Which hybrid to pick ? Looking for advice :)

[hockeytownmom]

Originally Posted by prof_fate

Sticker from the factory on the door says it weights 5335 lbs. We bought an expedition which is 'rated' at 8900 lbs. Easy peasy, right?

Nope, not even close. Certain options on the ford reduced tow capacity, add people, gas, hitch, battery/propane and the sundries (food, bath, bedding, chairs, clothes) and suddenly we're at the edge of the TV's GCWR!

We just bought a new silverado 1500 -with a careful choice of options - and we'll be fine - but still can't put much in the back of the truck or we'll be nearing the GVWR of the truck (and it's got an upped rating!)

Reality seems to be as soon as you get away from popups you need a 2500/three quarter ton truck or you'll be at the edge of things, safety, capacity, reliability wise.

I love our TT and hope the new TV makes longer trips a possibility (we took our pop up all over). A hard side has definite plusses, but it's not 'camping' the way the pop up was.

Our next one will either be a big pop up or a 5vr (and full timing).

Enjoy whatever you get and be safe out there.

Agreed. I have a 1/2 ton Suburban with 5 children ages 11 and under and feel like I need a larger tow vehicle. I have a 233s and couldn't imagine towing it with anything smaller than my Suburban.

[Grady Camping]

Originally Posted by bikendan

Grady,

1. i believe your Acadia has a towing capacity of 5500, IF it has the factory tow package? does it?
2. that 5500 number is rated with only a 150lbs. driver in it. anyone or anything else in it, will lower that number by its weight, including the WDH.
3. the main issue will be the trailer's tongue weight. with a fictional "dry" weight of 430lbs., loaded for camping and with the WDH, it'll probably exceed the max hitch weight of the Acadia.
4. not sure what you mean about hybrids being "new". they've been around since 1998.
5. as far as price, Coachmen sells very few hybrids, so it will be hard to find prices on them. i would get prices for the Roo 183 from RVW and RVDirect. the 183 is a similar floorplan and can give you a ball park amount.
6. i'm not sure if you'd be able to wait a couple of years, pulling this trailer with the Acadia. pulling a full-height trailer with a mid-sized SUV will not be fun.
7. it helps if you specify what area of North America you are.

Thanks very much for everyone's replies. The Acadia does have a factory tow package, and we live in the North-West part of NY State. After reading everyone's advice, crunching numbers again, and talking it over with my husband, I think we will make do with the pop-up for now. It seems that we might be able to make it if we traveled light and aren't going too far, but I think that we would prefer to do a longer trip this summer. For that reason, for now, we'd rather have less space and more set up / take down time with the popup, but not have to worry about hitting hills, bridges or strong winds.

On a side note, we are pretty sure we would be happy with something like the Roo 183 or Coachmen 21TQX... for future reference, any recommendations for tow vehicles with an extended cab?

Thank you very much!
Colleen

[Grady Camping]

Originally Posted by jeeplj8

That is a neat looking trailer, but with a gross weight rating of at least 6,000 lbs, it is pretty heavy for your Acadia.

Just curious, what is the driving force to go from your current pop-up to this trailer?

Space is the biggest reason - we have a very small pop-up now, and the kids are getting bigger. Also, for ease of set up and taking down. We are interested in traveling around the US (lots of short stays at many different campsites), and were hoping to minimize the set up of a popup so we could maximize time to travel/sightsee. Last, for the amenities - to have a bigger fridge to minimize ice replenishment, and air conditioning if we travel to hotter climates.

I think, in the end, the hybrid is still a good fit for us. You can get more space inside with a relatively light and small trailer. Even if we upgrade our Acadia to a truck, I don't think we'll go to a full size travel trailer. We were just hoping to be able to use an SUV, because the TV is a regular commuter vehicle during school months. But... it looks like we will have to adjust to an extended cab truck eventually, if we want the hybrid.

C

[prof_fate]

We went shopping and got a silverado 1500 crew cab (4 door). We have kids (ages 9/12) and the 'extended cab' units you have to really open the front door all the way to get the back door to open - then without a front passenger the back seat kid can't close the front door...kinda useless arrangement.

I had pickups for 15 years as my only vehicle, no extended nothing, and it was fine - as a single guy. I've had a minivan now an outback, as well as the expedition and there are definite benefits to having an eclosed, secure, weatherproof 'backend'. But then I went to home depot last week to get some wood and a pickup has definited advantages (i've not had a pickup for 12 years, since kids came along).

My wife hates the look of a cap on a pickup so we may go for a toneou cover. Our truck has a key lockable tailgate so a hard cover would be secure if we needed that.

I will be interesting, our first trip with the kids, dog, etc. With the expy (and minivan before that) we could pack up 'the car'...now if we leave the TT at the campground for a few months (as we usually do) then carrying food/clothes/kids/dog/kids' friends is going to be, um, interesting.

My wife is using the truck has her daily driver...no fun since gas prices are up 33c since we bought it last month! It's getting a real world 15mpg (she drive rural roads then hiway to work, 10 miles each way) compared to the taurus we traded in's 24mpg.

[jeeplj8]

Originally Posted by Grady Camping

Space is the biggest reason - we have a very small pop-up now, and the kids are getting bigger. Also, for ease of set up and taking down. We are interested in traveling around the US (lots of short stays at many different campsites), and were hoping to minimize the set up of a popup so we could maximize time to travel/sightsee. Last, for the amenities - to have a bigger fridge to minimize ice replenishment, and air conditioning if we travel to hotter climates.

