Archive - Aluminium Camper Forum

Trying photos again.
The new rigs.

Quote from: @pinstriper" source="/post/26299/thread" timestamp="1481085652Please tell me you have another decal for the front. Wasn't that you with the dog and bike ?

Yes, that was us. The decals will be ordered from our friend the sign-maker soon with the upgrade of adding a Border Collie to the mix.

Here is the old decal:

https://goo.gl/photos/fvvQmyFRoJVEg5ff6

And the boys:

https://goo.gl/photos/jbfMbcHEqRbkpj269

Well, earlier this year following a week long camping trip in the U.P. with the new dog along, we stopped at the dealer (SIRV) on our way home and scoped out the 16 foot Camplites. Needless to say that after spending the week with two 50 lb dogs in a 13 RDB, we were smitten by the 16 DBS and 16 TBS units. I wasn't sure how I felt about the new interior finishes or the single axle of the TBS though. Additionally our two tow vehicles weren't up to the task of towing a 16. However, my vehicle having >200,000 miles was going to get replaced soon so I started my research, analysis and shopping.

I didn't want a truck for a daily driver and started scouring for mid-size SUV's capable of towing the 16 with plenty of extra capacity for a cushion. I found three options - Dodge Durango, Jeep Grand Cherokee and VW Touareg. DH was adamant about not owning another Dodge and has always said never a Jeep so I started looking at Touaregs. Of course the VW comes with its own baggage - dieselgate - but I've always liked them and after driving a couple I started searching for a used Touareg with a factory hitch installed. I came across this 2014 with only 7,000 miles. Long story short, daddy bought it for daughter for H.S. graduation, she went to college and left it parked at home for 2 years. Then he traded on a new one for her. So now, it's mine. It's a gasser but I've loved driving it these past few months and it towed the 13 like it wasn't even there compared to our other TVs.

Soon after buying the new TV I put the 13 RDB up for sale (some of you noticed it on here). It only took about a month to find a local buyer and once that was complete I started looking for a weekend to go up and puruse the 16's again. I had been reading through this forum the +/- of the new designs and went up expecting that we would prefer the 16DBS. I've also been watching for used ones for months and let me tell you, they don't come up very often!  One thing I noticed as I was shopping online was the hanging closet in the 16DBS. We don't need a hanging closet and I didn't like the placement in the new configurations and how it crowded the bed. Plus there is something appealing to having a king size space since we sleep on a king at home. However, the king "mattresses" IE, pads in the 16 TBS do leave a lot to be desired. So when we went to look we decided we really liked the TBS so WE BOUGHT ONE! We took delivery yesterday and it is now parked in our driveway where the 13 was. We're pretty excited about the upgrade and we're feeling spolied. The 13 didn't have any of the convenience and entertainment features of the 16. It was extremely basic but very cozy and comfortable. We can't wait to get it out camping and may have to make a winter outing this year.

Here it is. Not sure the image will attach.

https://goo.gl/photos/HjDJbL913pRBMZcz9

I didn't make it clear above, but this link is updated with current pictures of the camper.
Thanks for looking!
https://goo.gl/photos/9Mu8faU4sE8ttyxU6

[quote source="/post/25210/thread" author="CMicar" timestamp="1475805563"][div][/div]Does this have a stove?   I don't see one in the pics you posted to google, but you mentioned one in your post.

Thanks.[/quote]Yes - a two burner inside/outside stove. 
Thanks for looking!

Quote from: CMicar" source="/post/25228/thread" timestamp="1475909984[div][/div]Is this trailer still for sale?   We're very interested.
cmicar@hotmail.com

Yes.

[quote source="/post/25289/thread" author="@pygrydr" timestamp="1476114157"][quote timestamp="1476112431" source="/post/25286/thread" author="Joan Novelli"][div][/div][div][/div][div][/div]Do still have this? What is price you are asking and do you have pictures of inside and outside. If so send to jnovelli@bellsouth.net.[/quote]Maybe this will help you, per original posting:  

     "Id like to sell before winter. Please email for more info. Asking $15,000. Email me for pictures, more info, etc.      Ecm1269@aol.com"


[/quote]Joan - please disregard the above reply from PYGRYDR - it is to the wrong for sale post!

My asking price is $10,500. If you scroll up in this thread there is more info and a link to pictures. 
Let me know if you have any other questions and thanks for looking!

