Picking your brains on a used boondocking camper for 2 people & two dogs

[Obsessed2findARuggedHybid]

That's a Trail Marker there? Which model is that? I somehow don't think I've seen them, either, yet. It looks awesome. The dogs mostly just need a spot on the floor or a low bunk-type area. The TetonX looks like a great size. The Taxa Mantis has a bunk area up front that one could sleep on or they fold up to create plenty of floor space for one to sleep. And at night or if we go off on a hike we could always pop the top down for additional safety.

New Mexico is great with the amount of public lands and the ability to camp pretty much anywhere. Just stay away from Albuquerque! I work for a law enforcement agency in the Albuquerque area (as a civilian employee) and crime is just horrendous here. Luckily we quickly moved out of the city up into the mountains fairly shortly after we moved to New Mexico.
We moved here from Iowa close to 7 years ago now. We would love to get to Utah one of these days. It just seems so magical there!

The Mantis has more room but to heavy. Plus the riviot carbon steel framing are always popping. Not a fan but maybe a tad better then Elkhart mass produced rigs. Which brings me to Intech. I would not trust them to hold up. Trail Markers are made by Rollingstar in NY. They have taken a break on production and are cranking out thier commercial rigs. Liklely will start building Trailer Marker soon but I never see them used. I will send link to all my trips.

 

[Obsessed2findARuggedHybid]

Trail Marker Up and Out with Wet Bath by Rollingstar MFGing

Well my pick up date is finally here. Barring weather and " god willing and the creek don't rise" I will travel from Zion to NY and back to pick her up. I will stop and see 9 MFGering clients on the way to pay for gas money, coffee and amphetamines (JK). Please wish me luck. I will post pics if...

expeditionportal.com

 

[BoonyDave]

Oh, wait, I have seen Trailer Marker trailers on the Playing with Sticks YouTube channel. This guy has one that they camp in with his daughter who is in a wheelchair. Man, that looks really nice.
May I ask a ballpark figure of what you paid back when you got yours?

 

[Obsessed2findARuggedHybid]

Oh, wait, I have seen Trailer Marker trailers on the Playing with Sticks YouTube channel. This guy has one that they camp in with his daughter who is in a wheelchair. Man, that looks really nice.
May I ask a ballpark figure of what you paid back when you got yours?

Yes that video was me. Dont tell any one. How embarrassing. With all the customer extras I ordered and shipped to Rollingstar I was into it 55k. That includes near 4k for roof top tent.

 

[BoonyDave]

Yes that video was me. Dont tell any one. How embarrassing. With all the customer extras I ordered and shipped to Rollingstar I was into it 55k. That includes near 4k for roof top tent.

That's you?! No kidding! Abigail's chair is really cool!
That thing seems so much bigger than 12'! SUPER NICE!
You do such a wonderful job talking about the your rig! Thank you for sharing it, Bart! ❤️

 

[Obsessed2findARuggedHybid]

Thank you Dave !

 

[BoonyDave]

The wife and I went to look at a 2022 Columbia NW Aliner Family Expedition today just to get an idea of the size. I tried telling her that the forest service roads we drive on will shake screws and rivets loose and that we need something built better. She likes this thing, though.

 

[Obsessed2findARuggedHybid]

The wife and I went to look at a 2022 Columbia NW Aliner Family Expedition today just to get an idea of the size. I tried telling her that the forest service roads we drive on will shake screws and rivets loose and that we need something built better. She likes this thing, though.

Ya know lots of folks do. Happy wife happy life. They do seem super cheap but to be honest I have never really checked one out. I base my opinion only on how inexpensive they are. My guess is they dont use the best components.

 

[BoonyDave]

They're asking $20,000. I looked across the country in RV Trader and that seems about the going price. This one has two dormers. I just think they're leaks waiting to happen with so many seems meeting up every time you put it up.

 

[Obsessed2findARuggedHybid]

Yes they are built with typical Elkhart mass produced type materials. Lots of wood, low hanging Dexter type axel. Azdale side walls. New they carry a one year original owner warranty. Plus they sell through cheesy rv dealers. Buying a used trailer from these types of dealers is a crap shoot.

 

[Obsessed2findARuggedHybid]

Hate to encourage you but this came

Thread '2018 Aliner Expedition' https://expeditionportal.com/forum/threads/2018-aliner-expedition.247932/

 

[DVD]

I was on a trip once (combo pavement and gravel) and somebody had an Aliner. I remember it didn't have offroad-capable latches on the drawers, so that drawers/doors opened on the trail and stuff bounced out. Kind of a mess with cereal and food on the floor. So figured they aren't really designed/engineered for offroad. Take that with a grain of salt because it is a sample of one.

 

[Obsessed2findARuggedHybid]

Joined a few FB groups on Aliner. Not pretty. Lots of issues with water tank plumbing. So much cheap thin plywood. I am going to say it. Don't buy a used cheapo mass produced trailer. They are designed to last 4 years at most.

 

[BoonyDave]

For sure. I keep trying to explain that to the wife. They don't want to make things last because they think they're building themselves out of business. They want to build crap so you have to buy another one a few years later.

 

[BoonyDave]

I was on a trip once (combo pavement and gravel) and somebody had an Aliner. I remember it didn't have offroad-capable latches on the drawers, so that drawers/doors opened on the trail and stuff bounced out. Kind of a mess with cereal and food on the floor. So figured they aren't really designed/engineered for offroad. Take that with a grain of salt because it is a sample of one.

Thanks, Dirk. Yeah, they just seem like crap.