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01-20-2013, 04:20 PM
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#1
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Senior Member
Name: Derek
Trailer: 1973 boler 13', Earlton On
Ontario
Posts: 396
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Alto
One of the more interesting trailers at the Toronto RV show was the Alto trailer. Its a sort of hybrid clamshell popup. Interesting concept. Has anyone seen one of these? Thoughts? Experiences?
Alto Technology
Derek
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01-20-2013, 06:03 PM
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#2
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Senior Member
Trailer: Outback (by Trillium) 2004
Posts: 1,588
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we actually checked these units out last year in quebec city. they really are nice!!
i was quite taken by the huge windows and how much light they let in.
not molded fiberglass...but quite intriguing nonetheless.
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01-20-2013, 06:54 PM
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#3
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Senior Member
Trailer: 1988 16 ft Scamp Deluxe
Posts: 25,707
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There have been some terrific lightweight trailers out there, but, I'm not into lifting or sliding anything. I prefer to open the door... and be done. YMMV
__________________
Donna D.
Ten Forward - 2014 Escape 5.0 TA
Double Yolk - 1988 16' Scamp Deluxe
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01-20-2013, 07:16 PM
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#4
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Senior Member
Name: jim
Trailer: 2022 Escape19 pulled by 2014 Dodge Ram Hemi Sport
Pennsylvania
Posts: 6,710
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Too bad they will not import to US, I asked them last year.
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01-20-2013, 07:24 PM
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#5
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Senior Member
Trailer: Escape 17 ft
Posts: 8,317
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Donna D.
There have been some terrific lightweight trailers out there, but, I'm not into lifting or sliding anything. I prefer to open the door... and be done. YMMV
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At our family reunion last summer, a relative and his young family spent the night crawling over top of furniture and fixtures to get to the bathroom when the slide on their stick RV wouldn't open. Spent a good part of the next day waiting for a repairman.
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01-20-2013, 07:54 PM
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#6
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Senior Member
Name: Diane
Trailer: Casita, previously u-haul ct13
Virginia
Posts: 1,020
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WOW!, Innovative! Like all the windows especially.
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01-20-2013, 11:03 PM
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#7
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Senior Member
Trailer: 2007 Casita
Posts: 3,428
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I get that they will have a niche market. Fit's in a garage, that's huge for a lot of people. The windows are awesome. But what about 1635 pounds is "feather weight" I don't see it! That's a lot of weight for no bathroom and such a small compact space that you have to open up to even be able to sit in. Just my opinion!
And what's this about? I am sure I am reading it correct.... But I don't get it! It's in the options section of the web page.
" Optional intelligent brake controller can be installed inside the Alto"
Ummmmm, who needs brakes inside the trailer? Crazy Aunt Betty who you let travel inside the trailer? Walkie talkies telling her, down grade coming, hit the brakes! LOL.........
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01-20-2013, 11:12 PM
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#8
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Senior Member
Trailer: 93 Burro 17 ft
Posts: 6,024
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I've eyed the Alto for several years. No export to USA, that's the biggest drawback for us folks south of the north border. They can be entered and used without raising the top. The top is raised by pushing a button, no strain.... but it moves verrrry slowly and takes a couple of minutes to reach full height. Hydraulics, I think, but not positive.
IIRC it's about as spacious, roughly, as a 16-17 foot egg, but with even better aerodynamics. And the windows are bound to give it a more open feel. Of course, more seams and more windows mean more leak opportunities after while.
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01-20-2013, 11:29 PM
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#9
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Senior Member
Name: Mark
Trailer: 1969 Boler (Flat Top)
British Columbia
Posts: 530
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Good news from their website,
"Now available for sale to the US through the manufacturer."
__________________
Mark
1969 Boler (#183)
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01-21-2013, 08:32 AM
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#10
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Member
Name: Dennis & Linda
Trailer: Leocraft 17ft fiberglass rv by Monarch Industries
Ontario
Posts: 70
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Alto RV
The Alto is definitely interesting but what I found even more amazing is that it was pulled by a Fiat 500 2 door. The dealer told us that they brought it from London at 100 km per hr. Not bad! looks like you can have your cake and eat it too - great mileage when not towing and you don,t need to change to a larger vehicle to tow it.
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01-21-2013, 08:38 AM
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#11
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Senior Member
Trailer: No Trailer Yet
Posts: 5,112
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I was amazed by the claim of 75% reduced aerodynamic drag. I'd love to see how that was calculated and verified (show me the data).
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01-21-2013, 10:32 AM
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#12
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Senior Member
Name: Norm and Ginny
Trailer: Scamp 16
Florida
Posts: 7,517
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When these first appeared I contacted Alto about their towing efficiency. He responded with a mpg figure that was not nearly as good as we were experiencing with our Scamp or Casita.
It does have a large frontal area. It is almost 7 feet high and 7 feet wide in the closed position.
Two years ago we were in a Prov Park in PEI with one. Ginny's feeling was that there was to much glass. In part meaning a lot of light coming thru non opening windows and a lot of glass that's a poor insulator in heat and cold.
__________________
Norm and Ginny
2014 Honda Odyssey
1991 Scamp 16
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01-21-2013, 10:49 AM
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#13
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Senior Member
Trailer: 1990 Bigfoot 5th Wheel
Posts: 604
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I have not seen the construction techniques, but I wonder about the long term consequences of not having a permanent roof to tie the top of the walls together.
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01-21-2013, 12:08 PM
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#14
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Senior Member
Trailer: 92 16 ft Scamp
Posts: 11,756
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Quote:
Originally Posted by WildBirder
Good news from their website,
"Now available for sale to the US through the manufacturer."
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Its a funny thing but just about every trailer manufacture out of Quebec has some issues to start with in regards to exporting to the US. Suspect it may be due to the province of Quebec having different requirements in regards to DOT etc compliance stickers than the rest of Canada. The compliance stickers needed/used in other provinces seem to work for export to the US. It always seems to take the trailer manufactures in Quebec a year or so before they get it together and meet the compliance sticker requirements needed to export to the US. A bit of a head scratcher for sure.
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01-21-2013, 02:24 PM
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#15
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Senior Member
Name: Bill
Trailer: Lil Snoozy / Jeep Cherokee
Pennsylvania
Posts: 404
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Camped next to one in Maine last summer. Nice people from Quebec owned it and gave us a tour in "French". Very Nice! Very High Tech! Very expensive!
Could imagine maintenance issues down the road when all the pumps, motors, and gadgets decide to go south.
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01-21-2013, 05:24 PM
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#17
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Senior Member
Trailer: 93 Burro 17 ft
Posts: 6,024
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The fixed roof model makes me think of R-Pod. Not as elegant looking to me.
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