Are you considering the purchase of a camper for the first time or thinking about trading in for a new one? Not sure what you want or what to look for? Well, I’d like to offer a few suggestions and tips I’ve learned during my purchase process and the owning of my current camper that may make it easier for you.
The first and most important thing is to determine how much your vehicle can tow. The rule of thumb is to add at least 1,000 lbs. to whatever the camper weight is for any persons and all supplies also in the camper being towed, and the vehicle doing the towing.
Aluminum framing is lighter than a wood framed camper. Picking aluminum can allow you to have a bigger camper with less weight. It’s important to note that even though you may not be towing at your vehicle capacity the larger the camper the more gas and work it may be for your engine.
Friends of ours have the same exact truck we do, but their camper is about half the size of ours. They are able to pull easier, travel quicker, and use less gas than we do.
How long do you want your camper to be? That is based on the amount of space you need or how comfortable you are towing anything over 28 feet. I personally have a 28 feet travel trailer and while I love the space it provides for my family of six it does scare me a bit driving it to our destination.
Luckily for me my husband does a great job. Friends of ours have a smaller 14-foot hybrid camper. A hybrid is a hard shell travel trailer with the pop out beds of a pop up camper.
Their complaint about their camper is the lack of indoor space. However, if you like the compact size of a 14-foot camper, don’t mind the pop out beds, but want the space of a larger camper then a Hybrid version with a slide out you might consider. If I didn’t already have my 28-foot camper the hybrid with a slide out would be my choice.
Once the slide out is fully extended and the three queen size beds are popped out, it provides almost as much living space as my larger camper with a slide out, plus when you are done you close it up and it makes towing easy.
It is always good to decide what is most important to you. Some people prefer a large bathroom, larger bedroom, more living space, or an outdoor kitchen. A large bathroom was not on our list, we went into the buying processing knowing we wanted a camper with a bunk room in the rear to accommodate our four boys.
With that we had to accept an extremely small shower which only fits my seven-year-old and a toilet that allows you to wash your hands while soaking your feet in the tub all at the same time. Our solution to this is finding a camping location with nice bathhouses for us to use. We enjoy the boys having their own space over a large bathroom. It is also good to note that not every stove comes with an oven. Didn’t know this and did not realize this until our perfect camper was purchased and we were packing for our “dry run’” did I notice we did not have an oven. I of course assumed they all did. Do not assume, luck for me I discovered this prior to our large trip to Lookout Mountain and was able to purchase a large convection/toaster oven which I set up outside when we camp.
A “dry run” in my opinion is a must. Find a small place close to home to try for a night or two. This will help you get familiar with your camper, how to pack it, tow it, set it up; discover any problems, and allow yourself to make a list of anything missing that you might need or want prior to a large trip.
Storage of your camper, this is something you may not consider but should prior to purchasing. Some communities have restrictions on size or on campers at all. If you are unable to store your camper at your residence, you will need to find a storage facility that will allow you to store your camper and that will be an added cost. Maintaining your camper, is important to prevent you from encountering costs, or problems while camping later on.
If you plan on purchasing your camper new be use the dealer you are buying it from offers you instructions on how to properly work your camper and be sure to try it prior to leaving to make sure you are doing everything right, that everything is working properly, and any questions you have may be answered. Just like regular vehicles campers have new models every year, and every year they want to get rid of the current models to make way for the newest ones. This can work in your favor, usually in the fall time the new models are either coming in or will be soon and a lot of dealers will have brand new models marked down to make way for the newer ones. Perfect time to get it at a great price.
Not sure if a camper is right for you? Well try renting one first. You can google travel trailer rentals in an area or campground you’d like to visit, most large areas have places that will rent to you a camper. We did this our first camping trip and discovered that we wanted one of our own. This is a great way to try out different sizes and floor plans to see what you really like and what you need.
Not all dealers carry the same manufacturers or camper types so visit several places before deciding on which one you like best. Shopping for a camper can be loads of fun, so enjoy it.