Hybrid Travel Trailer Base

[Kosmo]

Hi:

I have been searching for a few weeks on Expedition Portal for information regarding a good base travel trailer for me and my family.

Who: Family of four. Two adults, two kids, age 4 and 5. 440-500 lbs (two year trip)
What: Two-three year American expedition trip. As much off the beaten path as possible, but dont plan to take trailer through the Rubicon trail
When: Starting fall 2015
Where: Canada, in fall, down into warmer country, Utah, Baja, Arizona, counter clockwise with seasons
Why: N/A
How: Long term travel, home school, living in Travel trailer.

The idea is that we need a travel trailer to make this work long term. Our tow vehicle is a 2007 Jeep GC CRD with basic mods. 3" lift, 32" A/T tires, GDE tune

Wa have explored many ideas, but a hybrid seems the best option. A little lighter, but still the fold out space so we can make this work long term. Kids will need schooling, and we will be working as we go. Limited calls, emails, online meetings, etc.

In terms of manoeuvrability, durability, and all around usefulness, I am looking for something along the lines of the Adak Outpost.
http://expeditionportal.com/the-adak-outpost/
I can add skid plates, heavier axle, lift, larger rims tires etc, but I am looking for your opinions, ideas, help on what is a good starting trailer.

I have seen people suggest Airstream, but I don't think that is right; however we are open. Hybrid would give us more space to weight. Jayco, Evergreen RV, Starcraft, Kodiak? Any specific years? Obviously nothing with wood frame walls; however still trying to find what is best base to start modifying.

AS JC Matthews said in : http://www.expeditionportal.com/for...latform/page2?highlight=hybrid+travel+trailer
We had a 2011 Trail Lite 180T Hybrid Trailer, "Also 5 miles on the rough road to camp, and when we got there the bathroom door was on the floor"

This is very helpful.

I have looked, but most trailer son here are small expedition RTT type trailers, which will not work for us. Pointing to threads I have not found yet would be greatly appreciated.

Many thanks

Kosmo

 

[dah]

Following this post!

I am looking for a Hybrid along the same lines. Already made though. No skills.

I found it, but it is in Australia and no similar in Canada (or USA) that I can see -> http://www.jayco.com.au/range/expanda/pop-top/

If you find any similar in your travels let me know!

Seems like the North America market is missing a lot compared to the Australian market as my searches keep sending me there.

Regards,
Dah

 

[AndrewDM]

Look at these. The Canyon, Alpine, and Compass are some of the nicest live in trailers I have found that are off road capable.

-Andy

 

[Kosmo]

One vote against the Roo.

Thanks Andy, dah:

I also received this reply in regards to the Rockwood Roo/Shamrock. I had posted a question on a similar thread.

http://www.expeditionportal.com/forum/threads/112275-travel-trailer

We had a 2006 Rockwood Roo 23SS for 5 years. Enjoyed it quite a bit. No problem keeping the interior cool with bunk ends deployed during summer and the heated mattresses did a good job in the early spring and late fall trips. Our main headache was trying to keep wind driven rain from working its way through the front bunk hatch seal while driving. It went back to the dealer twice to be resealed and never got the problem totally corrected. Fit and finish was typical RV construction. Not sure I would want to take it down any kind of gravel or rough road. Had enough trouble keeping screws and staples from vibrating out on paved roads and the black and gray drain valves hung really low.
***************

Maybe this is why it is so hard to find any mention of this type of trailer on Expedition Portal, other than the Adak Outpost.

 

[Kosmo]

Hybrid Options: Jayco,

Andy:

The VMI Trailers do look interesting top notch stuff, but still small and expensive fast. It is nice to see some of the outback spirit showing up in North America. I know there are other companies as well, but the following three are probably the three main ones that jump to my mind and a lot better than importing trailers from South Africa via Australia as people have done in the past.

Adak: http://expeditionportal.com/the-adak-outpost/ $55k + Way up.
VMI Extender Compass: http://www.vmioffroad.com/ $45k
Moby 1 XTR: http://moby1trailers.com/moby1-xtr/ $19k RTT No toilet.

Still for our purposes, we are looking at something a little larger, that may have started out as a more traditional travel trailer, and then can be modified to fit our more off-pavement needs.

Possibilities:

Jayco Jay feather Hybrid X254, X23U

Rockwood Roo 23 IKSS

Ascend C193BH (Not a hybrid, but seems strong wall construction) http://www.goevergreenrv.com/page/374/C193BH

Starcraft Travel star expandable: http://www.starcraftrv.com/light-weight/travel-star-expandable/floorplans/239tbs/#floorplan-main
Same company as Jayco, but Jayco does not mention the vacuum bonded laminate walls specifically for their model.

