Movin on Up!

CAUTION - Long and Photo Intense Post!  

We have been running out of comfortable space in the Popup with the three girls growing so quickly.  It was at one time that we could have all three of them on the end bunk at once.  Now, two of them on the bunk and Madison on the converted dinette table each night.  Don't believe me? Check this out!!

From our first Camping trip -->

At Colonial Woods on our First Trip (Bella-Left, Ally-Center, Madie-Right)

Now,.. with their new cousin -->

No, that is not our baby.  (Ally-Left, Bella-Center, Madison-Right)

So towards the end of last season we checked out some of the Hybrid campers people were using to see the layouts and get some ideas.  We attended some RV shows to walk thru the new ones, and looked at weights and gathered brochures.  Now, mid summer, the topic arose again and I pulled out those brochures and began our homework.  (See our other post on the Hybrid Homework comparison)  One of the limitations to an upgrade is our Tow Vehicle. Our Toyota Sienna van has served us well but has a tow rating of 3500 lbs, which is good for the van, but that is pushing it.  When we are loaded and have the camper loaded too, that 2000 lbs with brakes is enough that the van is comfortable pulling but I don't think I would want to try pulling more and put more strain on the engine/transmission.

Fast forward to a few weeks ago, when we saw the new lines of campers coming out.  There was one that really peaked our interest for layout but weighs 4360lbs Dry, which for its size is a great light weight trailer.  With some of our friends being hurt this year on motorcycles, we haven't been riding much either, so we made the sad decision to sell our Nomad touring bike at the end of June.  This would allow us to look for a used truck as a new Tow Vehicle so we could upgrade to a larger camper late this year or early next spring.  After some searching and a few missed deals, we settled on a great truck, a 2004 Chevy Silverado Crew Cab 1500 4x4.  The truck is rated for 7500 lbs on the ball, or 8900 with weight distribution.  Using 3/4 of the rating for comfort, puts me about 5600 lbs which is right for a hybrid style camper that we have been looking for. The truck has 122,500 miles, but great shape for a 2004. 

Crew Cab Silverado

Roomy Front Seat.  Center seat folds open too for a center occupant.

Crazy Girls.  Roomy 60/40 Split rear bench seating

Lear Truck Cap and BedRug liner all around

 Fast forward again to this past Saturday when I took the whole family (wife and 3 daughters) to the camper shop with me when I was getting a brake controller and harness to install at home.  We also walked thru the lot and looked at the different Keystone Passport models.  There are two that have the 3 bed pop-outs and they have different interior layouts.  Stepping into the 217 it was very clear that was the right one.  By the time we were done walking around and I was done asking questions, the girls came in from the lot with a devious smile.  About an hour later after talking with a sales guy and getting an amazing trade in value for the popup,... we left with some thinking to do.

Front with dual propane tanks and slideout open

Rear End view.  Power awning on this side.

 It looks big, but it is 8' wide, 22' long, which is the same as our popup camper when it is open in our driveway.  The total length is about 32 feet when the front and back beds are opened out.  But, with the bed options, pending on the site configuration and trees we don't necessarily need to open all of them if we have a conflict.

After a few days conversing and thinking,.... although we weren't quite planning to yet, last night I ended up putting a deposit down on this 2016 Keystone Passport 217exp Hybrid.  Should be taking delivery on August 8th.  I went back to the camping center and crawled all around the camper, literally.  I was underneath it looking at the tanks, wiring, suspension, and then all inside looking at the storage, light size (want to save my LED's from the popup to reuse if I could), and amenities. Keystone did an amazing job with everything.  The caulk lines are clean and smooth all around the camper, inside and out.  The plumbing is PEX, with actual PVC drains and traps, which will be very nice.

