Lred?
Teardrop?
If it rains and you pack that stuff up wet don’t you have the same issues as with a pop-up? (still have to set them up at home to dry out)
How do you control bugs in the sleeping area? Didn’t see any screens. Doesn’t that get hot at night?
Mike
Good MPG cars for towing
I’m not sure if I posted this before, so forgive me if I’m redundant…
I love my Pontiac Vibe for gas mileage and towing–rated at 1500 GVWR and in normal daily driving I get around 30 mpg average. I can haul canoes, bikes and trailer with it.
My husband’s VW Jetta Sportwagen TDI gets 44 mpg and is rated at 1000 GVWR. There are small cars out there that can tow a light camper and still get good mpg.
Looked at a Vibe
yesterday, a 2006 with 53,000 miles on it, for $9999.
Do you worry about getting parts now that Pontiac is gone?
Buy a Vibe and sleep in it
Forget the camper altogether. Another option.
Me too
– Last Updated: Aug-15-09 7:16 AM EST –
they make light weight non-"NAME BRAND" hard side campers that do all that for next to nothing if you buy used. Yep just got back from jocassee, it rained, i simply pulled out my ratcheting rain/sun shade, took 5 seconds. had a covered 18'x15' area for folks to hang out. pressed a button on the side of the camper and presto an extra 6' of floor space in side the camper. then i turned on the AC so when i got done paddling i could relax with a frosty Diet MT-DEW and some microwavable pizza rolls. At bed time walked back to the queen size bed with a "REAL mattress" not a chunk of foam. If nature calls in the middle of the night I use the throne in the camper rather then walk up to the bath house in the rain. i could also turn on the stereo system and listen to WNCW. No tarps/tents required. if it rains so what, that just means better paddling for me. yep it was fun watching "tarp city' go up all around us as the rains came.. Its also light weight enough that a V-6 can pull it, however i will admit that it pulls much better with my Sub. So i only get 14 MPG when towing it, its not like i am commuting back and forth to work in it.. and as i mentioned earlier they are a dime a dozen right now. BTW I am 6'3" and can stand up just fine in my hard side camper.
pop-up
Thanks for comments on pop-ups. I have frequently heard they weren’t very good, and your comments help explain why.
Great info on the tear-drop, too. I’ve never trailered before, you have me considering my options now.
Hi Mike{Windwalker}
The only thing that gets wet in my set up was the SUV tent,or pop up shade top.We would just throw in garbage bag and dry when home. Easy to hang on the wash line to dry or throw in dryer at home. Try that with wet bedding and tent fabric of a pop up trailer after folding up wet.
I have slept in my teardrop at 98 Degrees. Most teardrops,and teardrop builders put 12V vent fans in their trailers. Mine had an occilating fan inside above our heads,and was quite breezy inside. Doors had trailer windows with screens,and I could have had the option of door screens if I wanted to sleep with the doors open. Some install window air conditioners in body,or modified A/C hosed to the windows. Since most camp grounds have electric it is an easy option.
How you been???
billinpa
I think some teardroppers use a Petcool.
http://www.cedarwoodfurniture.com/petcool.html
Unit uses 120v, is kept outisde the teardrop, and as b-pa stated, is vented thru the window,
LRed: eBay "teardrop camper"
and search under distance closest, and there are three that are under 175 miles from us–one that is a real gleaming stainless steel jobbie north of Inidianpolis–for very good prices. I can picture you in it at Evergreen. Fun! I know you said storage an issue, but merely rent a spot for a few bucks a week and keep it at a local campground all year and pull it out when you wish to use it for Ladies of Lake or something. Or rent an indoor garage.
Bill
I’ve been real good. Sounds like you’ve been through alot since I’ve seen you last.
I was out at Ohiopyle State Park this weekend playing on the lower Yough, and wouldn’t you know it, 3 sites up from me at the campground was a teardrop. I had to go check it out. The guy had the shell built and finished the inside himself. Looked nice and had lots of information. It sure looks simple enough to make. Can’t be any harder than a canoe…
Mike
OT-Aliner PopUp Camper
IN RESPONSE TO: After a recent camping trip with rain every day, I’ve started to think more seriously about getting a pop-up type camper. Does anyone here have/use the Aliner or A-Liner camper? How do you like it? Can you attach a rack to it for hauling kayak(s)?
