2417 without bathroom?

[MNACamper]

My DH and I have a Chalet Arrowhead that we absolutely love. But we've been thinking lately about how nice it would be to have some extra room. The thing that has always stopped us is that the Chalet is very light and can be stored in our garage.

Enter the Trailmanor, which I just learned about a couple of weeks ago.

We went to look at them in person today at our nearby dealer. The 2417 seems like it would be absolutely perfect for our needs. However, and I realize we're probably in the minority, we really don't have much of a desire to have a bathroom. We were tent campers for many years and our Chalet doesn't have a bathroom. Shower houses, vault toilets and a luggable loo are just fine for us. On the other hand, we do know that having a bathroom might help with resale.

If we have to choose, we'd really rather have more storage space. From what I gather, the bathroom in the 2417 is an option but I can't seem to find any pictures anywhere of one without the bathroom. I'm assuming that in place of the bathroom, there are cabinets but it would be nice to see a photo to be sure it's enough to give up a bathroom.

Does anyone here have a 2417 without the bathroom that you could share a picture of? Or does anyone have a link to a manufacturer photo they could pass along? I'd really appreciate it! Thanks!

 

[MarkoPolo-TMO]

Having come from the same camping "tree", ie; tent camping, pop up without bathroom, I suggest that the bathroom might be much more useful and desirable than you think now. Really, the ability to take a real shower and the nighttime convenience are some of the Trailmanor pluses that we thought would be just OK, but now we wouldn't want to be without. Just my DW's and my two cents worth!
Mark

 

[wbmiller3]

We thought the bathroom and hot water heater were ridiculously over the top for camping. Now, wouldn't want to go without them!

At least when we bought ours many years ago, there was not an option to delete the bathroom. We probably would have, and never known what we missed.

 

[LoveToCamp-TMO]

The TM Website for the 2417 shows "Storage, or Optional Bath...".

Also went the tent-> camper w/no facilities -> TM

I didn't want to get the toilet/shower, but DW insisted. I am glad she did! As WB said, it is so nice to have a hot shower (granted, they are Navy showers, but a shower none-the-less) after getting sweaty or sticky during the day. Now, if you ALWAYS camp in a campground with a shower house, that is not an issue. We camp off the beaten path, so there is nothing at all available.

Don't dismiss the shower, just because you have never had one. Sponge baths are one thing. A shower is much more satisfying.

Get the 40 gallon water tank, though. We can go a week with every-other-night showers, or every night without washing DW hair, on one 40-gallon tank.

By the way, we keep the bathroom folded during the day, and only open it at night. It "opens-up" the trailer with the bathroom closed. Also gives you more counter space during the day.

 

[Bailey'sMom]

If I were buying the 2417 model I would also forgo the bathroom and get cabinet instead. Just because it is pretty tiny in there. Although I would recommend the new 2417 slide model which would make it feel much more spacious. You would then have space to put your own portapotty.

That being said, I would never want to give up the 3 burner stove and larger refrig with freezer that I have in my 2720sd.

If you see one in person, try to go when a factory rep will be there and you will get a better idea of what cabinet would replace the bath. I think you could get both 3 drawers and a cabinet with shelves. Could probably also get a hanging cabinet to go over it.

The bath in the 2417 is a "wet" bath which is very different than any of the other models and while I liked the idea of the cassette toilet I didn't like the amount of space it took up in that tiny trailer. I was seriously looking at the 2417 this spring and would NOT have gotten the bath.

Don't worry about resale unless you don't plan to keep it for at least five years. Buy it how you want it. I would think it would be a big step up space wise from what you have now.

 

[Brutus-TMO]

MNA, you may want to PM TM owner Laura FM for a quick pic. She has a 2417 w/o toilet.

http://www.trailmanorowners.com/forum/showthread.php?t=13842&highlight=laura

IIRC (others please help me out), the toilet option in a 2417 is like $2100. Of course you'd get a decent chunk back on resale, but that's still a pretty stiff price-per-pee/poop ratio. That said, most of us that have been spoiled would pay it. Bottom line: get it the way you want it and don't look back.

 

[MNACamper]

Wow...thanks so much for all the help/input! Honestly, the shower is the only reason we might even consider that option. There's definitely nothing better than getting clean after a day of hiking/biking/bug spray. And we do tend to go off the beaten path more often than not. But more storage in that small space sure seems like a good idea and might make it more "livable" for us since at this point, we're really only weekend campers and we're usually only without a shower for one full day. Plus, the $2100 price tag does give us pause.

