Total Newbie Curious About Aliners

2Groodles wrote:
I was tent camping at Molas Lake in Colorado last summer and saw an Aliner in the campground. It caught my eye as the perfect solution for me and my two dogs. I'm looking for something safer than a tent that I can take up dirt and gravel roads and camp in dispersed areas, as well as in established campgrounds. I'd like to be able to lock it up and leave it for the day as I head up to the mountains on day hikes with my pups. As a former backpacker and tent camper, the Aliner seemed like a good fit: small, low profile, with hard sides, and not too many bells and whistles.

Can anyone who has owned an Aliner tell me about their experiences with this brand and its products? I'm considering either the Classic or Ranger 12. What are their pluses and minuses?

Thanks!

We have a 2004 Aliner Sportliner and have owned it since 2005. Probably not the right people to ask because there's nothing we don't like about it. Until two years ago we had a 19' TT but sold it as more and more we used the "A" instead. I have remodeled the interior on the "A" twice now to make it more user friendly for our needs. In 2006 we took it to Maine and home again, 10,000 miles and three months. It was perfect for the two of us. Originally it had a three burner stove, a furnace, sink and three way fridge. All that's left after the latest remodel is the fridge. We cook and eat outside and one thing we found we needed more of was storage. We heat it with a small Colman propane heater and its plenty warm. It tows great and with my old 2005 Chevy pickup you would not know it was back there.With the Jeep Wrangler Unlimited I feel it but still tows well. They are pricey tho. Well that's my story and I'm stickin to it. We love our "A".

After admiring A-frames for several years, I decided to give one a try and bought a used 2010 Ranger 12 late last summer. I've only had one camping trip (planning another in March) but so far it's been a pleasant experience. I am glad that I bought a 2010 and not an earlier year, because earlier models have a lighter frame and I've read of some problems with frame weakness especially with carrying a bicycle on the rear bumper as I do.

The Aliner was a little harder for me to set up than for some guys because I'm only 5'8" and I need to be able to push that panel up high enough. I bought a push pole (actually it's a telescoping pole to set inside a sliding door channel to keep burglars out, but hey it works for this also!) and that helped immensely.

I have a porta potti in mine. If I feel like I'm missing the indoor shower too much, I think I'd sell the Aliner and buy a Rockwood A194HW (or its Flagstaff twin). I'm also having to adjust to the lack of a gray water tank, but so far a 2 gallon container positioned under the drain is doing the job. I do like the A-frame well enough otherwise. The angled roof panels created a smaller-volume space compared to my previous trailers, and it's a snap to heat and cool.

rexlion wrote:
After admiring A-frames for several years, I decided to give one a try and bought a used 2010 Ranger 12 late last summer. I've only had one camping trip (planning another in March) but so far it's been a pleasant experience. I am glad that I bought a 2010 and not an earlier year, because earlier models have a lighter frame and I've read of some problems with frame weakness especially with carrying a bicycle on the rear bumper as I do.

The Aliner was a little harder for me to set up than for some guys because I'm only 5'8" and I need to be able to push that panel up high enough. I bought a push pole (actually it's a telescoping pole to set inside a sliding door channel to keep burglars out, but hey it works for this also!) and that helped immensely.

I have a porta potti in mine. If I feel like I'm missing the indoor shower too much, I think I'd sell the Aliner and buy a Rockwood A194HW (or its Flagstaff twin). I'm also having to adjust to the lack of a gray water tank, but so far a 2 gallon container positioned under the drain is doing the job. I do like the A-frame well enough otherwise. The angled roof panels created a smaller-volume space compared to my previous trailers, and it's a snap to heat and cool.

Thanks for this feedback. I appreciate it. As a former backpacker I'm not too concerned about a port potti or indoor shower, at this point. I've looked at various Rockwood and Flagstaff models. They're nice too, but not quite as suitable for taking down some of Colorado's unpaved roads as they're wider and heavier, and My Jeep Grand Cherokee is better equipped to pull something lighter. It all seems to be a matter of what one is used to as to how they adapt. For me, just having the hardsides and a mattress will be luxurious!

The point about height is an important one. Since I'm 5' 9" I'll take your telescoping pole idea into serious consideration.

