3 years ago, the idea of owning a camping trailer would elicit a strong and negative reaction from me. The idea of owning and maintaining a trailer sounded terrible. But things have changed thanks to family. My sisters ended up getting trailers and they have had such wonderful memories already with their children and it has rubbed off on me. So now, knowing nothing about trailers here is what I want to do.
1 - Buy a hard side trailer no more than 25 feet long
2 - It weighs less than 6k all in, so that way my V8 4runner can pull it (thoughts?)
3 - What are things I should consider when buying a trailer?
4 - What amenities are a must have in your opinion in a trailer?
5 - What else do I need to know (my knowledge is very limited when it comes to trailers)?
WRITTEN BY BRIAN C
RV Buying Advice
I second Brian L's advice. I added some detail in the first financial recommendation below.
My wife and I have been living in an RV full time for the past 3 years. We have talked to many people and have several observations to share:
You live in the Denver area. You are going to want to camp in the mountains. Pulling a 5th wheel is much more stable and much safer than pulling a travel trailer. This is especially true in crosswinds and steep curvy roads. Towing a travel trailer behind an underpowered vehicle in the mountains is asking for white-knuckle driving - or possibly worse.
If you're going to buy another vehicle anyway, I recommend getting a truck that could tow more than the RV you're thinking of getting now. As Brian L noted, you are likely to want more space later than you think you need now. It will weigh more. Changing your truck also then is expensive.
The RV industry as a whole does not have the best reputation for quality and service. Whether you decide on a fifth wheel or a travel trailer, there is one manufacturer that is top ranked for either. That manufacturer is Grand Design. (https://www.granddesignrv.com/grand-design-brands) They have several lines for both fifth wheels and travel trailers to consider. They have built a reputation of standing behind their products better than other manufacturers.
Take some time and go to nearby state parks or other RV parks and talk with campers. You will find most of them friendly and helpful. Ask them about fifth wheels vs. travel trailers. Ask them which manufacturers they would recommend. Ask them about Grand Design.
Here are two financial recommendations if you are going to buy new:
The rule of thumb is to take 30% off the sticker price for a new RV and start negotiations there. 30% off is close to the actual MSRP and is not the dealer cost. A good target is to get 32% off.
When buying a new truck or car, find the VIN Decoder online for the brand and enter the actual VIN number for the vehicle you're considering. Tip: You can often find the VIN number in the dealer's inventory online. Part of what the VIN Decoder will tell you is the actual MSRP from the manufacturer - which is much less than the "dealer's MSRP" on the sticker in the window. The dealer will sell it to you at the manufacturer's MSRP. They may not be happy about it.
Brian C
When going into the trailer, take note of what you like and what you don't like. Ask yourself if you could be in the trailer for 3 days while it rains and not get bent out of shape. Anything that is a small issue at time of purchase will become a huge thorn in your side after you bought your trailer. Most people that trade in their trailer in the first 2 years is because they bought too small. Toyota is notorious for under powering their vehicles. You may need to consider another tow vehicle. The new year for trailers is April 1st. For 1st time buyers, you could use this as leverage. If you consider a used trailer, make sure you get it inspected before purchase. Remember that trailers MSRP is 30% above manufacturer cost. You will lose that on trade in. Cheers, Brian