Field observations on our new Trail Lite 213
Now have accumulated 500 miles on 2 different camp outings. Pros & cons: Our 2004 Trail Lite 23' has low range mileage (33000) on the 6L Chevy platform. I really like the way it drives & handles...
Forum Discussion
We could not stand the stock bed combo. I took out the sofa and built a bed.
Read about it here.
There are a couple of things I would do differently, versus that write-up.
First, I would consider making it higher, to the top of the cargo door. This would however make the window box be quite close to the mattress. It could be removed, though. As I made it, it is the same height as the dinette bed.
Secondly, and I already made this change a few weeks ago, I made it wider than need be. I was guessing I wanted a 34" bed. After finishing it, I found a good 31" wide foam mattress at Ikea. I used it last year, but this year I decided to narrow the bed box to match the mattress, for more floor room. I did a better job of packaging the heat ducts so I didn't lose much storage room at all.
The downside is that the bed is only 69" long at the wall, and with an angle on the wall corner, it goes out to 72" long behind the seat. (The mattress, that is. The box is simply 69" long.) I could have made the mattress longer still, but that was enough for me. But not for everyone. Although there is room to let your feet hang over. :) The dinette is only 68", and my wife finds it cramped even though she is only 63". One fix there would be to remake the front dinette bench by removing the back of it and leaving only a bench. The dinette bench is quite easy to remove from the floor and wall. Whether or not it would fit through the door to modify it, I dunno.
I have considered making our setup turn into one big bed similar to the stock configuration. Starting with a two layer plywood deck on the bed. Using a hinge to connect the two layers. Then flipping the top layer over to connect to side wall of the dinette. There would be a foam mattress for the middle section, and it would be stored on top of the existing mattress. The advantages over the stock components would be that it would be all flat and level, and with a bigger aisle when stowed. The disadvantages would be constructing it, furnishing it, and stowing the extra mattress. In the end, we are reasonably satisfied with our current setup. Although resale might be a problem. Tall buyers need not apply.
The upholstered plywood on the sides of the dinette cushions would be easy to take off and cut down so it doesn't hit your legs when sleeping. Just pop off the caps, remove the screws underneath, and the panel will be in your hands. Pry out the staples and remove the fabric. Cut the panel down an inch or more, re-install the fabric, and put it back on. If you can handle the wood cutting, it would be a super easy job. If you can't, anyone with a jig or saber saw would be able to trim it down for you, super simple.
Read about it here.
There are a couple of things I would do differently, versus that write-up.
First, I would consider making it higher, to the top of the cargo door. This would however make the window box be quite close to the mattress. It could be removed, though. As I made it, it is the same height as the dinette bed.
Secondly, and I already made this change a few weeks ago, I made it wider than need be. I was guessing I wanted a 34" bed. After finishing it, I found a good 31" wide foam mattress at Ikea. I used it last year, but this year I decided to narrow the bed box to match the mattress, for more floor room. I did a better job of packaging the heat ducts so I didn't lose much storage room at all.
The downside is that the bed is only 69" long at the wall, and with an angle on the wall corner, it goes out to 72" long behind the seat. (The mattress, that is. The box is simply 69" long.) I could have made the mattress longer still, but that was enough for me. But not for everyone. Although there is room to let your feet hang over. :) The dinette is only 68", and my wife finds it cramped even though she is only 63". One fix there would be to remake the front dinette bench by removing the back of it and leaving only a bench. The dinette bench is quite easy to remove from the floor and wall. Whether or not it would fit through the door to modify it, I dunno.
I have considered making our setup turn into one big bed similar to the stock configuration. Starting with a two layer plywood deck on the bed. Using a hinge to connect the two layers. Then flipping the top layer over to connect to side wall of the dinette. There would be a foam mattress for the middle section, and it would be stored on top of the existing mattress. The advantages over the stock components would be that it would be all flat and level, and with a bigger aisle when stowed. The disadvantages would be constructing it, furnishing it, and stowing the extra mattress. In the end, we are reasonably satisfied with our current setup. Although resale might be a problem. Tall buyers need not apply.
The upholstered plywood on the sides of the dinette cushions would be easy to take off and cut down so it doesn't hit your legs when sleeping. Just pop off the caps, remove the screws underneath, and the panel will be in your hands. Pry out the staples and remove the fabric. Cut the panel down an inch or more, re-install the fabric, and put it back on. If you can handle the wood cutting, it would be a super easy job. If you can't, anyone with a jig or saber saw would be able to trim it down for you, super simple.
