Is bigger better?

[SMKovalchik]

We went from years of motorhome camping in several diesel pushers. The last was a 42’ with a full body slide and two additional large slides. We transitioned to a 30’ Classic and are super happy with the lack of stress and maintenance in motor homes. The only thing I miss is my washer & dryer and maybe a bigger refrigerator.

[SteveNdebbie]

Bought our first (and hopefully our last) AS 1 1/2 years ago in anticipation of being new empty-nesters. We looked at 23 footers and almost bought a new one but found a 2006 25’ FB Safari SE and are really happy that we got the 25 footer since it has great living space for the two of us with the separate bedroom and living quarters divided by the bathroom shower area. Took our first big trip this September after our youngest got into college and spent four weeks together in the 25 foot space and travelled 6000 miles from Ohio to the West Coast and back. Tow with our 2011 MDX set up by CanAm. We share the driving.

[Atwebs]

Consider what you want to do and how you want to do it. Smaller trailers are less expensive to tow, can fit it smaller spaces are are welcomed almost everywhere (including National Parks with size limits). However, some places don't allow tents -so if some sleepers must be somewhere else...it will matter. Smaller is easy to control when boondocking (unless you family drags tons of extra stuff along...).

We worked our way up the food chain, starting with a dinky tent trailer, then a bigger tent trailer, then a hybrid trailer (tent ends that fold down from a full height trailer) and finally to our Airstream GT.

Our kids wanted to be outside and we did mostly boon docking while we were traveling with them. A good creek or a nice lake were far more important than power or water! They all hated KOA type campgrounds and scoffed when we had to stay in them. Who needs a playground when you have a hill and a tree? Rainy days, huddled together under a pop up rain cover were just fine. And, everybody was happy showering where ever and when ever we happened to find one.

Now that they are gone we find ourselves wanting to explore but more comfortably. Don't want to crawl over another body or have to make up or set up tables and sleeping areas every day. We do want a functional bathroom that we can use and a shower as well. We don't see a dirt road as an exciting challenge to find the perfect place to camp, but rather would stay on pavement and we don't mind paying $30.00 a night rather than just finding a place to park it.

Take a good look at what you intend to do, how you intend to travel. We have fallen in love with each type of trailer -but we have changed over the years and our lifestyle has also changed.

[pftphd]

Our first trailer was an SOB 25' hybrid with two slides. It was nice, but it didn't take long for my wife to decide she was too old to climb up into bed and have cold air circulating below us. We bought a 28' Tommy Bahama and tow it w/a 2016 F150 Ecoboost, and we are very happy with the set. The TB has enough room to put everything we take behind doors/in cabinets when not in use (we are both neat freaks), and we like the extra countertop space, because we both enjoy cooking when on vacation. And we love the tailgate. Truck pulls the trailer around the western US w/o trouble.

[StephiesNana]

Bought our first in January and went with the 2018 27' FB Flying Cloud (killer deal!). Love the separate shower and toilet rooms.

Our tow vehicles are a 2013 Yukon Denali with full tow package and a 2002 GMC 2500 diesel pickup. The trailer tows like a dream.

[Camper Crazy]

Hello NellBell, we have been a camping family since our 2 children were little and have upgraded our camper as our family needs changed. I believe that considering your own family needs and camping style is the key to making the right decision on this. Tenting is fine when the weather is nice, but having room for my kids inside was an primary consideration. Our first trailer had a small slide so that when the weather wasn't nice we had room to entertain ourselves inside. Good luck and happy trails.
CC

[Rocinante]

Consider picking up a gently used 23FB and let the kids camp outside. They're teen-agers, and they won't want to camp with you for long. So, don't buy enough trailer to pack in the whole clan. Instead, buy enough trailer to enjoy camping for yourselves, and to host the kids inside for meals. If it's a rainy weekend, either squeeze in around the dinette or put up a quality rain shelter over the picnic table and relax outside.

No matter what, just get out there and camp with them while they're still willing to join you!

[OTRA15]

Originally Posted by NellBell

. . .
. . . My DH and I pulled the trigger this afternoon and purchased a 2019 FC 25FB!
. . .

Thank you for letting us know that you have chosen the new Airstream!

Happy trails,

Peter

[Rocinante]

Originally Posted by NellBell

Thank you to everyone for their advice! My DH and I pulled the trigger this afternoon and purchased a 2019 FC 25FB! He totally agreed that the 16' Bambi wouldn't work for our family and he liked the bigger fridge and layout of the 25' over the 23' FC. We were lucky and got a several-months past RV show price, which we might have received if we paid cash (which we wanted to do originally if we bought a used unit). But the price was too good to pass up and when we sat and hemmed and hawed about what to do, they came in and gave us our trailer hitch on top of it!

Now we get to go pick out a truck to tow it!🥴

Haha, I missed this before. Congratulations! Time for a new thread, "what tow vehicle is best for my new trailer?" That's always a fun topic, best wishes and happy camping.

[SteveNdebbie]

Excellent choice!

Here’s our 2006 Safari, the predecessor of yours. Take good care of it and it will last forever. Congratulations and safe travels!

[OTRA15]

Originally Posted by Rocinante

Haha, I missed this before. Congratulations! Time for a new thread, "what tow vehicle is best for my new trailer?" That's always a fun topic, best wishes and happy camping.

Post #26 here:

Originally Posted by NellBell

. . .
. . . I just posted a question in the "tow forum" about TV . . .
. . .

[click on orange arrow in quote to go to that new thread]

Originally Posted by NellBell

We just bought the 25FB FC this weekend. The AS dealer told us we should look for a TV that could tow around 11,000 lbs . . .
. . .

FYI
FWIW

[Rocinante]

Originally Posted by SteveNdebbie

Excellent choice!Attachment 337321Attachment 337322

Here’s our 2006 Safari, the predecessor of yours. Take good care of it and it will last forever. Congratulations and safe travels!

Still appears brand new, what a nice-looking trailer.

[SteveNdebbie]

Originally Posted by Rocinante

Still appears brand new, what a nice-looking trailer.

Thanks! We bought it about a year ago. Previous owners took very good care of it. They changed out the overhead lights with LED lighting and we put in two fantastic fans, a rear camera, and replaced the Goodyear Marathon tires with Goodyear Endurance. Came with the Hensley hitch[emoji4]

[ROBERT CROSS]

25's Rule...'03 Classic.😘

Bob
🇺🇸

[SteveNdebbie]

Originally Posted by ROBERT CROSS

25's Rule...'03 Classic.[emoji8]



Bob

[emoji631]

Nice looking ‘03 Bob! Walbernize?