Trillium Trailer difference

[stude]

Can anyone here tell me the difference in all the different Trillium Trailer Modles?
Which one is best for all around of the models put out by Trillium?
If I buy a 1985 Trillium 4500 what kind of SUV hatchback would I need to tow this and still get decent MPG?
Also still looking for Polish Built Cadet Trailer.
Stude

[David Tilston]

I will talk about the classic Tilliums. The more recent ones are kinda confusing.

I will refer to the Serial Numbers on a Trillium thread often in this post:
http://www.fiberglassrv.com/forums/f...tml#post521762

Trillium made three sizes of trailers. They started out making a 13'. It was much like the Boler. The front and back windows did not open, and the side windows had only two panes. Also, they used rivets, from the inside to attach some furniture. Here is an example:
http://www.fiberglassrv.com/forums/f...tml#post457363

Then, in the early 70's, they changed to opening windows on all sides, and made the side windows a three pane design that was quite a bit larger. They stayed with this configuration, with only minor changes, till they stopped production. The earliest example of this change is serial number 234:
http://www.fiberglassrv.com/forums/f...tml#post405143

There is a rather large gap in the serial number list, between the last old style, and the first new style, so it is kind of hard to say how many of the old style were made. They are quite rare though.

Around 1976 Trillium introduced the 4500, (4.5m). It is about 18" longer then the 1300, (13'), but it has the same floor plan. Just a wider bed, closet, kitchen and gaucho. The list of differences can be found in this post:
http://www.fiberglassrv.com/forums/f...0-a-64417.html

The weight difference between the two is not large, probably around 200 lbs. Anything that can tow a 1300 should be fine for a 4500. The frontal surface area is identical for both. Brakes are recommended on either trailer.

The third size was the 5500, or 18' long Trillium. It was also about 12" wider then the 1300 and 4500. They put a particle board interior where the 1300 and 4500 used fibreglass for the furniture. There were two major versions of the 5500. Both had a very large, (7' long) dinette / bed in the back, a mid bathroom on the road side, and a kitchen on the curb side. The difference in the two styles was the front of the trailer. In the most common version, there is another dinette / bed, (only 6' long). But there was also a front gaucho version.

There are thee major versions of the floor plan, on both the 1300 and the 4500. The most common is a front gaucho. That is, a couch that turns into a bunk bed. Really good for a couple with up to two kids. There are two versions of this. The pre 1979 version, which has the seat of the gaucho that extends all the way across the front:
http://www.fiberglassrv.com/forums/f...tml#post443850
The 1979, and later version that has a gap in the gaucho that, on the front dinette version, is where the people sitting at the front dinette would put their feet:
http://www.fiberglassrv.com/forums/f...tml#post519402

There was also a front bathroom version. This included a toilet on the kitchen side, and a sink on the door side. No shower. There was an innovative love seat / desk that installed between the toilet and the sink. There was a bi-fold door that when open, enclosed the toilet. The fold up love seat could then be lowered. Only two people could sleep in this version. An example:
http://www.fiberglassrv.com/forums/registry/2502/

After 1979, they made a front dinette version. From that year on, the fibreglass that made up the seat of the front couch was made with a gap in the middle. On a front dinette trailer, a piece of fibreglass was installed from the bottom of the window to the top of the seat. The table was attached to this piece. That way, no holes in the shell were necessary. The table could be lowered to make a single bed. This reduced the number of people that could sleep in the trailer to three. I think of this as the perfect couples trailer. Leave the rear dinette set up as a nearly queen sized bed and a two person dinette up front. An example:
http://www.fiberglassrv.com/forums/f...tml#post492566

There is an other variation of the 4500. The kitchen in the 1977 and previous models had a smaller kitchen cupboard that only accommodated an RM211 fridge. In 1978 they made a larger kitchen cupboard that allowed the use of a larger RM36, (RM360) fridge:
http://www.fiberglassrv.com/forums/f...ons-53368.html

[Carl V]

And there was also the Jubliee. About the same size as a 4500, squarer shape, and wood interior like the 5500 instead of fiberglass like the 4500.
That's pretty much all I know about them!

I don't know about the 1300 and 4500, but least with the 5500, there was a standard version and a 'Deluxe' version. On the 5500, the Deluxe simply had more options included, like a larger fridge, full shower, hot water heater, screen door, etc.

Someone told me that the 'deluxe' can be easily differentiated by the double colored stripes on the body, versus a single stripe for the standard models. I'd never noticed that before but I've been checking this since, and it seems to be true.

[Trill136]

I have just started following this forum (again) recently.

My 'trill136' is one of the older ones. Both the front and back windows were/are fixed plexiglass. Sort of molded.

The door has no window and there is no window in the kitchen area. There are no existing upper shelf supports.

There was no furnace installed.

It is a 'front gaucho' style - right now anyway.

There is a very large fracture, in the middle of the rear portion of the roof, which I did not notice in my "rose coloured glasses" moment of finding what I thought was a wonderful little unit. This total fracture has allowed water to get into the area between the ensolite and the shell. As a result the ensolite in the rear portion has detached.

Both the front and rear portions of the roof have significant sag.

