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07-29-2015, 08:32 PM
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#1
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Member
Name: Steve
Trailer: Casita
New York
Posts: 72
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Trailers that fit in garages
Hi folks,
I am renting a 2 car garage space which has a 16 x 8 overhead door. The rough opening for the door is about 7'-10" so I have 7'-8" max clear from slab to fully open door.
I am interested in finding (building if necessary) a trailer which can roll right inside. I have seen the schemes for achieving this. Fabric pop-ups, hard-sided pop-ups, Hi-Lo, switching the wheels to solid steel roller wheels, etc.
Some trailers are lower and have a pop-up center roof giving you a clerestory window all around, but in fabric.
I want all hard surfaces.
Thoughts?
Stevieboy
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07-29-2015, 08:45 PM
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#2
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Senior Member
Trailer: 1988 16 ft Scamp Deluxe
Posts: 25,697
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If you're looking at used it can be toss up, truly
I own a 1988 Scamp Deluxe... No A/C. Originally, this trailer may have had enough clearance to run under an 8' garage door.
BUT, then I changed the axle and run 15" tires.
The important information I can give you is to MEASURE. Don't assume anything based on age or build type.
Best of luck
__________________
Donna D.
Ten Forward - 2014 Escape 5.0 TA
Double Yolk - 1988 16' Scamp Deluxe
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07-29-2015, 10:40 PM
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#3
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Senior Member
Trailer: 2004 13 ft Scamp Custom Deluxe
Posts: 8,520
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Certainly any nominally stock Scamp13 will fit without A/C on the Roof. My 2004 with roof A/C fits comfortably through an ordinary "8 foot" door with a modicum of clearance to spare.
Newer Scamp13s (2007+) are a couple of inches taller and a DuoTherm A/C is a couple inches taller than my Coleman Mini-Mach.
Some clearance can be realized by simply using care and adjusting the tongue height up and down while entering the door. Most doors can gain full frame opening height with a simple prop to raise the door a little beyond the normal stopping point.
Reducing tire pressure can also reduce overall height of the trailer an inch or two without going all the way flat.
The Scamp 13 was originally designed to fit into a 7 Ft door opening, but gradual changes have increased the height to some degree.
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07-30-2015, 06:09 AM
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#4
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Senior Member
Trailer: 1973 Compact Jr and 1980 Bigfoot 17 ft
Posts: 1,339
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Anyone know how tall an Amerigo is? They always look very low to me. I bet they would clear an eight foot door.
Fiberglass RV - MRClaus's Album: Merrygo - Picture
__________________
1980 Bigfoot 17' & former owner of 1973 Compact Jr
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07-30-2015, 06:26 AM
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#5
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Senior Member
Trailer: Class A Motorhome
Posts: 7,912
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And there is always the opposite option of Donna's larger wheels, smaller "Parking" wheels. In the case of 4 on 4 bolt pattern wheels, they are available as small as 8", lowering a trailer up to 4" from the stock 13" wheel height, and a few roll in on bare rims.
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07-30-2015, 06:43 AM
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#6
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Senior Member
Name: Rich & Linda
Trailer: Amerigo
Indiana
Posts: 296
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take off tires and rims
Hi Tom
Amerigo are low but it will fit my my garage but some of them aare taller.
you can take off the wheels and use a dollies to move in in too !
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07-30-2015, 07:20 AM
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#7
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Senior Member
Trailer: No Trailer Yet
Posts: 1,704
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Stevie...I personally would not own a "pop-up", the all-tent-style trailer. Also, the "HILO" company is out of business and I would stay away from them. Some other campers that come to mind that you dont have to deflate the tires, etc. on are the Trailmanor and the Aliner campers. Not only will they fit in your garage, but would be easier to pull (less drag). The only problem? They're not "fiberglass". <_<
TrailManor Website | The Smarter Way To RV
Campers - Aliner
[QUOTE=Stevieboy;538398]Hi folks,
I am renting a 2 car garage space which has a 16 x 8 overhead door. The rough opening for the door is about 7'-10" so I have 7'-8" max clear from slab to fully open door.
