Beginner Camper

[ADKHTR]

Can you call my wife and tell her this?? Sounds exactly like what I've been saying for the past year, but she won't listen to me. The only thing I've really considered is something like an Intech Discover but they aren't cheap for what they are.

I'd much rather do a few VRBOs or AirBnBs every summer instead of getting a camper. I swear my neighbors spend as much time packing and unpacking the camper as they do actually camping.

You are 100% correct and trust me when I say the day my wife finally let me sell our camper was one of the best days of my life I was never so happy to get that thing out of my driveway and life forever, and lucky for me it was during Covid and I broke even on it because of the RV shortage.

 

[jKsled]

Good advice above... from money pit to worth it. Only you can determine if it's worth it or your money.

We rented for a few trips, then found a 20ft single axle for $8k. I wouldn't jump in higher than that without knowing you'll use it.

The kids absolutely love it, and it enables trips that would be too costly otherwise between airfare, hotels, and packing our own food. We haven't used it for local camping at all, only 1-2 big road trips a year. We've taken it all over the US and Canada with 3 kids and dog. We probably "broke even" after 6 weeks of use. But I've been lucky that I have the vacation time and my wife homeschools so longer trips are possible. It probably gets used even more at home as a "guesthouse" for family when they visit.

I really like the size. I did have to upgrade the axle as I bent the stock one. I wouldn't mind a 2nd axle for better handling and peace of mind, but the single is also nice and light and maneuverable. I'd say that ~20ft range is best for practicality. You'll want to budget some for a generator, tires/brakes, cookware set, bike rack, generator rack, etc.

If you think you'll use it, have the cash, and the family is open to it, you'll make some great memories

 

[CHSD]

I appreciate the above advice. We currently have an 04 silverado 1500. Is that enough truck to pull a camper? I don't really want to buy a new truck just to pull a camper.

 

[KurtR]

Lived on the road for 5 years living in a camper. Had a piece of garbage 5th wheel the first couple years and it sucked to pull with a half ton and roof leaked and half the stuff didnt work but it was cheap. Then got a brand new 18 ft dutchman with no slide pulled way better and i had upgraded to a 3/4 ton. We live 1 mile from a camp ground on the lake and everyone from town goes out there they spend more time running to town than camping. I hated doing that. I can have a fire and drink beer just the same on my deck as thats about all any one does camping here. Your always fixing something even when new. I was never so happy when my wife wanted to sell it. If you can just rent one and see if its worth even buying.

 

[S-3 ranch]

I appreciate the above advice. We currently have an 04 silverado 1500. Is that enough truck to pull a camper? I don't really want to buy a new truck just to pull a camper.

Definitely depends on your location, I am in the Texas hill country and when driving down I-10 see some real crazy stuff, with people and travel trailers
A 1/2 ton imo doesn’t cut it when hills, cross winds, head winds are involved.
Even driving down on the gulf coast where 15-25 mph head winds are common, a 3/4 - 1 ton diesel pulls a 25+ ft trailer much safer
Are you going to be happy driving 50 mph up hill engine red lined for hours
White knuckles fighting wind and traffic

 

[displacedtexan]

I would look for 4 seasons, and something bigger than you think you'll want. Don't try to shoehorn yourself into it. Bunkhouse models work great. You will spend another $1k or more just getting essentials to run a camper: hoses, jack plates, camper silverware, etc.

That's the part I think most people forget. For it to be convenient you basically need another set of sheets, towels, plates, silverware, cups, pans, spices...

We have one, we love it.

Serves as guest quarters, and I use it traveling for work. We tend to travel far enough that a hotel/Air B&B is still cheaper than the fuel.

We actually don't use it for recreational camping. We still use tents, hammocks, and the back of her Subaru for that.

 

[AZ8]

Make sure you have a place to store it.

There's nothing more demoralizing than paying a monthly storage fee on a item you'll use a couple times a years. After the first handful of checks, you'll get jaded quick.

I paid rent for over a year on my trailer to basically sit on dirt, while the storage owner cashed my check. Pissed me off to no end.. haha.

