood Prowlers, where they had some 16ft dual axles in the mid 1980s, among larger sizes.

Now if you have a dual axle that only weighs around 2000lb, it has a special talent for Mav owners. In Ontario and I think 20ish of the states, you can dual tow with a truck and a dual axle with brakes. Meaning you can put a hitch on the back of the trailer and put another trailer on the back. Subject to total length and total weight limits, but this would be way below them. So light two axle, which are hard to find, and you can pull a small sailing dinghy, tinner, single jetski, atv on minimal flatbed etc behind the camper.... though many think that this isn't a particularly good idea even with 5th wheels and HD pickups. Hence why it's banned in some states.

But ignoring that oddity, there are a handful of 3000lb or so dual axles, more in the Prowler range at 20ft or so. I think maybe Taylor Coach has been offering a lighter dual option until recently. There was also a relatively massive dual axle popup, but even though it's a popup weight was 3500 or so dry I think so not a real contender for us. One I had my eye out for for years is the 23ft Award, which was only made a few years in middle of 90s. Those were supposed to be high quality, but every one I've come across has been pretty messed up. IDK if by wear or the propensity of ppl to want to "modernise" something by making it worse than it was, so many ppl overestimate their skills at redoing campers, "I can tape drywall so I can redo a camper". The particular appeal of that one is that it has good frontal aerodynamics and rides low.

 

[NeoPhoenix83]

So you have decided you want a small teardrop trailer or a larger truck.

Indecision is the worst.

A larger truck won't happen.

Much of what this post is about is trying to decide on what might be the largest trailer I can safely tow on normal roads at something close to to speed limit.

One of the points that seems important here is the wind resistance of the trailer. There are certainly trailers (the Scamp or Rove for instance) that have a much lower wind resistance than the boxier shaped trailers.

 

[BLUEOVALRACER]

I just bought this last month after alot of reserach, visiting RV dealers, and decades of towing experience. Trailer comes in at 2680lbs unloaded and scaled it at 2755lbs, propane tank and battery only in it when I picked it up and camped with it for a weekend. Towed it 650 miles, got 16-18 mpg on the ScanGuage, pushing it through hills and highways just for kicks and the truck performed flawlessly. 60mph is the sweet spot for highway mpg's. Since then, it's minimally loaded with essentials, hoses, tools, etc. and a TV. and got the same MPG's on two 100 mile trips through the hills of VA. There was little to no sway on the highways with trucks passing and the built-in brake/sway control did what its supposed to, so I don't feel a WDH or sway bar is needed, but you do what you're comfortable with. Next trip is 2500 miles and can't wait. It's a KZ Sportsmen 130RD and is perfect for us empty nesters. The RV industry is adapting to lighter weight trailers, so keep researching and good luck!

Do You have any inside pictures of this?Thanks

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