We went from a tent, to 21 years with a 4-Wheel pop up truck camper. Now for the last 4 years we have a 15ft Tab 320s teardrop trailer. We tow with a Toyota 4-Runner. A small trailer gives us the opportunity to set up and take down camp really quick and easy...We can go almost anywhere with a trailer this size, and you hardly know its there. Now we both are retired we are taking 1-6 week trips...We love having a hard sided camper with a real wet bathroom and a inside kitchen. We tend to camp only during "shoulder" season and in no cold or hot weather. If it gets above 80 degrees we go up in elevation and if too cold we come down...So far the western states, (seashore, desert, red rock country, and mountains)
We've only traveled with a trailer. We are big explorers, and our Tow vehicle gives us the flexibility to travel to nearby points of interest, and drive back to our home all set up and ready to use.
Similarly, I grew up in Class A and Class C motorhomes, and my dreaming about what I wanted to do always involved a unit with the motor in it. I never thought I would do trailer life. In fact, I remember growing up saying, "I don't understand why people get the trailer where they can't drive it." Well, now I understand. In February, I bought my first camper, which is a trailer. I bought it because it was the unit that had all the amenities I needed at a price point I could afford. When camping, I feel no difference in my trailer experience compared to my adventures in driving motor homes, but I don't ever feel stuck because I am able to drive my vehicle and explore the area. The only "negative" is having to plan out gas stations to make sure they can accommodate a trailer. I can't just run my gas to1/4 tank and expect to be able to fuel up. That's been a small price to pay so far. I've gone out about 70% of the weekends since getting the trailer and I have done 4 week long trips since February. I think it's an investment well spent, so far!
My wife and I have a Grand Design Imagine 2500RL. We use it as our base camp to explore state and national parks and new areas of the county. Our trips range from weekends to three weeks on the road. This year, we did our longest RV trip. We went from our home in the Kansas City, Missouri, area to Rock Spring, Wyoming, then to Colter Bay Campground in Grand Teton National Park for a week, after which we spent four nights in West Yellowstone. Last year's trip was to Florida and back in about two weeks. Thank you for sharing. Peace and Safe Travels.
We travel full time, mostly Boondocking off-grid, with an Australian made off-road trailer. We previously owned an EarthCruiser (class B) for a couple years (part-time). Although having a Class B was nice, with regard to parking and “stealth camping” in cities, we have been able to easily adjust to the trailer life and still do plenty of “stealth camping” when passing through cities. We do prefer having camp always waiting for us when we return from a day of exploration, and even better, we don’t have the anxiety of finding a new camp after being out all day. We have also found we spend more time exploring areas we visit, now that we have a good base camp and can sit still for a week or few days.
Do you have a Bruder? I saw one a few months back that was passing through Tallahassee and couldn't believe my eyes. They had an awesome Toyota 4 Runner. Between the two of them I am pretty sure they could go ANYWHERE and survive anything.
I didn’t realize you guys kept your truck, very cool on that. We have a 17 foot travel trailer but very recently purchased a Class B. Eventually we’ll decide on one or the other, but I can see advantages with each. I appreciate the various types of RV’s you guys test, thank you.
We have had a B+, Winnebago travel trailer, and now a Class B built on the large dually Ford Transit. The trailer I think is fine for people who want to go say one place for the weekend or longer. That is not us. We travel all around the country and rarely stay more than one night in the same place. Continually hooking and unhooking a trailer is too much work. Our Transit can fit just about anywhere and is large enough with its 79 inch twin beds and 6'6" ceiling to fit my 6'5" body. We just completed a 9,200 mile trip. Our one before that was over 12,000 miles covering places in Canada we could not have gotten to with a trailer. It is all about what you really want to do.
@@lawrencewiddis2447 I have a checklist and it's regularly my least favorite part of trailer life. Driveables have their own tradeoffs, of course. But when we do the "one night here, one night there" thing, unhooking and rehooking SUUUCCKKKS. Sometimes we can get away with just staying hooked up, but sometimes the grade of the campsite makes that impossible.
@@robertcknox there are certainly times when one must unhook for the night…but not that many. And you can unhook only the ball sometimes for front/back leveling.
Thank you for another great video. Just skip the stick built stuff and purchase an airstream... Me I am going back to my camping routes and likely driving the classic, next year, 1995 Pleasure Way class b to Alaska next summer and returning without it. The minivan is all I need or want right now. It is the perfect platform to backpack out of and for roadtrips it is economical and stealthy. When I get too old for backpacking and smaller vehicle camping I will likely get a really small travel trailer like a Happier Camper or uCamp 320, really what more can one person need. I really wish I was 1/2 of a couple, but you just don't know how much time you have to walk the earth. My wonderful spouse left, way too soon... I can finally watch couple's again without getting really sad so I will check back with you guys. Thank you again for taking the time to create this video. Safe travels. ❤😊
Congratulations on your trailer experience! I began with a teardrop and then moved on to a Little Guy Mini Max. Now, I'm enjoying the experience of a 25-foot Class C motorhome. The Mini Max was fantastic, but I needed more space for remote work. I considered a larger trailer but didn’t have a tow vehicle. Instead of investing in the high cost of a new truck, I opted for a Class C. I'm glad to see Winnebago responding to market conditions with a more affordable trailer option. Hopefully, it allows you to explore the country with ease! Maybe I will see ya on the road one day, I am headed out west in 10 days.
We had two travel trailers before getting a Class C (Sprinter chassis). The Sprinter was a downsize for us but we like the ease of it. I can drive it and knew I was never going to be comfortable towing the trailer. That Winnebago floorplan looks great, I like a rear kitchen.
It's good to see you in a Winnebago! We traveled for 3 months in a Micro Minnie 18 ft trailer, all over the country. I loved the smaller size for the cross country adventure, but it would have been nice to have a slide-out in it. Glad you enjoyed the journey and fun with family and friends
Thanks for the video. My husband and I have had three different travel trailers and loved camping and doing cross country trips. However, in 2022 my husband said he didn't want to go anymore. I still wanted to go and I did take the trailer on my own 3 different times, but it was hard for me, being over 70, to hook up and unhook the trailer. So we traded in for my 24ft motorhome and I tow a Honda CRV. I go camping with a couple of different ladies groups. And in 2023 I took a solo trip across country from California to Main just me and my dog.
Nice! I’ve been waiting for this one lol. Like you always say, people need to find what works for them. For us our 19ft Escape trailer built in British Columbia is perfect for our use. We hardly know it’s back there, it’s narrow enough to tow through large cities and the tow vehicle and camper fit in back to back parking spaces. It’s so nice to be able to drop it off and go 4-wheeling and exploring. The mistake people make with trailers is they go too large, 17-19ft is the sweet spot for us. We keep a bin in our tow vehicle with some simple cooking and coffee making supplies, as well as a small porta potty at times, so we still have camping gear when we’re on the go. We met Debra in New Brunswick who was with a few other Storytellers, Charlie I remember. We love the camper communities. Our Escape has a nice community too. Maybe van life will work for us when it’s just two of us. Hope to catch up soon.
We have a 5th wheel we used to use as a travel rig, but it's 42 feet long and inconvenient for the type of traveling we do. We now live in the 5er and tow a 26 foot toy hauler. I went with the toy box as it has a generator built in that runs on gas from a 30 gallon tank leaving the two propane cans for cooking and heating. Still a bit inconvenient in some ways but for boondocking it's great.
I’ve run the gamut, pick up truck camper, horse trailer camper, tents, conversion van, outside cots next to the fire, and we currently have a 20 foot towable.
I had a Winnebago Hike. I had a problem with hooking up & backing up. Sold it b& now have a Class C Chateau. I can tow my Jeep for exploring! No slides!
Always enjoy your videos. Was surprised by your class A reminder of the past. That's when I started watching, when you quit your jobs and jumped in your Newmar! Your videos and book inspired us! We are on our third year of full time, in a Winnebago class A. (Our fourth RV)
We have a Taxa Mantis (Taxa is now part of Storyteller btw). Would love a van or a B+ like an Ekko, but the Mantis gave our small family a reasonable entry point to weekend camping in TX state parks, a space for longer week-long adventures, it fits in my garage, is easily towable, etc. We're only 1.5 years in but we'll see what the future holds!
For a first time try with the Wiinnebago travel trailer, I think you guys have handled everything very well! The AC, spacious areas with slides, a full shower, and plenty of plug ins for appliances for coffee☕, this trailer is fantastic! 👍👍Take care, guys!🤗🤗🏕🌺
Great video! I love the trailer as I think the flex of unhitching and sight seeing, errands, hikes etc. are worth it. Also, you can dine out more thereby not packing as much in the cooking dept ie small appliances.
