Tell me about Travel Trailers

limp

limp

wrap a little cheese around it and its a done
5 Year Member
Oct 4, 2020
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Florida
#1
I have been contemplating for a few years about getting a small ( 20-24 foot) Toy Hauler.. I want to put the " Black Bitch" in the back and see America.... Its just me and "Bentley" so I don't need or want a big one....
Spent the other day at the Tampa RV show and found the one I want, but unfortunately $81,000 ( It was an ATC ) for a 22' is like me thinking I am a Sheik on oil rich land..
So looking at other brands/models, even some used ones.... I worked for a company ( Philips) long ago that supplied products to these manufacturers and I am aware of how shoddy MOST of the Trailers/Campers are put together......
BUT, anyone in the real world out there that has a travel trailer that could recommend one or tell me what NOT to buy? I am getting too old to look much longer and I need to either do this or not....
My research shows that the roofs are a weak point with most Trailers?? The ATC was one solid piece of Aluminum cap for a roof, which seemed pretty neat to me, until I heard the price.....
Any help or recommendations here would be appreciated.....
Bentley and the Black Bitch DSCF0540.JPG DSCF0064.JPG
 
#2
Have you seen the YouTube channel BigTruckBigRV? He covers a LOT of information about travel trailers, and the trucks to haul them with.
I think with many of the trailers, if you can add quality water sealant around the seams on top, it goes a long way to keeping it in shape.
 
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#5
Travel Trailers:

They are manufactured and constructed by brainless assholes that couldn't tell a screwdriver from a hammer.
All materials used in construction are cheap garbage made in china.
By the time you make the rotten POS good enough to do what you want it to do it will fall apart.
You'll buy a new one made of even cheaper :poo: and spend the next few years trying to make it [not] a POS until you break down and buy another POS and start the cycle over.
Camper salespeople are shoeshine boys.
Bring your own financing.
A toy hauler is a heavier POS than a normal POS (3/4 ton+ required in most cases).

Tell that cock-sucker that's trying to sell it to you that if there are any recalls they can send that SOB out the house to do it or there's no deal.

Camper sales are a dime a dozen. None of them have "deals" that are better than any other.

The majority of campers sold in the US are made by a very few companies (2 or 3) regardless of whatever cheezedick name they slap on the side of it.

If you want to, you can finance them for up to 1000 years. :shrug:
 
#8
I'm with Noobz on the travel trailer thing, one friend of mine bought a toy hauler used a few years old but stored in a barn and hardly used, they live in it now while getting house built, they have no complaints, another friend bought a large travel trailer brand new and had nothing but problems, every time it went in for warranty work it came back worse off, he finally dumped it and got a small motor home.
Down here in Florida you gotta keep them under cover or the roof goes to hell quick.
 
#9
I've had 6 different rv's, 3 motorhomes and 3 trailers. I agree with Noobz about how they are built. If you want to use it regularly plan on learning how to repair it yourself.
Realize when you take it down the highway your rv is going through an earthquake, tornado and hurricane. It's going to flex itself to pieces. Things are going to break, come loose and stop working.
We had fun with ours even with the hard work.
 
#10
I would do a good hard search for "The Most Reliable Travel Trailer", buy one a few years old, and plan to nuke all the garbage with better stuff, right from the start.

If you plan on winter camping at all... Just pull the damned bottom off the thing, replace [all] of the plastic elbows with metal ones from the hardware store.

Insulate all the water supply lines and toss heaters onto the bottoms of the holding and grey water tanks.

Completely disconnect and cap the lines going up to any outdoor showers. If not, install an inside shutoff valve and drain them.

You will also need some supplemental electric heat inside of the camper (otherwise the furnace will burn all ur juice in no time) but you have to keep an eye on the amp budget.
 
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#11
LOL.... The idea is to enjoy life, not give myself another headache.... Selling two cars and my featherlite car trailer to reduce the "fleet" and have less maintenance and more free time to travel.....
I thought this would be how my question was answered, one reason I am enamored by the ATC toyhaulers ( AluminumToyhauler Company) .. All aluminum, solid aluminum 1 piece capped roof, NO WOOD used... Claims are they will last multiple lifetime owners... For 81K I would hope so....
Maybe getting the inflatable bed that fits in the backseat of my crew cab would be the best Idea yet..... LOL
DSCF0803.webp
 
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#12
Have a 25' TT and have gone through the whole "what one do we get" and "how much effort" and "all the crap you will need" galore. Feel free to reach out. Glad to help you. Short advice? Buy used, if you can, and get someting built pre-2020, before all this crap started; massive quality control issues with new ones.
 
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#13
I found a smaller toy hauler I would like to look at.. Based on the pictures it has no Refrigerator..... Would that suck??
Remember, its just me and my dog..
 
#15
COramprat said:
I think you would be mad without a fridge but I'm betting you could just add a dorm sized one and be fine.
Click to expand...
Sorta. There is a [lot] to be said for a real camper fridge. They will run on 12v DC + Propane for [months] off a single 20 lb tank. When connected to shore power, they run from 110V. This is important because your fridge can be loaded and stand alone for a [really] long time.


Alternatively, the newer Solar fridges are relatively low draw but you have to have panels set up if you plan to refrigerate while parked/stored. The type fridges are not as efficient as the propane version and don't generally get/stay as cold, particularly if it's super hot in a closed up un-airconditioned camper.
 
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#16
Noobz347 said:
Sorta. There is a [lot] to be said for a real camper fridge. They will run on 12v DC + Propane for [months] off a single 20 lb tank. When connected to shore power, they run from 110V. This is important because your fridge can be loaded and stand alone for a [really] long time.


Alternatively, the newer Solar fridges are relatively low draw but you have to have panels set up if you plan to refrigerate while parked/stored. The type fridges are not as efficient as the propane version and don't generally get/stay as cold, particularly if it's super hot in a closed up un-airconditioned camper.
Click to expand...
Agreed, thats why I ask the question.... I have never owned a travel trailer but used to boat alot with SOME camping ( I like a hot shower in the AM).. In my " across America " trips It would be nice to pull over grab a cold bottle of water and pull out something to cook on the Blackstone, rather than having to go to a supermarket everyday for meat..........
 
#17
If my limited computer skills allow it, here is an attachment....
PROS of this one.... I " believe" these are well made, at least compared to some of the garbage being produced.. , tandem axle ( a must have in my want list) While its doesn't have a fridge ( I am going to send a message and ask for sure) it has pretty much everything else... Solid one piece aluminum roof.... " Dry " bathroom ( seperate shower) good price, looks well kept.... I want a smaller one ( easy to tow and maneuver)... This one is even smaller than I have been looking for.....
Cons... I wanted a front bedroom, but this one is too small for that... I want to keep my scoot inside so I would have to sleep next to in with only one side of the bed folded down..... No Fridge ( at least I don't see one)....

Smaller toyhaulers are hard to find equipped like the larger ones......
cfl.craigslist.org

2015 Forest River Work and Play 16UL - rvs - by owner - vehicle...

Awesome Forest River Work And Play 16UL Toy Hauler, Perfect for Hauling Toys, Gear or Even Tools to your Next Destination!! Unit weighs 4314 lbs Dry, it can be Towed with most smaller SUV's, Van's...
cfl.craigslist.org
 
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#19
#20
Don't have to worry about that one.. Somebody slipped in ahead of me.......
I was going to take a bag of $100 bills and offer him 10K for it, if it checked out OK......
Guess I will put the money back in my safe......
 
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