A few things I would like

[P and B]

Bob- get the efficiency thing but we rarely use the propane heater. We do what MariaG does and carry a small electric heater to take the chill off. I think I've used the propane heater three or four times and only to get it warm quickly. Don't care about the sleeping compartment because we like it cold back there.

MariaG- Backup cameras are available to help you see behind you. Most of the wireless versions have such a limited range they are useless beyond 10 to 15 feet. My idea version would be to integrate a wide angle camera up high on the back shell looking back and run the camera (wired) to a small transmitter at the front of the TM. Then TrailManor would sell you a receiver/monitor for your dashboard. When you backed up, you would be able to see directly behind you. I'm personally interested since I have a steep windy driveway. BTW, I did see the curtain retrofit. I'm going to keep the existing track system but just put a snap in where they've driven screws through the curtain.

Our couch is like a board too ;-)

Everything about the TM beats a tent and in case someone from TM reads this, they should know that these aren't complaints- just ideas.

Phil

 

[MariaG-TMO]

Oh, I know what a back up camera is, I was just joking as I don't have one - I have to do it the old fashioned way, with mirrors and looking over my shoulder. *G*

Snaps to replace the screws are a great idea - sometimes I think TM uses what's easiest and let's face it, cheapest, rather than something that would work better. Driving screws through fabric is a little.....odd.

I doubt I'll ever find a way to make the couch more comfy, as it's already too high for my short legs I can't add padding, and it's basically a plywood box with access covers for holes in the seat to get at the storage, covered with cushions. We'd have to rip the whole thing out and start over and it's not really worth it to me.

 

[OneMoBear]

I put rice in a four freezer bags and then made cloth bags to cover them (just in case - because of da dogs). We toss them in the back corners of the beds. No light, no breeze, hopefully no bugs. At least you don't have to look around to see if anyone is looking. Probably won't be a selling point but it seems to work pretty well.

 

[P and B]

I'm probably violating some kind of rule by posting an addition to my own post but I thought of another feature I'd like to see and that's a simple way of storing a tote to the bottom of the TM- kind of like the spare tire holder but for a tote. I think this is especially important for the TM since the gray tank is small and so is the toilet. I kind of feel about totes the way I do about blue tarps- their fine as long as you don't see them.

Phil

 

[jerry snell]

A major problem that we have with our 2720 TM is that there are many openings through which mice can enter easily from the exterior to the interior of the trailer. I have tried to fill some of the spaces with steel wool which has helped somewhat.
TrailManor needs to seal the trailers better to exclude the rodents!

2008 2720
2008 Toyota Highlander

 

[PopBeavers]

I find it somewhat interesting that so many people seem to have problems with mice.

Perhaps it is only because I live in the city, but I do not have problems with mice in my garage at home. Therefore, I do not have a problem with mice in the TM.

For those of you that live in farm country, I certainly can see that it would be more difficult to kep the mice population under control in a barn.

What I do have is a squirrel problem. But they are real easy to keep out of the garage. They just wreck havoc in the backyard.

 

[countrygirl32082]

I'm probably violating some kind of rule by posting an addition to my own post but I thought of another feature I'd like to see and that's a simple way of storing a tote to the bottom of the TM- kind of like the spare tire holder but for a tote. I think this is especially important for the TM since the gray tank is small and so is the toilet. I kind of feel about totes the way I do about blue tarps- their fine as long as you don't see them.

Phil

We now carry our tote in the spare tire holder and carry the spare tire on the front of the truck. I will post a pic if I can locate it.

 

[countrygirl32082]

Photos of spare tire carrier

The carrier slides into the receiver hitch on the front of our vehicle. I think I bought it on line at eztrailer for about 20.00.

 

[XG32owner]

Blue tank holder

Here a picture of the blue tank mount behind the spare tire rack. It works great!

http://www.trailmanorowners.com/forum/showthread.php?t=2491

 

[P and B]

I think there's plenty of room for a low profile tote under the TM. I was suggesting that TM come up with a professionally done "system".

There is not doubt that folks on this forum can make pretty much anything work! Love all the suggestions. Stops us all from making big mistakes ;-)

Phil

 

[PopBeavers]

Someone has posted pictures of mounting a blue tote under the TM in a manner similar to the spare tire. I do not recall who, or when, but I have only been hanging out here since March 2005.

 

[MariaG-TMO]

DH says there's only 5" of clearance to keep the tote inside the frame - now he's thinking of maybe buying a plastic welder and building his own "overflow" tank under there - thoughts? Ideas?

 

[ZekenSpider]

DH says there's only 5" of clearance to keep the tote inside the frame - now he's thinking of maybe buying a plastic welder and building his own "overflow" tank under there - thoughts? Ideas?

