Bought our first travel trailer for family camp outs...

Alabamacoastie

Alabamacoastie

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My wife and I have been married and tent camping for 13 years. From the time our kids were about 6 months old, they've been sleeping in the same tent... And of course we had to take our two dogs with us each time.

As you can imagine, 13 years of sleeping on the ground is getting old... And the interior of our tent got smaller as our kids got bigger...

Also, I'm a big guy, and I've gotten to the point that I just cannot sleep outside without a fan or air-conditioner blowing directly on me.

So, yesterday, after more than a year of looking at travel trailers, we bought one.

We got a 2021 Heartland Pioneer BH270. It has double bunk beds, separate bedroom with queen bed, AC, heat, appliances; power jacks, awning, slide out, etc...

We signed the papers and picked it up yesterday morning. We took it home and loaded a few things, and then I pulled it straight to Jordan Lake Campground for the weekend.

It seems to be perfect for two adults, two kids, and two dogs... And, I don't have to walk to the public toilet to poop at 6am!

I slept so well, in the air conditioning, last night. I actually got a little chilly and had to get under the blanket. Haha!

Pioneer BH270

Constructed with a dependable and smart design, the Pioneer BH270 will take you anywhere. Find travel trailer specifications and more at Heartland RVs.
heartlandrvs.com

Resized952021080695112120.jpg
One of my kids refused to be in this pic...
 
Congrats! Spouse and I have been campers since the beginning. We graduated from tent to Pop-up 13 years ago. That was an enormous upgrade for us but, as we have aged (ahem!) the set up/take down has taken its' toll. We are actively looking to improve the experience.

We will be watching this thread to determine the cost/value.
 
Miss Lily said:
Congrats! Spouse and I have been campers since the beginning. We graduated from tent to Pop-up 13 years ago. That was an enormous upgrade for us but, as we have aged (ahem!) the set up/take down has taken its' toll. We are actively looking to improve the experience.

We will be watching this thread to determine the cost/value.
Click to expand...
I don't know how the cost/ value ratio is going to work out... Probably not too well in the long run. These campers seem to be money pits, and no matter how well you treat them, they always start to leak eventually...

I don't think I'll ever go back to a tent, but I'm sure we'll have to go through several trailers over the next 20 years.
 
Alabamacoastie said:
My wife and I have been married and tent camping for 13 years. From the time our kids were about 6 months old, they've been sleeping in the same tent... And of course we had to take our two dogs with us each time.

As you can imagine, 13 years of sleeping on the ground is getting old... And the interior of our tent got smaller as our kids got bigger...

Also, I'm a big guy, and I've gotten to the point that I just cannot sleep outside without a fan or air-conditioner blowing directly on me.

So, yesterday, after more than a year of looking at travel trailers, we bought one.

We got a 2021 Heartland Pioneer BH270. It has double bunk beds, separate bedroom with queen bed, AC, heat, appliances; power jacks, awning, slide out, etc...

We signed the papers and picked it up yesterday morning. We took it home and loaded a few things, and then I pulled it straight to Jordan Lake Campground for the weekend.

It seems to be perfect for two adults, two kids, and two dogs... And, I don't have to walk to the public toilet to poop at 6am!

I slept so well, in the air conditioning, last night. I actually got a little chilly and had to get under the blanket. Haha!

Pioneer BH270

Constructed with a dependable and smart design, the Pioneer BH270 will take you anywhere. Find travel trailer specifications and more at Heartland RVs.
heartlandrvs.com

View attachment 363699
One of my kids refused to be in this pic...
Click to expand...

I'm a pretty easy going guy, but I'm not going to let a salesman wrap his arm around my wife like that.

I mean, just look at him.
 
Alabamacoastie said:
These campers seem to be money pits, and no matter how well you treat them, they always start to leak eventually...
Click to expand...


Keep it covered and out of the sun. Dry it out as well as you can if it's ever out in the rain.
 
Miss Lily said:
Congrats! Spouse and I have been campers since the beginning. We graduated from tent to Pop-up 13 years ago. That was an enormous upgrade for us but, as we have aged (ahem!) the set up/take down has taken its' toll. We are actively looking to improve the experience.

We will be watching this thread to determine the cost/value.
Click to expand...

We owned our pop up for 10yrs and finally upgraded into a hybrid travel trailer last year. Still a little set up, but love being able to open the tenting on a beautiful night.
 
OldNascar said:
Since nobody else will say it, that’s one pretty little soon-to-be heartbreaker you have standing in front, congratulations.
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Thanks. That's my 9yo. She's going to be tall and skinny like her momma used to be. She's so pretty, but also extremely clumsy. She's learning to use those long arms and legs.

My 7yo will also be tall, but she's going to be more sturdy, like me. I would not be surprised if she ended up on a professional sports team one day.

They are both taking kung fu and doing a great job with sparring.
 
