Question for all you experienced RV guys...

What we did before we bought. Found out quickly a 17’ was way too small for us. Ended up with a 25’ and also 8’ wide with a slideout instead of 7’.

 

It was mentioned above but state/ national campgrounds are MUCH MUCH less expensive.

Also mentioned location and season has a lot to do with it. However there are a few exceptions example: we just booked 4 nights inside Glacier National Park over 4th of July weekend for $23/night.

Personally we enjoy a more off grid lifestyle which allows you to stay virtually free indefinitely. If you plan it out and buy the right stuff you can take a camper into national forrest or BLM land.

We greatly prefer a truck camper since it allows us to travel much more freely and when in busy places like national parks it lets us cook or relax without loosing our parking spot at a key place for the day.

Tacoma’s are on the small side for sure for a truck camper but ours works ideally for our purpose.

Cirrus has a new truck camper that’s light enough for most half tons now that is awesome. It also connects differently than a traditional truck camper so removing it is a quick and easy process. Again truck campers aren’t for everyone but after trying both we like them much much better for our particular style.


Free camping spot even in NY!!! Most states have a lot if you really take a look. Good luck!

 

I want my own.

 

That’s exactly what I want. That No Bo 10.6 is going to fill the bill pretty nicely I think. I can get that thing into places those bigger rigs can’t.

 

Wanna bet? Lol

 

Camping is suppose to be enjoyable, relaxing, and peaceful. My idea of towing a trailer, is NOT TOWING MY HOME AND "CONVENIENCES" OF, behind me. My way of having an RV, behind, is minimalistic, and I just take things that can do what's necessary, effectively, and comfortably.

I always avoid city parks, overly developed, and "club" type places. Trailers should be self contained, have water, reefer, maybe a compact generator, white gas stove, lantern, essential, such as shovel, axe, 5lb hammer, nails, rope, pots/pans, silverware, bowls, cups and other basic "needs"

Camping and towing an RV should be an adventure. Not a stay in a catered restaurant

 

While I happen to agree, be thankful other people feel differently or we’d never get away from the masses.

Some people may have different requirements, maybe their spouse won’t camp without a flushing toilet, you never know. Everyone is entitled to their own happiness.

 

I do what's necessary.

 

Here is what we ended up with. This is about as roughing it as I can get my wife interested in, and since I did a good amount of sleeping under the stars with weeks without a real shower in the military this is fine with me!
Plus we have a 6 member family and 2 dogs (one giant breed) so a small setup just isn't going to do it for us.



Like Yota 4x4 said, whatever makes people happy is good with me.

I definitely don't equate RVing with being a cheap, and I envy those with nearby BLM land for free camping. In the midwest with land going for $10,000+ an acre for farming there isn't available BLM land. Free camping near me consists of Walmart parking lots, boat ramp parking lots, and parking lots of closed businesses.

 

Nice looking setup that looks to have everything you'd need. We're fortunate to have several National Forests here in the southeast with roads maintained well enough to get our 19' Scamp into some fairly remote spots that can be used as a base camp. We've also made several trips to the western US pulling the camper without any problems. Thanks for your service, got my outdoor merit badge from Uncle Sam as well with an all expense paid world tour back in 69-70.



Free dispersed site in Black Hills National Forest near Mount Rushmore

 

It's all about compromises and tradeoffs with RV's. Longer gets you more comfort, shorter gets you more offroadability.

After diddling around with various trailers and Class B's my compromise is a 1706fb 19.2', 3000lbs dry.

 

I watched some videos on it, and unless you’re going to bring an ATV or dirt bike I think the 10.5 seems better in my opinion. That said I really like them, 2000lbs tow weight is tough to beat. They look very nice! I’ve never seen that model in person but have seen. Some of the larger NOBO’s at shows and various places. Forrest River makes a good RV. Looks like a very good choice!

 

I like

I’m over the No Bo and have since moved on. I think this is gonna be my next camper: https://youtu.be/qWtfnLhewUk

 

when folks show up with campers starting at 100k go up to more than a million

whatever the market will bear

$100 -200 a nite is cheap

 

Maybe look at this KZ Escape E14H. Escape E14 HATCH Travel Trailer | KZ RV (kz-rv.com)

Only a foot longer and 1000lbs heavier dry, but the amenities are inside. Inside toilet, sink, fridge, has grey and black tank.

Consider, you have to cook and cleanup outside all the time with the NoBo and you also have to walk outside to access the fridge. You have to walk outside to piss. F that, that gets annoying fast.

Escape has leafspring axle, factory lift flips it to the top of the axle for ground clearance and offroadability.

 

Again, you have to consider all you can do with that trailer is sleep in it. If you want to cook, prep a meal, cleanup after the meal you have to walk outside. You have to piss in the middle of the night, you have to walk outside in the cold, rain, whatever.

You asked for experienced RV'rs opinions, my opinion is don't buy a trailer that sucks at everything except for offroading.

 

Off-roading is what I want it for.

 

I guess I should clarify where I’m at since my original post. After going down the rabbit hole looking at all my options I realized what I really want is the ability to camp as far off the grid as possible. I’m not at all interested in the typical Walmart people campground scene with WiFi and electric hookups and barking dogs and shouting kids, etc...

I talked to the wife and she’s down. All this started after just having got back from around three week pig and deer hunt in the middle of nowhere. My buddy and I tent camped the entire time. Another buddy of ours brought a fully loaded camper damn near as nice as my house out there. He beat the shit out of it doing it though that’s another story. I don’t need or even want that. I just need something to keep me warm and dry and make my camping needs more convenient. I’m not interested in the Taj Mahol and don’t need every creature comfort addressed.

The ability to get pretty much anywhere my truck will go is what I’m really after.

 

Unless you're doing extreme offroading you don't need a shorty trailer with a lockandroll hitch. Keep in mind no matter how offroadable the trailer is for ground clearance, if you get in too far you have to back it out or turn it around and that is a PITA.

The bottom line is trailers are a base camp, short trailers get you further as your base camp and that's about it for positives.

 

Counterpoint. Stumbling outside at 3am to find a good pissing tree, hoping that the moon isn't shining off your bare ass as much as you're imagining it is, is one of the great, pure joys of camping. Let's just say that in nearly four years of ownership the on board toilet has been pissed in exactly once. That was more for proof of concept than anything.