What Size Camper?
Ask the neighbors before you buy!
Ask the neighbors before you buy!
To decide what size camper you need, see how much you can tow with your vehicle, you can find that in your vehicle owner's manual under trailer towing.
Then decide how many people will be going with you, and count heads at the neighbors also, because they might want to go camping too.
One thing to keep in mind:
Most first time RV buyers buy a camper that is too small for their needs!
It's cheaper to buy a camper that you think is a little to big than to trade for a larger camper after you've used it a few times and realize that the one you purchased is too small!
1. Make sure your camper is within the weight limits of your tow vehicle. Check the towing capacity for your vehicle in the owners manual, and make sure your camper weight is not over the tow rating for your vehicle.
Also check the hitch rating on your vehicle and verify that the trailer hitch weight and the loaded weight of the camper does not exceed the hitch tow rating. On fifth wheel trailers, make sure the pin weight on the trailer does not exceed the weight allowed in your truck, and make sure the fifth wheel hitch is rated for the trailer you are going to tow.
If you're not sure about the weight of the camper, get the trailer weighed, that way you will know for sure what the camper weight is. Some weight stickers in the camper list only the base weight with options.
The "UVW" (unloaded weight) is what the camper weighs with nothing in it.
The "GVWR" (Gross vehicle weight rating) is the weight that the frame and axles are rated to carry plus the hitch weight added.
The actual weight of the camper with your stuff in it is what the trailer actually weighs. The GVWR is what the axles and the frame are rated to carry.
Also check the water and holding tank sizes, make sure they are large enough for your family needs. It's no fun running out of water in the middle of a shower! Make sure the bathroom has enough room, sit on the toilet and close the door, you may not like the size or arrangement. Try before you buy!
What about RV storage? If you can store an RV at your house, see how much area you have, and make sure you can back a camper or RV in your parking space. Also check to make sure you can store a camper at your home, some cities or towns won't let you store an RV or camper at your home. You can also store your camper at an RV storage facility. Ask your RV dealers about storage, many have storage available.
Hope these tips help, we want you to be a happy camper!
This information is designed to help you choose the proper size and weight of the camper you want to purchase. Be sure to check with your Automotive OR RV dealer to verify the correct tow capacity of your vehicle. Let's be Safe!
2. Make sure you have a brake control in your vehicle that is matched to number of axles on your camper. Most new brake controls are designed for up to 3 axles, but check the directions that come with the brake control to verify this. Do not tow with a brake control, it can be very dangerous.
Almost all trailers require some kind of brake control, unless you have a trailer with a surge brake system on the trailer. Some trailers have this built on the hitch of the trailer. If you don't know if the trailer has a surge brake system, as a dealer to check it for you just to be safe.
Be sure you know how to use the brake system on your vehicle before you head out on the road. Your dealer can show you how to adjust the brake control so it is adjusted properly. Some brake controls need to be adjusted for highway or city driving, the electric brakes tend to brake harder at slower speeds. You will need less braking power when you're going slow, and more braking power when you're running at highway speeds.
Then decide how many people will be going with you, and count heads at the neighbors also, because they might want to go camping too.
One thing to keep in mind:
Most first time RV buyers buy a camper that is too small for their needs!
It's cheaper to buy a camper that you think is a little to big than to trade for a larger camper after you've used it a few times and realize that the one you purchased is too small!
1. Make sure your camper is within the weight limits of your tow vehicle. Check the towing capacity for your vehicle in the owners manual, and make sure your camper weight is not over the tow rating for your vehicle.
Also check the hitch rating on your vehicle and verify that the trailer hitch weight and the loaded weight of the camper does not exceed the hitch tow rating. On fifth wheel trailers, make sure the pin weight on the trailer does not exceed the weight allowed in your truck, and make sure the fifth wheel hitch is rated for the trailer you are going to tow.
If you're not sure about the weight of the camper, get the trailer weighed, that way you will know for sure what the camper weight is. Some weight stickers in the camper list only the base weight with options.
The "UVW" (unloaded weight) is what the camper weighs with nothing in it.
The "GVWR" (Gross vehicle weight rating) is the weight that the frame and axles are rated to carry plus the hitch weight added.
The actual weight of the camper with your stuff in it is what the trailer actually weighs. The GVWR is what the axles and the frame are rated to carry.
Also check the water and holding tank sizes, make sure they are large enough for your family needs. It's no fun running out of water in the middle of a shower! Make sure the bathroom has enough room, sit on the toilet and close the door, you may not like the size or arrangement. Try before you buy!
What about RV storage? If you can store an RV at your house, see how much area you have, and make sure you can back a camper or RV in your parking space. Also check to make sure you can store a camper at your home, some cities or towns won't let you store an RV or camper at your home. You can also store your camper at an RV storage facility. Ask your RV dealers about storage, many have storage available.
Hope these tips help, we want you to be a happy camper!
This information is designed to help you choose the proper size and weight of the camper you want to purchase. Be sure to check with your Automotive OR RV dealer to verify the correct tow capacity of your vehicle. Let's be Safe!
2. Make sure you have a brake control in your vehicle that is matched to number of axles on your camper. Most new brake controls are designed for up to 3 axles, but check the directions that come with the brake control to verify this. Do not tow with a brake control, it can be very dangerous.
Almost all trailers require some kind of brake control, unless you have a trailer with a surge brake system on the trailer. Some trailers have this built on the hitch of the trailer. If you don't know if the trailer has a surge brake system, as a dealer to check it for you just to be safe.
Be sure you know how to use the brake system on your vehicle before you head out on the road. Your dealer can show you how to adjust the brake control so it is adjusted properly. Some brake controls need to be adjusted for highway or city driving, the electric brakes tend to brake harder at slower speeds. You will need less braking power when you're going slow, and more braking power when you're running at highway speeds.
Thanks for visiting our webpage, I hope this information helps!
Happy Camping!
Phil Stahla
Happy Camping!
Phil Stahla
