Hello from Switzerland

[JumboCH]

I‘m a new TM Owner from Switzerland. Please excuse my bad english. The Seller imported only 3 TM to Switzerland.

 

[Larryjb-HILO]

I've got to see a picture of a TM in Switzerland! The previous owner must have really wanted a Trailmanor!

 

[JumboCH]

It was a demonstration car now it‘s 2 years old. Im the first real owner of the TM. Now i have to buy a brake controller and this is difficult, we dont have electronic brakes in europe. fortunately The dealer chanched the electronics to 220v.

 

[JumboCH]

Shipping is not cheap

 

[Larryjb-HILO]

You could probably swap the axle/wheel assembly to be consistent with European brake systems. This would make future maintenance easier I imagine.

 

[JumboCH]

Swaping the axle is difficult, we have extrem hard law‘s. I drive a Lincoln Aviator, i wanted new wheels, Lincoln cars are newer sold in europe so it‘s imposible to buy other rims ...

 

[Bill]

I'm confused. Why would anything related to TM brakes have to be changed out? The TM would have normal US 12-volt electric brakes, I assume. And these days, I think European cars other than electric cars (as well as a US-built Lincoln Aviator), have 12-volt negative-ground electrical systems? (Or have you moved to the 48-volt system? Lord help you if you have the old British 6-volt positive ground system!) So all you need is a brake controller. The controller might have to be ordered from the US, but once in hand, it should be a normal install.

What am I missing?

Bill

 

[JumboCH]

We have normal 12 v on cars or 24 v in trucks ( semi truck?). You need papers and certificats for every not original parts. But we have the best choclate and cheese in the world

 

[Bill]

We have normal 12 v on cars or 24 v in trucks (semi truck?).

That's good news. Yes, we have 24 volts in semi-trucks, too. But cars, pickup trucks, SUVs, motorcycles, etc all have 12-volt electric systems. If your Trail Manor has normal US-installed electric brakes, all you will need is the trailer brake controller.

My suggestion. When you buy a brake controller, be sure it has the word "inertial" or "proportional" in the description. There are many available, but a good controller for a new user is the Tekonsha Prodigy P3. Very popular in the US, lots of people with experience you can draw from.

A thought for you. Some US vehicles have a built-in trailer brake controller. My 2014 Ford F-150 pickup truck has one. I don't know what model year your Aviator is, but be sure to check whether it has a built-in trailer brake controller.

But we have the best choclate and cheese in the world

Yes you do!

Bill

 

[JumboCH]

Our Aviator ( wifes car ) is a 2003 Canadian model. I orderd a Tekonsha P3 from a seller in Germany ( 140 USD) and 2 cables, 1 specific and 1 universal.

 

[Larryjb-HILO]

A quick search of "rv trailer brakes "europe" " comes up with sarge brakes which do not require any electrical power.

My original thought was that it might have been easier to convent to the EU system. Because their brakes are unlikely to bolt onto TM hubs or axles, bolting an EU axle / brake / wheel combination might have been easier then ordering all the brake systems from over the pond.

However, it seems that by doing so adds a new level of complexity, paperwork due to modifications.

Bill, perhaps Jumbo can join by paying in chocolate and cheese to all the moderators?

 

[JumboCH]

However, it seems that by doing so adds a new level of complexity, paperwork due to modifications.

fun fact, you need a permission to cut down your own tree on your property. The Dealer had to retrofit a normal handbrake and had to remove the gas tank holder.

 

[Bill]

Bill, perhaps Jumbo can join by paying in chocolate and cheese to all the moderators?

Sounds like a great idea. I'll volunteer to be the central collection point for all of the moderators.

(For those who don't recognize why I am chuckling - I am the only moderator. And I work for free.)

Bill

 

[Larryjb-HILO]

fun fact, you need a permission to cut down your own tree on your property. The Dealer had to retrofit a normal handbrake and had to remove the gas tank holder.

Okay, we're not quite so bad, but we need permission to cut trees down here too. Only allowed to water grass 2 morning/week in the summer, and we live in a temperate rain forest. We're nowhere near California or Florida!

And foot activated parking brakes are the normal brakes. (I grew up with them. Those were the days when you could sit three in the front.)

 

[Larryjb-HILO]

I'm now waiting for Jumbo to post in the "Trailmanor Sightings" subforum. Highly unlikely, but THAT would be fascinating!

 

[JumboCH]

Unfortunately You don‘t see a lot of US Trucks, Cars or Bike‘s but US Camper equipment is extreme rare.

 

[Bill]

I‘m a new TM Owner from Switzerland.

I'm curious. I haven't been to Europe for a long time, but I recall that many of the most interesting roads were a bit narrow. I would think that many Swiss roads would be narrow as well, especially in the mountains. As a result, the campers (caravans) were narrow, too. Do you expect any limits on where you can go with a Trail Manor, which is 8 feet wide?

Bill

 

[JumboCH]

The most normal Roads are no problem to drive, but the nice mountainroads are often small and the legal ones are not that fun to drive but they worked a lot in the past years. The bigger problem are the camping places. Normal you have avg. 25 - 30 foot x 25-30 foot and 6 - 16 ampere of energy. You have problems with the bigger RV or Trailer.

 

[JumboCH]

The registration license arrived today. The TM is still at the dealership waiting for the new bagseal.