Hello From Ohio

[Morrones]

Hello! My wife and I (plus 3 small kids, 7, 4 and 5 months) are looking into campers. Camped ourselves with our families growing up but looking to start our own memories. Right now we are looking into the 30kqbss. It’s a lot of trailer, but I’ve pulled before, just not campers. I have a RAM 1500 and the tow rating couldn’t handle that from what I’ve been investigating. I’m in a lease - I know, amateur, for another year and a half. I do have access through family to much larger trucks that could tow no problem. Starting to talk myself out of it. Layout for our growing family makes sense. So many good threads here to help us think this through but welcome any advice and suggestions in models to explore. Nice to meet you all and looking forward to being a part of this online community.

[Reverse_snowbird]

Welcome from Texas!

That's a beautiful rig, but it is 33' long and you might have trouble finding a site in some state and national parks. You've already figured out that it's probably going to be too much for your truck.

I can't point you in a specific direction, but you might try an ultralite that's a bit shorter. Your children are young enough that you might want to look for one with bunks, but not a separate room. A double bunk with a pull out or jack knife couch would work.

Either that or get a bigger truck.

Looking forward to see what you pick out. Let us know.

[aceinspp]

Welcome to the forum. Yep TT may a bit much for your truck. Bet thing to do is go to an RV show and see whats available for your truck to tow. But be aware these dealers will try to tell you you can handle with your truck. Read up on your truck specks and check your door jam sticker for weight your truck can handle. Good luck on your search. There are probably a few hybrids out there that your truck could handle and fit your family for now. Later RJD

[Chris Pastuzyn]

I will agree with the previous posts ,Check up on your trucks spec's, Continue to shop around,And feel free to ask questions on this forum ,Plenty of models that would fit your needs, Welcome from New Jersey

[campwme]

Welcome from NE Ohio! Adventure awaits!!

[Morrones]

All good advice here so far! I read the bit about dealers telling me I would be ok and already had one of those in our search. The truck is a temporary issue and we don't want to let that decide what we buy. We are also looking into nearby campgrounds we are familiar with to park it for the season so we can make weekend trips. So many to choose from! We were never interested in pulling this across the country right now, so the campground option makes a lot of sense for us to get the best of both worlds. Thank you all for the advice!

[geeman53]

Welcome from Springfield, Ohio .

[bikendan]

Yep, actual loaded tongue weight alone, will exceed your truck's max hitch weight.

[Reverse_snowbird]

Originally Posted by Morrones

We are also looking into nearby campgrounds we are familiar with to park it for the season so we can make weekend trips.

If you're looking to put it in a seasonal site, you might not need a truck. We've run across many people who buy a rig and have the dealer deliver it to the campground. Then you might be able to store it there for the off season. If you need to move it later, you could rent a truck or hire someone to move it.

[spicercars]

Welcome from northern MN.

[Tapex]

Welcome from Central NC

[itat]

Welcome from just east of Toronto!

The model you referred to is definitely too big for a RAM 1500. As others have said, if you are into a seasonal site, you can have the dealer deliver a trailer to your seasonal site.

If you want to travel with it you’ll need at least a 3/4 ton pickup. When your lease is up I would look at a 3/4 ton or 1 ton pickup since the weight of your family of 5 plus gear will be significant, especially as the kids get bigger.

Any trailer with full time bunks for 5 people will be over 30’ unless you can find floorplan that has the bunks oriented across the back (side to side).

If you’re only going to be using the trailer for a few weekends and maybe one or two week-long vacations, you could look at something where you’d have to make up the sofa and booth dinette into beds every night.

If you don’t mind sleeping under canvas, you could look into the hybrids like the Rockwood Roo or Flagstaff Shamrock that your RAM 1500 may be OK to tow.

[Morrones]

This seems to be a common response back. I do have access to a 3/4 ton from my in-laws, which would have no issue pulling, so that seems to be less of a worry for me. Just between which model to go after now. We like the bunk room, and with our kids growing we want to let them grow into it rather than have the camper get smaller over time. Between the 32bhds and 30kqbss right now! Thanks for the reply.

[Reverse_snowbird]

Originally Posted by Morrones

Just between which model to go after now. We like the bunk room, and with our kids growing we want to let them grow into it rather than have the camper get smaller over time. Between the 32bhds and 30kqbss right now! Thanks for the reply.

Don't know if I'm looking at the floor plan for the correct models, but they look similar. Depending on the price, I'd probably go for the one that has the bunk house slide. It would give the kids their own space to play on those rainy days.

[Morrones]

They are really similar and that is exactly our thinking! Kids need some indoor space considering the amount of rain we get in northeast Ohio.

[tomkatb]

Welcome from Dayton.

Shop hard!

Study this site. You will learn a ton! There is some wisdom in every post.

Salesmen are the last persons to ask about towing ability.

In Ohio we have two big discount dealers if you want new.

[Morrones]

Assuming Couch's RV is one? Which is the other, or other two? Thank you!

[llr]

Probable refereeing to RV wholesalers for one of them

[tomkatb]

Yes, RV Wholesaler is the other one.

We visited both. We fell in love with the Cedar Creek at Couches.

One day you just either run out of gas looking. Or you find the one.

[CurtPutnam]

Welcome from SoCal! Please do not take chances with your family.