Please talk me out of this.

Delivery for both of mine was around 600-700 miles and cost about $1k. I saved $8k on the first one buying from the midwest, and $13k on the second over local pricing.

 

This ones in Bakersfield....

https://rv.campingworld.com/rv/2025-keystone-hideout-sport-175bh-2501973-bakersfield-ca

Also Bakersfield, and is the slick side type

https://rv.campingworld.com/rv/2025-heartland-mallard-17bhl-2447689-bakersfield-ca

 

I like this. I can't argue its much more comfortable than the 16 footer. I will probably keep looking or wait a little longer, I know my family will love whatever I get, but I don't want to have regrets or impulse buy. Im glad I made this thread to bring it back down to earth.

 

I really appreciate everyone's responses. I think im going to go to a couple dealers this weekend and check stuff out, including seeing this one in person. Maybe when I get my 250 lb 5'11 fat ass in there I'll be like, I want this to work but ain't no way lol.

 

I'm not saying you've got to have a 30 footer with everything decked out. But you swap away from tent camping for a reason, so enjoy some of the comforts RVing offers. I used to be a firm believer that RVers were lazy and that only "real" camping was hoofin it with everything on your back. Now, with kids, F-that. RV destinations are fun in a completely different way, especially for kids. The activities and accommodations most places have are worth the trip alone.

And @KNABORES is completely right. Buy out of state, have it delivered for around a grand, and be ready to add in an annoying item to your maint list.

 

We do our cooking outside and use our awning most of the time. If the wind is strong the awning goes away to prevent it from getting damaged.

In our neck of the woods, we get a lot of rain so having a place to relax inside is a bonus (especially if you are looking for some positives from the better half).

One of our last stops was in a very secluded area. It was also a bug fest. We really enjoyed sitting inside the trailer at that point.

There is also the trailering aspects. Too big and the truck might have a hard time with it.

 

Same, found a smoking deal on ours in TX. Drove out from AZ to get it and made several stops on the way back breaking it in

 

Don't forget to factor in the cost of the essentials, if not included with the trailer:

• WDH and/or Brake Controller...if applicable
• Water/Sewer hoses and connectors
• 30a cord - Surge Protector
• Generator as you mentioned

 

For generator, HF is running a special this weekend, not biggest but might be good enough if dry docking. For record, wife always wanted Airstream, those bastards are costing two arms and a leg, two kidney and a liver at minimum.....

 

Keep in mind those kids are gonna' grow, and you want them and the wife to love and look forward to your family camping trips for years to come.

SOOO many people buy what they think is "enough" trailer (and sometimes it is) but many of them decide pretty soon it's too small so they sell it and buy a bigger one, losing money in the process. Lots of them do the same thing again, losing money in the process.
That's what I meant by "buying our third RV first", 'cut I can't afford to be doin' it 3 times.

Are you only looking at prices to pay cash, or would you finance something?

It was silly for us to think about spending $30K on a trailer, but spending $250/mo. to have our own bed, a toilet that nobody else's butt has touched, heat, AC, Frig/freezer, MW, oven, flat screen w/surround sound, inside shower, outside shower, queen bed w/memory foam topper, etc. made total sense! Just needed to shift our perspective a little.

We were spending that much and more on motels when we traveled anywhere. We actually get out and go more since we have the trailer.

I talked my beautiful bride into this $32,000 experiment... HUGE risk of "See, I told you!" and years of listening to her telling our friends what an idiot I am if anything went wrong.

Not saying you need a big-ass trailer, you don't if it's got a good floorplan. The box on mine is only 16' & 21' overall. Me, wife and a 3 dog pack are very comfortable.

Just make a rational and informed decision, and set yourself up for success. Happy Wife, Happy Life.

Here's margo cooking our very first breakfast on our very first camping trip in "Chateau Margeaux". It freaking POURED rain on/off all weekend, but we were warm and dry, and we had little windows between downpours to take the dogs for a hike, sit outside by the fire.

She turned to me that weekend and said "I love our trailer" and says the same on most trips 8 years later. Sweeter words are seldom spoken.

 

We Amazon'd a pop up for our recent Utah lakeside camping trip. And it only weighs 30lbs for payload calculations.

 

That’ll be very tight for four, upgraded from a pop up to single axle 6 years ago and no looking back. Have 2 small kids and highly recommend the layout shown below, it’s what we have. Bunks for the kids, gives them a cocoon and a slightly quieter place to sleep, queen bed for the adults, and slide out for dining. You’ll thank me later for the additional space that slide provides. Every company makes a layout like this, and they are usually 21-22 feet. Light to tow, no WDH needed, tows straight as an arrow properly loaded, and really easy to dry camp as it doesn’t use much energy. Just camped 5 days on 300 Ah LifePo batteries with no solar. Any Q’s let me know.

 

The day we picked up our Lance they had Airstreams right behind mine, so I went and sat in the same size AS that was exactly double the price of ours. $64K and it actually felt cramped. (To be fair, that's one of the smallest Airstreams and I'm comparing it to a trailer with a slideout) but Dayumm, $64 grand?!

 

We got ours as Covid ramped up so we got a really good discount. That was in 2020, now we could sell it for about the same or more.

Today costs are going up all around so a good used one could be the better choice.

 

We "looked" at international and classic and globetotter, and honestly, I think because it is not exactly square-ish, but more rounded corners, so it might have felt cramped....

https://www.airstream.com/configurator/tt/

This MFKer.... is almost the cost of a house.....bloody hell....


Oh, and I need a new truck.... there's no way in hell that hitch weight is gonna fly....

 

We have 2 tents but didn’t pack them for this trip. Our experience in these areas have been good and bug free but we tried a new spot for a few days. It was very nice but the bugs were very active.

 

I think you're exactly right about the rounded corners, I had the same thought. And in a smaller AS that feeling is magnified.

The Airstreams may not be my cup of tea, BUT... the fit/finish and build quality of them is top shelf.

If you're not familiar enough with them to identify model years, you can look at a new one and a 30 year old one that's been maintained (and polished religiously) and you'd be hard pressed to know which is which.

 

They are roundish but ours is quite bright on the inside and feels roomy. The rounded seating area in some floor plans is nice with the big windows all around.

They are expensive, check out a Pottery Barn edition! I could buy 6 houses in Saskatchewan for the price of one of these.

 

They do command a premium price for a reason, the building quality and finish is really really good.
And yes, if I can find a very well maintained 30 year old one, since they didn't really change over the years, might be impossible to tell it apart in a distance....

 

I like when people say they go 'camping' and tow a house and a half behind them

 

What's yer point?

 

Once the kids get older you can kick them out to sleep in the tent. My older kids love having their own tents. They prefer it that way.

EDIT: Mrs Mamba has already decided that our next TT will have a RTT on it

 

I would definitely finance it first if there's a good deal. Then likely pay it off pretty quick, but again, depending on the deal. I really want to keep it under 15k.

 

Yeah, im figuring around 2k for add-ons and such, think that's pretty doable.

 

That did cross my mind, especially since I have a girl and boy.

 

Not much time to be honest. But we did cook breakfast and dinner in there (it was a 10 day road trip, so we didn't want to spend a ton on eating out every meal), and just meal times with 2 adults a toddler were rough. And bathing wasn't fun either

 

Im seeing alot of places cutting prices trying to get rid of inventory. All the places around here are packed to the gills.

 

Yeah 0 to 3 is rough, luckily I can just hose off mine real fast lol

 

How much did yours run?

 

Very OfferUp and Craigslist are good places to score deals on that stuff too. Lots of people who go all in with new stuff, use it a few times and then decide it's not their cup of tea.