Tow behind RV

[jimcasey01]

What input do you all have for an RV that can be pulled behind a 1/2-3/4 ton truck, sleep 2 comfortably (couple) with an occasional 3rd person for 4-5 days at a time, or any models to avoid. Or would I be better off getting a utility trailer and finishing the interior myself. I worked/lived on boats for a while, so my skill set is up to it, even if my age is not.

 

[TAJ45]

I've been pondering a bit myself but want two axles.....on a small one, prefer a pop up or crank up style. Glad you asked as I know I'll learn a lot.

 

[Jdne5b]

You'll need to make some decisions. Half or 3/4 ton? How heavy or long do you want it? A lot of options for half ton, even more for 3/4.

How much extra space do you need?

Do you need a decent living area or mainly just looking for a place to sleep?
Are you good putting guests on a fold out couch or do you want them to have their own room? Are the guests kids or adults?
These questions will help you on a floor plan and size.

All brands have lemons. Everyone has their favorite or the one they like to hate on(like factory rifles). They are made quick with cheap and light materials so people can tow 30fters with half tons. Look for reviews of local dealers. If you find a good one, I'd probably pick a brand they sold. If you need service you'll be glad to have a good dealer.

Grand Design, Jayco, Forrest River would be where I would start. Forrest River makes a ton of brands, the higher end have a little better quality.

 

[jimcasey01]

You'll need to make some decisions. Half or 3/4 ton? How heavy or long do you want it? A lot of options for half ton, even more for 3/4.

How much extra space do you need?

Do you need a decent living area or mainly just looking for a place to sleep?
Are you good putting guests on a fold out couch or do you want them to have their own room? Are the guests kids or adults?
These questions will help you on a floor plan and size.

All brands have lemons. Everyone has their favorite or the one they like to hate on(like factory rifles). They are made quick with cheap and light materials so people can tow 30fters with half tons. Look for reviews of local dealers. If you find a good one, I'd probably pick a brand they sold. If you need service you'll be glad to have a good dealer.

Grand Design, Jayco, Forrest River would be where I would start. Forrest River makes a ton of brands, the higher end have a little better quality.

My wife and myself are very basic. If a 3rd person is along, they will have to deal with it.

 

[Tommie]

Rent

 

[Mark W]

Here’s my 2015 23’ Jayco. I’ve had it from a Wyoming to Florida with no complaints. They are all cheaply built with light weight as an excuse. You have to stay on top of your maintenance. I went with aluminum sides because I’ve saw too many fiberglass ones delaminated.

 

[riverwolf1]

After 3 5th wheels, which towed fine with an F-250 with a Diesel and another with a V-10(8mpg) we settled on this and it is very comfortable. king rv bed, nice dining area for 4 and we pulled out a love seat and installed 2 rv recliners.
The bonus for me is the front loading cargo bay with a couple of mods is a complete loading room with all the amenities. Dry weight 6600# and loaded weight around 9300#. We also had another couple that stayed with us at a couple of matches, close quarters but everyone survived, due to the high consumption of wine!
We tow this with a F-350 6.2L engine, and it’s been towed cross country twice.

 

[Dusty Stevens]

Having used campers to go to matches and motorcycle drag races for 20+ yrs from coast to coast all i can offer is if the dealer says its half ton towable either leave or get a 3/4ton. If your truck is rated to pull 7500 get one that weighs 4000. Campers are like boats- buy one a year old already hit with the price drop, and its got the same motto- 2 best days are the day you buy it and the day you sell it. Get the roof professionally resealed at 5yrs or less and dont carry more junk youll never need. For a vacation going across the country youll be cheaper renting a car and staying in hotels once you pay for the 8mpg and blown tires- but it sure is fun. My last one was a montana and got washed away in the keys in the last hurricane. Now i have a windjammer bumper pull- very nice for the money plus tons of storage. Forest river is the brand i recommend for the mid range stuff. Rockwoods are my choice there. Even the cheaper salem line are pretty good units

 

[Buzz]

I've been looking myself, unfortunately it seems like most of the country is too. Anything under 21ft of floor is flying off the lot and prices are reflective of that, for sure. Production is behind because of COVID and that's just making matters worse. We've put in offers on a couple at the advertised price only to be turned down with someone paying over asking price... It's like the housing boom of 06 all over again. We've decided to wait it out and hope things normalize a bit.

Take a look at the Forest River No Boundaries 19.6 (make sure it's the .6 version). I think it's the best floorplan out there for a couples trailer. The Grand Design transcend and imagine have sub-20 foot versions that are very well laid out as well (187MK with the theater sofa, not dinette, ans the 221). Another Forest River is the Salem Hemisphere/Heritage Glen (depending where you're at) Hyper-Lyte. Their 17-footer feels bigger than a lot of 20+ and they have some low-20s are laid out nicely as well.

Those are the models we really liked. Finding them has definitely been an issue though (we expanded our search 400 miles). I have a diesel F250 that can certainly tow bigger, but just didn't want to be limited by a larger unit.

 

[jpx2rk]

I have a Mesa Ridge Lite 2410RL with a gross weight rating of 7400#, loaded it's in the high 6's to 7000#. I pull/tow with an '18 F150 3.5EB 10sp with the Max tow options and use an Equalizer 4pt hitch. Good set up for the wife and I. Look at the payload capacity of the tow vehicle, you want the highest you can get.