We started camping in 1988 when our boys were 4 & 8. In those years, we had three different pop-up trailers, and they worked well for short and multi-week trips. With the boys in college, we moved up to a 28' Sunline trailer (they were a great company) and enjoyed having all the amenities of a good sized trailer. With our move to OH, we downsized to smaller Winnebago trailer which we liked but decided was a bit small for longer winter trips to FL (we retired!), so we decided in 2018 to buy a gas motorhome (33' Newmar Bay Star) and we loved the room but I got tired of dealing with a wide RV and construction zones. Last year, we purchased a 2015 Winnebago Via which is technically a class A, but built on a Sprinter chassis and we're adjusting to downsizing and enjoying it. The joy of the Via is that we tow a car behind it and enjoy the advantage of a "home base" with a separate vehicle for sightseeing and running errands. For families, I think a trailer or small fifth wheel is an ideal RV and more cost effective than motorhomes. A van camper or class B can be ideal for one or two adults and can be much easier to handle on the road. But to be a happy RVer, you have to be willing to adjust and "go with the flow".
Congrats and welcome to Travel Trailer Life Russos! Looks like you guys have got this, enjoy! We have an Airstream 23FBTwin. Going on 2 years and have really enjoyed weekend getaways and also some some month long trips, easy to work out of and have a base camp to explore the area from. Its a perfect for us, comfortable set up but not too big to get in an out of most parks and campgrounds. Again, congrats and enjoy your new travel trailer.
Hi Joe and Kait! I loved your first-time perspective of travel trailer life, and I shall be looking at your future videos. I wish you more safe, happy travels ahead.🙏🏾💙🤍❤️👍🏾
Russo's, we've been travel trailer camping since the 90's, pop-up, hard shell with canvas ends, etc. since the 70's. Currently have a 2019 Keystone Laredo 330, 37'. Yes it's long by some standards so not every campground we want to use is available to us. Backing in? The more you do it the better you get. I still prefer pull through if available. NOW.......I'm NOT totally unhappy with the Lippert people, but our salesman said park it, take it off the tow vehicle, pop a brew and sit at the picnic bench and watch it level it self. Unfortunately we have NEVER found it that easy even at some fairly level campgrounds. If you don't park your trailer on fairly level ground, the Ground system will error out with an "out of stroke" code. Which means manually retracting and starting over. So much for super easy leveling. We've found that leveling the trailer somewhat by driving up on some blocks to get us into the ballpark seemed to do the trick. Aside of the leveling hassle we really like our TT. Big enough for the wife and I to have our own space which makes extend stays more enjoyable. It came with an inside gas/electric fridge, and an outdoor kitchen with an electric fridge. We opted for the 2nd roof AC unit as it was a little stretch to cool both living and bedroom area with just one AC unit. A large 45" TV in the living room, one in the outside kitchen came with it, we installed our own in the bedroom. Yes we love our trailer......just wish it could level itself better, Lippert? Our tow vehicle is a 2018 Chevy Silverado Duramax 6.2 diesel. No problem with towing. We also installed the foldup inside stairs on it. It originally came with the standard stairs. Otherwise the trailer came with most of the standard amenities. Oh, we changed the stove out for a newer one that had the glass top. Looks sharper.
We started out in a tent, then pop up trailer, and as of 2015, our 17 1/2 ft travel trailer. Since 2015, we have spent about 9 months camping all over the US and Canada in our 3 season camper. We mostly boon dock in/around National Parks and Forests, and a bit of mooch docking with family who are far away. We do exactly what you have mentioned. It is our off-grid capable base camp. We love it!
I loved the video. I like the inside , outside scenes, including the groups dinner video. I'll have to admit, I was leaning towards a van but , you brought up some valid points about having the trailer instead 🎉
Love your honesty. I have a Coachman 19’ that I pull w/ my 2013 Tahoe. I go everywhere with my 2 large dogs. I have a fence that I put up for the dogs. We go at least 5 to 8 days at a time once a month.
I'm in the process of selling a 40 foot Class A, in favor of keeping a 23' travel trailer that I've had for several years. Overly large RVs become burdensome, which takes away from the pleasure. Winnebago makes a great product at a good price.
Our camper 2-foot-itis (okay, its me that keeps changing): popup, small very "inexpensive" toy hauler, conventional travel trailer, larger towable toy hauler, truck camper, Airstream, converted 7x12 cargo trailer to toyhauler, converter 7x20 cargo trailer / toyhauler and now since 2022, a Harker EDC which is wedge-shell, bed rail mounted, very lightweight (350# - fattened up to maybe 550# with interior build-out) truck camper; mounted on a 2018 F150 is for solo camping. The truck with Harker EDC gets 19 to 21 MPG but 10 to 11 MPG with Harker and the 7x20. The EDC is quite the conversation piece and is what I am working lately, making it nicer and just because I can. I just added 660w solar array, 3000w inverter and 5120 Wh of Lithium batteries. Yes, I am a geek, but I need a little air conditioning that can run for many hour without sun or continuously with sun. I am convinced one mode of camping just won't work for me. I do like this M-series trailer; in particular, the 7' width with slide and light weight.
Very enjoyable watch, great filming as usual. I have camped in a pop up towable & my minivan that I outfitted into a camper. I have always wanted to get a unit like you tried out but without a slide & a little smaller, as it's just me. I really enjoy all the helpful info you guys share.🤗
Hey - I've been to the Schniz a few times. Company i used to work for was headquarters in Jasper. Thanks for the info on Patoka - we've not stayed there yet - need to go!!
We have only ever had our small Eggcamper trailer but I have thought a lot about other ways of camping and keep coming back to the choice we made and being happy with that choice. Being able to drop the trailer for three nights and using our Highlander to explore the area then moving on to the next area is our way of traveling. We save on gas, it’s not a problem getting in and out of tight spaces and like you said, your “home” is all set up waiting for you after a long day of exploring.
Hi to you all. We have only had 2 class B RVs so far thanks for sharing. We were up in Forest City Iowa Winnebago Land in July a few warranty issues and the Lithium altimeter failed already only 2years old and not covered on any warranty 2022 Revel! But back on the road 👍
Good Day Like you my family have enjoyed our RV's 1st was a tent then a tent trailer then a Class A moved to a bunkhouse 28ft due to the kids. We have had a 28ft Toyhauler for the past 10 years. All of our trailers have been bumper pull. We found the toyhauler had the best overall use. We have 3 queen beds and a couch and dinette and full bath. We had ATV and now a UTV . I see the trailer you used had a small bed otherwise looked good for two. Enjoy
We have a JayFlight Travel trailer and we use it to go on trips. 21:33 We also take it a lot during the summer time out to a lot of places. Great video, keep up the editing and filming.
We were tent campers for many years. We bought a 1575 Lance in 2018. We have never looked back. I agree with you that I enjoy using the trailer as a Basecamp. I worry about having to break down everything and put everything away anytime we want to go anywhere. We are considering going to something like a leisure travel van when we retire, but I still have that fear of having to box everything up. Also having to park it in the places that we go seems to be a pain in the butt. I really enjoy, watching your videos. You have been one of the most informative campers I’ve watched over the years. I subscribe to your newsletter and have watched dozens of your reviews. They helped us in our process of choosing the right rig for our family of three. Keep up the great work. Something tells me this might not be the last trailer you camp in. Comfort and convenience is Paramount at my age of 54😂
Hey Joe and Kait, we started with a Coleman pop up for 14 years while our family was young then a Hi-Lo for 18 years. Then in 2018 we got our Oliver. We fulltimed for two years and now basically use it all summer to Escape the Texas heat in the mountains of Colorado etc. Being set up for serious boondocking with solar,lithium a composting toilet and Berkey lets us set up a base camp for 14 days with ease. And I really like being only 7’ wide and 24’ long. The only problem I have at gas pumps is when the guy in front of me decides to leave his vehicle at the pump and go in and have lunch.
Kait! Your hair has gotten so long! I remember when you wore it really short! I love it both long and short! I giggled a bit watching Joe drink his coffee! I love it! It was good to see you both! Thanks for sharing!
We've gone quite a different camping route, I think, from you and many of your viewers. We've gone from backpacking to car and motorcycle camping to a teardrop trailer (Bean). We love the relative luxury of our little trailer and have hauled it all over in the 2 years we've owned it (we just returned from a 2-month trip across 20 states). We love that we can take it many many places and it's easy to use. Try one out sometime if you want yet another type of adventure.
