Wanted: Minimalists Looking for Little Camper

[brucewarren]

Originally Posted by chimpta

I have also been in this situation. I have a Honda CRV with 1500 towing capacity. I have been thinking of a new car although I would rather not. brucewarren a Jeep Cherokee can have a 1000 lb towing capacity more than a Wrangler so that is what I have been focusing on. Also a Toyota Highlander is even more at 5,000 lb. Of course for all those it depends on engine, transmission, tow package, etc.

The official towing weight is only part of the equation. I own a Grand Cherokee and a Wrangler and both pull our Casita17 just fine. But, we had a Dodge Nitro (about the same as a Wrangler) that I towed the Casita from Texas to California. One time the wind got us swaying bad on I-10 and that was very scary. And three flat tires on that trip. Bring many cans of tire goop and a good pump. We rented out our Casita to 14 customers and two of them had small cars and they had no problems, but only drove about 5 hours and the weather was nice.

[John in Santa Cruz]

towing decisions should be based on the trailers GWR not its dry curb weight

[Louise]

We have a '98 Casita 13' trailer which we're going to be selling in the next few months. We have towed it with a Toyota Highland 4 cyl. It has been a great little trailer, spacious inside, yet small and towing was always easy. If you have any interest, please write to us at louweez@bellsouth.net. I see that you're in NH. We're in CA. A long distance away.
Louise

Originally Posted by liladventurer

My partner and I are a young professional couple in search of a small camper trailer to continue our minimalistic lifestyle on the road. Ideally, we would like to find a light weight molded fiberglass camper that is towable with our Toyota RAV4 13 16 and less than 1500 lbs. . Some specific brands we are interested in: Burro, Scamp, Happy Camper, Trillium outback , Boler, Armadillo, Lil Bigfoot. We are willing to spend 6 10K but are also open to negotiation. We are open to trade a car as well. We are WILLING TO TRAVEL for the right camper!

A little about us:

I am a farmer, cook, and most recently an administrator for a organic food distributor remote work! . He recently completed his master's degree in environmental policy and is pursuing career work in sustainable agriculture and conservation. We have been traveling together for the past few years, living in strange dwellings, sometimes tent camping and picking up jobs that we feel passionate about along the way adding to our ever growing list of experiences. The pandemic put a halt to our traveling and gave us an opportunity to slow down and really think about what's next. Eventually, we want to find a piece of land to call our own and a camper would be an ideal way to explore new places and revisit ones that we may choose to establish roots someday.

Please contact us if you think we can work something out. Thanks!





View this ad at Fiberglass Classifieds - Minimalists Looking for Little Camper

[liladventurer]

Originally Posted by jmfield

I live in western MA and have a small UHAUL fiberglass camper that i used to tow with my subaru outback. I started to rebuild but my age is slowing me down and the project is more than I want to tackle. Price negotiable. Call me if interested and want to look at trailer. (413) 548-9232
Jim

Hi!
Thanks for the message. I'll give you a call this evening

[John TACP]

I have a Scamp that I will sell. 1992 13ft. Weighs 900 empty. I can pick the tongue up and pull it. Needs the table fixed. I replaced all of the cabinet door with cedar. Didn't make the table sting enough. I can though.

[Ahneema]

My Snoozy II weighs 2500lbs, with 250lbs tongue. Super aerodynamic. Smoozy2.com. Talk to Shaun.

[Jo in CO]

We tow with a Subaru Forester, which also has a 1,500 lb tow limit. When I was looking at options, the 13 ft Scamp was pretty much the only reasonable option for trailers. We ended up getting a new one, instead of used, because they keep their value so well that we weren't going to save much by going used. Just time. It took 6 mon to have it built. I'm betting it's much longer currently. Mine is pretty bare bones to keep the weight down. No bathroom, A/C, refrigerator, huge tanks, etc. Brand new, just how I wanted it came in around $13k. The base price is a bit less though. It's worth calling the sales department.

