What size FGRV to get?

[nam11]

So, I am going to buy a trailer early next year and I am wondering which ones i should be looking at. Right now I am thinking about the 13 foot Scamp. The only thing I am worried about is space. My wife and I will have 3 year old and a newborn next year, so this needs to fit our growing family. Is the 13 footer enough space? We are going with no bathroom in which ever we decide, but would a 16 footer be more practical? If we were to need a bigger trailer I was also thinking of the Parkliner, which setup seems real spacious. We are outdoor people and would cook mostly outside and have a dining fly up over a table to eat and hang out a lot. The trailer would be for naps, sleeping, hanging out some, and hanging in the rain. Does anyone gave experience in a similar situation? I know once our kids are bigger we can kick them out to a tent What have people found? Thanks, sorry for the long post.

[Jim Bennett]

Hi Nick, welcome.

For every camper there is a different solution, depending upon needs and desires. You will find lots of varying opinions from members here, much of it driven by there decisions and purchases.

With kids, I personally would think that a 13' would be too small, but some have done it. There are many people on here who use a 13' for one or two people. Once you get to 15', you have more options available.

Are you looking to buy new, or for a used trailer? Have you also considered Scamp and Escape?

You could always look for a decent used trailer and just give it a try for a year. You could gauge from it what you really do want and need, then resell it for near what you paid for it, and then look for what suits you better.

[Nancy]

Hi Nick,

My favorite fiberglass for a family who can do without a bathroom is the Scamp 16 foot layout #7. This assumes you have a tow vehicle that can handle a 16 foot Scamp. Also, there are very few #7 Scamps made. This would be very difficult to find used.

http://www.scamptrailers.com/showroo...-trailers.html

A Scamp 13 without a bath is used by families too, depends on your family.

Try to visit a gathering to see different units, however I doubt you will see layout #7.

Nancy

[Donna D.]

I know a family of four, two adult parents and 8 year old girl and 6 year old son and they LOVE their 13' Scamp. Now, their "love" might not be yours... but if all things were equal, you'd know your kids can grow into a 13 footer. I've got some links to cool mods for the front gaucho area for kids... if you decide a 13 footer is the way to go.

[nam11]

Donna,

I would love to see links, I think the 13 is perfect, but it will really be my wife's decision. I will be laying it on pretty thick this winter. I have been looking around this site for a while now and see that you reply a lot. Thanks for your help.

[Donna D.]

Nick these are my two favorites:
http://www.fiberglassrv.com/forums/f...ion-24663.html

This one is on Facebook, can you see it?
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?f...9709377&type=3

That's a start and might get your own idea juices flowing!

[Thinh]

...The more water-related equipments are there in a trailer, the more head-aches and prones to leakages, ans worst in particularly non-fiberglass trailer. Take a few trips to the park's bath facilities would beat the...head-ache. I have 2 kids, 11 and 12 years old and we...love our 13-foot Trillium. ...On top of nonstop going up price of fuel then spend a few weeks per year of camping, I would stick with the...Trillium 1300.

[Karen T]

For some families of four, the 13 footer would be perfect; for others, it would be uncomfortably, unbearably small. Only you know what will work for your family. We are a family of 6 and many, many people would say our current trailer is too small for a family that big. Keep in mind, however, there are a lot of years between newborn and when you can kick the kids out in their own tent. If you haven't already, I would suggest you try to find a 13 footer somewhere near you and take the whole family to spend some time sitting inside it. Then imagine it with the baby, too.

On a different note, having had trailers both with and without a bathroom, I will not again have a trailer without a bathroom with kids. It was great having our own, clean bathroom when the kids were potty training and I've been grateful for it when, for example, I have had a kid get sick in the middle of the night on a trip. And we have literally hosed down some very dirty kids a time or two on extended camping trips.

[Byron Kinnaman]

Take a look at the floor plans on the Scamp web site. Look closely at the difference between a 13' and 16'. Look for where the extra 3' is located. That should help make the decision.

For 2 of us the 13' is plenty big enough. The options available are about the same for either with out the toilet/shower.