Tent Trailer?

[yardsale2]

Thanks for the responses. Due to $ and the fact that I don't have a truck right now (SUV), we pretty much have to go the pop-up route or just get a bigger tent.

Not necessarily. What about something like this? We have friends who love theirs.
http://www.rei.com/product/851638/sp...er=70576072960

[Danno]

Not necessarily. What about something like this? We have friends who love theirs.
http://www.rei.com/product/851638/sp...er=70576072960

I wouldn't want that as my sole camping option. You're restricted to places where your good tent spot is right next to where you can park the car.

[El Chupacabra]

Not necessarily. What about something like this? We have friends who love theirs.
http://www.rei.com/product/851638/sp...er=70576072960

I wouldn't want that as my sole camping option. You're restricted to places where your good tent spot is right next to where you can park the car.

What Danno said, and this sort of design comes with more drawbacks than simply using a big tent, which is cheaper to begin with:
- have to detach whenever you want to move the vehicle -- same drawback as a truck camper (break down to move it), same reason why trailers have an advantage for "base camp" camping. Set it up once, leave it, drive away for the day, etc...
- gaps between tent + vehicle = insects and rain get in.
- potential for paint damage on vehicle from tent rubbing on it

And the biggest -- why would you want to be able to crawl between your vehicle + tent anyway? Don't see the benefit.

If you have the space in your vehicle, get a big tent and a freestanding canopy for shade/rain. The EZ-Up ones are nice, but there are cheaper knockoffs too.
http://ezup.com/

[criscam]

What Danno said, and this sort of design comes with more drawbacks than simply using a big tent, which is cheaper to begin with:
- have to detach whenever you want to move the vehicle -- same drawback as a truck camper (break down to move it), same reason why trailers have an advantage for "base camp" camping. Set it up once, leave it, drive away for the day, etc...
- gaps between tent + vehicle = insects and rain get in.
- potential for paint damage on vehicle from tent rubbing on it

And the biggest -- why would you want to be able to crawl between your vehicle + tent anyway? Don't see the benefit.

If you have the space in your vehicle, get a big tent and a freestanding canopy for shade/rain. The EZ-Up ones are nice, but there are cheaper knockoffs too.
http://ezup.com/

I agree w/ both of you. that seems like the anti-tent trailer. I guess maybe good if a bear starts sniffing around in the middle of the night but...

[yardsale2]

I agree w/ both of you. that seems like the anti-tent trailer. I guess maybe good if a bear starts sniffing around in the middle of the night but...

Not my choice either but it works for some. We are opting for this. http://escapetrailer.com/trailers/the-17-foot-escape/ Sweet but a different price point from other options discussed.

[Danno]

Not my choice either but it works for some. We are opting for this. http://escapetrailer.com/trailers/the-17-foot-escape/ Sweet but a different price point from other options discussed.

so, that's a new entry into the Scamp/Casita world? Does it have advantages over those 2?

[uglymoney]

so, that's a new entry into the Scamp/Casita world? Does it have advantages over those 2?

X2

Looks much more luxurious than a Scamp for about 5k more?

[yardsale2]

I am no expert, but there are many Casita owners trading to get into these rigs. From my perspective as a skier the answer is yes. Unlike Scamps or Casitas, these units offer options which make them useful for cold weather use. You can purchase insulated windows, extra insulation over the trailer body, and have the bottom of the trailer coated with spray on foam insulation, thus keeping the gray, black and fresh water tanks inside the heated space. The tanks themselves can be set up with heaters. Also offer a 160 watt solar panel for charging 2 6v batteries for "boon docking". Comes, with heater of course. If shit happens and waterlines freeze, it might survive without breakage as the water lines are made with pex type plastic. Donno about the waste tanks although we will probably add some rv type anti freeze to at least lower the freezing point.

One option relevent here is to consider a used unit and retro fit it for winter. I think you could have double pane windows and spray foam insulation added after market.

[Danno]

Cool. A friend of mine winterized his 16' Scamp, put lots of insulation on the inside and under the floor. But I don't know about his windows and the tanks.

I used to own a 13' Scamp, I loved that thing, but it was too small for 2 adults, a small child, and 2 big dogs. A 16'er would still be tight, but doable.

[XXX-er]

http://www.fiberglassrv.com/
Boler was the most famous of those FG trailers, lots of those types out there used and cheap

[Olympus]

May be a bit literal but there is the jumping jack trailers here in SLC, UT. Set up is in seconds. Can load moto bikes/rafts/big gear on top for toy transport.

http://www.jumpingjacktrailers.com

[SWskier]

Wife and I just picked up this Jayco Baja off road pop up last night. I was hesitant, but she really wanted it as we are tired of waiting out monsoon storms in the cab of the truck.

Will be used for base camp style camping. The thing has more ground clearance than my truck, so should be great for the passes here in the San Juans.

[gnarlycharlie]

[MakersTeleMark]

Happy Campers are happy!

[criscam]

gnarly, that thing looks great for family of four bonding.
we ended up renting one this past fall one wknd to test drive. overall good experience. everyone slept well despite low 30's that night. the table was busted and that actually proved to be somewhat of a big inconvenience but got some money back. unfortunately I may have to decide on either a tent trailer or new mt bike this spring. pretty sure I know how that's gonna turn out.

[gnarlycharlie]

You can build a teardrop for reasonably cheap, if you do it right. I wanted a specific look and feel and opened my wallet to it. A mountain bike however does seem to take priority, I mean there's always a tent or hammock

[Danno]

I see the appeal of the teardrop, but if I'm going to be towing something, I expect more than just a comfy bed. I want a space to hang out, cook, etc.

[Name Redacted]

It does look nice, but my claustrophobia would not allow for such a small trailer. I can't even sleep in my topper anymore without the tailgate window cracked.

[Tye 1on]

gnarly, that thing looks great for family of four bonding.
we ended up renting one this past fall one wknd to test drive. overall good experience. everyone slept well despite low 30's that night. the table was busted and that actually proved to be somewhat of a big inconvenience but got some money back. unfortunately I may have to decide on either a tent trailer or new mt bike this spring. pretty sure I know how that's gonna turn out.

keep your eye out for a used one. Last fall i picked up a Coleman Taos, their smallest full-featured popup. Only 8' box, 14' overall, 1400# tow weight. Got it for $2k, so less than half the cost of your new bike...

[criscam]

keep your eye out for a used one. Last fall i picked up a Coleman Taos, their smallest full-featured popup. Only 8' box, 14' overall, 1400# tow weight. Got it for $2k, so less than half the cost of your new bike...

yea, the local classifieds has tons of used ones where I'm at. was def looking in that $2-2.5k range. I guess I could go slightly used on the bike....or not.

[iamchappy]

I purchased a coleman saratogo pop up About 4 years ago off craigslist for 200.00 from a must sell need to get rid of ad, lucked out nice clean camper with good canvas and new tires and bearings. Purchased blind without seeing it open. Got lucky. I replaced the furnace with a 40,000 btu one out of 5th wheel which I got cheap off Craiglist . I can make mine a sweat lodge. I use mine primarily for duck hunting in north dakota and love it. It has held up under some extreme winds rain and snow. It's worked great for me.