Steve & Deb's 5X8 Hiker Deluxe

[Steve_and_Deb]

Over the past couple of years, we've taken our daughter to college, taking six weeks to wander home the first year, and four weeks last fall, plus four weeks south last February. We'd often find ourselves deep in a national park or forest at dusk, and need to drive sometimes hours back to our motel. It sure would be nice if we could just stay somewhere local!

We went to the last two years of RV shows in Cleveland. We don't want a big trailer requiring a big truck to pull, nor do we want a big motor coach and need to pull our exploring vehicle. I had a Subaru Outback and now a Toyota 4Runner, and don't want to go larger than that. Roof top tents are all the rage on adventure vehicles. but we don't want to have to climb down a ladder in the middle of the night when nature calls, and you can't leave camp in the evening after they are set up. Tent camping has long ago lost its luster, and especially out west where y'all have nasty creepy-crawlers. That gets a resounding NO from Deb.

So, on Wednesday, May 24, 2017, we ordered a 5X8 Deluxe from Hiker Trailer in Indiana. Wes and Megan have been a joy to work with, and we are eager to get started. We went this route, because we intend to use the trailer for hauling our kayaks (it is quite a bit shorter than the 4Runner), as a cargo trailer, moving van for our daughter's stuff, and camper. The square roof lends itself to our needs more than a true teardrop. I hope that doesn't relegate us to "those people" status.

We picked up our new Hiker Trailer on September 14, 2017 in Noblesville, Indiana.

2017 Hiker Trailer 5X8 Deluxe

Standard Features:

• Black painted frame
  
• Aluminum Fenders (not painted)
  
• 2,000 lb trailer Axle
  
• 4 Wire Trailer Harness
  
• Trailer Jack
  
• 2 safety chains
  
• 2” Ball
  
• 14” Tires Aluminum Wheels
  
• Sleeping Area has 2aaa- battery powered lights
  
• Galley 1 -120 volt Power Strip
  
• 1aaa Battery power light in the rear galley
  
• Manual Roof Vent
  
• DOT Approved Side Markers Lights
  
• Rear Brake and turn signals Lights
  
• License Plate Holder and Light
  
• Flooring is made of 3/4 plywood overlaid with vinyl flooring
  
• Bottom is undercoated
  
• Trailer sides are 3/4” plywood
  
• Exposed Interior Components are Birch and Varnished Natural
  
• Exterior or trailer is skinned with Aluminum
  
• 1 Exterior Door with lock
  
• 2 operable window 18x24 including screens
  
• White Exterior
  
• Rear galley cabinet
  
• front cabinet
  
• Standard rear galley door
  
• Galley pass-through

Factory Installed Options:

• Second Street Door
  
• Roof Rack
  
• Large Rear Door (side opening)
  
• Fantastic Vent w/Ring Light
  
• 12V Prep Package
  
• Wall Color = Pewter
  
• Doors = Black
  
• Rear Door = Black
  
• Black Trim
  
• Diamond Black Fenders
  
• 24" Front Rock Guard
  
• Medium Tongue Box
  
• Wiring to tongue box
  
• A/C Prep Package
  
• White Top
  
• LED Trailer Frame Lights
  
• Rear Receiver Hitch

Modifications, Accessories, And Additions

Electrical:

• Renogy 100W 12V Microcrystalline Solar Starter Kit
  
• Goal Zero Yeti 150 Portable Power Station
  
• Bestek 400W Power Inverter

Interior:

• 17" X 58" X 1/8" Rubber Shelf Liner
  
• Milliard 6" Trip-Fold Memory Foam Mattress
  
• LED portable lights (freebies from Harbor Freight)
  
• Attic Net (reused trunk net)

Kitchen:

• Tembo Tusk Skottle Kit
  
• Coleman 2-Burner White Gas Stove (1970s era)
  
• ALPS Camp Table
  
• National Luna 12V 90Twin Fridge/Freezer (mounted on slide in tow vehicle)

Comfort/Convenience/Appearance:

• ClimateRight 5000 BTU Air Conditioner/Heater
  
• Luggable Loo
  
• CVT Portable Shower/Changing Room
  
• Road Shower 2 Portable Shower
  
• Overland Bound Badge #0202

Storage/Rack

• (2) Thule Hull-A-Port Pro Kayak Rack

Camp Site Stuff:

• Rubber Wheel Chocks
  
• Camco 1/2" X 25' Potable Water Hose
  
• Camco 12" 15A to 30A Adaptor
  
• (2) 12/3 X 25' Shore Power Extension Cord
  
• 12/3 X 24" Shore Power "Y" Splitter
  
• (4) Camco Aluminum Stabilizer Jack
  
• (4) Camco Stabilizer Jack Pad

Towing:

• Reese Towpower Forged 3" Drop Ball Mount
  
• Reese Towpower 2" Stainless Steel Ball

Security:

• McGuard Locking Wheel Lug
  
• Master Coupler Latch Lock
  
• Master Coupler Lock
  
• Master Stainless Steel Receiver Lock
  
• Trimax Wheel Chock Lock

Photos:

[beemerphile1]

I looked at those trailers and other similar ones when we were shopping in 2009. I ultimately bought an Aliner because you get more interior space and more amenities like stove, refrigerator, air conditioner, microwave, and etc.

