What kind of TravelTrailers is/are everyone towing...

[boze_man]

Hey all

Been looking for a lite-weight TT for summer camping/boondocking. We have done the off road pop-up route and we like them but the wife wants something more hard-sided...esp with all those man-eating bears out there....LOL

Came across a local basket case '04 trail-lite (r-vision) bantam flier 17' (rocky mtn ed). It is a hybrid I know but the wife is OK with that as long as I sleep in the bunk..hehe. The rocky mtn ed has oversized tires, higher ground clearence, some insulation and extra water capacity. It is also low enuf that I could fit it in our larger garage bay, just barely...may have to air down a little. It has been "well-used" by a local family. It is dry and appears to be leak free but it does need some TLC. Not sure what works, and i thought i would just low-ball an AS-IS offer. If i got it cheap enuf i would clean it up/fix it up and maybe try to change the layout alittle so as to not always need the pop out bunk....just an idea.
2450lbs total/300lbs hitch and can carry another 1500lbs...single axle with 15's.

Other choice which i havent seen yet is a '04 funfinder 16'... looks pretty clean...i like the layout...dinette queen bed and 2 bunks....only thing is they asking 6500$...price seems pretty high...and dont think i can fit in garage...too tall. 2500lbs total/170lbs hitch...can carry another 1100lbs. single axle with 14's mounted but not sure on tire size also not sure of the clearance. Standard TT.

Any comments on these units?
Any other units to look out for? keep search under 19'? under 3500lbs?
Any recomendations?

I am not looking to tow to the max...I would like something basic, light(er), inexpensive, higher clearence etc...basically something to sleep in with a toilet.

We towed an offroad starcraft 14rt pop up with the front deck all over creation 2 summers ago...was pretty loaded with gear, bikes, water, etc. with 2kids /2adults/food/gear etc in 100.... the 100 had airbags, billys, e-brake etc....it towed the trailer nice but it still was a heavy load maybe 4500-5000lbs?...i would like to be a little lighter and smaller if possible.

Thanks for the advice
Bill

 

[petrotk40]

Trailer Tech

 

[boze_man]

Thanks...forgot bout trailer tech...just posted there as well...

 

[petrotk40]

No worries man, some pretty cool trailers over there

 

[boze_man]

Other choice which i havent seen yet is a '04 funfinder 16'... looks pretty clean...i like the layout...dinette queen bed and 2 bunks....only thing is they asking 6500$...price seems pretty high...and dont think i can fit in garage...too tall. 2500lbs total/170lbs hitch...can carry another 1100lbs. single axle with 14's mounted but not sure on tire size also not sure of the clearance. Standard TT.

well that one sold w/in 24hrs for $6500....yikes.

 

[EdsCruisin]

This is probably bigger than you are looking for, but I tow a 23' Jay Feather. It is really about 26' and weighs in over 5,000 lb. Tows nice, has a bathroom, slide out living room sofabed and fold out tent bunks at each end, effectively hitting about 28-30' open. Very comfortable for a family of 5 and lots of gear.

Definitely not for off road at all. In fact if you get one, go for the lift kit too. I have not done that yet and it rides very close to the ground. I have air bags on the 100 and I put most of the bikes on the roof of the 100 too.

Once you get to where ever your going, it is a very comfortable way to stay. Good luck.

 

[jsuthey]

I have an 06 Starcraft 14rt,towed it all over with my old 80 and Now towing it with my 98 T100.These trailers are very heavy! I am looking forward to towing it with our 04 100,but it currently has no brake controller and is totally stock.
I would think with the 100 it would tow anywhere easy enough.But they are heavy and a bit of work to get all set up.We still have little kids 7 and 11,but with all everyone's stuff it's alot to tow.
Good luck with your search for a hard shell trailer,they seem to be lighter than some of the off road tent trailers.So maybe they will be easy to tow.Please post up pics.of what you you are looking at when you get a chance.

