Great walk through. The one hold back for us on the InTech is the 12volt only fridge. We exclusively boondock, so I'm doing some math on whether the optional off-grid setup (300w solar + 200AH lithium) is sufficient to run the fridge for an extensive period in good weather. thanks again for the video.
I don't think the Intech package is worth the spend. You can design a way better system for 1/2 the price. I think the Intech package is about 7K and gets you a 2KW inverter, 200ah lithium battery and 300W of solar as I recall. I could be wrong on the exact size but it's around that size. I did my own battery upgrade and portable solar for 2500 and I have 600ah of batteries and 400w of solar. I'm going to add an inverter, just not sure when and what size. To give you a sense of how long that will last, I use about 60ah overnight and through most of the day running fridge, lights, propane heater/fan, vent fans and stereo. If I didn't charge at all, I could easily go 10 days off grid. Now, that is without an inverter so I can't use AC outlets. I pulled the microwave so we are turning that into a pantry cabinet as we don't really need the microwave. When I charge using the solar panel, on a sunny day, I can top off that 60ah draw by about noon. I do carry a small generator (honda 2200w) for times when it's cloudy or I need a little extra juice. The genny can top off the batteries in about 30-45 mins. The 12V fridge has very, very minimal power draw, I was quite surprised at just how little the fridge actually draws. The batteries I got were not quite top of the line but really good (Epoch brand) and have bluetooth and BMS built in. When I have nothing but the fridge running, it pulls a couple amps at most. So, overall, I like the trailer and the 12V only fridge isn't a problem if you upgrade the battery from the 100ah agm they put in. 600ah is probably overkill but 300-400ah would be good for long weekends and with recharging, you can go a week easily.
Thanks. Had it out 6 times so far and overall, things are going well. Couple of minor issues and figuring out how to make it best fit our needs but overall, this is a great trailer. I take it you remember this one because we opted out of the graphics?
For solar, I'm doing my own upgrade on batteries and solar. Will be posting those when I get them done. For internet, I'm currently using my phone as a hot spot. It's been working at most campgrounds so far. But I may look at Starlink for summer. It looks like something you can turn on/off as needed.
Thank you for the tour and your initial impressions. My husband and I are looking at purchasing a Sol Dusk. I was hoping for 2 stairs, but the folding tuck under the trailer stairs. We boon-dock and move almost every day when we travel. Those steps look like they bring the rain/snow/dirt in the camper. I saw some photos of Dusks with the fold up stairs. Did you buy those as an option, or is that how your Dusk came?
The steps are part of the new additions in 2024. While I think they could bring in dirt, we put the carpet on there and it doesn't seem to be much of a problem. I would think without the carpet, it would be even less of a problem. We do keep a broom with us to brush off the steps if they start collecting dirt. We use the roll out canopy and an entry indoor/outdoor carpet and that does a really good job keeping dirt and rain down significantly. I'm not sure I would camp in the winter with the trailer as the insulation is not much. It is a 3 season camper so I suspect winter would be cold or use a lot of propane for the furnace. I boondock a lot as well, the factory battery is Lead Acid and only 75ah...it didn't last long. I upgraded it myself to a LiFePo4 battery and will be posting that to my YT channel soon. It made a WORLD of difference when boondocking. I can run for days with the new battery setup.
@RoughRidersTV Thanks for your response! We usually camp in spring and fall. Occasionally, we get into snow, but not for long. Thanks for the tip on insulation! I will definitely be watching on your battery upgrade. 👍
@@Dana-.- So we've only camped 3 times so far so we are still learning the ins/outs of it. With that said, it has rained on us on all 3 trips and we did not have any problem with water getting inside the trailer. The combination of the canopy and the indoor/outdoor carpet kept the trailer clean and dry. I don't know about how it would work with snow given that I probably would not want the canopy out in any snowfall or at least not in any significant snow fall as I would be concerned about the weight of the snow on the canopy. For rain, I just shorten one of the legs so the rain will flow off the canopy in that direction. But I think even with the previous type steps, you would have the same problem of tracking snow, dirt into the trailer as you go in/out. The only time you fold those steps up is when you are leaving so a good sweeping should take care of that without issue.
Thank you for the very informative video. How do you like the Anderson weight distribution hitch? Are there any modifications during install due to the aluminum frame of the trailer?
