Need Some RV advice

[Colliemom]

As many of you know, due to financial constraints, i sold my TT and traded my truck last year. Now that I am retired a year earlierthan I had originally kind of planned, I am seeking another rig to play with. At the moment I am driving a Ford Flex, leased for 3 years and a great all around vehicle. It has a towing capacity of 4500 pounds and is equipped with what looks to be a Class II hitch and I'm pretty sure it is. That would probably handle up to a 450 trailer hitch weight.

I'm kind of swinging between looking at small TT's with GVWR's of no more that 3500 pounds or so, or pop up campers which are way lighter. I won't be doing any long mileage stuff with them as I do have mileage resctictions on my Flex right now. My camping will be strictly in MI for a few days here and there this summer.

But some of and in fact most of the TT's i have been looking at on the internet for now, are single axle rigs as are the pop ups. Anybody have any advice about single axle trailers over double axle ones. I've pulled pop ups and other single axle trailers before and never had a problem, but I seem to remember something being brought up about them in a post somewheres.

Also, I know that there are a few of you who have gone the A frame style camper and I would like to hear some imprressions, pros and cons to them. I don't see very many of them around here in MI and wondered if they would be hard to sell as they don't seem to be overly popular. Right now I am really leaning toward a pop up cause I really enjoyed the one we had and love the view with all teh windows. Don't need a big one, just enought room for myself and the "girls".

So fire away. Any and all comments are welcome.

[BirdbyBird]

If you are planning to travel in something out west....remember that there are campgrounds that do not accept soft sided pop up rigs because of the danger of critters.....

[JudyJB]

How about a hard-sided popup? I don't know any brands, but I have seen some in campgrounds that sort of unfold and have hard sides. They don't have the double-beds that pull out on either side as the canvas ones do, but they often have one pullout, and that's all you need.

They might be warmer and certainly more critter-proof.

[AlmostThere]

You said you had a pop up before, but I am remembering our pop up that took a lot of grunt work to set up and tear down. Also if they get wet you need to completely dry them before folding down for any length of time, and not fun to be in in a thunderstorm. Just thought I would jog your memory about that as we aren't getting younger.

[rvgrammy1953]

We full timed for 3 yrs. in a Shamrock Hybrid camper...17ft.....loved it!! Best of both worlds....fully contained with kitchen and bathroom...but the bed ends were canvas/vinyl....and at times we were known to not put the ends out and slept on the bench bed...the GVWR was 3300....towed it with a 1998 Ford Explorer SUV... just my 2 cents...

[Rufflesgurl]

Sue - Was wondering if you would do better with a Class B+ or C - both have hard sides. With the severe weather in MI, maybe warmer and safer?? I know you will figure this all out for your enjoyment time!
Good luck.

Linda

[Acadianmom]

I read a yahoo group that started out as a mostly A-Frame group. I don't think there are many members left with A-Frames. Seems like I read a lot about leaks and rotten floors. Some have sold them because they didn't have the strength to set them up. They might be a challenge for someone with back problems. Some will mention the A-Frame group sometimes so there must be one for just A-Frames. Do a search for an A-Frame yahoo group. I don't think they have a bathroom which would be a deal breaker for me. They seem to be pricy for what you get to me. Have you thought about one of the campers like the Casitas? They look like they would be lite and you would have a solid wall. They would probably be hard to come by in your area because I think they are made in Texas. I think I would just as soon have a tent and an air mattress as a pop-up camper but that's just me.

Martha

[chalet05]

I had a Chalet A-frame. Nothing wrong with it but after having holding tanks, I wasn't thrilled with the gray water draining into a bucket/container or with the cassette toilet. Darned if I can remember how many axles it had! I did tow it across country and back.

Carol (Brewster Ivy) who used to be on this forum and ORS had a newer model with many improvements. You might want to contact her - at one time she was thinking of selling it - that was many months ago. She had a Casita at one time as well.

Another former member also had a Chalet and went to a trailer. Another one had a Chalet with no bathroom and was an annual snowbird - she also got a trailer but more because she got a good deal from friends than dissatisfaction.

Chalet is made in Oregon. There is also A-liner which is similar.

[BarbaraRose]

I was thinking of a pop-up too but then looked at the hybrids at the RV show and for not much more money or weight, they had so much more to offer. Full bath/shower, full sized kitchen, with a dinette that can be made into a bed if you don't want to put out the side beds. Some had one pop-out bed, some had two.

[FinallyTime]

I saw an R-Pod at the Tacoma RV show. http://www.forestriverinc.com/rpod/default.aspx
nice fit and finish, fairly light weight too. Only drawback I've heard about a single axle is that they are more difficult to back; have to move slowely because they turn hard and fast.

[Azusateach]

I've had both a pop-up and a hybrid. Loved them both for different reasons.

