2005 2720SL questions

[boze man]

Thanks Marc!

Dont think it is going to matter as my 8x8 is 8 high which is perfect but really only 7'10" or 94"...the 8' door loses an inch on each side due to the trim....I just think it is to tight

I have a double bay but the height is only 7'...comical.

 

[Bill]

I'm thinking that 7 feet (84 inches) of height is plenty.

http://www.trailmanorowners.com/forum/showthread.php?t=6620

If the limit is set by the door, rather than the header - the door can be raised.

Bill

 

[jmburg]

Hi Again,

We too came from a pop-up history, and I especially missed the openness of the pop-up. However, I was amazed at how little time it took for me to get past that. The windows in the SL have a great visibility and openness for a hardwall trailer. The solid or near solid walls of the Trail Manor extend our camping season down here in Texas significantly. Plus the bathroom and shower facilities are a great feature for the Trail Manor.

It sounds like you are doing a lot of research and thinking about this. I hope that whatever decision you make, that you enjoy many years of enjoyable camping experiences. One last thought, I would definitely check out the tires and replace them if you have any reservations about their being road worthy. Please check out the threads on this site about tires.

jmburg
Tyler, Tx
05 2720 SL
2004 Dodge truck 4.7 V-8
Depressing Fuel Economy

 

[ThePair]

Ok, my trim has a rubber "stick out" part which is flexible, and then the part that is nailed to the wood, which is inflexible. When I measure from one inflexible side to the other, I'm just about 7' 11". I know that certain parts on the sides of the TM, like the hold down latches, will push the flexible part as the TM goes in and out, but if I'm centered correctly then nothing is scraping on the inflexible part. If your 7' 10" is measuring from a flexible part to the other, you could potentially do it, because that's about all I have from the flex edges. If that measure is to inflexible trim, you might be able to do it, but the alignment would have to be absolutely perfect. I have a little bit of wiggle room with my dimensions--it's close but not impossibly so.

Trim is removable, too, and just making a small section removable is another option. The main tight parts are the lights and the hold-down latches, which I open for space purposes, so you could just engineer two small sections of removable trim on each side, and pop em in and out as needed. That was going to be my solution if I couldn't squeeze in due to trim, but I could, so I didn't have to

I'll be getting the TM out within the next few days, weather permitting, and I can try to get shots of the clearance if that will help.

 

[brulaz]

We too came from a pop-up history, and I especially missed the openness of the pop-up. However, I was amazed at how little time it took for me to get past that. The windows in the SL have a great visibility and openness for a hardwall trailer. The solid or near solid walls of the Trail Manor extend our camping season down here in Texas significantly. Plus the bathroom and shower facilities are a great feature for the Trail Manor.

ditto, even with our upright Elkmont. These things are very bright and breezy inside, but are even better on those days when you don't want to be that close to nature: rain, snow, bugs, bears, whatever.

Like jmburg says, you can go places and do things you would never have done before.

 

[boze man]

I'm thinking that 7 feet (84 inches) of height is plenty.

http://www.trailmanorowners.com/forum/showthread.php?t=6620

If the limit is set by the door, rather than the header - the door can be raised.

Bill

hey bill....thanks for the reply...our limit is set by the frame/trim...i can push the door above easily but it is 84" to the top of the header

yeah i think it will fit but the wife would prefer it in the single bay...also i not sure if the 2005 2720sl had the lowprofile a/c? i prob need to talk to the owner and take some more measurements.

i also would (if not already installed) add a factory lift kit and 15' so that prob adds another 3-4"....

 

[boze man]

Hi Again,

We too came from a pop-up history, and I especially missed the openness of the pop-up. However, I was amazed at how little time it took for me to get past that. The windows in the SL have a great visibility and openness for a hardwall trailer. The solid or near solid walls of the Trail Manor extend our camping season down here in Texas significantly. Plus the bathroom and shower facilities are a great feature for the Trail Manor.