I am interested in finding (building if necessary) a trailer which can roll right inside. I have seen the schemes for achieving this. Fabric pop-ups, hard-sided pop-ups, Hi-Lo, switching the wheels to solid steel roller wheels, etc.
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07-30-2015, 07:29 AM
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#8
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Senior Member
Name: Mike
Trailer: Escape 21 & Jeep GC 5.7 (Previous 2012 Casita FD17 & 2010 Audi Q5)
Puget Sound, WA
Posts: 1,775
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Stevieboy
I have 7'-8" max clear from slab to fully open door. <> I want all hard surfaces.
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I garage a teardrop, but that might not be what you want.
Lil Snoozy notes 7'7". They place the AC on the back wall and keep the roofline clean. As Donna says, you really need to measure to validate. I have heard they are good about modifications; maybe the axle could be set up a bit differently to increase clearance.
Also try looking at Hunter Compact and Compact Jr. They have a small pop-top on the roof, so minimal "fabric"; I once had a '64 VW camper with that arrangement and found it acceptable. Someone noted their Hunter's dimensions here when they listed one for sale years ago:
http://www.fiberglassrv.com/forums/f...red-48375.html
Perhaps an old Boler.
http://www.fiberglassrv.com/forums/f...ler-37402.html
If the driveway is sloped, that might be another factor to consider as it might reduce the effective clearance.
Ready to build your own? Try TNTTT.com
__________________
~ “It’s absurd to divide people into good and bad. People are either charming or tedious.” Oscar Wilde ~
~ “What the human being is best at doing is interpreting all new information so that their prior conclusions remain intact.” Warren Buffett ~
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07-30-2015, 08:30 AM
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#9
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Senior Member
Name: Jon
Trailer: 2008 Scamp 13 S1
Arizona
Posts: 11,925
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Trailers that fit in garages
How big a trailer are you looking for? Any number of 13'ers are potential candidates, but larger trailers are hit and miss.
Among new trailers, Scamp and Casita 13' and 16' models and L'il Snoozy will possibly fit, based on current specs. Know that Scamp puts factory AC on the roof, which is a no-go, but Casita and L'il Snoozy use through-the-shell window AC installations.
With used trailers, especially older ones, it's even harder- original specs are hard to find, and mods can affect the height. The only way to be sure is to measure, as Donna said. I'm thinking most of the 13-16'ers would at least be candidates worth checking. Old torsion axles can settle a few inches, so be careful. If you buy one and then replace a worn-out axle, you may experience a growth spurt.
Since you mentioned building your own trailer, have you looked into the Happier Camper HC1? It's a 7' 4" 13'er with a rear cargo hatch and a flexible, modular interior. Not cheap, and it's a brand-new company with the attendant risks, but thought I'd mention it.
Consider yourself blessed to have an 8' garage. Lots of folks are stuck with the more common 7' doors and have far fewer choices.
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07-30-2015, 08:42 AM
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#10
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Senior Member
Name: Monte
Trailer: Boler and Scamp Deluxe
California
Posts: 119
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Hi Steve, I owe a Perris Pacer and it fits in the garage! Also, if you have a air compressor, you can alway deflate the tires a little to make it work. A pain I know but....... Hope this helps!!
All the best, Monte
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07-30-2015, 09:28 AM
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#11
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Senior Member
Trailer: Class A Motorhome
Posts: 7,912
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Being somewhat sarcastic, but from observations, building ones own trailer reminds me of three street signs:
"Slow - Bumps Ahead", "Rough Road Ahead" and, halfway down that block "Dead End"
Try something that is already rolling down the road before you try to invent/reinvent the wheel.
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07-30-2015, 09:37 AM
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#12
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Member
Name: Dennis
Trailer: Escape and Boler
British Columbia
Posts: 85
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My 13 Boler (1973) went into my normal 8' (nominal) garage.
MEASURE is the important matter - already advised to you
and if only an inch or so - let air out of tire and have an 'air tank'
(cheap) which you can fill at local friend or garage.
