Archive - Aluminium Camper Forum

Update: SOLD for $6400

Sorry to be selling our little tent trailer, but we're moving up to a hard sided trailer soon and need to reclaim the garage space.

More details in the craigslist posting:  http://phoenix.craigslist.org/evl/rvs/5151641250.html 

Thanks
elwood

Hi Sean,

The ac is the only load I can imagine needing a genny. We use a water pump, lights, tv, ipad and camera charging for three day weekends with our QS 50ah battery with little issue. I've even stopped using our 100w solar panel for topping up in most cases.

I'm so noise sensitive that when I pull into a new camp site I instinctively look around for generators and groan, knowing we'll have genny reverie and genny night caps.

I guess my point is to consider the benefit you'll get from a genny and the impact on those around you. As other posters have noted there are more cost efficient ways to charge a battery than a generator, so unless you really need AC I would question your needs.

Brad


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Sorry, we didn't do any exploring around the area.  Except for an annual trip to Mather we generally don't camp north of Sedona or Cottonwood on I-17.  I have been meaning to explore more around Flag, though.

Just back from a great weekend to the Mather campground at the south rim.  From Phoenix to GC and back our new Durango V6 pulled our 8.1 with overall 22 mpg efficiency, and I would forget I had the trailer in tow.  Our Mazda CX9 never had those kinds of numbers nor towed the QS so easily.

QS did great with Dad in one bed and I in the other, but his nightly bathroom runs had him fumbling for the door latch, which he correctly commented is mounted way to low on the door to be usable from the interior.

We doubled up his stock mattresses and he also put the dinette cushions under the stock bed cushions.

The highlight of the trip?  All three mornings we had elk loitering in our camp site.  Fantastic!

Brad

I happened across a photo of a 16DBS that has a carefully positioned awning that lets the window open.  This the first sighting I have seen, but the awning does appear a bit shorter.

In the another thread I posted a photo of the larger dinette, but I'm not too excited over it.  I'm leaning towards the slide with a two person dinette, but still have to consider the jackknife sleeper.

Given free reign, I would prefer the sunroof in the bathroom.  Have to see the new vinyl flooring before I decide on that.

We have the extended platform on our QS and use it haul our two bikes.  I'm considering the same for the DBS.

livinthegoodlife helped find this photo of the new dinette...  Does anyone else think this looks a little uncomfortable for two people sitting across from each other?

Otherwise the size is perfect.

Yes - the u-shaped dinette.  

Sorry I did mean to say the 16DBS. I like the longer slide and we're trying to decide on which dinette option or the sofa option(s). I'm still leaning towards the four person dinette. LL doesn't list it but I saw it at a dealer here.  Unfortunately for me, but good for them, they are moving their inventory and so it's not online to share a link.

Was scanning the LL website looking for a picture of the four person dinette in a 16RBS, but came across the new sofa option offered on the 16TBS:

http://www.livinlite.com/camplite16tbs-gallery.php - also check out the slide they install in the under bed pass-through storage.

The arm rests and swing out trays look interesting, and might swing me back to considering the sofa (its just the two of us)...

I shared in a different post that I observed this with a 21RBS still new on the dealer lot.  It was happening in the galley and the bath, and the sales rep said LL knew there was a bad batch of glue.  Not sure I buy it.

I appreciate the responses!  It feels like we can't go wrong - the three lengths in consideration all seem adequate, slide vs no-slide seems workable in both cases, and no major complaints about the interior light.  Scouring craigslist, I've started seeing larger windows at the dinette in later models, so perhaps I was being a little too concerned.  

Now just to consider storage options in AZ ...

Thanks...    

So we're making plans to move up to a hard sided CL from our lovely QS 8.0, in spite of the fact that the 8.0 gives us a bright, airy 16' experience.  It's an big leap to move up to a TT, having to figure out outdoor parking options, more system maintenance, and so on.  My largest reservations in general about TT are the dark, closed in feelings due to the window restrictions.  (By the way, one of the photos on the LL gallery shows a very large window at the dinette, but no models seem to ship with such a large window).  Also jumping to two axles means giving up my BAL leveler for leveling blocks, so I might prefer single axle simplicity.

We are considering all options from 13 to 16 feet, but prefer the queen beds over the front convertible queen dinette.  We also seem to prefer the two person dinette over the sofa.  With no children we are looking for utility without having to break down the tables into bunks every evening.

I have some nagging questions that I can seem to resolve via the LL web site:

1) are the 14DBS and 16DBS slides the same length, or can we get a four person dinette in the 16DBS slide on request?
2) Can an adult sleep on the two person dinette (13 and 14 ft) when converted to a bunk?
3) Anyone not get the slide and regret it?
4) How comfortable is the sofa over time?  Sitting at the dealer doesn't give me much interest.
5) Do the slides interfere with any flooring installed in the main walk area, such as carpets or foam tiles?
6) Am I the only one who prefers the natural aluminum trim to the black aluminum on the cabinets?
7) Here in phoenix area one of the dealer's CL models had de-laminating formica on all of the counters.  He said it was a known problem going back to a bad batch of glue, but it has me turned off on the counters altogether.  Anyone experiment with some thin solid surface options?
Windows - can we custom order larger windows?  A window in the bath over the head, for example?
9) How annoying is the awning post located over the bedroom window?  I imagine not always leaving the awning open on windy days, or am I over-thinking?

Not model specific but I would want to install a number of solar panels on the roof - not sure how LL roofs could secure the brackets and get the heavy gauge wires down to the batteries (under the bed, I suppose), and maintain weather proofing.  Thoughts?

Thanks
Brad

We had a great quick getaway to Sedona's Cave Springs State Park for some cooler temps.  Friday night I-17 was backed up ten miles for a trailer fire north of Sunset Point, so we had a chance to get some "action" shots of the TV and QS on the interstate.  But it also meant a 10:30 PM set up in the dark and after quiet hours.  Fortunately we have our setup pretty well practiced.

This weekend we finally took the legs off the dinette table, which gives us a couple of extra inches of storage when folded up.  We almost never used that table because of its instability and huge size, plus the legs were so stiff to fold.

Brad