Mini Campers

[Black_Fly]

Wife and I are considering a small camper trailer. We looked at several, and most are poorly made and priced like cars. We found a couple used NuCsmp TABs/TAGs online, which seem to be well made, but also seem too small for two people. We’re driving to Columbus to look at new NuCamp trailers tomorrow, mainly to see what the options are. I’m ok with erecting a tarp and using the camper mainly to sleep, but room to sit indoors on a stormy day would be nice.

We looked at Forest River, Encore, Coachman, Coleman brands. Used “teardrop” campers for sale online are rarely posted by private sellers.

Anyone have lightweight camper brand insight or a recommendation?

 

[stripperguy]

My SIL is a registered. Car dealer here in NYS
He and I regularly buy rebuild and sell wrecked cars motorhomes trailers.
Behind the wallls, all are made of toothpicks, from high end Newmar to el cheapo Thors
Don’t ever buy new, you’ll lose 50% in two years.
A hard top pop up will give the best bang for the buck
I’ve been doing this stuff for over 15 years…

 

[Black_Fly]

We had this piece of junk for 10 years. Ontario forest roads and all. Made to look tough but wasn’t. We busted everything! It was also a pain to set up, especially in the rain for a few hours on the road.

I’m looking for a bit more comfort to sleep, set up my Coleman stove, set up a tarp, sit in folding chairs at a stream side campsite. I know some.

 

[dutchlennart]

Lovely canoe, no clue about the trailer

 

[Black_Fly]

Really, the peripherals of these things are the weakest parts. I don’t need no shower, but wife does. Blackwater sucks to deal with and a big jug works for me in lieu of a faucet. I may have to make concessions to plumbing appliances and their maintenance.

 

[GeoBoy]

Take a look at Aliner, they make the Ascape ST that doesn’t need to be popped up. Their pop ups are very nice though.

 

[ppine]

I like having an Rpod. compact and fits everywhere.
Substantial trailers are made by companies like Nash, Arctic Fox and Outdoors RV. Their small trailers are around 18 feet.

 

[Gamma1214]

I think Scamp (Boler?) is still making trailers. I looked at a couple for my daughter before her career plans changed and they seem to hold their value pretty well.

My first trip to Canada, I ran across a family of 5 towing one behind a tiny car. Looked like a pretty efficient set-up.

 

[Black_Fly]

We like this TAB 320 Lite. This is the smallest TAB model. Built by Amish in Ohio. We went to Mark Wahlberg's (yes, the actor) Airstream RV dealership south of Columbus. They have nothing but Airstreams and NuCamp teardrops. We looked at all the models, including the TAGs (crawl in sleeper trailers). This is an aluminum frame camper (no matchsticks).

We can either try to find a used one or blow some retirement $. They do hold their value well.

 

[SouthernKevlar]

We have had a Scamp 16 foot model since 2022 and have towed it for 11,034 miles in both the US and Canada. It is holding up well, considering the milage and some of the rough washboard roads that I have been detoured on. We have had one cabinet door break a hinge, the refrigerator hold-down bolts came loose, and numerous loose screws have been found. That is not too bad for a camper covering many miles.

I am satisfied that the fiberglass-shelled campers typically hold up better than the stick-built campers although all campers have their problems. How long do you think your house would last if subjected to earthquakes for days on end? The fiberglass ones also hold their value well; I could sell mine for nearly what I paid for it, but I don't plan to anytime soon.

We also use it in times of power outages, such as the week after after Hurricane Helene roared through. With propane heat, stove and refrigerator plus LED lights running off the battery, we started calling it the "Escape Pod". A handy backup to have around.

 

[ppine]

I have tried everything. Truck camper, travel trailer, pop up trailer, hybrid trailer and now 2 travel trailers. Canvas on a pop up or hybrids is too hot, too cold and too loud. Truck campers make the rig top heavy and are bad in the wind. Hard side bumper pull trailers are great. The smaller ones fit everywhere and are easy to pull.