Year-over-year changes?

[jasongold]

Hi,

My wife and I are shopping around for a used TM 2619 - preferably one made after 2001 (we've been told that was the year the whole body went aluminum).

Does anyone have a list of year-over-year changes that have been made since 2001? The essential TT seems the same, but outside lights, bumper etc. must have evolved a little, no?

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Hoping to be a TM soon,

Jason

 

[Shrimpburrito]

I'm not sure which change you refer to in 2001 when the "whole body went aluminum", but it is my understanding that several wood frame members in the shell were switched in aluminum or steel in 2003/2004. I believe that was also around the time they started mounting the AC on the roof, although that may have happened in 2002. There still is wood in TM's today as I understand it, just not as much, and none on the edge of the shells.

At some point in the last few years, they started installing a higher quality 3-stage charger/converter, but I don't know when specifically. Someone here will, as I know that info has been posted here before (and thus accessible through the SEARCH function).

But all this is probably somewhat irrelevant because used TM's come on the market so infrequently that you likely will not have a choice as to which year you buy.

Dave

 

[Al-n-Sue]

Looking at a friend's new 2720 yesterday, I noticed that the stirrups on the support bars (that you put your foot in to lock down the torsion bar support) are larger than mine - maybe by 3/4 to an inch deeper. Don't know if that was a 2007 or 2008 change, but it was pretty recent, since another friend's 2006 has the same size stirrup as mine.

I think the most "major" changes happened around 2003. If I were looking for a used TM, I'd opt for a post-2003 model, since those changes were significant improvements. And '03 models can vary as I think some changes were made during the year. My 2003 has a standard A/C and square bumper. A friend's 2003 3023 has the low profile A/C and the new "sleek" bumper (with access to the shore power plug when closed).

good luck!
Alan

 

[mtnguy]

My 2003 2720 (manufactured in March 03) has the low profile AC, and still has the square bumper.....thank goodness. I know that Trailmanor went to the new bumper because of weight savings, but I still like the square bumper to keep the slinky hose stored.

Chap

 

[Shrimpburrito]

I don't think you can mount a "stuff" carrier on the new bumper either.

Also around 2003-2004 they changed to wheel wells. They are now rounded inside, presumably plastic, instead of square sheet metal. I'm not sure how well the new wheel wells protect the interior from a blow out. Perhaps someone here with that sort of experience can comment.

Dave

 

[mtnguy]

I don't think you can mount a "stuff" carrier on the new bumper either.

Also around 2003-2004 they changed to wheel wells. They are now rounded inside, presumably plastic, instead of square sheet metal. I'm not sure how well the new wheel wells protect the interior from a blow out. Perhaps someone here with that sort of experience can comment.

Dave

Dave, my 2003 has the round wheel wells and I think that changed happened around 2001 or so. Presumeably, blown tire parts won't catch in the corners of the round wheel wells......but you are correct, they are plastic.

It would be neat to make a list of things that have changed over the years, and people respond according to the year that they have. But even the same year had changes.....case in point is Al-N-Sue's standard AC and my low profile AC, both 2003s.

Chap

 

[jasongold]

Changes

Thanks for all of the replies.

My real concerns would be the wood in the shell and any electronic components. I called the factory and was told that no major changes in structural components have been made since 2000, but the person that I spoke to didn't seem very confident in their answer.

Have there been any major changes since 2004?

Thanks again,

Jason

 

[PopBeavers]

My 2003 2720 (manufactured in March 03) has the low profile AC, and still has the square bumper.....thank goodness. I know that Trailmanor went to the new bumper because of weight savings, but I still like the square bumper to keep the slinky hose stored.

Chap

My 2005 has the newer rear bumper. In it I keep:

shore power cord, with adapters
2 slinkys
coiled hose for rinsing after dumping
toilet wand
gloves for dumping
45 degree sewer elbow with place to attach the rinse hose
90 degree sewer elbow for hookups
jack handle for corner stabilizers

What is it that you have room for that I do not?

