Packing in down position & Collapsing in rain

[wowchad]

Today while looking for a lightweight to replace our Outback LOFT due to our smaller TV I stumbled across TrailManor campers.

I've never heard of them before and after some reading I also looked at Hi-Lo brand campers.

Having come from Jayco pop-up we love our big Outback LOFT, but it is like towing a house!
The 7.3L Excursion is up for sale and I'm in a smaller SUV with 6000# tow capacity so I am looking at pop-ups again, but also hybrids like Jayco JAY FEATHER...then I see this contraption and like our LOFT, it's very unique and intriguing.

My concerns is how hard it is to pack when down; our standard pop-up was terrible! (If I got another pop-up it'd be a high-sided one)

So how accessible are the TM cabinets and cupboards when it's in the folded
down position?

Also would you tell me about teardown in the rain?
Which of course in another downside of a pop-up...and a hybrid now that I think about it. It's like a tent, if you pack when it's wet you need to put it back up to dry once you get home which is a total pain.

Thanks in advance for any feedback.
Chad Salter - Milwaukee'ish, WI

 

[TrailManorMan]

Cannot be packed in down position.
Taking down in the rain is fine, does not get wet inside and no need to dry it.
Most love the design.

 

[HoMiPa]

So how accessible are the TM cabinets and cupboards when it's in the folded
down position?

Also would you tell me about teardown in the rain?

There is basically zero access in the fully closed position. You can however, open just the front shell, and you can then crawl in over the bed platform to have some limited access - but it is better to plan ahead and not have to access anything in the trailer until you are ready to open it. This is for the units with a bed on each end. I can't speak for the units that have a slide in the front.

Tearing down in the rain actually isn't bad at all. If you are having high winds, and the rain is blowing from the back of the trailer, you may get some rain in the trailer between the time you lower the rear shell, and the time you lower the front shell. There may be some dribbles into the trailer once closed down while traveling - not from rain, but from water that was on the rear shell roof when you closed the trailer. It has to go somewhere, and although for the most part gravity takes it over the side of the rear shell, there may be a little that gets inside, but usually only dribbles. Just because you closed up in the rain, there usually isn't any pressing need to get it opened right away to dry out, unlike a canvas pop-up.

The Trailermanor tows unbelievably well - enough weight that it doesn't bounce around (like the pop-up I had years ago), and the airflow of just about any vehicle you would tow it with, just goes right over the trailer.

 

[wowchad]

There is basically zero access in the fully closed position...

UffDa that's not good.
Can you get to the fridge or slide a cooler in the door?

...So I guess how is it vs. a pop-up?
On our pop-up I could at least slide stuff in the door and 'down the isle' if you will.
Can I toss ANYTHING in there with it completely down, like bins or duffle-bags?

We usually have the kids pack while I'm at work so we can hook up and go once I get home so it's important to know how that looks before I get too excited.
On a high sided pop-up I can just about crawl in on my hands and knees, not like snaking in on my belly like our Jayco 1207. That was ROUGH, but do-able - especially for the kiddos.

 

[HoMiPa]

Can I toss ANYTHING in there with it completely down, like bins or duffle-bags?

No can do. I've attached a photo of my TM, a 3023, in the closed position. Notice that the upper front shell, which contains the upper half of the door, does not in any way match up to the lower half of the door, which is on the lower rear half of the trailer. That being said, you can literally close it down from the fully open state, and be ready to roll in 15 minutes.

 

[wowchad]

No can do. I've attached a photo of my TM, a 3023, in the closed position. Notice that the upper front shell, which contains the upper half of the door, does not in any way match up to the lower half of the door, which is on the lower rear half of the trailer. That being said, you can literally close it down from the fully open state, and be ready to roll in 15 minutes.

^^^ That was very helpful, thank you ^^^

I completely get it now and if pulling the tops up & down / open & closed is as easy as all you owners say (I've been reading a lot) then it really isn't a big deal I guess.