Diablos said:
We owned our pop up for 10yrs and finally upgraded into a hybrid travel trailer last year. Still a little set up, but love being able to open the tenting on a beautiful night.
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I would prefer a hybrid. There is much to be said about hearing the crickets while drifting to sleep, the songbirds at daybreak and feeling the wind. But alas, the spouse is for backing in, pushing a button to level, pushing a button to open the awning and completing the connections. His response to nature is, "open a window!" (from the guy who brought me to this to begin with).
 
Alabamacoastie said:
... but I'm sure we'll have to go through several trailers over the next 20 years.
Click to expand...
You have no idea...we went through 3 in five years until we really got into one that had everything she wanted...and now its parked on a year round site, "glamping"
 
congrats!

if this is your first towing adventure, couple of tire related recommendations. My experience is all with enclosed car haulers, but will equally apply here.

When storing your trailer get some tire covers to protect them from the sun If you don’t keep it inside or fully covered. sun degrades them almost as much as driving will.

Religiously check your tire pressures before each tow. Low pressure + speed is a very common cause of trailer flats.

And get yourself a trailer aid for the inevitable change if it didn’t come with something similar
 
Leave the black water tank closed until full. ( with 2 girls, that’s 35 mins. 😅)

Turd pyramids at 9pm are no fun.

Shut the gray tank before the last dishes are done. Use it to rinse sewer hose after dumping the black.
 
We’re in the just starting to think about it phase of camper ownership. Right now we have a pop up.

if I go full-size it’ll be either a gooseneck or fifth wheel camper.

As others have said keep them out of the sun. If you develop a leak they make super tape to put over the seams.
 
Mike79 said:
What tow rig and how much did that guide your decision?
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I have a new F250. And, I knew that I didn't want a 5th wheel. So, I figured we could get anything up to a 5th wheel.

We paid more attention to floor plan than trailer size. Both my girls love bunk beds. So we got "double" size bunk beds that they can grow into.

We almost got a smaller 25' trailer, but then we saw this layout with a separate bedroom for us. We really wanted the privacy.
 
BlackGun said:
Nice camper. By model # I assume its 27’ interior. I like the kitchen layout. Very functional. You’ll make great memories in it.
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Thank you!

I believe the interior is about 27'. After adding the tongue and bumper, it's about 33'.
 
Chdamn said:
We’re in the just starting to think about it phase of camper ownership. Right now we have a pop up.

if I go full-size it’ll be either a gooseneck or fifth wheel camper.

As others have said keep them out of the sun. If you develop a leak they make super tape to put over the seams.
Click to expand...

As far as folding money goes, it's a gargantuan waste of it, but it pays dividends.

The places you can go, the people you meet. It's a pretty good thing. But honestly, I'll probably end up dead in a drain tile if I keep getting drunk with complete strangers in these random locations.

Myrtle Beach state park towards the end of this month and Cane Creek in Waxhaw, NC next month. And if I get my crap together, I might be camping at Carolina Motorsports Park with @Stick Man in October. Something to do with motorcycles.
 
When my son was 18 months old, we bought a pop-up and kept it for 16 years. Camping defined our family, and we traveled from New York to Florida on some awesome trips. In 2018 we bought a travel trailer, third trip out we took it to Yellowstone for three weeks. In 2019 we spent three weeks in Louisiana and Texas. We loved it, we traveled well, and we all got along. Most importantly, we went on some very unique trips that would make most anyone envious, and they didn’t cost a whole lot, either. Unfortunately, my wife developed a progressive disability last year and we had to sell it.

I’d make two suggestions to a new owner. First, like others have said, it will leak within a couple of years if you don’t get it under a shelter, or buy a cover (mine did). Second, a good hitch makes a world of difference. If all you do is drive it to the lake for the weekend, maybe you can get by with a cheap one. I bought an Equalizer IV, $900 for my 5,000 pound, 26 foot trailer (21’ box). My dealer said I didn’t need it but I didn’t care. I didn’t want problems. My camper never swayed even in high winds, passing trucks, or going fast. The front of the Tundra didn’t rise more than a half inch and it braked straight and true. I pulled a 5,000 pound trailer up and down a 10,000 foot mountain in Montana with no problems. Don’t skimp on the hitch.
 
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kcult said:
And if I get my crap together, I might be camping at Carolina Motorsports Park with @Stick Man in October. Something to do with motorcycles.
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I'm 9 miles from CMPark, let me know if you need info on the area.
 
We purchased a 26’ camper in January and have really enjoyed it. In previous years we would camp in tents or in my brother in laws camper and decided to get our own when he was going to down size. The memories and family time over the last few months have been great. We go to popular point at Jordan lake at least once a month and took it to Ocracoke in June.
 