Certainly like the base camp, where you don't have to pack everything up, Also any restaurant that has a gift shop has to be good! The pot luck looked like fun, but you know who would not like it lol. Safe travels guys and look forward to seeing you again at East!
I run a 22ft Wildwood 170SSX Great couples camper, We use it for weekend trips around 200 miles of our house most of the camping season. Then to the Outer banks for a full week or two. We pick what we want to do/see, then find a campground near it to drop our "base camp". I just couldn't do a class A or C or even a truck camper as it would limit where we could go. Trailer life is good! :D
My husband and I live in Jasper. The food at the Schnitzelbank is really good. Should you go to Patoka Lake in the future, you might want to try Kelley's Bar and Restaurant in Celestine.
Humm, although this video was 21mins long, I didn’t want it to end! If it were 2hrs long, I would’ve absorbed every second of it…well done you two 👍🏼👏🏼🤩🤩 Now I’m a Class B - Truck Canper kinda guy, but lately, I’ve been seeing a lot more Trailers pop up on my home page! I like it that you took one of these baby’s out for a test drive (so to speak)! I’ve never been a fan of Winnebago’s, but for the past 8yrs, it’s generally been “Where you two lead, I follow”, so if you ever purchase a Winnie Trailer, I’m sure I’ll become a convert 😂 Always my best to you wonderful folks 👏🏼👍🏼🤩🤩🖖🏼
We have a 22-foot travel trailer and tow with a haft ton pick. We are looking at new trailers with a slide. The M-Series 2326RK has been added to the list. We like having a trailer for the same reason you stated. set up base camp and explore the surroundings. Anything within an hour's drive is open for discussion.
With your truck set up, you can put your motorcycle on the deck or even an ATV/UTV to explore with. Also, there are many roof rack options for over the cab of your truck to put kayaks. Lots of options.
We've had two A-frame trailers. Both towed quite easily behind a mid-size pickup. We had the same freedom to explore that you talk about. The drawback is that they were quite cramped and we never really got the hang of storing some stuff in bins in the pickup; a larger trailer would have worked better. Also, neither one had a toilet or shower, so it was a matter of going to the campground restrooms. We then had 1/4 interest in a park model RV in a resort, which was a great basecamp and had all the comforts of home but in miniature... it was great in a lot of ways, but we were always in the same area, and it lacked the flexibility to take off for a weekend whenever we wanted, because we only got scheduled into 1/4 of the weekends each year. We just sold our 1/4 share of the park model, and our house closes this week and we're buying a different house, this one with RV parking. We'll be exploring different options before we make a purchase, so we have a better idea of what we really want. I imagine that when we go to a campground, if we're in a motorhome or van, we'll leave some items there when we go and explore (chairs, etc.) similar to when we had the trailers. Renting different types seems to make the most sense to us, so we can experience a lot of options before we put money down.
We are considering a travel trailer. We don't want to live full-time and like the idea of setting up a base camp. Watching ya'll live out of one for a few minutes was very helpful.
We have never had a travel trailer ourselves. My parents did and we used it. We have had a pop up and currently have a square drop. Not quite RVing. We have camped with a roof top tent as well. If you want to see an area for a while, we like the base camp with our square drop. If you are doing a quick overnight trip or your trip is a road trip where you are moving every day, the roof top tent is the way to go.
Being able to pile your truck bed full of stuff is the ticket. I traveled around with 5th wheels and while the headroom is amazing i always wanted to ability to take an atv with me. Travel trailer for the win.
AMEN 🌅 finally someone doing this. We been eyeing this TT never would thought it would had been you two lol.. We own the Grand Design 22mle. “2022” yet Fuel cost today SUCK! And we do well for ourselves yet it cuts into our cost more so distance towing. Please give us mpg’s etc.. Love this TT due to it size. and only 7ft wide which means less wind drag .. fuel today means COST! You have a nitch here and you’re not taking it into account. Many like myself are eyeing what can we do to save on fuel; we make around 180k a year and yet we struggle with fuel cost .. Our friends who make two to 4 times more drive electric vehicles and they could afford fuel but it’s convenience and cost even at upper middle class… There is no one focusing on this! Appreciate this vid so MUCH! We want to save on fuel with our F150 with 24.5 gallon fuel tank. We avg now 9.5 mpg @ 62 mph yet would love to see 65 mph @ 12 mpg’s etc…. In our 2.7 Ecoboost 2023 XLT.
Still watching and your in Bourbon 🥃 country. Greetings from Miami .. love ya .. we love using our Truck as a tow vehicle.. Our sound system and comfort etc…
Many moons ago, we camped in a tent. As our bodies aged, we realized that wasn’t possible anymore. We bought our first towable trailer 7 years ago and had many adventures in it. We traded it for another trailer about 1-1/2 years ago. Improvements in comfort like a north-south bed instead of east-west and slide dinette. We’ve enjoyed parking it at a campsite and then exploring in our truck.
My husband and I own a 2020 Starcraft 212FB Mossy Oak camper. It is perfect for 2 people and a lot more counter space than the Winnebago. And it is smaller in length. Check it out. Starcraft still makes the same floorplan.
I have an 18 foot trailer, but have been shopping for a B Van for my travel style now is more suited for a van that fits in a parking spot. The trailer is great if you are staying somewhere for several days. I usually stay 3-7 nights in a spot with my trailer and then the SUV can do day trips nearby. My strategy on backing the trailer into a spot is around the third or fourth attempt someone will volunteer to back it in for me and I let them. If no one is around I find if I go slow, I can sometimes get parked in a good position pretty quickly. My SUV has a backup camera that works for getting the ball and hitch nearby before it gets obscured by collision warnings. I also added a wireless camera to the back of the trailer so I don’t take out my picnic table, or go off the end of the pad. It’s also helpful for changing lanes on the freeway if you aren’t sure if there is room or not. Going forward I think I will just be somewhere one night and I have done some trips with car and hotel, or tent, but since I have had the trailer I am spoiled about beds and bathrooms and it’s nice having them with me
This Winnebago M-Series looks pretty comfortable for two people. I am surprised how big it seems when you put the slide out. This would be ideal for get-aways for sure.
My Husband just came back from a supply trip and swears he saw you in Shelbyville, Illinois. Lithia Springs? We're here until Wednesday. Happy travels!
Nice, we pick ours up Thursday, it will be our 5th trailer, and our 4th Winnebago. Well, one was an Itasca but same thing. We are coming from a Winnebago Hike 100, we downsized to that from a class A motorhome, I just hated driving that thing long distances. Well the Hike was a mistake, especially when it rains, too small to shelter in with 3 people and a dog. This trailer will be a nice compromise, towing it with a 3/4 ton diesel truck will be comfortable and being stuck in the inevitable rain will also be comfortable. I will be transferring over the battery and inverter setup I had in the hike, which allows us to run the AC off battery power as we do some overnights off grid a few times a year.
Good video Joe. I like that Winnebago. I may want to upgrade to it at some point. For the past four years, I have been living out of a forest river, GeoPro, 19 TH toy hauler. I share the trailer with my Greyhound Ruby. If you are interested in trailer life, a hauler would be a good option for you because you could carry your motorcycle in it as you travel. I moved out here to Pahrump, Nevada during Covid in 2020 after following Bob Wells videos. I attempted to live out of a suburban, but that did not work out very well. So I purchased this 20 foot, travel trailer in las Vegas Nevada and also purchased an RV Park membership in town. I pay about $500 a month plus utilities where I’m at now. The Past three months have been brutal with the heat, but I have two air conditioners running. I run one portable 10,000 btu from the motorcycle exhaust port and I have the standard overhead 13,000 BTU.. We live very comfortably. I have pulled my trailer locally, but I am not comfortable towing it cross country. I travel back and forth to attend Greyhound events in on the East Coast. We have been staying in hotels. RV parks are expensive back east. So I just ordered a pop-up tent camper from Lone peak Overland, which will be installed on the back of my 2020 ram rebel 1500. This will allow us to stay comfortably in campsites or dispersed camping on my trips back-and-forth to the East Coast and save a lot of money on hotel fees.
We have a 22' trailer that is perfect for two. The size allows us to get into many sites that friends with 25'-30'+ trailers can't, but it's plenty big for hanging out indoors during bad weather without feeling cramped. It's also small enough that we can mooch-dock in my parent's yard and can spend more time with them than we would having to drive to a hotel in their rural town, but we still have our own space. As far as cons, it has a slide that it doesn't really need for the 2-person floor plan and is just one more thing that can break; and we can't store it at our home. That's one reason we may consider a Class B or B+ someday, we'd love to be able to park it at home so we can take off whenever we want (and I could help drive it, I get too flustered to tow). At the moment though, most B's cost so much that we could buy a house in some areas for the same cost, and I just can't stomach that.
