LoriAlexJason
Colorado
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Joined: 01/16/2012
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Hello all! We are currently in a small pop-up, but are thinking of purchasing a travel trailer - either 'regular' or 'hybrid'.
We like that the pop-ups beds do not take up any floor space, but are concerned about loss of storage with a slide out bed as opposed to the wardrobes that travel trailers have. Is this an issue?
We also like the security of a hard side travel trailer, but have seen information that looks like the tent ends on a hybrid are more secure than those on a pop up. If anyone can provide insight/advice, we'd appreciate it!
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skipnchar
Topeka or somewhere else
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Joined: 12/17/2003
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Storage certainly CAN be in issue but only you know how much room you need. As for the security issue, neither a pop up or a hybrid will prevent a determined person from entering the RV but give that person a hammer or a can opener and a hard side would have the same problem. Not sure why anyone might WANT to get into your trailer but there really isn't anything that CAN totally prevent it. Best practice is to not leave anything IN the trailer that you're all that concerned about.
Good luck / Skip
2011 F-150 HD Ecoboost 3.5 V6. 2550 payload, 17,100 GCVWR -
2004 F-150 HD (Traded after 80,000 towing miles)
2007 Rockwood 8314SS 34' travel trailer
US Govt survey shows three out of four people make up 75% of the total population
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Takeda Family
Ottawa ON
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Our floorplan hes lots of inside storage (Shamrock or Roo 23SS) and Jayco has a similar floorplan. You definitely can get a lot more trailer for the length in a hybrid but there is more set-up. You mentioned "slide-out beds" most hybrids have beds that actually flip up and down rather than slide-in and out so they take no space away from the interior when closed up. You really need to sit down in each and see which feels right to you, a hybrid will feel more open, but a regular trailer may feel more secure to you.
2011 Shamrock 23SS
2007 GMC Sierra 1500
Me '75
DH '78
DD '06
DS '08
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bikendan
Napa, Cal.
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Joined: 11/21/2005
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LoriAlexJason wrote:Hello all! We are currently in a small pop-up, but are thinking of purchasing a travel trailer - either 'regular' or 'hybrid'.
We like that the pop-ups beds do not take up any floor space, but are concerned about loss of storage with a slide out bed as opposed to the wardrobes that travel trailers have. Is this an issue?
We also like the security of a hard side travel trailer, but have seen information that looks like the tent ends on a hybrid are more secure than those on a pop up. If anyone can provide insight/advice, we'd appreciate it!
first, have you actually looked at a hybrid?
their beds don't slide out like popups do. they lower down like a truck's tailgate.
so the entire inside, appliances and storage are accessible even when the hybrid's beds are closed up.
not sure what you mean by a slideout bed and storage loss vs. travel trailer wardrobes.
do you have any particular models you're talking about?
as far as security, a hybrid is hard-sided therefore slightly more secure than a popup. but if someone wants to get into any RV, it's not that hard.
also, what are you planning on towing with, since a small popup doesn't need much to be able to tow it with?
Dan- Firefighter , Shawn- Musician/Entrepreneur , Zoe- Faithful Golden Retriever , 2007 Chevrolet Avalanche LS, 2007 Rockwood Roo 23SS w/Equalizer and Prodigy, and 5 Mtn. bikes and 2 Road bikes
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drenjoey
Gray, Maine
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Joined: 06/25/2008
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A closed HTT might be 23 feet, but once it's fully opened, it might get up to 29 feet in length. You would have to buy a 29 foot travel trailer to get the same spaciousness as an Hybrid.......and a lot of HTT (21' and up) have a super slide out which makes a big difference.
You also have to look at the vehicle you will be using to pull that trailer, and make sure it can do the job.
As for security, it doesn't matter what travel trailer you have. If they want to get in.......they will. Besides, a lot of TT and HTT have the same door key.
Hybrid or Travel trailer.............If you like the sound of nature and the fresh air when you go to sleep, then an Hybrid is what you want.
