Info needed

[sarockman72]

Hello,
New member here.
I recently sold my jayco bunk house tt (264bh). Am I crazy to wnat a 233s? 5 adults (me, wife & kids 15, 18 &21. 23 f250 crew cab, sb, 7.3l v8. Looking at either a new 32' tt with a bunk room for about $30k or a 2025 roo 233s w/ dual a/c for about $32k. Kids want a tt, I don't want to tow a 32'er. How is overnight setup, do I have to unhook my truck to fold down front bed? Also anything else I need to be aware of? Sorry for the long post

 

[bikendan]

If you're kids were younger, I would say, Go for It. But not sure 2 adult kids and a teenager will be happy.
Plus if you’re primarily camping in Texas, keeping a trailer with 3 open canvas tent ends will be difficult too keep cool, even with Popup Gizmos.
Depending on truck and WDH, you may have to unhook to lower the front bunk end.

 

[sarockman72]

Well they enjoy camping especially, we discussed 1 girl each in a bed, son (5'10") on the sofa or dinette bed. I guess my main concerns are quality/ reliability, ease of setup especially if sleeping overnight in a rest area or walmart. I started off with a pop-up w/ dining slide out and the setup got old quick.

 

[sarockman72]

2023 f250 w/ 7.3l gas, crew cab, 4x4, 17k tow pkg, 2000w inverter. Roo has a 50 amp service and dual 13.5k a/c

 

[Jim_74]

The most we've had in the Roo at one time was 5 adults and a 3 year old. 2 couples on the front and side beds, adult in the rear bed, and kid on the dinette. Plenty of room in that setup. I probably wouldn't fit comfortably on the dinette bed, but the jack knife sofa bed I've laid on fine. Im 6'2" for reference. The AC is an issue in the heat. Ours is the 13,5 btu and beyond 95 degrees it struggles. And that's with the pop up gizmos. If you close the beds you'll be OK though. We prefer to just go find some water to play in. Setup is easy with the sealed canvas and cables now. No more snaps and poles. It's still more than a standard TT, but not much. Each bed has 2 latches you open, then just lower each bed. Go back inside and pop one roof pole in each bed, and you're done with the beds. The rest of the trailer is same quality as a regular TT. You have to protect the canvas because it is an expensive PITA to replace. However, if you get the gizmos and always use them, you won't really have to worry about it. Pretty sure we have to unhitch to lower the front bed, but haven't actually tested that. We also tow with a 1500, so it might be different. I imagine you'll barely notice it back there towing with a 2500.

 

[sarockman72]

thank you, I believe dual a/c would keep up with texas heat and humidity. I have 4 ryobi 18v and 2 40v fans to help circulate air. my old daughter will only short trips or fort wilderness camping, so most of the time it'll be just 4.

 

[bikendan]

2023 f250 w/ 7.3l gas, crew cab, 4x4, 17k tow pkg, 2000w inverter. Roo has a 50 amp service and dual 13.5k a/c

thank you, I believe dual a/c would keep up with texas heat and humidity. I have 4 ryobi 18v and 2 40v fans to help circulate air. my old daughter will only short trips or fort wilderness camping, so most of the time it'll be just 4.

Yes, a traditional trailer with two a/cs might keep up with Texas heat and humidity but with 3 giant holes and only vinylized canvas covering those holes, those a/cs will be struggling to keep the inside comfortable.

 

[Jim_74]

thank you, I believe dual a/c would keep up with texas heat and humidity. I have 4 ryobi 18v and 2 40v fans to help circulate air. my old daughter will only short trips or fort wilderness camping, so most of the time it'll be just 4.

I missed that the Roo you're looking at has dual a/c. That would be better for sure. Not sure how much though. Depends on if you have all 3 beds open or not. You might be surprised how much cool air is lost through those beds. But then we camp in southern CA in the summer, including the desert, so you can get by.

 

[Jim_74]

Yes, a traditional trailer with two a/cs might keep up with Texas heat and humidity but with 3 giant holes and only vinylized canvas covering those holes, those a/cs will be struggling to keep the inside comfortable.

Yeah, the AC cranks ice cold all day, the trailer just can't keep it in.

 

[bikendan]

I missed that the Roo you're looking at has dual a/c. That would be better for sure. Not sure how much though. Depends on if you have all 3 beds open or not. You might be surprised how much cool air is lost through those beds. But then we camp in southern CA in the summer, including the desert, so you can get by.

With 5 adults, unless someone is sleeping on the dinette, all 3 bunk ends will be open.

 

[rsdata]

easy enough to setup especially with help
2 AC units will be super loud, white noise at best at night
fans set on the floor to circulate air will help
Roos with opening bunks give a sense of openness that you do not get in an enclosed trailer AS THE BEDS TAKE UP NO ACTUAL ROOM INSIDE THE TRAILER

 

[ebemis]

Sorry to say that while beds are easy to open and close, they present as more of a PITA for just single overnight stays. In addition, you may not get a “comfy feeling” having your slide out and all three tent ends open in a rest area and definitely not in a Walmart parking lot!