 

[Harvey_NW]

I'll echo what others have said about not all campers are built the same. I went from a newer single axle Jayco Jay Flight Baja that just seemed cheapo but was ultralight, to a Forest River Surveyor that is built stout with aluminum studs. I love mine, because I camp in places where there are no resources. There's nothing better than having a comfortable place to cook, eat, sleep, crap, and shower if you need, especially during a hunt.

My advice - do your research on the specific brand and model before considering buying. RV forums are wealthy with info. I also suggest tandem axle, arctic package if you plan on camping in colder weather because the skimpy insulated ones will blow through propane, and something with 1 main slide for some breathing room in the main area to cook and eat.

Also, it's not always as bad as people say for maintenance. I usually winterize mine but last year I had a main water line leaking and the p-trap to the tub broke somehow and thought I was screwed. Called the local RV service shop and they replaced all the water line connection fittings, installed a new p-trap, winterized it, and even washed it for me, for $300. There's still some honest outfits out there.

 

[AG8]

I appreciate the above advice. We currently have an 04 silverado 1500. Is that enough truck to pull a camper? I don't really want to buy a new truck just to pull a camper.

It is all about the payload numbers. Forget about any ‘towing capacity’ numbers on trucks, as they really dont matter in the rv world. The payload will be exceeded long before towing capacity with a normal travel trailer setup. Same goes for published tongue weights on the trailer. They are weighed completely empty from the factory (as in, not even batteries or propane tanks, to say nothing of water or your own stuff). For safe/stable towing, you need between 10 and 15% of total weight on the tongue (otherwise you will run into serious sway and control issues, particularly if you come in too light). Take the trailers GVWR number from its sticker to assume maximum expected weight, use 12.5% as a sweet spot, and compare that number against the trucks payload sticker (remembering to also subtract out the actual weight of the family, the dog, and whatever else you throw in the truck). There are many other factors to get off in the weeds on (weight distributing hitches, air bags, and on and on) but this will get you to know if your truck is in the right ball park for a given model of trailer, or what you need to be looking for.

 

[Felix40]

I see once again that my way of thinking is in the minority. When I think of a camper, I think of a shell with a couple beds in it. There’s a lot of talk about spending more than $10k, insurance, winterizing, needing a big truck, spending $1k on accessories like bedding and silverware.

It’s no wonder everyone hates campers if that’s how everyone is doing it. I would never spend enough on one to feel like I need insurance. I have no interest in the hassle of plumbing for a bathroom. I was able to pull my last camper with a Frontier VERY easily because it was light. We got our dishes at a thrift store for almost nothing. We already own more blankets than we need so it was easy to just put extras in the camper.

 

[brca005]

It is all about the payload numbers. Forget about any ‘towing capacity’ numbers on trucks, as they really dont matter in the rv world. The payload will be exceeded long before towing capacity with a normal travel trailer setup. Same goes for published tongue weights on the trailer. They are weighed completely empty from the factory (as in, not even batteries or propane tanks, to say nothing of water or your own stuff). For safe/stable towing, you need between 10 and 15% of total weight on the tongue (otherwise you will run into serious sway and control issues, particularly if you come in too light). Take the trailers GVWR number from its sticker to assume maximum expected weight, use 12.5% as a sweet spot, and compare that number against the trucks payload sticker (remembering to also subtract out the actual weight of the family, the dog, and whatever else you throw in the truck). There are many other factors to get off in the weeds on (weight distributing hitches, air bags, and on and on) but this will get you to know if your truck is in the right ball park for a given model of trailer, or what you need to be looking for.

This is gold here!

The 3 numbers you have to align are payload, gross combined vehicle weight (truck and trailer) and towing capacity. As mentioned, the payload will be the first to be at capacity and also the most important one to follow, I learned the hard way and I had to go buy a new truck because of it. The towing capacity and GCVW are cool to see, sure I had a truck that rated pull 32K and GCVW of 40K, but with our 16K fifth wheel, I almost maxed out the payload with a F350 dually, it’s silly.