We’ve had them all, including a Class B, Roadtrek. You are right, whenever leaving the campground, even for a short time, you need to pack up as if going for a week. I never got a good nights sleep, too tall. The frig. too small, the wet bath,too wet. Now we own an Ibex, travel trailer, roughly 24 ft. a full size queen bed, a large 12 volt frig. a workable counter top, a breakfast bar. Need I say more? Yes the B was a joy to drive, however, the comfort and space severely lacking. I am in love with our new rig.
Congrats on your 1st official tow and you're no longer towing virgins. You seem to handle quite well but you don't need an F350 for a trailer this size, that is why it is easier. I have a Ram 1500 V8 2021 and tow my Autumn Ridge trailer quite fine at 4426 lbs dry weight. I see you are an Nespresso fan just like us. I have the same coffee machine in my trailer 😊.
There are always pros and cons to having a Class B or truck camper vs a travel trailer. I know I won't be able to take my trailer to certain sites I stayed in my lifted Ford Transit Class B which was only 2wd. Conversely, my tow vehicle is awd so can explore certain areas I wouldn't chance with my Transit ... which was also the longest & highest model they make. Enjoy your new travel trailer. If you haven't already done so, trailer breaks with a easily accessible brake controller in the P/U cab is advisable.
We traded our F150 and our Lance trailer for the van, and that was great. But I kind of wish we had them back, now that we’re no longer full time. I thought that setup was great.
We (2+2kids) had a travel trailer and switched to class B (Solis). We love to travel and cover long distances, go where we want to when we want to. The travel trailer was a pain as many state and national parks can’t accommodate them. Also, stopping to see stuff in cities along the way was close to impossible (even more so in large crowded cities). On a two week trip we found out it wasted multiple days driving to campground, unhooking, going to what we wanted to do, staying the night and repeating whereas with the van we just go and camp wherever we want. It’s also MUCH MUCH better for boondocking so we camp where we want, not worrying about power, water, hookups etc. Overall, with our travel style we would NEVER go back to travel trailer. Maybe in retirement if we always stay a few days per location it can be a boot camp - but with road trips and lots of diverse traveling a van is a DREAM.
I was going to comment something similar. Doing it solo and it got to be a pain. Also I like to be spontaneous and stop and see stuff along the way. Very difficult to do with a travel trailer in tow. Not all parking lots can accommodate them. So just like you said I would have to find a campground in the area, unhitch for at least a couple nights then drive back sometimes quite a ways to whatever shop or attraction I wanted to look at. So much easier with just a van. Wouldn't have to do all that back tracking.
I tow a 2019 Ascape. It is 12 foot from hitch to back door rear entry. Interior is 8 ft long by 6 ft wide by 7ft tall. Perfect for me as a solo traveler. I travel primarily to dog shows and my crew of 8 jack russells ride in a 2006 chevy 3500 diesel crew cab with 8 foot covered bed. I traveled for 13 yrs sleeping in the truck bed. When mobility issues arrived and i could no longer get in and out of the truck bed i researched a variety of options. My primary need was a place to sleep and be out of the weather. I was adamant i didn't want to tow, but in the end my truck just worked best for my dogs. A van was just too small for me, the dogs, and all their travel stuff. Anything class c has steps which are impossible for me to navigate. So my truck is my garage. The dogs are waist high (4 crates stacked high on each side in the backseat) and all the gear in the truck bed is waist high. I have build outs in the bed so i can access items from the side windows of the shell. Because the truck is way overkill for the size of the trailer it turned out to be very easy to tow. Because the interior is small i can cool it with USB fans. In colder weather i found a sleeping bag heating blanket that runs off of USB on my jackery powere station. A wool blanket and puffy and i am toasty. My butane cook top can tack the chill off in about 5 minutes. I took the propane tanks off because i didn't want the hassel of refilling them. I use the trailer fridge for food storage and got a 12V small fridge that runs off my jackery. I have 5 jackery the largest is 1500. Again i'm not as strong any more so anything larger is not doable. This trailer had a king size bed platform that splits into 2 twins. I sleep on one side and the fridge sits on the other side of the platform. Plenty of storage for me and what doesn't fit or is out of season just goes in the truck garage. I don't usually disconnect because i don't have a back up camera and i need to be able to be independent. I certainly applaude your train of thought about the base camp aspect. Like all of us, my travel style is unique to my situation. I like keeping my rigs together just in case.
We started RVing in a Winnebago 2401rg…and did 3-4 month long trips in it. Once we went full time, we felt we needed something a little bigger, so made the change to a Winnebago gas Class A, at 30’. We’re now in a 38’ Dutch Star (parent company still Winnebago), and yes, we agree about base camp with either a tow vehicle or a toad. However, going Class A or C with a toad has severely limited our willingness to make unplanned stops along the way, as we cannot reverse if a parking lot we pull into is too tight, or someone arrives and parks us in. So, we forego all of those “largest ball of twine” stops, and those aren’t the kind of places you ever fircle back to. We’re now discussing going smaller, to recapture some of that ability to be spontaneous.
I am late to the party, but thank you for the video and thank you all commenters! 8/2024 I sold the 33 foot Class A/2 slide Winnebago (2003 Adventurer 33V) that I had owned since 7/2005 and travelled back and forth/east-west/north south. I also sold my 2002 Jeep Wrangler tow car. I thought to downsize (van/minivan?) and in the shopping process started to wonder if I even wanted to RV??? My travel plans from my home in NW Montana are to locations in the Pac NW/Canada SW. I researched locations that I wanted to visit ... all have a great selection of Airbnb/VRBO. Ultimately I decided on a 2011 GMC Yukon XL which I am setting up for 1-2 overnight on the way to Airbnb/VRBO at final destination(s) BUT, I recently have had my eye on NuCamp TAB teardrop style towable and I have the ability to tow so ... we will see, but short story is that your (Russos) as well as commenter's experiences are very helpful to me!!
One thing I have realized is there is no perfect solution with an RV. What works depends on the type of camping one enjoys. They all have their place! I am picking up my new Four Wheel Camper Hawk in 3 weeks and can’t wait to get it. For me, at this time in my life, I want to be off grid as far away from civilization as possible when I go camping.
Looks like a fun new adventure. 20:25 4,500lbs is a good weight. 7' or 8' wide? I hope to see you take out a Winnebago with a second bedroom. It will add a lot of extra weight and length. Then you can take your mom and her friend out🤙🏼💚🇺🇸 I enjoyed my morning coffee watching this☕️
Check out our full tour of the M-Series 2326RK th-cam.com/video/BWMQacmkk70/w-d-xo.html
Congratulations, Skippy. Threw money at the issue. Hilarious wannabe. I laughed.
We went from a tent, to 21 years with a 4-Wheel pop up truck camper. Now for the last 4 years we have a 15ft Tab 320s teardrop trailer. We tow with a Toyota 4-Runner. A small trailer gives us the opportunity to set up and take down camp really quick and easy...We can go almost anywhere with a trailer this size, and you hardly know its there. Now we both are retired we are taking 1-6 week trips...We love having a hard sided camper with a real wet bathroom and a inside kitchen. We tend to camp only during "shoulder" season and in no cold or hot weather. If it gets above 80 degrees we go up in elevation and if too cold we come down...So far the western states, (seashore, desert, red rock country, and mountains)
We've only traveled with a trailer. We are big explorers, and our Tow vehicle gives us the flexibility to travel to nearby points of interest, and drive back to our home all set up and ready to use.
That German food looked amazing. Thank you for sharing and taking us along.
One thing I have realized is there is no perfect solution with an RV. What works depends on the type of camping one enjoys. They all have their place!
Similarly, I grew up in Class A and Class C motorhomes, and my dreaming about what I wanted to do always involved a unit with the motor in it. I never thought I would do trailer life. In fact, I remember growing up saying, "I don't understand why people get the trailer where they can't drive it."
Well, now I understand. In February, I bought my first camper, which is a trailer. I bought it because it was the unit that had all the amenities I needed at a price point I could afford. When camping, I feel no difference in my trailer experience compared to my adventures in driving motor homes, but I don't ever feel stuck because I am able to drive my vehicle and explore the area.
The only "negative" is having to plan out gas stations to make sure they can accommodate a trailer. I can't just run my gas to1/4 tank and expect to be able to fuel up. That's been a small price to pay so far.
