robsouth
Near Atlanta, GA
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Joined: 06/20/2004
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My take on it.. We did much the same, sold our big ole' 5th wheel cause we just did not go out very often. After a year or so, DW decided we should get a small camper and take a few trips. We got a 22 foot TT. Now we don't go because it is just too cramped. No place to sit except at the dinette. Hard to arrange the TV so we can both see it. Now in the market for a little larger, maybe 30 foot with slides. Live and learn. Good luck to ya.
"Sometimes I just sit and think. Sometimes I just sit." "Great minds like a think."
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CavemanCharlie
Storden,MN
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Joined: 03/01/2012
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I've always had smaller trailers an my present one is a 20 foot. I recommend something like a 22 foot so that you can get the queen sized bed in the front that is open on both sides so that one of you don't have to crawl over one another to get out. i pull mine with a 2004 half ton Chevy pickup and see 12-14 MPG. It's so easy to pull, no sway bars needed. Just hook up and go. Easy to back into places. Easy to pull into gas stations and such. I've even been known to visit friends just park on the street and not even unhook, if I need to run to the store I just drag it with me it's that easy to tow
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lizzie
Unaka (near Murphy), NC
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Joined: 01/12/2008
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We have a 22' Crossroads Sunset Trail Super Lite. We are camping in it right now and it is about perfect for us. When shopping for this RV we knew we did not want a dinette. Our TT has a two foot slide with a very comfortable sofa. The dining table stores under the bed but we bought a smaller one and now have room for a good folding chair with arms as well. We don't spend a lot of time inside so a smaller TT makes sense for us. lizzie
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eend
Alberta
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Joined: 12/23/2004
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We downsized last year went from a 26' Flagstaff fifth wheel, and a gas slurping truck to a 21' Shadow cruiser with a slide, (made by same company as fun finder "cruiser rv") and a jeep Grand cherokee with a 3.0L diesel and we love this thing, easy to tow and we can go in smaller places than we could with the fifthwheel.
very happy with that decicion , I just want the snow to melt and get her home.
2008 Jeep Grand Cherokee with 3.0L diesel.
2005 Chevy Silverado 1500 4x4
2010 195wbs Shadow cruiser travel trailer.
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CavemanCharlie
Storden,MN
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Joined: 03/01/2012
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robsouth wrote:My take on it.. We did much the same, sold our big ole' 5th wheel cause we just did not go out very often. After a year or so, DW decided we should get a small camper and take a few trips. We got a 22 foot TT. Now we don't go because it is just too cramped. No place to sit except at the dinette. Hard to arrange the TV so we can both see it. Now in the market for a little larger, maybe 30 foot with slides. Live and learn. Good luck to ya.
If I had the money I think this is the one I would get. A Artic Fox 22G. It solves the problem of no place to set . It's also a 4 season camper. You may not need that but, if these guys have figured out how to put a couch in a 22 foot camper other companies must have too I expect. Check it out below.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vocxsXV1XYM
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Brassica
Snow belt
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Joined: 01/19/2011
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The rear bath design makes a lot of sense because you don't waste floor space with a "long hallway" from one end of the trailer to the other.
CavemanCharlie wrote:... It's so easy to pull, no sway bars needed. ... Do you mean "no equalizer bars needed"? We will be buying a travel trailer in that size range and I don't know if I need equalizer bars.
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Camper JamesB
Wichita
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Joined: 07/27/2011
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I am looking for someone exactly like you!  I am wanting to trade my 22 ft Jayco for a bigger camper, either 5th or bumper pull.
To answer the post above, I pull our 07 Jayco 22ft tt with a 04 Tahoe. I do not use a WD hitch or sway control. It barely drops the back and I haven't needed a sway bar. I took it back to storage a couple weekends ago, 30 mph Kansas crosswinds and it didn't push us around anymore than driving the tahoe alone. I think it has a lot do with the tahoe weighing more than the trailer, could be flawed logic, but havnt had the trailer push me around.
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Brassica
Snow belt
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Thanks, Camper JamesB!
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cmassey
Delmarva Peninsula
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Joined: 11/15/2009
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Thanks for all the replies. We're pretty sure we need to downsize this year and get back to basics. Really like the couch slide idea instead of the standard dinette. We eat most of our meals outside under the awning anyway and dinettes aren't to comfortable for relaxing. Taking a trip to Pa next week and looking at RV's while there. The "long" trip to the bathroom isn't a problem. Only about 5 steps. My knees aren't young and spry but I can still walk. The 22 foot(+or-) size with a couch slide has plenty of room for two adults and has all the comfort amenities of our larger unit. MPG isn't our prime reason for downsizing, it's mainly ease, convenience, and less pull length and weight. At our age, one thing I know we aren't going to go for is a "crawl-over bed" floorplan. We both would "hate" to have to wake up the dog to make the trip to the bathroom. LOL. Here's to another year of camping fun for all us "old" guys. Remember when gas was 5 gallons for a dollar and you pulled your 15 ft. camper with a 1960 Olds 88 that had a bumper hitch? I sure do!
2002 Silverado 2500 HD ext.cab
6.0 liter; 4:10 rear
2001 Sunnybrook 27FKS
Reese Dual Cam setup
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g&cvaughn
Nampa, ID
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Joined: 12/23/2006
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Just last year we downsized from a 30 ft. Class C motorhome to this:
R-Pod 182G Hood River Edition
We tow with an F-150, and hardly know it's back there. It is so easy to maneuver into smaller spots, and opens up more camping options to us than the big motorhome. We thought it would be too small, but after two long trips last summer, we found it to be the perfect size for my wife and I and our 2 dogs. The rear "garage" (Kitchen) area is where we spend all our time anyway, so we don't miss the motorhome's inside kitchen - like you, we spend most of our time outside.
Good luck with your decision, but for us, downsizing was the best thing we ever did.
2011 R-Pod 182G Hood River Edition
2000 Ford F-150 5.4L TV
The DW, 1 mini-mutt, 1 Chug, 1 fuzzbutt Golden Retriever
"Life is what happens to you while you're busy making other plans..." -John Lennon
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