And it doesn’t matter if you upgrade your suspension and put air bags on your truck, the insurance company will only care about that sticker on your truck door if something happens and they’ll be more than happy to tell you, you were overloaded and have fun paying out of pocket on it.

There’s a lot of great advice throughout this thread but at the end of the day, you’re the only one who can make the decision.

A couple YouTube channels I watched regularly or were resources when we had ours was Rigor RV Repair, he’s a little doom and gloom, that all RV’s are garbage, but there’s a lot to learn from him and WhyWait, he’s got a lot of maintenance stuff on his channel, a third one is RV Tips and Travels, he does a lot of maintenance stuff on there and is another great resource.

There’s a zillion YouTube channels out there but those 3 were the ones I found to be most helpful.

 

[judah1991]

As previously stated I would rent one for a few weekends first and make sure the juice is worth the squeeze. I bought one four years ago when my wife said she’d enjoy weekends away. 2 more baby’s later and we used it all of three weekends in three years. Sold it last year for a loss.

 

[180ls1]

Save budget for bearing buddies. Its a massive headache when they dry out and leave you stranded.

https://www.amazon.com/Bearing-Buddy-42204-1980A-Clam/dp/B003Q3JSSI/ref=asc_df_B003Q3JSSI?mcid=8e1fa466e3bd3a63a496c1d988e1dcf3&hvocijid=13878271957634260571-B003Q3JSSI-&hvexpln=73&tag=hyprod-20&linkCode=df0&hvadid=721245378154&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=13878271957634260571&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9031309&hvtargid=pla-2281435177418&psc=1

 

[IDVortex]

Id buy one without the intention of keeping it.

Get one that'll make do, try it out for a year than decide to upgrade or not.

Wife and I would love to buy one. Something small to use for hunting, or a quick weekend get away with our dog or if we have kids. But we won't go buy a fancy one. Like Corb said, people have intentions until the new car smell wears off.

Like said before, get tandems. I'd even look at flipping axles to for better ground clearance. And stick rollers on the back bumper.

Do a test camping trip in your driveway before you take the wife and kids out for a weekend thinking it'll be a wonderful time and nothing works on the camper and the entire trip is a rain storm to boot.

 

[cnelk]

Camp trailers are just like boats.

There are 2 days you remember the best.

The day you buy it and the day you sell it

 

[tony]

Like your parents, or you and the lady?
What are you using to pull it?
This is what I want. Course it’s me, my gal and a Doberman

RŎG 12RK – Encore-RV

encore-rv.com

She needs a bathroom though

 

[hunt1up]

I got on a camper kick in 2017. We have a permanent shelter and dock at a local river and I just HADDDD to have a camper. The kids will love it! Tried it for 2 summers. It was a 26” bunkhouse with no slides. I think I paid $15,000 for it new, before prices went crazy. Most of those run of the mill campers are total pieces of crap. Just a flimsy tin can with plastic junk throughout. It quickly lost its luster. Covid happened and people couldn’t get campers and I sold it for a $3000 profit. I might be the only person to make money on a camper.

Some people love them but I don’t see the appeal. Now, when the kids are grown I could see me and the wife getting a quality made small RV, like the Sprinter van sized ones. Something efficient and small that we can both easily drive.

I have a friend who saw my pain with the camper I had. He has 4 kids and he just rents one for a week a year and loves it. But he has no desire to own one. Drop it back off to the owner and drive home.

Everyone is different though. I hated my camper, and our pool, but I’ll never be without my boat.

 

[signing off]

We have had camping and campers in our extended family growing up. Like hunting, it allows you to be in a place of your choosing.
Just came back from a California trip and saw state park sites just feet away from the Pacific. And here in MO, I took my enclosed trailer a half hour drive down a forest road to a wee little creek for a weekend of ATV riding. Variety is so wide, you better hammer down to the REAL usage vs what if usage.

Due to maintenance and shoddy builds, I lean towards built out box trailer builds. Or sprinter vans.