Hi all, new to the forum here as well as RVs in general. Have been wanting one for several years now & finally in the market. There are several I have noted that I really like, however there is only one that my wife has approved of (she doesn't quite share my enthusiasm... yet)- a 2004 Coachmen Chaparral 280 BHS. I love it as well, but after doing alot of research & math, it is too heavy for my '08 Suburban. I need to stick to about 6000#, 5-5500# dry. I am hoping to find a little guidance in trying to find a TT that shares a similar floorplan. The Coachmen is basically a bunkhouse, but has the bathroom between the bedroom (up front) & the kitchen/living area instead of back next to the bunks. We both really like this set up, but I can't seem to find it anywhere else. I hate to be the newb with all the questions, but I would be very grateful of any ideas or suggestions.
Two suggestions: 1. be sure you can use the facilities, toilet, sink, refrigerator, when stopping at a Rest Area, and, 2. go to www.rvknowhow.com and read the Kieva's suggestions on how to select an RV.
Dick_B
2003 SunnyBrook 27FKS
2011 3/4 T Chevrolet Suburban
Equal-i-zer Hitch
One wife, two bikes (both Electric Schwinn's with motor assist)
I am a pack rat so take that in consideration when I say 500 pounds is not enough stuff. Your wife is apt to feel the same way. If you are looking at bunkhouses I assume you will have children with you.
When you think of what you have to take remember food, which is heavy.
We pack for a month which means we need a lot more with us than if we were just going weekends.
Ok, sounds like good stuff. I'll check that website & see what I can pick up. For now, it's just the wife, our 17 mo old & I, so I'm hoping we wouldn't have to pack the kitchen sink just yet. We will mostly be going on weekend trips for now. We're the last soldiers standing on both sides of the family that doesn't have an rv, & since her parents just bought one, we can't be left behind. No argument here. I appreciate the responses fellas.
That is a lot of trailer for what you are wanting to do.
Since you are looking at used, personally I would forget about bunkhouse and concentrate on something a bit smaller for a few years. With used you don't take a large hit in depreciation since the first owners are the ones that lost the most money.
My family started camping in a 20 ft TT (bumper to tongue), just two adults and one 2yr old child. It was basically two beds, one was bed/couch and the other was table/couch along with full bath and kitchen. Granted it was a bit cramped at times but it was completely do able and if I had to do over again I would not hesitate.
We currently have a 26ft TT (bumper to tongue) and it works well with two preteens.
I would suggest looking at some smaller TTs which will be well within your vehicles tow ratings rather than being on the borderline of being over.
That is a lot of trailer for what you are wanting to do.
Since you are looking at used, personally I would forget about bunkhouse and concentrate on something a bit smaller for a few years. With used you don't take a large hit in depreciation since the first owners are the ones that lost the most money.
My family started camping in a 20 ft TT (bumper to tongue), just two adults and one 2yr old child. It was basically two beds, one was bed/couch and the other was table/couch along with full bath and kitchen. Granted it was a bit cramped at times but it was completely do able and if I had to do over again I would not hesitate.
We currently have a 26ft TT (bumper to tongue) and it works well with two preteens.
I would suggest looking at some smaller TTs which will be well within your vehicles tow ratings rather than being on the borderline of being over.
Oh, don't get me wrong, I understand & completely agree with you, however, this was the only one my wife has actually wanted. Hence the reason I'd like to find a similar floor plan, but in a smaller lighter weight trailer- I have a small window of opportunity here.
BanksDad. Listen to e others. You need to talk with your wife about this. I speak now from experience. We have an 11 yr old daughter. We bought a heavy 31' bunkhouse a couple years ago. We figured it would be great as our daughter would have her own place and she would probably bring friends. Ending our third camping season ths year. No friends yet. A couple of my nieces stayed in it one night while we were camping, but it was because their parents were in a cabin next to us. Only extra people in our camper in over 6000 miles of pulling it. We have an f250. The camper is big. You hae to concentrate while going down the road, making sure you are keeping within the lines and not hitting things when you turn. Is the same for most trailers, but when you have such a big unit behind you like that, it's a lot more true.
Was just camping from a couple in a 1961 Shasta. He was pulling it with a dodge 3500 DRW. He said he had a rock wood similar to ours but without the bunkhouse. He said the same thing.. It was no fun pulling and was more than what they needed.
We have been feeling the bunkhouse has been a waste for us. Our daughter often falls asleep on the sofa. Is the bunkhouse you found a 4 bed or 2 bed? If you are waning the separate bed just for the kid, I might try to find one that has just 2 beds and not a whole room dedicated to it just our opinion from experience we are wanting to get something different ourselves. If we stay within a towable, I portent factors will be larger bedroom, larger bathroom and living room with perhaps a couple lazy boys. That woul require us to stayin a larger unit though we are considering motor homes also, but for different wants. It's hard to decide on.
Thanks Brian. That particular one had three bunks stacked on one side, which are positioned behind the pantry. It is basically a rear living set up with that small (half size bunk room) section in place of the recliners/sitting area. We just like that floor plan & I was curious if any of you guys possibly knew of or have ever seen a smaller unit with a similar set up.
From a mom of two young kids who have been camping since they were newborns, a 17 month old is going to have a lot of gear/weight. cloths, toys for inside and out..sunny days and rainy days, stroller, backpack carrier, wagon, booster seat. then add on swim gear if you are going to a place with a pool or lake to swim in. hopefully the bunks are built such a way that you can put safety rails up for child to sleep on the bunk and you don't need a pack-n-play for sleeping.
A thought about the bathroom set-up...can you or your wife get through the bathroom into your bedroom while someone is using the bathroom? or for privacy do you need to wait for that person to be done before passing through?
Good Sam Life Members. Camping with two young children in a 2007 Pilgrim fifth wheel (278BHSS) pulled with a 2002 F350.
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