However, I saw that Trailmanor posted pics on their Facebook page last night of the new 2417 with the slide-out. That's definitely the configuration we'd like to get and the new floorplan they posted doesn't say the bath is optional. I wonder if they're just going to make it standard for 2014? Anyone know?

 

[Bailey'sMom]

However, I saw that Trailmanor posted pics on their Facebook page last night of the new 2417 with the slide-out. That's definitely the configuration we'd like to get and the new floorplan they posted doesn't say the bath is optional. I wonder if they're just going to make it standard for 2014? Anyone know?

MNA I don't know for sure, but what I do know is they are very accommodating if you buy new and order it instead of buying off dealer lot. That's why if you can speak direct with a factory rep you could get a better idea. Your dealer might also know. I don't see why they wouldn't still have bath as optional unless they are trying to just bundle so price of the option doesnt look crazy.

Even if it is now standard, based on how much more a bath costs, you should be able to get a discount for going with storage instead of bath. Still way less cost toTM.

if you are only going for weekends at this point I would vote for more storage. I too love to get rid of the suntan lotion at end of day, and while I have a shower I have not used it yet in 28 days of camping because they have shower building where I camp and I prefer unlimited water to a navy shower. Plus I am not a tiny person and I would feel very cramped in my shower in the 2720.

Just my thoughts.

PS. What does IIRC. Mean?

 

[MNACamper]

I *think* IIRC means "If I recall correctly."

I keep forgetting that you can pretty much get exactly what you want with TrailManor. A big plus. Our local dealer is The Car Show and from what I've read on this forum and elsewhere, they're pretty accommodating. When we get to that point, I'll talk to them more in depth about ordering one from the factory with the features we want.

Thanks again for all your help and thoughts!

BTW, Bailey's Mom, love the pic of your four-legged kid. We have two dogs who camp with us and to be honest, one of the reasons we're thinking of getting a bigger camper is because it is TIGHT on the full-sized bed in the Chalet with the four of us.

 

[Bailey'sMom]

I *think* IIRC means "If I recall correctly."


BTW, Bailey's Mom, love the pic of your four-legged kid. We have two dogs who camp with us and to be honest, one of the reasons we're thinking of getting a bigger camper is because it is TIGHT on the full-sized bed in the Chalet with the four of us.

Oh yes they sure take up a lot of space. I have a queen bed with just bailey and me and for a 60 lb dog, she sure takes up a lot of space. She is quite tall so when she stretches out she is probably 4'7".

Btw she is another reason I got the slide model so there was plenty of floor space for food water etc.

 

[Laura FM]

I got the PM and tried responding twice, but it does not look like it went through. So, I will answer here.

The sad thing is that we have owned the trailer for nearly 6 months, and due to an illness/death in the family, we have only managed to take it out for two one night trips. Our original plan was to take it on a couple of short trips and then go to utah for three weeks in April. Next april! In about 10 days, we are finally going out for 8 days. Yay.

We ordered ours without having seen what it looks like without the toilet, but I am pleased. It is a cupboard with two doors. There are two shelves in it - the base shelf and another about half way up. IIRC (and yes, that is what it means) the bottom shelf is divided into two areas, and the top shelf goes all way across. It is a big area - we fit all our pots/pans/dishes and towels/toiletries. I also love having the counterspace.

This is our 3rd folding trailer - the first two were tent trailers. The first one had no toilet, and I was fine with it, but we needed more space with growing kids. The larger one had a toilet, and I liked it well enough, especially in the night, but I also missed the walked back from the CG toilets. I liked the night sky and the quiet. The downside was that it took up a lot of space, was more to set up/tear down, and I was never wild about having a toilet so close to our food.

I wanted our new trailer to be simpler, but also well built. I was happy to give up the toilet . What was not negotiable was that we needed a king sized bed where we did not need to climb over each other. We also needed something that would fit in our old garage. Throw in an excellent dealer and we were happy campers.

I really did not like this model with the toilet. Since the sport is narrower (and I like that narrowness) it really over powered the space. I am not sure I would have gotten it with the toilet. We would still be looking for the right trailer.

MNACamper - I sent you my email address in a pm.

 

[CampAllDay]

Sorry to hear about the family illness. Hope everyting works out Laura.

