Not Sure What to Buy

[Reldma]

We have been looking since last spring and still not sure what to buy. We like the TM, but also like the hybrid travel trailers. The TM has it all over the hybrid as far as towing and the inside space is much larger when opened and some other things, but still worry about some other things of the TM.
1. Don't the side wall and curtains get dirty and wet when towing in the rain?
2. The toilet seems like kind of a pain to dump, because the TM is closed if your not at a full service site. Does it dump as easy as the travel trailers?
3. We visited a camper dealer and they said they use to carry TM's, but had to many service problems with them being out of line. They said there is not enough support for the beds and they move side to side when used and that makes them out of alignment. Fact or Fiction?
Thanks in advance for your help!

#1. My curtains and sidewalls have never gotten wet while traveling in the rain. That said, if the side of the TM is wet while taking down, the front shell curtains will get wet (and dirty) as it rubs up against the back shell. We try to wipedown the back shell as much as possible before closing up when wet, including the roof that goes in between the shells when folded. Dust might be a little more of a problem then with a traditional TT.

#2. After checking to make sure your exterior black water valve is closed, you can pull the inside valve right before you close the TM. At the dump station, open the exterior toilet valve, close, then pull the gray water valve to help flush the line. Remember to close the interior toilet valve when you get home. I have had to raise the TM a couple of times at the dump station when I forgot to open the interior valve....but that doesn't take but a minute or 2 more.

The beds have plenty of support (I believe they are rated @ 600 lbs. ????). You have to be somewhat careful when you push the beds in to keep them straight, but that is a minor issue with us. But 1 very important thing: Always make sure the beds are "locked in" before using them. The beds swivel up for your emergency exit, and too much weight on the back side without locking in might land you on the ground below. Haven't experienced that yet.

We looked at hybrids also. The main thing we didn't like was the towing height, and usually you have to make the beds when you open the ends. We leave the beds made in the TM, although sans pillows and thick comforters......too close of a clearance between the shells for those. I imagine there is not much time difference between setting up a TM and setting up the beds in a hybrid.

Chap

Originally Posted by mtnguy

#1. I imagine there is not much time difference between setting up a TM and setting up the beds in a hybrid.

Chap

I have a friend with a Palomino Hybrid. one thing that I did like was the gally and bathroom were readily accessible without set up. What I did not like was the height and the canvas walls for the bed area. Often she would not even set up the real bed but instead would sleep on the dinette that converts to a bed.

Cheri

I have no sway problems when towing. My TV is a little larger than what some others are using. I have passed MHs that were obviously fighting a stiff cross wind, while I had no problems at all.

In my experience, the trick to getting the TM to not rock/roll/wiggle, is to chock the wheels very tightly. I set the front chocks on both wheels, and then use the TV to pull the TM tightly into the chocks. Then I set the rear chocks on both wheels as tightly as I can. Then I put the TV in neutral to let the TM settle into the center of the chocks. Then I disconnect.

I only set the the four corner jacks as tightly as my bare hand will allow me to turn it. I only use the cordless drill for rapid deployment.

Since I adopted this method my TM is so rock solid that if DD(26) comes in from her tent to use the TM toilet in the middle of the night it will not wake us up. That is good enough for me. I don't think you can achieve better than that in any RV.

Originally Posted by PopBeavers

In my experience, the trick to getting the TM to not rock/roll/wiggle, is to chock the wheels very tightly. I set the front chocks on both wheels, and then use the TV to pull the TM tightly into the chocks. Then I set the rear chocks on both wheels as tightly as I can. Then I put the TV in neutral to let the TM settle into the center of the chocks. Then I disconnect.

Wayne, I am going to borrow your method next time camping. I usually just kick the chocks under the wheels.....but your system seems much better.

Chap

Originally Posted by mtnguy

Wayne, I am going to borrow your method next time camping. I usually just kick the chocks under the wheels.....but your system seems much better.
Chap

Be aware that you will be unable to kick the chocks out when it is time to leave, they will be that tight.

I hook up the TV and pull forward to relieve pressure on the rear chocks, remove rear chocks and then back up slightly to remove front chocks.

Use care so that the TV and TM do not move while removing the chocks and rolling the TM fore and then back.

After some thought, I have concluded that when it is desirable to use the TV to put a strain on to chocks, it is better to be pulling on the TM that it would be to be pushing on it.

I don't recommend this method for everyone, because it is annoying. However, it does remove the annoying stability problem. For anyone happy with the stability of the TM while in use, then don't waste your time following my method.

It works for me. DW, DD and DS aren't complaining.

[Virginia Deacon]

Our TrailManor weighs nearly the same thing our popup camper did, but it's much easier to tow. One reason is we use a weight-distributing hitch with sway control, now. Another reason is the TrailManor's axle location.

Gas mileage is the same.

Happy camping!

Originally Posted by Texas_Camper

I gotta push my beds at the center when closing, or they sorta bind up a little.

I forgot about having to dry the canvas.....good point Leon.

Chap

[Virginia Deacon]

We owned several popup campers, before getting our TrailManor.

The first time out in our TrailManor was at Cherrystone RV Park on the Chesapeake Bay. Beautiful during the day, but 30 - 40 mph winds at night; we were warm and safe in our Trailmanor, rather than thinking about retreating to our car as we used to do when we were in our popup! No canvas flapping in the wind, rock-and-rolling camper, spray inside the camper during a very hard rainstorm.

The dealers that criticize TrailManor either don't know how great TrailManor's support/Customer Service is OR they are thinking about their commission for selling fifth wheelers, etc. We love our TrailManor; so will you, if you carefully select the one that meets your needs and then come to this forum for advice!

Happy Camping!

Originally Posted by Virginia Deacon

No canvas flapping in the wind, rock-and-rolling camper, spray inside the camper during a very hard rainstorm.
Happy Camping!

As a previous pop-up owner, I also forgot about the canvas flapping in the wind in my previous post. The reason that we decided to sell our pop-up and move up to something else, was a very windy camping trip on the Skyline Drive that bent my main support pole on 1 side......I had to collapse that side completely and sleep on the opposite side during the wind storm.

Chap