Travel Trailer Recommendations Needed

[BillB]

Looking to buy a travel trailer for some short camping trips now that my new RTS has the OEM hitch installed. I have never pulled a travel trailer before, but I have pulled a small boat, so I have some experience, but not much when it comes to larger travel trailers. I want to get something to sleep 4 comfortably, but I don't neet to pull the Taj Majal behind me. I have seen a couple of good threads in this section, but I could use some advice also on the type of hitch accessories you would recommend to go along with the recommended trailer. I have a good sized budget for this trailer and accessories, so load my shopping cart up with some good picks and any pictures of outside and inside you have are appreciated.

[MikeT]

For the size and feature list, I think you would do well to consider Trailmanor trailors.

[spun07RTX]

trail lite

keep it practical

18-22' is all you need

[Sunpony65]

Bought this one last year...21 foot Starcraft StarStream - SS21RB. Small(ish) easy to tow and very comfortable. Dry wt of 3800. Sorry for low res of pictures but that is all I have with me. www.starstreamrv.com

[wrenrj1]

Read your manual about pulling trailers and consider all the numbers. GVWR, tongue weight, trailer weight etc. Also consider dry weight vs. all the fluids, coolers, baggage, food, people etc. that will add weight to your final calculation.

My point is that when you consider a 5K trailer, consider what you load into it and what's the weight of the family, gear etc. that the RL hauls as well...

Finally, try to balance your trailer with the weight on the Axle's as best you can with minimal weight forward, however make sure the imbalance is forward....

[avenger]

Originally Posted by Sunpony65

Bought this one last year...21 foot Starcraft StarStream - SS21RB. Small(ish) easy to tow and very comfortable. Dry wt of 3800. Sorry for low res of pictures but that is all I have with me. www.starstreamrv.com

Sunpony, I've been looking at this model myself.

Have you obtained any fuel mileage results ?

Also, do you tow it just with the hitch or do you use any type of equalizer system ?

[Ahab]

Originally Posted by avenger

Sunpony, I've been looking at this model myself.

Have you obtained any fuel mileage results ?

Also, do you tow it just with the hitch or do you use any type of equalizer system ?

Nice unit. We were interested in it too, but chose the 22' Airstream Safari as I didn't want dual axles and it's somewhat lighter. We tow without a WDH or anti sway system and have no problems with sway or climbing grades. Worst highway mileage has been 14mpg and best 18 so you can say the average runs around 16.

[Sunpony65]

Hi avenger.

The dealer told me from the outset to get a w/d hitch but I knew the Honda recommendation is to go without. I had the dealer go ahead and install a Husky w/d with a sway control and then tried both ways to see for myself. Honestly, the StarStream is a little heavy on the tongue weight (just north of 500) and it pushes the RL rear down about 3 inches. With the w/d on the first level of distribution compensation (first link) the drop is around 1 to 1.5 inches and, IMO, the handling is better - more surefooted. I've never felt the tail wagging the dog and it tracks straight and true. Bumps are still well damped and braking is great (prodigy controller).

Regarding mileage, well, you've read it here before. Tank by tank, I've seen 9-11 mpg with the load of cargo (no water) and 2 people. Towing her empty with just me I was able to squeeze out 13.

[Sunpony65]

Originally Posted by Ahab

Nice unit. We were interested in it too, but chose the 22' Airstream Safari as I didn't want dual axles and it's somewhat lighter. We tow without a WDH or anti sway system and have no problems with sway or climbing grades. Worst highway mileage has been 14mpg and best 18 so you can say the average runs around 16.

Yeah. I think my low mpg is related to doing a lot of driving in the foothills and the significant other's cargo load.....

We actually looked at the Safari but my wife liked he starstream interior better....go figure

[nolaridge]

I just looked at a Trail-Sport TS25S (made by R-Vision) today and am planning to purchase it later this month. It seems to be the lightest trailer for its size at 3600 lbs and 25 ft (27'10" including hitch). It also has a sofa slide. It will replace the Coyote Sport 180 that I pulled to Alaska last summer -- this has been a good little trailer! If I'd known how much I would enjoy camping, I probably would have started out with a nicer/larger unit the first time around. As it is, I'm going to take a pretty good hit on the trade on a trailer that's only a year and a half old.