We've been trailer camping for 25 years and love it. However, the last year or so has become a challenge to find open sites. Used to be able to get into about any campground at any time but now it seems like you need to make reservations 3 months in advance.
Enjoy your trailer but more importantly, enjoy the time you get to spend with your family and the memories you'll make.
 
DaveInCLT said:
congrats!

if this is your first towing adventure, couple of tire related recommendations. My experience is all with enclosed car haulers, but will equally apply here.

When storing your trailer get some tire covers to protect them from the sun If you don’t keep it inside or fully covered. sun degrades them almost as much as driving will.

Religiously check your tire pressures before each tow. Low pressure + speed is a very common cause of trailer flats.

And get yourself a trailer aid for the inevitable change if it didn’t come with something similar
Click to expand...
The tires that come on new campers/trailers are usually cheap.Make sure you have two (not one) spares and check the load ratings on the tires.There may be a heavier load rating available in the same size.
 
confused said:
The tires that come on new campers/trailers are usually cheap.Make sure you have two (not one) spares and check the load ratings on the tires.There may be a heavier load rating available in the same size.
Click to expand...

Based on what I've been able to learn, there are no good tires anywhere and a lot of people are replacing tire every 3 to 5 years to get ahead of possible failures.
 
Congrats on the new camper! Lots of great advice from others in this thread. As someone with several decades of trailer towing experience, I’ll add a couple of things.

1, A weight distributing hitch really helps improve towing stability and safety. Draw-time and others make ones that you can add on to your trailer.

2. Factory camper tires are usually low quality and speed rated of 60 mph. That means that if you have a heavily loaded camper and you’re traveling down the interstate at 70mph your odds of a blow out are increased. If/when you replace the tires consider using light truck (LT) tires. They are much higher quality and typically last much longer. Always keep the tires at maximum recommended inflation, this too reduces the chances for a blow out.

What are you using for a generator?

Enjoy!
 
GoWolfpack said:
Based on what I've been able to learn, there are no good tires anywhere and a lot of people are replacing tire every 3 to 5 years to get ahead of possible failures.
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I agree with that.Especially if they sit more than they are used.I would check what came on it.May be a load range D.Same size tire may come in a load range E.
 
I_load_my_own said:
We've been trailer camping for 25 years and love it. However, the last year or so has become a challenge to find open sites. Used to be able to get into about any campground at any time but now it seems like you need to make reservations 3 months in advance.
Enjoy your trailer but more importantly, enjoy the time you get to spend with your family and the memories you'll make.
Click to expand...

absolutely crazy out here, camping close to home is all but impossible so we find ourselves going to the smaller out of state spots that are (hopefully) lesser known.
 
Scsmith42 said:
Congrats on the new camper! Lots of great advice from others in this thread. As someone with several decades of trailer towing experience, I’ll add a couple of things.

1, A weight distributing hitch really helps improve towing stability and safety. Draw-time and others make ones that you can add on to your trailer.

2. Factory camper tires are usually low quality and speed rated of 60 mph. That means that if you have a heavily loaded camper and you’re traveling down the interstate at 70mph your odds of a blow out are increased. If/when you replace the tires consider using light truck (LT) tires. They are much higher quality and typically last much longer. Always keep the tires at maximum recommended inflation, this too reduces the chances for a blow out.

What are you using for a generator?

Enjoy!
Click to expand...
I didn't even think of a generator. I guess I just thought we'd only camp at places with hook ups.

What generator would you recommend? I've never owned a generator before...

Is there a generator that's strong enough to power the AC, fridge, lights, TV, etc all at the same time AND it's priced right?
 
Alabamacoastie said:
I didn't even think of a generator. I guess I just thought we'd only camp at places with hook ups.

What generator would you recommend? I've never owned a generator before...

Is there a generator that's strong enough to power the AC, fridge, lights, TV, etc all at the same time AND it's priced right?
Click to expand...

run the fridge off propane, its much more efficient. as for running a/c off a generator, that gets pricey.
 
We had a great weekend at Poplar Point, at Jordan Lake. I'm getting ready to hook up, dump tanks, and pull it all the way home (8 miles).

Everything works, nothing broke, I haven't backed it into anything (yet)... And, my wife has already booked our next adventure at Brunswick Beach Campground at Sunset Beach in a couple of weeks...
 
Alabamacoastie said:
I didn't even think of a generator. I guess I just thought we'd only camp at places with hook ups.

What generator would you recommend? I've never owned a generator before...

Is there a generator that's strong enough to power the AC, fridge, lights, TV, etc all at the same time AND it's priced right?
Click to expand...
Presuming that you have a 30a, 120v “RV” style plug, a generator that puts out 3600 or more continuous watts should have adequate power for your needs

The Horror Freight 2000 watt Honda clones that let you gang two together should work for your needs and be a low price point. Your largest draw is the air conditioner at 1800 watts or so. Whatever you get I’d suggest something that is very quiet.
 
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