I've gone out about 70% of the weekends since getting the trailer and I have done 4 week long trips since February. I think it's an investment well spent, so far!
We totally agree with you on travel trailers - unhitch and use the tow vehicle to tour. We're on #3 now.
My wife and I have a Grand Design Imagine 2500RL. We use it as our base camp to explore state and national parks and new areas of the county. Our trips range from weekends to three weeks on the road. This year, we did our longest RV trip. We went from our home in the Kansas City, Missouri, area to Rock Spring, Wyoming, then to Colter Bay Campground in Grand Teton National Park for a week, after which we spent four nights in West Yellowstone. Last year's trip was to Florida and back in about two weeks. Thank you for sharing. Peace and Safe Travels.
We travel full time, mostly Boondocking off-grid, with an Australian made off-road trailer. We previously owned an EarthCruiser (class B) for a couple years (part-time). Although having a Class B was nice, with regard to parking and “stealth camping” in cities, we have been able to easily adjust to the trailer life and still do plenty of “stealth camping” when passing through cities. We do prefer having camp always waiting for us when we return from a day of exploration, and even better, we don’t have the anxiety of finding a new camp after being out all day. We have also found we spend more time exploring areas we visit, now that we have a good base camp and can sit still for a week or few days.
Do you have a Bruder? I saw one a few months back that was passing through Tallahassee and couldn't believe my eyes. They had an awesome Toyota 4 Runner. Between the two of them I am pretty sure they could go ANYWHERE and survive anything.
I didn’t realize you guys kept your truck, very cool on that. We have a 17 foot travel trailer but very recently purchased a Class B. Eventually we’ll decide on one or the other, but I can see advantages with each. I appreciate the various types of RV’s you guys test, thank you.
We have had a B+, Winnebago travel trailer, and now a Class B built on the large dually Ford Transit. The trailer I think is fine for people who want to go say one place for the weekend or longer. That is not us. We travel all around the country and rarely stay more than one night in the same place. Continually hooking and unhooking a trailer is too much work. Our Transit can fit just about anywhere and is large enough with its 79 inch twin beds and 6'6" ceiling to fit my 6'5" body. We just completed a 9,200 mile trip. Our one before that was over 12,000 miles covering places in Canada we could not have gotten to with a trailer. It is all about what you really want to do.
Hooking and unhooking isn’t too much work if you have a 1, 2, 3 checklist.
@@lawrencewiddis2447 I have a checklist and it's regularly my least favorite part of trailer life. Driveables have their own tradeoffs, of course.
But when we do the "one night here, one night there" thing, unhooking and rehooking SUUUCCKKKS. Sometimes we can get away with just staying hooked up, but sometimes the grade of the campsite makes that impossible.
@@robertcknox there are certainly times when one must unhook for the night…but not that many. And you can unhook only the ball sometimes for front/back leveling.
Thank you for another great video. Just skip the stick built stuff and purchase an airstream... Me I am going back to my camping routes and likely driving the classic, next year, 1995 Pleasure Way class b to Alaska next summer and returning without it. The minivan is all I need or want right now. It is the perfect platform to backpack out of and for roadtrips it is economical and stealthy. When I get too old for backpacking and smaller vehicle camping I will likely get a really small travel trailer like a Happier Camper or uCamp 320, really what more can one person need. I really wish I was 1/2 of a couple, but you just don't know how much time you have to walk the earth. My wonderful spouse left, way too soon... I can finally watch couple's again without getting really sad so I will check back with you guys. Thank you again for taking the time to create this video. Safe travels. ❤😊
Congratulations on your trailer experience! I began with a teardrop and then moved on to a Little Guy Mini Max. Now, I'm enjoying the experience of a 25-foot Class C motorhome. The Mini Max was fantastic, but I needed more space for remote work. I considered a larger trailer but didn’t have a tow vehicle. Instead of investing in the high cost of a new truck, I opted for a Class C. I'm glad to see Winnebago responding to market conditions with a more affordable trailer option. Hopefully, it allows you to explore the country with ease! Maybe I will see ya on the road one day, I am headed out west in 10 days.
Like that camper. If it has the right tank sizes. How did you like that? Drop off and galivant around.
We had two travel trailers before getting a Class C (Sprinter chassis). The Sprinter was a downsize for us but we like the ease of it. I can drive it and knew I was never going to be comfortable towing the trailer. That Winnebago floorplan looks great, I like a rear kitchen.
It's good to see you in a Winnebago! We traveled for 3 months in a Micro Minnie 18 ft trailer, all over the country. I loved the smaller size for the cross country adventure, but it would have been nice to have a slide-out in it. Glad you enjoyed the journey and fun with family and friends
Thanks for the video. My husband and I have had three different travel trailers and loved camping and doing cross country trips. However, in 2022 my husband said he didn't want to go anymore. I still wanted to go and I did take the trailer on my own 3 different times, but it was hard for me, being over 70, to hook up and unhook the trailer. So we traded in for my 24ft motorhome and I tow a Honda CRV. I go camping with a couple of different ladies groups. And in 2023 I took a solo trip across country from California to Main just me and my dog.
That’s awesome! Congrats on doing such an amazing solo trip
Nice! I’ve been waiting for this one lol. Like you always say, people need to find what works for them. For us our 19ft Escape trailer built in British Columbia is perfect for our use. We hardly know it’s back there, it’s narrow enough to tow through large cities and the tow vehicle and camper fit in back to back parking spaces. It’s so nice to be able to drop it off and go 4-wheeling and exploring. The mistake people make with trailers is they go too large, 17-19ft is the sweet spot for us. We keep a bin in our tow vehicle with some simple cooking and coffee making supplies, as well as a small porta potty at times, so we still have camping gear when we’re on the go.
We met Debra in New Brunswick who was with a few other Storytellers, Charlie I remember. We love the camper communities. Our Escape has a nice community too. Maybe van life will work for us when it’s just two of us. Hope to catch up soon.
I've never read any bad things about Escape trailers. Seem super well made unlike the new trailers made in US
You definitively had the truck to do the job. Congrats!
We have a 5th wheel we used to use as a travel rig, but it's 42 feet long and inconvenient for the type of traveling we do. We now live in the 5er and tow a 26 foot toy hauler. I went with the toy box as it has a generator built in that runs on gas from a 30 gallon tank leaving the two propane cans for cooking and heating. Still a bit inconvenient in some ways but for boondocking it's great.
I’ve run the gamut, pick up truck camper, horse trailer camper, tents, conversion van, outside cots next to the fire, and we currently have a 20 foot towable.
I had a Winnebago Hike. I had a problem with hooking up & backing up. Sold it b& now have a Class C Chateau. I can tow my Jeep for exploring! No slides!
Always enjoy your videos. Was surprised by your class A reminder of the past. That's when I started watching, when you quit your jobs and jumped in your Newmar!
Your videos and book inspired us! We are on our third year of full time, in a Winnebago class A. (Our fourth RV)
We have a Taxa Mantis (Taxa is now part of Storyteller btw). Would love a van or a B+ like an Ekko, but the Mantis gave our small family a reasonable entry point to weekend camping in TX state parks, a space for longer week-long adventures, it fits in my garage, is easily towable, etc. We're only 1.5 years in but we'll see what the future holds!
For a first time try with the Wiinnebago travel trailer, I think you guys have handled everything very well! The AC, spacious areas with slides, a full shower, and plenty of plug ins for appliances for coffee☕, this trailer is fantastic! 👍👍Take care, guys!🤗🤗🏕🌺
Great video! I love the trailer as I think the flex of unhitching and sight seeing, errands, hikes etc. are worth it. Also, you can dine out more thereby not packing as much in the cooking dept ie small appliances.
we have four years in our 2019 granddesign m337 36 foot fith wheel its been all across the country we love it
We started camping in 1988 when our boys were 4 & 8. In those years, we had three different pop-up trailers, and they worked well for short and multi-week trips. With the boys in college, we moved up to a 28' Sunline trailer (they were a great company) and enjoyed having all the amenities of a good sized trailer. With our move to OH, we downsized to smaller Winnebago trailer which we liked but decided was a bit small for longer winter trips to FL (we retired!), so we decided in 2018 to buy a gas motorhome (33' Newmar Bay Star) and we loved the room but I got tired of dealing with a wide RV and construction zones. Last year, we purchased a 2015 Winnebago Via which is technically a class A, but built on a Sprinter chassis and we're adjusting to downsizing and enjoying it. The joy of the Via is that we tow a car behind it and enjoy the advantage of a "home base" with a separate vehicle for sightseeing and running errands. For families, I think a trailer or small fifth wheel is an ideal RV and more cost effective than motorhomes. A van camper or class B can be ideal for one or two adults and can be much easier to handle on the road. But to be a happy RVer, you have to be willing to adjust and "go with the flow".
