Trail Manor 2720SL Question

My wife and I have been looking at travel trailers off and on for 4 or 5 years. We've always thought that if we hold out for another year, we would find "the perfect trailer" for us. As you might have guessed, after a lot of looking we still haven't found the perfect trailer for us.

We thought we found it with the 19' Gulfstream Visa RGU ($17K price), Rockwood Mini Lite 2109 ($14K price), and Trail Manor 2720SL (hard to determine the price because so few Trail Manor dealers we've talked to actually have a 2720SL in stock). It looks like the Trail Manor price tag would be considerably higher than the Mini Lite or the Visa, but there are several positives that might make the extra price work it - mainly the ability to tow with a more practical family vehicle.

I was reading another forum last night and was pretty alarmed to read a lengthy discussion about whether the 2012 Ford Explorer was really desireable for towing anything more than a 3,000 lb weight trailer. Both the Visa and Mini Lite would be closer to 4,000 lbs than 3,000 lbs when loaded for camping.

It's pretty easy to find fault with just about any trailer / tow vehicle combination. I used to have a F-150 for 13 years, but with the cost of pick-up trucks these days I find the Explorer a more practical family vehicle / work commuter vehicle.

And just when I thought the Trail Manor 2720SL was the perfect trailer for my wife and I, she brings up the almost double MSRP versus the Mini Lite and she sheepishly asked how warm they would be on a cool early spring or late fall day here in Michigan. Is the Trail Manor comfortable enough to sleep in with outside temps in the 40's at night?

Any thoughts, suggestions, and opinions are welcome.

And just in case anyone is wondering....a Ford tow vehicle is the only option I am willing to consider.

Warm enough for us

I can't comment on the price. For us there was the overwhelming benefit of being able to keep the 2720SL in our garage. Tangental benefit is the lower cross section to tow behind the truck. Already had the truck and want it for my diving past time, anyway.

But, on the comfort, we use ours in very chilly and cold weather and like it fine. We do use a space heater if we have hookups but the heater works fine, just noisy. Only issues we have are common to any trailer - watching for freezing water lines/hoses when it gets real cold.

It was 29 degrees and windy in Longmont, CO last night. My wife and I made do with a single electric space heater, and didn't turn on the furnace because we are low on propane. We were comfortable, but not wildly toasty. The furnace would have made all the difference, of course, but we chose not to use it. Our preferred solution is an old-fashioned electric blanket (which works only when you have hookups, of course), topped with a comforter.

I've had two Explorers, a 2002 and now a 2007, both with the small V-8 and factory tow package, and both tow-rated somewhere around 6800 pounds. For our traveling (heavily loaded, travel in the Rockies and Sierras), I would not have a smaller vehicle. But as you know, Ford fundamentally changed the Explorer in 2010 (?). It is now a completely different vehicle (a Taurus, actually), and I'm not sure I would tow with one.

You might take a look at the specs for the 2013 Explorer, even if you don't plan to buy one. It shouldn't be too different from the 2012, but the tow ratings are supposed to be more "meaningful" since the industry adopted a set of standards for determining tow ratings.

I haven't done a lot of research yet, but the F-150 with the Eco-Boost engine is kind of exciting. The bi-turbo should do a lot for high altitude work - if that matters to you.

Don't know if this helps, but there it is.

Bill

I can't find the towing capacity on the 2013 Explorer with Ecoboost engine. The Ford website still has it as TBD: http://www.ford.com/suvs/explorer/specifications/towing/

We had the TM 2619 then went to the TM Elkmont, which is similar to the other trailers you mentioned. I really liked the 2619 and had no issues with the toilet or setup, but the wifey got tired of having to set up after a long day of traveling and wanted a more conventional bed arrangement, so we switched to the Elk. I love the Elk (it has it's own issues) but the major difference in towing compared to the 2619 can't be over stated. I had to purchase a WDH with sway control and lost approx 2 MPG with the Elk. I much prefer the RV style toilet, the bed, the full size frig, and layout of the Elk. I guess it best to say for the towing, you can't beat the 2619 (or 2720) TM, once set up though, I MUCH prefer the Elk. If you are towing all over North America, serioulsy consider the 2720, if a lot of weekend or week long camping trips in the home state are the plan, you'll probably be happier with a lite weight TT. A hard decision for sure, but it's pretty easy to deal with it either way. It kind of sounds like your wife is wanting the traditional style camper... if that's where you think you'll end up, well, you know the rest.
Best of Luck....make it fun!

