Situational Awareness for Emergency, Disaster and Survival
What is a Good Travel Trailer?
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Question:
What in your opinion is a good travel trailer?
This question is directed at you, the Reader.
Those of you who own or have knowledge about travel trailers, we would love to hear from you.
Mostly looking for opinion regarding trailer manufacturers, models, who’s good, who’s not so good, what to be wary of, what to be sure to include, pitfalls, issues, favorable experiences, bad experiences… anything that may help someone in their decision process while picking out a travel trailer.
Please add your response to the Comment string of this post. This could be beneficial to many folks.
A good trailer is one that you can pull into the places you want to go. If you are on forest service roads, a 30 footer is probably too big. If you are trailering in the winter, a lite-weight is probably going to be too cold.
Looking at new trailers, there are only a few that differ from the others. High end trailers like Carriage and Franklin have all the fancy leather and corian. For the money, we prefer used trailers.
We just sold our 1968 Holiday Rambler 30 foot. It was solid and very comfortable. But for living in. it was narrow. We definately wanted more room, something with slideouts.
A generator goes without saying. There is no power in the forest.
We suggest lookng at a used trailer, something between the years of 1990-2000. Why pay top dollar for a newer trailer that will probably be less stable when you can pick up a used one and use the extra cash to outfit the trailer as you like. Just pick a good spot for the short wave radio.
We currently live in Alaska and have owned our used Fleetwood pop up for the last 6 years. It is 15 feet long for towing and has served us well for camping here. We have even towed it past the Arctic circle and camped. It has a 10 gal water tank so you would need to carry extra water or have some filtration system you could use. The heater in it has worked fine and my family of 4 has slept well in it. It would be cramped for long stays (we have done over 5 days at a time) but you are camping anyway. Like the other post you would need a generator but we have gotten along fine without one.
The best travel trailer is one that can be towed without breaking the bank. Mine is a 20 foot comfort lite complete with king bed and an office where the bunk beds were. We take it everywhere and are very comfy. With all the bells and whistles and no hassles!
What is a good travel trailer?
It depends.
It depends on the towing car.
It depends on the specs set by the user.
It depends on the budget available.
The ideal travel trailer contains comfortable bedding, a good kitchen, a good cooker and heating/cooling system, a fresh water tank and a dirty water tank, a toilet/shower unit, can be used under summer and winter conditions = isolation and double glazing, can be towed into rough terrain, hence has sufficient ground separation, has good brakes and stabilizing system to drive safely at speeds up to 55 mph,
has sufficient loading space and capacity (which most trailers don’t, most of them exceed their maximum pay load only by filling up the clean water tank) and the entire structure and interior should be made from fire retardant materials which don’t produce toxic gases.
Unfortunately the last requirement eliminates 90% of the products currently in the market.
Plastics, foam, untreated wood and artificial fibers applied for curtains, the bedding, cushions, insulation and bedding turn modern trailers into potential deathtraps in case of fire.
Anyhow, all depends on the chassis which should be made from aluminum with a light weight sandwich structure for the body which is cheap to maintain and repair.
In Europe the Alcoa chassis is in use for most trailer models and I especially like the Tandemaster model with two axis and four wheels.
It allows for high payloads and safe and stable driving.
The interior should be made from laminated wood with rounded corners, a very solid solution.
The wood should be treated with a fire retardant.
For dressing the interior, the bedding, curtains etc, etc, only use natural products which don’t burn easy and don’t produce toxic gasses when on fire.
Take care to install a fire alarm and a product called Fire Knock Out.
In short, a good trailer is a safe trailer.
One of the best trailers produced in Europe was “De Reu” from Belgium but this factory closed in 1985.
Many of their trailers however are still in use.
http://www.classiccaravan.nl/caravan-de-reu-casbah-360-jubileum-model-waar-er-slechts-5-van-zijn-geproduceerd/
Translate with google translate.
This trailer comes close with many of the specs but is too small and too expensive.
http://www.springbankleisure.co.uk/
I personally love the Airstream trailers.
http://www.airstream.com/products/2011-fleet/travel-trailer/index.html
Even classic trailers go for big money which is a tribute to the quality of the product but i.m.o. they offer the best bang for the buck. That is if you can make a good deal or buy one to refurbish by yourself.
Maybe someone could give a good price rang (and which years), one is the best for the money.
What companies make the best for the money? I don’t want to pay 50,000 for one. I could buy survival property for that much money.