I think, in the end, the hybrid is still a good fit for us. You can get more space inside with a relatively light and small trailer. Even if we upgrade our Acadia to a truck, I don't think we'll go to a full size travel trailer. We were just hoping to be able to use an SUV, because the TV is a regular commuter vehicle during school months. But... it looks like we will have to adjust to an extended cab truck eventually, if we want the hybrid.

C

I can't seem to find the floorplan, and for all I know it is no longer made, but we liked a hybrid that had rear deck that folded down and gave you a huge bed.

As for vehicles, there are a couple models out now that are very interesting and some on the way. The Ford F150 with ecoboost motor is available in a super crew cab configuration and can tow much more trailer than you are looking at, while still getting good mileage. Jeep is offering a new Diesel in The Grand Cherokee that is rated at 30 mpg and has a very high tow rating. Dodge is going to offer the same Diesel in the 1500 truck which should offer amazing mileage for a truck.

However any full size SUV made today properly optioned will tow any of the trailers you are looking at.

[grege]

Originally Posted by prof_fate

I will be interesting, our first trip with the kids, dog, etc. With the expy (and minivan before that) we could pack up 'the car'...now if we leave the TT at the campground for a few months (as we usually do) then carrying food/clothes/kids/dog/kids' friends is going to be, um, interesting.

We have a F150 super crew and love all the room it has. I put a Bakflip F1 tonneau cover on it and the tailgate locks. I did add an actuator so it now locks/unlocks with the remote which is real nice. Love the clean look of the Bakflip on there.

We got some of these at Costco and use them to load up stuff and then put them in the bed. If any water leaks in then the stuff in the containers are protected and it makes it easy to get the stuff in and out.

Amazon.com: GSC 211512 Flip Top Tote Clear Base with Black Lid: Home & Kitchen

OP, if you can't upgrade both in the same year then you might want to look at upgrading your tow vehicle first and then waiting a year or 2 to upgrade your camper.

[bikendan]

Grady, any v-8 crewcab truck or suv should be able to handle any hybrid.
A truck should have more payload and more towing capacity, than a similarly equipped suv.

[dwaynerz]

you will tire quickly of an extended cab as your kids will eventually outgrow it. to let them in/out, someone in the front has to open their door so the back doors can be opened. i would suggest going crewcab to start when that time comes.

[prof_fate]

Originally Posted by bikendan

Grady, any v-8 crewcab truck or suv should be able to handle any hybrid.
A truck should have more payload and more towing capacity, than a similarly equipped suv.

Having just done the shopping, I'd say not. A chevy 1500 unless it has some specific options is rated to tow just 5000 lbs!
To tow more than that you need HD cooling and 3.42 ratio axle or the tow max (6.0 or 6.2 engine) which gives you even more towing capacity -but at that point you may be better off with a 2500 truck.

I was surprised as the low tow rating on a 1/2 ton truck, but so many are being bought more as cars the 'trucks'.

[Grady Camping]

Thanks so much, everyone, for taking the time to answer my questions.
Best wishes for a wonderful camping season!

[clancythecamper]

These guys have way more knowledge than me on the towing part. We just took our 233S out on her maiden voyage and were very pleased with the amount of interior space and the quality of construction. My DH did state that it felt heavier towing than he expected ~ we have a Chevy Silverado and have the towing package; also, the heavyduty hitch, electric brakes and sway bar ~ all of which he felt were important after actually towing in traffic! The Silverado can pull a good bit more than the 233S but my point being that he knew he was pulling it! He pulls trailers a lot and didn't expect it to be as heavy. As far as storage, I haven't looked at too many other tt's but I have had other units with far more storage (especially our fifth wheel but you'd expect that) After you've camped awhile, you become quite adept and cramming a 3B/2B home into a 8X20 trailer Perhaps in the future I will be able to offer more ideas for organization, still working on that one myself....

Good luck with your venture

[bikendan]

what most newbies miss considering, is the air resistance of a 5000lbs.+ barn door! they focus so much on the weight without factoring in how it will feel pulling a high profile wall thru the air.
many expect it to be the same as towing a boat or popup or utility trailer. all of these don't have near the air resistance as a full height trailer.
in fact, the trailer's air resistance is more of a factor on gas mileage, than the weight of the trailer. that's why it seems silly to worry how much water you carry. an extra 200-300lbs. of water will barely make a scratch on gas mileage, when pulling a TT/HTT.
that's why Airstreams can give their owners better gas mileage than conventional TT owners. but you pay a price for those aerodynamics. it would take a lot of traveling to recoup the extra costs for one.

[thomsonr]

I know I am way late in replying to this thread but must say I pull a 21SS quite successfully with a 2010 Acadia AWD and weight distribution system. In fact performance is much better than my old Montana Van and Starcraft 176RB with a dry weight around 3050 lbs. I have no issues with highway performance. I do however travel light as the UVW of the ROo is 4400 lbs and the Acadia is rated at 5200lbs. A 23SS does appear too hefty for the Acadia.

[karrun]

Originally Posted by thomsonr

I know I am way late in replying to this thread but must say I pull a 21SS quite successfully with a 2010 Acadia AWD and weight distribution system. In fact performance is much better than my old Montana Van and Starcraft 176RB with a dry weight around 3050 lbs. I have no issues with highway performance. I do however travel light as the UVW of the ROo is 4400 lbs and the Acadia is rated at 5200lbs. A 23SS does appear too hefty for the Acadia.

Glad to hear you chime in about your Acadia. My husband and I pull our 21SS with a Durango with tow capacity of 5700. It also has a WDH. We've only towed once and were pleased with the way it handled. We keep the cargo to a minimum and don't plan any trips out west (we are in the Midwest) until we can affors a TV with a higher capacity. Hearing other's experiences makes me feel a little better.