ExpoMike
Well-known member
dieselcruiserhead said:The reality is those trailers just do not last, fall apart, and break in a lot of rough road conditions. Kurt Williams and I have removed at least two or three trailers that ahve exploded in even light roguh road conditions because people were taking them (admittedly in older or decrepid condition, and mostly "actual campers") but they are made of the same material and they have the same approach in the build, which is very very light duty.
So my $.02 is see if you can convince her strictly on the heavy duty factor. You can buy a regular trailer but with even light off road use you will be constantly repairing it and some aspects (like the fiberglass or aluminum skin, the corner pieces, adn the chincy fiberboard) will tear and never be repairable...
Are you refering to a Kamparoo or Kimberly or are you refering to a Coleman or Fleetwood? I would agree with the Coleman, Fleetwoods and the likes but not Kamparoo's or Kimberly's. Those two are built for the Outback and are well built for offroad use. They are not like a standard popup.
I agree the AT trailers are built like a tank but if your truly look at them, they are cargo trailers that you add a RTT, water tank, and such. Not a bad way to go but without all the options, it is a cargo trailer, not a camping trailer.
We just took our Kamparoo across the Mojave Road with a single issue and Trail Monkey took their new AT Horizon. Very nice rig but they did make the comment that getting out of the RTT and down the ladder took a little effort and you really had to think about what you are doing so you don't fall. He commented on how it was nice we just step out of our Kamparoo.
Biggest shortcoming of the Kamparoo is that there is not a lot of larger item storage. Tons of room under the bed and in floor storage but if it's taller then 8" it's not going to fit in the trailer. This is where the AT trailers really shine.
YMMV