For those who can afford the major motorhomes, the current price of fuel is merely a nuisance – an extra blip in the overall cost of operating an RV… but for the majority of camping families, saving a few dollars per hour on the cost of their RV travels represents the difference between an enjoyable family vacation and a two-week long effort to keep costs under control.
The RV Lifestyle Magazine road test teams surveyed the various models available in Canada this summer, to prepare this compendium of fuel-friendly trailers – easy-towing models that focus on aerodynamics, lightweight construction, and the latest in engineering to provide the most efficient vehicles possible for the summer of 2008.
Our survey encompasses a range of categories, from travel trailers and fifth wheels to truck campers and fold-down camping trailers… each represents a conscious effort to provide the most efficient towable trailers practical within the budget of the average Canadian family.
While we have selected a cross section of vehicles for this feature, readers should be aware that the vehicles shown here in many cases represent a growing category within the RV market – your local RV dealer will no doubt be able to show you a wider range of products, as new models are emerging on a weekly basis to fill the demand for fuel friendly towables… so don’t let the price of gasoline get you down – climb aboard the new wave of lightweight and aerodynamic RV’s, and at least you’ll be able to thumb your nose at some of the gas stations along your route!
Streamliners…
ALTO 1713 by Safari Condo
Here’s one of the most clever Canadian designs we’ve seen in years, with a unique approach to compact towable trailering... on the road, this 17’ beauty is sleek and streamlined; touch the electric retractable roof control and in less than one minute after you arrive at your campsite you have more than 82” of interior headroom. Tipping the scales at a dry weight of just 1452 pounds, with a hitch weight of only 200 pounds, you can pull this baby with a four-cylinder sports car, or pretty much any family sedan that you can think of. With lots of windows, the view from inside is as impressive as the space-age contours of the exterior – and it’s fully equipped with water, electric, and LP gas systems, you can order your Alto with optional 16,000 BTU furnace, 23L water heater, and microwave, and there’s even a range of optional solar panels to provide 68W to 272W of power for wilderness camping adventures.
Check the website at www.safaricondo.com for more information, and the name of a dealer in your area.
Bigfoot
With 29 years of experience behind this brand name, Bigfoot Industries of Armstrong B.C. have a long tradition of building moulded fiberglass travel trailers, truck campers, and motorhomes.
Our featured model is a “2500 Series” travel trailer, the 25B175FB, a “Euro Style” trailer with a 48”x74” front bed and a very spacious 41”x78” rear dinette. We like the contours of the interior cabinetry, and the glass covered two-burner recessed cooktop in this unit, which blends with the extra deep round sink to complete the “Euro Style” design concept. Sleek and streamlined outside, the Bigfoot 25B175FB has a large picture window at the rear that creates the impression of a very spacious interior within this compact floorplan. For more information visit www.bigfootrv.com
Northern Lite
This Kelowna B.C. manufacturer is well known for aerodynamic fiberglass truck campers, motorhomes, and trailers designed to match the needs of Canadian campers. With top-quality workmanship, four-season insulation and a range of models to suit any family’s needs, the Northern Lite line is among the most fuel friendly in the industry.
Our featured model is the NL 16 TRLR travel trailer, tipping the scale at just 1980 pounds (dry weight) it is ideal for towing behind a family van or sport ute. Measuring just 79” wide by 16’ long, it offers elegant interiors with sleeping accommodations for a small family. Standard galley equipment includes a 2.7 cu.ft. fridge, two-burner stove top, and a single sink. A fresh water toilet, 12V demand water system and 18,000 BTU furnace provide all the comforts of home. The 16 TRLR lists at just $ 21,455.00.
For more information visit the website at www.northern-lite.com
Hybrid Trailers
STAR STREAM SS18RB by Starcraft RV
The Star Stream expandable travel trailers offer a unique approach to compact livability, with two large fold-down bunks, one in the front of the trailer, and another on the side. Lighter and more affordable than the hard-wall slide-out designs, this hybrid utilizes the folding trailer technology that Starcraft is famous for… it is an ingenious application of camping technology that dramatically enhances the interior space of a compact trailer, giving you all the advantages of towability, and the convenience of a full bathroom, large kitchen, pantry, lots of storage space, and all the interior comfort you would expect from one of the leading manufacturers in the industry.
Star Stream trailers are available in three pre-coated Eura Vehicle®-Metallics exterior colours: Gold Bronze, Azure Blue and Crystal Silver, and matching interior décor in spa blue, clover green, cinnamon and mocha.
The Star Stream SS18RB featured here measures 20’9”, and has a dry weight of just 2,952 pounds. The floorplan sleeps six in comfort, with all the conveniences you need, including a 19,000 BTU furnace, six-gallon water heater, and a full range of options. Suggested list starts at $17803 US. For more information visit your local dealer, or surf to www.starcraftrv.com.
Compact Truck Campers…
Lance Camper 805
The most compact model in the Lance Camper line is the 805, a narrow-body, 8’ designed for the short bed Ford F-150 and GM 1500 series pickups, and imports that have a minimum width of 48” between wheel wells.
