Haley
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Re: Build an a-frame?
plywood coated w Cold cure Epoxy then marine enamel My thinking was marine ply with fiberglass cloth draped over it and coated with epoxy, and then paint or varnish for UV protection. Same method as hulls on their boats.. Chesapeake Light Craft, a stitch and glue boat design firm actually has plans for a teardrop done in this manner. https://www.clcboats.com/shop/boats/recreational-vehicles/teardrop-camper/clc-teardrop-trailer.html885Views0likes0CommentsRe: Build an a-frame?
I have a new catamaran that I built fairly recently Which design> I love the ones Dudley Dix offers but they are behind my mean$ lot of "established" parks do not allow home-built campers or RVs of any kind These might be the same parks that frown upon vintage RV's as well, an age restriction, which I may face if I purchased used. Thanks though, I was unaware of this. Hmm, so if I use a similar font and adorn it with the word "A Li er" rather than "A Liner" can I be accused of anything but poor spelling? bathroom is IMPERATIVE So you've met my DW? This is tricky. In backpacking groups privacy is often something that is requested rather than expectedWhen I walk the 20ft behind the lean to to the thunder box it is helpful if I let people know so they do not wander to close. I am thinking a small cassette toilet used either inside or one of those shower tents. Not ideal but it is easier to adjust one's expectations than it is to adjust ones tow rating. Aliners are very cramped, even for 2 people I'm 5'9" and DW is taller. The A frames actually seem to offer a nice inside vertical clearance. Open and airy. She spotted right away though - where does all of the stuff go. Not much space. Not ideal but it is easier to adjust one's expectations than it is to adjust RV Budget. And you are right, I am not disagreeing, other than teardrops I think they are the smallest RV out there. You will be much happier with electric brakes Very cool. I tow small boat and utility trailers so the whole braking thing is new to me. My van stopped my 1750lb boat fine but I figure brakes would be finer. It is easier to adjust one's stopping distance than it is to get an exception to that basic law of physics concerning two objects occupying same space at same time. roof leaks I envision ridged metal roofing one might find on a cabin in the woods. They even sell it in an arc so the roof "A" frame could be bowed out a bit to expand space. I would not pierce this with skylights or vents - those would go on gables (i think). But I also envision using the boating building skills to use thin marine ply sandwich panels with a foam core. Epoxy / fiberglass the skin. Treat the roof like a hull. marine plywood (BS1088) is very expensive Remember. Size matters. For an A Frame the roof panels are no wider than 8' and not much longer. I'd invest more in the roofing system than the sound system. would a teardrop trailer work for you? Alas no. Ability to stand inside seems to be a key factor. Thanks though - a lot of what I am thinking comes from DIY teardrops.883Views0likes0CommentsBuild an a-frame?
Recent empty nester tent camper. Trying to travel with DW who is not a tent camper. Looking for something simple that can be used 50% established parks and 50% boon docking. Current Tow Vehicle is a minivan rated for 3500lbs. All of the above points to a pop-up. DW not thrilled on soft sides. Myself, I tent camp fourrrr (extra 'r's for BRRRR) seasons. For these two reasons a hard sided a frame appeals to us. Looking at used A-Liners, Rockwoods, etc. I think the manufacturers are putting their money in places I would choose not to. For example, an aluminum frame appeals to me as tow weight savings. I would not put a 3 burner stove inside, etc. Also, my hobby is wooden boat building. For non-nautical types please understand that keeping the water on the outside is a key design goal. Same for an RV, just inverted. Anyways... Aluminum trailer Surge brakes? Thin marine plywood sandwiching thick insulation Metal roofing Dual pan RV windows? Take estimated cost, double it, and if I can but a decent used one go that route? Would welcome your thoughts on this.3.6KViews0likes12CommentsRe: Hard Sided Pop Up Questions
Similar situation. I have a lot of experience backpacking but DW wants a bear proof shelter. I want to still go to off grid places. Our TV is a Toyota Sienna. So all of those make the a-frames attractive. On youtube there is a gent named 'slim potato head' that seems to have a lot of 4 season fun with his older model. Storage is worse then other RV's but better than tent camping Set up is faster than tent camping Hard sides extend season and keep big critters at bay My questions: A Jayco model has RV furnace and A/C that provides cooling and heat. I understand you need big power to run AC. But I know the furnace requires power too. Not sure how long you could run the furnace off of batteries. If I need power for both why have both? Furnace, as name implies, better for heat if you have hook ups? And does a propane furnace contribute as much to condensation as portable propane heaters? I am pretty sure I see some delamination or water damage on some of the used models. So need to stay up on preventive maintenance it seems. Not sure if there is a make with a fiberglass or aluminum roof/wall. Not sure if that is the cure.626Views0likes0CommentsRe: Must See places for kids
Forts: Close to Niagara Falls is Fort Niagara (US) and Fort George (CAN). They are within cannon shot of each other but there is the border. Speaking of the border, Canada is within your range - Algonquin Park, Toronto, or Ottawa. Montreal is like RVing in France. And Disney World and beaches. Plenty of beaches. Also, if your kid has a cheap digital camera start looking at the photos they take. I was amazed what interests them most on our travels. We include that in our planning. jh PS My kid did DC in 8th grade too. We did it as a family before and will be back. A lot to see and sometimes a parent can draw attention to something family related (name on the Vietnam memorial, etc.)620Views0likes0CommentsRe: What's the best bang for my 20k?
