Travel Trailer Recommendations / Feedback

Corey Cohron RIP · #1 Thu, April 23rd, 2009, 04:11 PM

Bill and I have been talking about getting a travel trailer for some time... not necessarily to offset the cost of hotels or anything (though that would be cool, too) while we're travelling for business, but more for the convenience.

It would be great to have a place for customers to sit down and chat while Bill's working, and it would be really great for Liam and Wil, too, since the always come with us!

We think we found one we like: http://www.coachmenrv.com/products/m...eries=Catalina

Anybody have an caveats about this company or this layout or this particular travel trailer? I'd appreciate any insight you might have, as we've never owned one before.

in advance!

***Jackpine*** · #2 Thu, April 23rd, 2009, 06:44 PM

Looks nice, Corey. I wish they showed the width of the thing. It looks very comfortable with the slideout and a genuine queen bed.

Have you looked at these? http://www.hilotrailer.com/trailers.html The 27T is very close to what you have there, 8-foot towing width, "fixed queen bed" and a slideout for additional room. It's a bit lighter than the one you are looking at, and, the ability to collapse for towing is a real plus, in my opinion. (Much less wind resistance and you don't have to worry about overhead clearances). We have a 17T, which is much too small for you guys, but is very easy to get into most small spaces, like National Forest campgrounds which is were we like to stay. I know you would prefer more "civilized" sites, so the smaller water tank sizes in the Hi-Lo are not a factor, because you'd be staying at places with full hookups.

We saw several used models of the larger HI-Lo's for sale when we were looking for ours. Never saw a single 17-footer that was used though. You'd save quite a bit getting a used one.

You WILL want a load distributing, anti-sway hitch to tow anything that big. Ours is from Equal-i-zer, http://www.equalizerhitch.com/and it's very easy to set up and use.

soutthpaw · #3 Thu, April 23rd, 2009, 07:08 PM

I am thinking about getting a travel trailer too for the same reasons... Have Mother In Law's RV now... its nice but then you got to pull a run about everywhere... For what we do it would be easier to be able to drive to a location and drop it then be off with the Excursion.. Plus better power and mileage....
The RV is for sale by the way 1993 Winnebego 36' Vectra Diesel Pusher 5.9 cummins with full Banks power pack.. Plus Allison Electronic 6 speed... it runs great at 11.5 to 14mpg if you can keep the MPH down... I can't do 68-75 pretty much when driving it...
I would seriously look new right now or near new as people can't give them away. about 10-15 years old they just start to $100 you to death... fix here and fix there.....

you can write interest off as second home...
One thing to look for is if they have insulated holding tanks. gives you more of a 4 season coach. I prefer the aluminum over the wood framed units... esp down your way with lots of moisture/humidity
Not sure if you can get it on a travel trailer but our RV has ducted central heat and A/C which is really nice and makes the whole system more efficient...

That is exactly what we are looking at too http://www.forestriverinc.com/nd/def...eries=GreyWolfCorey. a Bunkhouse model... Oh as for slides..Avoid kitchen slides as you are constantly flexing and moving all your plumbing, electrical and gas lines... I don't need to tell you what will happen eventually with that setup.. So look for sliding living or dining instead... slides also have a tendency to leak... I am undecided if we will get a slide or not. it does add quite a bit of weight and if you are only spending a few days at a time in it, its not a big deal.... I did see one floor plan I liked, similar to what you posted but the bunkhouse had a slide out making a cool play area with a tv mounted on the wall enclosing the bathroom.... Ill post a link if I find it again EDIT here is an examplehttp://www.forestriverinc.com/nd/def...ries=Ttrailers
or this one
http://www.forestriverinc.com/nd/def...eries=GreyWolf

Corey Cohron RIP · #4 Thu, April 23rd, 2009, 07:34 PM

Great info, Guys. We were looking at this layout for a couple of reasons:

1- It has the bunks for the boys.
2- The couch is across from the dining table, so if a few customers are hanging out while Bill works his magic on the laptop, they are in the same vicinity (a lot of layouts have the sofa and table on the same side of the trailer.
3- The "bedroom" has an actual sliding door, so we can close it off from "guests."
4- I really liked the corner kitchen being apart from the "living space."
5- I like that you don't have to walk through the bathroom to get to the bedroom.
6- The slide is only for the couch, so it's pretty light.