If momma ain't happy

If momma ain't happy, nobodies happy...

Ditto on the storage. I park in the single side of my 3-car garage. The wife keeps "suggesting" storage. I point out that, in our area, uncovered storage is $200/mo. No thank you. Plus, that 3rd space would be filled with junk.

I can tow behind my minivan. (Controversial, but works for me). I didn't need to buy a new TV. I can store in my garage. I have plenty of space for my family (2 + 2 kids) and the dog. It's about as perfect as I can imagine, and those parts that aren't perfect, I'm continually working on trying to improve, or at least remove the major negatives.

So far, so good

My brother has a 30+ foot 5th wheel. He can only stay in RV parks. He can not go to an California State Park or national park because he is too long.

I sometimes camp in forest service campgrounds and sometimes just boon dock in the forest.

I don't like to go where my brother can go.

My brother can not go where I like to go.

Since 2005 we have gone camping together once.

I refuse to pay more than $20.00 per night for a camp site.

bbguy,

Our TM is a 3023. When we weighed it on a CAT scale while on a trip we came up with right at 4000 lbs. 2720 owners report similar weights, sometimes even more depending on what they carry in it.

We tow with a 2010 F-150 with a 4.6 three valve V8. A few months ago on a trip from Orange County CA to Tucson AZ we got 20.0 mpg between Quartzite and Gila Bend AZ. (truck computer) We tow at about 55-60 mph. From Gila Bend to Tucson, crossing some low mountains, it went down to 18.6 mpg.

The reason I am sharing this with you is that here in CA gasoline is now running on both sides of $5.00 per gallon. ,

In a conventional stand up Travel Trailer you get between 8-12 mpg towing. I got 7 mpg once bucking a headwind. (different truck)

Many folks really pay attention to the cost of gas and their mileage. I am one of them. If you are in that bunch as well, you can see the advantage of the low profile Trail Manors. Then you add in the no-sway advantage, the lightness, and the storage advantage. For me, these were very attractive.

The high cost of the new ones was, for me, a problem. So I bought a 3 year old one. Each of us is different and in different $ circumstances. But for us the TM was the hands down best choice. After 3 years, it still is.

PS, to us the toilet issue is only a minor annoyance, and only on a few occassions.

Tom

thebbqguy said:

I can't find the towing capacity on the 2013 Explorer with Ecoboost engine. The Ford website still has it as TBD: http://www.ford.com/suvs/explorer/specifications/towing/

Click to expand...

My guess is that the V6 Ecoboost Explorer's tow capacity will be 5000#, same as the other Explorer V6. IIRC the Ecoboost in the Explorer will marketed more for the sportiness of its low-end torque, not for the towing abilities. For example, the Ecoboost V6 comes with paddle shifters. So they will probably not improve the other aspects of the Explorer required to increase tow capacity above 5000#. The Ecoboost V6 also comes with a lower final drive ratio (3.16) compared to the other v6 (3.39-3.65), so that low-end torque will be weakened somewhat.

Loaded, figure your Trailmanor will be ~4000#. So any of the V6 Explorers with the 5000# rating should be able to handle it ok.

And although no payload is specified, the Explorer's 6 passenger specification can maybe translate into 1400#?

(The Chevrolet Traverse is a similar 7 passenger SUV which has a 5200# tow rating and claims a 1600# payload for the AWD model.)

So assuming that the tongue weight of your trailer is ~600#, you'll have ~800# for yourself, passengers and gear in the Explorer.