Keep in mind that you should only consider trailers with brakes when towing with a small vehicle. In small vehicles, anything over a couple hundred pounds is pretty stressful to tow without brakes. It's so much safer (and may be legally required in your state) to have the brakes.

[funkgun]

Originally Posted by John TACP

I have a Scamp that I will sell. 1992 13ft. Weighs 900 empty. I can pick the tongue up and pull it. Needs the table fixed. I replaced all of the cabinet door with cedar. Didn't make the table sting enough. I can though.

Hey John, what sort of price are you looking to get for your 82. what does it come with?(if you want to IM me here, that is fine too)

[liladventurer]

Originally Posted by Jo in CO

We tow with a Subaru Forester, which also has a 1,500 lb tow limit. When I was looking at options, the 13 ft Scamp was pretty much the only reasonable option for trailers. We ended up getting a new one, instead of used, because they keep their value so well that we weren't going to save much by going used. Just time. It took 6 mon to have it built. I'm betting it's much longer currently. Mine is pretty bare bones to keep the weight down. No bathroom, A/C, refrigerator, huge tanks, etc. Brand new, just how I wanted it came in around $13k. The base price is a bit less though. It's worth calling the sales department.

Keep in mind that you should only consider trailers with brakes when towing with a small vehicle. In small vehicles, anything over a couple hundred pounds is pretty stressful to tow without brakes. It's so much safer (and may be legally required in your state) to have the brakes.

Thanks for the helpful info!

Does your trailer have brakes? So far it seems as though many if the little trailers don't. Is this something that you added?

[bworcester]

I have a 1984 Burro, completely rebuilt that I'm thinking of selling when the snow melts, mid to end of March. It's been stored inside since the rebuild. Asking $9,000. I live in western Michigan. IM me if you're interested and I can email you more pictures.

Bob
Grand Rapids, MI

[John TACP]

Originally Posted by funkgun

Hey John, what sort of price are you looking to get for your 82. what does it come with?(if you want to IM me here, that is fine too)

Its a 1992. 6500 with the fiberglass pod on the back. 6000 without.
Send me a email and I'll send pics. This is impossible to upload to.

[funkgun]

Oh and first dibs to the person who opened this thread. I just am unable to open my own thread

[computerspook]

Originally Posted by bworcester

I have a 1984 Burro, completely rebuilt that I'm thinking of selling when the snow melts, mid to end of March. It's been stored inside since the rebuild. Asking $9,000. I live in western Michigan. IM me if you're interested and I can email you more pictures.

Bob
Grand Rapids, MI

Keep it and go camping

[computerspook]

Originally Posted by liladventurer

Thanks for the helpful info!

Does your trailer have brakes? So far it seems as though many if the little trailers don't. Is this something that you added?

A majority of them do have brakes. And you certainly would want some.

You would have to completely change out the axle to add brakes.

[jmfield]

Perri,
I got your message but the caller ID # on my phone was wrong. Call again and if I am not home leave a number.
Thanks
Jim

[Jon in AZ]

Originally Posted by computerspook

A majority of them do have brakes. And you certainly would want some.

You would have to completely change out the axle to add brakes.

Not always. My ‘08 Scamp 13 was ordered without brakes, but the axle had the square mounting flanges to add brakes.

The really old ones, maybe not, but if the axle is two or three decades old, it’s probably time for a new one anyway. Most molded trailers have rubber torsion axles. They have a working lifespan of twenty years or so, but they can remain functional with gradually decreasing ride quality long past their “use by” date. Once worn out, they are replaced as a unit.

A few models use leaf spring axles, which can last essentially forever with occasional replacement of wear parts.

You have to take it on a case-by-case basis. An evaluation of the axle type and condition should be part of a pre-purchase inspection.

[Marty Smiltneek]

Originally Posted by liladventurer

My partner and I are a young professional couple in search of a small camper trailer to continue our minimalistic lifestyle on the road. Ideally, we would like to find a light weight molded fiberglass camper that is towable with our Toyota RAV4 13 16 and less than 1500 lbs. . Some specific brands we are interested in: Burro, Scamp, Happy Camper, Trillium outback , Boler, Armadillo, Lil Bigfoot. We are willing to spend 6 10K but are also open to negotiation. We are open to trade a car as well. We are WILLING TO TRAVEL for the right camper!

