An HTT is an awesome buy. Your trailer length is fully usable because the beds don't take up any of that space. Keeping a window opened a bit to vent the tent ends is a way to keep condensation from building up. I don't use the gizmos, just run a fan once I get up on departure day to dry off any condensation. And I am SO GLAD to have upgraded from a PUP to an HTT.
2004 Rockwood Roo 23B (new to us)
2006 Nissan Xterra
When we camp, it's DH & me mostly. Occasionally step-daughter (16) comes, though not necessarily her choice
Condensation has not been a very frequent issue for us. I do use the Popup Gizmo's solar covers and they work great. Of course if it rains, all bets are off. If it does rain, I try to dry it as much as possible with some bath towels before closing it up. In the summer when we have it open, it doesn't rain that much anyway so this usually is not an issue. In any event, do not store it wet, you can pack it up and drive home, but you need to open it up ASAP and get it dried out. Mildew is no fun.
Setting up and tearing down, like others have said, it's really no big deal. Its a bit more of a pain if it is raining though. I try to close it up "dry" but if I can't I open it up at home, only takes a couple of minutes. I realize some folks don't have this option depending, on where they live.
As to securing the ends, the old style screw latches on ours have worked fine for the past 5 years. The newer types may be nice, but on our Jayco the old style ones work fine. I would not use this as a reason not to purchase a trailer.
Personally my biggest issue is noise. I like to sleep quiet and with the tent ends you can hear people laughing/talking around the campground. This is not an issue for everyone (such as my wife and daughter), but for myself a lot of nights in the summer need to listen to my ipod to fall asleep. This of course would be an issue with a popup or tent camping too. That said, most of the time it is great sleeping in the tent ends. Especially in the summer when we are in the woods and I can sleep with the covers unzipped and look out over the forest (well the dark forest) while I am lying in bed. It was nice this weekend at Assateague, we had quiet neighbors and I could lay in bed listening to the ocean. To a great extent hybrids do a good job of combining the best of both worlds....tent camping and trailer camping.
That said, as much as I love our Jayco 23D, our next trailer will be an enclosed model. One reason is because of the noise issue noted earlier. Another is that you don't have do worry about drying it out, plus we camp from March to November and I would prefer having the closed trailer for the non-summer months. I would also like "heated" tanks. I have had the water pickup in our trailer freeze before, I learned to keep the tank full to insulate the pipe. We have camped comfortably to the upper teens BTW. The floor does get a bit cold, but that could be solved with a couple of rugs. Although it won't be as nice, in a TT I can open the windows and enjoy the summer sounds too, maybe not as well but still pretty good. As a matter of fact we are considering an purchasing an Airstream (no not a brand new one!), in part because many of them have lots of large windows that you can crank out in the nice weather, and that let in the sights and lots of light. Seems like a number of trailers (no not all) that I look at, have small windows (like our Jayco) that don't let much light/air in (of course in the hybrid you can open the tent ends).
Anyway, in the end, please make sure you buy a trailer that your vehicle can handle. This forum is generally the best place for advice concerning that, but you do have to sort through the wheat and the chaff a bit . Although, there are exceptions, I generally would not trust a dealer to be honest with you about what size trailer you vehicle can handle. The info is out there and there is a lot of common sense involved.
Heck I moved up from a 1/2 ton to a 3/4 ton diesel to pull my HTT. Why? Because I was at my limits on the pickups load capacity when you considered the tongue weight, passengers, cargo (we carry bikes, a generator, and kayaks). The brakes were not as effective as I wanted them to be in the mountains. When it comes to weight, you need to keep this very much in condsideration. NOT JUST THE TONGUE WEIGHT but all of the "stuff" you will be carrying in and on your vehicle while towing. The 3/4 ton made is safer in that regard, as to the diesel it's sweeeeetttt over kill. especially in the mountains. For a lot of folks a 1/2 is perfect and a number of SUV's will get the job done if you don't overload them.
One other thing, if you purchase your trailer from a dealer, don't trust them to setup your anti-sway, load leveling hitch properly. Most folks get home from the dealer and work on re-calibrating the hitch themselves. I know I did.
Good luck and most important, have fun!
