Maintenance & Restoration

Denis Ferkany · 05-19-2008, 10:43 PM

Thelma and I are new members who wil be purchasing a 13 foot class unit (in search order of priority: Trillium, Scamp, Casita, Boler). The topic for feedback is "real weight specifictions" (of course before adding gear, fluids, bikes, etc). Dry weight data from those of you veterans to this great site that can help us sort this out through the fog of history. Our tow vehicle is a Saturn Vue 2007 Hybrid rated at 1500 pounds by GM. We cannot mess this up as our new vehicle warantee is at stake so your input is highly valued and much appreciated. Once we get past this, we look forward to seeing you on the road. Thanks, Denis & Thelma

Lee Trenholm · 05-19-2008, 10:56 PM

I just weighed my 13 ft trillium a couple of weeks ago on a freshly calibrated government scale. with no gear in it, it was 1212 lbs or 550 kgs

Larry&Carrie · 05-19-2008, 10:58 PM

Hmmm - to give you an idea--- all I have is loaded weight-- ready to go down the road. Our Scamp scales in at 1560# w/ no water (or water tank as far as goes- removed and stored it) no battery, one 5 gal propane tank. Clothes, bedding, grub, ice chest with food were in also. This was unhooked from El Camino and just the Scamp on the scale. Hope this helps. Larry

Harry Young · 05-19-2008, 11:30 PM

Hi,
Are you asking for real weights regarding brands, mostly the ones you mentioned?

I am surprised GM even specifies a tow limit for a hybrid...I do not have any of these mentioned trailers, but my camping partner does (another couple) They have a 13 foot Scamp which when loaded with real life stuff weighs in at 1730 lbs, My rig is a 71 Astro 10' a clone of the Compact jr, Campster, or Hunter I family, I have had added a furnace, 3 way fridge, extra water tanks, external shower with water heater, loaded with real life stuff I tip scales @ 1470 lbs. My dry weight is 890 lbs and the Scamps dry weight is 1320 lbs...I will throw in my stats in hopes that with others it will give you more loaded and unloaded stats to get an average of what a trailer takes on when you move in and use it. Perhaps others will follow my post and help this way too.

Here is my issue with GM, they are not merciful, you can claim its made of balsa wood, tow only down hill with a tail wind and all the dealership will see is the tow hitch...Your honesty is not in question when you buy the vehical but I would shudder to think how you are going to prove any hitch weight to GM for an expensive warrenty repair on a hybrid.

Other than that... WELCOME....

I do hope to see everyone one day on this board eventually!!

Harry

Pete Dumbleton · 05-20-2008, 06:41 PM

My 91S13 weighed about 1,700 lbs packed for the road with all my full-timing stuf. I didn't have fridge, furnace, a/c, converter or water heater. I did have LP heater, battery, spare tire, small LP tank.

kevin61 · 05-21-2008, 06:07 AM

My 1976 13' Boler with fridge, furnace, battery,stove, no brakes,and 3500 lb axle weighs in at 1450 lbs. dry

Deb H · 05-26-2008, 09:24 PM

Hi,
I'm a newbie, planning on driving just north of Toronto June 11th to
pick up my "new" 13" Boler.

My brother found it for me, and assures me my Honda CRV can haul it, as he hauled his Boler with a Chevette, no problem, 20 yrs ago.
The Boler's registration wt says 440 kg. Honda says my '99 CRV can haul 1000lb. I had the transmission cooler/tow package added last month. It should be okay, but all your numbers are making me nervous.
Sure hope I won't have to buy a new tow....
I'm still excited..

Pete Dumbleton · 05-27-2008, 06:55 PM

You can likely haul it, but you are going to be on the edge of your limits. The stated weight is a fiction and a scale will prove that. You'll want brakes also.

Daniel V. · 05-27-2008, 07:57 PM

Quote:

You can likely haul it, but you are going to be on the edge of your limits. The stated weight is a fiction and a scale will prove that. You'll want brakes also.

Amen to that! Any numbers other than loaded scale weight are useless and meaningless. I would actually be curious to put a trailer on a scale some day and start pulling things out of it until it reached the stated weight. I bet there would be much less left than anyone could ever have imagined, if it ever reached it, that is. Stop believing numbers and family members

and start weighing. At least you will know exactly what you're dealing with.

Chester Taje · 05-27-2008, 08:16 PM

My previous 2004 Trillium with toilet fully loaded with water and all things to camp with came in at a little over 1900lbs. I seriously believe in a margin of safety.

d_wildemann · 06-11-2008, 04:45 PM

I've got a 13ft Casita with all options -bath, microwave, etc. Loaded it weighs 2000 lbs.

Don

Paul Kaplan · 06-30-2008, 04:13 PM

Quote:

Thelma and I are new members who wil be purchasing a 13 foot class unit (in search order of priority: Trillium, Scamp, Casita, Boler). The topic for feedback is "real weight specifictions" (of course before adding gear, fluids, bikes, etc). Dry weight data from those of you veterans to this great site that can help us sort this out through the fog of history. Our tow vehicle is a Saturn Vue 2007 Hybrid rated at 1500 pounds by GM. We cannot mess this up as our new vehicle warantee is at stake so your input is highly valued and much appreciated. Once we get past this, we look forward to seeing you on the road. Thanks, Denis & Thelma

How did things work out?

Benny K · 06-30-2008, 08:09 PM

My 74' 13 foot Boler, ready for travel, scales in at about same as Kevin.. 1450 lbs. ....... I carry the trailer spare tire in my truck and don`t have a furnace....have battery and one #20 propane bottle........scale trailer and tow vehicle .....as mentioned earlier, don`t guess....I have a 2009 Toyota Corolla with a 1.8 engine that is rated to tow 2000 lbs. with brakes, but I wouldn`t think about towing with it......although some one here has been towing with a Corolla......Benny

**Frederick L. Simson** · 06-30-2008, 09:41 PM

Quote:

I would actually be curious to put a trailer on a scale some day and start pulling things out of it until it reached the stated weight. I bet there would be much less left than anyone could ever have imagined, if it ever reached it, that is.

I did that with my Fiber Stream 16'.

The sales brochure stated a total dry weight of [b]1760 Lbs. I emptied the trailer of all of my camping stuff. Then I removed both propane tanks, the Battery, the spare tire, even the Microwave Oven and TV/VCR (which were bolted down). I did not remove the cushions, the 10' Carefree Fiesta awning, or any installed appliances, and the trailer still weighed [b]2000 Lbs.

But this post is about 13' trailers...