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Re: Where are the modern euro style travel trailers?
And here is other gorgeous German TT that doesn’t exist here. Well balanced with low tongue weight so easily towable by a mid size SUV. Wonderful modern interior design. It just makes no sense why we don’t have these options here! All we have is cheap ****...or Airstream. And even the airstreams have much higher tongue weight than they should. Drives me nuts! https://www.eriba.com/en/models/caravans/eriba-nova-s/living-area.html617Views0likes0CommentsRe: Where are the modern euro style travel trailers?
Rather frustrating that one domestic manufacturer, Airstream, knows how to do interiors properly. They're popular so clearly people like them. But those interiors aren't worth the 100k asking price. A mid-high end manufacturer like Lance should be able to do the same? Instead, we just get "grandma's kitchen"...293Views0likes0CommentsRe: Where are the modern euro style travel trailers?
Please, before this turns into some political thing, just looking for a high quality travel trailer, towable by an 7200lb rated vehicle, with a modern interior. All I can find so far is Airstream (the “Sachs 5th Avenue”) of trailers and everything else seems to be Walmart or Target quality at best. Other countries appear to have much nicer mid range options...why don’t we? I’d be happy with Nordstrom’s...or even Macy’s!309Views0likes0CommentsRe: Where are the modern euro style travel trailers?
Thanks. Did look at Livinlite, but the build quality isn’t quite there. Cheap vinyl trim, etc. Only thing in the US that I’ve seen to be competitive is Airstream, and they cost about 2x the price of the euro models I linked...and also heavier. The *one* exception I saw was the Jayco Skylark from a few years ago, but they’re no longer available and were a bit too small. I’d get a 24” version of that in a heartbeat.144Views0likes0CommentsWhere are the modern euro style travel trailers?
After going to a few RV shows, it’s just incredibly frustating that we can’t seem to find a travel trailer that doesn’t look and feel like it was designed back in the 80’s. Closest i’ve seen to what we want is Airstream, but they seem ridiculously overpriced. Looking outside the US, of course there are some amazing options, all in the $30-40k range equivalent. Where are the US manufacturers who can come close to this? http://www.adria-mobil.com/caravans/alpina/ or this http://www.coachman.co.uk/vip The fit and finish, interior quality all seem lightyears beyond what we have available here. And they’re around half the price of an equivalent Airstream Anyone know if anyone is importing these anytime soon?9.9KViews0likes80CommentsRe: Mercedes ML350 Bluetec - How big a TT can I tow?
I agree. I had very little trouble with crosswinds in the ML. Maybe the hitch wasn't setup correctly? I certainly understand those who say that trucks are better for towing and hauling, .but they're no fun at all to drive in the daily commute, or for a family.1.6KViews0likes0CommentsRe: Mercedes ML350 Bluetec - How big a TT can I tow?
Well, I agree you have to be careful with hitch weight, but that can be adjusted to a certain extent with a good WD system. The equalizer 4 points did the job, but we had to crank it hard. Note that mercedes likes about 8-10% on the hitch, NOT 15% used by domestic trucks. I disagree this relegates you to ultra lights though, as long as your base hitch weight isn't too high to start with. The Nash 25c admittedly was right at the limit. We had to load it heavily towards the rear otherwise it was notably harder to drive,1.6KViews0likes0CommentsRe: Mercedes ML350 Bluetec - How big a TT can I tow?
brulaz wrote: Proteus: Look at Lance trailers. Lower to the ground, light weight. If you don't plan to go off-road they would be great. (We're going the other way though and planning to spend more time boon-docking off-road at remote locations, so not for us). Curious about the AWD "trailer" mode. Can you describe what it's supposed to do? We looked at Lance but they only have one bunkhouse model, the 2185, and it's just too small. If they'd done double bunks instead of cramming a triple in the back, it might work, but it's stilll tiny. Couldn't even get the toilet door to close. The Mercedes trailer mode basically automatically detects sway, and then cancels it through either alternate front wheel breaking (individually braking an opposite front wheel), or leveraging the AWD system to use engine torque to counter or slow. In practice, it worked really well, could definitely tell when it kicked in. One thing I forgot to mention was the importance of tire pressures. You have to make absolutely sure to inflate all tires to max. You also need to watch your pressures (ML will show you through the dashboard). If they start to get too high, SLOW DOWN. If you're towing a trailer, you BELONG in the slow lane. I've seen idiots driving pickup trucks who think it's perfectly ok to tow at 80mph. No, no, no. Trailer tires can't handle it, and towing a big trailer at that speed, especially with a bouncy, loose truck suspension is just a bad idea,243Views0likes0CommentsRe: Mercedes ML350 Bluetec - How big a TT can I tow?
Thanks, just for an update on this, we decided to rent for a while, and took a Nash 25c (not ideal) from Seattle all the way to Yellowstone and Glacier. The trailer loaded was about 6200lbs, so within the 7200lb tow rating, and we used an equalizer 4 points wd hitch and prodigy bc. We did everything from broken roads, to long stretches on the plains with 40mph crosswinds, and did some nice long steep sections, including the continental divide. So, this combo worked, but it wouldn't recommend it . The Nash rides high, isn't that aerodynamic and has a bouncier off-road suspension. The weight itself was fine..the diesel has plenty of torque (455) so pulling was never an issue, and was great for engine braking too. Going steep uphill on the long I-90 stretch over the divide, the little engine was working hard I had to slow to 50mph in sections (normally kept at 60-65). Trailer sway in crosswinds was noticeable, but the trailer mode in the AWD corrected everything nicely. Rain, thunderstorms, no problem, just slowed down some. Oh, and I averaged about 13mpg towing (vs my normal 30 highway, not too shabby). I would NOT do this with a gas model. The diesel makes a huge difference. Note that the Jeep Grand Cherokee is basically the same thing. I have to say, was pretty funny seeing the occasional guy in pickup truck gasp as we passed them :) Bottom line, I'd say a 4500-5000lb dry trailer is fine. I would make sure it has a proper (not bouncy leaf spring) suspension, and rides lower to the ground. It's a modern SUV and needs a modern trailer to go with. Airstream would also be great, but they're not family friendly (we need a bunkhouse.243Views0likes0CommentsRe: towing with suv???
It depends on the SUV. Diesel is far, far superior to gas with anything other than large truck based SUVs. I towed a Nash 25c with no real issues from seattle to Yellowstone and Glacier with an ML350 diesel v6 (very similar to Jeep Grand Cherokee diesel). Sticker weight was 5750, and we were running around 6600 (ml350 is rated to 7200). Equalizer 4 points hitch. We had no problem pulling or braking (diesel has wonderful engine braking), but there was some mild sway and porpoising when it got really windy. Slowing to 55 for a bit took care of that, but a better hitch, and lower weight would help too. As a rule, I'd look for dry sticker weight about 2k under rated weight, and diesel is highly recommended.294Views0likes0Comments
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Prefer to camp in a travel trailer? You're not alone.Feb 18, 202544,025 Posts
