22:00 Toilet I use a composting toilet: 5 gallon plastic bucket, tall plastic draw-string kitchen trash bag, snap-on lid/toilet seat, bag of sawdust & scoop. Pee & poo in same, add a scoop or two of sawdust, dump into trash bin. No smell, no spill, no insects, $20 out the door. New subscriber
Yuck. I hope I never dumpster dive where you been. Human waste belongs in a septic tank or sewer. The toilet is the best dump station. I'm sure there are outdoor rest rooms at some Walmart gas stations. This is not Mexico. 73
We have had our 2021 Aliner Ranger 12 since November 2021. We love it! We typically take two 5-6 week camping trips each year, one in April and May and another in September and October. We travel from Wisconsin to the western mountains, as far south as Las Cruces, NM, and as far north as northern Idaho, typically staying in state parks or in state or national forest camp sites. In the summer, we take shorter 2-3 week trips in northern Wisconsin, Minnesota, and the Dakotas. We tow our trailer with a 2022 Toyota Tacoma set up for towing. We spend a lot of time in the mountains and travel in a lot of windy, dicey weather. Even in 70mph crosswinds or on washboard gravel roads, the Aliner tows straight and true. It is very easy to tow -- and it reduces our tow vehicle mileage by only about 2-3 mpg. I'll take the win. (I typically drive at the posted speed limit, but I do not exceed 70 mph.) With that experience as a baseline, I agree with everything you said about an Aliner camper trailer. My current adage is "The less plumbing the better" because this means fewer leaks and less weight, too. We bypass our hot water tank and keep it empty because keeping it full adds extra weight and also because it is a waste of propane and water to continually heat more water than is needed. What little hot water we need for cooking, cleaning, and bathing we can quickly heat on the stove. Also, we do not drink water from the fresh water tank (even though it is filtered) unless it has been thoroughly boiled. An ounce of prevention... I have removed the outside shower system because (1) we will never use it, (2) this frees up useful storage space under the seating area, and (3) this reduces the potential for leaks and simplifies winterization, as well. Though we have used a "night-time" camping toilet just like the one you have (until it began to leak 🙄), we now use a Trelino composting toilet, which works well. We use a 7-gallon plastic jug for grey water from the sink, because in most places draining grey water onto the ground is not permitted. It is connected with a DIY quick-connect fitting, which makes attaching and detaching it both easy and convenient. We have made a number of modifications to our camper, the most significant of which has been the addition of two solar panels, lithium batteries, and a 12-volt refrigerator. We can now "boondock" indefinitely, even in cold and cloudy weather. Again, we love our "tiny house." I enjoyed your video, I thank you for posting it, and I appreciate your patience with my somewhat lengthy response. BTW, my wife and I are well into our 70s and we have no problem setting up or taking down our Aliner quickly and easily. A word to the wise: ALWAYS use the wind bars! Happy Trails.👍👍
We had a 06 Aliner XLE that weighed 1550 lbs dry and about 1700lbs ready to camp with a full tank of water. We towed it for over 40,000 miles with a little 4-cylinder Chevy Cobalt SS. We sold our Aliner when we went FT in 2019, but this little car is now our toad behind our motorhome. It pulled it just fine up some of the steepest grades and more importantly the trailer's electric brakes helped stop it on the downgrades. It had all the amenities, just no room inside. It was a 2-person camper only. The couch folded out like yours, but the folding table went under it to make a king-sized bed. It had a built in 3 burner stove with a microwave underneath. There was enough space between he 2 for me to build a silverware/frying pan drawer. The fridge looks exactly like yours. It had a wet bath with a cassette toilet. I like a cassette toilet because the 3-gallon holding tank is easily removed from outside and can be transported and dumped at any toilet. This was important to us as we are big boondockers who rarely camp in a campground, much less one with hook-ups. We carried a little 1600w generator that ran our little AC just fine, when needed. Our AC unit was right beside our front door. I like your more modern design, but it's nice lying in bed and flipping the vents toward or away from you with your foot to keep you comfy. I like the new roof retention system too. For high winds we just threw rope over the roof and secured to the back bumper and A-frame with a couple motorcycle tie downs. We installed an inverter a TV with a built in DVD player that fit nicely in our rear bubble. It was on a hinge and swung out when needed. They hold their value well too. We got $5,000 when we sold it having used it for 13 years.
You absolutely nailed it on this intro to the Avan style van. We have recently purchased an Avan Cruiseliner to replace our much loved Little Guy Teardrop Camper. In our early 70's we found it a little harder to get in and out of our Teardrop, especially for nature calls. We purchased the Avan so we could set it up quickly and with building our own Toilet inside, c/w appropriate Activated Charcoal Filter exhast fan scavenger system immediately adjacent to the unit, it serves our needs perfectly. We can sit and eat comfortably,.and sleep comfortably, regardless of weather extremes or hazardous wildlife outside. The low streamlined profile makes the Avan so easy to tow. We have Powered Wheels fitted to ours, which makes it so simple to park and birth anywhere. We can literally spin the Avan in its own length with our Remote Control. A great little van. We can stop, pop the roof and gain access to the toilet in an emergency in less than 90 seconds. Cheers from Michael. Australia.
We covered the end of those lights with white adhesive tape. They were, indeed, too bright even when off. We have a Ranger 10 with a dormer. We love it. Well worth the 18K we paid for it in 2020. It’s very comfortable for 2 people. We used to have a pop up tent trailer. We like this better.
We just made our 2000 mile trip in our Aliner scout! She’s a dream. Slept great every night for over 3 weeks. Middle Georgia to South Dakota and back. Ac worked well.❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️
I really like the Aliners a lot. Especially the lighter wood interior. One thing I wish Aliner and other A-frame makers wood do is upgrade their suspensions to better handle some dirt road driving. Also the frame needs to be 4" thick instead of 3". There are many reports of frame failure after just a few years. Thanks for you in depth review.
I haven't heard of frame failures. This one is MUCH stronger than the earlier models, but it's true, if you're looking for a true off-road system, they offer more ground clearance, but not a truly heavy duty package. To be fair, they haven't tried to fully enter that market.
You also have a vehicle for the tow; one can also store "Things" in the back/top of a vehicle. Most camps have showers/toilets. A 'Tent' attitude would eliminate a toilet, but your choice for a simple toilet - No. 1 is great. An alternate would be a square Pop-Up that folds out but would be heavier. Good review. Thank you. New Englander.
We use a similar '#1 only' toilet in our van. We found paper liners (Happy Bowl 1212) that line the bowl for the rare emergency when we need to use it for #2, so no need to worry about cleaning the bowl. The liner is the same material that commercial toilet seat liners are made of, so it just slides down into the bottom tank/cassette when you flush.
I like that even when it is down, you have access to the space along the floor, lots of room to store gear between trips and when heading out to the next adventure. Some Tow vehicles are high enough that they can see behind the trailer with their rear view mirror, a big plus. The headroom is cavernous compared to my Casita (which I love). If the Aliner would have been narrow enough to fit down my long and narrow driveway, we probably would have got one.
Great looking trailer, but $25,000?! There has to be other companies doing this same design but much more affordable. I'm looking forward to seeing if you show any in your future videos.
These used to be $10k. The whole RV market is over priced. I have heard the quality these were suspect during the pandemic but they have improved. I'd love an A-Liner but they out priced me even in the states.
We have the 14’ Aliner Scout Park model….no bathroom…and we do pretty much the same thing you do for toilet. Pulled behind our 2016 Jeep Cherokee this spring to Yellowstone Park still got 20mpg. Could not tell it was even back there 95% of the time. Plenty of room for the two of us….we leave the couch/bed just a bed and sit outside or at the table. Ours has no propane so we take a small grill for outside cooking. We also just use a small electric heater in cool weather. 36 in Yellowstone one morning and was still comfortable on low setting….almost to warm even. We just joke about it being tent camping with some bling 🙃 Great job showing off what yours is and does for you 👍
I have a Rockwood Aframe and we removed the microwave also. Actually we redid the whole cabinet that was there. We drove across country to get it because it comes with a wetbath and and oven, but we can't sleep 4. We bunked the bed up so the dogs can sleep under the bed.
