Family Size Trailers for Any Size Budget
This past weekend, Stuart took the boys to the NJ Fall RV Show in Wildwood, NJ, and they had a great time! Stu’s friend is interested in getting his own RV, but he is interested in a trailer that can fit his growing family and can be towed behind the truck he already owns. That got me thinking- there are so many families out there with these exact same needs. And it’s such an affordable way to get into the RV world. So I sent Stu and the boys on a mission to find light weight, affordable trailers that a family could vacation in. Hopefully this post will help show you the kinds of trailers that are out there that will fit both your budget and your family. Please note that the purpose we were focusing on for these trailers was for a family vacation, not for full timing or living in.
And here’s what Stu found:
First we have Forest River’s 2017 Rockwood Roo 23WS; the show price here was $21,999. Our favorite features were the full size beds in the front and back, wrap around bench seating in the dinette, and that the stovetop and sink covers are flush with the counter top- which can add counter space with they’re not in use. One of the downsides of this model is that the two beds “pop out” like a popup trailer, so climate control won’t be as affective. Another downside is that there are no separate bedrooms, so everyone’s sleeping area is exposed to the common areas. It can sleep up to 6 people (2 in each full size bed and 2 on the couch). Its dry (or completely empty) weight is 4,841 pounds with a 500 pound hitch weight (gross weight is 6,300 pounds). It is 25’ 2” long; has a 43 gallon fresh water tank, and 28 gallon each gray and black water tanks. *Sorry we don’t have more pictures of this trailer- several of the ones taken didn’t turn out.
Next is the 2017 Coachmen Catalina Legacy 273DBS with double bunkbeds. The show price here was $21,459. Our favorite features are: the bunks are permanent and out of the way, separate bedroom for mom and dad, the sink and stovetop covers are flush with the counter tops, and that the bathroom has a small tub- which would be good for small children. One of the biggest downsides is that the master bed didn’t have much walk around room at all, and there isn’t much storage. This trailer can sleep up to 8 people. It is 33’ 3” long and its dry weight is 6,138 pounds, with a 738 pound hitch weight (gross weight is 7,700 pounds). The fresh water tank has a 46 gallon capacity, the gray water is 40 gallons, and the black water is 30 gallons.
The third trailer is the 2017 Prime Time Avenger 27DBS, which cost $19,999 at this show. Our favorite features are the permanent bunks, the wrap around benches in the dinette, the placement of the *large* TV (which is directlyy across from the couch), and the separate room for mom and dad. The worst features are the extremely small counter space in the kitchen, and the all-around cheap feel of the trailer. This can also sleep up to 8 people. It is 32’ 11” long, 6,652 pound dry weight and 721 pound hitch weight (gross weight is 9,521 pounds). The fresh water tank has a 48 gallon capacity, the gray water is 64 gallons, and black water is 34 gallons. Out of all the trailers in this post, this one was our least favorite. *Sorry about the dark picture of the master bed.
Finally, we have the 2017 Forest River Cherokee 264L with a rear living room and power bunks, which costs $25,468 at this show. What makes this our favorite is the living space available, which is more than the others we saw at this show. Other awesome features are the swivel recliners in addition to the loveseat, the separate bedroom for mom and dad, and that the stovetop and sink covers are flush with the counter top. One of the major downsides of this model is once the bunks are in the lowered position, the dinette and couch would be unusable space (the bunks in our picture below are not fully lowered). In addition to that, the placement of the TV (which is at a perpendicular angle from the couch), and it appears that the TV was not included in the sale price. Another issue may be that the bunks are directly in the common area, so once children are asleep, you may not be able to use the common areas without disturbing them. This model can sleep up to 8 people. It is 31’ 9” long. The dry weight is 6725 pounds, 770 pound hitch weight (gross weight is 7,770 pounds); fresh water tank has a 46 gallon capacity, black and gray water tanks are each 38 gallons each.
I hope this can help you on your journey to finding the perfect RV for your family! While reading posts like this one can help you find direction on your search, I highly recommend attending an RV show near you or visit a local RV showroom to see and feel what a light weight trailer is like.
Are there any light weight trailers out there that you would recommend to a new RVer? What are some of the features you look for when you step into a new trailer? Any advice on some problem areas that new RVers should look out for when they’re touring an RV?