Read around this section of the forum too, you’ll find ALOT of discussion about adding mattress toppers for comfort. Those toppers and your pillows and bedding have to go somewhere before you fold up the bed. The mattress will fold with the door but not if toppers and bedding is in the way…this is what makes overnight stops a butt pain.

 

[Bob K4TAX]

As many seem to do, don't buy a camper, TT, or RV for the kids. The kids will be out and gone before long and you'll be stuck with something you and momma won't need. Buy a nice 5er or TT for you and momma and a tent and sleeping bags for the kids.

Bob

 

[Chuck_S]

Hi David --

We love our Roo bit it seems you sold the trailer that meets all your requirements.

Roo 233S is 25' over the pin and easy to tow. Based on personal experience hybrids are not well suited to overnight stops 'cuz the beds gotta come out if anyone plans to sleep. Even if you can get the beds out it's often difficult to level the trailer for sleeping and in an emergency putting the beds out without decoupling from truck is a risk 'cuz trailering with the beds probably ain't gonna work.

Lack of physical security means there is absolutely no way I'd sleep overnight is some random parking lot with the tents out -- nor should you -- meaning the dinette and sofa are the only secure sleeping sites in those locations. Those "beds" are best used for guests you don't want to ask to come camping with you again.

The front bed should clear your truck -- I'm pretty sure my Roo 23SS front bed clears my Expedition tailgate but I highly doubt I can tow other than straight ahead with the bed down -- maybe over a pickup tailgate. She's coming home tomorrow from her indoor storage getting ready for Memorial Day and I can verify if you need the info.

The Roos are Campers, not RVs meaning they take setup and take down unless it's just you in the camper. Rain on the canvas is lovely -- and wet if you have to leave.

On long tips we schedule overnight stops at state parks or KOA Journey Parks which cater to these one night stops vs their "resorts."

-- Chuck

 

[sarockman72]

Hi David --

We love our Roo bit it seems you sold the trailer that meets all your requirements.

Roo 233S is 25' over the pin and easy to tow. Based on personal experience hybrids are not well suited to overnight stops 'cuz the beds gotta come out if anyone plans to sleep. Even if you can get the beds out it's often difficult to level the trailer for sleeping and in an emergency putting the beds out without decoupling from truck is a risk 'cuz trailering with the beds probably ain't gonna work.

Lack of physical security means there is absolutely no way I'd sleep overnight is some random parking lot with the tents out -- nor should you -- meaning the dinette and sofa are the only secure sleeping sites in those locations. Those "beds" are best used for guests you don't want to ask to come camping with you again.

The front bed should clear your truck -- I'm pretty sure my Roo 23SS front bed clears my Expedition tailgate but I highly doubt I can tow other than straight ahead with the bed down -- maybe over a pickup tailgate. She's coming home tomorrow from her indoor storage getting ready for Memorial Day and I can verify if you need the info.

The Roos are Campers, not RVs meaning they take setup and take down unless it's just you in the camper. Rain on the canvas is lovely -- and wet if you have to leave.

On long tips we schedule overnight stops at state parks or KOA Journey Parks which cater to these one night stops vs their "resorts."

-- Chuck

thank you for the reply. if you can confirm if the bed clears your expedition I would appreciate that. my old timer was totaled out due to hail damage, but my kids have ruled out the stacked bunk beds and I don't want to tow 32' to 36' it's. I'll stick to koa's or state park if I need to overnight stay. I've looked at lots of new it's at around $30k to$36k and they all seem like junk. the roos/shamrocks look to be better quality and much better warranty.

 

[bikendan]

the roos/shamrocks look to be better quality and much better warranty.

Totally agree the Roo/Shamrock hybrids are better quality, especially since many RV manufacturers, like Jayco, stopped making hybrids.
Can you explain the "much better warranty" statement? As far as I know, the RV manufacturers that still manufacture hybrids, all have the standard 1 year tongue to bumper warranty, including Roo/Shamrock.

 

[Chuck_S]

Photos and some measurements of the front bed deployed hopefully sometime tomorrow. Bring the Roo home around lunchtime.

-- Chuck

 

[sarockman72]

Totally agree the Roo/Shamrock hybrids are better quality, especially since many RV manufacturers, like Jayco, stopped making hybrids.
Can you explain the "much better warranty" statement? As far as I know, the RV manufacturers that still manufacture hybrids, all have the standard 1 year tongue to bumper warranty, including Roo/Shamrock.

Limited Lifetime roof, 2 year fiberglass, 10 year axel and 1 year bumper to bumper. I thought it was like jayco - 2+3, I was wrong.

 

[sarockman72]

is the bathroom accessible with slide closed for bathroom breaks during travel mode?

 

[Reverse_snowbird]

It looks like the bathroom might be accessible on the Roo, but you'd need to see the rig to verify.

My preference would be a hard sided rig. It's hard enough to survive the summer heat in a hard sided rig, but tents leak air conditioning. Although I have seen people with portable air conditioners in tents.

You can sometimes get away with camping in a parking lot with a hard sided rig.
Keep in mind that you can't run the air conditioner without shore power or a generator.
If you're planning on camping in bear country, a hard sided rig is a bit safer.

Welcome to the forum!