Interesting unit and I like the idea of more economical towing. The 25’ E350 Ford-based camper we rented for a trip down the east coast of the US was fun and spacious but was also drinking $US100/day in fuel - and that was 4 years ago. Might try to get along with a smaller setup in order to tow with our Toyota Venza which is rated for 3500lbs.
We have a 2016 Classic on an Expedition frame, which give us a nice storage box up front and a more robust frame for dirt roads. I also took out the microwave, but I also took out the refrigerator and used the space for a Thetford chemical toilet. Since we only need it at night or first thing in the morning it was a better option. I got a 50 quart Iceco electric cooler with power pack and solar panels, which I generally keep in the back of the SUV. I find it works better than the 3 ways. We also like having the dormer over the bed and being able to have air flowing over us as we sleep. We took our A-Liner on a 7,000 mile trip from Montana up through British Columbia, Yukon and Northwest Territories to the Arctic Ocean, including 1400 miles round trip on the all-dirt Dempster Highway. It performed wonderfully. You get it exactly right: you have to think of an A-Liner as if you were kayak/canoe camping. But unlike those monster rigs, you can take it almost anywhere and actually feel like you're camping.
I really like the A-liners. The price is a bit much in my opinion, but a used one might be a budget solution. I like that they can be put into most any garage, folds up in seconds, has hard sides instead of canvas and can be SUV towable. I also like that the shower is outside. (A shower tent can be used), or camp ground showers and bathrooms can be used. The portable toilet is a great nighttime solution.
I hear you on the price, but just about every feature packed small trailer is similarly priced now. Things have gone up, and I don't think they'll come back down anytime soon.
@@PeterLoweOne I agree that prices have gone up. I do think they can't continue to rise. So, I think they have to come down in the next few years. I will just have to wait. Not knocking the unit. I really like it.
@@PeterLoweOneYeah I would think one of those pop up shower/privacy shelters set up just outside the camper would be the solution. Just put the cassette toilet out there. Much easier than going to a campground bathroom. Also perfect for dispersed camping spots.
This is a very well done review. These trailers are very nice, except for the price. I live in Thailand and my setup is I have a Suzuki Carry truck with a fiberglass canopy . It has a raised bed. I pull a small 5x7 utility trailer (steel frame aluminum skinned) equipped with a kitchen and tons of storage space. The trailer made to my specifications only cost $2800 ( Cheap to fabricate here in Thailand). But like I said your trailer is very nice!
I love the Aliner! I love that it can be stored in my garage and how quickly it sets up. As I get older tent camping will become problematic. I prefer this hardsided pop up and the ability for temperatue control.
Nice video! My first camper was an Aliner Ranger 12. I loved it! I wish they had a bit of spring assist for setting up. As a small, 5'1" person, it was a little struggle to open up alone. This video makes me want to get a new one!
Looked at an "A-Liner" years ago. For us a pop-up tent camper worked out better giving us more space over all with two growing kids it was much needed. Rain/sleet storms would chase us inside (sometimes for 30 minutes and other times for the night.) The additional space was a gift from heaven. Like i said this was our preference. I'm happy that you found something that fits your families needs. Enjoy and safe camping.
I have a 2007 Aliner with shower/cassette toilet built in. As a single woman, I’m glad to have it for my safety. It is a nuisance to keep clean but a must for convenience. I love what you have with your Aliner. Great camper inside and out!
Aliners are $26,495.00. I just bought a 2018 Lance Model 1995 with queen bed you can walk around and not climb over each other, a full shower and closed bathroom with door. A 4 season model so I can use even when its snowing, etc etc I paid $30k. Now for towing bigger vs smaller. My Ford Truck gets 21 MPG when I'm not towing and 11 mpg when I'm towing a 3k trailer with an 8k Bobcat skid loader on top. So I figure 11k is the heaviest I will tow. My Lance is 5k lbs and my mileage is 12-14 mpg. When I was single I was going to buy an Aliner. Now newly married, no way.
Excellent review of the ALiner camper trailer! Keep your camper trailer reviews coming, because a large portion of people are searching to buy this type of camper trailer. Thank you for sharing your comprehensive review and video too!
Since a few years I use a socalled 'Dry-Flush' toilet: ABSOLUTELY BRILJANT! You don't need water, you don't have to empty that sick-making tank and you don't have the smell when you open 'that' flap between the seat and the dirty water tank! You simply place a cartridge, which can be used for 12 - 14 going's(if you catch my drift). When the cartridge is empty, the top half of the toilet will open automatically. Ready to remove the binbag (which is already in) containing 'the doings😊'. Then you put in a new cartridge and the top half will close automatically! The only thing you need is electricity you charge the build in battery! IT'S PERFECT! What I forgot to say is, that the 'doings', each time you close the toilet seat, will be packaged and sealed!
Peter, thank you for an excellent showing and for sharing your thoughts on the Classic Aliner. You have us convenienced the one side dorm is the way will be going!! Thanks again and we will look forward to watching other podcasts of yours. Best regards, Bob
The nice thing about this is, if you are only going with 1-2 people, you can set up 1 side as a dedicated sleeping area... bed and such, and use the other side as your sitting, eating, and entertainment area. it means you don't need to worry about a day and night mode.
Exactly! Our kids love to sleep in a tent, and that makes this a simple trailer with no need to set up and take down anything from night to day. Thanks for watching!
@@pesto12601 hmm? those that have toilets in them, actually either have walls that rise up around the toilet, or use a shower curtain system around it. some go as far as having a wet bath using both wall and shower curtain to keep the camper dry while a person showers.
@@pesto12601 it depends on your set up and options. the ranger in dual bunk mode, sleeps 2 on one side 1 on the other so 2 adults 1 child. but no bathroom. evolution 12 is 2 sleep one side, 2 on the other, 15 has the bathroom with wrap around curtains. the family at 18 is 2 bunk beds + queen... so 2 adn 2 in that configuration + bathroom it really depends on the size and configuration... many people with bring tents and have kids sleep in tents for example, and bring them into the camper for eating.
Draining a sink onto the ground can be a problem in National Parks if they notice. My Vanagon does that and I use a big cook pot to catch it and carry it to the park men’s room.
Sorry if this is posted twice. I have an Aliner classic as well and thoroughly enjoy it. I have soft sided dormers because they have more windows and I enjoy having cross breeze when it’s nice. At night if it’s cold I close them and there is less space to heat. Also removed the microwave never use it. Liked your video.
This is exactly what I'm looking for, basically a glorified tent with a few luxuries. I'm turning 49 in a few weeks, so sleeping in the ground doesn't hold quite the same excitement for me as it did in my youth. I've already taken to sleeping on an air mattress cot. Really the most time I'll be spending in there during the day is if it starts to rain too hard. So all we need is a comfortable bed, some lights and that's really it.
Hello from Texas. I just found you. Great video. I appreciate the lack of annoying music and chitchat. You speak fast and go right to the point with no unnecessary BS. I am about to checkout your other videos. I am really interested in this trailer. Would love to see the version with the actual toilet. Also would love to see this one again with more details on all the storage it has. You pointed it out but it would be great to actually see it to gauge how much space it offers. Thank you so much for a great video. I just subscribed ❤
This was a great review. Thank you. Looks like this may be something for my wife and I. We have been tent camping our whole lives and are about to turn 60 and sleeping on the ground is starting to get old. Thanks for a great review. Subscribed.
Nice review! I’ve always liked the lightweight design and functionality of the Aliners. I would also second the others’ recommendations to review the TrailManor.
Thanks for a thorough, informative look at your A-Liner. I really like it. If it was just me, this is the camper I’d have. My wife likes more creature comforts, so we have a 17’ Casita. It has a small wet bath with shower & toilet. It also has black & grey tanks. If I could change one thing about the Casita it would be to install a cassette toilet. Those things are a brilliant idea. I love the head room and all the windows of the A-Liner, too, and that sofa is such a luxury. Happy Camping!
Thanks Peter. Pretty thorough review. I appreciate it. I found the answer somewhere reading the comments but was curious about the brakes and see that it comes with electric brakes. Many more questions I'm sure, but we'll stay tuned for updates thanks
Really nice mini-camper pop up trailer with solid walls instead of canvas. Thanks for showing it, as I was considering a trailer or something similar for the future. Only thing missing is a bathroom/shower. This looks comfortable and a nice place to rest rather than having to rent a hotel while on vacation.
