When we first have the thought of “Hey let’s start camping” or “Let’s upgrade to a camper from tent life”, this is far more open ended than most even begin to realize. The thought is fantastic but what follows can be almost traumatizing to some and just plan overwhelming to others. The reality is however, that it should be simply a well thought out plan of attack. This is where most fail when starting the almost daunting task of “which one do we chose”? This is not simply like pulling up to the dealership to pick out the pretty SUV in Blue. Our minds have usually already made some sort of choices there. Or at the very least, we have narrowed the field before going in. A color or colors, SUV versus car, models we like that we seen around town and so on. Camper/ RV shopping is a bit more in depth than that with all the interior features, sizes, weights and much more. For anyone who has ventured onto a lot packed full of campers, they will tell you, “Slow Down”. Take it all in and don’t buy the first one you walk through. Picking hastily results in soon after regret which leads to leaving camping or trading campers prematurely. Both are results of a quick decision and the opposite of our goal.

Dealers much to my complete aggravation, won’t tell you what you need to know. They, like far too many salesperson just want to sell you Something. Whether it is truly the best fit or not for your family, your situation, and your vehicle, etc. So to the bones of this, let’s start with your needs. This is the area usually easiest to address.

Simply put, what do you have to have to be comfortable? How many kids and or pets are traveling with you? Do you like to cook in or out more? Some people swear by having the outdoor kitchen feature. Personally I don’t care. I have a very simple setup outside and I’m good with it. Of course I also am 6′-2″ and a lot of the overhead swing doors for the outdoor kitchen make me duck to miss knocking my head, so that’s a factor for me as well. Something else, some trailers have the master bed where you cannot walk around the foot end. For shorter people, no problem. For me, problem. Our first trailer was this way and we won’t be doing that again. The fact is many people can do very well without a whole lot of the extras though they can certainly be nice to have. Don’t let the Salesperson steer you too much, guide yourself here to what fits for you and your lifestyle. Don’t even let price over power you here just yet. It’s good to have a budget and you need one but again baby steps. What I will call a more “standard trailer”, will have your basics. A kitchen, sleeping space, places to sit and bath. So the real question is “How much of each of these do you need and or want. While that answer varies for each us much like buying a house, it shouldn’t overwhelm you when looking at trailers. Let the dealer know up front how many people/ animals are traveling. How you like to live, ie. outside like we do ( this can require less interior space) or like some who live very much in their trailer (this begs for more interior room) or some combination based on desires. Letting the dealer know this upfront will help reduce the hundreds of units they are going to want to walk you through. Yes, giving some sort of a budget here is helpful too but most people don’t know where numbers fall with campers anyway, so I still say let this be a lagger for now.

So now you are walking through trailers, and yes please, walk through trailers. Plenty honestly to really get a feel for the space. Looking online is fine to get ideas and we probably looked at hundreds the first time online after having walked through just a few, but I personally suggest never buying anything without having walked through it. Never mind all the things about quality, construction and such but just knowing the space and knowing how you fit and feel in it are so important to overall happiness and satisfaction for your purchase. Anyway, you are walking through, you find for instance that you like the idea of having bunks. Just like that you have narrowed the field. Perhaps you are fine with what I call a “straight shot”, this is a trailer with no slides (lighter weight and less expensive) Both big advantages. Not surprisingly these are very popular and are nice for what they are because of those two big factors. My wife and I thought the first time we looked at trailers that this type would be nice to start with. To say least, for us, it was a good thing we were not really ready to buy anything, but that’s another story. (read our story) for more. My point here is to walk through several different layouts and sizes to understand what will work for you.

I have never liked putting these three in the same group but you almost can’t separate them. You can kind of push price into another category but for this we will push into the 3rd slot if you will. Size and weight have to come together with 3 things in themself. First and foremost what can your tow vehicle handle total when the trailer is loaded. Your salesperson needs to know know this and from experience I can say they will still not adhere to it so check for yourself on each trailer. For reference, ours is 9200lbs. and I don’t ever really want to test the top end. Why stress my vehicle, if it struggles, I am wearing it out faster or worse yet, breaking something. Pass! What kind of terrain am I towing also can be a factor. You know, Florida is flat, great. We live in the Carolina’s, not flat, not bad depending on the direction but certainly not flat. Point here is don’t stress your ride. 

