Rockwood Ultralite 2304S close but no cigar

[KyDan]

We are casually looking for another trailer. Our 2008 has served us well for 6
seasons but we have a wish list so we keep our eyes open.

I ran across this new model online recently and watched this video tour--

HaylettRV.com - 2014 Rockwood Ultralite 2304S Emerald Edition Travel Trailer - YouTube

As the video progressed I got more and more excited. It was almost like
they had been reading my mind on the floor plan and options! Wow!
I was ready to call them when they got to the one NON STARTER in the
setup. It's got a part time bed! UGH. That harkens back to our 1st trailer
that had a bed/kitchen table combo. You had to get up in the morning and
tear up the bed to make a table to sit and drink your morning coffee

Still looking---- love this trailer all but the murphy bed.
Are you listening FR??? We want an ultra lite that is for 2 people just like
the 2304S but you need to make the bed PERMANENT!!

If you watch the video-- notice they have done away with the rear door.
GOOD call. We don't need 2 exit doors. I've said for years if my trailer didn't
have a rear door the bathroom could be bigger and they could add a pantry.
Well that's exactly what they did!
Awesome.
I said we needed a slide in the living area.
They have it.
I said we wanted power awning.
They have it.
I wanted premium cabinets and all the other goodies.
They have it.
I wanted a vent in the bathroom AND one over the bed.
They have it.
I wanted ducted roof AC.
They have it.
We wanted a usable stand up shower.
They have it.
We wanted a bigger lav.
They have it!
I wanted to be able to tow it with my CURRENT TRUCK.
They have it.
I want to be able to lay on the bed and watch TV while DW sits
in a swivel chair and reads.
They DON'T have that.

Darn..... so close but that bed is a no go fer sure.....
Priced out a new truck online and that is also a no go.
$44,000 is too much out of my budget.
Gotta stay with what we have I guess.....

We need a 2 person ultra lite that is dry weight UNDER 5,000 lbs.
Suggestions appreciated!

[bikendan]

Dan, FR's website shows the Murphy bed as optional.
but it doesn't show a "S" model, so maybe it's out of date. the DW would dislike the lack of counterspace, even with the extension.

i know, we're also looking for a TT for 2 people that we can tow with the Avalanche, for our retirement.

problem is the DW will only consider a front kitchen model, since kitchen counterspace is a priority for her.
all the rear kitchen models require you to walk thru the kitchen to get in. and she doesn't want people to have to walk through the bedroom's second door to get in if she doesn't want them walking through the kitchen.

[KDHfan]

Wow... Can't believe you'd let that Murphy bed deter you. With our previous TT (Rpod 182G), we had to break down the dinette each night and reassemble each morning. A real PITA. But our Murphy bed (2306) is no effort at all. With two people, it literally takes 30-seconds. With one person, maybe an extra minute (snapping the straps to hold the mattress). It's not hard... No cushions to deal with... And you have a couch all day long... Not many can offer the amenities in such a small footprint. We were a lot like you when we were shopping... And I initially nixed the 2306 because I wanted a dedicated bed. But I started looking at the weights (didn't have to upgrade the TV)... and what it offered without having to mess with the dinette and was intrigued... Went through one at the dealer and immediately knew we had found our next TT.

[Black]

Have you checked the 2604WS ?
Great floorplan, living space, separate bedroom, light weight and under 30'
Black

[Black]

Originally Posted by Black

Have you checked the 2604WS ?
Great floorplan, living space, separate bedroom, light weight and under 30'
Black

Oh, sorry...just saw the UNDER 5000 part.
2604WS is just under 7000
Black

[KyDan]

The murphy bed is a problem because I have gut pains after supper.
Had them since I was a baby. This makes me want to lay down at
least some of the time after supper.
With the murphy bed there is no where for DW to sit except in a dinette chair once the bed is down. If they had squeezed in even One swivel chair
we'd be taking a ride to see one in the flesh.
The sofa/murphy bed means we both have to hit the sack at the same time-
which we don't do. She usually watches TV while I doze on the bed.
Can't do that in this rig. ;-(
Another problem is there isn't one within 200 miles for us to look at.

They hit a home run on the removal of the back door making a nice big
bath but lost the game at the other end where the bed isn't really a
full time bed.
Also love the free standing table and chairs option shown in the video.

Also- DW retires in a year and we hope to spend weeks at a time
in our trailer. The missing seating option when the bed is down is
a problem in a long term stay. (For us anyway.)
Finally- long term stay related- this trailer has very little clothes storage.
Here's a floorplan if yer interested-->

[mjones12]

The Surveyor 220 also seems to be up to all your needs except there is no swivel chair. 2014 Surveyor Sport SP220 Ultra Lite w/Slide by Forest River - Country Roads RV Center - Discount North Carolina RV Dealer - Forest River Dealer & Product, NC RV Dealer, Wholesale Pricing, Winston-Salem

The TV rotates 360 degrees, so you can lie on the queen bed, close folding doors on either side of the entertainment center and view in relative privacy. Plenty of room to read on the horseshoe dinette. The table is freestanding and can be moved completely out of the way. Large bathroom with "tub", lots of storage space, plenty of reading lights.

FR has several brands, like Solaire and Apex, that I believe have similar arrangements. I know you can find one that meets your every need.