 

[boze_man]

I have an 06 Starcraft 14rt,towed it all over with my old 80 and Now towing it with my 98 T100.These trailers are very heavy! I am looking forward to towing it with our 04 100,but it currently has no brake controller and is totally stock.
I would think with the 100 it would tow anywhere easy enough.But they are heavy and a bit of work to get all set up.We still have little kids 7 and 11,but with all everyone's stuff it's alot to tow.
Good luck with your search for a hard shell trailer,they seem to be lighter than some of the off road tent trailers.So maybe they will be easy to tow.Please post up pics.of what you you are looking at when you get a chance.

yeah know the starcraft 14rt very well!!!...towed it all over the west 2 summers ago...worked great and the 100 towed it well but loaded it did seem a bit on the heavy side....plus our motto was 'setting up camp, taking down camp'...

waiting to hear back from the owner of the bantam flier...

I did come across a 16 scamp camper...and the dealers have the new MPG, RPOD trailers that look like all the rage.... Not sure of build quality on those? think they have a torsion axle which i hear good and bad about offroad usage and washboards....and they are a new item so prob cant get used and cheap.

gonna look at a couple old school 60s 70s TT that a guy has on his lot down the road for cheap. if frame/axle good then maybe do some inside tlc...

 

[NMuzj100]

I've been looking for the right Chalet.

Hardsided pop-up. They claim it sets up in thirty seconds.

 

[gearguywb]

The Casita's get a lot of praise from owners. Full one piece fiberglass shess, easy to lift and stuff bigger tires under them. Come in 17, 16 and 13 ft models.

 

[Newps]

I just picked up a new trailer to tow behind the 80 and 100. It is a Carson Trailer enclosed with a rear ramp and side door, about 1,200 lbs. empty. It will fit 4 motorcycles, two quads or one side by side and maybe a motorcycle. Inside there is room for two queen side air mattress and room for your gear. Inside the box it’s 6 ½ feet wide by 10 ½ long. I really wanted a 16 to 18 foot Carson Fun Runner enclosed toy hauler. The reason I did not go that route was do to side, weight and cost. I could not park it at my house (more $ for storage) and IMOP a little to heavy to be pulled with the 100 up grades. The one I purchase can be pulled by the 80 if I am going light and the 100 can pull loaded to the gills with no problems. For me this seems to be the best compromise.

 

[WindyWY]

I have a 17 ft HI-LO that is going to Alaska this summer behind my 99 Hundy. It tows great but is only comfortable for 2 people. It now has 14in tires but will get a spring over and larger tires when I get back. One button 15 sec. up or down. Google their web site. WindyWY.

 

[farinvail]

Fleetwood Evolution E1

 

[boze_man]

I just picked up a new trailer to tow behind the 80 and 100. It is a Carson Trailer enclosed with a rear ramp and side door, about 1,200 lbs. empty. It will fit 4 motorcycles, two quads or one side by side and maybe a motorcycle. Inside there is room for two queen side air mattress and room for your gear. Inside the box it’s 6 ½ feet wide by 10 ½ long. I really wanted a 16 to 18 foot Carson Fun Runner enclosed toy hauler. The reason I did not go that route was do to side, weight and cost. I could not park it at my house (more $ for storage) and IMOP a little to heavy to be pulled with the 100 up grades. The one I purchase can be pulled by the 80 if I am going light and the 100 can pull loaded to the gills with no problems. For me this seems to be the best compromise.

that seems pretty lightweight...how much does it weigh? also does it come in larger sizes?

 

[mpho]

Fleetwood E1...I have taken it a lot of great places!

 

[boze_man]

I have a 17 ft HI-LO that is going to Alaska this summer behind my 99 Hundy. It tows great but is only comfortable for 2 people. It now has 14in tires but will get a spring over and larger tires when I get back. One button 15 sec. up or down. Google their web site. WindyWY.

the hilo is the hard side that drops down to half height? will google it...had a real old one local that seemed cool.

 

[boze_man]

are you guys towing the fleetwood E1's using equalizer hitch and sway bars?

 

[boze_man]

The Casita's get a lot of praise from owners. Full one piece fiberglass shess, easy to lift and stuff bigger tires under them. Come in 17, 16 and 13 ft models.

was looking at those and the scamps...not sure how the fiberglass holds up on an offroad application...

one thing that was mentioned a few times was the old UHAul campers which are supposedly indestructable...reall heavy duty double fiberglass shell i believe.

 

[boze_man]

I've been looking for the right Chalet.

Hardsided pop-up. They claim it sets up in thirty seconds.

def like the chalets but think they more for 2 people

 

[jonharis]

Get an airstream. Everything else road oriented is crap. Look at the article in Overland and tell me they aren't good for mild off road