Congrats and welcome to Travel Trailer Life Russos! Looks like you guys have got this, enjoy! We have an Airstream 23FBTwin. Going on 2 years and have really enjoyed weekend getaways and also some some month long trips, easy to work out of and have a base camp to explore the area from. Its a perfect for us, comfortable set up but not too big to get in an out of most parks and campgrounds. Again, congrats and enjoy your new travel trailer.
Thank you but we only borrowed it from Winnebago. Unfortunately it had to go back
Hi Joe and Kait! I loved your first-time perspective of travel trailer life, and I shall be looking at your future videos. I wish you more safe, happy travels ahead.🙏🏾💙🤍❤️👍🏾
Loved the details! Well done!
Russo's, we've been travel trailer camping since the 90's, pop-up, hard shell with canvas ends, etc. since the 70's. Currently have a 2019 Keystone Laredo 330, 37'. Yes it's long by some standards so not every campground we want to use is available to us. Backing in? The more you do it the better you get. I still prefer pull through if available. NOW.......I'm NOT totally unhappy with the Lippert people, but our salesman said park it, take it off the tow vehicle, pop a brew and sit at the picnic bench and watch it level it self. Unfortunately we have NEVER found it that easy even at some fairly level campgrounds. If you don't park your trailer on fairly level ground, the Ground system will error out with an "out of stroke" code. Which means manually retracting and starting over. So much for super easy leveling. We've found that leveling the trailer somewhat by driving up on some blocks to get us into the ballpark seemed to do the trick. Aside of the leveling hassle we really like our TT. Big enough for the wife and I to have our own space which makes extend stays more enjoyable. It came with an inside gas/electric fridge, and an outdoor kitchen with an electric fridge. We opted for the 2nd roof AC unit as it was a little stretch to cool both living and bedroom area with just one AC unit. A large 45" TV in the living room, one in the outside kitchen came with it, we installed our own in the bedroom. Yes we love our trailer......just wish it could level itself better, Lippert? Our tow vehicle is a 2018 Chevy Silverado Duramax 6.2 diesel. No problem with towing. We also installed the foldup inside stairs on it. It originally came with the standard stairs. Otherwise the trailer came with most of the standard amenities. Oh, we changed the stove out for a newer one that had the glass top. Looks sharper.
We started out in a tent, then pop up trailer, and as of 2015, our 17 1/2 ft travel trailer. Since 2015, we have spent about 9 months camping all over the US and Canada in our 3 season camper. We mostly boon dock in/around National Parks and Forests, and a bit of mooch docking with family who are far away. We do exactly what you have mentioned. It is our off-grid capable base camp. We love it!
I loved the video. I like the inside , outside scenes, including the groups dinner video. I'll have to admit, I was leaning towards a van but , you brought up some valid points about having the trailer instead 🎉
Love your honesty. I have a Coachman 19’ that I pull w/ my 2013 Tahoe. I go everywhere with my 2 large dogs. I have a fence that I put up for the dogs. We go at least 5 to 8 days at a time once a month.
This is a wonderful video. It looks like you all had a great time. The travel trailer is a home on wheels.😊
Thank you 🤗
I'm in the process of selling a 40 foot Class A, in favor of keeping a 23' travel trailer that I've had for several years. Overly large RVs become burdensome, which takes away from the pleasure. Winnebago makes a great product at a good price.
Nice seeing you both in the 7.3 again, thank you for bringing us along.
Our pleasure!
Our camper 2-foot-itis (okay, its me that keeps changing): popup, small very "inexpensive" toy hauler, conventional travel trailer, larger towable toy hauler, truck camper, Airstream, converted 7x12 cargo trailer to toyhauler, converter 7x20 cargo trailer / toyhauler and now since 2022, a Harker EDC which is wedge-shell, bed rail mounted, very lightweight (350# - fattened up to maybe 550# with interior build-out) truck camper; mounted on a 2018 F150 is for solo camping. The truck with Harker EDC gets 19 to 21 MPG but 10 to 11 MPG with Harker and the 7x20. The EDC is quite the conversation piece and is what I am working lately, making it nicer and just because I can. I just added 660w solar array, 3000w inverter and 5120 Wh of Lithium batteries. Yes, I am a geek, but I need a little air conditioning that can run for many hour without sun or continuously with sun. I am convinced one mode of camping just won't work for me. I do like this M-series trailer; in particular, the 7' width with slide and light weight.
Very enjoyable watch, great filming as usual. I have camped in a pop up towable & my minivan that I outfitted into a camper. I have always wanted to get a unit like you tried out but without a slide & a little smaller, as it's just me. I really enjoy all the helpful info you guys share.🤗
I like your videos, these adventures are very nice! Congratulations!
Hey - I've been to the Schniz a few times. Company i used to work for was headquarters in Jasper. Thanks for the info on Patoka - we've not stayed there yet - need to go!!
We have only ever had our small Eggcamper trailer but I have thought a lot about other ways of camping and keep coming back to the choice we made and being happy with that choice. Being able to drop the trailer for three nights and using our Highlander to explore the area then moving on to the next area is our way of traveling. We save on gas, it’s not a problem getting in and out of tight spaces and like you said, your “home” is all set up waiting for you after a long day of exploring.
Hi to you all. We have only had 2 class B RVs so far thanks for sharing. We were up in Forest City Iowa Winnebago Land in July a few warranty issues and the Lithium altimeter failed already only 2years old and not covered on any warranty 2022 Revel! But back on the road 👍
Good Day Like you my family have enjoyed our RV's 1st was a tent then a tent trailer then a Class A moved to a bunkhouse 28ft due to the kids. We have had a 28ft Toyhauler for the past 10 years. All of our trailers have been bumper pull. We found the toyhauler had the best overall use. We have 3 queen beds and a couch and dinette and full bath. We had ATV and now a UTV . I see the trailer you used had a small bed otherwise looked good for two. Enjoy
We have a JayFlight Travel trailer and we use it to go on trips. 21:33 We also take it a lot during the summer time out to a lot of places. Great video, keep up the editing and filming.
Thanks Lincoln - hope all is well!
@@Weretherussos You’re welcome!!
We were tent campers for many years. We bought a 1575 Lance in 2018. We have never looked back. I agree with you that I enjoy using the trailer as a Basecamp. I worry about having to break down everything and put everything away anytime we want to go anywhere. We are considering going to something like a leisure travel van when we retire, but I still have that fear of having to box everything up. Also having to park it in the places that we go seems to be a pain in the butt. I really enjoy, watching your videos. You have been one of the most informative campers I’ve watched over the years. I subscribe to your newsletter and have watched dozens of your reviews. They helped us in our process of choosing the right rig for our family of three. Keep up the great work. Something tells me this might not be the last trailer you camp in. Comfort and convenience is Paramount at my age of 54😂
Thank you for that! So happy we’ve been able to help y’all along the way
Hey Joe and Kait, we started with a Coleman pop up for 14 years while our family was young then a Hi-Lo for 18 years. Then in 2018 we got our Oliver. We fulltimed for two years and now basically use it all summer to Escape the Texas heat in the mountains of Colorado etc. Being set up for serious boondocking with solar,lithium
a composting toilet and Berkey lets us set up a base camp for 14 days with ease. And I really like being only 7’ wide and 24’ long. The only problem I have at gas pumps is when the guy in front of me decides to leave his vehicle at the pump and go in and have lunch.
Kait! Your hair has gotten so long! I remember when you wore it really short! I love it both long and short! I giggled a bit watching Joe drink his coffee! I love it! It was good to see you both! Thanks for sharing!
Oh thank you!
We've gone quite a different camping route, I think, from you and many of your viewers. We've gone from backpacking to car and motorcycle camping to a teardrop trailer (Bean). We love the relative luxury of our little trailer and have hauled it all over in the 2 years we've owned it (we just returned from a 2-month trip across 20 states). We love that we can take it many many places and it's easy to use. Try one out sometime if you want yet another type of adventure.
Certainly like the base camp, where you don't have to pack everything up, Also any restaurant that has a gift shop has to be good! The pot luck looked like fun, but you know who would not like it lol. Safe travels guys and look forward to seeing you again at East!
Very true! See you in about a month!