Three bunks, all RV queen size.  Nice Flow down the middle, and a U-Shaped dinette.  The brochure shows this as a bench seating, but that's not what was delivered!  Also, the brochure shows a Pass Thru storage in the front, but there isn't any.  That would be nice, but it wasn't meant to be.  We do have storage in the rear that is accessible from the exterior.  The green box on the outside is where an outdoor grill is prepared to be mounted, including the gas line already being supplied there for it!  The Entertainment center is located just to the side of the refrigerator, with coat hooks below, making great use of this space adjacent to the slide out.  This is visible from the dinette, sofa, and front bed, making a nice entertainment space in the front of the camper.  The kitchen is very nice and there is clearance to walk passed to the rest room and back bunks.  Well thought out layout, functional, and more important,.. OURS!!

Kitchen Space

Bathroom Left, Back and Side bunks in the closed position

Bathroom Sink and Shower

Toilet with Foot Pedal Flush

Front Bunk and Convertible Couch (entry to right)

Slide out Dinette area --> U-Shaped!!

Radio, DVD, CD, TV on Swivel Mount, Excellent Use of Space

Larger Fridge with Freezer above!

So,.. we camp at Assateague the last week of July with our popup for the last time,... and then begin a new adventure for the rest of this season.  Should be exciting!

Hybrid Homework

Moving up from a Popup, to a Pop-Out, wasn't an easy decision.  There are many floor plans and options out there between multiple reputable manufacturers.  Of course, each brand seems to have their followers and also their own set of issues, but layout and function for us was most important.

Things we were looking for:

1. Three Bunks to allow flexibility.  Yes, the kids still have to pair up, but we have options and don't have to convert a dinnette or a couch each night.
2. Nice Flow to the floor plan
3. Accessible storage when closed
4. Bathroom
5. Air Conditioning
6. Outdoor Grill - we cook a lot on the outdoor grill on the popup

What we found, is that items 1, 4, and 5 are pretty standard when looking at the hybrid lines.  Many have very very similar layouts of these elements and relationship to one another.  However, some manufacturers seem to have done things cleanly, and some, hap-hazardly, when it comes to the layout and flow of the camper.  Let's look at some of what I am talking about.

Jayco:  Well known, well constructed, good line of campers.  The X18D fits our mission, but is tight, especially at the front door space.  Why come in at dinner time with the table setup right there?  Why have to crawl over the bench seating to get into the front bunk?   The TV center is centered on the camper, away from most of the seating and over the cooking area,... seems like an afterthought.  Look at photos on Google, you'll find it seems very cramped and tight.

The next model up, the X23F, added the slide out dinette space and moved the door to a more central location.  This is pretty nice.  No crawling over the front seating to get to the front bunk,... looks like a good contender.  Couch area on the right with window to observe outside.  Dining table would seat 4 easily, not so much our 5.

 Coachman/Fleetwood has a few good layouts as well, but some of those WTF were you thinking moments in it.

The 21 TQX has a crammed front end, and very little open feel to it.  Similar to the first Jayco above, you have to crawl over seating to get into the front bunk and the dining space is small.  The small counter/TV space divides the dining from the middle of the camper and is right behind someone at the kitchen, meaning you can't step passed one another.

The 22DSX model has a HUGE slide out side, opening up everything.  But, to provide that they stuff the TV into the corner and have this awkward step in the rear area to get to the back bunk.  This also doesn't have the third bunk option, so we would have to use the sofa each trip.

Finally, the 23 TQX is a mix of the two.  Has a very nice dinette,.. a U-Shaped one that we can all sit at.  Front pass thru storage that makes things accessible during transportation/towing and an open layout.  Still has that weird step in the back,.. I'm not picky,... see for yourself, it's an after thought.

Click to see larger too.

 So,... what does this get us to.  We now know that we like to have the open floor plan that a slide out can provide.  We need the three bunk models for the sleeping arrangement flexibility and options for the future for the kids to have someone with us or a family member join us.  The U-shaped dining table gives us a lot better seating arrangement.  Many of these models could be equipped with an add-on outdoor grill, but were not always including a gas line so we would have to run a new one.

That took us to the Keystone Passport line.  Ironically, by chance, it was almost overlooked based on the brochure and layout shown there.  See our next post for a tour of the new camper!