I really appreciate this video. I'm entering the idea of traveling full time as I'm retired and dislike the expense and upkeep of a large house for just 1 person. I want to see as much of the world as I can before I die and this camper seems like the perfect fit for a single person and a pet. I especially like that you can enjoy traditional campsites, like those in many national parks, with this style. I do have one question, what about utilizing a small generator for electric needs? what's the smallest size that would support the energy needs of the microwave, stove & heat/air. Thanks again!
Good question about the generator. I'm not sure off the top of my head, but a good dealer should know, or be able to find out. I'd try to get in touch with them.
I like the A-Liner. UA-camr Slim Potatohead took his all over the place and has some excellent videos with mods he made to his. Also Canadian, from Alberta, but lately from New Brunswick. We have a Casita, which is perfect for us. Too old for the late night trips to the campground loo. Been there in our popup years.
Aliners are nightmares after you've owned one for a few years you'll understand why. Way too many moving parts that degrade and fall apart due to moving, vibrations, warpage and what seal it's fate was a frame failure. The condensation issue is a real problem with these trailers and they don't do well in cold weather due to poor insulation. Best day I had with my Aliner was when I sold it after repairing the frame failure and getting little money because of that fault.
Dimensions can be found on the Aliner website. I rarely cover all the specs, I assume that anyone looking seriously at this will click over to other relevant information. I try to cover things that the spec sheet doesn't show. As far as putting the couch down, it takes about 10 seconds. It's not at all difficult.
The best part of the Aliner is the club you can join the people are wonderful the rally’s are fun . We don’t have an Aliner anymore but still belong to the AOC. Aliner Owner Club.
The A Liner is to me the best way to go instead of a teardrop, but to say the dry weight is on par with a teardrop is a bit misleading. A traditional teardrop is a lot closer to 1200 lbs or lighter. Of course there are tons of variations that compare themselves to a teardrop that are well over 1200 lbs. But back to the topic regardless of how much difference in weight there is I still feel the A Liner is the top choice for a small 2 adult camp trailer. Thanks for providing great content !!
I guess it depends on if you want to talk about what you calk, "a traditional teardrop". There are many teardrop shaped trailers within this weight class. I'm going to review VA "square drop" trailer today that is within this weight class.
Easy to reach as you can cook inside or outside. I've never stubbed my toes on it, but I'm glad it's easily within reach if I have a cooking accident inside or out. Remember the stove can be set up just outside the door, on the outside of the camper.
The 4XE is exceptionally efficient over short trips as it can run on full electric. It loses the efficiency over long trips, but it's amazing for towing a lightweight trailer as it has 375 HP and 470 ft-lbs of torque and most of that torque is low in the revs. No hunting for gears when towing, no slowing for hills etc, I enjoyed towing with it.
I have a 6' x 10' gardening style trailer with the fold down ramp at the back, which I have used for hauling ATV's, and Quads, mostly taking them to the sand dunes, and I've been thinking of building an Aliner style camper box to fit on top of it, but with the change from regular Aliner trailers, that I could still put a quad or two inside of it, when it is in the folded down position. I know it will be a big project, but I have construction and architectural drawing experience, so I'm fairly confident that I can design and complete it successfully. What is the size of your Aliner floor area? Since my "One Off" Aliner style copy will be taller when folded down to accommodate a full size quad inside of it while traveling, I'll probably put dormers on both sides, as both of them will be tall enough to comfortably walk under at my 6'-1" height. I had originally thought that I might be able to purchase an Aliner replacement two piece door, but since my lower section will be about a foot or more higher than an Aliner, that idea won't work.
curious as to how heavy the tops are to put up as we are older campers trying to downsize and lie th a liners but wonder as to strength needed to pop up the tops and sides, please
I'm a minimalist but love the design with the low profile when towing, is there a hard sided pop up trailer with out the sink or fridge? Or any industrally made minimalist trailers
I love these chalet designs. I own a Rockwood A122-S and it's absolutely perfect for my needs. There are few downsides to the fact it folds down during transport and plenty of plusses. You get incredible fuel savings without the wind resistance of traditional travel trailers, they're lightweight and can be towed with almost any vehicle, you can see over it for traffic behind you when going down the road, etc. Oh... not to mention you can store this in most garages. The only real downside is that you can't just "pull over" on a trip and immediately use it to sleep or for a meal, like if you stop in a parking lot or rest area, without having to first open it up. And if you need to leave in a hurry, you can't because you first have to close it up. Weather can interfere with this, too. If there's high winds or heavy rain, you have to wait for calmer weather to open or close it. If it has snowed and there's ice build up you have to remove it or wait for it to melt. Though, honestly, I haven't ever been in such a hurry that any of that has ever been a problem. However, the potential is certainly there. But I also love the A-frame design BECAUSE of weather - it sheds rain and snow like nobody's business. I use it all winter and snow loads are NOT a problem, and even after a heavy snow it only takes a few minutes to brush it off. And I live in big snow country, where we can get 400 inches of snowfall over the winter. It was a real chore with my last traditional travel trailer to keep the snow from damaging the roof in winter conditions. I'm also amazed at how well they withstand strong winds, I was in a storm with 70mph gusts and barely noticed the wind inside. I do use a strong shower curtain rod as a cross-beam between the two walls, however, both for better stability and to hang things from during use. The nicest thing, though, about these models is how spacious they feel inside!! With the open floorplan and high ceiling you don't feel anywhere near as cramped as you do in travel trailers even though the footprint of these models is smaller. However, that's considering that there's just 2 people "living" in it. With very little aisle space, you'll quickly get annoyed at trying to get around people. Sometimes even with just another person. But I camp alone, so I get to enjoy the spacious feeling in a smaller trailer. One last thing - with the smaller cubic foot interior, both air conditioners and heaters bring the temperature to a comfort level VERY quickly and efficiently. So you spend less on electricity and propane to stay comfortable. And they're insulated surprisingly well, better than most travel trailers due to the wall construction. They have foam core insulation and virtually no thermal bridges in the walls/ceiling. The only 2 things you have to deal with are drafts where the gaps are where the panels meet and condensation in cold weather on the aluminum skin ceiling and metal framing. Both are easy to counter, however. I use "pipe noodles" (pipe insulation) to fill the gaps in the winter and also run a small dehumidifier. I end up with no problems with drafts and very few issue with condensation.
My argument to the downside that you mention, is that an Aliner can literally be set up in 30 seconds, so you could do all those things, but it would take an extra minute or so. 🙂
@@PeterLoweOne Potentially longer depending on how you actually want to use that space (for example, unfolding the table so you can sit at the dinette) but I would agree that it's not a great deal of time. Still, there are situations in which that time matters, or it's not practical (weather) or where you simply don't want to draw attention to the fact you're "hanging out". If you pull in to a parking lot towing a regular travel trailer, no one looks twice. You can spend most of the day hanging out in the trailer and nobody would notice. If you pull in and start popping up the chalet, everyone notices you and realizes you're using the camper in the parking lot. I once had to pull over in a restaurant parking lot and open up my A122-S because I had forgotten to close the roof vent and it was flapping in the wind. While I was checking to make sure it wasn't damaged, an employee came out and told me "you can't set that up here". I only had it open for maybe 2-3 minutes. Had I just pulled up towing a normal travel trailer, no one would have come out.
My only issues in the model I have is the ac struggles in the hot summer heat. I have to put a osculating fan on the counter top in front of it to circulate the air.
Get some black nail polish and paint the LED switch to hid it better while you sleep. That way you can paint the part that is in your eyes and have it show on the ceiling, so it is easy to find in the dark.
An excellent review of the Aliner. The Aliner is one of many camper designs I like. It's like you do this professionally; your review was better than most of the other reviews I've seen. I think because you have actually camped in them istead of just talking about them. Anyways, I was impressed with you skill. It would be great to see you review very lightweight truck campers such as my favorite, Hiatus which is based out of Bellingham WA.or the smaller Moonlander. One camper I think that falls into a small bumper pull camper is the Alto, a Canadian company has a great small camper that has a huge glass window that extends up adding height and space. You may have heard of these but seeing you review them would be great. Anyway, I enjoyed you review. Thank you!
I've heard of all of those. The Alto is definitely one that I'd like to review. They're made in Quebec, a neighbouring province to where I live. Thanks for your kind words. Feel free to subscribe, I'll be reviewing a lot more of these small trailers soon!
