Looking for the right fg Trailer for Retirement Travels

[squierskr]

Hi, I'm Kathy in Michigan, and I'm planning ahead for more travel in retirement. Hoping to find the perfect combo of van and fg trailer to visit with grown kids/family, living all over the map, kind people in RV Communities, National Parks, and exploring back roads on a budget . As I look at vehicles, I'm leaning toward Casita, but am open to other's on-the-road rvtrailer experience and expertise!

[Donna D.]

Hi Kathy in Michigan. You're on the right track, doing your due diligence so you get the best combo for YOU. I strongly suggest you check out ALL the brands of all-molded-towables to find the right price point, options, size, weight and layout that will work best for you.


Best of luck!

[Mikmay]

Come to algonac in sept where you'll see a variety of fg trailers

[Lee Senn]

Kathy Milkmay has the right advise. Attend gatherings so you can look inside a variety of trailers and talk to the owners about pros and cons for their particular make of trailer. Information gathered from brochures, photos and verbal endorsements is helpful but nothing helps like seeing and going inside the various trailers. Welcome aboard. Lee

[Mitzi Agnew-Giles]

Hello from the other end of the USA! We evolved retirement plans fro backpacking the AT, to a motorcycle popup Aspen camper, to a teardrop, and thence to a fiberglass trailer. When I started to research the only names I knew were Scamp and Casita- and they brought me to this site and I was overwhelmed with the variety! Actually eyeballing the trailers and if possible sitting on couches and in dinettes and stretching out on beds. On paper the R pod looked like the answer to our dreams but in person it was poorly arranged, too small (and we're not big people) and it would about taken an act of Congress to get one without a slide, - I didn't want a slide because in all the purchasing used RV videos I saw the slides seemed to be the entry point for a lot of leaks andit was another mechanism that would need expensive upkeep. Why pay the mmoney to haul it around if you're not going to use it? We graduated to the newer FGs- the Parkliner and Lil Snoozy- because of the basement engineering to reduce drag and do away with the need for sway bars, and because as old backpackers we're used to living small. So our's should be ready for pickup in September or October- and we'll see you on the trails!

[Glenn Baglo]

Originally Posted by Mitzi Agnew-Giles

We graduated to the newer FGs- the Parkliner and Lil Snoozy- because of the basement engineering to reduce drag and do away with the need for sway bars

You're really sold on that pitch. Isn't the extension cord trailing behind you going create drag?

[rgrugg]

I'll repeat the invite to the Michigan fiberglass trailer rally. It's held in Algonac state park at Algonac. Every year it's on the weekend after Labor Day which will be Sept 9, 10, 11. Go from home or get a motel if it's too far to commute. It's fun! Saturday is mostly for looking at all the different kinds of trailers, sort of like an open house. A lot of very nice friendly people.


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[rdickens]

Kathy,

I will second/third the "attend a rally" suggestion!

Your ideal choice of trailer will likely be influenced by your intended tow vehicle, the number
of people that you want to sleep, and your requirements for AC, bathroom, etc.

A rally is a great opportunity to see lots of brands of trailers and ask lots of questions. 😊

Ray


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[RV Rabbit]

Originally Posted by Mikmay

Come to algonac in sept where you'll see a variety of fg trailers

where, when, and what is Algonac?

[LyleB]

Originally Posted by RV Rabbit

where, when, and what is Algonac?

There is a molded fiberglass rally being held at Algonac State Park in Algonac, MI. It is on Sept. 9,10, and 11 this year. I will be going for the first time.

Algonac is in the south eastern quarter of the lower peninsula and is right on the St. Clair River - major freighter/shipping route so great ship viewing.

Here is a link with the info:

http://www.fiberglassrv.com/forums/f...ble-72923.html

[RV Rabbit]

Originally Posted by LyleB

There is a molded fiberglass rally being held at Algonac State Park in Algonac, MI. It is on Sept. 9,10, and 11 this year. I will be going for the first time.

Algonac is in the south eastern quarter of the lower peninsula and is right on the St. Clair River - major freighter/shipping route so great ship viewing.

