Dealer Black Hole

[mdhartwell]

It seems that we in Nebraska, currently, have no local dealers.
I did read the post concerning the proposed factory site in Hartington, about 100 miles NW of where I live (Fremont, Ne).
I somehow wound up on the distro list for Trailmanor, tho I have no memory of that.
We are 50% retired and would love to do some traveling. In years past we had, and enjoyed a small pop-up.
The TM seems a viable step-up.
We have been dithering back and forth about a used class C or new TT of some sort.
My curiosity has been peaked about the TM, but getting to a dealer is at least a 6 hour trip, just to satisfy our curiosity.
If anybody is traveling thru East Central Nebraska, and would enjoy some slow smoked ribs and adult beverages, let us know.
There is some nice camping close to the house (my orchard).
Thanks all,
Mike and Cheryl

 

[Bill]

Mike and Cheryl -

Be sure to look for RV Shows. I've got to believe that there will be big shows in Omaha, and probably in DesMoines, and TM may be there. Spring is a big time for RV shows, and you might expect a pretty good discount for a show special.

Bill

 

[mdhartwell]

bill,
Thanks for the comeback.
We've been to shows in Lincoln and Omaha, but have not seen TM.
The closest dealer is west of ames, about an hour north of Des Moines.
They are showing one model on their site, a 2011 2720.
Not a huge choice, and about 6 or 7 hours away.
:new_newbi

 

[Bluegrass]

Given the distance, I'd start by asking yourself two questions:

1. Is your tow vehicle limited in what it can pull, say 5000 pounds or less?
2. Are you looking to avoid storage charges by keeping the trailer in your garage?

If the answer to the above two questions is no, then I'd advise you to look at traditional travel trailers or 5th wheel. You'll get a lot more trailer for your money, though I'm sure I'll catch **** from others here for saying so.

TMs are a niche product whose competitive advantages are light weight and compact size. You pay a premium for those advantages. If they are important to you, it's a great product. If not, look for something else.
My two cents.

Keith

 

[PopBeavers]

Most people don't go where I go, so the following is a moot point:

I sometimes scrape the top of my truck on low tree branches on side spurs of primary fire roads. That means I am sometimes scraping the top of my a/c, but probably not the top of my TM. In a traditional travel trailer, or even worse, a fifth wheeler, then I would not be scraping twigs, I would be scraping branches.

Low profile is an advantage where I go.

But I completely agree with your other points.

 

[Mr. Adventure]

It seems that we in Nebraska, currently, have no local dealers.
I did read the post concerning the proposed factory site in Hartington, about 100 miles NW of where I live (Fremont, Ne).
I somehow wound up on the distro list for Trailmanor, tho I have no memory of that.
We are 50% retired and would love to do some traveling. In years past we had, and enjoyed a small pop-up.
The TM seems a viable step-up.
We have been dithering back and forth about a used class C or new TT of some sort.
My curiosity has been peaked about the TM, but getting to a dealer is at least a 6 hour trip, just to satisfy our curiosity.
If anybody is traveling thru East Central Nebraska, and would enjoy some slow smoked ribs and adult beverages, let us know.
There is some nice camping close to the house (my orchard).
Thanks all,
Mike and Cheryl

Trailmanor dealers have been in limbo with the corporate restructuring, and may or may not have the inventory you want to see, so you'd need to call before your go any great distance. With the new factory coming close by, one day you may be telling us about what's going on.

Your cheap campground offer would ordinarily be a draw for us, but it's a bit of a trip for us right now.

We've owned popups, a 29' TT, and a 37' Winnebago before buying the TrailManor. The popups were great family fun, but they never had a bathroom that met the standards of Ms. Adventure. The motorhome at 6mpg would be a lot less fun at today's gas prices, and it was a nuisance having to maintain another vehicle and all those trips to the dealer that went with all that equipment (jacks, tires, oil changes, generator service, etc.). The only RV I'd never want to own again is the full sized TT (too unstable on the road, downright scary at highway speed).

The TrailManor is great behind the vehicle I otherwise drive every day, and we get 16-17mpg towing. The low profile on the road helps both with gas mileage and with towing stability. TrailManors also seem to hold up amazingly well.

 

[mdhartwell]

Thanks for the replies.
The ease of towing and road economy are the reasons the TM has attracted my attention.
I am also leery of high profile vehicles, considering the weather patterns that seem to be the norm these days.
My offer of a free meal and camping still stands for anyone travelling by.

 

[PopBeavers]

Thanks for the replies.
The ease of towing and road economy are the reasons the TM has attracted my attention.
I am also leery of high profile vehicles, considering the weather patterns that seem to be the norm these days.
My offer of a free meal and camping still stands for anyone travelling by.

I'm not sure what you mean by high profile vehicles, but I have no problems with my 1500HD or 2500HD trucks.

In my experience, high profile vehicles with a narrow track (width) and/or short wheelbase (length) are unstable at high speed in tight turns. I have driven many jeeps, from a 1948 Willy's MB to a 1966 CJ5. They are not vehicles that I would use for towing a TM. Other models of Jeep do not have the same characteristics as the off-road Jeeps.

 

[mdhartwell]

I was referring to the motorhome or TT when I mentioned "High Profile".
No offence to your fine vehicles.

 

[klv5920]

If you look around, you can find a good used one for half the price of a new one or less.
We bought a used one that was well kept and is "new" to us.
And who knows, once everyone starts traveling, someone may show up with a TM and you can see it up close and personal!!

Karen

 

[mdhartwell]

Karen,
That is my wish.

 

[moaboy]

If you can sit tight, TM will be making both the folding and Elkmont series in Nebraska next year, according to the TM person I talked to today when I ordered a part.

In my opinion it is worth the wait considering all of the advantages a folding TM offers.

Good luck whatever route you take.

 

[SCBillandJane]

I agree with the above posts that the trailmanor is a niche, expensive trailer. I also have the opinion that it allows you to go anyplace without hesitation except those places best for 4 wheel drive and a tent and some even do that. Trees can be a real problem in unexpected places. We have been on narrow roads approaching campgrounds with no where to turn around. Then you see the trees overhanging the road. Several times I have been glad that the TM was no taller than my TV. I can go on the state and US campground roads with out staying in the middle of the road to avoid the tree limbs and playing chicken with a motor home and hoping nothing was coming around the corner. There are many hidden benefits that come with use. If the TM is for your style of camping nothing else works.

 

[Redhawk]

There's a great dealer in Colorado Springs, CO, with good inventory last I drove by there. I'm not sure what part of NE you are in, so that may be closer or further away. There's a lot to do here, so a mini vacation may be in order.

We bought used too and I would recommend it highly if you decide the TM is for you.

 

[PopBeavers]

I agree with the above posts that the trailmanor is a niche, expensive trailer. I also have the opinion that it allows you to go anyplace without hesitation except those places best for 4 wheel drive and a tent and some even do that. Trees can be a real problem in unexpected places. We have been on narrow roads approaching campgrounds with no where to turn around. Then you see the trees overhanging the road. Several times I have been glad that the TM was no taller than my TV. I can go on the state and US campground roads with out staying in the middle of the road to avoid the tree limbs and playing chicken with a motor home and hoping nothing was coming around the corner. There are many hidden benefits that come with use. If the TM is for your style of camping nothing else works.

Regarding no where to turn around.

I once made a u-turn in the dark with trees all around. I wish I had a video. It was a minimum of 19 points to the u-turn. My daughter says it was more than that, be we did not count.

180/19 is about 10 degrees of rotation for each point.

It took a fair bit of patience.