Grassland
Well-known member
My wife and I are trying to find a manufacturer of a quality built small hybrid travel trailer 14-16'(tip out side or rear bunk), or a 10' + front storage conventional style pop up trailer.
A quick background:
I am in Central Canada, where there is minimal industry, and sparse population. Our Canadian dollar is weak. Our 2010 pop up campers is falling apart as stapled together pieces of OSB and caulking tend to do.
My wife and I have two very different ideas on "camping", but we have managed to agree on two plausible trailers, where both of us are happy. The problem is, neither seem to exist.
My first choice would be something like a Clipper V-trec V1 with front storage box, just not built like a bag of ********. Worse yet, In Canada I keep getting quotes of 21-23k CAD. This trailer isn't worth the 14k USD places ask for it, but I could swallow that pill. 20+ is ludicrous. Plus they aren't very common anyways.
My wife likes the layout of the Starcraft AR-ONE 15rb, which is about the maximum size either of us want, the tip out bed means we can get a breeze if its hot. It too, is obviously built like complete garbage. Stapled together 1x1's and the odd screw doesn't hold up well on our "roads" never mind gravel roads, service roads and dirt paths etc. We also liked a layout of R-POD, but are worried they will get too hot without AC (small windows etc), and we generally never have power hook ups, nor want to run a generator. Also, not built well. Can't find a used Livin Lite 13 RDB for the life of me, and although the 11s with rear tip out can be found pre Thor construction, both my wife and I feel its a bit cramped.
There are a lot of trailer builders, but they all seem to be teardrop style, and thus small (and no internal living) There are a few importers of Australian style forward folds, but the awnings seem like a pain compared to our 10', plus the layouts are backwards and don't lend themselves to fitting on the campground sites we frequent.
Most of the units use would be national, provincial, and private camp grounds, but i would also like to use the unit for more off the beaten path adventures, and as a base camp for hiking trips etc. It doesn't need to be extreme like many of the expedition units, but the mainstream builder junk doesn't hold up to paved roads, never mind anything else. Thinking an axle with shocks, which almost every aussie trailer i've looked at online has (yet nothing in North America does) and a modest tire, like LT235/75r15-LT245/75R16 max size.
Towing with a 14 F150 3.7. Would like to keep empty trailer weight around 3000-3500#, max weight 4200#.
Don't want TVs or microwaves or flush toilets with black tanks. Would like small 3 way fridge (most places we camp dont get hotter than 90f) and propane furnace and grill/stove hook ups. LED lighting all around. Needs to sleep 3 people with the main table not having to be converted to the main bed.
Ive been on some pop up forums, everyone there has mainstream junk. I've spent many hours on google and haven't found anything outside of the many tear drop style campers, or the 80K Australian and or South African stuff.
Does anyone know of any product somewhat resembling our criteria, or a North American builder who could build something?
A quick background:
I am in Central Canada, where there is minimal industry, and sparse population. Our Canadian dollar is weak. Our 2010 pop up campers is falling apart as stapled together pieces of OSB and caulking tend to do.
My wife and I have two very different ideas on "camping", but we have managed to agree on two plausible trailers, where both of us are happy. The problem is, neither seem to exist.
My first choice would be something like a Clipper V-trec V1 with front storage box, just not built like a bag of ********. Worse yet, In Canada I keep getting quotes of 21-23k CAD. This trailer isn't worth the 14k USD places ask for it, but I could swallow that pill. 20+ is ludicrous. Plus they aren't very common anyways.
My wife likes the layout of the Starcraft AR-ONE 15rb, which is about the maximum size either of us want, the tip out bed means we can get a breeze if its hot. It too, is obviously built like complete garbage. Stapled together 1x1's and the odd screw doesn't hold up well on our "roads" never mind gravel roads, service roads and dirt paths etc. We also liked a layout of R-POD, but are worried they will get too hot without AC (small windows etc), and we generally never have power hook ups, nor want to run a generator. Also, not built well. Can't find a used Livin Lite 13 RDB for the life of me, and although the 11s with rear tip out can be found pre Thor construction, both my wife and I feel its a bit cramped.
There are a lot of trailer builders, but they all seem to be teardrop style, and thus small (and no internal living) There are a few importers of Australian style forward folds, but the awnings seem like a pain compared to our 10', plus the layouts are backwards and don't lend themselves to fitting on the campground sites we frequent.
Most of the units use would be national, provincial, and private camp grounds, but i would also like to use the unit for more off the beaten path adventures, and as a base camp for hiking trips etc. It doesn't need to be extreme like many of the expedition units, but the mainstream builder junk doesn't hold up to paved roads, never mind anything else. Thinking an axle with shocks, which almost every aussie trailer i've looked at online has (yet nothing in North America does) and a modest tire, like LT235/75r15-LT245/75R16 max size.
Towing with a 14 F150 3.7. Would like to keep empty trailer weight around 3000-3500#, max weight 4200#.
Don't want TVs or microwaves or flush toilets with black tanks. Would like small 3 way fridge (most places we camp dont get hotter than 90f) and propane furnace and grill/stove hook ups. LED lighting all around. Needs to sleep 3 people with the main table not having to be converted to the main bed.
Ive been on some pop up forums, everyone there has mainstream junk. I've spent many hours on google and haven't found anything outside of the many tear drop style campers, or the 80K Australian and or South African stuff.
Does anyone know of any product somewhat resembling our criteria, or a North American builder who could build something?