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07-30-2015, 10:57 AM
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#13
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Senior Member
Name: Clif
Trailer: 08 Weiscraft Little Joe 14 Subaru Outback 2.5i CVT
Louisiana
Posts: 754
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Bob Miller
Being somewhat sarcastic, but from observations, building ones own trailer reminds me of three street signs:
"Slow - Bumps Ahead", "Rough Road Ahead" and, halfway down that block "Dead End"
Try something that is already rolling down the road before you try to invent/reinvent the wheel.
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I'm with Bob. Easier to build a garage or carport to fit what you have, or get a cover.
__________________
Clif
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07-30-2015, 12:02 PM
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#14
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Senior Member
Trailer: 2004 13 ft Scamp Custom Deluxe
Posts: 8,520
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Bob Miller
And there is always the opposite option of Donna's larger wheels, smaller "Parking" wheels. In the case of 4 on 4 bolt pattern wheels, they are available as small as 8", lowering a trailer up to 4" from the stock 13" wheel height, and a few roll in on bare rims.
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8" wheels are commonly available for 5 on 4.5 bolt pattern as well.
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07-30-2015, 12:18 PM
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#15
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Senior Member
Trailer: Class A Motorhome
Posts: 7,912
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Building What?
Quote:
Originally Posted by The Minimalist
I'm with Bob. Easier to build a garage or carport to fit what you have, or get a cover.
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The op has a rented space, I was talking about not building a trailer, not a storage space.
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07-30-2015, 01:39 PM
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#16
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Senior Member
Name: Clif
Trailer: 08 Weiscraft Little Joe 14 Subaru Outback 2.5i CVT
Louisiana
Posts: 754
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Bob Miller
The op has a rented space, I was talking about not building a trailer, not a storage space.
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I was too quick on the quick reply. To state it more clearly, it would be easier to build a carport/garage for the trailer than to build a trailer from scratch.
I had neglected the rented nature of the OP's space.
__________________
Clif
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07-31-2015, 12:49 PM
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#17
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Member
Name: Steve
Trailer: Casita
New York
Posts: 72
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Trailers to fit under 7'-8" garage door opening
All good thoughts. I was interested in a 16' fiberglass trailer with complete bathroom, though a 13' would be okay and would leave more shop space. I wanted to be a fulltimer, but realized one must have a place for some "stuff", and renting a storage space was IMO pointless. It would create an out of sight out of mind condition, in which I might as well get rid of the stuff. But I have some stuff that I want to keep, but Only if accessible, so renting the heated garage is perfect. And it gives me a shop space that I always wanted.
Would a 16' trailer be any taller than a 13?
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07-31-2015, 01:10 PM
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#18
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Senior Member
Name: Jon
Trailer: 2008 Scamp 13 S1
Arizona
Posts: 11,925
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Sometimes, yes. Some 13'ers have raised axle arm angles for a lower ride height and better aerodynamics behind small tow vehicles. The 16'ers typically have a lower axle arm angle for a higher ride height to keep the tongue and back end from scraping on dips. Also, 16'ers more commonly have plumbing that hangs below the frame.
In my research for an earlier post, here's what I found:
Casita 13 = Casita 16 = 7'8" (interior height 5'10")
Scamp 13 = 7'6", but Scamp 16 = 7'10" (interior height 6'3")
L'il Snoozy = 7'7" (interior height 6'4")
Those are all current manufacturer specs and subject to verification...
I personally would want at least a 16' trailer for full-timing.
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07-31-2015, 02:46 PM
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#19
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Member
Name: Kevin
Trailer: Casita
Colorado
Posts: 33
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Hi Stevieboy,
Are you saying that you plan on full-timing inside the heated garage?
If so, I think it's a fantastic idea. The biggest drawback is not really having a window that has a view.
You have to be super careful with propane appliances. Maybe an induction cooktop. Electric water heater and 1500watt electric heater. You don't want to pay for the heat of a poorly insulated garage.
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08-01-2015, 05:12 AM
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#20
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Member
Name: Steve
Trailer: Casita
New York
Posts: 72
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Fulltiming in trailer in heated garage
First I was thinking of fulltiming in a trailer with no home base, so I wanted a 16 or 17 footer. When I realized I needed/wanted a home base, I envisioned a garage for the purpose. When the heated garage became available, I realized a 13 might be okay.
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