Both require a bit of work to set up, but the pop-up would be the easier of the 2, just because of the big doors on the hybrid. They're heavy, and I rarely was able to get them up alone. Finally got myself a telescoping pole to help. People thought I was crazy, but it was the only way I could get those doors up by myself. You also still have the same issue with wet canvas on a hybrid, but can "turtle" in it if need be during wet weather.

My hybrid was 19' -- the big brother to Lori's. I frankly can't see a Flex pulling it without working awfully hard. The engines are just not geared to pull that much trailer. Sometimes it's not the just weight of the trailer to take into account, but rather the drag WITH the weight that becomes problematic. And consider the wheelbase length of your Flex. Would it be a case of the tail wagging the dog?

I had a 10' box on my pop-up, but it had absolutely everything I needed -- including a shower with cassette toilet, AC, and a little microwave. No oven, though, and the fridge was pretty little. But I could push that sucker into my garage by hand, and towing it was a breeze. No weight distribution hitch or sway control to worry about.

Something like a Trailmanor might be more in line with your car. They're pricey, but for those who don't want to deal with canvas, want a more "normal" bathroom, and don't have a bigger tow vehicle, they can be just the ticket.

Laura

[Colliemom]

Thanks you ladies for all the varying opinions. This is such a great place to ask questions. You always get plenty of answers and advice, wanted or not , It's fun reading through them, just like sitting around a campfire, discussing a topic.

There are indeed prox and cons to the issue. Yes, I am aware of the critter rules out west, but I don't plant to take something like that out west. Right now I am just looking at something to take little short overnight trips for fun around MI.

Yes, there is the issue of wet canvas and all that, and i have been thinking that too, plus like Almost There said, there is the thunderstorm issue. Staying under a piece of canvas with lightening flashing aruond is a bit intimidating. In my TT, I never even bothered to worry about it.

Yes, I have given thught to a Class B or C, but Class B's are way too expensive and I don't want and in some ways can't afford to take on any more payments. I'm already making payments for the Flext lease. Plus at the moment, Tessa is costing me around 5-600 a month in vet bills due to her kidney diseas. There is a nifty looking 24 ft. C, at the dealers near me here that is on consignment and askng price of $24,500. A Shasta, 22ft with 36,595 miles on it and 144 hours on the genny. Loaded with the usual stuff. But I would need to take out a loan against it and just don't have the extra money to float it right now. I'm also one on of those people who likes to park at a campground and then spend my time sightseeing, so I need my vehicle. Hence a TT mightbe a better way to go for me. I also am planning on doing a little updating on my house this spring as well.

I've found a couple possible little TT's that I have been sizing up on their website, one being Viking. But right now, with winter stil hanging around, people aren't doing much as far as getting rigs ready for sale and the dealers are justnow staring to get some in as well. so am going to continue looking. Although the Flex can tow 4500 lbs., I have set a max of 3500. One must consider the additional weight inside the vehicle as well.

So lots to think about here. I have time, don't need to rush it. Once the weather breaks, will see what happens. But i sincerely thank you for the comments and opinions out there. Keep them coming as I'm sure there are others out there who are considering issues as well. We have a lot of newbies looking.

[cnq50b]

Sue, I came across a little TT a couple of years ago called a Compact Jr - they are under 2000#. They are older (early 70's) & hard to find, but I thought I mention it since they are really sweet little units. Here's a link to one on Craigslist in CA - http://losangeles.craigslist.org/wst/rvs/3680372599.html They are asking high $ for it but it looks like its been totally rejuvenated - (the local one I looked at sold for about $3k. (I should have bought it but I didn't want to put a tow package on my minivan- argh!)
There are lots of other fiberglass campers whch are light weight & won't require a difficult setup for you which you might be able to pick up at a decent price. Just another option that I thought I'd mention in case you come across any up there for sale.
I love that you are looking at options to get back out - I'll be praying that you find just the right unit for you & the pups.

[Pooker]

Just tossing in another option here: There are at least two brands of pop-up, hard-sided TT's - Hi-Lo is one and for the life of me I just can't think of the second one right now (Trail-something?). Anyway, they do have the best of both worlds without any canvas. The top half comes down over the bottom half and it raises/lowers with the push of a button. You can probably find used ones here and there. I knew a couple who traveled all over the country and their pop-up rig was darling - had a closet, bathroom, kitchen/dinette, sofa area, etc. Only took minutes to set up.

I considered checking into that option after my DH died, but since I travel with a cat it would have been a problem to have her yowling all the time riding in a carrier in the car. In the MH she seeks out a hidey hole under a chair or someplace and rides quietly. I sure did like their Hi-Lo, tho.

[Redetotry]

How about one of these little light weight Casitas? I would think you and the girls would be pretty cramped in a pop up of any type.