A couple of questions about Camplite aluminum travel trailers came up in another thread, and rather than hijack that thread, I'll start a new one & try to answer any/all questions.
I recently purchased a Camplite 16BHB trailer & have since spent a few nights in it. I bought it late Dec 2011 for $18,500+tax. I have four nights & about 900 miles of towing this winter. I'm not new to camping (45+ years) but I am new to campers and travel trailers. This is my first non-tent.
The Camplite is fairly unique. There is no wood. The frame, structure, roof, siding, cabinets and bunks are all welded aluminum. The interior panels are either aluminum or Azdel. The floor is aluminum. The axles, stabilizers and steps are steel.
The most visual difference is that the interior is not 'residential'. It's somewhat sterile & industrial. I prefer the aluminum look to the faux wood, wallpaper, vinyl floor look of pretty much everything else, so for me, it is styled to my taste. I joke that it's the 'ambulance look'.
Another opinion:
The 'space station look', I like that. ๐ Make sure that you like the look before you take the leap.
It is quality construction. This is the only trailer out of a hundred or so that I looked at where the interior partitions don't flex, bend or rattle. The Azdel sheathing isn't as rigid as I'd prefer though. If I had custom ordered it, I might have gotten a fully aluminum interior.
The components (furnace, fans, fridge, air) are ordinary RV components. None are unique to Camplite. The stove top appears to be a good quality unit. The glass cover is nearly flush with the counter top, so it's easier to use as a work surface. The wet bath is small, to say the least. The furnace is really noisy.
Mine has the optional rear deck. The trailer frame and aluminum floor extend 3' beyond the rear of the trailer, making a platform that should be able to haul bikes, a scooter, a grill, camping gear or a rocking chair with a mannequin dressed to look like an old lady.
Some questions/answers:
The floor on mine is uninsulated, though it appears as though they offer spray on floor insulation as an option. I slept in it at roughly -10F with the heat off. The floor was cold. My spilled espresso froze instantly. ๐
The walls are insulated with what I presume is some form of polystyrene (they call it 'block foam'). The ceiling is insulated with 'block foam'. When I warmed up the trailer from -10F I had condensation wherever there was no insulation. I used the opportunity to mark the locations of the studs & joists for future DIY's. At +10F a single electric heater kept the trailer sleeping-bag comfortable overnight.
I can make the floor more comfortable in the cold by cutting high density closed cell foam or industrial carpeting to fit. I'm experimenting a bit. Livin Lite also offers snap-in carpeting as an option.
It depends on how fast I drive. I've gotten as low as 9mpg against a strong headwind and I've got 11mpg taking it easy at 55mph. I got about 10.5mpg at 60-65 with winter blend fuel on a cold day. I am hoping I do better in summer. The combination doesn't seem to be special as far as economy goes.
If anyone else has a Camplite, give a shout.
I recently purchased a Camplite 16BHB trailer & have since spent a few nights in it. I bought it late Dec 2011 for $18,500+tax. I have four nights & about 900 miles of towing this winter. I'm not new to camping (45+ years) but I am new to campers and travel trailers. This is my first non-tent.
The Camplite is fairly unique. There is no wood. The frame, structure, roof, siding, cabinets and bunks are all welded aluminum. The interior panels are either aluminum or Azdel. The floor is aluminum. The axles, stabilizers and steps are steel.
The most visual difference is that the interior is not 'residential'. It's somewhat sterile & industrial. I prefer the aluminum look to the faux wood, wallpaper, vinyl floor look of pretty much everything else, so for me, it is styled to my taste. I joke that it's the 'ambulance look'.
Another opinion:
Cedarhill wrote:
It reminded me of a mock up of the International Space Station I went in minus the instruments and controls. I wasn't sure I could get used to that.
The 'space station look', I like that. ๐ Make sure that you like the look before you take the leap.
It is quality construction. This is the only trailer out of a hundred or so that I looked at where the interior partitions don't flex, bend or rattle. The Azdel sheathing isn't as rigid as I'd prefer though. If I had custom ordered it, I might have gotten a fully aluminum interior.
