Anyone own a bumper pull camper?

[12th Man]

The wife and I are going to look at campers on Saturday. We're kicking the idea around of doing some traveling as my retirement is just around the corner. I don't want a 5th wheel, way too much for what we need. I'd like simple 20' to 24" with one pull out that sleeps at least 5, or so I think. My wife is always bigger is better, 30' will sleep up to 9 on some models. It will also serve as overflow accommodations with we have a large family get together. I've got a couple of questions. Do we go with a single axil or dual axil? I think dual would be safer. My assumption is the longer it is, the easier it is to back in? What are certain features that are a must and other features that aren't worth the money.

I know I'm missing stuff, but I have no experience with campers.

Thanks,

Jeff

[Jayhawker]

Definitely dual axles..
We had a 24' Lighthouse camper and towed it around the country for a couple of years....Did everything we needed...but it required constant tinkering
Can't say we were sad when it went down the road behind somebody else's truck...
One thing I'm convinced it did was a major contributor to trashing the transmission on our Tundra...

If we ever got another one, it would be one of those little tow behind bedrooms with a little fold out kitchen in the back...

[CPJ 2.0]

Your wife will talk you into a bigger one, just accept it.
And you’ll never use all that space. Accept that too.

Bigger of course equals more fuel cost, more wear and tear on the tow rig.
It’s a place to eat sleep and poop. Doesn’t have to be 6 bedrooms.

[Rugerfan]

Just make sure your truck has the towing package. My 89 F150 did not like pulling ours. We bought a new 93 F150 with the towing package and I couldn’t tell I was pulling anything. Both had the 302.

If you intend to have other people stay with you, you will want a bigger trailer.

[12th Man]

Truck's not an issue, 2021 Ram 2500 Cuming's diesel, tow package including engine brake, rear air suspension. It's what I use to cow the horse and cattle trailers with.

Thanks everyone!

[Centermass]

I’ve been looking also, though I am thinking more of something in the 12Ft range. Especially after Tuesday morning

[jkp]

I have no experience with campers but two axle all the way. Even for the lightweight stuff.

[farmboy II]

They make 5th wheels that are under 30’, my parents have a 29’ Keystone that only weighs 6800lbs or so dry. It will definitely sleep four, with enough room for everyone to hang out during the day.

I have a 32’ travel trailer that weighs about the same. I won’t have another bumper pull, a 5th wheel just rides so much nicer going down the road. Plus they have a shorter turning radius.

My 32’ has a bunk room at the back, that is nice for my young kids but without kids I wouldn’t bother. Most campers that will “sleep 8” or whatever number figure on half that number being kids or the very young who can sleep on any type of miserable couch or convertible table. Trust me, those two options are not fit for anyone over 5’6” or over the age of 30.

My recommendation would be get the size your wife wants but in the old folks floor plan with a nice couch or recliners and a real table and chairs. If nothing else make damn sure you can walk down BOTH sides of the bed. Having to crawl over the top of your spouse to go pee gets old in a hurry.

[jbp-ohio]

My recommendation would be get the size your wife wants but in the old folks floor plan with a nice couch or recliners and a real table and chairs. If nothing else make damn sure you can walk down BOTH sides of the bed. Having to crawl over the top of your spouse to go pee gets old in a hurry.

That is what I think when we watch those 'tiny house' shows with the steep stairs or ladders going to lofts you can't stand up in. A lot of the buyers are older and looking for cheap retirement homes. How are you going to feel coming down that ladder three times a night to pee? When you get a knee or hip replacement??

[jkp]

My recommendation would be get the size your wife wants but in the old folks floor plan with a nice couch or recliners and a real table and chairs. If nothing else make damn sure you can walk down BOTH sides of the bed. Having to crawl over the top of your spouse to go pee gets old in a hurry.

That is what I think when we watch those 'tiny house' shows with the steep stairs or ladders going to lofts you can't stand up in. A lot of the buyers are older and looking for cheap retirement homes. How are you going to feel coming down that ladder three times a night to pee? When you get a knee or hip replacement??

Well, if you don't already have knee or hip issues you will soon enough after falling down that thing a couple of times!

[Varmintmist]

Yes, a Surveyor 241RBLE from Forest River
Basics of RV campers. They are all built in 30 min on Fri at 4pm unless you are buying a Tiffen. Forest River and Grand design are supposed to be the least problematical.

surveyorreade.jpg (237.51 KiB) Viewed 1749 times

Dry Weight 4,961 lbs.
Payload Capacity 2,579 lbs. Figure 60 gal of fresh water and about 1200lb of stuff min.
Hitch Weight 540 lbs.
Overall length is 27. Longer is not always better. In some campgrounds longer is bad because they have back in spaces that are not angled and are on the tight side. Longer can also be a problem in steeper entrances. You have stabilizers that can and will get torn off hanging in the back corners.
30A/115vac for everything. If you are going to run the AC at home, get a 30A ckt for it or you will ruin the AC unit. A genset needs 3600 starting watts for the AC alone if you are dry camping.
Get a ladder for roof access and maintain your roof

I got this one because of the REAL queen sized bed and the bathroom. I had looked at them on line and I was at the dealer on Memorial day early, they had a sale, and it was a leftover. I have slept 4 in it and it is tight but you could put 5 in. The pull out bed pretty much sucks, so I have an air mattress to go on that if I am having extra bodies in there. I would stay away from the "real" dining chairs. From what I have seen, they fall apart, and have to be locked down. Seems most get replaced by a covered bench which is also more storage. That and if you want to sleep more, most dinettes convert to a sleeping area.

Our plan is to take it around the country and stop at all the stuff I had to drive past in my youth. In addition we are going to download all the diners drive ins and dives places and eat our way across the country. Hey, ya gotta have a destination... Plan for the MAIN use. You and the spousal unit traveling. You wont spend a lot of time inside it anyway. You need a place to sleep, store your stuff, and hide from bad weather.

So far it fits what I want to do. If it were hit by a bus today, I might drop down to a 20' single axle but I wouldnt go bigger.

[Centermass]

There’s a nice one in the lemon lot here on post…
16,500 OBO

[Centermass]

@12th man I dunno if you want to call and make the drive, but this is here on Bliss.