Also, as a fellow Canadian… have you had a hard time finding places to work on it for warranty? I am leery of buying certain makes up here because dealerships aren’t familiar with them and don’t know how to work on them or get parts.
I have been eyeballing small campers for some time now. I first got excited about the possibility of the teardrops and keep going back to a teardrop. But then I think about the extra canopy and/or screen tent I'd need. But I really like the concept of the ALiners or a Scamp style trailer as well. Now that I have a proper vehicle that can tow I can do 3500lbs (Outback Limited XT) I am excited at all the options. I would like to stay well under my minimum towing capacity, as I have zero desire to have a bathroom or extensive kitchen-that shouldn't be a problem. I also want to be able to store it in my standard 2 car garage. I am curious at how the prices will level out as the inventory seems to be leveling out as the demand goes down post 2020 and people decide to unload their spontaneous purchases lol. I also appreciate your assessment of just basic small campers vs the RV take on camping, back to basics + (I AM over sleeping on the ground lol). I live in the PNW so definitely don't lack gorgeous simple camping spots. The thought of going camping and being shoe horned into a spot next to noisy neighbors is a sobering thought for sure. Great review. Especially the aspect of the dormers my hub is 6'3". lol Which is another reason the teardrops easily drop out of contention as much I love the concept of them. lol
I'm rolling with my 2014 Outback (2700lbs towing capacity) and I barely know my A-liner (nearly identical to this one) trailer is there. One thing you will have to add is a break controller to your Outback as A-liners come standard with powered disk breaks. I went with the Tekonsha P3 which as I understand it, was overkill and you could get something much more cost effective.
I love my1987 motorcycle camper! Sleeps 4, plenty of headroom and relatively quick to set up, and it only cost me used $750! Queen sized bed. Cannot feel it when pulling with my SUV.
If you buy an off road camper trailer you are someone that avoids RV parks like the plague. This is for people who enjoy bush camping and the great outdoors
You didn’t talk about the four jacks. Are they permanently mounted. How hard is it to balance out. Can one person do that easily. I’ve been looking for small travel trailer that’s easy for one person to set up. This looks good.
I've had my ALiner Ranger 12 since 2013, towing it behind a Toyota FJC. Both have taken care of me in the Smokies, the Colorado Rockies and the Wyoming Winds on many summer trips from the southeast. Like other reviews though, it could be beefed up in the frame and some of the interior refinements. I found the factory spare tire mount to be parrticularly weak. Fixed that with a much more beefed up spare tire carrier that's better suited for backcountry forest service roads. But overall, the ALiner has kept me warm and dry when it counted.
I would want more ground clearance. It would also be good to have bigger wheels. The road I would take it on to take it to a camping spot is unpaved and has some uneven spots. I don't mind the idea of slowing down for it but I don't want the wheels dropping in the holes.
Hmm you really need to see some of the European style lightweight caravans, trailers, we have a 4 berth fixed bed with internal full size toilet, hand basin and shower cube, fridge, hob and oven, 4 place table and microwave, can run on electric hook up or off grid with solar if sensible
Hello. My wife and I are considering purchasing an Aliner. We have watched and read many reviews. The majority of reviews are extremely positive. There is a bunch of Reviews, however, of many people having problems with their Aliners and having a very difficult time getting satisfactory customer support. Just reaching out to you to see your experience? We greatly appreciate your help!
Ok, first of all it is obvious to me, that beautiful puppy is trying to tell you he is ready to go camping! Second, I love these trailers, I am currently looking at square drops, tear drops and A-frames. My question to you is......Soooooooooooooo many A frame videos say they leak like crazy, especially through the bubble window. Can you tell me your experience regarding that issue? Thanks! great video!
Never ever had a single drop of water leak from anywhere on this trailer. 🤷♂️ I'd tell you if I had any issy, but it's been flawless. I do strongly believe that a MODERN Aliner is significantly better built than the older ones, and definitely higher quality than other brands with the same A-frame style. However these are likely more expensive for that reason.
I predict that we'll see a shift from the current huge RV's to smaller lighter units. The real difference will be that the majority of the RV market will not make the switch from small to large, so the entire RV industry and those surrounding the industry will need to enter a new phase where they're acquiring customers that they haven't had in the past. Huge opportunity for the prepared business, but huge disruption for the unprepared one! I'm focusing a piece of my career on this.
When towing the trailer with the Tesla how do you get around not having a 7 pin connector to connect the power from car to trailer for the trailers ebrakes. I currently have a Subaru Forester that can pull 3,000 pounds but it only has a 4 pin connector not 7, trying to come up with a solution.
I haven't towed this with the Tesla yet. But the Tesla comes with 7 pin wiring as an option. My car has that. I also use the Curt Wireless Trailer Brake controller on all the vehicles that I've towed this trailer with. It works flawlessly for me.
Hahaha! Yup. I used to work there. I’ve been gone for a couple of years to give myself a variety of other options on and off camera, and to be able to spend more time with my family.
22:00 Toilet
I use a composting toilet: 5 gallon plastic bucket, tall plastic draw-string kitchen trash bag, snap-on lid/toilet seat, bag of sawdust & scoop.
Pee & poo in same, add a scoop or two of sawdust, dump into trash bin. No smell, no spill, no insects, $20 out the door.
New subscriber
I’m still wondering where they go when it’s #2!
@@AlignmentCoaching
To the the third floor, OBVIOUSLY!
I have a sawdust bidet.
It’s a bit rough.
Yuck. I hope I never dumpster dive where you been. Human waste belongs in a septic tank or sewer. The toilet is the best dump station. I'm sure there are outdoor rest rooms at some Walmart gas stations. This is not Mexico. 73
@@tomardans4258 She wore a raspberry bidet , the kind you find in a second hand store ..
We have had our 2021 Aliner Ranger 12 since November 2021. We love it!
We typically take two 5-6 week camping trips each year, one in April and May and another in September and October. We travel from Wisconsin to the western mountains, as far south as Las Cruces, NM, and as far north as northern Idaho, typically staying in state parks or in state or national forest camp sites. In the summer, we take shorter 2-3 week trips in northern Wisconsin, Minnesota, and the Dakotas.
We tow our trailer with a 2022 Toyota Tacoma set up for towing. We spend a lot of time in the mountains and travel in a lot of windy, dicey weather. Even in 70mph crosswinds or on washboard gravel roads, the Aliner tows straight and true. It is very easy to tow -- and it reduces our tow vehicle mileage by only about 2-3 mpg. I'll take the win. (I typically drive at the posted speed limit, but I do not exceed 70 mph.)
With that experience as a baseline, I agree with everything you said about an Aliner camper trailer. My current adage is "The less plumbing the better" because this means fewer leaks and less weight, too. We bypass our hot water tank and keep it empty because keeping it full adds extra weight and also because it is a waste of propane and water to continually heat more water than is needed. What little hot water we need for cooking, cleaning, and bathing we can quickly heat on the stove. Also, we do not drink water from the fresh water tank (even though it is filtered) unless it has been thoroughly boiled. An ounce of prevention...
I have removed the outside shower system because (1) we will never use it, (2) this frees up useful storage space under the seating area, and (3) this reduces the potential for leaks and simplifies winterization, as well. Though we have used a "night-time" camping toilet just like the one you have (until it began to leak 🙄), we now use a Trelino composting toilet, which works well. We use a 7-gallon plastic jug for grey water from the sink, because in most places draining grey water onto the ground is not permitted. It is connected with a DIY quick-connect fitting, which makes attaching and detaching it both easy and convenient.
We have made a number of modifications to our camper, the most significant of which has been the addition of two solar panels, lithium batteries, and a 12-volt refrigerator. We can now "boondock" indefinitely, even in cold and cloudy weather. Again, we love our "tiny house."
I enjoyed your video, I thank you for posting it, and I appreciate your patience with my somewhat lengthy response.
BTW, my wife and I are well into our 70s and we have no problem setting up or taking down our Aliner quickly and easily. A word to the wise: ALWAYS use the wind bars!
Happy Trails.👍👍
Thanks so much for sharing this! I loved reading about your experiences!
Great comment, much appreciated. We would mimic those modifications.
Your comments were great reading! I normally regret investing the time to do so, but not in your case!👍🏻
Incredibly helpful comment, thank you
BEST Aliner video I have seen in DECADES ! 💪
Thanks for watching!