Sorry for rambling. See you again in a week or two.

https://trill136.wordpress.com/

https://drive.google.com/folderview?...Ek&usp=sharing

[David Tilston]

According to my list, Min, (Gord) has the sixth Trillium ever built. 13-6

[Balou]

I have a 2014 Sidekick Legend (Trillium) built by Great West Vans. She is 15' and weights dry 1700 pounds and 2220 with all the gear. She is full equiped except a/c. I have a 2,5 2014 Subaru Outback. The average fuel is 15l/100km.

[Lyndee in the Port]

Hello Everyone....

I am so pleased to be the owner of a Trillium. This unit is the third one I have owned. I started with a 13 footer then went to a 4500 then to a 17 foot Bigfoot and finally I am back to the 4500. I am very lucky to have found this model as it has the factory dinette in the front and the larger dinette in the back. I must say I felt somewhat sad and out of the loop when I had the Bigfoot, it was a great trailer but there is just something special about the Trilliums! I have had it for several days now and want to do so much to make it my own but having to go to work just gets in the way! For now I am just so pleased to see it in my driveway. Long weekend coming up so I will be doing the rest of the cleanup and some maintenance. Oh...the serial number is 45-1121221. I am not sure where to post this.

[Alf S.]

Originally Posted by David Tilston

According to my list, Min, (Gord) has the sixth Trillium ever built. 13-6

Hi: David Tilston... Were all the 5500 models single axle or were some doubles?
Alf S. North shore of Lake Erie

[Jon in AZ]

Looks like it. Here're a couple of threads:
http://www.fiberglassrv.com/forums/f...lue-32521.html
http://www.fiberglassrv.com/forums/f...0-a-28252.html
Also here (see post #5):
http://www.fiberglassrv.com/forums/f...not-54096.html

And a picture, lifted from the second thread:

[Carl V]

My understanding is that the original design for the 5500 was a double axle. But to reduce cost, a single higher-capacity axle was offered, and most 5500 were built with a single axle.
In both versions the FG mold stayed the same, only the fender cover being different.

I've seen about 10 different 5500 up close so far, and only one was a dual axle. Mine's a single as well.

The 5500 is a pretty rare bird, and there are not that many listed in Dave's serial numbers list. Maybe one day I'll start an unofficial 5500 registry, where we could track them and list serials numbers, axle configuration, versions, floor plans, post pictures, etc. From what I've seen they are all somewhat different, not counting owner's modifications.

[David Tilston]

I am no 5500 expert. As stated, they are quite rare. Almost every one, that I have seen pictures of, are unique in some way. I don't think that they built any two of them the same.

[David Tilston]

Originally Posted by Lyndee in the Port

Oh...the serial number is 45-1121221. I am not sure where to post this.

Lynda, Your post is enough to get you on the list.
Nice trailer. I have dreams of a front dinette 4500. I notice that you don't have a gravity furnace. Does you Trillium have a forced air furnace? Could you please post some interior pictures?

Regards,
Dave T.

[Lyndee in the Port]

Hello David,

My trailer does not have a furnace. When I went to look at it the owner was installing a very different looking furnace (not an RV type) so I asked if he could possibly remove it as I like to keep things in the trailer as original as possible. He bought the trailer and then decided it wasn't what he wanted....lucky me!!!

I need to do a little more cleaning then I will post some interior pictures.

Thanks for the interest! Lyndee

[Scott H]

What?
No love for the Sportsman!
https://www.pinterest.com/pin/275634439669045764/

[Donna D.]

Originally Posted by Scott H

What?
No love for the Sportsman!
https://www.pinterest.com/pin/275634439669045764/

Of course we love the Trillium Sportman! If you want to follow along on a total rebuild (and the dollars spent) check out Ryan's thread here: http://www.fiberglassrv.com/forums/f...man-57672.html

Be patient, the thread is 11 pages long!

[Roy in TO]

Originally Posted by Jon in AZ

And a picture, lifted from the second thread:
Attachment 95027

I remember that trailer!
The picture was taken the PEI meet and it was for sale at the time.

That's when we formulated the "PEI rule of camping". Never face the open door of your kitchen tent into the prevailing winds. You wind up collecting all the bugs on the inside.

[PatriciaSK]

I think my 1973 trillium is a 1300. It has 4 windows that open, but no window in the door. Is the serial number somewhere on the trailer?

[Patrick M]

Is there a placard in the closet? That should be the spot.

[Nancy F]

Originally Posted by Lyndee in the Port

Hello David,

My trailer does not have a furnace. When I went to look at it the owner was installing a very different looking furnace (not an RV type) so I asked if he could possibly remove it as I like to keep things in the trailer as original as possible. He bought the trailer and then decided it wasn't what he wanted....lucky me!!!

I need to do a little more cleaning then I will post some interior pictures.

Thanks for the interest! Lyndee

Yes, lucky you, I didn't see this one, have been looking for one with the front dinette. Enjoy!

[David Tilston]

Originally Posted by Nancy F

Yes, lucky you, I didn't see this one, have been looking for one with the front dinette. Enjoy!

Nancy, FYI, I purchased Lyndee's trailer recently:
https://www.fiberglassrv.com/forums/...ium-99562.html

The ad is still on kijiji:
https://www.kijiji.ca/v-travel-trail...old/1633199303

I got lucky. Thanks Lyndee!