RE: Daddy says we re hybrid shopping...

[startx]

 
Brian and I have been looking at hybrids with longing for a while.  This past weekend, as we packed and packed in the rain, and slogged around in the mud, Brian asked when the Dallas camping show is.  I told him this month or next why?  He wants to seriously shop the hybrids, course we know which one we want, so maybe we can get a good deal.  He even is entertaining the idea of hardside completely, but I told him we would be hard pressed to find one with enough comfortable sleeping space for our whole herd, especially since I have issues with breaking down a dinette or a sofa every night, and putting it back up in the morning.
 
 I even reminded him I promised no new camper purchase until he got the boat he has always wanted, to which he replied the boat could wait, he wants to get into a camper that doesn t require quite as much work, and we wouldn t have to crank up and down to stock, clean etc.

[Gone-Camping]

 startx
So you gonna clue us in on which one you want? Off hand I d say " Daddy"  is a pretty smart feller!!! []

[startx]

 startx
We want a Starcraft 21SB Travelstar or the 215 SB in Antigua model.  I can t really see the difference in the two other than some aesthetic features, and probably the price tag.  I haven t seen any other brand have the three bed option, and we really need that many beds for our herd of kids, especially with one being a teen who thinks he needs his own space.

[PopUpTrio]

 startx
Congrats Startx!  Check out the Tahoe also, one of their models has 3 popouts.  You will really notice a difference in the ease of setup/takedown and it s so much easier to keep things in the camper at all times.  The 2 door refrigerator is wonderful.  It is great to be able to stop during a trip to go into the camper and use the restroom, get cold drinks and a snack and then back on the road.  We haven t regretted our decision to get our hybrid for a moment.  And we really did like our popup.  The Dallas Supershow is a great place to see the models.  That is where we decided to start hybrid shopping last yr.

[startx]

 startx
Yeck, the board just got the hiccups, and wiped out my reply.
 
 Here it is in a nutshell.  Thanks for the suggestion, I looked up the Thor brands, and they have three beds, but two of them stick out the sides, making it a requirement that we have a VERY wide campsite.  We can t always get that, especially since we also like shade.
 
 I m also too picky, because I won t climb over a dinette or sofa to get into bed.  I ve been camping a while, and I have things I don t like, that are probably silly to everybody else, but important to me.
 
 I m looking forward to maybe some of the other manufacturers picking up on the three bed idea on the hybrids for the 2004 models and enlarging my choices.
 
 We ve looked at the bunk bed models, but the bunkbeds are too small for our kids.

[PopUpTrio]

 startx
No such thing as too picky when you re spending that kinda $$.  Hope you guys find the perfect one!  Tell Brian to remember the difference a hybrid makes over a regular TT in that the beds don t take up living space.  For us, we liked the u-dinette but each one of us has different likes/dislikes, thus so many floorplans.  It s nice we have a choice.

[startx]

 startx
I hadn t even thought of the fact that the beds in a TT take up the living space, I have to use that one, thanks!
 
 I think I also want to keep the open feeling of the popup bunkends.  Is there really anything better than heading into the popup/hybrid for an afternoon nap, on a gorgeous fall day when you can leave all the windows unzipped, and a gentle breeze drifts across you while you sleep?  Or for that matter doing the same thing at night?  I think in a TT with sleeping in the enclosed area I wouldn t enjoy that as much.  I m also claustophobic sometimes, and I know in the popup bed, I can just unzip a window and not feel closed in.

[campingboaters]

 startx
I have to say that I think our hybrid was THE best purchase we could have made.  I don t think I would appreciate it as much as I do had we not had a pop-up first.  I LOVE the open feeling we have with the beds out the front and the back.  I wish we had more yard space to get a larger model with a slide-out, but we ll certainly make do with our hybrid for quite some time.  I ve got everything exactly how I like it at this point (with storage inside) and I have NO desire to start that whole process over again.
 
 Good luck with your future purchase.  Now is the time for all the RV shows so get and look at all the different brand/models to find the things you like or don t like.  It made a world of difference for us!

[fivegonefishing]

 startx
Best choice we ever made, that s for sure.  Buying our hybrid was a lot like house hunting; there will be one that just feels right!  My only comment is slide out, having a slide out gives so much more floor space.

[6Quigs]

 startx
Hi Barbara,
 We ll be very interested to find out what you buy, as we have recently started to look at Hybrids also.
 Having 4 children also makes it a challenge, as to the sleeping arangements, and who will sleep where.
 We have a 10 yo Daughter, and 3 boys, 7,4 and 3, and the daughter is starting to complain about sleeping with the boys.
 I agree with you on not having to break down the dinette every night, as it s nice as the kids wake up, and can serve themselves breakfast at the table before we get up.
 I also agree on not being impressed with the Thor s three bunks, as one of the side bunks eats into the outdoor living space, and takes up almost half of the space under the awning!!. I prefere the Starcraft 21SB one better, with the bunk out the end, and the other out the back side. However, again DD objects to sharing a bed with a boy, so she would end up on the sofa in a sleeping bag.
 
