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Old 09-19-2004, 07:11 PM   #4
G-V_Driver
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Join Date: May 2003
Location: Dallas
Posts: 249
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When you ask TM owners what they would recommend for a first time RV'er, most of us are probably going to recommend a TM of some kind. You would probably get the same advice from any owner group, i. e. they like their units and think you would be happy if you bought one. All will offer rationale to justify their choice.

In our case, we wanted a RV that we felt we owned, not one that we felt owned us. We didn't want the financial commitment, both in purchase price and operating, maintenance and storage costs (especially with today's fuel prices) that a motor home entails. I didn't want to drag a SUV around behind a RV when I already had a SUV I could use to drag a trailer. A motor home of any size was therefore eliminated from consideration.

We wanted a trailer that was easy to pull at the same highway speeds we would normally drive without a trailer, but without the inherent sway/control problems found in some. We wanted to achieve reasonable gas mileage while doing so. We wanted to be able to travel through the mountains at reasonable speeds, without burning up the transmission or overheating the TV (tow vehicle in our vernacular). We prefer SUV's to pickups for daily use. 5th wheels were therefore eliminated from consideration.

We wanted solid walls and a fully-functional bathroom, so that we can camp comfortably in most weather and in campgrounds where tents (or tenting) is not permitted. We did not want the problems associated with taking down a tent camper in wet weather. Conventional pop-up Campers were therefore eliminated.

We wanted simple and reliable systems; those that work most of the time and are easy to access and repair when they don't. We wanted construction quality and amenities that made camping fun rather than work.

This process of elimination limited the field to two manufacturers; the HI-LO and the TM. Each has its advantages, but we opted for the TM because it is much lighter and easier to tow and because it has a king-size bed (in our 3124KS.)

Without knowing your "living style" but based on the description of some of your potential trips, I think you might find one of the TM units with a bed on one end and a living room on the other very comfortable for you, the missus and the pooches. If you don't need the extra bed, there isn't much reason to have it other than that the 3023 is (I think) TM's most popular model and resale might be easier.

The reason we have the 3124 slide-out vs the 2720 slide-out is because of the king-size bed. We find the unit roomy and comfortable, and we don't own enough "stuff" to fill all the storage space. We have been camping for more than 30 years and I don't think we've ever thrown anything away, so you can figure out how much camping stuff we have accumulated. All the stuff we need to take fits in the unit with room to spare. Part of the reason is that the TM has features and conveniences that eliminated the need for some of the stuff we used to take.

There are trade-offs, no matter which unit you choose. A bigger bathroom and shower would be nice for me, but I'm a XXL. The air conditioners aren't the quietest. We enjoy camping in the mountains where they aren't needed. The furnace is also a bit noisy, but quite effective. We have learned that a small ceramic heater works as well, and much quieter. The Thetford recirculating toilet isn't what I would choose in a perfect world, but it works fine especially if you don't stay more than a few days or have a sewer hook-up. Adding central heat and air and a full sewer system would add so much weight and complexity to the units that we probably couldn't (or wouldn't want to) pull them. Go figure.

My advice is to read as much as you can tolerate on this site, including the old archived material. It's probably easier when you're all enthused about possibly buying one than if you're not. If you do, you will get a pretty good idea of the units "warts and all." Then you'll have a better idea about how this brand might fit into your needs and plans.

I also think you will be impressed by how well the units retain their residual value upon resale. They admittedly cost a bit more than some other units, but on a dollars-in-dollars-out anaysis they perform better than most.

Good luck.
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Wayne

2003 3124KS drug by 2001 1500 2WD Suburban
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