What do I want in a camper?

[Francesca Knowles]

I measured my Trillium this morning- it's 6'1" in the walkin' around area. Which, I might add, is less than ten square feet, given interior fixtures etc. (Whence our "one person walks around at a time" rule).

Per "fiberglass sandwich" mentioned earlier:

I can't speak to other brands or even the current version of my own, but in the case of my Trillium it has a complete full-circumference fiberglass shell. The floor is a sheet of marine plywood, also covered with the same fiberglass that makes up the rest of the trailer. It was formed at the same time/as part of the interior fixtures and is continuous except for what seems to be a universal 1/2 inch "gap" right in front of the kitchen counter. Other than that strange phenom, the only place in my unit where the plywood is visible is at the extreme front under the bench.

Since the belly's curved while the plywood floor is flat, I think there's a bit of an airgap down there. In fact, I've idly speculated as to whether it isn't big enough for some kind of a "bladder" for graywater....

The other places there's plywood is inside the formed window cutout edges, put there to provide something for the screws to bite into, I guess. Many Trilliums of this vintage will show varying degrees of rot in those places- some may require widow removal/ replacement of the wood.

Francesca

[David Tilston]

Francesca, The floor on my 4500 is flat, except for the fresh water tank and outside the frame, where there are what I call pontoons. They form low spots on the outside that catch leaking water. Trouble is that unless someone drills holes in the low spots of these pontoons, just ahead and behind the wheel wells, they collect this water and it never drains.
Where the floor of the kitchen is on the trailer is completely flat on the underside of the floor.
The attached picture is from the front looking toward the back. You can see the water tank hanging down in the back.

[Francesca Knowles]

I've heard that "leaking water catchment" thing before and have never understood where that water is supposed to come from!

The fiberglass floor coating is wall-to-wall in my trailer, even under the dinette benches and the cubby beneath the closet/kitchen counter.

The only place I can even see an edge of plywood or any sort of gap is as I think I said, at the extreme front under the bench....and if any water gets into that gap, it would just flow out through the pigtail aperture in the belly of the beast.

Francesca

[cpaharley2008]

Escape Trailers have the pontoons but with holes drilled. Any water that was to get in via a window/roof leak, condensation, plumbing leak will collect in these low spots and then drain via the holes. Consider it a non electric bilge pump or safety valve.

[Jon Vermilye]

Originally Posted by Lora

That is good information. So, maybe I won't have to invest in foam bumpers. Do your boots have heavy duty soles?

What year is your rig?

Trailer is a 2011, and the boots are normal hiking boots - never measured the soles... Escape lists the interior height as 6'-2" but I suspect that is without the 1" or so the AC shroud sticks down.

[Raz]

Most 13' and many 16' have bed widths of less than 4'. Scamp deluxe is one exception. Our Trillium is 45". Before we bought, we measured out on the floor and checked if the size was doable. Here is a bed size thread that's worth a look. Raz

http://www.fiberglassrv.com/forums/f...zes-29849.html

[Lora]

Originally Posted by deryk

Another thing that Im looking into is http://www.fiberglassrv.com/forums/f...ank-56358.html

So if you find a trailer set up with a single bottle of propane, dont sweat it... buy the 20 or 25lb ($100 to 135.00)fiberglass tank and use that and you can visually see how much fuel you have in it before heading out for the weekend and save yourself about 45lbs off your tongue weight if you had 2 steel 20lb tanks.

deryk

Definitely going with one of these and I want to include the valve that allows you to hook up your outdoor cooktop. DH delivers propane in the winter and had heard of them, but not seen one.

[Lora]

Originally Posted by rabbit

You can't "have it all"
With that said, I like enuf galley counter that I don't have to set the frypan on the floor
and a handy loo even if we try to avoid using it. jack

Too true, but it sure doesn't keep us from trying, does it.
Good point re:cooking/prep
And I also can appreciate not having to make those late night trips to the facilities.

[Lora]

Originally Posted by Francesca Knowles

.and if any water gets into that gap, it would just flow out through the pigtail aperture in the belly of the beast.

Francesca

You mean thru it's navel?

[john warren]

i want shania twain in a camper,,,,but my wife says no uhuh!

[Lora]

Originally Posted by john warren

i want shania twain in a camper,,,,but my wife says no uhuh!

We all have dreams.

[Evergreengirl]

Hi Lora,

Kathy here. You PM'd me with some questions about a 17' Bigfoot you were interested in and after finding this thread I have some other thoughts for you. You say your TV has a towing capacity of 3500 lbs. That's pretty close to what a 17' Bigfoot weighs. When we bought our Bigfoot we originally hoped to tow it with our Ford Aerostar van which had a towing capacity of 4000 lbs, but we found that while it could do it, it sure didn't like it very much! And neither did we. Your tow vehicle has to have enough towing capacity as far as weight goes but also a big enough engine to get you up steep grades without too much of a hassle. We now tow with a Ford E-150 van that has both a larger towing capacity and heftier engine. Given what you plan to tow with a Bigfoot might not be so good for you.

[Bob Miller]

Can't say that I totally agree with Evergreengirl about needed TV/engine size.

First though, I offer my sympathy for having had to use a Ford Aerostar for a TV.

But, yes, if you have a need to go up steep grades at the same speed as on the flats a larger, and more thirsty, engine is one answer. But that said, when you are towing or not, you will be getting the same miserable mileage that comes with larger engines.

After living with 4 cylinder motorhomes and TV's for a number of years, our answer is simply to put it in a lower gear and go up those hills at 45, in company with the 18 wheelers. The few lost minutes is quickly compensated for at the gas pumps.

And remember, these are the "Good Old Daze" when gas is only $4 a gallon.

[Francesca Knowles]

Originally Posted by Bob Miller

After living with 4 cylinder motorhomes and TV's for a number of years, our answer is simply to put it in a lower gear and go up those hills at 45, in company with the 18 wheelers. The few lost minutes is quickly compensated for at the gas pumps.

I'm with you, Bob!

I've been over every mountain pass in the Washington/Oregon Cascades so many times with my Trillium/4-cyl Kia that I know exactly where it will be "me and the bigrigs" in the far right lane...

But the most fun is when it's "me and the bigrigs" at the pumps!



I think I can I think I can I think I can...

Francesca

[David Tilston]

Francesca, I notice that your KIA squats a bit. Not too bad though. Have you considered air bags?

[deryk]

lol

[Francesca Knowles]

Originally Posted by David Tilston

Francesca, I notice that your KIA squats a bit. Not too bad though. Have you considered air bags?

Take a look at her on level ground- think that inch or so needs correction?

Francesca

[Lora]

Thank you for that input Kathy. Good to hear about others' experiences.
My Sienna has the following: "3.0-liter 1MZ-FE V6 engine . . . with a variable valve timing feature VVT-i boosting output to 210 hp (157 kW) and 220 lb·ft (298 N·m) torque" Not sure what this will mean for power to pull up hills. And not sure how this compares to the engine in your Aerostar. But, it is something to consider.
Along with Bob & Francesca, I don't think I'll have a problem gearing down and taking things slower up or even down hills. I do slow down & shift down even around here when there is ice or snow on the roads or when I'm stuck in bumper to bumper on I-95. Saves wear and tear on the brakes as well.

[Lora]

Francesca, Love your set-up. That Trillium looks huge next to your Kia.

[cpaharley2008]

Anyone notice that the big rig next to hers has it's leveling leg down?