 Our current favorite is the Palomino Stampede 235-SL, same as Tammy s with the 3 bunks for the boys, and the sofa in the slide out for DD.
 We prefere the U-shaped dinette over the 235SDSL for 2 reasons.
 1st, all 6 of us can fit around the dinette for a meal,
 2nd DW and the kids like stepping on a dinette to get in and out of the end bunk as the current climb in our Coleman is a bit high. I even hate having to crawl over DW when she is asleep, and then having the big drop to the floor.
 Funny how different people have different priorities.
 The Thor lineup have a similar floorplan to the Stampede, but it weighs 1,000 lbs more, for virtually the exact same floorplan, and length.
 
 Another one in the running was the 25QT TT by four Winds Express.
 http://www.4winds-rv.com/  as it had 4 bunks in the rear, and the tent at the front, but at 4,600 lbs dry weight was a bit too heavy for the Safari.
 
 Unfortunately for us, the Thor dealer is the only one close to us.
 Both the Starcraft and Palomino dealers are over 2 hours away, but we will be passing them in 2 weeks on our next camping trip, so will be stopping by on the way to the campground.
 
 Good luck in your search, and let us know how you get on.

[SactoCampers]

 startx
Kev,
 
 Remember to call and make sure the Palomino dealer has that model in stock before you trek over there.
 
 You may also want to look at the Sun Valley trailers.
 
 http://www.sunvalleyinc.com/floorplans/xtreme/xt210.htm
 
 I only bring it up because it has quad bunks and is fairly light (3100 lbs dry). There s supposed to be a dealer in Richmond. But:
 
 1.) It s not a hybrid, it s a hard-side
 2.) You must convert the dinette into a bed
 3.) That dinette bed is only a double, I believe
 4.) Your family will never fit at the dinette table
 5.) No slideout
 
 So if you go with the Palomino or the Sun Valley, with your family you ll be looking at a new tow vehicle too. You may be within specs with your Safari, but my instinct is you won t like the performance. I m thinking something like Larry s Suburban. But with a 31-gallon tank and gas around $2.20 you re looking at ~$60.00 a fill up!
 
 The Sun Valley wouldn t be my first choice if I were you, especially after having talked to your DW about it at the HH rally. Actually, it only weighs a couple hundred pounds less than the Palomino you re looking at, so scratch it. Palomino has some great floorplans and light weights. My favorite hybrid right now is the Palomino Stampede 21SL...but I got nothing to tow it with, nor any money to buy it! I also like the Stampede 17 because it has a dry bath and door in the center.

[6Quigs]

 SactoCampers
Thanks for the info Sacto.
 
 I just found another RV maker with triple slide outs/ fold downs or whatever the hybrid people call them. (Bunks is too confusing, as to me, that is beds stacked on on another).
 Anyway KZ inc. make the Coyote Hybrid
 http://www.kz-rv.com/coyote/coyote_index.php
 Both the 22CT and 23CT have tripple slide outs, and the 22CT has a dry weight of 2,912 lbs.
 
 They have one with the triple bunks(stacked) like the Stampede 235 sl,
 and they have a dealer in Acampo, which is on Highway 99 on the way to Sacramento, so looks like we now have 3 stops on our way to Lake Tahoe in 2 weeks.

[fivegonefishing]

 startx
I don t know if you guys remember kiwi crazy; well he was looking at the 4 bunk Coyote at the last show and would have bought it if it had a slide out!  He loves his kiwi but wants the kids to have their own sleeping space without using living space.
 
 In our unit, we have yet to eat inside, we use the dinette table outside beside the stove.  A picnic table fits very nice under the awning.  We do bring the dinette table in to play cards and games.

[startx]

 startx
It is funny how different people like different things.  I hate to climb over anything to get into bed, but I m also 5 7"  so a little taller than the average female.  The bunk in the flagstaff doesn t bother me, for getting in there is the little step.  Sometimes getting out is a little cumbersome, but we make it.  I do worry that the 18 month old will take a nose dive off of it at times though.
 
 At the RV show we are going to look at models with bunk beds again, but my concern is the size of the bunks.  The teenager refuses to sleep with anybody if at all possible, so I think he should sleep in a bunk if we get one with bunk beds.  However, I haven t yet done weight research on how much they hold, and looking at them, they are very narrow, and he s a BIG boy.  The 10 year old is no featherweight either, and I don t want to buy something and have one complaining about the bed now, and one starting to complain in a year or so.
 
 I also have to consider things based on what time people get up in the mornings.  The middle children get up within an hour or so of Brian and I.  The baby usually either gets us up, or else she gets up within a few minutes of us.  The teenager would sleep until noon, nap from 2-5, and then go to bed again at 10 if we let him.
 
 We just seriously have some shopping to do!

[fivegonefishing]

 startx
Our bunk beds are rated for 150 lbs.