The components (furnace, fans, fridge, air) are ordinary RV components. None are unique to Camplite. The stove top appears to be a good quality unit. The glass cover is nearly flush with the counter top, so it's easier to use as a work surface. The wet bath is small, to say the least. The furnace is really noisy.
Mine has the optional rear deck. The trailer frame and aluminum floor extend 3' beyond the rear of the trailer, making a platform that should be able to haul bikes, a scooter, a grill, camping gear or a rocking chair with a mannequin dressed to look like an old lady.
Some questions/answers:
cm wrote:
With an aluminum frame, floor, skin, how is it insulated?
The floor on mine is uninsulated, though it appears as though they offer spray on floor insulation as an option. I slept in it at roughly -10F with the heat off. The floor was cold. My spilled espresso froze instantly. ๐
The walls are insulated with what I presume is some form of polystyrene (they call it 'block foam'). The ceiling is insulated with 'block foam'. When I warmed up the trailer from -10F I had condensation wherever there was no insulation. I used the opportunity to mark the locations of the studs & joists for future DIY's. At +10F a single electric heater kept the trailer sleeping-bag comfortable overnight.
I can make the floor more comfortable in the cold by cutting high density closed cell foam or industrial carpeting to fit. I'm experimenting a bit. Livin Lite also offers snap-in carpeting as an option.
Cedarhill wrote:
...would you mind sharing the fuel economy of the Camplite/EcoBoost combination?
It depends on how fast I drive. I've gotten as low as 9mpg against a strong headwind and I've got 11mpg taking it easy at 55mph. I got about 10.5mpg at 60-65 with winter blend fuel on a cold day. I am hoping I do better in summer. The combination doesn't seem to be special as far as economy goes.
If anyone else has a Camplite, give a shout.
Used to tow a 1000lb 2004 LTW Chalet A-Frame pop-up (low wind resistance) with a 1987 Toyota 2.4L 4 cylinder pickup getting 22 mpg @ 55MPH non mountain areas.
Towing the 1500lb CampLite 11RD with a 2003 2.4L 4 cylinder Tacoma @ 55MPH gets 16MPG non mountain areas.
Towing the CampLite with the 2013 4.0L automatic Frontier @ 55MPH gets 15MPG non-mountain areas. Fuel economy drops to 13MPG @ 65MPH with same TV.
It's easy to get into small sites with the CampLite 11RD or small pop-up that larger campers cannot get into.
This morning when leaving a small site on the ocean front @ Hunting Island SC, the easiest way to pull the camper out was to turn the camper "manually" 180 degrees on the site. Used two small pieces of plywood under the tongue wheel/jack. Took about 15 minutes to turn the 1500lb camper 180 degrees on sand and pine needles. That would be difficult with a larger and heavier camper.
Have been looking at larger CampLites & Fiberglass campers. For now will be keeping the CampLite 11RD.
We started transporting two bicycles inside the CampLite:
Best fuel cost this week $2.99 per gallon in SC. Earlier this week @ Hunting Island SC:
Towing the 1500lb CampLite 11RD with a 2003 2.4L 4 cylinder Tacoma @ 55MPH gets 16MPG non mountain areas.
Towing the CampLite with the 2013 4.0L automatic Frontier @ 55MPH gets 15MPG non-mountain areas. Fuel economy drops to 13MPG @ 65MPH with same TV.
It's easy to get into small sites with the CampLite 11RD or small pop-up that larger campers cannot get into.
This morning when leaving a small site on the ocean front @ Hunting Island SC, the easiest way to pull the camper out was to turn the camper "manually" 180 degrees on the site. Used two small pieces of plywood under the tongue wheel/jack. Took about 15 minutes to turn the 1500lb camper 180 degrees on sand and pine needles. That would be difficult with a larger and heavier camper.
Have been looking at larger CampLites & Fiberglass campers. For now will be keeping the CampLite 11RD.