I miss your themesong! That was a big part of the wtr experience along with a nice cup of Joe in the morning! 🌹
I run a 22ft Wildwood 170SSX Great couples camper, We use it for weekend trips around 200 miles of our house most of the camping season. Then to the Outer banks for a full week or two. We pick what we want to do/see, then find a campground near it to drop our "base camp". I just couldn't do a class A or C or even a truck camper as it would limit where we could go. Trailer life is good! :D
My husband and I live in Jasper. The food at the Schnitzelbank is really good. Should you go to Patoka Lake in the future, you might want to try Kelley's Bar and Restaurant in Celestine.
Will do - thank you!
Humm, although this video was 21mins long, I didn’t want it to end! If it were 2hrs long, I would’ve absorbed every second of it…well done you two 👍🏼👏🏼🤩🤩
Now I’m a Class B - Truck Canper kinda guy, but lately, I’ve been seeing a lot more Trailers pop up on my home page! I like it that you took one of these baby’s out for a test drive (so to speak)! I’ve never been a fan of Winnebago’s, but for the past 8yrs, it’s generally been “Where you two lead, I follow”, so if you ever purchase a Winnie Trailer, I’m sure I’ll become a convert 😂
Always my best to you wonderful folks 👏🏼👍🏼🤩🤩🖖🏼
Thank you for the support and love!
We have a 22-foot travel trailer and tow with a haft ton pick. We are looking at new trailers with a slide. The M-Series 2326RK has been added to the list. We like having a trailer for the same reason you stated. set up base camp and explore the surroundings. Anything within an hour's drive is open for discussion.
With your truck set up, you can put your motorcycle on the deck or even an ATV/UTV to explore with. Also, there are many roof rack options for over the cab of your truck to put kayaks. Lots of options.
Great ideas
We've had two A-frame trailers. Both towed quite easily behind a mid-size pickup. We had the same freedom to explore that you talk about. The drawback is that they were quite cramped and we never really got the hang of storing some stuff in bins in the pickup; a larger trailer would have worked better. Also, neither one had a toilet or shower, so it was a matter of going to the campground restrooms.
We then had 1/4 interest in a park model RV in a resort, which was a great basecamp and had all the comforts of home but in miniature... it was great in a lot of ways, but we were always in the same area, and it lacked the flexibility to take off for a weekend whenever we wanted, because we only got scheduled into 1/4 of the weekends each year.
We just sold our 1/4 share of the park model, and our house closes this week and we're buying a different house, this one with RV parking. We'll be exploring different options before we make a purchase, so we have a better idea of what we really want. I imagine that when we go to a campground, if we're in a motorhome or van, we'll leave some items there when we go and explore (chairs, etc.) similar to when we had the trailers. Renting different types seems to make the most sense to us, so we can experience a lot of options before we put money down.
We are considering a travel trailer. We don't want to live full-time and like the idea of setting up a base camp. Watching ya'll live out of one for a few minutes was very helpful.
We have never had a travel trailer ourselves. My parents did and we used it. We have had a pop up and currently have a square drop. Not quite RVing. We have camped with a roof top tent as well. If you want to see an area for a while, we like the base camp with our square drop. If you are doing a quick overnight trip or your trip is a road trip where you are moving every day, the roof top tent is the way to go.
Being able to pile your truck bed full of stuff is the ticket. I traveled around with 5th wheels and while the headroom is amazing i always wanted to ability to take an atv with me. Travel trailer for the win.
AMEN 🌅 finally someone doing this. We been eyeing this TT never would thought it would had been you two lol.. We own the Grand Design 22mle. “2022” yet Fuel cost today SUCK! And we do well for ourselves yet it cuts into our cost more so distance towing. Please give us mpg’s etc.. Love this TT due to it size. and only 7ft wide which means less wind drag .. fuel today means COST! You have a nitch here and you’re not taking it into account. Many like myself are eyeing what can we do to save on fuel; we make around 180k a year and yet we struggle with fuel cost .. Our friends who make two to 4 times more drive electric vehicles and they could afford fuel but it’s convenience and cost even at upper middle class… There is no one focusing on this! Appreciate this vid so MUCH! We want to save on fuel with our F150 with 24.5 gallon fuel tank. We avg now 9.5 mpg @ 62 mph yet would love to see 65 mph @ 12 mpg’s etc…. In our 2.7 Ecoboost 2023 XLT.
Yep we talked about MPG in the video. Went from about 16 to just under 12
Still watching and your in Bourbon 🥃 country. Greetings from Miami .. love ya .. we love using our Truck as a tow vehicle.. Our sound system and comfort etc…
Many moons ago, we camped in a tent. As our bodies aged, we realized that wasn’t possible anymore. We bought our first towable trailer 7 years ago and had many adventures in it. We traded it for another trailer about 1-1/2 years ago. Improvements in comfort like a north-south bed instead of east-west and slide dinette. We’ve enjoyed parking it at a campsite and then exploring in our truck.
My husband and I own a 2020 Starcraft 212FB Mossy Oak camper. It is perfect for 2 people and a lot more counter space than the Winnebago. And it is smaller in length. Check it out. Starcraft still makes the same floorplan.
Great video as always hope y’all are doing well 😊
I have an 18 foot trailer, but have been shopping for a B Van for my travel style now is more suited for a van that fits in a parking spot. The trailer is great if you are staying somewhere for several days. I usually stay 3-7 nights in a spot with my trailer and then the SUV can do day trips nearby.
My strategy on backing the trailer into a spot is around the third or fourth attempt someone will volunteer to back it in for me and I let them. If no one is around I find if I go slow, I can sometimes get parked in a good position pretty quickly. My SUV has a backup camera that works for getting the ball and hitch nearby before it gets obscured by collision warnings. I also added a wireless camera to the back of the trailer so I don’t take out my picnic table, or go off the end of the pad. It’s also helpful for changing lanes on the freeway if you aren’t sure if there is room or not.
Going forward I think I will just be somewhere one night and I have done some trips with car and hotel, or tent, but since I have had the trailer I am spoiled about beds and bathrooms and it’s nice having them with me
“The trailer is essentially your base camp.” And therein lies the best part of trailer life. By the way, love that your truck is named Leo.
You better than anyone knows the joys of trailer life!
This Winnebago M-Series looks pretty comfortable for two people. I am surprised how big it seems when you put the slide out. This would be ideal for get-aways for sure.
Thank you, awesome try!
My Husband just came back from a supply trip and swears he saw you in Shelbyville, Illinois. Lithia Springs? We're here until Wednesday. Happy travels!
Hey there! That wasn’t us but enjoy the area!
@@Weretherussos We are enjoying it! It's not far from home! Sage travels!
Nice, we pick ours up Thursday, it will be our 5th trailer, and our 4th Winnebago. Well, one was an Itasca but same thing. We are coming from a Winnebago Hike 100, we downsized to that from a class A motorhome, I just hated driving that thing long distances. Well the Hike was a mistake, especially when it rains, too small to shelter in with 3 people and a dog. This trailer will be a nice compromise, towing it with a 3/4 ton diesel truck will be comfortable and being stuck in the inevitable rain will also be comfortable. I will be transferring over the battery and inverter setup I had in the hike, which allows us to run the AC off battery power as we do some overnights off grid a few times a year.
Good video Joe. I like that Winnebago. I may want to upgrade to it at some point. For the past four years, I have been living out of a forest river, GeoPro, 19 TH toy hauler. I share the trailer with my Greyhound Ruby. If you are interested in trailer life, a hauler would be a good option for you because you could carry your motorcycle in it as you travel.
I moved out here to Pahrump, Nevada during Covid in 2020 after following Bob Wells videos. I attempted to live out of a suburban, but that did not work out very well. So I purchased this 20 foot, travel trailer in las Vegas Nevada and also purchased an RV Park membership in town. I pay about $500 a month plus utilities where I’m at now. The Past three months have been brutal with the heat, but I have two air conditioners running. I run one portable 10,000 btu from the motorcycle exhaust port and I have the standard overhead 13,000 BTU.. We live very comfortably. I have pulled my trailer locally, but I am not comfortable towing it cross country. I travel back and forth to attend Greyhound events in on the East Coast. We have been staying in hotels. RV parks are expensive back east. So I just ordered a pop-up tent camper from Lone peak Overland, which will be installed on the back of my 2020 ram rebel 1500. This will allow us to stay comfortably in campsites or dispersed camping on my trips back-and-forth to the East Coast and save a lot of money on hotel fees.
