TheThom
Adventurer
I don't have a horse in this race, but that adrenalin camper is pretty awesome. He's posted it elsewhere http://www.expeditionportal.com/forum/threads/77391-My-New-American-Built-Adrenalin-Rush-Preview-and-Review/page7
Tent trailers which is the toughest?
- Thread starter wingysataday
- Start date
I don't have a horse in this race, but that adrenalin camper is pretty awesome. He's posted it elsewhere http://www.expeditionportal.com/forum/threads/77391-My-New-American-Built-Adrenalin-Rush-Preview-and-Review/page7
Yes, it certainly is! Just saying, the only time I'd really drive like that is if the Ex was chasing me, I'd say it is a top of the line trailer, I have looked at them (on line) and they are very nice, didn't mean to bash the trailer, just the driving issues for clearly marketing purposes. I doubt anything would survive in any trailer launching it into space.
But, I'd also say that to get that Rolls Royce, you can't go buy it, you'd have to spend time investigating what works best, designs, equipment, materials, etc and if you lacked the skills, find people who could build what you wanted. But in the end you'd have something that the grandkids could use and fit your exact needs.....
Just IMO, not saying it's not a nice trailer, it is.
NOW, as an update after watching the video linked: That DeVille I spoke of opened similar to this one but to the side, it was 7X7 providing a king bed. The Adr appears smaller for off road use, not as wide and a good thing. If I were to build that Rolls Royce, It would be very similar to the one shown! A big plus is the solid floor!
The top has ribs on top, that keeps the storm water from getting on the floor, condensation and giving you a wet floor. It also strengthens the floor so it doesn't pop and buckle walking on it. The Deville was built the same way. I use to run a line through those channels and tie stuff on top in transit, now the ends would make good clamp points for a temp rack or bungee cords. Those ribs are really key to a good fold out like this, keeping your floor off the ground, appears to be from lessons learned.
Inside the DeVille, you had to flip half the bed up and underneath was a stove, huge built-in ice chest and a sink at the other side. Here they slide out to the side. This Adr. also has additional storage in front, a very nice feature and looks like a wood bin forward!
Tentage and supports are very similar, they just open different directions. Not sure as I couldn't see the base of the canvas where it attached to the body, but mine was a double flap one inside and one outside that snapped to the body. Supports on mine had thumbscrew pipe clamp type adjustments, now I think many simple use a hole with a pin, like a hood pin.
I'd suggest in the Adr. you feed your wire through the center tent support for a connection at the top for a ceiling light and another socket where the support pivots to plug in, otherwise your wire will be working back and forth with folding.
I also like the side entrance on the adr. mine was at the end and there was a 10' screen porch that zipped on the end that made the whole thing 24'X7'. I bet there is a porch or addition for the adr. as well.
I did notice that the adr. opened the tentage as opened, nice feature, mine was two functions, but it seems that would put the tentage inside the lip on the floor.....hmmm?
The stove top and top of the sink on the adr. looks nice too, but, and not to be critical, but I'd look at those hinges and how those tops would bounce. I'd wonder too about the stove, the burners mounted may also be a weak point and I'm not familiar with those folding faucets how they would wear. Overall I give the adrinaline a 4 and half stars out of 5. I haven't seen a 5 star yet!
But I sure miss my old DeVille....
But, I'd also say that to get that Rolls Royce, you can't go buy it, you'd have to spend time investigating what works best, designs, equipment, materials, etc and if you lacked the skills, find people who could build what you wanted. But in the end you'd have something that the grandkids could use and fit your exact needs.....
Just IMO, not saying it's not a nice trailer, it is.
NOW, as an update after watching the video linked: That DeVille I spoke of opened similar to this one but to the side, it was 7X7 providing a king bed. The Adr appears smaller for off road use, not as wide and a good thing. If I were to build that Rolls Royce, It would be very similar to the one shown! A big plus is the solid floor!
The top has ribs on top, that keeps the storm water from getting on the floor, condensation and giving you a wet floor. It also strengthens the floor so it doesn't pop and buckle walking on it. The Deville was built the same way. I use to run a line through those channels and tie stuff on top in transit, now the ends would make good clamp points for a temp rack or bungee cords. Those ribs are really key to a good fold out like this, keeping your floor off the ground, appears to be from lessons learned.
Inside the DeVille, you had to flip half the bed up and underneath was a stove, huge built-in ice chest and a sink at the other side. Here they slide out to the side. This Adr. also has additional storage in front, a very nice feature and looks like a wood bin forward!
Tentage and supports are very similar, they just open different directions. Not sure as I couldn't see the base of the canvas where it attached to the body, but mine was a double flap one inside and one outside that snapped to the body. Supports on mine had thumbscrew pipe clamp type adjustments, now I think many simple use a hole with a pin, like a hood pin.
I'd suggest in the Adr. you feed your wire through the center tent support for a connection at the top for a ceiling light and another socket where the support pivots to plug in, otherwise your wire will be working back and forth with folding.
I also like the side entrance on the adr. mine was at the end and there was a 10' screen porch that zipped on the end that made the whole thing 24'X7'. I bet there is a porch or addition for the adr. as well.
I did notice that the adr. opened the tentage as opened, nice feature, mine was two functions, but it seems that would put the tentage inside the lip on the floor.....hmmm?
The stove top and top of the sink on the adr. looks nice too, but, and not to be critical, but I'd look at those hinges and how those tops would bounce. I'd wonder too about the stove, the burners mounted may also be a weak point and I'm not familiar with those folding faucets how they would wear. Overall I give the adrinaline a 4 and half stars out of 5. I haven't seen a 5 star yet!