It seems to be working pretty well. Taking a little bit to dial it in as it's hard to determine how much to tighten the nuts that distribute the weight. I did not "modify" the trailer per se, but I did get some aluminum spacers to raise the tongue rack up 3/4" so I could fit the top bolt of the WDH bracket. I also put down some electrical tape around the trailer frame where the bracket sits. The bracket is steel and the trailer is aluminum, you can get a reaction when steel touches aluminum that can lead to corrosion over time. Hence, putting something between them keeps them from coming in direct contact with each other.
What did you do with your Camp Inn? Is there a place to buy a used Camp Inn? I can't tow a lot, and your older Camp Inn videos have me interested. Congrats on your new trailer!
My thought on the combo tank is that they are holding tanks, not a septic system. Looking for updates after your first trip. Also curious, do you have solar on this trailer? Plans for solar? Would be nice to be able to charge your batteries while you sit there like the basecamps. Also... Curious on your AC experience. I'm in Texas and learned my lesson on a poorly insulated RV. Did you have the chance to kick it on? I'm concerned with 115* in direct sunlight and not being able to cool my next rv
So we have had it out 6 times so far and it is going well. I've already updated the batteries to 2 x 300ah LiFePo 4 batteries. I've not yet added an inverter/charger so no ac outlets when boondocking. I also added a solar controller and 400W of portable panels to help top off the batteries. I haven't decided on putting any on the roof yet. The problem with roof panels is to get the most, you need a clear view, yet to keep it cool, I prefer to be in the shade which defeats the purpose of roof mounted panels. Plan on posting videos of the install when i get a chance. I just got back yesterday from a 4 day trip to Mesa Verde campground where we had full hookups. We did use the A/C but temps were only 90 outside during the day. A/C worked great for that. I can't say how it would do in Texas heat but I suspect it would be fine. I have a friend that has the Horizon in Austin and he has not had any complaints about the A/C keeping up. It's a 15K BTU unit and the interior is not huge. It's a comfortable size for 2 but not so big that the A/C should have trouble cooling it. But yes, the insulation is not great so that could be a concern. I do know people that have them in AZ and deal with extreme summer heat and not complained about it either. Hope that helps.
Not yet. I need to measure it. When I left the dealer lot, with a nearly full tank of water, it was 500lbs. I think with my battery upgrade and the tongue box, I am probably close to 600 but won't know for sure until I measure it. I did take it to a cat scale and I have 3600 lbs on the trailer axle, 3100 on the drive axle of my truck and 2900 on my front axle of my truck.
Agreed. We also roll out the metal sink cover as more counter space and it helps. We've now had it out 3 times and learning more and more about how to use the space. We are also learning limitations of the trailer that we need to account for while camping. I've completed the battery upgrade and the solar controller and it was a huge addition to the trailer capability. I never have to worry about how much power I use over night now.
More MDF junk. The cabinets will fall apart before long. Personally, I’ll take played over anything else. I can fix or adjust imperfections, but won’t deal with all the cabinets falling apart anymore. I look for a key things these days and plywood is a top the list.
I misspoke, the cabinets are OSB, not MDF, though I still wish they were plywood. I think should we have issues with them, we will end up making our own cabinets as my wife and I have a full woodshop in our garage. However, I still this is a significantly better trailer than most of other trailers on the market. It is very well built and solid.
Very informative! Thanks for your candor and thorough tour.
Thanks for watching. More videos coming soon on the dusk as I do upgrades.
Great walk through. The one hold back for us on the InTech is the 12volt only fridge. We exclusively boondock, so I'm doing some math on whether the optional off-grid setup (300w solar + 200AH lithium) is sufficient to run the fridge for an extensive period in good weather. thanks again for the video.