Engineered for many years of trouble-free camping, all Lance models feature aluminum structural framing with aircraft grade .060-inch Alodine®-coated metal – welded within a precision jig system to ensure true-to-square, tight-tolerance assembly. Laminated, insulated floor, lower body, cabover bed and roof, assure comfortable interior temperatures, and the aluminum-framed floor, cabover bed and ceiling, with block foam insulation throughout make this a true four-season capable unit. There is a laminated fiberglass exterior and a one-piece TPO (thermoplastic polyolefin) roof to ensure years of leak-free service.
Your comfort is assured through the use of a range of top-quality components. There is a queen-size Aerobed® air mattress with pump, and a skylight vent in the cabover, and a second sleeping position in the dinette with reversible cushions. The galley features a two-burner range, a range hood with light and fan, and a single basin sink with high-spout galley faucet. Popular options extend the versatility of the camper for year-round use, including Dual-pane insulated windows, low-profile Coleman® 9000-BTU air conditioner with ceiling control, roll-up or crank-out awnings, and many more accessories including items specifically designed for hunters and wilderness camping enthusiasts.
Base price of this compact truck camper is $10,437 US, excluding options, freight, or taxes. For more information visit www.lancecamper.com
Lightweight Compacts
JAYCO – Jayfeather Sport 165
Since 1968, the Jayco name on a recreational vehicle has been synonymous with quality and service. Today, even though the company has grown to be one of North America’s largest RV manufacturers, with more than 300 dealers throughout North America, the mission statement as spoken by the company founder, the late Lloyd Bontrager, remains unchanged – “to build exemplary RV's and provide customers with extraordinary service after the sale”.
Jayco’s popular Jayfeather Sport model 165 is ideally suited to the family looking for comfort and convenience in an easy-towing travel trailer. Tipping the scales at just 2,875 pounds, with a GVWR of 3,750 pounds and a hitch weight of just 435 pounds, this trailer is easily within the towing capability of any suitably equipped mid-size sport ute or van.
Compact but certainly not small at 18’ overall length, the Jayfeather Sport has 6’6” of interior headroom and plenty of space to accommodate five people.
For more information visit the company’s 40th anniversary website at www.jayco.com, or better still, drop in to the plant in Middlebury Indiana, where the friendliest people in the RV industry will be delighted to give you a tour of the plant, and introduce you to the Jayco family – currently growing at the rate of 25,000 satisfied customers each year.
TAYLOR COACH – 8’ Lil El
For more than 40 years, Taylor Coach has manufactured hand-built compact travel trailers that embody the fundamental RV systems in a package designed for easy towing. A family business, now thriving in the third generation, Brad and Tracy Taylor name their trailers after the children – ranging from the 17’ “Nik”, 14’ “Codester”, 12’ “Bobbie”, 10’ “Dyl”, and the unit we have featured in this article – the 8' “Lil El”.
This tiny trailer is just 8’6” long, and 6’6” wide, with 6’ of interior headroom. Tipping the scales at just 700 pounds, with a GVWR of 1430 pounds, the hitch weight is just 65 pounds… towable behind virtually any four cylinder family car on the road today.
With a rear door, and compact interior, the Lil El is nick-named the motel on wheels – light and easy to manouever, the trailer accommodates a small family – there is a dinette that converts into a 48“x75“ bed, and an overhead Cabinet/Bunk that transforms into a single 40" x 75" bed. The galley kitchen has counter and work surface area with storage and appliance options. Various layouts are available to meet your needs – for more details visit the website at www.taylorcoach.com.
Full-Featured Fold Downs…
While many RV enthusiasts see the fold-down camping trailer as a compact unit, best suited for warm weather use, there are several models available that not only embody a full range of RV conveniences, but offer realistic three-season comfort.
The obvious advantage of the fold-down camping trailer is that the compact towing configuration provides a very aerodynamic shape – slipping almost unnoticed into the airflow behind your tow vehicle. Once in the campsite, touch the control for the roof, and the trailer can be set-up in a matter of a few minutes.
With quality fabric sidewalls and zip-in vinyl windows, many fold-down camping trailers can be used with complete comfort throughout the spring, summer, and autumn seasons.
We have selected two of the more interesting models to represent this category… your local RV dealer would be happy to introduce you to a full range of camping trailers, all available at surprisingly affordable prices.
Starcraft RV
One of the leading names in the fold-down camping trailer industry since the first of the camping trailers was created in 1964, Starcraft continues to be a leader in the industry, with hundreds of dealers and hundreds of thousands of satisfied customers throughout North America.
While the full Starcraft line encompasses models from the ultra-compact Starcraft 1701 right up to the Centennial series 3612 which opens up to more than 26 feet long, our spotlight for this feature is the 34RT, which offers a unique blend of towability and versatility within Starcraft’s Sport-Utility Camping Trailer line.
Among the many features in this camping trailer, we were particularly impressed with the comfort of the heated pillow-top mattresses in the front and rear bunk areas, and the privacy offered by the new folding hard wall shower.
