We Have Walls!! VMI Alpine XL Build

[FyrFly]

IN SEARCH OF THE PERFECT CAMPER OR “How we got HERE, from THERE”….

Finally, we have walls! It took over a year of research ranging as far as Australia and across to South Africa; only to wind up in our own backyard (if you can consider the beautiful state of Washington the back yard of Florida!). Next came a couple of months of design work then more than just a few months of waiting for the build to actually begin. But now, at last, we are only weeks away from what we hope will be “The Perfect Camper” – a VMI Off-road Custom Built Alpine XL heralding the beginning of a new era in our camping life.



More to come if I can get the hang of adding pictures.

2-16-16 Update
Thought after all this time, I would update the end to the beginning! After an amazing 5 week cross country journey (10/26/15 to 12/3/15 from Bellingham, WA to St Petersburg, FL) this wonderful rig did everything we hoped for and more:





catch more of the story at: http://www.campfyrflytales.com

 

[IM1RU]

I'm really glad to see more of these trailers beginning to appear. There's nothing else like them around. Congratulations!

 

[fireball]

Looking forward to following along with this! The Alpine looks like a good family trailer!

 

[FyrFly]

I think I've just posted pictures of our layout...

 

[OCD Overland]

Cool - I'll be watching this thread closely. We have a deposit down on an Alpine XL ourselves, just getting our ducks in a row before we ask them to get going.

More pictures!

 

[FyrFly]

3-D Conception Alpine XL



Our model was a cross between Airstream Bambi and the Conqueror Commander. As we are getting up there in years - twin beds as opposed to crawling over each other to get in and out of queens was our ideal. But - to get twins in Airstream had to go up to 25', too big. We really just wanted a comfortable bedroom with an outside galley. And, of course, some type of cassette toilet. We spent hours working with Mike on this design and if we don't like it - we have no one to blame but ourselves!!!

 

[Yulli]

Pretty cool build. I haven't seen much from VMI lately and I'm somewhat local to them. They're just north of me.

I'll be sure to follow the progress. Can't wait to see the finished product.

 

[OCD Overland]

I like the layout. It looks like you've got a ton of interior storage, and I guess those are a pair of fridge drawers in the rendering? Did you make any provision for a sink or cooktop at all, or will that all be outside? How will your outside galley work? Are VMI building something or will you just set it up on folding tables?

 

[FyrFly]

The fridge is a double drawer marine fridge - top fridge, bottom freezer. Sink & single burner cooktop are just outside the door - in a pull out drawer/galley. Inside - the "work" table (still working, not retired) extends to allow for inside dining in inclement weather. Awning over galley protect burner from weather (we hope).

 

[OCD Overland]

I was wondering if VMI would do a pull-out galley, so that's good info to know. We have the side by side Cruise 200 fridge/freezer on our wish list right now, but I'm worried a little bit about the power consumption and also the noise, since their freezer units will run more at night. Are you installing solar - if so, what size are you going with?

Just curious - the thing that pushed us to the Alpine over the Canyon was wanting to have an interior galley, so what made you guys decide to go larger - the extra storage?

 

[OLDH1]

I was in Seattle a few weeks back, called VMI on a Friday while I was actually on the plane departing Hawaii. Mike agreed to show me the shop on a SATURDAY and it was well worth the hour drive for me! Great shop, great product construction and design and the shop was packed with current projects!

As soon as I complete a current project...I will be dropping my deposit for my own trailer!

 

[bigwapitijohnny]

So you are the owner of the trailer being built...

I visited VMI in May, and I got a chance to look at the shop and the goodies that they had available. I got a chance to see your frame as it was being constructed. CONGRATULATIONS! I am going to upgrade my Sherpa II for one of these. Looking forward to your thread.

Regards,

BWJ

 

[FyrFly]

An Overview of the interior




For us - the choice was Alpine vs the larger Compass. We're getting up there in years (57&66, to give perspective) - so roomy was key. But on the flip - we really didn't want a lot of what we consider "frou-frou", TV, microwave, etc and we were trying to keep as small a profile as possible. The Alpine XL seemed to be the perfect size. I still work - so the desk area is for me. As long as I have cell service, I have "Wi-Fi" and with my small computer & printer; I can still check in at work which allows me more time on the road. Not a bad trade off - an office with a view! Retired partner is the chef, so the outside galley is for him Being nervous newbies to all this off-road stuff; we are no doubt overpowered with deep-cell battery, solar panels, and inverter.... More on that later.

 

[OCD Overland]

Thanks for all the info - I'm really eager to see how it progresses.

 

[FyrFly]

Frame....



Then this is what you saw in May! We were there too - I was in Vegas for a convention so we "hopped" on over to Bellingham to check on progress. Now that we have walls and a roof, it's starting to take shape. (The one on the right is actually "FyrFly".)