Safari, I too like the idea of being able to camp in National Parks and such. I think I have seen a few threads on here where folks with larger rigs do not report much difficulty(?). If that is a big part of your decision maybe folks with experience (unlike me) could chip in. Or you could use the handy-dandy search feature. jh404Views0likes0CommentsRe: What's the best bang for my 20k?
When you compare mileage diesel vs gas be sure to check your local price in diesel. For me it's a bit higher. Convert it to "MPD" - Miles per dollar for fuel. Some will say though that if you are minding the pennies this close Class A may not be the way to go. Regarding low mile units. I am looking at two right now. Same make. Very similar floor plan. One is a 2000 gasser with 30k miles. One is a 1998 diesel with 100k miles. Very similar in price. Some will say " a diesel for the price of a gasser - it's a no brainer - take the DP" and some will say "one third the mileage? It's a no brainer - take the gasser." The gasser has sat in a barn. Nicely stored. The DP is with full timers who are now in FL, were recently in southwest and before that Pacific Northwest. The DP guy can answer my questions in great detail. Knows status of every thing on board. If he does not sell he is driving it back to Pacific Northwest. So it sounds like this rig is road worthy. The gasser seller can not recall if the second A/C works, did not use it the one time he took it out this year - which was local. Personally, I am looking for a unit that is well exercised but not beat up.390Views0likes0CommentsRe: What's the best bang for my 20k?
I'm going to reply indirectly to your question. Like you, I am searching with a limited budget. I do not necessarily look for one model/one make. To me at this age the coach is a series of systems loosely glued together. What type of roof does it have? I like fiberglass one piece or something that *may* be less apt to leak? Delamination is a deal killer for me. How old, in years, are the tires. Should be replaced before 7 years; as mentioned very expensive. Most sellers seem to point at tread depth. How many miles? A lot means it is well used and not "lawn art" that has been sitting in the weeds for the past 4 years; but even if the engine is good for 200+ everything else gets stressed out rattling down the road. Do you need a slide. Despite much wisdom, I do not think I do. To me it is one more system to leak/break. But it helps with resale and roominess is nice. Diesel vs Gas? Look deeper. Different drives trains have their own issues. Not all diesel engines are created equal, same with gas. Capacities: Even if you are not towing be mindful of how much weight you have to play with. DIY - my neighbor is a master mechanic on gas engines. That make diesel slightly less attractive for me. Also, is the engine relatively easy to access. Sure, you can change a spark plug but there are one or two on a V10 Triton that are tough to get at with some layouts. Yes - makes as you say. I think a high end model may weather use more. But there is something to be said for a make/model that is very common or still gets some level of support from manufacturer. Number of owners & service records. Does the owner show care in other areas - like does he drive an older car in mint condition. Has he/she stayed up on visible maintenance? Do the A/C's, Generator, Furnace & Frige work well - these are all super expensive. Is there a specific floor plan that you need? I've prefer reare twins but they are rare. But I need a booth rather than free standing dinnette for the extra sleeping. Another thing I think of is re-sale. Most people trade up down or all around. Is there something about the rig that you may not care all that much about but would hurt resale?202Views0likes0Comments
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