Hi, we are Lisa and Sam

[LisaO]

We are empty nesters in the Western NC area and ready for our first starter camper. Ready to travel the US. Hope this Forum will help us find a used 13' to 17' camper to fix up a bit, learn about camping and all the great places to travel and let us hit the road.

[Jon in AZ]

Welcome, Lisa and Sam!

There's a big difference in size, weight, and functionality between a 13' and a 17' molded fiberglass trailer. It might help to think about your minimum needs (must-haves and want-to-haves) as well as any constraints imposed by your size (some have limited headroom and/or smaller beds) and your intended tow vehicle.

They're light, but oft-repeated claims by sellers that "you can pull it with any vehicle"... well, that's advertising hyperbole. The thread "Trailer Weights in the Real World" in the General Chat section has actual loaded weight data for a variety of makes and models. Post #297 links to a downloadable spreadsheet.

Happy "egg"-hunting!

[MK Evenson]

LisaO, Welcome. Your hunt should be fruitful and fun, even before the camping starts.

Best to you both.

Mark

[Joyce H]

Hi Lisa & Sam, we live in western n.c. too. We have a 17' casita spirit deluxe we tow with a 2014 Toyota Sienna xle equipped w/electric brakes and airbags for shocks, maximum tow limit 3500 lbs. A very helpful tip we got was decide first on camper then buy your tow vehicle that fits tv tow limits staying under maximum. If you already have your tv (our case) then you'll need to buy camper under its tow limits. Good luck and happy trails.

[charlsara]

Hi from Charlie and Sara!