The RV place didn't have it in stock, but they're a fairly new facility and are expecting this model to be delivered in May. They're requesting it with the fabric we liked.

Stock is about $23,000 (way out of our range), but we found it on being sold by a retail RV shop in Michigan for $14753, so we know that we should be able to get them down to about $15K. I also didn't know that you can finance a travel trailer for 10 years until yesterday, which is very cool for us. I don't see us using it for vacations or anything; it will be exclusively for business, so it's a write-off.

Anyone have experience with Coachmen as a company? Good OR bad?

Corey Cohron RIP · #5 Thu, April 23rd, 2009, 07:42 PM

This is it listed on eBay. Lots of cool pictures -- way more than the Coachmen website, go figure...

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ALL-N...ZRVsQ5fCampers

***Jackpine*** · #6 Thu, April 23rd, 2009, 08:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Groovy Chick

This is it listed on eBay. Lots of cool pictures -- way more than the Coachmen website, go figure...

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ALL-N...ZRVsQ5fCampers

Corey, that's a GREAT price for the trailer described. And, I can see why you like the design. I just know how easy my low-profile one is to tow....

But in case you missed what southpaw said, the interest you pay on one of these things is tax deductible, just like a home loan! You can think of it as a vacation home on wheels! Your tax consultant will be able to confirm this.

Whether you'll do better having it as a business deduction or as I've pointed out above, a "home mortgage" deduction, is for you to decide. I know as a business deduction, you can depreciate it, so you may come out ahead that way.

- Jack

ChuckD · #7 Thu, April 23rd, 2009, 09:11 PM

My input is get a 5th wheel toy hauler. Much easier to pull plus you can get queen double bunks in the rear with a queen up front. Right now around here people are selling big nice ones dirt cheap. It can be a multi purpose cause you can put a counter in the rear with the ramp door down and sell merchandise plus the boys will have their own beds and if you was to use it for private stuff you can put 4 wheelers or what not in there.
http://phoenix.craigslist.org/wvl/rvs/1136960240.html
http://phoenix.craigslist.org/nph/rvs/1135123508.html
The bumper pulls can be found cheaper, just get a sway control hitch and air bags and you will be set.

http://phoenix.craigslist.org/wvl/rvs/1133928963.html

http://phoenix.craigslist.org/wvl/rvs/1133013072.html

Go to places that high forclosure rates and you can get good deals.

http://phoenix.craigslist.org/nph/rvs/1131603244.html

If you want me to I can go and check out ones around here for you. I bet you will save several thousands cause people are wanting to get out from under them and keep their house.

***Power Hungry*** · #8 Fri, April 24th, 2009, 12:00 AM

The problem with a 5'er is having something to pull it with. We are sans truck right now and would be looking for something to pull with the Expedition. Otherwise, we'd definitely look at the 5th wheel options.

ChuckD · #9 Fri, April 24th, 2009, 12:43 AM

Bill there is some nice bumper pull toy haulers out there. My point was you can use it as a "concession" trailer at the same time. It could cut down on cost plus provide family entertianment at the same time. That was my thaught as I have 4 children and that will be my route when the time comes cause there can be so many uses for it.

***88Racing*** · #10 Fri, April 24th, 2009, 08:02 AM

Well Corey that is a very nicely laid out floor plan.

So the expy is going to be put to even more work.

I agree with Jack get the equalizer hitch. And you don't want to spend the money on that go with "super springs".
Bags are nice but one more thing to worry about. If the bag system isn't plumbed right you can get a sway wash going and the compressors aren't worth the postage it cost to ship them to you.

I see Chuck's point the 5th wheelers pull nicer. And they idea of a toy hauler that's good too. But its harder to control the climate on hot days with that big tailgate open. The other point Chuck has of shopping in the down turn areas is good also.

My personal preferences: airstream saffari or a diesel pusher.

Here another idea cut the back top off the expy and mount the 5th wheel hitch. JK

Lars