I don't think the Intech package is worth the spend. You can design a way better system for 1/2 the price. I think the Intech package is about 7K and gets you a 2KW inverter, 200ah lithium battery and 300W of solar as I recall. I could be wrong on the exact size but it's around that size. I did my own battery upgrade and portable solar for 2500 and I have 600ah of batteries and 400w of solar. I'm going to add an inverter, just not sure when and what size. To give you a sense of how long that will last, I use about 60ah overnight and through most of the day running fridge, lights, propane heater/fan, vent fans and stereo. If I didn't charge at all, I could easily go 10 days off grid. Now, that is without an inverter so I can't use AC outlets. I pulled the microwave so we are turning that into a pantry cabinet as we don't really need the microwave. When I charge using the solar panel, on a sunny day, I can top off that 60ah draw by about noon. I do carry a small generator (honda 2200w) for times when it's cloudy or I need a little extra juice. The genny can top off the batteries in about 30-45 mins. The 12V fridge has very, very minimal power draw, I was quite surprised at just how little the fridge actually draws. The batteries I got were not quite top of the line but really good (Epoch brand) and have bluetooth and BMS built in. When I have nothing but the fridge running, it pulls a couple amps at most. So, overall, I like the trailer and the 12V only fridge isn't a problem if you upgrade the battery from the 100ah agm they put in. 600ah is probably overkill but 300-400ah would be good for long weekends and with recharging, you can go a week easily.
I like how you opted out on the decals. Looks clean. These have been in my top three for three years now. Commitment issues.
Thanks. We plan on doing our own graphics but just haven't gotten around to it yet.
Great video...my husband and i purchased the same one 6 months ago...we love it
We miss our teardrop but love the Dusk for sure. Thanks for watching.
We have the same set up.. I already switched to a 230AH lifepo4 battery. We will be heading out maiden voyage next week...
Nice. We've only been out 3 times but enjoying it so far.
I built your unit glad you like it
Thanks. Had it out 6 times so far and overall, things are going well. Couple of minor issues and figuring out how to make it best fit our needs but overall, this is a great trailer. I take it you remember this one because we opted out of the graphics?
@RoughRidersTV yep I put the walls on do the graphics and plug the unit and put the windows in so your unit saved me so time
I also own a sol horizon we use it alot
Best of all of them! Great buy! Did you look at solar and internet?
For solar, I'm doing my own upgrade on batteries and solar. Will be posting those when I get them done. For internet, I'm currently using my phone as a hot spot. It's been working at most campgrounds so far. But I may look at Starlink for summer. It looks like something you can turn on/off as needed.
Thank you for the tour and your initial impressions. My husband and I are looking at purchasing a Sol Dusk. I was hoping for 2 stairs, but the folding tuck under the trailer stairs. We boon-dock and move almost every day when we travel. Those steps look like they bring the rain/snow/dirt in the camper. I saw some photos of Dusks with the fold up stairs. Did you buy those as an option, or is that how your Dusk came?
The steps are part of the new additions in 2024. While I think they could bring in dirt, we put the carpet on there and it doesn't seem to be much of a problem. I would think without the carpet, it would be even less of a problem. We do keep a broom with us to brush off the steps if they start collecting dirt. We use the roll out canopy and an entry indoor/outdoor carpet and that does a really good job keeping dirt and rain down significantly. I'm not sure I would camp in the winter with the trailer as the insulation is not much. It is a 3 season camper so I suspect winter would be cold or use a lot of propane for the furnace. I boondock a lot as well, the factory battery is Lead Acid and only 75ah...it didn't last long. I upgraded it myself to a LiFePo4 battery and will be posting that to my YT channel soon. It made a WORLD of difference when boondocking. I can run for days with the new battery setup.
@RoughRidersTV Thanks for your response! We usually camp in spring and fall. Occasionally, we get into snow, but not for long. Thanks for the tip on insulation! I will definitely be watching on your battery upgrade. 👍
@@Dana-.- So we've only camped 3 times so far so we are still learning the ins/outs of it. With that said, it has rained on us on all 3 trips and we did not have any problem with water getting inside the trailer. The combination of the canopy and the indoor/outdoor carpet kept the trailer clean and dry. I don't know about how it would work with snow given that I probably would not want the canopy out in any snowfall or at least not in any significant snow fall as I would be concerned about the weight of the snow on the canopy. For rain, I just shorten one of the legs so the rain will flow off the canopy in that direction. But I think even with the previous type steps, you would have the same problem of tracking snow, dirt into the trailer as you go in/out. The only time you fold those steps up is when you are leaving so a good sweeping should take care of that without issue.
Thank you for the very informative video. How do you like the Anderson weight distribution hitch? Are there any modifications during install due to the aluminum frame of the trailer?