We have a 22' trailer that is perfect for two. The size allows us to get into many sites that friends with 25'-30'+ trailers can't, but it's plenty big for hanging out indoors during bad weather without feeling cramped. It's also small enough that we can mooch-dock in my parent's yard and can spend more time with them than we would having to drive to a hotel in their rural town, but we still have our own space. As far as cons, it has a slide that it doesn't really need for the 2-person floor plan and is just one more thing that can break; and we can't store it at our home. That's one reason we may consider a Class B or B+ someday, we'd love to be able to park it at home so we can take off whenever we want (and I could help drive it, I get too flustered to tow). At the moment though, most B's cost so much that we could buy a house in some areas for the same cost, and I just can't stomach that.
We’ve had them all, including a Class B, Roadtrek. You are right, whenever leaving the campground, even for a short time, you need to pack up as if going for a week. I never got a good nights sleep, too tall. The frig. too small, the wet bath,too wet. Now we own an Ibex, travel trailer, roughly 24 ft. a full size queen bed, a large 12 volt frig. a workable counter top, a breakfast bar. Need I say more? Yes the B was a joy to drive, however, the comfort and space severely lacking. I am in love with our new rig.
After checking out the Winnebago, check the Northwoods & Outdoor RVs manufactured in Lagrange, OR.
Congrats on your 1st official tow and you're no longer towing virgins. You seem to handle quite well but you don't need an F350 for a trailer this size, that is why it is easier. I have a Ram 1500 V8 2021 and tow my Autumn Ridge trailer quite fine at 4426 lbs dry weight.
I see you are an Nespresso fan just like us. I have the same coffee machine in my trailer 😊.
Thanks! Agreed it was more truck than we needed but it’s the truck we have. Always better to have too much than not enough
You guys are fun..trailers are better than vans for all the reasons you said!
I like this trailer! I could only park it in a pull-through site though!
There are always pros and cons to having a Class B or truck camper vs a travel trailer. I know I won't be able to take my trailer to certain sites I stayed in my lifted Ford Transit Class B which was only 2wd. Conversely, my tow vehicle is awd so can explore certain areas I wouldn't chance with my Transit ... which was also the longest & highest model they make. Enjoy your new travel trailer. If you haven't already done so, trailer breaks with a easily accessible brake controller in the P/U cab is advisable.
We traded our F150 and our Lance trailer for the van, and that was great. But I kind of wish we had them back, now that we’re no longer full time. I thought that setup was great.
We (2+2kids) had a travel trailer and switched to class B (Solis). We love to travel and cover long distances, go where we want to when we want to. The travel trailer was a pain as many state and national parks can’t accommodate them. Also, stopping to see stuff in cities along the way was close to impossible (even more so in large crowded cities). On a two week trip we found out it wasted multiple days driving to campground, unhooking, going to what we wanted to do, staying the night and repeating whereas with the van we just go and camp wherever we want. It’s also MUCH MUCH better for boondocking so we camp where we want, not worrying about power, water, hookups etc.
Overall, with our travel style we would NEVER go back to travel trailer. Maybe in retirement if we always stay a few days per location it can be a boot camp - but with road trips and lots of diverse traveling a van is a DREAM.
I was going to comment something similar. Doing it solo and it got to be a pain. Also I like to be spontaneous and stop and see stuff along the way. Very difficult to do with a travel trailer in tow. Not all parking lots can accommodate them. So just like you said I would have to find a campground in the area, unhitch for at least a couple nights then drive back sometimes quite a ways to whatever shop or attraction I wanted to look at. So much easier with just a van. Wouldn't have to do all that back tracking.
I tow a 2019 Ascape. It is 12 foot from hitch to back door rear entry. Interior is 8 ft long by 6 ft wide by 7ft tall. Perfect for me as a solo traveler. I travel primarily to dog shows and my crew of 8 jack russells ride in a 2006 chevy 3500 diesel crew cab with 8 foot covered bed. I traveled for 13 yrs sleeping in the truck bed. When mobility issues arrived and i could no longer get in and out of the truck bed i researched a variety of options. My primary need was a place to sleep and be out of the weather. I was adamant i didn't want to tow, but in the end my truck just worked best for my dogs. A van was just too small for me, the dogs, and all their travel stuff. Anything class c has steps which are impossible for me to navigate. So my truck is my garage. The dogs are waist high (4 crates stacked high on each side in the backseat) and all the gear in the truck bed is waist high. I have build outs in the bed so i can access items from the side windows of the shell. Because the truck is way overkill for the size of the trailer it turned out to be very easy to tow. Because the interior is small i can cool it with USB fans. In colder weather i found a sleeping bag heating blanket that runs off of USB on my jackery powere station. A wool blanket and puffy and i am toasty. My butane cook top can tack the chill off in about 5 minutes. I took the propane tanks off because i didn't want the hassel of refilling them. I use the trailer fridge for food storage and got a 12V small fridge that runs off my jackery. I have 5 jackery the largest is 1500. Again i'm not as strong any more so anything larger is not doable. This trailer had a king size bed platform that splits into 2 twins. I sleep on one side and the fridge sits on the other side of the platform. Plenty of storage for me and what doesn't fit or is out of season just goes in the truck garage. I don't usually disconnect because i don't have a back up camera and i need to be able to be independent. I certainly applaude your train of thought about the base camp aspect. Like all of us, my travel style is unique to my situation. I like keeping my rigs together just in case.
If you haven't replaced the mattress yet I got a nice 6 inch memory foam mattress fron Zinus if was only 220 bucks.
Now a meet up with Traveling Robert.
We started RVing in a Winnebago 2401rg…and did 3-4 month long trips in it. Once we went full time, we felt we needed something a little bigger, so made the change to a Winnebago gas Class A, at 30’. We’re now in a 38’ Dutch Star (parent company still Winnebago), and yes, we agree about base camp with either a tow vehicle or a toad. However, going Class A or C with a toad has severely limited our willingness to make unplanned stops along the way, as we cannot reverse if a parking lot we pull into is too tight, or someone arrives and parks us in. So, we forego all of those “largest ball of twine” stops, and those aren’t the kind of places you ever fircle back to. We’re now discussing going smaller, to recapture some of that ability to be spontaneous.
I love French LIck, home of Larry Bird. And this is coming from a Lakers fan.
Conecuh Sausage is the best! Living in Alabama, I have had the luxury of eating since they started making the product.
Normally you'd have a backup camera if you plan to tow allot
I have one but it's off-set because of the bed we have on the truck - there is a storage cabinet where the camera would go.
Hi I didn't see the rv propone tanks one or two and the holding tanks black, Grey, clear and batteries what kind of slide out tracks do you have
I am late to the party, but thank you for the video and thank you all commenters!
8/2024 I sold the 33 foot Class A/2 slide Winnebago (2003 Adventurer 33V) that I had owned since 7/2005 and travelled back and forth/east-west/north south. I also sold my 2002 Jeep Wrangler tow car. I thought to downsize (van/minivan?) and in the shopping process started to wonder if I even wanted to RV??? My travel plans from my home in NW Montana are to locations in the Pac NW/Canada SW. I researched locations that I wanted to visit ... all have a great selection of Airbnb/VRBO.
Ultimately I decided on a 2011 GMC Yukon XL which I am setting up for 1-2 overnight on the way to Airbnb/VRBO at final destination(s)
BUT, I recently have had my eye on NuCamp TAB teardrop style towable and I have the ability to tow so ... we will see, but short story is that your (Russos) as well as commenter's experiences are very helpful to me!!
Glad it was helpful!
Very nice video, thanks guys ❤
One thing I have realized is there is no perfect solution with an RV. What works depends on the type of camping one enjoys. They all have their place!
I am picking up my new Four Wheel Camper Hawk in 3 weeks and can’t wait to get it. For me, at this time in my life, I want to be off grid as far away from civilization as possible when I go camping.
Enjoy! We loved our Hawk
Glad to see you guys are back on a regular basis. I missed watching you.
You guys for got to put down the stabilizer jack ..
Refreshing content in a world of click bait and nothing burger vids, nice job!
Thank you!
Very nice trailer 👌 👍 😍 😀 ❤❤❤❤❤❤❤.
I love your truck
I learned a lot with my 2106FBS Winnebago. I will never buy anything with a slide, and I will never by another Winnebago of any sorts.
Looks like a fun new adventure. 20:25 4,500lbs is a good weight. 7' or 8' wide? I hope to see you take out a Winnebago with a second bedroom. It will add a lot of extra weight and length. Then you can take your mom and her friend out🤙🏼💚🇺🇸 I enjoyed my morning coffee watching this☕️
This was a 7' wide trailer. We'd probably get a smaller, lighter one and tow it with our van. Then we stay in the van and mom gets the trailer.
Wonder how towing a trailer is when stumbling upon high winds?