New and Hopeful

[Reddeyee22]

Hello All,

I am new to this forum and to FGRV in general. I am hopeful to get started in this activity, but I have one (well 2) obstacles.

The primary is one is that I want to be able to keep the unit in my garage. I don't see the value in it if I have to pay $600 or more a year to not use it.

The other smaller issue is that I don't think I will be getting a unit until I move back home to Las Vegas next year (work has us in D.C. right now).

So why am I here? I really like the 13' units, but I need to know the specs of an older (80s I am guessing) trailer. Particularly the height. The garage door frame is 79.5 inches high.

Any help or alternative ideas are appreciated. Thanks...

[Jon in AZ]

Welcome to FiberglassRV, Red!

Wow, 79.5" is low. I don't think even the old ones, at a few inches over 7', could be shoehorned through that door.

But all is not lost. You might see if a Hunter Compact or a Trailswest Campster will work for you. They are vintage models with a pop-up section on the roof that lowers for travel and storage in a garage. Here is a link to one that may be for sale right now: Trailswest Campster

[emij]

Welcome! We have a 1982 13 foot scamp and it is too tall for our garage by about six inches. Our garage door height measures 82 inches. We pay $55 a month to store it about ten minutes from home. I've read some people switch out the wheels/tires to boat(?) wheels/tires during storage and that allows them to get their campers into their garages, but it isn't a practical solution for us as we didn't want to be swapping wheels/tires every time we wanted to go camping. Jon has a great suggestion in maybe looking at some other models! Best of luck!

[Keaner]

Is the 79.5" from the actual frame of the opening or the bottom edge of the garage door when it's rolled up?

[Reddeyee22]

Thank you all. I am going to be back in Vegas in mid-October, so I will personally check. The property management gave me the initial numbers.

I wonder if I will need to look at hi-lo's?

[Jon in AZ]

Hi-Los are significantly heavier almost any other equally-sized alternative. Don't know if that matters.

One thing you didn't mention… how many berths do you need?

[Reddeyee22]

Thank you all for the input. Other perspectives help a lot. There's only 2 of us and I didn't mention, but I will be pulling with a ford explorer sport trac. Towing capacity of 5,300 pounds

[bullfrogeh]

If you back up your trailer REAL QUICKLY into a 79 1/2" garage opening - it may fit on the way out.

[Bob Miller]

My Hunter Compact-II will "Barely" fit under my 84" opening with a tilt-up door that uses up another 6 or so inches. The Hunter uses a drop axle (without brakes) to get that low and if brakes have been added the axle will be changed to a straight axle raising it about 6". 79.5" will be a real challenge, but it has been done with small rims or caster systems.

[Reddeyee22]

Well my fingers are still crossed that the garage opening was measured incorrectly. I'll know for myself in the next month

[Donna D.]

Okay, there's nothing normal or average when it comes to a used all-molded-towable... to the point when can't tell you to buy (year/brand/size) trailer. The older the trailer the better the chance the axle has been replaced!

For instance, my 1988 Scamp Deluxe has a newer axle and now has 15" tires! This is not unusual for the age of the trailer.

The only way you'll know if any trailer will fit in your garage, is to measure THAT one trailer.

[68dave]

Is a carport possible? My casita wouldn't clear my garage door so i purchased a metal carport with the optional half sides to protect it from the rain and, more importantly, the sun.

[Reddeyee22]

Donna, thank you for the heads up on age/tire size. 68Dave, the HOA won't allow it. That's why whatever I get has to fit in the garage or it doesn't make sense to me. And I'm in Maryland too. At least for the next year

I wish there was a "thumbs up" button next to posts.