Originally it had a three burner stove, a furnace, sink and three way fridge. All that's left after the latest remodel is the fridge. We cook and eat outside and one thing we found we needed more of was storage. We heat it with a small Colman propane heater and its plenty warm. It tows great and with my old 2005 Chevy pickup you would not know it was back there.With the Jeep Wrangler Unlimited I feel it but still tows well. They are pricey tho. Well that's my story and I'm stickin to it. We love our "A".

This is so helpful! I'm not actually very interested in all the bells and whistles as the Aliner would simply be a place to cleanup, eat, and crash in between getting out and doing stuff. Yes, they are pricey, and that's why I'm trying to get the impressions of actual owners. Thank you for your thoughts.

2Groodles wrote:

Originally it had a three burner stove, a furnace, sink and three way fridge. All that's left after the latest remodel is the fridge. We cook and eat outside and one thing we found we needed more of was storage. We heat it with a small Colman propane heater and its plenty warm. It tows great and with my old 2005 Chevy pickup you would not know it was back there.With the Jeep Wrangler Unlimited I feel it but still tows well. They are pricey tho. Well that's my story and I'm stickin to it. We love our "A".

This is so helpful! I'm not actually very interested in all the bells and whistles as the Aliner would simply be a place to cleanup, eat, and crash in between getting out and doing stuff. Yes, they are pricey, and that's why I'm trying to get the impressions of actual owners. Thank you for your thoughts.
An added thought about raising the roof. I too am 5'9" and am 75 years young. I have no problem pushing the roof up without assistance.

rightlaneonly wrote:

2Groodles wrote:

I too am 5'9" and am 75 years young. I have no problem pushing the roof up without assistance.

Great news!

For the money.... you can get a very nice small full height trailer camper. No set up, and a shower.... much easier.

ExBF & I looked at the A-liners and decided they were way overpriced for what you got.

coolmom42 wrote:
For the money.... you can get a very nice small full height trailer camper. No set up, and a shower.... much easier.

ExBF & I looked at the A-liners and decided they were way overpriced for what you got.

I see. A full-sized trailer wouldn't work for my purposes--too tall for many of the roads I'll be traveling.

2Groodles wrote:
...as the perfect solution for me and my two dogs. I'm looking for something safer than a tent that I can take up dirt and gravel roads and camp in dispersed areas, as well as in established campgrounds. I'd like to be able to lock it up and leave it for the day as I head up to the mountains on day hikes with my pups. As a former backpacker and tent camper, the Aliner seemed like a good fit: small, low profile, with hard sides, and not too many bells and whistles.

We love our A-frame (please note that ours is not an A-liner) for just the reasons you mentioned. Although we have only owned it for a year now and still tent camp from time to time. We have found that the small form factor, the easy setup/take down, and the light towing weight are all perfect for what we needed. They are easy to tow around tight curves, over narrow, winding park roads, and are a snap to connect/disconnect, even in the rain or dark of night. These hard-sided pop-ups are (fairly) secure, a bit more so than canvas at any rate, have a number of built-in amenities, are quite comfortable for two adults and two small dogs, and if you like people, are a good talking point (as everyone near you, as well as all who pass by, will stop to chat about your camper.)

To date, we have not yet found any drawbacks and we would not give up the A-frame for anything larger.

- R

WrongWayRandall wrote:
We love our A-frame (please note that ours is not an A-liner) for just the reasons you mentioned. Although we have only owned it for a year now and still tent camp from time to time. We have found that the small form factor, the easy setup/take down, and the light towing weight are all perfect for what we needed. They are easy to tow around tight curves, over narrow, winding park roads, and are a snap to connect/disconnect, even in the rain or dark of night. These hard-sided pop-ups are (fairly) secure, a bit more so than canvas at any rate, have a number of built-in amenities, are quite comfortable for two adults and two small dogs, and if you like people, are a good talking point (as everyone near you, as well as all who pass by, will stop to chat about your camper.)

To date, we have not yet found any drawbacks and we would not give up the A-frame for anything larger.

- R

A hard-side pop-up will be a definite step up in security from the tent I currently use. I appreciate your feedback on your experiences. I have looked at the Rockwood A122. Those are nice too. I haven't ruled those out. I sure like the dormers Aliner offers.