But I sure miss my old DeVille....
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TheThom
Adventurer
Had to search Camper DeVille... Didn't find one, but found this: http://westsideluxeliving.wordpress.com/2012/04/21/seriously-does-it-get-cooler-than-this/
highlandercj-7
Explorer
No kidding IDK who the heck would drive like that with a trailer in tow. You could hear the Ferd even complaining about it. For promotional gimics or not that's one of those times where just be cause you can dont mean you should.
LOL, nope, that's not it. I have spent several hours searching for an old DeVille camper without luck. When these were made there were no computers or pics as we do now, so I'm not surprised one is not on-line. The guy that built them was in Hot Springs Arkansas. At that time he was older than my father soI'm pretty sure he has passed by now, he'd have to be over 100 years old by now!
STREGA
Explorer
I live fairly close to where the Adrenalin trailer is built and know the owner of the company (also I'am friends with the person who bought the first production trailer) so I can vouch for the toughness/durability of that trailer. The trailer in the video survived just fine, the Ford Raptor suffered some suspension damage though.
Well shoot, I thought I was on to something. Can you imagine how smooth that thing would ride over washboard? 
Woods, I'll ask my father if there are any of the old brochures about the DeVille camper, he doesn't throw anything away....if I can find one I might get it scanned and have it put online. Guess I could do that for camping history.
BTW, we had a 60 and 65 DeVille, dad thought it was fitting for a Deville to pull a Deville. The trailer was much more capable than the car. A Caddy is not much of a gravel road car much less an off road vehcile if you want to keep your muffler on. Back then, our best car camper was a '55 Pontiac station wagon.
:coffeedrink:
Too bad I have not seen the Adrin trailer in person, I'd like to see the fit and finish. Not surprised the Raptor took a few hits if it was stock.
BTW, we had a 60 and 65 DeVille, dad thought it was fitting for a Deville to pull a Deville. The trailer was much more capable than the car. A Caddy is not much of a gravel road car much less an off road vehcile if you want to keep your muffler on. Back then, our best car camper was a '55 Pontiac station wagon.
:coffeedrink:
Too bad I have not seen the Adrin trailer in person, I'd like to see the fit and finish. Not surprised the Raptor took a few hits if it was stock.
monkeyplunger
Observer
I have a jeep with a Sierra 4x4 and maggiolina air land. I also have an xterra off road and tow a fleet wood evolution E1. I had a baby in march and the jeep trailer is just too small to camp with an infant. I searched a lot for a tent trailer, I must have looked at about 100 different trailers. What I found with the E1 is that it is much more sturdy than any other tent trailers. The cost of a used one is about 5-6k. I have used mine on miles and miles of unimproved an FS roads and have had no issues. I liked the E1 since it is the smallest tent trailer (box) with a king. The other bed is a twin. Almost all TT have a king with king or king with queen which makes the box very long.
If you get a chance to see an E1, pay attention to the frame compared to other tent trailers. You will find that other TT have much less steel in the frame.
Another point is the E series have the lift mechanisms welded to the frame while most other tent trailers of the same box size have the mechanisms fastened to the underside if the plywood floors.
You will be surprised how capable the E1 is for its size. If you want smaller I wheel with a friend who has a fleet wood cobalt. It is even more nimble and spartan. Less to break. It has a furnace, stove and a simple water jug with hand pump, while my e1 has a fridge, electric water pump, hot water heater, furnace, outdoor shower, stove. If you want even smaller there is also the fleet wood neon.
So my .02 is the E1 goes where I need it to goto here in AZ and is great with an infant. I if I go solo it is the jeep trailer.
If you have any other questions let me know and I can answer. Good luck.
If you get a chance to see an E1, pay attention to the frame compared to other tent trailers. You will find that other TT have much less steel in the frame.
Another point is the E series have the lift mechanisms welded to the frame while most other tent trailers of the same box size have the mechanisms fastened to the underside if the plywood floors.
You will be surprised how capable the E1 is for its size. If you want smaller I wheel with a friend who has a fleet wood cobalt. It is even more nimble and spartan. Less to break. It has a furnace, stove and a simple water jug with hand pump, while my e1 has a fridge, electric water pump, hot water heater, furnace, outdoor shower, stove. If you want even smaller there is also the fleet wood neon.
So my .02 is the E1 goes where I need it to goto here in AZ and is great with an infant. I if I go solo it is the jeep trailer.
If you have any other questions let me know and I can answer. Good luck.
monkeyplunger
Observer
Forgot to add- the cargo deck on the E1 is great. Can put just about anything there. Fuel, water, stroller, firewood, totes, whatever. Hopefully I will have a zodiac/Achilles with outboard on there soon.
wingysataday
Adventurer
Great words monkeyplunger. unfortunately the E1 is about double my budget. I hope to take a cheaper one and strengthen the frame and add armor as money allows.
wingysataday
Adventurer
So far it sounds as if Viking trailers are the cheapest? Heard they fall apart quite quickly?
monkeyplunger
Observer
Another thing to consider is that the E1 has an aluminum box frame and all aluminum skin on the outside. Most small TT ave wood frames and fiberglass skin. If you are diligent you may be able to find an E1 or cobalt (about 2K less than E1) much cheaper. More cost effective than finding a cheap TT and beefing up the frame.
wingysataday
Adventurer
Check this out. Anyone know how good it is? it's seems like it would be much more forgiving off road. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QzVVqXxbGSA