new at this, help me

[hyatt2219]

Hi, I am married, 55 yrs old, been nursing for 35 yrs. Planning to purchase a travel trailer in the spring. Have sales manager looking for me , I need a small one that can be pulled with a sports trac by a female. Due to husbands schedule, will be camping with friends, family or maybe just me. I have wonderful memories of camping with my best friends family growing up. I so desire and so excited about this new adventure. However, nervous and wonder if I can make this as fun and exciting as I have dreamed it could be. I will be camping sporatically, long wknds, sometimes a whole week, whatever comes up. I am looking forward to feedback. Deb Hyatt, Peachland, NC

[Bethers]

Hi Deb! (You might not want to post your phone # here - but that's up to you!)

Glad to have you with us. Several have small tt's - so you'll be able to pick brains if you'd like. Between all of us we have everything from the smallest to the largest rigs - and like sharing about them.

Jump in where ever you want and whenever you want!

[avalen]

I'm not sure what the Sport Trac can handle but if its small you want, I think the Rockwoods
are awesome and a tad bigger than the Casitas which are also very nice.
Welcome to the forum, and I agree with Beth, you should probably edit out your phone
number.

[VickieP]

Hi Deb, welcome to the forum. Why don't you tell us about some of the smaller TT's that you've looked at and what you liked or didn't like about them.

[mitch5252]

..

Hi, Deb!

Welcome to the Forum. Hope you'll like it here as much as the rest of us. So much information inside so many different female brains...an outstanding place to learn, and with a woman's slant, too, if needed!

I have a teeny little trailer. Love it - a 16" (tongue included. Shut up, Vickie - NOT MY TONGUE) pulled by a Sienna van. I googled your truck and your max tow weight varies quite a bit between models.

We'll look forward to shopping along with you!

..

[VickieP]

WHAT? I didn't say anything!

[Forestgal]

Hey Deb!

First, welcome! You've found a great bunch of women who will tell you exactly how they feel about everything. And they're incredibly supportive, too.

A Sport Trac is a great car, but you're going to have to shop wisely to find something that will work with it. It's got a pretty short wheel base, which makes it a little more challenging when pulling a full-sized trailer. If you plan to camp by yourself you might think about something in the less-than-18' size, as anything longer than that could easily become the "tail wagging the dog" syndrome. I pull a 19' Keystone Hideout with my 2004 Explorer (V-8) and while the SUV can handle the weight, I'm close to my comfort level with its size compared to the trailer.

One thing for sure -- DON'T let any RV salesman try to talk you into more trailer than you feel comfortable with. If you haven't found RV.net, that might be another venue for you to ask questions about what your car can pull. But be prepared for some pretty unfiltered responses. The folks there aren't afraid to speak their minds and aren't nearly as gracious as we are. But you'll get some good, honest answers to your questions.

Again, glad you've jumped in. Don't be shy -- you'll be amazed at how inclusive we all are!

Laura -- and Jed

[rvgrammy1953]

Welcome, Deb....we started our full-timing life in a 17ft. Shamrock Hybrid by Forest River....fully contained with bath, fridge, stove, & sink....and we towed it with a Ford Explorer SUV...... They still make them, too....

Jump in anytime and ask all the questions you want or need to....we love sharing, caring, and laughing....(mostly at ourselves.... )

[mitch5252]

..
Here's my little rig...believe it or not - sleeps 5, toilet/shower.
Thought, I honestly can't imagine 5 people in there on a rainy day.
But it's lightweight and easy to pull.



..

[WickedLady]

Welcome. You probably need to look at the fiberglass trailers as they are fairly light. I know there is a new rig that can be pulled by a car but don't remember the brand.

[Birdie]

Welcome Deb, If you want to remove your phone number, just log in and then go to your post and select "edit", then erase it and "submit" and it's gone. Now my 2 cents about a light weight trailer. Check what your manual says you can tow with your vehicle. Don't take anyone else's word. You need to see what you car manual says. Then you know what you are looking for in weight for a TT. My 17' Casita Spirit Dlx weight 3285# naked. Loaded it was about 4100#. I pulled it with a Toyota 4Runner that had a 5000# limit with a 500# tongue limit. Your manual should help you where you can write it down on a 3x5 card and carry it with you. Then you can decide if you want that small of a TT or if you want a different tow vehicle so you can get a larger TT. Been lots of ladies on here that have gone thru that. You can too and we will be right there with you, just as excited as you when you get your mind made up and the money on the counter!!!! Go girl.

[retiredhappy]

Welcome to the forum. You'll find a lot of help on here. I don't know anything about trailers as I drive a Class C and tow a Chevy Cobalt. The girls are right about finding out what your car can tow from your manual THEN you look for a trailer. Be careful of sales people - sometimes they know what they're doing and sometimes they don't. You should also look into sway bars to keep the trailer from whipping around back there. If you don't need to be totally self-contained you might look at some of the pop-ups or the small hardsided pop-ups.

[cpatinjones]

Hi Deb, Welcome to the forum. Ditto on what the others have stated.

[froggi]

Hi Deb, welcome to the forum. I agree about a fiberglass unit...and also editing your message to remove your phone number and maybe even your last name.

[bikerchic777]

..

I have a teeny little trailer. Love it - a 16" (tongue included. Shut up, Vickie - NOT MY TONGUE) pulled by a Sienna van. I googled your truck and your max tow weight varies quite a bit between models.

We'll look forward to shopping along with you!

..

I hope you mean 16', not 16", Mitch, or it truly is TEENY Kind of like Barbie's first Class C
It's fun shopping so let us know if you need any help, Deb! Just don't give up on your dream There are quite a few of us women who are single or RVing without their husbands, at least part time. Lots of support on here, even though we joke around a lot