Basically it will likely be a trailer that has the strongest overall shell construction. Some sort of composite vacuum laminated, or pinch dry laminate wall, ceiling and floor structure. Some seem to have aluminum welded structure, and then laminate inserts?

Thoughts, experiences?

 

[Kosmo]

I am looking for a Hybrid along the same lines. Already made though. No skills.

I found it, but it is in Australia and no similar in Canada (or USA) that I can see -> http://www.jayco.com.au/range/expanda/pop-top/


Regards,
Dah

Yeah that is a pretty nice solution. Even a cleaner, nicer finish in my opinion. Seems North American RV companies are still marketing to the 70s with their baby ******** brown colour schemes on everything. I did see one similar thing here in North America, but sadly they keep it at only 6'1" clearance, and I am unsure of its off-road potential.

http://trailmanor.com/wordpress/

Thoughts?

 

[dah]

Options

Yeah that is a pretty nice solution. Even a cleaner, nicer finish in my opinion. Seems North American RV companies are still marketing to the 70s with their baby ******** brown colour schemes on everything. I did see one similar thing here in North America, but sadly they keep it at only 6'1" clearance, and I am unsure of its off-road potential.

http://trailmanor.com/wordpress/

Thoughts?

I think the website says 6'4" head clearance in the Trailmanor.

My thoughts, The Starcraft Hybrid (http://www.starcraftrv.com/light-weight/travel-star-expandable/floorplans/187tb/#floorplan-main for me) with the 'Extreme' package is the closest I can see to the Australian Jayco.

5” extra ground clearance
15” off-road mud tires
Double entrance step
Enclosed underbelly
Extreme logo
Flex foil insulation in floor and roof
Front diamond plate - black

If Jayco made a 'baja' version of its larger Hybrids I would look at that.

If the Livin Lite all aluminium hybrid looks pretty decent (spec wise, not great looking) but the website is crap so can't really tell Version CL16DB -> http://www.livinlite.com/camplite-floorplans.php

I'd get the Moby if wife and no kids -> http://moby1trailers.com/

And I would get the Somerset Pop Top if wife did not want to come (needs a shower) and had kids -> http://somersetrv.com/campers/E3

 

[Waygoner]

Since you're Canadian you might consider an Alto
http://www.safaricondo.com/en/caravanes

 

[Kosmo]

Kodiak 214

Went with the Kodiak 214.

Easy enough to haul long distance, big enough to spend some time in, and a good start.

 

[SGNellett]

Have you considered going the other way, towing the GC behind a motorhome of some sort? Maybe a B or C class? Might be the better way to go as far as room and still have the GC to go exploring in and return to the comforts of your road home at night?

 

[Kosmo]

Hi:

Yes, it was part of the early stage thought process, and by process of elimination, it was eliminated. As much as the comfort of a larger bus would give, a lot of the US parks and boondocking sites etc have a cutoff in the 24'-28' range. Also my litmus test is to be able to get the rig onto some wilder, rougher terrain, and still be able to get off. Worst comes to worst, I can always winch the trailer off with the Jeep. I don't think I will be able to winch a motorhome anywhere with the Jeep.

 

[OCD Overland]

Interesting how many of the companies mentioned originally in this thread have gone belly up.

 

[20DYNAMITE07]

Have you looked at VMI trailers? They have a few hybrid models. I've added some links below from smallest to largest. I don't have one myself, but they had a nice write up on the Adventure Portal site and they look pretty impressive...http://www.theadventureportal.com/off-road-trailer-buyers-guide-2015-2016/#prettyPhoto

$25K, 2000LBS
http://www.vmioffroad.com/products/...ers/xtender-adventure-offroad-trailers-3.html

$35K, 3000LBS
http://www.vmioffroad.com/products/xtender-adventure-offroad-trailers/xtender-alpine.html

$65K, 4500LBS
http://www.vmioffroad.com/products/xtender-adventure-offroad-trailers/xtender-compass.html

 

[Silverback07]

How about Camplite? A friend has one and its very nice.. all aluminum construction.. very well made, lots of floorplan options.

https://www.livinlite.com/

 

[Kosmo]

Thanks, Looks like nice stuff. We also liked the ADAK. For the 10-15k we will have into this one, it will let us know what we want, need, and if we want to go for something more specific. Another company out west importing South African stuff now too.