[Bandit114]

I believe with that 5K limit you may want to look at the Mini-Lites. They have a variety of floor plans and may have something to suit your needs. We have the 2304, no slide, has a Murphy bed, and a nice size bath. Very nice 2 person unit. Good Luck!

[dustman_stx]

Originally Posted by KyDan

We are casually looking for another trailer. Our 2008 has served us well for 6
seasons but we have a wish list so we keep our eyes open.

I ran across this new model online recently and watched this video tour--

As the video progressed I got more and more excited. It was almost like
they had been reading my mind on the floor plan and options! Wow!
I was ready to call them when they got to the one NON STARTER in the
setup. It's got a part time bed! UGH. That harkens back to our 1st trailer
that had a bed/kitchen table combo. You had to get up in the morning and
tear up the bed to make a table to sit and drink your morning coffee

Still looking---- love this trailer all but the murphy bed.
Are you listening FR??? We want an ultra lite that is for 2 people just like
the 2304S but you need to make the bed PERMANENT!!

If you watch the video-- notice they have done away with the rear door.
GOOD call. We don't need 2 exit doors. I've said for years if my trailer didn't
have a rear door the bathroom could be bigger and they could add a pantry.
Well that's exactly what they did!
Awesome.
I said we needed a slide in the living area.
They have it.
I said we wanted power awning.
They have it.
I wanted premium cabinets and all the other goodies.
They have it.
I wanted a vent in the bathroom AND one over the bed.
They have it.
I wanted ducted roof AC.
They have it.
We wanted a usable stand up shower.
They have it.
We wanted a bigger lav.
They have it!
I wanted to be able to tow it with my CURRENT TRUCK.
They have it.
I want to be able to lay on the bed and watch TV while DW sits
in a swivel chair and reads.
They DON'T have that.

Darn..... so close but that bed is a no go fer sure.....
Priced out a new truck online and that is also a no go.
$44,000 is too much out of my budget.
Gotta stay with what we have I guess.....

We need a 2 person ultra lite that is dry weight UNDER 5,000 lbs.
Suggestions appreciated!

Not FR, but check out the Lance 2385.

Travel Trailer Selector | Lance Camper

[raspivey]

The mini lite I've got is "nearly" the same trailer. If not for the lack of storage at the house and needing a little bit bigger TV, I'd have jumped on that model. I don't have a Murphy option...wish I did (and a little bigger kitchen). You would have the same situation I do with your bed down. The only other seating is at the dinette (the only other seating at all in my case). I've actually found this to be doable for reading and watching TV. Not the most comfortable for really long periods of time, but doable.

[WWTTA]

If the floor plan for that trailer has everything you want EXCEPT at least a single swivel rocker, why not consider buying that trailer AND a swivel rocker. Our V Lite came with two swivel rockers rather than the recliners, which we would have preferred, and they are small and don't take up a lot of room. It should be a fairly simple matter to figure out how to leash a single chair in place during travel, and while the Murphy bed is up, there is plenty of space for the chair, and when the bed is down and the kitchen counter extension is down, the chair could sit between the kitchen and dinette. Might be too big, but if there is still walk space between the bed and bath, it seems like it could work. It would be even easier if you got the table and chairs rather than the dinette, although you would lose a good amount of storage under the dinette seats. In any case, that IS a REALLY nice floor plan for two people...very close to ideal!

[AlWaysSumptin]

Wish there was one of those near us. We traded a 2003 2304S for a 2010 2304S with the Murphy bed and wouldn’t ever go back. The room of a 30 footer in a 23 foot package, U Bet.

[iluvlcy]

We love our 2304s as well been perfect for us, we did notice that the emerald package with table and chairs instead of dinette you loose a lot of storage that we could not do without!

[PTLady]

KyDan
Did you look the micro/mini lights by Flagstaff/Rockwood?
the 2502 has a nice layout although no swivel chairs
also it has two doors
But has a fantastic fan in the bathroom and a vent above the bed, large storage cabinet in the bathroom, couch (in the slide) and dinette.
The 2109 has a couch with a table you can put in front of it but yet a regular bed.
I think we are going with the 25DS (aka 2502) just to have a little more room but bumper to hitch is 25'8" (I think) with a 22 1/2 foot box. Under 5000 lbs

[OldCoot]

Originally Posted by KyDan

The murphy bed is a problem because I have gut pains after supper.
Had them since I was a baby. This makes me want to lay down at
least some of the time after supper....

Throw the dinette cushions on the floor and lay on them.

[gastan]

The FR/Rockwood website (that I see) doesn't even show the 2304S ... only the 2304 (without the slide). That can only mean that they don't have all their models listed ........ so a phone call to FR/Rockwood might be in order to ask if they make what you want. The website shows the murphy bed on the 2304 as an option. I would bet it is an option on the slide model, too.

I love the idea of the murphy bed and the extra seating during the day. We almost went this way, but ... and it is a BIG but to me ... with it you lose the large pass-thru storage. There is NEVER enough storage on an RV to begin with. I've decided that if there is ever another TT in my future, I'll just have to bite the bullet and go larger .... which means getting a pickup, also.

I've been casually looking at used pickups and, if you can be patient, you can run into a good deal on a fairly recent, well maintained rig ... eventually.

[jwuertz]

If you go to the Rockwood Ultra Lite page you will find the 2304S specs.
The 2304 without the slide is in the mini section.