We had a 06 Aliner XLE that weighed 1550 lbs dry and about 1700lbs ready to camp with a full tank of water. We towed it for over 40,000 miles with a little 4-cylinder Chevy Cobalt SS. We sold our Aliner when we went FT in 2019, but this little car is now our toad behind our motorhome. It pulled it just fine up some of the steepest grades and more importantly the trailer's electric brakes helped stop it on the downgrades. It had all the amenities, just no room inside. It was a 2-person camper only. The couch folded out like yours, but the folding table went under it to make a king-sized bed. It had a built in 3 burner stove with a microwave underneath. There was enough space between he 2 for me to build a silverware/frying pan drawer. The fridge looks exactly like yours. It had a wet bath with a cassette toilet. I like a cassette toilet because the 3-gallon holding tank is easily removed from outside and can be transported and dumped at any toilet. This was important to us as we are big boondockers who rarely camp in a campground, much less one with hook-ups. We carried a little 1600w generator that ran our little AC just fine, when needed. Our AC unit was right beside our front door. I like your more modern design, but it's nice lying in bed and flipping the vents toward or away from you with your foot to keep you comfy. I like the new roof retention system too. For high winds we just threw rope over the roof and secured to the back bumper and A-frame with a couple motorcycle tie downs. We installed an inverter a TV with a built in DVD player that fit nicely in our rear bubble. It was on a hinge and swung out when needed. They hold their value well too. We got $5,000 when we sold it having used it for 13 years.
We had an a liner for many years we towed behind our triked Harley. We loved it . We had no extras, but it suited our needs just fine.
You absolutely nailed it on this intro to the Avan style van. We have recently purchased an Avan Cruiseliner to replace our much loved Little Guy Teardrop Camper. In our early 70's we found it a little harder to get in and out of our Teardrop, especially for nature calls. We purchased the Avan so we could set it up quickly and with building our own Toilet inside, c/w appropriate Activated Charcoal Filter exhast fan scavenger system immediately adjacent to the unit, it serves our needs perfectly. We can sit and eat comfortably,.and sleep comfortably, regardless of weather extremes or hazardous wildlife outside. The low streamlined profile makes the Avan so easy to tow. We have Powered Wheels fitted to ours, which makes it so simple to park and birth anywhere. We can literally spin the Avan in its own length with our Remote Control. A great little van. We can stop, pop the roof and gain access to the toilet in an emergency in less than 90 seconds. Cheers from Michael. Australia.
We covered the end of those lights with white adhesive tape. They were, indeed, too bright even when off.
We have a Ranger 10 with a dormer. We love it. Well worth the 18K we paid for it in 2020.
It’s very comfortable for 2 people. We used to have a pop up tent trailer. We like this better.
This one is more attractive than most of the older models. Light wood, black upholstery and white walls. I can live with that.
We just made our 2000 mile trip in our Aliner scout! She’s a dream. Slept great every night for over 3 weeks. Middle Georgia to South Dakota and back. Ac worked well.❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️
Keep your dogs away from Kristi Noem!
I really like the Aliners a lot. Especially the lighter wood interior. One thing I wish Aliner and other A-frame makers wood do is upgrade their suspensions to better handle some dirt road driving. Also the frame needs to be 4" thick instead of 3". There are many reports of frame failure after just a few years. Thanks for you in depth review.
I haven't heard of frame failures. This one is MUCH stronger than the earlier models, but it's true, if you're looking for a true off-road system, they offer more ground clearance, but not a truly heavy duty package. To be fair, they haven't tried to fully enter that market.
The frame on my '23 Scout is 5".
Aliners are very nice. Chalet was even nicer, but they seem to be belly up making Aliner the new king.
Hail to the king baby!
You also have a vehicle for the tow; one can also store "Things" in the back/top of a vehicle. Most camps have showers/toilets. A 'Tent' attitude would eliminate a toilet, but your choice for a simple toilet - No. 1 is great. An alternate would be a square Pop-Up that folds out but would be heavier. Good review. Thank you. New Englander.
This is so practical. I like that you're not dragging huge trailer, light weight so you have more stability on the road and visibility!!
Yeah. We love this trailer a lot more than we expected we would.
We owned an A-liner for 11 years, many trips over 4 weeks, we loved it.
We use a similar '#1 only' toilet in our van. We found paper liners (Happy Bowl 1212) that line the bowl for the rare emergency when we need to use it for #2, so no need to worry about cleaning the bowl. The liner is the same material that commercial toilet seat liners are made of, so it just slides down into the bottom tank/cassette when you flush.
I like that even when it is down, you have access to the space along the floor, lots of room to store gear between trips and when heading out to the next adventure. Some Tow vehicles are high enough that they can see behind the trailer with their rear view mirror, a big plus. The headroom is cavernous compared to my Casita (which I love). If the Aliner would have been narrow enough to fit down my long and narrow driveway, we probably would have got one.
Great looking trailer, but $25,000?! There has to be other companies doing this same design but much more affordable. I'm looking forward to seeing if you show any in your future videos.
Hey, I don't set prices, but I'll review several more and you can see if they work for your needs and budget.
@PeterLoweOne thank you so much!
for $25 K..you can get a small trailer that has a wet bat and can be towed by a small SUV
I’d much rather pay more for a higher quality trailer that is going to last a long time without issues/leaks.
These used to be $10k. The whole RV market is over priced. I have heard the quality these were suspect during the pandemic but they have improved. I'd love an A-Liner but they out priced me even in the states.
We have the 14’ Aliner Scout Park model….no bathroom…and we do pretty much the same thing you do for toilet. Pulled behind our 2016 Jeep Cherokee this spring to Yellowstone Park still got 20mpg. Could not tell it was even back there 95% of the time. Plenty of room for the two of us….we leave the couch/bed just a bed and sit outside or at the table. Ours has no propane so we take a small grill for outside cooking. We also just use a small electric heater in cool weather. 36 in Yellowstone one morning and was still comfortable on low setting….almost to warm even. We just joke about it being tent camping with some bling 🙃 Great job showing off what yours is and does for you 👍
I have a Rockwood Aframe and we removed the microwave also. Actually we redid the whole cabinet that was there. We drove across country to get it because it comes with a wetbath and and oven, but we can't sleep 4. We bunked the bed up so the dogs can sleep under the bed.
Nice! I've seen some really cool things done with renovations of these types of units! Thanks for sharing!
Interesting unit and I like the idea of more economical towing. The 25’ E350 Ford-based camper we rented for a trip down the east coast of the US was fun and spacious but was also drinking $US100/day in fuel - and that was 4 years ago. Might try to get along with a smaller setup in order to tow with our Toyota Venza which is rated for 3500lbs.
I appreciate the detail and careful analysis presented here. Thank you!
We have a 2016 Classic on an Expedition frame, which give us a nice storage box up front and a more robust frame for dirt roads. I also took out the microwave, but I also took out the refrigerator and used the space for a Thetford chemical toilet. Since we only need it at night or first thing in the morning it was a better option. I got a 50 quart Iceco electric cooler with power pack and solar panels, which I generally keep in the back of the SUV. I find it works better than the 3 ways. We also like having the dormer over the bed and being able to have air flowing over us as we sleep. We took our A-Liner on a 7,000 mile trip from Montana up through British Columbia, Yukon and Northwest Territories to the Arctic Ocean, including 1400 miles round trip on the all-dirt Dempster Highway. It performed wonderfully. You get it exactly right: you have to think of an A-Liner as if you were kayak/canoe camping. But unlike those monster rigs, you can take it almost anywhere and actually feel like you're camping.
I really like the A-liners. The price is a bit much in my opinion, but a used one might be a budget solution. I like that they can be put into most any garage, folds up in seconds, has hard sides instead of canvas and can be SUV towable. I also like that the shower is outside. (A shower tent can be used), or camp ground showers and bathrooms can be used. The portable toilet is a great nighttime solution.
I hear you on the price, but just about every feature packed small trailer is similarly priced now. Things have gone up, and I don't think they'll come back down anytime soon.
@@PeterLoweOne I agree that prices have gone up. I do think they can't continue to rise. So, I think they have to come down in the next few years. I will just have to wait. Not knocking the unit. I really like it.