Here is a link with the info:

http://www.fiberglassrv.com/forums/f...ble-72923.html

will any of the Fiberglass trailer manufactures be there, or is just a gathering of FGRV owners...I don't currently have an RV, but I'm looking....I would probably have to bring a tent or sleep in my future TV...or can you just come in for the day and check out the RV's...thanks

[LyleB]

Jeff,

It will be owners with their personal trailers. If you look at the link I posted above, scroll down a bit and you will find a site map with a list of those attending, and what kind of trailer they will have. No guarantee that all floor plans will be available for viewing, but you can get a good feel for the size and quality of the different trailers.

All the fiberglass trailer manufacturers build to order and have anywhere from a six month to year wait after you place your order. Generally they do not have trailers built ahead of time that you can check out, so the only option is looking at other folk's trailers.

Most of those attending these rallies, are very open to curious people wanting tours of their trailers and are very accommodating. Yes, you can come in for the day (Saturday?) just to check out the trailers.

[Mikmay]

Originally Posted by RV Rabbit

will any of the Fiberglass trailer manufactures be there, or is just a gathering of FGRV owners...I don't currently have an RV, but I'm looking....I would probably have to bring a tent or sleep in my future TV...or can you just come in for the day and check out the RV's...thanks

I know I'll be there with the HC1 prototype not sure on any other manufactures.

[honda03842]

Definitely attend a rally. Our combo is a Scamp 16 with a Honda Odyssey. We travel for 7 MO the a year and have never been uncomfortable.

These trailers rarely if ever sway, but I still suggest a sway bar, inexpensive, easy to use and good insurance.

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[ninklink]

We have had truck campers and then a 17.5' bigfoot trailer that seemed like it would finally suit us perfectly. However we found the rear bed to squishy and hard to climb over each other to get out. Sold it then bought a 21' bigfoot that we took 4. GrAndkids and us camping last weekend. We are sold on the 21' Bigfoot. We can tow it with my wife's new Pathfinder or my older 2004 Toyota, 4Runner. Going away for 5 days next weekend for dry camping on the Harrison River BC. Look at either the 17.5' or the 21 Bigfoot. The residual value is very strong also.

[garycarolyn]

Originally Posted by honda03842

Definitely attend a rally. Our combo is a Scamp 16 with a Honda Odyssey. We travel for 7 MO the a year and have never been uncomfortable.

These trailers rarely if ever sway, but I still suggest a sway bar, inexpensive, easy to use and good insurance.

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I have been waiting to see you post something so I could tell you how much I enjoyed reading the Tilting book you recommended. Had to get it from lending library. Thank you for suggesting it.

[honda03842]

Thanks Gary Carolyn,

I assume the book you refer to is the illustrated book about going to cut wood.

We know an author on the island Roy Dwyer who has written four books about life on Fogo and in Tilting. We have them all plus a number of other books on island life. One that is hard to get but good is Latitudes of Melt. I've read it twice and visited every location mentioned in the book.

We have another book about women of Newfoundland, regular everyday, maybe not everyday women. They were real strength in NL because the men were often away for extended periods. The title may have been Island Maids.

It's how they lived and live that make the people special.

Thanks for letting me know.

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[Mitzi Agnew-Giles]

Originally Posted by Glenn Baglo

You're really sold on that pitch. Isn't the extension cord trailing behind you going create drag?

Nope it's the auxiliary trailer to to hold this Smartflower POP that;s creating drag
https://www.smartflower.com/en

[Carol H]

Originally Posted by Mitzi Agnew-Giles

- the Parkliner and Lil Snoozy- because of the basement engineering to reduce drag and do away with the need for sway bars,

Not sure if I need a translator or an update on what I missed in regards to what Parkliner and Lil Snoozy have come up with recently in regards to the engineering of frames & body design- built in anti sway? Really? When did that happen and how?

[Mitzi Agnew-Giles]

My computer has been having problems ever since I updated Google Satellite- it stops accepting keyboard strokes every now and then. Closing some of the multiple windows I run didn't seem to help. Currently this is the only window accepting keystrokes. I think the aerodynamic design was like one of the initial things they mention on the websites. Reinforced at the factory visits. And I couldn't italicize think...sorry about that