under 1000 lbs

[RedHeadedBear23]

Anything under 1000 lbs? NO bathroom. not a tear drop. I plan to find a used one, even if i have to gut it. But it HAS to be under 1000 lbs. Even if its old and crappy on the inside which is actually better because these old campers are built with light weight exterior and and heavy interior.

[Donna D.]

Look for any of the Compacts or Hunter cousins. Those are the ONLY ones consistently under 1,000# bare bones. But to keep it that way, you'll need to pack very, very lightly!

You really should look at this thread for "Real Weights," nobody camps with nothing in a trailer: http://www.fiberglassrv.com/forums/f...rld-43010.html

[Jon in AZ]

Originally Posted by RedHeadedBear23

...But it HAS to be under 1000 lbs...

Originally Posted by Donna D.

Look for any of the Compacts or Hunter cousins. Those are the ONLY ones consistently under 1,000# bare bones. But to keep it that way, you'll need to pack very, very lightly!

Originally Posted by Frederick L. Simson

Once again the Compact Jr. is an empty shell; and it had leaked enough over 6 years to rot out a patch of the floor in the back street-side corner under the "kitchen" cabinet.

Starting total weight = 1420 pounds

I don't have pictures of today's work, but right now the Compact Jr. consists of the undercarriage (frame/axle/wheels), Fiberglass shell (including Pop-top roof), 3 windows, 1 door, and an extended 3/4" plywood floor. The fabric has been removed from the Pop-top to be a pattern for its replacement. The next thing I did was to weigh the trailer!

Axle weight = 800 pounds
Tongue weight = 60 pounds
Total gutted weight = 860 pounds

Hunter Compact Jr.is one of the absolute lightest and weighs 860 pounds as a gutted, empty shell. That leaves 140 pounds for whatever you want to put inside. A couple of sleeping bags, foam mattresses on the floor, a backpacking kitchen, freeze-dried food, a couple gallons of water, and one change of clothes?

1000 pounds for an actual molded fiberglass travel trailer with beds and cabinets inside just isn't happening.

If that 1000 pounds is as firm as you say, and you absolutely don't want a teardrop, here are some ultralight options:
Quicksilver 6.0, an all-aluminum tent trailer
Lees-ure Lite, a molded fiberglass tent trailer
Eriba Puck, a vintage aluminum trailer with a fiberglass roof, imported from Germany
Meerkat , a modern Eriba Puck clone

[DeBreez]

Check out this post. Weighs about 600lbs and is beyond cool.

[Kai in Seattle]

One post up--"this post" is a link. Leads to a tiny little boat-capped trailer with a base weight of supposedly 640 lbs. Appears to be available on eBay; being sold in Mineola, Texas with buyer responsible for coming to get it. Who knows how much the reserve price will turn out to be?


I imagine it's perhaps a bit more spacious inside than a teardrop. Doubt it has the rear kitchen, so maybe there's some appliances inside.

Worth a look online, at least.

Let us know how you do.


BEST
Kai

[Tom 72]

The little Joe is 1,100 lbs, they say. They also make the Roughneck which appears to be lighter.

Lightweight Trailers - Compact Travel Campers - Weiscraft Trailers
__________________________________________________
Pelsue out of Denver makes small fiberglass trailers for splicing fiber optic cable. They weigh 2,000 pounds fully equipped, but they have to start out much lighter if you can buy just the shell.
Overall Dimensions: 15.5’(L) x 7.5’(W) x 9.5’(H)
Interior: 9’(L) x 5.5’(W) x 6.5’(H)

http://www.pelsue.com/wp-content/upl...ailers-POD.pdf

[Tom 72]

...for your trailerboat (see posts #4, 5). I've read previously, that apparently the bilge pumps could not keep ahead of the leaks. What a surprise!

The good news is, when submersed, those fins are fully functional!

http://silodrome.com/amphicar-convertible/

[vintageracer]

Look for a Vintage Eriba Puck trailer.

Built in Europe. Easily pulled behind a old VW Bug.

[Lee Senn]

Eriba Puck as mentioned is a candidate but almost impossible to find. The Meercat trailer, actually an Eriba Puck clone, ( be sure to include trailer in your inquiry or you will get hundreds of post about the animal ) weighs in , allegedly, at 960 pounds and is being manufactured currently. Lee

[Mary F]

Originally Posted by Tom 72

The little Joe is 1,100 lbs, they say. They also make the Roughneck which appears to be lighter.

Lightweight Trailers - Compact Travel Campers - Weiscraft Trailers

I was going to suggest looking for an old Lite House, which is (I think) the precursor to the Little Joe. Their original model was Very Basic and was designed to be pulled by a car with 1000# tow limit.