,2003 Chevy Silverado 2500 Black EC D/A 4X4, REVOS Pwr. TT Mirrors, A.R.E. Cap, Equal-i-zer Hitch, Jordan Ultima
2003 Jayco Kiwi 23D, Carefree Awning, Trimetric.
Robin Subaru R1700i, 2 T105s,32 Gal 4 Wheel Tote Tank
The only thing I miss about my pop-up is the ability to store it in the garage. OK, I'm lying, there's the drop in MPG while towing the HTT that's not so nice.
Love my new HTT!
Mike Butts
DW+DD+DS
’07 Kodiak 23TT, 2004 Ford Expedition 5.4L with H.D. Tow Package
I'd say watch anything older then a 2007 on Jayco(new year for bunks with better seals and latch) and any ROO prior to a 2008 becuase SOME people have reported the design allows water to come past the rubber hinge gasket thus swelling wood and causing possible water damage.
I have NOT heard of many leaks from Starcraft or TrailCruiser owners so perhaps the years matter less with those two brands.
The bunk door is both a blessing and a curse. It can allow you to enjoy the outside and tenting but it also makes for a lot of seals, gaskets and caulking to check over for leaks.
We loved ours and if we were to down size our truck or trailer I would personally (again, just me) give the ROO brand a good look and Jayco.
Michael 2 DD's and my DW 6 Acre's of Maine 2009 Crossroads Cruiser CF31SB 2008 Chevy 2500HD Ext. Cab LT 4X4 Champion lil' yellow Chinese genset, 4000W Camping Pictures
mwebber78 wrote: I'd say watch...any ROO prior to a 2008 becuase SOME people have reported the design allows water to come past the rubber hinge gasket thus swelling wood and causing possible water damage.
Mikey, Mikey, Mikey...
I will not cut your legs off at the knees since you offered 'some' by way of explanation.
I certainly am not ONE of the 'some'. And perhaps I have lucked out with so many of the issues promoted here regardless of make, model or year. However, as all HTTs have bunk ends, regardless of which type of latching mechanism secures same, we all can be prone to leaks, especially while towing in a driving rain. The tractor trailer type latches certainly create a more secure fit.
There is also the possiblity that when closing up the bunk end doors a piece of tentage is not clear of the door channel.
catworker wrote: First off, don't buy any hybrid prior to 2005. You want the newer bunkend door locks. The older models were prone to leak water while traveling down the road in the rain..
mwebber78 wrote: I'd say watch...any ROO prior to a 2008 becuase SOME people have reported the design allows water to come past the rubber hinge gasket thus swelling wood and causing possible water damage.
Mikey, Mikey, Mikey...
I will not cut your legs off at the knees since you offered 'some' by way of explanation.
I certainly am not ONE of the 'some'. And perhaps I have lucked out with so many of the issues promoted here regardless of make, model or year. However, as all HTTs have bunk ends, regardless of which type of latching mechanism secures same, we all can be prone to leaks, especially while towing in a driving rain. The tractor trailer type latches certainly create a more secure fit.
There is also the possiblity that when closing up the bunk end doors a piece of tentage is not clear of the door channel.
Always something!
Sorry Robo, I have camped with a few "older" model ROO owners and they have all had the same wood cabinet top swell from leaking and rusting in the hinge area. A quick look shows the entire frame angles TO the body of the trailer and allows water to sit.
Do you think they all pinch some tenting? I doubt that's the case for most people.
My 02 Cabana doesn't leak a drop. I'd like to put on newer latches but my HTT is in a storage yard or is with me camping so locking latches aren't a big deal.
-c
2006 Jeep Liberty CRD - sold
2005 Ford Expedition NBX
2002 Keystone Cabana
3 Dogs 1 DW
Our Jayco is 5 years old and has the older style "knob" latches. We have never had a leak in the bunk ends, and we have towed in heavy rain a number of times. I'm not saying it doesn't happen, it just hasn't happened to us. I keep the seal pliable with a protectant and take care of the latch mechanism. I'm always very careful not to over tighten and make sure that no part of the bunk cloth gets hung up under a seal.
Chuck D.
'03 Jayco Kiwi 17a, '03 Chevy Trailblazer EXT, Garmin Nuvi 200 GPS
Photography is my obsession: http://coldwater.smugmug.com/
“Adventure is just bad planning.” - Roald Amundsen
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. Although, there are exceptions, I generally would not trust a dealer to be honest with you about what size trailer you vehicle can handle. The info is out there and there is a lot of common sense involved. 