On the topic of TM w/o bathroom: I also do not necesarily want a bathroom, but I've heard in this forum that having a bathroom is a plus for resale value. So, I was wondering if anyone does not use the bathroom (for short trips) and instead leave the bathroom collapsed when camping. The surface area of the collapsed bathroom could possibly be used as elevated? seating area or as a storage / countertop area. As an extra plus, leaving the bathroom collapsed, would open up the space a bit. I have seen pictures of TMs without bathroom and it looks much more spacious and roomier.

I do not own a TM (yet) so do not know how sturdy the surface area of the collapsed bathroom is?

CampAllDay

 

[gerrym51]

my opinion is don't buy any rv if concerned about resale value. rv's in general are a lifestyle choice and is a money pit.

having said that i would think having a bathroom would be a better reselling point than not having one.


rving makes one happy.:new_bdays

 

[rvcycleguy]

Sorry to hear about the family illness. Hope everyting works out Laura.

On the topic of TM w/o bathroom: I also do not necesarily want a bathroom, but I've heard in this forum that having a bathroom is a plus for resale value. So, I was wondering if anyone does not use the bathroom (for short trips) and instead leave the bathroom collapsed when camping. The surface area of the collapsed bathroom could possibly be used as elevated? seating area or as a storage / countertop area. As an extra plus, leaving the bathroom collapsed, would open up the space a bit. I have seen pictures of TMs without bathroom and it looks much more spacious and roomier.

I do not own a TM (yet) so do not know how sturdy the surface area of the collapsed bathroom is?

CampAllDay

The walls used for the bathroom are not suitable for seating in anyway. The block material they rest on when collapsed is fragile at best and was not intended for the weight of a person. Just FYI....storage possibly and counter space but not seating.

 

[CampAllDay]

The walls used for the bathroom are not suitable for seating in anyway. The block material they rest on when collapsed is fragile at best and was not intended for the weight of a person. Just FYI....storage possibly and counter space but not seating.

Great! Good to know - thanks.

 

[LoveToCamp-TMO]

Definitely can't sit on the folded bathroom! It can be used to set things on, though, as we do that all the time. We don't open ours during the day, and only open it at night. DW does not want to go out in the middle of the night, so that was a concession I made when purchasing.

If you always camp where there are facilities, or are okay with using the woods/porta-john at night (you may not get up in the middle of the night now, but wait a few years. ), then you could get by without the bathroom. BUT, I like it for the shower, also. After a day of hiking, or whatever, I feel better after a shower than I do after a sponge-bath.

The toilet is only half of the facility. The shower should not be discounted, as it is part of the equation.

 

[B_and_D]

I definitely wouldn't buy a trailer without a bathroom. Heck, even when we go tent camping we take a porta potti with us (we have a huge tent with separate rooms). I really hate having to unzip the tent, put your headlamp on, and go wandering around with the bears at night in the cold. I think I'd rather go without an indoor stove than a shower and toilet. The propane refigerator is a must, however. I hate using those bear boxes and they heat up like little ovens when it's hot; melts all of your ice in the cooler way too fast. Just our preferences.

 

[CampingFools]

Ditto to not buying a used TM, 2417 or no, that didn't have a bathroom.

One thing we appreciate about the bathroom walls of our 2417, is the ability to hang things using over the door hooks in the gap between the top of the wall and the ceiling. Given how limited storage is in the 2417, this is extremely useful, plus it allows me to keep our trailer looking tidy. (A big thing for me, what can I say. )

I believe we may have been the very first purchasers of a from-the-factory 2417 (vs the no-bathroom prototypes they initially shipped to dealers). In addition to options, we requested that the dividing panel in the rear storage area be removed in order to open up the space, and that a small access door be cut into the dining seat that didn't have one so we could utilize it for additional storage, even if limited (it was big enough to store a small electric heater, fan, and George Foreman grill).

We have over 150 nights in our 2417 so far, with plans to put another 150 nights on it in 2014. We hit the 6,500 mile mark two weeks ago, discovering that that appeared to be the max mileage for the tires in the process. So far, that's the only repair item we've encountered, other than some small tweaks we had the dealer do after each trip while it was still under warranty.

 

[LoveToCamp-TMO]

You have spent much more time in your 2417 than we have! Not enough time to do the traveling we want to do.

We also got ours very-early-on. We got ours in January of 2012. I also removed the divider in the storage compartment, after reading about someone else doing it. Much more convenient for storing chairs, canopy, grill, etc.

Very much enjoy ours, and have not had lack-of-space issues in our 1-week trips.