Hi Lo or Trail Manor type travel trailer

Thanks for the info. No bad back for me but we are just looking moving a little closer to "park and relax" than the the cranking style pop-up provides. We may check the trail manors out and see firsthand. But what makes them so expensive? Higher quality materials or supply/demand or what?

We're kind of leaning towards one of the smaller hybrids with pull out beds but sort of concerned with towing a high profile with the Taco.

 

The trailmanors and hi-lo's price is supply/demand, plus any lighter wieght trailer is going to be more expensive. Compare the set-up time and the number of steps including setting the seal between the upper and lower sections, swinging-up cabinets and setting up bathroom walls between trailmanors and hi-lo. The same type of materials are used in most travel trailers except for the lifting hardware. The hybrid trailers that have the pull-out beds have a large temperature swing between bed area and solid built center section(ever walk into one at the heat of the day?) The high profile does hurt the gas mileage and you'll have to use a sway control on the WDH(but some of them built in) I'm not very basis because I own a Hi-Lo, and I wouldn't tow anything else. Plus hi-lo's have the largest counterspace for food prep than any other make in the same length of trailer. It comes down to personal choice and the floor plan that works best for your family.

 

I agree with campthewestcoast comments about personal choice and needs and the supply and demand determining price. The TM we own suits us, but we did not buy it new (over $33,000.) We didn't buy the previous TM we owned new either for the same reason. However, we wanted a low profile, solid side popup. I was familiar with HiLos, really liked them, but I wanted something lighter weight. Our TM, a 3124KS, weighs about 3740# ready to go. Even though it is lower profile that a full upright, your gas mileage still will suffer. We average about 13-15 at 60-65 mph over hilly to mountain terrain--Smoky Mtns. Our has a lot of counter space because we have only one king bed at the rear and a sofa pullout, recliner, and dresser at the other end where we eat and relax--our LR. Good luck with your decision.

 

We just bought a 2417 Trailmanor and to be honest...it is very nice. I've been looking at pop ups, Hi-lo's and TM for the past 3 years. Trailmanor in my opinion is the best option because:

*I can store it in the garage (saves me $50-75 bucks/month) This also makes sure it doesn't get sun damaged from years of being in a storage yard)
*lite enough for even my 2.7L to tow 2200lb dry ....AC/awning/ =2400lbs
*sleeps 6 (two separate beds for my son and daughter...VERY comfortable too)
*bathroom, with very hot water and I don't have to make the beds everyday!
*A lot of storage too....in the front of the TM

It's all about building good memories with your family...good luck in your choice!

 

I thought it was all about the bass?

 

No treble...

 

Does anybody else have pictures of thier campers(hi-lo or TM)?

 

We just bought a 2008 Trailmanor 2619, 26' open, 19' closed. We like these expandables or popups for the short length, easy to maneuver offroad.

Had a 19' Kodiak 172E hybrid, fold down canvas ends for two 60x80 queen beds, great trailer but the tent ends were hot in summer, cold in winter. Had to set the furnace at 80 degrees in 20 degree F temps or use sleeping bags. Good boondocker trailer with a 52 gallon water tank and big holding tanks, two 20lb LP tanks, dual batteries, enclosed/insulated underbelly.

There's tradeoffs for everything, expandable trailers are not exempt. The Kodiak had the huge fridge/freezer, Trailmanor's is half the size.

Kodiak 52 gallons fresh, Trailmanor 40 gallons (and that was a factory option, standard was 20 gallons and a good portion of used TM's only have the 20g. 20g would be a showstopper).

Trailmanor, recirculating Thetford toilet, prime it with 3 gallons, 6 gallon capacity so you won't be drinking a lot of beer and relieving yourselves in it. Kodiak 29 gallon black tank.

Trailmanor no passthrough storage, can't fill the fresh tank when closed until you modify the fresh drain to pump water in the reverse direction.

TM, the overhead cabinets have to come down onto the floor so no heavy items in them, and they take up storage space you could use for heavy items.

TM is well-constructed, one person can open/close it less than ten minutes, has the enclosed underbelly which is a big deal. 2" foam insulation all around, good seals, plenty of room on the rear roof for solar panels (Kodiak, no). This 2008 has a 90W factory solar, we got lucky with factory solar and factory 40g fresh and bought it ten miles from home. Has room for another solar panel on the roof.

Later models all aluminum, dual 20lb LP tanks, this 2619 is setup for dual batteries on the tongue (but some models have a single battery hidden inside the shell).

TM has decent storage in the rear bumper, nothing over 6" tall, but you can carry leveling blocks and tools in there.

It's pretty good as expandables go, and TM is still in business - unlike HiLo and Sunlite. They're the lone survivor in the hardside expandable popup niche.

For other short lightweight expandables there's Aliner, Rpod, Rockwood has an Aliner clone, Dutchmen Kodiak still offers the tentend Kodiak's.