 

[GSPV]

Don’t believe what a salesman tells you will tow a trailer. Go by the numbers. Be conservative.

 

[Nick Caprinolo]

I've had every type and size of camping vehicle available over a period of 40 years. The most comfortable and reliable of all is a Class A Motor Home. In almost every case, they have all the room you need, for storage and will tow a good sized vehicle or trailer behind them.

One thing to think about, is that no matter how many people they are advertised to accommodate, the less you take with you the more comfortable you will be. that goes for all recreation vehicles, no matter the size. The last one I owned was 34 feet and I towed a 21 foot Grady White boat behind it, up and down the East Coast to fish. Both of which I bought used at bargain prices. Used Motor Homes are bought and then sit in driveways with little wear and tear. In most cases, maintenance cost are no more than the big truck you use to tow a trailer.

 

[C.E.Smith043]

Buddy of mine has a 2014 Coachman Catalina and absolutely loves it. Tandem axle and he pulls it with a 1/2 ton.

 

[Rick in Oregon]

I had the same question 35 years ago. Over time and five trailers later, we ended up with one of the high-end rigs instead of the el cheapo's, which as has been noted, really don't last too long.

We tow with a GMC 2500HD 6.0L Vortec and think we've found RV nirvana. Would not change a thing here after 7 years, and the slide-out give about the same amount of room as my living room! Diesel fumes make me nauseous (old Vietnam thing), so it's a gas rig for us.



One thing to do for sure, get the GVWR for the truck and give yourself some 'fudge-factor' cushion when choosing a trailer. Don't be on the ragged edge of capacity, you'll soon regret it. Also, forget the single axle "bouncers" and go with a tandem axle, they tow and handle MUCH better.

Another thing I learned along the way, 1/2 ton trucks are not really suited to towing travel trailers very much. Ask me how I know. Most will do it, but not in the optimum way you'd like. The magazine "Trailer Life" is a good reference for making this decision. Lots of helpful tips within.

 

[Richard Coody]

What input do you all have for an RV that can be pulled behind a 1/2-3/4 ton truck, sleep 2 comfortably (couple) with an occasional 3rd person for 4-5 days at a time, or any models to avoid. Or would I be better off getting a utility trailer and finishing the interior myself. I worked/lived on boats for a while, so my skill set is up to it, even if my age is not.

I too have had motor homes, 5th wheels and bumper pulls.

A lot depends on your planned usage. Do you plan to stay in RV parks, national park dry camping or true boondocking.

Motor homes are pretty dependent on the facilities of an RV park. Quite comfortable though. Larger 5th wheels about the same and you need a dually to pull it.

If you want to camp in national forest or national forest campgrounds most of the campgrounds are old. Back then they didn't have 40' campers with multiple slides. 30' is about the max for most campgrounds.

Boondocking can get very interesting. Traveling forest service roads and dispersed camping is really nice. Find those places where there is no one around. Need something with 4 wheel drive and high ground clearance. It's become my favorite type of camping. Of course after about a week I usually go to a campground to wash clothes, load the water tanks and buy groceries.

As for campers. What i have now is a 26' forest river flagstaff superlite. For me the best balance of size and storage. Pull it with a f150 ecoboost with a 13,000 tow capacity. Gross weight (which is the only one you should look at when matching a tow vehicle to a camper) is 8500 lbs. Plenty of reserve there. A weight distribution hitch and close observation of hitch weight balances it out. Wind when crossing the great plains is the only problem I have experienced with a half ton. Now when pulling with a 3/4 ton truck is much easier but they are very heavy and not so good off road.

It's all in what your intended purpose is

 

[GSPV]

You’d better operate within GVWR, GCVWR, and Payload.

Three reasons:

1. Safety. The engineers that designed that truck know something about what they’re doing.
2. Insurance concerns. If you are operating outside of the envelope and are involved in an accident, even if you are not at fault, you may experience difficulties.
3. Legal concerns. In some states, you can be pulled over, put on portable scales, and written a ticket. $100 per pound over any of your ratings. And then you have to make weight to get back on the road.

 

[ttfreestyle]

Grand Design claims this is half ton towable...... glad I have a 3/4 ton.

 

[jepp2]

What input do you all have for an RV that can be pulled behind a 1/2-3/4 ton truck, sleep 2 comfortably (couple) with an occasional 3rd person for 4-5 days at a time

Your request seem pretty minimalist. Some of the suggestions are kind of Taj Mahal in extravagance in my opinion.

Features might mean a lot. I'm a tent camper kind of guy. I enjoy sleeping on a comfortable bed and having a cassette toilet is nice during the night. Stove, refrigerator (12V, 120V, propane), heater and storage. Table to eat from. I have a 21' tent camper. My wife and I spent 9 weeks living in it while we drove to Alaska some years ago. You can't build your own for the $$ you can buy a good used one for.

Benefits: less wind resistance, can see over it pulling it with my Jeep Grand Cherokee, easy to back, about 2500 lbs loaded. Can set it up anywhere and be self sufficient without electric or water hook ups.

Disadvantage: take it down wet, you will need to dry it out before mildew sets in.

Here is floor plan, what it looks like set up, and what the spare "bedroom" looks like when I hunt out of it for a month (nobody else, just me).

 

[Dusty Stevens]

Problem with a pop up tent camper is its not much for storage while traveling

 

[TAJ45]

Problem with a pop up tent camper is its not much for storage while traveling

You don't plight your troth w a pop up to "bring it all with".