Need travel trailer advice

[tractorface]

Help me keep from letting my father make a mistake. Since I use his RV more than he does this is important to me He currently has a 30' Gulfstream trailer. Nothing fancy but everything works well and the trailer is comfortable with no towing issues. He uses a 3/4 ton Ford work van to haul it and has not complained. As he is stopping his Home improvement bussiness he no longer needs the work van and would like to tow with a smaller SUV style vehicle. He mentioned a 4 runner or possibly a 1/2 ton Tahoe. Something of that size. Hemi durango was also mentioned. To pull this off he will sell the Gulfstream and purchase a new lighter trailer. He was telling me what the local RV salesman told him he could pull with what and I said "stop". I set him up with some websites to look at tow ratings and how to apply them in the "real world" My question is on trailers that fit the "lighter" theme. He mentioned Weekender by Skyline and Coachman 23. Are these bottom end units? Any recomendations. Remember I heave to use this too :-laf The unit will be used for two adults and one or two young children at the most. I'll spring for a bigger unit when my kids get older :-laf Help me keep him legal and comfortable

 

[Grizzly]

This may be not the answer you are looking for, but I would not consider anything less than a 2500 Dodge/Cummins LWB, 6 speed and a 24' 5er. I have had bad experience with TT and I don't like vans.

 

[JFaughn]

I can'nt give Airstreams enough prase , the one I've got now [ 85yr 32ft GVW6500] I towed back from N. J. to MN. with a 99 chev taho and towed just fine , a lot of people thought it would'nt work, my friend that owned the chev only agreed once we hooked it up and he took it on a short test drive. Now I've got a CTD to tow it with.

 

[bombero]

When folks get older and retire their needs and lifestyle changes. That 30footer may be too much for them. How about a SUV with one of the new Alpinlite trailer trailers. Very high end and well built. Sounds from your post that your the one that is going to miss the larger rig. Why dont you buy it from them. Good luck JIM

 

[GAmes]

I'll second the Alpenlite. I just delivered a 26 footer w/ a small slide to the Denver area. The unloaded vehicle weight was less than 5500 lbs according to the sticker. Even towing against a 20 to 25 mph headwind all the way across WY I got 12 mpg. When the wind finally died in CO, going south on I25 I was cruising at 60 with 8 lbs of boost and 600 egt. A very nice small trailer.

 

[TheodoreMoon]

To pull this off he will sell the Gulfstream and purchase a new lighter trailer. He was telling me what the local RV salesman told him he could pull with what and I said "stop". I set him up with some websites to look at tow ratings and how to apply them in the "real world" My question is on trailers that fit the "lighter" theme.

http://fiberglassrv.net/

http://scamptrailers.com/index.cfm?PageID=27



The fiberglass trailers are quite light and, although most of them are set up for less than 20', the Scamp 5'er can be easily pulled by a 1/2 ton truck. The tag-along trailers can be pulled by most mini-vans or small SUV's.