Aliner or Chalet A frame pop up camp trailer?

[Capt Steve]

Tom, We are headed up to Mount Lemon for a couple of days next week and plan on doing a full week in the White mountains, east of Phoenix in the middle of September. We can't wait! Thanks again.

 

[Capt Steve]

Well, we were delayed a couple of weeks but finally got to take the new rig out for a long weekend up to MT. Lemon. First of all the F-150 (4.2L V-6, 5 speed), pulled the trailer without breaking a sweat. Mt. Lemon tops out at 9,300 feet but we stopped at the Rose Canyon campground at 7,500'. The first 5 miles you climb nearly 3,000' and while the temp gauge did climb a bit it stayed out of the red and quickly cooled down as the grade eased. The two lane highway is posted at 35MPH but most folks cruise at 40 to 45 and we had no trouble keeping up with the flow.

When we found the spot we wanted it was a simple matter to back the trailer in close, unhitch and the bride and I just walked it in to a position that the truck would not. Down went the jacks and I switched from DC to propane refrigeration with the push of a button and we were in. The stove can be mounted inside or on the outside of the trailer and that made cooking a pleasure (when we weren't bar b que'n). The propane refrigeration in addition to being silent kept the refrig at 35 degrees and the freezer in the mid twenties.

We are planning a week long trip back up to the White Mountains in mid September. We are so pleased with the Aliner, simple to set up or take down, usually less than a minute, very comfortable and a delight to tow. Yahoo! Here is a shot of Millie and I relaxing.

 

[Old 44 Guy]

I have a Jayco tent trailer 1993 model that I need an upgrade. Been looking at the Chalet. Don't have a Aliner dealer close by. Just me alone now so don't need a large rig. Jayco was OK when my wife was along but she passed last year. I drive a 1991 Ford Explorer Sport 4x4 with tow package. 2500 lb. Tows the Jayco without any problems. Anyone know of a used one, either Chalet or Aliner? Let me know.

 

[DeadAye]

Hi Capt Steve -
Well, it's been a bit over 3 years since your first camping trip in the A-Frame....
How about an update?
Still have it? Use it? Like it?

We're looking for an RV trailer and I found this thread in a search.

We had a Class C motor home for several years and LOVED the camping, but I'd get it all set-up and leveled and the next morning or afternoon my lovely bride would want to go to somewhere (site seeing, the store, etc) and I'd have to disconnect - go - and get back and set-up AGAIN. A trailer seems like the way to go to us.

So - what do you think? Still F U N ?

 

[Capt Steve]

Yep, having waay too much fun!

To quote Sarah Palin.... "You Betcha!" We kept the A Liner for a year which was time enough to get my bride addicted to the camping thing. Then one day a friend approached me and asked if it was for sale as he had a friend who was looking for a nice A Liner. He looked at it and liked it but decided to look around some more.

I had upgraded my F-150 to an 06 with the 5.4L about 6 months earlier so you know what that meant. (o; We loved the A Liner but wanted a few more amenities, real kitchen, nice bathroom with a shower etc., for the longer trips. I told my bride lets stick it on Craig's list and see if the phone rings. It rang off the hook from all over the country and I sold it for $6,700 in week.

We found this little beauty also on Craig's list for $9,900 as new. This shot was taken at Lost Dutchman State Park at the foot of the Superstition Mountains in Apache junction.

It is a 2008 Fleetwood Pioneer Spirit 18CK, 22' long with a GVWR of 5,600#. It had been used 4 times, the plastic covers were still on the cushions and the stove and oven had never been lit. It has a full galley, bath with shower and sink/vanity, jack knife sofa and the dinette seats 4 and sleeps two with a full double in the rear for us. I get 12.5 towing if I keep my foot out of it and in the last 2.5 years we have put almost 15K miles on it. Two weeks after we bought it we took off for a month to Bryce, Zion, Monument Valley and most of New Mexico.

We have had zero problems and too much fun as it is the perfect size for my bride the pooch and I. We are heading out to points unknown next spring for 4 or 5 months. We will probably just chase the nice weather around the lower 48 until September. We are completely self contained as I picked up two like new Honda 2000 generators along with the extended run take and parallel kit for $1,000 (Score!). These handle the AC and everything else just fine. We have 30 gallons each for fresh, grey and black, two 20# LP cylinders and a pair of deep cycle batteries.

Here is another shot taken at City of Rocks State Park 24 miles north of Deming New Mexico.

Life is good!