Hi Ellen, no TV, radio or microwave. Personally, I don't really miss these items. It's really easy to cook or reheat with the stove and there is a cable input for TV. I would rate the condition as good. It has definitely been used but not abused.  There are cosmetic blemishes on a couple surfaces but nothing major. The stove can be used inside or outside and there is an outdoor shower. It also comes with the removable rugs which i find to be invaluable. I posted before taking recent photos but I have some from 2 years ago when I bought it for quick reference to layout/color etc. I can take more sometime this week if you're still interested.  I'm asking $10,500 OBO. 

Let's see if this link works:


https://goo.gl/photos/9Mu8faU4sE8ttyxU6

Let me know if you have any other questions.

We're looking to move up to a slightly larger LL and so will be looking to sell our 2012 13RDB. Dinette makes to a queen size bed, fold out sofa sleeps one and bunk over sofa can sleep one more so up to 4 total. We've loved this little camper and it's perfect for someone looking to get out of the tent and try out a trailer. All systems work - A/C, heat, 3 way fridge, hot water etc. I have made a couple of mods for convenience so you won't have to such as adding bypasses to the HWH and water pump so that (de)winterizing is now a breeze. It will also come with an Anderson No Sway Weight Distribution hitch - a nearly $500 value. Probably overkill for such a small camper but we were towing with a crossover SUV and a minivan and in the strong winds of the Midwest, the anti-sway was a real plus. Speaking of tow vehicles - you can pretty easily tow this camper with a minivan or 6 cyl SUV. The tires were replaced in 2015 and probably have about 2000 miles on them (I can check my camping log for more accurate mileage). 

This camper has a lot of life left in it and would be an excellent starter for someone looking to try it out. 

Thanks for looking!
Lori

If this is still for sale, check your messages.  Thanks!

Most places we stayed last year did not have a water hookup so we were filling the tank on the way in. Since this is our first rv camping experience I was reluctant to trust my sanitized system to be safe for our drinking water. Additionally we go through a lot of water while mountain biking and nothing is worse than grabbing the hose of your camelbak and taking a big swig of awful tasting water. It's fine to drink once you're used to the taste but, yuck. I also hate bottled water from the expense and waste aspect. So I bought a 5 gallon water jug and I fill it (or 1/2 full for short trips) with tap water at home and use it for our drinking and cooking water. I don't worry much about the dog's water source since he is known to drink anything without problem!

The one morning I made coffee with local water from our fw tank we could taste the difference. It was bad. 

During our first few trips out with our 13RDB we found it not as stable as we would like. I noticed other campers using these and since there were relatively inexpensive I decided to buy 4 of them.

http://www.amazon.com/Camco-44561-Olympian-Aluminum-Stack/dp/B000760FX4

They are really easy to use and make a big difference. We place them under the frame as far out on each corner as possible. It says not to use them to lift, only to support. They work.

Here is my work. 1st the WH bypass. Not perfect - I should've shortened the hoses but was afraid to get into it. Now that I know better how it all works I would.
 I struggled to get the brass nipples out of the WH and had to ask for help from DH. Several things I did needed man-strength.









Obviously I'm not the best craftsman but given this was my first ever plumbing project using tools I've rarely used and nothing leaks - I'm pretty happy with it. We'll see how it all holds up and what re-work I have to do. Until then....I'm ready to go camping one more time this year!

[quote source="/post/16572/thread" timestamp="1447210431" author="@tlbones"]Mojo:  Both of my trailers had/have the 3 valve bypass installed as pictured above.   Any chance you can take a picture of the back side of your water heater for us?    [/quote]Hey, here is the pic - no bypasses on my WH or WP. I have since added bypasses to both and winterized. I will post "after" pictures once I'm finished with the extended project this started. Besides putting in the bypasses I have created an access panel on the front wall under the sofa so that in the future I won't have to pull the sofa off to get to the WH bypass. Secondly, I'm working on closing in the top of the front storage compartment under the sofa (and next to the WH compartment). I found during the past season that we never access it from the inside and that leaving the outside door open allows more bugs and potentially other small critters direct access to the interior of the trailer. On top of that, it is easy to lose items into those two compartments from above. Especially when using the sofa as a bed which I do often.
Thanks for your interest! Oh and in case you notice and are curious - the azdel under the sofa is covered with shelf paper. My attempt to keep from scuffing it up when we load our bicycles in that space.

Thanks all!
Nope - no bypasses anywhere. There is just a short amount of line under the sofa - no valves - before going under the floor. I even looked underneath as a possible bypass option so I wouldn't have to get under the sofa.