New here, hopefully new RV owners soon!

[Nomads4Yah]

Hi, we've searched these forums for the last couple of years and finally just registered on here. There is so much info to take in and y'all are very helpful and lots of great advice! We most likely will be getting a hybrid because we have a BIG family and we have to watch tow weight.

We have a 2004 Ford Expedition with Heavy Duty tow package. It is a V8 5.4L 3.73 ratio. I called Ford and gave them our VIN and they said over all weight with vehicle and trailer is 14,500 lbs. Max tow weight is 8950 lbs but According to Ford, our vehicle fully loaded with gas and passengers is 7100 lbs, so the lady says that leaves us with 7,400 lbs for towing. Max tongue weight is 600 lbs without weight distributor hitch and 895 lbs with a weight distributor hitch.

There isn't much info for length we can tow that I could find but we feel most comfortable staying under 25 ft. The two main campers we are looking at are the Rockwood Roo 233s and the 23SS. We have owned a couple of pop ups. One was a VERY small and old starcraft and then we upgraded to a Jayco that was bigger but we know we need more space and our own bathroom.

We are actually looking to eventually go full time RV'ing probably in a year so our camper will have to have room for Husband, Wife, and 5 children 12 and under. We do not have any pets!!

Well, off to read some more posts. Have a good day

[richardwise]

Welcome to the forum and the wonderful world of RV'ing. With your family, you might want to consider a larger TT. They tend to "shrink" very quickly. I went from a 17' to 21' to 31' over 4 years.

[Wiscampsin]

Welcome to the forum. With 5 kids you might want to lean towards the 233S. The extra bunk space will come in handy as the kids grow.

[hockeytownmom]

I have to 233s and works well, and now my kids like sleeping in a little tent next to the camper. I couldn't become a full time camper with 5 kids in ours. No way. So maybe an actual travel trailer would be a better option? When we're all in the camper, it's a bit nuts, especially when we're all trying to watch the TV on a raining day. Welcome!!

Mine are 12, 10, 8, 6, 4. at the time of purchase: 9, 7, 5, 3, 1

[Nomads4Yah]

Originally Posted by hockeytownmom

I have to 233s and works well, and now my kids like sleeping in a little tent next to the camper. I couldn't become a full time camper with 5 kids in ours. No way. So maybe an actual travel trailer would be a better option? When we're all in the camper, it's a bit nuts, especially when we're all trying to watch the TV on a raining day. Welcome!!

Mine are 12, 10, 8, 6, 4. at the time of purchase: 9, 7, 5, 3, 1

Thanks! My husband works in South Lyon. We just moved up here a year ago after spending a year in Texas. BRRRRRR LOL. Ours are 12 (b), 11 (g), 9 (b), 2 (g), and 6 months (g). We camped in a pop up with 4 of them...yeah definitely have out grown that! Did you get yours from a local dealer? I can't wait to get ours. With our size of family and our tow vehicle we are a bit limited to what we can get. We'll have our tv for a while unless we give birth to twins sometime down the road and out grow it LOL.

[GlacierGus]

Welcome to the forum and welcome to RVing. I was always a tent camper but now that I have an RV I can't get enough of it. Lots to be learned here.
Think spring!

[hockeytownmom]

Oh cool! We got ours from Vicars in Taylor. At the time, they were the only one who carried them.

ETA: we did the pop up with the 4 of them. Camped while pregnant with #5 without a/c in 90 degree heat and said no more, we're upgrading. We had to upgrade our TV and then waited 6 months to purchase the Roo.

[Nomads4Yah]

Thanks for the info and yeah I am so done with pop ups LOL. Great while they are little but now that they're almost taller than me, no way. HA!

We'll be hitting an RV show first week of February at the Suburban Showplace. Most likely we will not buy new but want to just look and see how we like the floorplans

[hockeytownmom]

As much as I shouldn't, I'll probably go as well. I would love to upgrade to a TT, especially since I solo camp with the kids in the summer, a simple set up would be great.

[Truth B Towed]

Originally Posted by hockeytownmom

As much as I shouldn't, I'll probably go as well. I would love to upgrade to a TT, especially since I solo camp with the kids in the summer, a simple set up would be great.

We got our Roo 25rs at Vicars also, its' a hard slide so no tent ends..but plenty of space, slept 7 adults in it over the summer...hit some of these places up now, alot of times they will give you free passes for the trailer shows...vwery happy with ours, still will be at the trailer show to look anyhow.

[Nomads4Yah]

Maybe we'll run into each other. If you see a couple wearing babies and 3 older children walking around, it's probably us LOL

[hockeytownmom]

You sound like my kind of family! We're done with the baby wearing though.

[RedDragon]

Welcome aboard

[Nomads4Yah]

Originally Posted by Truth B Towed

We got our Roo 25rs at Vicars also, its' a hard slide so no tent ends..but plenty of space, slept 7 adults in it over the summer...hit some of these places up now, alot of times they will give you free passes for the trailer shows...vwery happy with ours, still will be at the trailer show to look anyhow.

The Roo 25rs is our favorite but I think it would be too long for our TV. Love the set up and that it's all hard sided.

[HONDAMAN174]

Originally Posted by hockeytownmom

As much as I shouldn't, I'll probably go as well. I would love to upgrade to a TT, especially since I solo camp with the kids in the summer, a simple set up would be great.

A simpler setup is what made us trade in our high wall trailer. Not to irritate anyone but we did see a nice "Keystone" unit that had two bunk beds on the left in the rear, one bunk on the right and a couch underneath that which folds into a full bed. Master bed was on other side of TT so maximum space for "quiet time"

[hockeytownmom]

My friend has that camper, I really like the set up, but I can't tow it.