It seems to be working pretty well. Taking a little bit to dial it in as it's hard to determine how much to tighten the nuts that distribute the weight. I did not "modify" the trailer per se, but I did get some aluminum spacers to raise the tongue rack up 3/4" so I could fit the top bolt of the WDH bracket. I also put down some electrical tape around the trailer frame where the bracket sits. The bracket is steel and the trailer is aluminum, you can get a reaction when steel touches aluminum that can lead to corrosion over time. Hence, putting something between them keeps them from coming in direct contact with each other.
What did you do with your Camp Inn? Is there a place to buy a used Camp Inn? I can't tow a lot, and your older Camp Inn videos have me interested. Congrats on your new trailer!
I sold it back in April. Try the unofficial Campinn forums. That is a good group and where I originally found mine and also where I sold mine.
Great vid. Are these considered to be 4 season trailers??
Unfortunately no, they are 3 season trailers. Not much insulation in the walls for any real winter camping.
My thought on the combo tank is that they are holding tanks, not a septic system.
Looking for updates after your first trip. Also curious, do you have solar on this trailer? Plans for solar? Would be nice to be able to charge your batteries while you sit there like the basecamps.
Also... Curious on your AC experience. I'm in Texas and learned my lesson on a poorly insulated RV. Did you have the chance to kick it on? I'm concerned with 115* in direct sunlight and not being able to cool my next rv
So we have had it out 6 times so far and it is going well. I've already updated the batteries to 2 x 300ah LiFePo 4 batteries. I've not yet added an inverter/charger so no ac outlets when boondocking. I also added a solar controller and 400W of portable panels to help top off the batteries. I haven't decided on putting any on the roof yet. The problem with roof panels is to get the most, you need a clear view, yet to keep it cool, I prefer to be in the shade which defeats the purpose of roof mounted panels. Plan on posting videos of the install when i get a chance. I just got back yesterday from a 4 day trip to Mesa Verde campground where we had full hookups. We did use the A/C but temps were only 90 outside during the day. A/C worked great for that. I can't say how it would do in Texas heat but I suspect it would be fine. I have a friend that has the Horizon in Austin and he has not had any complaints about the A/C keeping up. It's a 15K BTU unit and the interior is not huge. It's a comfortable size for 2 but not so big that the A/C should have trouble cooling it. But yes, the insulation is not great so that could be a concern. I do know people that have them in AZ and deal with extreme summer heat and not complained about it either. Hope that helps.
@@RoughRidersTV thank you for the reply!
Do you think a Laveo would work as a replacement for the stock toilet?
I'm not familiar with the Laveo. I do know a friend that has a Dusk installed a composting toiltet in place of the factory. He seems to like it.
@@RoughRidersTV check out the Laveo - no need for venting and it seems like a clean solution although I don’t have any personal experience.
What’s the other brand you mentioned besides airstream? I couldn’t understand what you said.
Legrande. I don't remember the model name but they have one with a similar footprint. I believe MSRP on it was 53K to start.
Can you send me the info for the sales agent at Bretz rv please?
Sure. William Stump 406 241-0598. Tell him you watched the video and that I sent you.
Do you know what your tongue weight is with all your stuff in the trailer?
Not yet. I need to measure it. When I left the dealer lot, with a nearly full tank of water, it was 500lbs. I think with my battery upgrade and the tongue box, I am probably close to 600 but won't know for sure until I measure it. I did take it to a cat scale and I have 3600 lbs on the trailer axle, 3100 on the drive axle of my truck and 2900 on my front axle of my truck.
You can use the table for more counter space. The TV on shore is a poor design. Overall it’s a decent trailer. Airstream is a disappointment.
Agreed. We also roll out the metal sink cover as more counter space and it helps. We've now had it out 3 times and learning more and more about how to use the space. We are also learning limitations of the trailer that we need to account for while camping. I've completed the battery upgrade and the solar controller and it was a huge addition to the trailer capability. I never have to worry about how much power I use over night now.
Sorry but No Hut with exit ventilation over the Stove? Come on!Not for me!
More MDF junk. The cabinets will fall apart before long. Personally, I’ll take played over anything else. I can fix or adjust imperfections, but won’t deal with all the cabinets falling apart anymore. I look for a key things these days and plywood is a top the list.
I misspoke, the cabinets are OSB, not MDF, though I still wish they were plywood. I think should we have issues with them, we will end up making our own cabinets as my wife and I have a full woodshop in our garage. However, I still this is a significantly better trailer than most of other trailers on the market. It is very well built and solid.