We started transporting two bicycles inside the CampLite:
Best fuel cost this week $2.99 per gallon in SC. Earlier this week @ Hunting Island SC:
exploringcarolina wrote:djsamuel wrote:
We bought a Camplite 21BHS TT. We are extremely happy with it. Very comfortable, easy to tow. Took it to Fort Wilderness at Disney for a week in September and had several people come over to look at it. The only issues we have to get taken care of are a couple of scratches on cabinet doors, and a mis-cut refrigerator panel. There are no functional issues at all. I also like the aluminum roof and floor.
Are you towing with a 1500 or 2500 Dodge Pickup? Nice looking rig!
We checked out the Camplite 21BHS and 21RBS at a dealership. Really like the 21RBS since it's only two of us. Learned LivinLite offers optional spray on insulation on the bottom of the floor.
Just got back today from a camping trip @ Hunting Island State Park SC with the Camplite. Had several visitors looking at the CampLite this week.
Took this sun rise over the Atlantic this morning:
Took this shot out of the CampLite window yesterday before sun set:
Sorry I missed your post. I'm towing the 21BHS with a Ram 1500. Tows great. We also liked the 21RBS as well. But, my wife really liked the dinette, and having the bunks is a nice addition since our daughter is getting married in April. Then if her and her husband want to come along, we have room.
profdant139 wrote:
This picture will provide some encouragement for the OP's DW -- Mike mentioned that she now owns snow shoes. Let me tell you -- if you like to hike, snow shoes open up a whole new world! Very easy to use, and you can get into some amazing places -- this is in Freeman Grove in Giant Sequoia National Monument, east of Porterville, Calif, and that is my DW with one of her snowshoes up in the air:
And if you add some block foam under that aluminum floor (which should not be a really difficult job), you can camp in the snow, fairly comfortably. My guess is that there is a practical limit -- maybe 10 below zero might be ok, but not 25 below! (But what the heck do I know?? The coldest camping we have ever done was at 15 above zero.)
I've winter camped a few times in electric sites in nearby state parks. A 1000w fanless electric baseboard heater keeps it tolerable inside, or at least above freezing. The hardest part is that the tanks freeze and the state parks shut off the water and lock the flush toilets, so it's literally the pits (toilets) for us. ๐
The DW isn't so fond of the cold. ๐
djsamuel wrote:
We bought a Camplite 21BHS TT. We are extremely happy with it. Very comfortable, easy to tow. Took it to Fort Wilderness at Disney for a week in September and had several people come over to look at it. The only issues we have to get taken care of are a couple of scratches on cabinet doors, and a mis-cut refrigerator panel. There are no functional issues at all. I also like the aluminum roof and floor.
Are you towing with a 1500 or 2500 Dodge Pickup? Nice looking rig!
We checked out the Camplite 21BHS and 21RBS at a dealership. Really like the 21RBS since it's only two of us. Learned LivinLite offers optional spray on insulation on the bottom of the floor.
Just got back today from a camping trip @ Hunting Island State Park SC with the Camplite. Had several visitors looking at the CampLite this week.
Took this sun rise over the Atlantic this morning:
Took this shot out of the CampLite window yesterday before sun set:
This picture will provide some encouragement for the OP's DW -- Mike mentioned that she now owns snow shoes. Let me tell you -- if you like to hike, snow shoes open up a whole new world! Very easy to use, and you can get into some amazing places -- this is in Freeman Grove in Giant Sequoia National Monument, east of Porterville, Calif, and that is my DW with one of her snowshoes up in the air:
And if you add some block foam under that aluminum floor (which should not be a really difficult job), you can camp in the snow, fairly comfortably. My guess is that there is a practical limit -- maybe 10 below zero might be ok, but not 25 below! (But what the heck do I know?? The coldest camping we have ever done was at 15 above zero.)
And if you add some block foam under that aluminum floor (which should not be a really difficult job), you can camp in the snow, fairly comfortably. My guess is that there is a practical limit -- maybe 10 below zero might be ok, but not 25 below! (But what the heck do I know?? The coldest camping we have ever done was at 15 above zero.)