 

[Padgett]

Slide is same, I have popped the front module (about a minute) while still hitched to the TV and then have access to everything in front of the wardrobe in the aisle. This includes the fridge if you have left accessible but I keep perishables/drinks in a 44 qt Peltier cooler in the TV.

Enclosed is a shot of the inside from the fridge back, everything in front is accessible.

 

[Larryjb-HILO]

UffDa that's not good.
Can you get to the fridge or slide a cooler in the door?

It's not all that bad to open to get to the fridge. You'd have to unlatch and open the shells. This much can be in in just a few minutes. If you need the washroom, you'd need to set up the washroom as well.

The BIG advantage and selling point for the TM for me was a full washroom (to sell the idea of camping to my wife who's never camped before), and hard sides. The other advantage is the amount of room you get out of a 22' trailer. Once opened, I imaging pulling a 27' trailer and cringe. I know I'd get used to it, but I don't have to.

If you wanted access to cold drinks or a quick sandwich on the road, I'd pack a cooler in the SUV, or pull over to a rest stop and set the trailer up.

 

[HoMiPa]

^^^ That was very helpful, thank you ^^^

I completely get it now and if pulling the tops up & down / open & closed is as easy as all you owners say (I've been reading a lot) then it really isn't a big deal I guess.

Most of us TM owners don't think it's a big deal at all. I bought my TM new, in Aug of 2004, and now I just can't even imagine having full access to a trailer while on the road. I'm afraid it would make me more forgetful than I already am, in the sense that I know I could just pop in the door at any time. I suppose that's an advantage, but I think most TM owners would agree that that advantage doesn't even come close to outweighing the advantage of a fairly large trailer, in a small, very easily towed package.

Admittedly, for myself, the idea of a cross country trip, opening and closing every night for several nights in a row, doesn't appeal to me, but then I think of how much less gas I'd use on that cross country trip, towing a TM vice a full height trailer, and I'm back to loving the TM and realizing the opening & closing really isn't that big of a deal. I never rush. I take my time. While camping, I can get up, have breakfast, clean up, walk the dogs, then start breaking down camp, and I am still on the road about 2 hours after getting out of bed. That's on my own. Those who have help, either via a spouse and/or kids, can do it even quicker. (Well, unless they are more of a hinderance than help.....)

Again, speaking only for the units with two beds, not a slide, I can fully open while still connected to the TV - so cross country trips, with big box store parking lot overnights, is completely doable. Not that I've done it yet, but it is. Actually, that's not true, years ago, probably 2006, 2007, I opened up in a large truck rest area, between big rigs. It wasn't the most restful sleep I've ever had, but it was nice to be able to open up without unhooking. I know you can do that with a normal TT, but since so many people get slideouts, I have to wonder how difficult it is to move around in there without opening those....

All that being said, in my TV I always have everything I need for the dogs (leashes, treats, food, water, bowls, brushes, etc) "just in case". I also have a small bag for me with a few small toiletries and a change of clothes, phone charger, etc., again, "just in case". And finally, a small (like 6-pack size) cooler with a couple of drinks and a sandwich or two.

 

[Padgett]

Again, I have a slide and since it only pulls forward to the jackpost, do not need to unhitch to open up, It only gains length in the back (nomenclature is a little misleading: 20 foot towed length is correct but opened up it is more like 24ft OA than 27. OTOH you get nearly the full length of the tongue.

Really has all of the advantages of a popup plus insulated hard sides with no canvas for safety and comfort.

 

[HoMiPa]

Again, I have a slide and since it only pulls forward to the jackpost, do not need to unhitch to open .

Good to know - I always wondered how far the slide pulled foward, but I guess it makes sense that it can't pull farther than the post! Doh!