 

[PopBeavers]

I don't think you can mount a "stuff" carrier on the new bumper either.

Also around 2003-2004 they changed to wheel wells. They are now rounded inside, presumably plastic, instead of square sheet metal. I'm not sure how well the new wheel wells protect the interior from a blow out. Perhaps someone here with that sort of experience can comment.

Dave

My 2005 has the factory installed welded hitch receiver on the back, rated for 100 pounds. I have never used it, other than to protect the back of the TM when I back it into the garage just a little bit too far.

We have the rounded wheel wells. We had a blow out, curb side, on the 4th. If the radio had been on we would not have heard the pop of the tire. DW was driving and did not feel a thing. Not a massive blow out, most of the tire was still there, so that isn't quite what you were asking.

 

[mtnguy]

My 2005 has the newer rear bumper. In it I keep:

shore power cord, with adapters
2 slinkys
coiled hose for rinsing after dumping
toilet wand
gloves for dumping
45 degree sewer elbow with place to attach the rinse hose
90 degree sewer elbow for hookups
jack handle for corner stabilizers

What is it that you have room for that I do not?

Wayne, the old style bumper still has an aluminum storage area that holds a plenty. I keep about a dozen misc. leveling blocks in there, my jack handle, and a container of sewer adapters......which I have never needed. I just think that stuffing the slinky hose ( I have 2 in the bumper) into the old style rear bumper is easier and "cleaner" than putting it in the rear storage area.....which leaves me more room for my other goodies. That said, if I even need 1 of those sewer adapters, then I have defeated 1/2 of that previous statement.

The old style storage area is harder to get into than the newer units when the unit is down. If I forget and put the diamond plate above the forward support (instead of under it), then I have to release the back corner hold-down latches before I can remove the diamond plate.

Chap

 

[PopBeavers]

I'm confused about the difference between the "rear storage compartment" and the bumper storage.

I have the "rear storage compartment" that is big enough to hold my bbq, 3 white water hoses, fire pit, folding garbage cans and some other stuff. It can only be accessed when the rear shell is open and the rear bed is extended.

In the bumper is my sewage supplies, it has a pop off cover across the entire width. There are three sections.

I have never seen the old style so I do not know what it looks like. In October we have a west coast rally. Maybe one of the 30+ TMs will be the older style and I'll get to see one.

 

[mtnguy]

I'm confused about the difference between the "rear storage compartment" and the bumper storage.

I have the "rear storage compartment" that is big enough to hold my bbq, 3 white water hoses, fire pit, folding garbage cans and some other stuff. It can only be accessed when the rear shell is open and the rear bed is extended.

In the bumper is my sewage supplies, it has a pop off cover across the entire width. There are three sections.

I have never seen the old style so I do not know what it looks like. In October we have a west coast rally. Maybe one of the 30+ TMs will be the older style and I'll get to see one.

Wayne, I worded my last post wrong. I should have written bumper storage area. I too have the rear storage compartment that I keep some of the same stuff that you do.

The bumper storage on the older TMs consist of a dropped metal pan extending from slightly under the TM to the square bumper.....same location as the present day area, but it doesn't have the dividers. It also has a pop off cover.....a long piece of diamond plate aluminum. Hopefully you can get to see one of the older style at the Rally......that ought to be a blast.

Chap

 

[Bill]

By the way, I have an extra one of these diamond plate bumper-storage covers, free to any Sponsor who would like to come by my place near Phoenix and pick it up. No, it will not fit the new-style bumper storage. I posted this in the Parts section a couple years ago, and had no takers ...

Bill

 

[B_and_D]

Thanks for the offer, Bill, I wonder if it would fit onto our bumper storage compartment, it would probably look a lot nicer than the black one we have.

We may make it down to the deserts of Southern CA again this winter, AZ isn't that far away, and we have a dear uncle we'd like to visit in Phoenix who is in his early 90's.