@@angelmissionKK
@@PeterLoweOneYeah I would think one of those pop up shower/privacy shelters set up just outside the camper would be the solution. Just put the cassette toilet out there. Much easier than going to a campground bathroom. Also perfect for dispersed camping spots.
This is a very well done review. These trailers are very nice, except for the price. I live in Thailand and my setup is I have a Suzuki Carry truck with a fiberglass canopy . It has a raised bed. I pull a small 5x7 utility trailer (steel frame aluminum skinned) equipped with a kitchen and tons of storage space. The trailer made to my specifications only cost $2800 ( Cheap to fabricate here in Thailand). But like I said your trailer is very nice!
I love the Aliner! I love that it can be stored in my garage and how quickly it sets up. As I get older tent camping will become problematic. I prefer this hardsided pop up and the ability for temperatue control.
Nice video! My first camper was an Aliner Ranger 12. I loved it! I wish they had a bit of spring assist for setting up. As a small, 5'1" person, it was a little struggle to open up alone. This video makes me want to get a new one!
Looked at an "A-Liner" years ago. For us a pop-up tent camper worked out better giving us more space over all with two growing kids it was much needed. Rain/sleet storms would chase us inside (sometimes for 30 minutes and other times for the night.) The additional space was a gift from heaven. Like i said this was our preference. I'm happy that you found something that fits your families needs. Enjoy and safe camping.
I have a 2007 Aliner with shower/cassette toilet built in. As a single woman, I’m glad to have it for my safety. It is a nuisance to keep clean but a must for convenience. I love what you have with your Aliner. Great camper inside and out!
Im not sure how you would put a hitch on that Tesla. I bet it would all have to be custom made and it would look terrible
Aliners are $26,495.00. I just bought a 2018 Lance Model 1995 with queen bed you can walk around and not climb over each other, a full shower and closed bathroom with door. A 4 season model so I can use even when its snowing, etc etc I paid $30k. Now for towing bigger vs smaller. My Ford Truck gets 21 MPG when I'm not towing and 11 mpg when I'm towing a 3k trailer with an 8k Bobcat skid loader on top. So I figure 11k is the heaviest I will tow. My Lance is 5k lbs and my mileage is 12-14 mpg. When I was single I was going to buy an Aliner. Now newly married, no way.
What a decent little camper. I'd love to take this to Newfoundland this summer. Perfect!
Car floor mat inside the door is a great idea! i'm stealing this for my popup! I have spare mats anyway.
Excellent review of the ALiner camper trailer! Keep your camper trailer reviews coming, because a large portion of people are searching to buy this type of camper trailer. Thank you for sharing your comprehensive review and video too!
Since a few years I use a socalled 'Dry-Flush' toilet: ABSOLUTELY BRILJANT! You don't need water, you don't have to empty that sick-making tank and you don't have the smell when you open 'that' flap between the seat and the dirty water tank! You simply place a cartridge, which can be used for 12 - 14 going's(if you catch my drift). When the cartridge is empty, the top half of the toilet will open automatically. Ready to remove the binbag (which is already in) containing 'the doings😊'. Then you put in a new cartridge and the top half will close automatically! The only thing you need is electricity you charge the build in battery! IT'S PERFECT! What I forgot to say is, that the 'doings', each time you close the toilet seat, will be packaged and sealed!
Nice review of the A-liner. We love the Thetford cassette style toilets!
Great review! We bought a 18 foot Keystone and jumped into the RV world. We saw a few of these this year and was curious about them. Thank you.
Peter, thank you for an excellent showing and for sharing your thoughts on the Classic Aliner. You have us convenienced the one side dorm is the way will be going!! Thanks again and we will look forward to watching other podcasts of yours. Best regards, Bob
Thanks for watching!
Amazing what they fit in a small camper. This whole trailer is smaller than one of my slides.
The nice thing about this is, if you are only going with 1-2 people, you can set up 1 side as a dedicated sleeping area... bed and such, and use the other side as your sitting, eating, and entertainment area. it means you don't need to worry about a day and night mode.
Exactly! Our kids love to sleep in a tent, and that makes this a simple trailer with no need to set up and take down anything from night to day. Thanks for watching!
So long as you don't mind using the toilet in front of everyone... not all families are so... open!
@@pesto12601 hmm? those that have toilets in them, actually either have walls that rise up around the toilet, or use a shower curtain system around it.
some go as far as having a wet bath using both wall and shower curtain to keep the camper dry while a person showers.
@@jenniferstewarts4851Sorry.. I just don't see how this works with a family unless it is just one adult a 2 small kids.
@@pesto12601 it depends on your set up and options. the ranger in dual bunk mode, sleeps 2 on one side 1 on the other so 2 adults 1 child. but no bathroom.
evolution 12 is 2 sleep one side, 2 on the other, 15 has the bathroom with wrap around curtains.
the family at 18 is 2 bunk beds + queen... so 2 adn 2 in that configuration + bathroom
it really depends on the size and configuration... many people with bring tents and have kids sleep in tents for example, and bring them into the camper for eating.
Draining a sink onto the ground can be a problem in National Parks if they notice. My Vanagon does that and I use a big cook pot to catch it and carry it to the park men’s room.
I have the same cassette toilet. Mine is for middle of the night as well. It works great!
One of my favorite small camper styles. Very practical.
Yeah. We really like this trailer. Thanks for watching!
I’ve been looking into one, I’m really impressed by them. They hold there value really good, like a Toyota
Sorry if this is posted twice. I have an Aliner classic as well and thoroughly enjoy it. I have soft sided dormers because they have more windows and I enjoy having cross breeze when it’s nice. At night if it’s cold I close them and there is less space to heat. Also removed the microwave never use it. Liked your video.
We rented one of those 3 years ago and we loved it! Mine didn't have the dormer, but it was awesome!
This is exactly what I'm looking for, basically a glorified tent with a few luxuries. I'm turning 49 in a few weeks, so sleeping in the ground doesn't hold quite the same excitement for me as it did in my youth. I've already taken to sleeping on an air mattress cot. Really the most time I'll be spending in there during the day is if it starts to rain too hard. So all we need is a comfortable bed, some lights and that's really it.
That's why I bought one. It's a hard sided tent w a real bed. I added a casper mattress. I love it.
Hey it's the KIA guy, thanks for helping me buy my stinger!
Haha! Hey! Thanks for commenting!! Hope you're loving your Stinger!
Instant pot, an electric tea pot and iron skillet is really all you need to cook with. Lightens the load. No need for oven or stove.
Hello from Texas. I just found you. Great video. I appreciate the lack of annoying music and chitchat. You speak fast and go right to the point with no unnecessary BS. I am about to checkout your other videos. I am really interested in this trailer. Would love to see the version with the actual toilet. Also would love to see this one again with more details on all the storage it has. You pointed it out but it would be great to actually see it to gauge how much space it offers. Thank you so much for a great video. I just subscribed ❤
Thanks for watching! I'll try to get a video of the storage in the next little while.
This was a great review. Thank you. Looks like this may be something for my wife and I. We have been tent camping our whole lives and are about to turn 60 and sleeping on the ground is starting to get old. Thanks for a great review. Subscribed.
Thanks for watching!
Nice review! I’ve always liked the lightweight design and functionality of the Aliners. I would also second the others’ recommendations to review the TrailManor.
Thanks for a thorough, informative look at your A-Liner.
I really like it. If it was just me, this is the camper I’d have.
My wife likes more creature comforts, so we have a 17’ Casita. It has a small wet bath with shower & toilet.
It also has black & grey tanks.
If I could change one thing about the Casita it would be to install a cassette toilet.
Those things are a brilliant idea.
I love the head room and all the windows of the A-Liner, too, and that sofa is such a luxury.
Happy Camping!
Thanks Peter. Pretty thorough review. I appreciate it. I found the answer somewhere reading the comments but was curious about the brakes and see that it comes with electric brakes. Many more questions I'm sure, but we'll stay tuned for updates thanks
Really nice mini-camper pop up trailer with solid walls instead of canvas. Thanks for showing it, as I was considering a trailer or something similar for the future. Only thing missing is a bathroom/shower. This looks comfortable and a nice place to rest rather than having to rent a hotel while on vacation.
We really enjoy this, and it tows GREAT!