I don't know how many were made/sold, but they were built near Albuquerque, NM.

[DavidG]

Originally Posted by Lee Senn

Eriba Puck as mentioned is a candidate but almost impossible to find. The Meercat trailer, actually an Eriba Puck clone, ( be sure to include trailer in your inquiry or you will get hundreds of post about the animal ) weighs in , allegedly, at 960 pounds and is being manufactured currently. Lee

Lee, if you and I put our money together, we MIGHT be able to afford a new Meercat ! LOL ! ! ( Julie and I hope you and Norma are well ! ) David in Fresno and Sonora, CA

[john madill]

about 1,100 pounds. I had to take it to a scale to satisfy the secretary of state.

at that time I probably had two 20 pound tanks on the tongue, which are now gone.

I've read that the rear cabinets supply support to the shell. but doors can be replace with curtains, etc, to lighten things up.

I've also replaced 2 6' backrest cushions with 2 1' cushions, all I really need for two people to sit comfortably.

when I broke one of the windows in the rear door I replaced both of them with plexiglass which helped shed a few pounds.


you could probably get a Compact down to a 1,000 pounds without too much trouble.

and they are easier to find then many of the other brands suggested.

PS used my Clam for the first time this week in northern Michigan.


Works great!

[The Minimalist]

Originally Posted by Mary F

I was going to suggest looking for an old Lite House, which is (I think) the precursor to the Little Joe. Their original model was Very Basic and was designed to be pulled by a car with 1000# tow limit.

I don't know how many were made/sold, but they were built near Albuquerque, NM.

The Little Joe is built using the Lite House molds. The Little Joe is has a heavier frame and upper cabinets on both sides from front to back. I believe the original Lite House used a boat trailer frame as a base, giving it a narrower foot print than the Little Joe.

I'm not sure, but the Lite House may have used an ice box, as the Little Joe reefer cabinet is deeper, likely to accommodate the space requirements for the Dometic Americana reefer.

The Joe also has 2 external aluminum L members running the the length of the top to support the cabinets, with additional aluminum structure to carry the Fantastic Fan. The aluminum longitudinal member provided an excellent foundation for my solar panels.

Regards,

[Mary F]

Originally Posted by The Minimalist

I'm not sure, but the Lite House may have used an ice box, as the Little Joe reefer cabinet is deeper, likely to accommodate the space requirements for the Dometic Americana reefer.
Regards,

The Lite House we looked at, 20+ years ago, had an ice box and sink, but no stove or anything else. It was basically a dinette that converted into a big bed. I can't remember if it had a fresh water holding tank; I'm pretty sure it had no gray water tank. As I said, Very Basic - but it was lightweight and provided a nice place to sleep, out of the weather. (The foam cushions were pretty comfy.)

[The Minimalist]

Originally Posted by Kai in Seattle

One post up--"this post" is a link. Leads to a tiny little boat-capped trailer with a base weight of supposedly 640 lbs. Appears to be available on eBay; being sold in Mineola, Texas with buyer responsible for coming to get it. Who knows how much the reserve price will turn out to be?


I imagine it's perhaps a bit more spacious inside than a teardrop. Doubt it has the rear kitchen, so maybe there's some appliances inside.

Worth a look online, at least.

Let us know how you do.


BEST
Kai

It appears that the trailer boat camper is still being made in Oregon. Here is the link to their site:

The American Dream Trailer Company | Teardrop Camper Trailers

[Bruce Thomas]

I agree, the Compact wins the weight battle over most. And they're easier to find as mentioned above.

[Lee Senn]

Originally Posted by DavidG

Lee, if you and I put our money together, we MIGHT be able to afford a new Meercat ! LOL ! ! ( Julie and I hope you and Norma are well ! ) David in Fresno and Sonora, CA

David Perfectly willing to go in with you on a Meercat ( currently selling for about $17,000.00 ) . Unfortunately our current situation is about $100.00 in savings and maybe another $25.00 in a coffee can in the den... Leaves you with the heavy lifting at about $16,875.00. Send me a PM if you are on board. Looking forward to seeing you and Julie at a gathering soon. Lee

[DavidG]

Originally Posted by Lee Senn

David Perfectly willing to go in with you on a Meercat ( currently selling for about $17,000.00 ) . Unfortunately our current situation is about $100.00 in savings and maybe another $25.00 in a coffee can in the den... Leaves you with the heavy lifting at about $16,875.00. Send me a PM if you are on board. Looking forward to seeing you and Julie at a gathering soon. Lee

Them that has, is them that gets,
And I ain't got nothin' yet ! Ray Charles , and David in Fresno and Sonora