Exterior features of the Starcraft line include the use of a special fabric – Aqualon, which is a two-ply textured polyester duck, coated with a pigmented vinyl resin. Unlike the laminated vinyls that are typical in the camping trailer sector, Aqualon won't separate, crack or peel. It's unbelievably water resistant and passes FMVSS 302 (Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards) fire retardant requirements. Aqualon is also resistant to damaging ultraviolet rays, most petroleum products and a wide range of acid and alkaline liquids.
The Starcraft 34RT has a base MSRP of just $17,237 US. For information on the Starcraft RT series camping trailers, and the full Starcraft RV line, visit your local dealer or surf to www.starcraftrv.com.
Fleetwood Folding Trailers – Evolution E3 Sport Utility Camper
FTCA, Inc. a subsidiary of Blackstreet Capital Partners, a Bethesda, MD-based private equity fund, purchased Fleetwood Folding Trailers, Inc. (FFT) from Fleetwood Enterprises, Inc. of California in May of this year. Founded in 1967 Fleetwood Folding Trailers, Inc. is recognized as a world class leader in folding camping trailers and is known for its exceptional quality and customer service throughout the world. The company’s premier brands include the Highlander Series, Americana Series, Destiny Series, and the Evolution Series known for its unique adventure style and utility.
The 2009 Evolution E3 folding trailer is an example of the newest class of fold-down camping trailers, designed to match the active lifestyle of the outdoor enthusiast family. The E3 is available in either a yellow or silver exterior, and comes equipped with a full featured galley with sink, stove, refrigerator, furnace, and plenty of storage. Facilities on board include a complete indoor bathroom with shower and cassette potti.
The E3 has toy hauling capability and off-road appeal with a heavy duty frame, and an 800 lb. rated cargo deck with integrated ramps and rails which can carry a full sized ATV. The E3 also features an outside high pressure stove, an exterior wash down station and all of the quality and dependability you have come to expect from Fleetwood Folding Trailers.
For more information on the Evolution E3 and all of Fleetwood Folding Trailer products, visit the website at www.fleetwoodcampingtrailers.com.
Classical Glass!
In the 1980’s, when fuel was just not available, a line of lightweight aerodynamic fiberglass trailers became the hottest items in the RV industry. Manufacturers sprang up throughout North America, with several building variations of the Boler trailers from Neonex.
Not only were these trailers popular, especially among RV’ers who had some experience with the European style of minimalist camping, they became famous for their extreme durability… many of the original models are still on the road today, happily serving a third generation of RV enthusiasts! Best of all, if you or your parents have a vintage trailer manufactured by one of the Boler factories, or by Trillium Trailers from Markham, Ontario, you can in all likelihood obtain repair and replacement parts to bring the vehicle up to modern specifications.
Within this category of Classical Glass, we spotlight two of the companies who have resurrected the compact fiberglass trailer line moulds, complete with modern components, to provide Canadian RV enthusiasts with another generation of what may go down in RV history as the most sensible small trailers ever conceived.
SCAMP 19’ Fifth Wheel
Duane Eveland, Gerald Eveland, and Gladys Coffland of Eveland’s Inc. began building Scamp trailers in 1972, based on the Boler fiberglass molds. Over the years, market factors went up and down, but the little trailer persisted, becoming a favourite among a dedicated group of enthusiastic RV travelers. Today, with Kent Eveland at the helm of the company, there has been a renaissance of the line, and three models are being manufactured to order with 13’ and 16’ travel trailers, plus a 19’ fifth wheel model. After 36 years, the Scamp trailers remain among the most aerodynamic, lightweight, and durable compact trailers on the market.
With deluxe custom interiors available in oak or birch, and a full range of options encompassing air conditioning, awnings, furnace, and galley components, these trailers represent an interesting alternative for RV’ers looking for a trailer that can be towed by their current family vehicle. Best of all, with the fiberglass exterior and very efficient insulation, the Scamp trailers can easily be used throughout the spring, summer and fall seasons.
For the full story on Scamp trailers, visit the website at www.scamptrailers.com.
OUTBACK by Team Trillium
When Joe Thoen of International Trailer and Team Trillium in Calgary purchased the rights to manufacture the classic Trillium trailers, he could not have imagined how strong the damend would be for these compact, lightweight, and aerodynamic RVs. Today, with more than 20 years experience in manufacturing fiberglass travel trailers, and fifteen years as a supplier of parts and accessories for the classic Trillium and Boler models, Team Trillium has the facilities to manufacture to order, and sell four distinct models direct to the consumer.
The 2008 Outback by Team Trillium is based on the original Trillium trailer built in Markham, Ontario beginning in the 1970’s. All of the advantages of the original concept remain – two-piece bonded construction that results in a “monocoque” body that is dust, hail, and water proof, will never rust, and is easily repaired in the event of a mishap. New adhesives not only cure faster, enabling more efficient manufacturing processes, but the use of modern appliances and electronics make the Outback trailer even more attractive than ever. When you produce a 13’ fiberglass shell that weight under 800 pounds, the range of vehicles that can tow the trailer is virtually unlimited.
Best of all, the Outback from Team Trillium is affordable, starting at just $13,800. FOB Calgary. For more information visit the website at www.trilliumtrailers.com.
(Page Top) |