Take a look at this web site. They may already have a tank that will fit at a cost that is lower than buying a welder and the plastic sheet.

http://www.tank-depot.com/product.aspx?id=163

Jerry

 

[Shrimpburrito]

Forum member ripp1202 added enough 4" ABS pipe under his trailer to create enough volume to dump the toilet into. Compared to a tank, I think this is probably a better option because I bet it drains better due to a rounded bottom and its gentle slope to the discharge point.

Check out this thread, and pictures in post #35.

http://www.trailmanorowners.com/forum/showthread.php?t=2969&page=4

Because there is not alot of depth under the trailer, you can't make the a black tank very high, which I think would make it more prone to drainage issues.

Whatever you do, don't forget to vent it....bacteria produce gas, which can make a rather unpleasant explosion if it can't escape.

Dave

 

[P and B]

In my concept though, it's still a "tote" with wheels that you can take up and dump hitched to the back of the TV. Our problem is usually gray water for the most part. A nice wheeled tote on an integrated, easy to operate clamping system would be fantastic. Something in the range of 25 gal or so??? I know large totes are hard to manuever.

Phil

 

[PopBeavers]

In my concept though, it's still a "tote" with wheels that you can take up and dump hitched to the back of the TV. Our problem is usually gray water for the most part. A nice wheeled tote on an integrated, easy to operate clamping system would be fantastic. Something in the range of 25 gal or so??? I know large totes are hard to manuever.

Phil

25 gallons is about 207 pounds.

When I need to use the tote, I am 30 miles or more from the nearest dump station. I would either need to find a way to lift the full tote by myself into the truck, or I would have to use a macerator to fill the tote while it is in the truck.

As long as I stay where it is acceptable to dump gray water on the ground, then I don't need a toe for the gray water.

fwiw, we use about 5 gallons of water per person per day. Most of that ends up in the gray water tank.

 

[MariaG-TMO]

Take a look at this web site. They may already have a tank that will fit at a cost that is lower than buying a welder and the plastic sheet.

http://www.tank-depot.com/product.aspx?id=163

Jerry

Thanks Jerry - I've visited that site (and several others) in the quest for a tankl that fits and haven't found anything that will work. The space we have to work with is 46"x12"x5" and everything I find is either too wide or too tall. Length doesn't seem to be an issue. *G* The quest continues!

Dave, we've discussed the mod that Ripp1202 did and DH isn't comfortable with it for some reason. _I_ still think it's the easiest fix but he wants a tank for whatever reason. We may at some point end up replacing the Thetford with an RV toilet sitting on a tank on the floor as someone here did - can't remember who right now.

Phil and Wayne - most of the time we would need to dump the black water tank, we would also be a long way from a dump station. Just having a tote isn't enough, we would need to transport it a distance. An under the camper rack is a thought, but again, finding room under there and a tote of the right dimensions is the problem. I obviously don't want to put it in the back of my minivan. *G*

 

[Shrimpburrito]

I remember someone posting a link to a company that would make a tank to your exact specs, and IIRC, it was not cost prohibitive. That would be easier, and maybe even cheaper, then buying equipment to make your own.

I obviously don't want to put it in the back of my minivan. *G*

OFFICER: Do you have anything in the car that I need to know about?
DRIVER: Not really, just a bunch of sh*t.

OFFICER: Can you be more specific?
DRIVER: Not really. It's just crap.

OFFICER: Do you mind if I take a look?
DRIVER: It would be my pleasure.

Dave

 

[P and B]

Popbeavers,

I've never camped anywhere that allowed gray water dumping on the ground. Maybe 25 gallons is a bit high but something that you could hook to the ball hitch and drive to the dump station at the same campground would be nice. You'd have to work the maneuverability and the under TM storage problems. If I was 30 miles from a dump station it would change the problem for sure.

Phil

 

[PopBeavers]

Popbeavers,

I've never camped anywhere that allowed gray water dumping on the ground. Maybe 25 gallons is a bit high but something that you could hook to the ball hitch and drive to the dump station at the same campground would be nice. You'd have to work the maneuverability and the under TM storage problems. If I was 30 miles from a dump station it would change the problem for sure.

Phil

When I am 30 miles from the nearest paved road, towing a tote down a gravel road is not a good idea.

When camped in the middle of no where, there are times when it is permissible to dump shower water on the ground. Some cities will allow you to use the water from your washing machine at home to water your lawn.

In a campground I would agree with you. I am trying to figure out some of the logistics of camping a little farther off of the beaten path.

The purpose of campgrounds is to get everyone but me to be camping in one place, so I can have the rest of the forest to myself.