This is our fourth year of owning an RV, although my extended family have been RVers for decades in motorhomes, 5th wheels, campers and pop-ups. Some were even full-timers for several years.
Our camper is a 2000 Trail Lite 22B Bantam - a hybrid - and we like it a lot. We bought it from General RV because it satisfied three basic requirements: 1.) it was able to sleep me, the wife and our three kids; 2.) it had a bathroom (my wife's one demand) and; 3.) it was light enough for our minivan to tow - barely. Although the minivan came equipped with a factory-installed tow package, and we used an Equal-I-Zer sway control and Prodigy brake controller, and on paper were within the weight specs, I was never comfortable with the set-up. With the standard V6 engine, I only drove about 65 mph. So, we took our time, plotted flat courses and, fortunately, never ran into any problems.
Originally we were looking at pop-ups. But the cost and weight of a pop-up with a bathroom were equal to that of the hybrid we purchased.
I'm happy to say last fall we upgraded our tow vehicle to a 2006 Trailblazer 4x2 EXT, so the days of white knuckle driving with the minivan are over. The Trailblazer has the big V8 engine and the higher rear axle gear ratio and, as you would expect, has double the tow capacity of the minivan. We took the camper out a few times with it last season and it towed effortlessly.
This season we already have a number of trips planned, including one to Mammoth Cave in Kentucky - something that never would have happened if we still were towing with the minivan.
Towing with a minivan
Posted by
Gr8LakesCamper
April 08, 2010
Greetings,
ReplyDeleteI hope this blog will have ideas on where to camp, reviews of campgrounds etc.
I have camped since the 70's starting in a pop-up (had three of those). Regressed to a tent for Civil War reenacting. Last year we finally graduated to a 22 ft Palamino (made in Michigan) micro light trailer. I love it!!! The funny part is I need to stay away from RV shows as we bought a 21 ft Micro lite from Forest River last year and already traded up!!!!
We haul it with a 2009 GMC Envoy without any problems. One tip, do not fill your water tanks until you reach your destination. It causes a lot of swaying and drag. Why pay for all that gas towing the extra weight.
Our first camping weekend is the end of this month.
Pat
Pat, it is every bit my intention that this site will have suggestions on where to camp, including campground reviews. Look for those in the coming weeks, and feel free to add your thoughts not only here, but also to the Discussion section of the Gr8LakesCamper Facebook Fan Page. Each Great Lakes State is separated into its own category for easier navigation.
ReplyDeleteAlso, good advice on traveling with the camper dry. We keep a little bit of water in the black tank to keep things loose, but otherwise we keep it as empty as can be for all the reasons you mentioned.