I really appreciate this video. I'm entering the idea of traveling full time as I'm retired and dislike the expense and upkeep of a large house for just 1 person. I want to see as much of the world as I can before I die and this camper seems like the perfect fit for a single person and a pet. I especially like that you can enjoy traditional campsites, like those in many national parks, with this style. I do have one question, what about utilizing a small generator for electric needs? what's the smallest size that would support the energy needs of the microwave, stove & heat/air. Thanks again!
Good question about the generator. I'm not sure off the top of my head, but a good dealer should know, or be able to find out. I'd try to get in touch with them.
I like the A-Liner. UA-camr Slim Potatohead took his all over the place and has some excellent videos with mods he made to his. Also Canadian, from Alberta, but lately from New Brunswick. We have a Casita, which is perfect for us. Too old for the late night trips to the campground loo. Been there in our popup years.
Keep on going, Peter, keep on going!
Aliners are nightmares after you've owned one for a few years you'll understand why. Way too many moving parts that degrade and fall apart due to moving, vibrations, warpage and what seal it's fate was a frame failure. The condensation issue is a real problem with these trailers and they don't do well in cold weather due to poor insulation. Best day I had with my Aliner was when I sold it after repairing the frame failure and getting little money because of that fault.
Really wish you showed how the bench converts to a bed and dimension seems pertinent to showcasing the camper
Dimensions can be found on the Aliner website. I rarely cover all the specs, I assume that anyone looking seriously at this will click over to other relevant information. I try to cover things that the spec sheet doesn't show. As far as putting the couch down, it takes about 10 seconds. It's not at all difficult.
The best part of the Aliner is the club you can join the people are wonderful the rally’s are fun . We don’t have an Aliner anymore but still belong to the AOC. Aliner Owner Club.
Off topic. But I am digging the full court driveway.
Haha! It is pretty nice.
The A Liner is to me the best way to go instead of a teardrop, but to say the dry weight is on par with a teardrop is a bit misleading. A traditional teardrop is a lot closer to 1200 lbs or lighter. Of course there are tons of variations that compare themselves to a teardrop that are well over 1200 lbs. But back to the topic regardless of how much difference in weight there is I still feel the A Liner is the top choice for a small 2 adult camp trailer. Thanks for providing great content !!
I guess it depends on if you want to talk about what you calk, "a traditional teardrop". There are many teardrop shaped trailers within this weight class. I'm going to review VA "square drop" trailer today that is within this weight class.
Surely there’s a better place for that fire extinguisher. Easy to run into right as you step into the camper.
Easy to reach as you can cook inside or outside. I've never stubbed my toes on it, but I'm glad it's easily within reach if I have a cooking accident inside or out. Remember the stove can be set up just outside the door, on the outside of the camper.
My wife's co-worker bought one of these from estate sale for $1000. I told her to tell him he was really lucky with that price.
Smart popups, but I heard that they often have a problem with water leaking inside.
I don't know if it's from lack of maintenance or the build.
I don't think that's an issue with modern Aliners. Ours has been through significant rain without any issues.
@@PeterLoweOne good to know
I have a small Trillium fiberglass trailer that I tow with a Wrangler JKU but I'm considering going to a 4xe.
The 4XE is exceptionally efficient over short trips as it can run on full electric. It loses the efficiency over long trips, but it's amazing for towing a lightweight trailer as it has 375 HP and 470 ft-lbs of torque and most of that torque is low in the revs. No hunting for gears when towing, no slowing for hills etc, I enjoyed towing with it.
Did you look in to trail manor as well when researching trailers? Seems like it would have fit perfectly for you.
thank you for the tour. I'm deciding between a scamp or escape. those reviews would be great.
I have a 6' x 10' gardening style trailer with the fold down ramp at the back, which I have used for hauling ATV's, and Quads, mostly taking them to the sand dunes, and I've been thinking of building an Aliner style camper box to fit on top of it, but with the change from regular Aliner trailers, that I could still put a quad or two inside of it, when it is in the folded down position. I know it will be a big project, but I have construction and architectural drawing experience, so I'm fairly confident that I can design and complete it successfully. What is the size of your Aliner floor area? Since my "One Off" Aliner style copy will be taller when folded down to accommodate a full size quad inside of it while traveling, I'll probably put dormers on both sides, as both of them will be tall enough to comfortably walk under at my 6'-1" height. I had originally thought that I might be able to purchase an Aliner replacement two piece door, but since my lower section will be about a foot or more higher than an Aliner, that idea won't work.
Yep! Like the old school Alpine, they do it all.
I’d simply place the toilet inside of a privacy style tent next to the camper. As for storage, I hope it fits in the external compartment
Love the dog!!
curious as to how heavy the tops are to put up as we are older campers trying to downsize and lie th a liners but wonder as to strength needed to pop up the tops and sides, please
I'm a minimalist but love the design with the low profile when towing, is there a hard sided pop up trailer with out the sink or fridge? Or any industrally made minimalist trailers
I love these chalet designs. I own a Rockwood A122-S and it's absolutely perfect for my needs. There are few downsides to the fact it folds down during transport and plenty of plusses. You get incredible fuel savings without the wind resistance of traditional travel trailers, they're lightweight and can be towed with almost any vehicle, you can see over it for traffic behind you when going down the road, etc. Oh... not to mention you can store this in most garages.
The only real downside is that you can't just "pull over" on a trip and immediately use it to sleep or for a meal, like if you stop in a parking lot or rest area, without having to first open it up. And if you need to leave in a hurry, you can't because you first have to close it up. Weather can interfere with this, too. If there's high winds or heavy rain, you have to wait for calmer weather to open or close it. If it has snowed and there's ice build up you have to remove it or wait for it to melt. Though, honestly, I haven't ever been in such a hurry that any of that has ever been a problem. However, the potential is certainly there.
But I also love the A-frame design BECAUSE of weather - it sheds rain and snow like nobody's business. I use it all winter and snow loads are NOT a problem, and even after a heavy snow it only takes a few minutes to brush it off. And I live in big snow country, where we can get 400 inches of snowfall over the winter. It was a real chore with my last traditional travel trailer to keep the snow from damaging the roof in winter conditions. I'm also amazed at how well they withstand strong winds, I was in a storm with 70mph gusts and barely noticed the wind inside. I do use a strong shower curtain rod as a cross-beam between the two walls, however, both for better stability and to hang things from during use.
The nicest thing, though, about these models is how spacious they feel inside!! With the open floorplan and high ceiling you don't feel anywhere near as cramped as you do in travel trailers even though the footprint of these models is smaller. However, that's considering that there's just 2 people "living" in it. With very little aisle space, you'll quickly get annoyed at trying to get around people. Sometimes even with just another person. But I camp alone, so I get to enjoy the spacious feeling in a smaller trailer.
One last thing - with the smaller cubic foot interior, both air conditioners and heaters bring the temperature to a comfort level VERY quickly and efficiently. So you spend less on electricity and propane to stay comfortable. And they're insulated surprisingly well, better than most travel trailers due to the wall construction. They have foam core insulation and virtually no thermal bridges in the walls/ceiling. The only 2 things you have to deal with are drafts where the gaps are where the panels meet and condensation in cold weather on the aluminum skin ceiling and metal framing. Both are easy to counter, however. I use "pipe noodles" (pipe insulation) to fill the gaps in the winter and also run a small dehumidifier. I end up with no problems with drafts and very few issue with condensation.
My argument to the downside that you mention, is that an Aliner can literally be set up in 30 seconds, so you could do all those things, but it would take an extra minute or so. 🙂
@@PeterLoweOne Potentially longer depending on how you actually want to use that space (for example, unfolding the table so you can sit at the dinette) but I would agree that it's not a great deal of time. Still, there are situations in which that time matters, or it's not practical (weather) or where you simply don't want to draw attention to the fact you're "hanging out".
If you pull in to a parking lot towing a regular travel trailer, no one looks twice. You can spend most of the day hanging out in the trailer and nobody would notice. If you pull in and start popping up the chalet, everyone notices you and realizes you're using the camper in the parking lot. I once had to pull over in a restaurant parking lot and open up my A122-S because I had forgotten to close the roof vent and it was flapping in the wind. While I was checking to make sure it wasn't damaged, an employee came out and told me "you can't set that up here". I only had it open for maybe 2-3 minutes. Had I just pulled up towing a normal travel trailer, no one would have come out.