I was thinking about where you could go with a trailer or motor home that would be one of the safest places to go when everything hits the fan and a couple of options really sounded good. First any trailer is not going to offer much protection from the elements, especially if war starts and the missiles start flying, they are mostly thin shelled and lightweight. I would say if someone could back a movable home into a large cave or tunnel, solid rock above and around you would surely shield you from the environment and the cold or heat outside. As long as there is enough fresh air moving through, someone could live in moderate comfort trying to ride out the apocalypse.
This is the wrong answer to your question,but I prefer an older diesel pusher,I bought a 1986 Holiday Rambler 38 Imperial Limited with a rebuilt caterpillar 3208(10.4 liters)for 14k on Craigslist last summer and it gets 10 miles per gallon(it holds 150)it holds 67 gallons of propane and it cost 75 dollars a year to register where I live.it holds 100 gallons fresh water.it is self contained and can tow a car or trailer.it has air ride and is robust in the suspension department.It’s built on a chassis supplied by a long standing bus manufacturer(Gillig)I live down a long dirt road with steep hills and theres no problem going in or out except if things get really muddy.(rare)It has an allison automatic transmission and of the couple in their late 70s that I bought it from it was the wife who did most of their long trip driving.(it seems easy to me to drive,but I have heavy equipment and dump truck too).it can carry a ton of supplies in the hardwood cabinets that are everywhere.
I forgot to mention that it only costs me around 250 a year to insure(liability).I live on 40 acres,so storage isn’t an issue.I like trailers too but I don’t think they’re as sturdy as a diesel rig.Just my opinion.
I forgot to mention,I have driven my motorhome for thousands of miles replacing at my option the alternator(It didn’t need it,the voltage guage was reading low.)$400 and the Starter(It was working,when i went to change it the solenoid was loose)$650.I felt better after changing them by hand,myself now knowing what I have down there.
Critter proof. Keep your granite countertops. Just make them mice proof!
I am thinking about buying a 1991 32 foot Terry. Has been used (not pulled) in an RV park. It’s in great condition as the people who owned it live far away and are older and didn’t come down very often. More summer months. The furnace/AC and all kitchen appliances, bathroom work great. No leaks ever. Has storm windows and a cloth awning that is like new. It has a flush toilet. I’ve been told.. easy to change if I want to put in an RV toilet. Asking price is $6500 CAD. What do you think?
By what you say, it sounds like it may be a good thing… Check for dry rot that may be hidden from plain sight, things like that…
Any All Terrain travel camper made in Australia is and has been tested in some of the most hostile terrains that this world can dish out – I would put my money on anything built by some of our 4WD fraternity! I’ve been to a few Four Wheel Drive show’s with my previous employer and all I need to say is “WOW”… Couple one of our trailers with one of your H1 Hummers and bring on Dooms day – it would be a walk in the park!!!
Although I did not purchase my trailer with survival in mind, I learned quite a bit shopping for one in a few years time. First, if you can find the right one, buy used. second, on AVERAGE, most people store these items outdoors. Sun destroys rubber and cheaper plastic roofs which causes leaks. In FL, 7-10 years is the life of a roof and, the basic trailer. If you catch one BEFORE the roof is leaking, it can be replace for about $3K depending on size. Otherwise look for an all fiberglass or metal roof trailer – there are very few out there used. The best bet is Airstream. Check out the floor on those for rot. Also the all fiberglass trailers Casita, etc. The Airstreams though come in all sizes where the fiberglass trailers are usually smaller. Trailers are less off-road but an option – staying within the thread topic.
I live in a 21 ft coachman cadet for 6 summer months of the year, i mostly use hydro as the trailer is in a trailer park and hydro is metered , but electicity cost less than running propane, i look forward to summer , as the people in the park are my summer family , if it was,nt for the bitterly cold winters in canada , i would sell my home and live in my trailer full time, as i find that this kind of life style really sets you mind of what is really important in ones life ,, “friends” those you can count on , those who live and experience the same life style that you enjoy
JUST PURCHASED A COLEMAN CTS 16 QB TRAVEL TRAILER. JUST WANTED TO SEE IF ANYONE HAS ANY EXPERIENCE WITH THIS BRAND.
In response to sundance 118, I can relate to what your saying as I live in a 1979 coachman cadet 25′bunkhouse. Layed off from job lost house, so I am glad I hung onto my travel trailer. I find that I actually enjoy it as it sits on a private lot in the country, I find my life don’t depend on the things I had but on what makes you content and happy in life. I do use 2 electric heaters and my stove to keep warm for winter and I did fine, I also live in SC, but I plan on getting one of the new catalytic propane heaters for next winter, god willing.