We pulled the Aliner around 25,000 miles with a Pontiac Vibe that had a little 1.8L four cylinder engine.

[bluie5]

When we get our 5er in the spring we could pull that behind for the MIL to sleep in.??

[Steve_and_Deb]

mtnbbud wrote:
A mattress like that would work nice in the little clubhouse I built for my son in my backyard.

How well does it work as a couch? Have you slept on it yet? I've seen a few folding mattress/couches online, but none of them have looked as functional as that one.

It is the preferred mattress on the Hiker Trailer owner's Facebook group, and was recommended personally by the builder when we picked up our trailer. It is what he has in his.

It compresses some as a couch, but as long as you sit back in it, it is quite supportive. Sitting near the front edge it isn't so supportive.

We have not slept on it yet, but have laid on it for 30 minutes or so. We've only had extra-firm coil spring mattresses in our home, so I was hesitant to get a memory foam mattress. It is actually quite comfortable. There are 4" versions that some complain are not as firm, so I'm glad we went this route.

[Naio]

That thing is cute as two buttons, and sounds like it fits your need perfectly!

[mtnbbud]

A mattress like that would work nice in the little clubhouse I built for my son in my backyard.

How well does it work as a couch? Have you slept on it yet? I've seen a few folding mattress/couches online, but none of them have looked as functional as that one.

[Steve_and_Deb]

Ron3rd wrote:

Congrats; To have that kind of time off you must be very wealthy or have some sort of gig that has escaped the normal working stiff. God bless you.

Camper G wrote:

I was thinking the same. Good for them if they have that luxury.

Ha! Not wealthy by anyone's description! Just frugal. We bought a small, inexpensive house when we got married, paid it off as quickly as we could, and put as much money as legally allowed into retirement accounts. Neither of us had high paying jobs, or even average for our professions (optician and draftsman.) We just spent wisely, and invested wisely. We don't have expensive vices or hobbies, so now that we are retired, we can travel at our leisure.

This trailer is just an example; We'll be traveling in a $4000 trailer instead of something substantially more expensive, requiring an expensive tow vehicle.

[Camper_G]

Ron3rd wrote:
"Over the past couple of years, we've taken our daughter to college, taking six weeks to wander home the first year, and four weeks last fall, plus four weeks south last February. We'd often find ourselves deep in a national park or forest at dusk, and need to drive sometimes hours back to our motel. It sure would be nice if we could just stay somewhere local!"

Congrats; To have that kind of time off you must be very wealthy or have some sort of gig that has escaped the normal working stiff. God bless you.

I was thinking the same. Good for them if they have that luxury.

[dblr]

Congrats and enjoy, looks like you thought this out very well to suit YOUR needs.

[Ron3rd]

"Over the past couple of years, we've taken our daughter to college, taking six weeks to wander home the first year, and four weeks last fall, plus four weeks south last February. We'd often find ourselves deep in a national park or forest at dusk, and need to drive sometimes hours back to our motel. It sure would be nice if we could just stay somewhere local!"

Congrats; To have that kind of time off you must be very wealthy or have some sort of gig that has escaped the normal working stiff. God bless you.

[Steve_and_Deb]

profdant139 wrote:
Come on out West -- there is a lot of great boondocking out here.

That's the plan! Our daughter goes to college in Seattle. The past three autumns, we have taken her out, and then wandered our way home, taking a month or two to do so each time. That's a lot of nights in motels, and frequently, we had to leave interesting places early in order to get to a motel, sometimes hours away.

Now, we'll be able to stop and camp at nearly any national forest road or campground.

[GrandpaKip]

Nice looking rig. Enjoy. That's the point, after all.

[profdant139]

Very cool, rugged, and sporty! That rig can go just about anywhere. Well done, and enjoy! Come on out West -- there is a lot of great boondocking out here.

[Steve_and_Deb]

IdaD wrote:
I guess it beats a tent, but my minimum level trailer would need to have a toilet and fresh water system.

Luggable Loo
CVT Portable Shower/Changing Room
Road Shower 2 Portable Shower

:B

[azrving]

Steve and Deb wrote:

rjxj wrote:
Nice post but fix the pic sizes. Use this

Sorry for any infraction. I couldn't find anything that says there's a photo size limit. Every other forum I am on bar one automatically sizes the image to the window of the viewer, so I expected that functionality here, as well.

These photos are hosted on my own site, and have been shared on numerous forums and Facebook groups. Changing them now would goof up the other links. I can remove them here if I've mis-stepped?

Steve

EDIT: I just added a "width=1024" in the IMG tag to reduce the size. It was 1250 wide

No big deal but I just skip over these posts because of having to scroll back and forth. Others will enjoy it so no big deal.