My only issues in the model I have is the ac struggles in the hot summer heat. I have to put a osculating fan on the counter top in front of it to circulate the air.
Get some black nail polish and paint the LED switch to hid it better while you sleep. That way you can paint the part that is in your eyes and have it show on the ceiling, so it is easy to find in the dark.
That's a great idea!
Great video. I am going to an aliner dealer this week to see various models. I hope you do a video on that model toilet. Thanks for all the info. !
I'm always on the lookout to find more small trailers. I've got several other brands lined up in the near future. I hope to get more Aliners too!
An excellent review of the Aliner. The Aliner is one of many camper designs I like. It's like you do this professionally; your review was better than most of the other reviews I've seen. I think because you have actually camped in them istead of just talking about them. Anyways, I was impressed with you skill. It would be great to see you review very lightweight truck campers such as my favorite, Hiatus which is based out of Bellingham WA.or the smaller Moonlander. One camper I think that falls into a small bumper pull camper is the Alto, a Canadian company has a great small camper that has a huge glass window that extends up adding height and space. You may have heard of these but seeing you review them would be great. Anyway, I enjoyed you review. Thank you!
I've heard of all of those. The Alto is definitely one that I'd like to review. They're made in Quebec, a neighbouring province to where I live. Thanks for your kind words. Feel free to subscribe, I'll be reviewing a lot more of these small trailers soon!
Also, as a fellow Canadian… have you had a hard time finding places to work on it for warranty? I am leery of buying certain makes up here because dealerships aren’t familiar with them and don’t know how to work on them or get parts.
I have been eyeballing small campers for some time now. I first got excited about the possibility of the teardrops and keep going back to a teardrop. But then I think about the extra canopy and/or screen tent I'd need. But I really like the concept of the ALiners or a Scamp style trailer as well. Now that I have a proper vehicle that can tow I can do 3500lbs (Outback Limited XT) I am excited at all the options. I would like to stay well under my minimum towing capacity, as I have zero desire to have a bathroom or extensive kitchen-that shouldn't be a problem. I also want to be able to store it in my standard 2 car garage. I am curious at how the prices will level out as the inventory seems to be leveling out as the demand goes down post 2020 and people decide to unload their spontaneous purchases lol. I also appreciate your assessment of just basic small campers vs the RV take on camping, back to basics + (I AM over sleeping on the ground lol). I live in the PNW so definitely don't lack gorgeous simple camping spots. The thought of going camping and being shoe horned into a spot next to noisy neighbors is a sobering thought for sure. Great review. Especially the aspect of the dormers my hub is 6'3". lol Which is another reason the teardrops easily drop out of contention as much I love the concept of them. lol
I love teardrops, but the Aliner does offer some distinct advantages for sure. Thanks for watching and commenting!
I'm rolling with my 2014 Outback (2700lbs towing capacity) and I barely know my A-liner (nearly identical to this one) trailer is there. One thing you will have to add is a break controller to your Outback as A-liners come standard with powered disk breaks. I went with the Tekonsha P3 which as I understand it, was overkill and you could get something much more cost effective.
@@chrisbudinick2691 Great point about the brake controller. I went with the Curt Echo Wireless brake controller. It works great for me.
I love my1987 motorcycle camper! Sleeps 4, plenty of headroom and relatively quick to set up, and it only cost me used $750! Queen sized bed. Cannot feel it when pulling with my SUV.
There’s no bathroom there’s no shower some RV Parks won’t even let you park it there because it’s called not self-contained so be aware of that
If you buy an off road camper trailer you are someone that avoids RV parks like the plague. This is for people who enjoy bush camping and the great outdoors
I believe Harvest Hosts are allowing minivans and other campervans as long as you have drainage for grey water/black water charges.
I go to state parks
If you want to be an RV or then buy an RV this is a camper so you can get out there in the wilderness and enjoy it
If you want to be an RV or then buy an RV this is a camper so you can get out there in the wilderness and enjoy it
Very nice did like your philosophy about camping and not RV,en. Let’s see a demo of a outdoor shower tent please keep swimsuit on😮
Hahaha!
Hi Peter, thanks for the video.
How does the construction / durability are these ALiner's vs Bushwhackers?
You didn’t talk about the four jacks. Are they permanently mounted. How hard is it to balance out. Can one person do that easily. I’ve been looking for small travel trailer that’s easy for one person to set up. This looks good.
The jacks are permanently mounted and super simple to work.
I've had my ALiner Ranger 12 since 2013, towing it behind a Toyota FJC. Both have taken care of me in the Smokies, the Colorado Rockies and the Wyoming Winds on many summer trips from the southeast. Like other reviews though, it could be beefed up in the frame and some of the interior refinements. I found the factory spare tire mount to be parrticularly weak. Fixed that with a much more beefed up spare tire carrier that's better suited for backcountry forest service roads. But overall, the ALiner has kept me warm and dry when it counted.
I would want more ground clearance. It would also be good to have bigger wheels. The road I would take it on to take it to a camping spot is unpaved and has some uneven spots. I don't mind the idea of slowing down for it but I don't want the wheels dropping in the holes.
Hmm you really need to see some of the European style lightweight caravans, trailers, we have a 4 berth fixed bed with internal full size toilet, hand basin and shower cube, fridge, hob and oven, 4 place table and microwave, can run on electric hook up or off grid with solar if sensible
Europe has been way ahead of North America in the small trailer segment for a long time. I'd love to see some of those make their way here.
I knew right away why that blue masking tape was there :D I've been struggling with my unwanted night illumination :p
Haha. Those who know, know! 😉
Hello. My wife and I are considering purchasing an Aliner. We have watched and read many reviews. The majority of reviews are extremely positive. There is a bunch of Reviews, however, of many people having problems with their Aliners and having a very difficult time getting satisfactory customer support. Just reaching out to you to see your experience? We greatly appreciate your help!
The sink should be on the same level as the fridge top for more counter space
How do you use the electric ? Do you have to plug it into a set up ? At a camp site ?
Ok, first of all it is obvious to me, that beautiful puppy is trying to tell you he is ready to go camping!
Second, I love these trailers, I am currently looking at square drops, tear drops and A-frames. My question to you is......Soooooooooooooo many A frame videos say they leak like crazy, especially through the bubble window. Can you tell me your experience regarding that issue?
Thanks! great video!
Never ever had a single drop of water leak from anywhere on this trailer. 🤷♂️ I'd tell you if I had any issy, but it's been flawless. I do strongly believe that a MODERN Aliner is significantly better built than the older ones, and definitely higher quality than other brands with the same A-frame style. However these are likely more expensive for that reason.
Thanks for the thorough review of the Aliner. It is one of a very short list of small, lightweight trailers. Could you review the CAMP365 M Model?
I'm currently looking for models to review in the future. That's definitely one I'd like to review! Thanks for watching. Feel free to subscribe!
I totally understand the blue masking tape😂
Have you had issues with leaks? I am worried about anything not composite, aluminum or fibreglass based as I need to store it outside
I hope people understand how camping has come full circle? I literally did camping like this with my mother and sister back in 1974 or so.
I predict that we'll see a shift from the current huge RV's to smaller lighter units. The real difference will be that the majority of the RV market will not make the switch from small to large, so the entire RV industry and those surrounding the industry will need to enter a new phase where they're acquiring customers that they haven't had in the past. Huge opportunity for the prepared business, but huge disruption for the unprepared one! I'm focusing a piece of my career on this.
What model is this one? I love it
This is the Classic.
When towing the trailer with the Tesla how do you get around not having a 7 pin connector to connect the power from car to trailer for the trailers ebrakes. I currently have a Subaru Forester that can pull 3,000 pounds but it only has a 4 pin connector not 7, trying to come up with a solution.
I haven't towed this with the Tesla yet. But the Tesla comes with 7 pin wiring as an option. My car has that. I also use the Curt Wireless Trailer Brake controller on all the vehicles that I've towed this trailer with. It works flawlessly for me.
Hey I know you, you do the KIA review videos. The Aliner review is good, I've been thinking of getting one.
Hahaha! Yup. I used to work there. I’ve been gone for a couple of years to give myself a variety of other options on and off camera, and to be able to spend more time with my family.
فكره عبقريه و اكيد فيها توفير مادي فسعرها و محافظه على البيت فحال لو ما استعمل لفتره طويله .