It sounds like you are doing a lot of research and thinking about this. I hope that whatever decision you make, that you enjoy many years of enjoyable camping experiences. One last thought, I would definitely check out the tires and replace them if you have any reservations about their being road worthy. Please check out the threads on this site about tires.

jmburg
Tyler, Tx
05 2720 SL
2004 Dodge truck 4.7 V-8
Depressing Fuel Economy

I am probably over-thinking this but as my wife knows that is the way i operate...analysis-paralysis...but to my credit it has probably kept me from some impulse purchases.

Will def replace the tires esp if they 14's...but they did look good....not sure if they are the orginals if so they 5+yr old...yikes

 

[boze man]

Ok, my trim has a rubber "stick out" part which is flexible, and then the part that is nailed to the wood, which is inflexible. When I measure from one inflexible side to the other, I'm just about 7' 11". I know that certain parts on the sides of the TM, like the hold down latches, will push the flexible part as the TM goes in and out, but if I'm centered correctly then nothing is scraping on the inflexible part. If your 7' 10" is measuring from a flexible part to the other, you could potentially do it, because that's about all I have from the flex edges. If that measure is to inflexible trim, you might be able to do it, but the alignment would have to be absolutely perfect. I have a little bit of wiggle room with my dimensions--it's close but not impossibly so.

Trim is removable, too, and just making a small section removable is another option. The main tight parts are the lights and the hold-down latches, which I open for space purposes, so you could just engineer two small sections of removable trim on each side, and pop em in and out as needed. That was going to be my solution if I couldn't squeeze in due to trim, but I could, so I didn't have to

I'll be getting the TM out within the next few days, weather permitting, and I can try to get shots of the clearance if that will help.

Marc...thanks for the help with the measurements! awesome!...I am 7'10" to the hard trim on the garage door, no flexible rubber for me...if ya pop her out this weekend and remember to take a pic or 2 that would be great.

So to understand you correctly...you can only fit in with your awning mod and led light mod?

Will look at the removable trim option...easy to do....but more like making a square peg fit in a round hole....more thinkin in order.

 

[boze man]

ditto, even with our upright Elkmont. These things are very bright and breezy inside, but are even better on those days when you don't want to be that close to nature: rain, snow, bugs, bears, whatever.

Like jmburg says, you can go places and do things you would never have done before.

The more i think about the TM the more i like it. I like the light weight, hardsided, ease of setup and the potential to store in the garage...well almost store in garage.

 

[KevinP]

Mr. Boze, I have a 2005 2720SL, with the lift kit, and 15" tires. It does have the low profile A/C, which is probably what TM was putting on all the '05 models. My TM height is 80.5", my garage entry height is 83". The overall trailer width is 96.25". If I was to do the modifications described elsewhere on this forum by thepair, my trailer width could be reduced for storage to 7'10". My garage has a roll up door that sets back inside the frame, and is a little wider than the frame. If i had needed to, i could have removed the trim and put the seal on the backside of the frame instead to gain an extra inch overall. However, i'm putting it in a double bay. I back it in at an angle toward one side wall, and turn the front end of the trailer over toward the wall at the end, so the trailer ends up tucked into the recess behind the door opening by about 6". It makes for plenty of room for my wife to get in and out of her car. If you can get buy in for that plan, you will be probably be SO much happier over the long haul than if you have to wedge it into an opening that is equal, or nearly equal to your trailer width. Especially after you break a light off, or dent a shell. Several of us are willing to go to extremes to make a TM fit because we love the TM...but if you're ambivalent about which style of trailer to buy, buy the one that easiest to use. I've had tent trailers, slide in pickup campers, and a 5th wheel, and I much prefer the TM for the same reasons others have mentioned. But if it is a huge PITA to get it out to use it and it's the same to you as a tent trailer, you'll just be bitter everytime you're getting set up!

 

[boze man]

Hey Kevin...thanks for the exact 2005 specs...that helps. I am leaning to getting the TM...need to discuss with the wife. If i can get into the double bay for the short term it will buy me time to sort out longterm storage either in the single bay or leave in double bay.