Dre
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UPGRADER
Jacksonville
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Joined: 08/24/2011
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After 20 years in tents and 12 years in a Coleman Sun Valley, we went to replace the 12 year old Coleman. Nothing on the market in PUPs could match the older model's design and features. After 2 months of looking/researching, we chose a 233S Roo. It has 3 queen size beds that flip out and an amazing amount of storage compared to the PUP. A bed for my wife, one for me, and the 3rd for guests/grandkids/the dog. Your tow vehicle is a determining factor. I knew VERY little about the towing of a larger camper and that has been the most difficult for me. I was driving down the highway with an Aspen 5.7 Hemi towing the popup at 75 mph without a problem. Towing the Roo at 60 mph is a totally different experience. Be aware of that major change in driving. Have fun...
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Triguy
SE Wisconsin
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Joined: 08/05/2010
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My reply is in bold
LoriAlexJason wrote:Hello all! We are currently in a small pop-up, but are thinking of purchasing a travel trailer - either 'regular' or 'hybrid'.
We like that the pop-ups beds do not take up any floor space, but are concerned about loss of storage with a slide out bed as opposed to the wardrobes that travel trailers have. Is this an issue? Our 233S has a tall closet, a short closet, numerous cabinets below the bunks and drawers but our family of five tends to leave our clothes in duffel bags at the foot of the beds.
We also like the security of a hard side travel trailer, but have seen information that looks like the tent ends on a hybrid are more secure than those on a pop up. If anyone can provide insight/advice, we'd appreciate it! As others have noted, the security of any trailer is a straw man and any half-way determined thief can get in. The bunks on ours have a bungee snap system but the newer Roo/Shamrocks, as well as the Jaycos IIRC, all have a snap-less bunk system that would technically be more secure (unless the thief has a box cutter).
2012 Shamrock 233S, P3, Equal-i-zer
2008 Toyota Sequoia 5.7L 4WD
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wmoses
Houston, Texas, USA
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LoriAlexJason wrote:Hello all! We are currently in a small pop-up, but are thinking of purchasing a travel trailer - either 'regular' or 'hybrid'.
...
We also like the security of a hard side travel trailer, but have seen information that looks like the tent ends on a hybrid are more secure than those on a pop up. If anyone can provide insight/advice, we'd appreciate it!
The tent ends on an HTT are no more secure than on a popup.
If you are secure enough with your popup then there is no difference in getting an HTT. Safety aside, if lying in your bunkend you hear deer or some unknown animal (or people ...?) inches from your head unnerves you then maybe you would feel more comfortable in a conventional travel trailer. 
The conventional travel trailers are a bit more secure, but as others have mentioned they can be entered by a determined individual. People who buy HTTs over conventional TTs do so for several reasons, two of the more important being more efficient use of space wrt the beds and the preference for sleeping under tentage where you can hear the rain pitter-pattering on the roof or the birds waking you in the morning. Of course you can also hear other less pleasant noises more than in a conventional TT, so it all depends on your preference and also on where you camp. Setup and tear-down is also faster with a conventional TT than an HTT, especially making the beds which takes far longer than deploying the bed and erecting the tentage. With a conventional TT you can leave the beds made up -- a huge advantage for the person making up the bed.
Have a look at some hybrids, factor in what you like / dislike about your popup and then decide.
Regards,
Wayne
2010 Jayco Jayfeather EX-Port 17Z | Tekonsha Prodigy P3 brake controller
2010 GMC Sierra 1500 SLE 5.3L Vortec V8 6-speed with Power Pack Plus Package | Hypertech Max Energy tune
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DammitJim
Florida
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Joined: 10/20/2011
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Since the OP hasn't specified the TV, I'll chime in as to why we picked an HTT and please delete my post if it's not relevant. We wanted to have something light but with enough room and an HTT has that feature over a full TT because as the OP mentioned, the tent ends do not take any floor space is this a run-on sentence?). A TT would be longer and possibly heavier. Ours doesn't have a slide out, but when the tent windows are opened and you are inside, it feels pretty roomy.
My 2 cents.
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bikendan
Napa, Cal.
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don't forget this; if you aren't in love with sleeping under canvas, don't buy a hybrid.
even if you want one because of the floorspace they have or the number of people it can sleep or that it feels so open.
many new hybrid owners end up selling theirs because they didn't account for the canvas. all they saw were the advantages of hybrids, without considering whether the canvas was a negative or not.
for us, we love sleeping under canvas and that was why we bought one.
we were willing to deal with the few negatives of canvas becuase we love that nighttime experience.
all the other advantages were just added toppings.
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