I will respond to your questions on the Aliner Fold-up Camper based on my experience with our 2005 Classic Aliner(12’ x 6.33’ box, with take-down double bed in rear & table/bench seat for 4 converting into a bed for 2 children in front, with 15’ overall trailer length). Please note that there appear to be many different interior layouts, equipment(fridges, etc), and roof vents/skylights for Aliners. I can only give you mostly qualified answers to your questions.
Regarding Do We Like It: Yes we do, i.e. after I (a retired Engineer) added multiple storage, take-down horizontal surfaces, additional electrical receptacles, and a permanent bed for me in the front table/bench seat area; all to make it more useable and comfortable. The way we have fixed ours represents an “ultimate” improvement to make it not just as a place to sleep, but a place to live in for a month. I have not seen another Unit with our improvements. We find our self-improved Unit comfortable for us 2 adults, as there is a place to put the crap we routinely need, and we keep it clean and organized.
During the cooler spring and fall weather here in Florida the A/C capacity is OK with the Unit in direct sunlight. In our hot summer weather the A/C is OK if you have complete shade over the unit. In direct summer sunlight, it can be unbearable to stay in.
The way the Unit came new, it could sleep 2 Adults and 2 children if you don’t put much of your crap in it, keeping most of your belongings in the car, but we found that to be a hassle if you want to live in it for several weeks.
Our Classic Aliner was purchased new. I am 6’3" 230#, and the front bench seat cushions were not comfortable for me to either sit on or sleep on. In addition we are both senior citizens that have to get up several times nightly and it was not comfortable for one of us to climb over the other to access the relief bucket if we both slept in the rear double bed. Also when we come back to our Aliner we usually have one thing in mind, i.e. getting off our feet and horizontal. Considering all, I converted the table/bench seat area into a bed for me with a 5" foam mattress.
Regarding the Question of Carrying a Kayak Atop the Aliner: No, I do not think it practical to mount a rack on top of the Unit. However, I have seen longer kayaks mounted on top using fitted foam supports at front and rear of the 12’ box. If you have a Unit with roof skylights all the way across its width, that may complicate using fitted foam supports. We carry our kayak atop our vehicle, because of the hassle of taking it down for the night from atop the camper, my wife not being able to lift anything, and surface water accesses being located some distance from campsites.
If you have more than 2 people using the camper, the newer longer, wider (~15’ x 7’), more expensive model would be more useable. You would need to either keep your Aliner in your garage with a dust cover or outside with a $800(12’ box) custom made canvas cover with a cheap tent /\ type over cover to reduce heat penetrating the custom cover, or the unit will deterioate. Our Unit has a shinn-busting hitch on the very front, which I have ameriolated - I don’t know about the newer units in this regard.
We have experienced replacement of poorly designed roof vents, leaking water tank connections, sometimes difficult to find odd size tires, and a leak in one of the skylights. Overall, we have found our unit to be waterproof in hard rains. I am under the impression that the newer units may have solved some of the maintenance problems. Be careful about Dealers wanting you to Hold Them Harmless for any lawsuits on defects in the Unit.
If I had all to do it over again, I would would seek a used unit in decent condition at a much lower cost and improve it.
Good Luck
New Subaru 2010 Outback
The 2010 Subaru Outback with a tow-rating of 3,000
pounds has 6 cyl motor. That motor does NOT use
a CVT Transmission. Only the 2.5, 4 cyl Outback has a CVT transmission.
The 6 cyl has a tow rating of 3,000 pounds and the 4 cyl, with a CVT transmission has a tow rating of 2,700
pounds.
Looked at a Vibe
A Pontiac Vibe is basically a TOYOTA Matrix…so drive train and transmission parts should be no problem if you need parts…anyway, General Motors
will still have parts for them.
Aliner camper
Saw you question in 2009 and wondering if you are interested in an Aliner as I have one for sale. I have used it for 5 years, in great condition and only used it with a kayak in tow. Let me know if you are interested, kathywest7@comcast.net