A little about us:

I am a farmer, cook, and most recently an administrator for a organic food distributor remote work! . He recently completed his master's degree in environmental policy and is pursuing career work in sustainable agriculture and conservation. We have been traveling together for the past few years, living in strange dwellings, sometimes tent camping and picking up jobs that we feel passionate about along the way adding to our ever growing list of experiences. The pandemic put a halt to our traveling and gave us an opportunity to slow down and really think about what's next. Eventually, we want to find a piece of land to call our own and a camper would be an ideal way to explore new places and revisit ones that we may choose to establish roots someday.

Please contact us if you think we can work something out. Thanks!





View this ad at Fiberglass Classifieds - Minimalists Looking for Little Camper

Sadly, your asperations don't meet with reality. If you examine all the things you are attempting to accomplish you best start with your tow vehicle's capacity. Then decide how long your vehicle can withstand operating at max capacity. The reality is, the breaks, gearbox suspension and engine will not last. If you have asperations to see the world in a camper save some money work and purchase a good tow vehicle with a capacity about twice the minimum for even marginal long term success. Most campers don't get pulled more than three or four trips per year. Day in and day out operation is a totally different thing. My wife and I have a highly modified boler. The frame is substantially stronger than the original because our original frame failed after 40 years of wear and tear. Most of that time the trailer was used sporadically two or three weekends and a week long trip per year. That is the design parameters of most small campers. Add the weight of full timing in a camper and your realistic weight is more in the range of 2500 pounds. Add it up! camp stuff, axe, lantern, camp stove, propane or white gas, pots pans, silverware glass wear possibly a small table some cheap folding chairs sleeping bags or bedding, personal clothing, cosmetics shoes a couple of bicycles and on and on it all weights something! A well stocked backpack for a two day weekend is upwards of 45 pounds each! Don't forget food water personal necessities like a port-a-pot or better, You will want to shower once in a while. All that crap weights a lot. Our admittedly fat off road boler is set up for two adults, It is heavily modified and with all camping gear loaded behind our 5500 pound F150 travels down the road at a shade over 8500 pounds. We have been living in our camper for as long as a month at a time and that is all the amount of time I care to travel it it in one continuous trip. I enjoy a shower, good food and often some privacy / personal space Our water supply is not overly generous at 26 gallons @ 8 pounds a gallon we don't travel with the tank full unless we are near our destination!, We have a small chemical toilet, a shower/toilet tent a folding table two comfortable camp chairs a 2 burner stove two cast iron pans a good pan to boil water, We have a canopy because it is a necessity for hot days. Think it through! You are talking about a total change of lifestyle make sure you are starting out with some understanding of what you are actually attempting. You possibly have I am just pointing out it's not all easy the down sides can and will destroy not only your dream but your relationship as well.

[AlanKilian]

I've towed by 1977 Scamp 13' all over the USA with a 2004 Honda CRV with no trailer brakes.


It just depends on how much "comfort stuff" you decide you can't do without. Shower, toilet, tons of cooking equipment, TV, Microwave, satellite-antenna, it all adds up, and I didn't need ANY of it, so I didn't tow any of it and we've had wonderful "camping" experiences.



I've also done two-week Boundary-Waters canoe trips where you LITERALLY have to carry everything on your back. (and my pregnant wife, although not on my back!) so I know in my heart that a 13' camper is towable with a 1,500 pound towing limit vehicle.


Go slow, don't carry TWO cast-iron pans and you'll have a wonderful time.

[computerspook]

Originally Posted by Jon in AZ

Not always. My ‘08 Scamp 13 was ordered without brakes, but the axle had the square mounting flanges to add brakes.

Probably had them in the first place and then they were removed. But if the design is without them, as you said the axle has to support them. So then a new axle would be needed.

[yogavnture]

look at outbound trailers hastings nebraska