A lot of really good info, but I have to say it's a bit biased towards the pop up version and everyones experience will vary. :new_Eyecr

- I pay $25 a month for storage, it's outside, and I cover it.
- My gas mileage dropped about 1.5 MPG going from a 2619 to a 24' Elk.
- I camp in the National Forest and in some pretty remote areas, I haven't
found any spot I went with the 2619 that I can't go with the Elk. I admit I
was nervous a few times though wondering if I could get back up the
hill. 4wd low is a good thing!

All that being said...remember I DID stay with a TM product that shares a lot of the same design features as the pop up version and weighs about the same. I don't think the points I made above would hold true for other conventional travel trailers. And I'm pretty sure the points the other guys made ARE true for larger, heavier, longer TT's from other manufactures.

It's what works for you that will be the best, and I love the TM products, pop up or stand up.

If the tree limb does not scrape the top of the cab then it will not scrape the TM a/c.

I would rather hit a low limb with the truck than the TM a/c.

Trail Manor 2720SL

Thanks for the analysis Bruce. That was very helpful.

Trail Manor 2720SL

Redhawk said:

It's what works for you that will be the best, and I love the TM products, pop up or stand up.

Click to expand...

I was under the impression that they are no longer making the Elkmont. Am I mistaken?

Redhawk said:

A lot of really good info, but I have to say it's a bit biased towards the pop up version and everyones experience will vary. :new_Eyecr

- I pay $25 a month for storage, it's outside, and I cover it.
- My gas mileage dropped about 1.5 MPG going from a 2619 to a 24' Elk.
- I camp in the National Forest and in some pretty remote areas, I haven't
found any spot I went with the 2619 that I can't go with the Elk. I admit I
was nervous a few times though wondering if I could get back up the
hill. 4wd low is a good thing!

All that being said...remember I DID stay with a TM product that shares a lot of the same design features as the pop up version and weighs about the same. I don't think the points I made above would hold true for other conventional travel trailers. And I'm pretty sure the points the other guys made ARE true for larger, heavier, longer TT's from other manufactures.

It's what works for you that will be the best, and I love the TM products, pop up or stand up.

Click to expand...

The Elkmont is no longer made though. And used ones are rare.
And you got an incredible deal on yours!

thebbqguy said:

...
We thought we found it with the 19' Gulfstream Visa RGU ($17K price), Rockwood Mini Lite 2109 ($14K price), and Trail Manor 2720SL
...

Click to expand...

My take on it :

The TM 2720 will tow a lot easier than either of these uprights and save on gas. All of them would require a TV that can tow 4000# or more. The uprights could use a TV with higher tow rating than the Trailmanor.

The TM 2720 when unfolded is much more spacious, open and light-filled compared to the other two. The kitchen counter space in particular is much larger. It's 27' when opened.

But the 2720 lacks a walk-around bed, may have a smaller frig, has no permanent upper cabinets (but ones that can be lifted up), and comes with the recycling toilet.

We just got back from Columbus Day weekend in NH, and it was 37 degrees Monday morning...trailer was so warm my teenage boys were complaining "too hot"! All I did was turn on the propane furnace before bed, then I shut that off and let he heat strip on the AC unit run all night. We have a 2011 2720, and the insulation is top notch. Also, we tow it with a Toyota Sienna Minivan.

thebbqguy said:

I was under the impression that they are no longer making the Elkmont. Am I mistaken?

Click to expand...

Last week I was at Custom RV in Anaheim. Matt told me that there is discussion of restarting production of the Elkmont next summer.

Tom

I agree with the Pair
So make that two pair
And we raise you a dollar...

Look at the cost of a TrailManor unit this way. Pay $30k for it, use it, sell it x years later and let's say you get $12k for it. So the cost of ownership was basically $18k.

Buy another brand of trailer for $20k, sell that trailer x years later but because the market of full of trailers like the full height type trailers, you might get only $2k for it. The cost for ownership is the same $18k.

There is no real science here but to some of us, the cost of a new or used TrailManor is well worth it if you desire some of the features such a unit offers. Mine fits nicely in the garage all summer and on the back concrete pad in winter. It also tows better than my tent camper use to and I thought my tent camper towed great. My mileage is about the same as what I got with my old Coleman too.