Now, size goes right along with weight. Obviously, more length equals more weight right? Or is that right, well it’s slightly more complicated than that even though the short answer is YES, more length=more weight but you can find trailers within a foot of length of each other and be well over a thousand pounds in difference to each. Know your empty unloaded weight range first. Let me back up. On every trailer there is an unloaded weight and a carrying capacity weight. Both can be found on a sticker usually placed either on the tongue or front drivers side of the camper. These two numbers are extremely important to you. When I look at trailers, I actually look for a rough layout I like. Then I start the hunt to see if I can find that layout in a length I am happy with and a weight I can tow. This part can lead to multiple dealers and don’t be worried about this. Again this not some rush to the sales counter decision, though that’s our natural mode. This is something you will be spending a lot of time in, a fair amount of money on and most importantly making memories with. So don’t rush the process and really, it goes faster than it sounds by my writings. The third part is the price. So we have found the trailer with all the amenities you are happy with, in a weight and length we are comfortable with. So is the price going to work for us? Well, when looking at trailers, the other thing you find is a drastic range price points. That range primarily comes from the quality of materials used to build and types of products used within. This can mean lower end interior products, to wood construction versus aluminum construction or a combination. Most every manufacturer has what they call their entry level units, their mid level units and of course their more luxury units. Choose based on your own desires and budget. 

So a little more about the size you choose. Sadly most of the salespersons don’t know what I even mean when I ask what the overall length is and the ones that do know don’t have the answer. To fix this, I always walk onto the lot with a tape measure. Honestly, I ask the question and they rattle off the model to me. So, here is a helpful tip… the model number does tell a lot. If I am looking at a “Dutchmen Kodiak 289bhs”, this tell me the manufacturer is Dutchmen, the make is Kodiak, the model is 289bhs. That means the length of “Interior” living space is 28′-9″ and the BHS stands for “bunk house”. It never ends my frustrations when I get told the length is 28-9 and it’s clearly not whether on a website by someone who didn’t know and plugged in the wrong thing or the salesperson themself actually says it out loud as if they know what they are talking about. In fact the length on this trailer overall is 33′. Figure adding about 3 feet at least to whatever the model number is. You will be close. This particular trailer, you see is just over 4′ additional length. This is very important to know what that number is. Always know what you are towing in overall length, weight and height too.

One more very important note about that trailer you just landed on. How’s the quality? I will never forget walking out to a trailer that was on our list of ones to look through and before the salesperson even opened the door, I looked at my wife and said “Nope, not this one”. Not kidding there was insulation hanging out between the layers of siding. I’m sorry but if that made it out of the manufacturing plant and passed inspection and onto the dealer lot and passed… What else got overlooked? What else is not up to par? What nightmare am I buying? Again, pass. My point here, walk through trailer with a fine toothed comb, a white glove, whatever your analogy is here. Use it. Do the same with the outside. Walk it slowly and methodically. The sad fact in all this is that we pay a good bit for these and they unfortunately are always put together the best. So we do our best in the process to eliminate issues up front. I can even say from experience that two of the exact same won’t always be the exact same in quality control. If you like the layout but not the trailer, starting looking at other brands. They will have same or similar plans to choose from.

This occurs after your purchase. After all the paperwork and rarely on the same day of purchase. When you go in to pick up your new or new to you trailer, the dealer will have someone do a walkthrough with you. Yeh, someone is going to show me how to work everything and get me all set to go…..If that were only true. Depending on the person, depending on the day, depending on the dealer. Honestly I have seen it and heard it all. This time never goes the same way twice. I absolutely don’t understand how that’s possible but it is. This is supposed to be a “run through” I think. Make this person “walk through” at your pace. They are supposed to show how the buttons work, how the stove lights, how to hook and go and so on. Reality is, you are amazing if you have never done this before and you retain half of what they said at the pace they wanted to go. Don’t let that happen. It is hard enough to retain all this information, make them slow down and again go through with a fine toothed comb. If a shade is hanging funny, inquire. Test every shade. Test every light. Makes sure you touch every drawer to ensure it operates properly. Miss nothing inside or out. I am telling you, once you leave the lot, it is “Yours” to deal with. They will help afterwards but the fight can come soon after that with either the dealer or manufacturer. 

I don’t write this to scare anyone off, only to make sure you go in with eyes open. There really is a lot of enjoyment to be had out camping. Getting started on the right foot helps create that foundation of enjoyment not frustrations.

Before buying anything and I mean anything for your trailer and before the dealer sells you anything for your trailer…. Read “Getting Started and the things you need”.

Also check “The Final Walkthrough” for additional last minute notes to help pick up go smoothly for you.