Was the lift and 15' standard?

Also are the 2005 2720 SL specs the same as the 2011 specs listed on the TM website?

Thanks again!
Bill

 

[KevinP]

Was the lift and 15' standard?
>>I'm not the orginal owner. I suspect the lift was standard. Some units had a 2" lift, others had a different style axle. They all end up with the same result, which is that you want at least 3" clearance from the top of the wheel to the well. Mine had almost 4" clearance. The 15" wheels were not standard. I added them, and still had 3". Other TM owner's experience varies. If you dont' have the clearance, than you add the lift kit. All in all, with 3" clearance and 225/75/R15 tires you will be at a similar overall height.

Also are the 2005 2720 SL specs the same as the 2011 specs listed on the TM website?
>>They look the same. TM hasn't made any significant changes to the structure in years. There will be some minor variation in ride height based on axle, lift, tires, etc, but the width will probably be the same.

 

[boze man]

There are 3 units for sale near me...

2005 2720sl $10500 local and very clean.
2002 2720sl $7000 about 2hrs away a little tired but sound.
2009 2720 $27000 or 'make offer' about 2hrs away ...brand new with the floor plan we prefer....maybe offer $20k?

The 2002 seems overpriced compared to the 2005. I think nada has the '02 worth 5k and the '05 worth 10k both w/o options. I know the sweet spot on used would be years '05-'09 but if i could get the 2002 for say $5-6k that would give me some $$ to spend on baselining the 2002 and still leave some $$ room for mods/upgrades etc....solar panels, lift /15' tires, maybe a 5k axle down the road, interior mods. Convert that front couch area on the 2002 SL to something more family friendly like the basic 2720 layout?

Any thoughts to this logic? I would wait for the right one to come along but the summers are short up here.

Thanks again
Bill

 

[Mr. Adventure]

The book is just a percentage rate by year applied to some starting value. In other words, it's very loosely based on real sales data, and it is therefore an unreliable way to estimate the value of a trailer. There are fairly wide seasonal and regional price ranges too.

Second, you expect the depreciation rate to decrease over time. Therefore the difference between a 2005 and a 2002 should be less than the difference between a 2008 and a 2005, for example.

And the most important thing, of course, is what kind of condition is each trailer in? Many older models are very lightly used and offer great values, considering that TrailManors hold up pretty well.

Let us know how you come out!

 

[moaboy]

It should also be noted that the NADA book does not reflect or capture the TM options very well. Not like pricing a car for example.
It is not unusual for the suggested price not to include a number of the options - I guess if this is done consistently then that does provide a loose base line for comparisions, but if one model has a significant number of options then that TM is worth more than a lesser equipped model and thus harder to make a fair comparison.

PS I'd think if you are lucky and talking to a seller who is really motivated to sell his TM, you could perhpas knock off 10% or so from an asking price, but not much more than that, if that.

Good luck.

 

[JohnBP]

Hi Y'all, I'm new to this forum and searched "convert SL to DL" and have been reading these threads. I just bought a 2001 2720 SL 'cause I got a good deal and wanted no payments. My first choice would have been a 2720. My wife and I really like the idea of a dinette, so I'm thinking of a conversion. If no one else has tried it, I may be the Guinea pig. I'm going to contact TM tomorrow and investigate cost, etc.

2001 2720SL
'08 Nissan Pathfinder
Prodigy brake controller

 

[Bill]

John -

I don't recall it being discussed here on the Forum, and I don't know anyone who has done it. Let us know how you progress.

Bill

 

[ThePair]

I'd imagine SL -> DL shouldn't be that big an issue, the only potential thing I'd see is the placement of the furnace if it was ill-suited to a dinette on that side...but it might be just right. I don't have a dinette so I can't take any measurements.

 

[Pitbull]

We used to use these when using a tent to be able to sleep 4 and still have some room. they were comfortable and worked great!

http://www.amazon.com/Person-Portab...25JK/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1310054615&sr=8-1

Koz