So one of my dreams in my life would be to throw of the shackles of the 9-5 and go into business for myself building and selling recreation equipment for the adventurous family and luxury camper. I’m not likely to do it, but I want to believe that if I keep my dream alive in my mind maybe one day I will follow through and really have the life I always wanted. This isn’t a post for you to tell me to do it, or to discourage me from the long hours, stress and challenges of starting a small business, but a solicitations for great ideas to incorporate in a preliminary concept of what a good trailer would be to build, if I ever did.
I’m not asking to build this thing for me either, I just want to hear what YOU would want in a family trailer or some great examples of things you’ve seen that you would like to see incorporated. Partly because I am fully aware that i don’t have all the good ideas and partly because I want your feedback on what is important to you.
So we aren’t starting from scratch let me give you a foundation of what I have in mind:
- No heavier than 3500 Lbs. GVW - Even if you can tow more than 5000 lbs, the less weight the better for rugged terrain and keeping it in the 3500 gvw category opens it up to light duty traveling vehicles as well like the outback and KL cherokee.
- Tent trailer technology or hybrid hard/softside - Maximum interior space
- Sleeping for 2 adults and 3 children (2 beds minimum)
- Standing room once erected
- Minimal setup - getting the tent open is one thing, but it shouldn’t be a 20 step process like some I’ve seen...it needs to be fast.)
- Target price of no more than $25,000 - I’m not in this for the amex gold traveler, I’m in this for the family man.)
- No unnecessary parts, hinges, slides or moving pieces - My experience with trailers has shown me that the things that break are often slide, and hinges or things that don’t need to exists in the way they do OR that these things are heavy, expensive and take up a lot of space.
- Structurally rugged - the undersides need to be sealed from water intrusion, and free of anything that could hang up or break off. There will be wires, pipes and water storage under the trailer, but it needs to be tucked away. In addition the axles, hubs and suspension needs to be simple and field serviceable with spare that are relatively cheap and easy to procure. I don’t really care about an overly elaborate suspension system, leafs with shocks is fine, or even torsion rubber axles.
- Intelligent space management - furniture, storage and accessories should either do two things or not exist. For example, the steps should be the door. The table should be a sleeping platform, etc.
- 5 days endurance for a family of 5. Frankly, I think that’s a pretty decent goal for a small family. If more endurance is needed solar, generator or additional power or water would be easily to add or even modular. That equates to about 200 Ahr power @12 volts and ~25 gallons fresh water. Grey/black water i haven’t decided on yet.
- Interior patterns and materials that don’t look immediately dated (this is a pet peeve of mine)
There are other things I am considering like a modular track width or towbar length but to keep it simple I think going with a single system at first makes more sense.
Obviously it would have the standard amenities like propane stove (internal with the ability to remove and use outside would be ideal) electric pressurized water with internal sink and exterior shower, full interior lighting, forced air externally vented heat, on demand propane water heat, electric brakes with manual parking level, long and strong leveling arms, etc.
As for the Fridge, I like the approach of building in an engle fridge/freezer or a BYOF in the form of an externally accessible fridge slide with interior access. The Absorption 3-way fridges don’t cut it in the heat and are a MAJOR fire hazard, plus you have to be perfectly level and thus can’t use them on the go to keep your food cool.
Designs I like are the UEV490 in that its a pop top hardside with hybrid fold out. I also like that the table and storage is very intelligently designed. The 490 is overbuilt, over accessorized and too expensive, but its the general idea.
Livin lite bearcat 11FK with tip out For their construction methodology and hybrid setup. The trouble is that its too tall for touring and still a little tight on space.
Wedgtail campers for their brilliant space utilization. Can’t get these here in the US and they are tray systems anyway, where mine would be towed.
Something in the 16 foot range makes sense to me, any more and it limits your trails, any less and it wont have sufficient room.
Alright...I’m trying not to be too ambitious here, but what do you think?