 

[Kidkraz]

I have crawled into the camper with the back shell down, not easy for a woman my size. There is space to store your stuff depending upon the version you get. I have a 2619, so I keep sleeping bags, pillows, and any other items on the floor between the dinette seats. Also be aware the bathroom area also has some storage if you need it. I normally keep my broom, spare drinking water jugs there. As you probably did with your current and past campers, you keep needed and highly used items in the storage bins or cubbies. Some of us do stock the fridge with food before closing and heading out. I don't, so I do drag a cooler and once set up and the fridge is cold enough I stock it. It works for me. Good luck with your decision.

 

[tentcamper]

No problems in the rain in our 3+ years of use. If the wind was blowing the rain sideways it could get wet when lowing, but if its raining to hard we wait for it to slow down anyways.

 

[Bailey'sMom]

This is my fifth summer with my camper. During that time I have closed it down in the rain once or twice. It was no problem nothing got wet inside.


. I can't say the same thing for my old pop up. I left early one trip because it was going to be raining all day that day and the next so I started to pack up and had just dropped the bunk end support poles when it started absolutely pouring! So dumb me I waited it out about five minutes before I realized how wet my beds were getting and I closed it all up as fast as I could. Regretted trying to leave early.

Now I always pop up my campers when I get home anyway to unpack everything, but that five hours of sitting in soaked wetness really caused problems with my "canvas" and I always had mildew on it thereafter.

You would never have the same issue with the TM. Once you are to the point of popping down the shells it is really quick and easy. And as someone else said there is not much wetness that gets in the camper mainly it will be from the front shell sitting on the wet rear shell. My biggest issue when I closed it up in the rain was all the pine needles and twigs that I didn't take the time to clean off the rear shell because of the rain.

It takes longer to hitch up than it does to pop it down.

As for crawling inside it when closed.....no that won't work, but it ooens fully when hitched up. Just three weeks ago I had just closed it all down prior to heading out on vacation and had it all backed into the garage and ready to go except for putting my bike on the car. Then I realized that I forgot to turn the fridg fan on. I ended up pulling it into the street and popping up front and rear shells so I could open the door and turn the fan on. Then closed it up and had it back in the garage and to go in less than 15 minutes.

 

[Padgett]

Guess it depends on what you need and how limber you are. I am well past retirement and have no problem popping just the front module and climbing in over the tongue. Since almost all loose storage is between the fridge and the sofa or on the sofa, this is all accessible. Now to get into the wardrobe, rear drawers, lav, or rear compartments requires more of a set-up, so anything I might need is in the front and anything I will need is in the TV.

Just a matter of how you pack it.

 

[Larryjb-HILO]

I think crawling in from the front makes more sense if you have one of the slide models like we have. The front bed (non _slide) would make crawling in more difficult. For me, if I have the front shell open already, it's not any harder to pop open the rear shell and go in the door.

 

[BrucePerens]

You'll also have to open the Trailmanor to change the tires.

 

[HoMiPa]

You'll also have to open the Trailmanor to change the tires.

I've done it without opening. Wasn't easy, and it involved blocks and two jacks, but I did it.

 

[Padgett]

Depends on what size tires you have. 235 yes. 205 LRD like mine I can remove without opening. Do not need the skirt to keep mud out either.

Just realized if I have a flat may be able to get the 205 off but might not get the 215 spare on. Now I'll have to check.

Brings up another thought: maybe a smaller high pressure (LRD 65 psi) tire has less lateral compliance and is more resistant to sway. Know in a street car handling improves if the rim is wider than the tread width and I have a 5.4" tread on a 6" rim. Also know that sway in a trailer is more likely if the pressure is low.

Toss in that adding a lift kit also raises the CG which increases lateral torque and reinforces my decision to go to a ST205x75R15 LRD (4300lb load rating for pair) and not install the lift kit.

 

[tentcamper]

I don't know if its correct?? Wayne who use to have a TM about 3 years ago. He told me that with a 2 or 3 inch lift you did not need to rise the shell to change a standard size 15" tire. Anyone know what size lift you need?