I started A list

[del]

Must Haves
Queen Sleeping Area My trailer is too small.
A/C Circuits Some people will use them, adds to resale value. mine has them though yet to use them.
D/C Circuits Got to have light.
Two Doors w/windows For two people a good idea.
2 Interior Lights
2 Exterior Door Lights
Galley Light lights are important.
Slide Out Cooler Drawer Seen that idea work quite well before.
Gas Struts Have to be used from time to time, sitting in one spot for six months at a time, destroys them.
2 Stabilizer Jacks All you need in the back, the tongue jack handles the front.
5x8 Size Personal preference.
Wheeled Tounge Jack Helpful when moving the trailer unhitched.
Deep Cycle Battery I use a lawn mower battery, then again no TV
Inverter Needed if you have ac items to use
Battery Charger I use the tow vehicle.
Simple Switch From Shore Power to Battery Power
Insulated Floor and Roof Good idea.
Roof Vent Needed.
Water Tank A jug of water on the counter works.
Towable by vehicle with 1500/150 rating Heavy for a tear IMHO.
Lockable Doors/Hatch Needed
Cabin Cabinets Shelves are lighter.
Galley Storage Needed

Probably Want
Small Thin Shelf on front cabin wall Could be useful.
Sink With Pump Prefer jug of water and bowl
Slide Out Stove Drawer Preserves counter space.
5x9 Size Personal choice.
4 Stabilizer Jacks See comment on two jacks.
Tow Vehcicle Charging It is the only I have currently.
Floor Storage May be hard to get to with mattress on top.
TV(any but hanging LCD is best) Personal choice, when I go camping I want to get away.
DVD
Roof Fan To noisy for me.
Mounted WaterTanks Fresh/Gray Take bowl of water throw on bush.
Mounted Proprane Tank Have one.
Tounge Storage Box Will not look right with my odd design. With a more standard tear they look nice.
Flip Down/Up Small Bed Side Tables Are these inside?
Exterior Attatchable Table Look cool, and useful.
Aluminum Skinned Roof/Hatch Look cool
Cabin to Galley Pass through/TV accesible both
Cable TV Inlet See TV comments above

Maybe/Would Be Nice
Scooter Hauling Where?
Front Windows A lot of work, but I think worth the effort if protected from rocks.
Air Conditioning Here in the dessert it may get hot during the day, but it gets cold at night.
Built In Speakers galley and cabin Then you need a radio somewhere.
Insulated Walls Good idea, also weighs less than solid walls.
Second Sink Faucet That Attatches directly to shore Water See earlier water system comments.
Mild to Medium Off road Capable If you use it offroad will the camp cites be primitive and half your stuff will not work with out a noisy generator.

Just my opinions here, other opinions may vary greatly.

del

[mcwbyu82]

Del,
Thanks so much for that reply. Exactly the type of feedback i was looking for. That is the first I have read about the roof fans being too noisy so that is a new one to research. Also pretty set on only two stabilizer jacks now, heard that a few times. Just seems a little counter intuitve since yo have the wheels farther back and only one point up front?
Also the insultaed walls being lighter? I assume that is saying if you build a frame work, insukate and skin both inside and out as opposed to using a sheet of ply?
Thanks Again.

[del]

Del,
Thanks so much for that reply. Exactly the type of feedback i was looking for. That is the first I have read about the roof fans being too noisy so that is a new one to research. Also pretty set on only two stabilizer jacks now, heard that a few times. Just seems a little counter intuitve since yo have the wheels farther back and only one point up front?
Also the insultaed walls being lighter? I assume that is saying if you build a frame work, insukate and skin both inside and out as opposed to using a sheet of ply?
Thanks Again.

Find one of the fans in a store, get them to hook it up and listen, maybe I am oversensitive (I hate fans). The solid walls I have seen mostly are 1/2" or 3/4" quite heavy, sandwich walls can be two pieces of 1/8" ply with 1" x 2" framework with insulation in the middle (thicker skins will ad weight, 1/4" is twice as heavy as 1/8" and so on). Now the jacks when the trailer is moving it is supported by three points, two tyres and a hitch, so two stabilizers and a tongue jack are not a stretch.

del

[bobhenry]

Y'all let me know how it goes! I will go camping just as often when it is below 0 as I do when it's over 100-Never! You guys are tougher than I am!
Jim

Awe Jimmy No guts no glory.

-1 and a -15 windchill after the sun went down. Now you Southern boys understand the value of Insulation. "Keeps hot things hot and cold things cold"

I spent 2 years in Fort Worth and I would muck rather be in Texas at 110 degrees as to be in Indiana at 90 right after a rain the humidity is a killer.



" CHEERS " from the GANG

[Kens]

I like sissor jacks better. Often they are used on right or left sides not just front and back. With just the tongue jack you get a little wiggle in the TD by moving around inside. What do you think?

[mcwbyu82]

Yeah my plan is two scissor jacks at the corners.

[Tripmaker]

Thanks for the replies so far. I hadn't read "Tears of Joy" yet. I had come across the "Perfect TD" post at some point but hadnt noticed it int he menu. It was good to look back over and comparing that to my list looks like I am pretty on track.

As far as the sink thing goes I must admit that it is one topic I have got a few laughs out of on this forum. There seems to be two main arguments against sinks that people have. One is weigth and i really don't understand that one because you are gonna carry the same amount of water whether it is in a mounted tank of some sort or a removable jug form Walmart.

Here is my $0.02 on the sink. We had a pop up with a sink and used it once. My biggest objection was weight. With a portable jug you can fill it up when you get to the campground eliminating the weight while traveling. Even more importantly you can refill it without having to move your camper if the water source is some distance away. The portable jug is also easier to clean and if you have a malfunction throw it away and buy another. Good idea though with the cover to preserve counter space. I bet though you will need the water when using the counter and be back to not enough room.

I did not insulate the walls or floor of my TD. With a 5" foam matress and a 2" memory topper the floor insulation is covered. Even on the coldest nights I need to sleep with the windows and roof vent open. Having it closed I wake up in a fog getting rained on from the condensation. The insulation wouldn't do much with the windows open. Take the money you would spend on insulation and buy the best sleeping bag you can find.

The comparison to tent camping is a good one. Keep it simple and lite.

Jim

[Tripmaker]

Just stay in the south we were out in January on a dare and at -1 and 15 below wind chill I don't care how much body you have( me 300 lbs and wife 200+ being kind ) THERE WAS NOT ENOUGH BODY HEAT even with a heater.

Are we gonna do it again?

I hope so. Next year I want to go. But make it a little further north for two reasons. Being further north it won't be so warm . Second reason is I won't have as far to travel. So this thead isn't hijacked, lets talk about it at Salamonie or Madison.