I've had 2 Aliners. Both were better than tent campers and no, they don't have the storage of a 32' motorhome. Never had any of these problems other than the "not friendly for awnings" comment. They are light, set up in less than 60 seconds, come down in less than 2 minutes and have most of what you need to camp. The key word there is camp. C.A.M.P. Not this take your whole house with you thing that people do nowadays. I like them and they are well built.
I live in Canada and have had a Rockwood A122 for 3 years now. Never had a draft. Never had a problem. I spent 3 years looking at trailers before I bought one. No regrets.
You know Brett, my wife and I had a Starcraft pop up and it was not very good. So we were looking at a Somerset popup which is the same company that makes the A-liner. Well, we ended up getting a Hybrid Roo BUT the Forest River A frame campers and pop ups are equal to or better than the Somerset or A-liner. I don"t know how good our Roo is because we have yet to use it but it appears from all I have seen and read, Forest Rive rmakes a hell of a product.
We were camping in the Badlands when a group of Native American guys who had been exhibition dancing in the campground commons walked by our Aliner. One of them said "Oh, I see you have your own little metal tipi". That has to be the mindset for someone to be happy with an Aliner. It, and other small campers, are best suited for people who mostly camp outdoors, and sleep inside. While the concerns expressed in this video are accurate, they need to be taken in the context that all trailers have maintenance, towing, storage, and other operational issues, and none are perfect for everyone. We are empty-nesters and have a 2013 Aliner Classic that we bought new. We have put thousands of miles on, and we have found simple workarounds for all these space and maintenance issues. I am 6'2" and sleep like a baby in the Aliner.
2 of us coming from a tent popup after 10 years, the Aliner is perfect for the next chapter of our life. We don't carry much stuffs, and don't spend inside in the middle of the day. Love the ability to stop anywhere to have a quick rest and meal, 15 minute setup.
Thanks for sharing your experiences. I definitely agree with you on most of your points but I do think it's important to put into context the other options out there for people looking at campers. I think the most appropriate comparison for any A frame camper is the popup camper. Both camper types fold down and both usually less than 3,000 lbs fully loaded. My comments below are framed in comparison to my previous Rockwood Premium 2302 popup and my Aliner LXE. Most of my camping is around attending astronomy star parties and some state park camping with my family. Points I agree on: #1 - Not for large families - definitely! Popups are a much better for larger families but they do require much larger set up and tear down time. If my kids (all older than 10 now) come with my wife and I, they get to sleep out in a tent while we enjoy the Aliner. #4 - Very little efficient cabinet space; definitely! Just like most foldable camper options, all your storage is in the non folding part of the camper. #5 - Dinette beds are not great and do require a topper which will also make setting up and packing away more complicated #8 - Scary in bad weather. I agree with you here as well but I think you'll find any small trailer scary and loud in a storm. I've braved wicked summer thunderstorms in the mountains in my previous popup camper as well in my Aliner; I'll take the solid walls of the Aliner any day over any other folding camper. #9 - Not awning friendly. Another yes here as well, but even the popup's awning is pain. I've found using a popup 10'x10' a much easier and better alternative. #10 - Not for tall people - Agreed, prospective buyers need to make sure they fit. #11 - Not electronic friendly - with regards to mounting a TV, definitely, there is no good place to mount one but the same can be said for popup campers; if you want a TV, you'll have to dedicate some counter space for it. As the the USB connections, my Aliner did not come with any but is was very easy to install several, Aliners should come with these as standard equipment. Points I disagree on: #2 - Drafty/gaps - I'm on my 3rd year of using my Aliner and I can safely say I've experiences no gaps in the conners or where the roof pieces join. I also have a front dormer on my and there are no gaps there. #3 - Condensation - Just like in tent camping, you're going to get condensation unless you're circulating air. I will keep the window of the door slightly cracked at night and I never get condensation. #6 - Ventilation - I have to say between 1 window that opens on the road side, 2 windows on the curb side that open, one window in the dormer and the roof vent, I get plenty of ventilation. I've only used the A/C twice when camping. Once in Aug in SC during the eclipse and once in on a Memorial Day river tubing weekend in Virginia (horrible humidity then!). #7 - Seals and Screws - I've had no issues with with any seals or screws. However when not in use, I keep my Aliner in my garage, out of the elements. I did this with my popup as well; it looked almost new when we sold it after 7 years of use. In the end, the best small or foldable camper will be an individual decision that will vary from person to person depending on what you are willing to compromise on or willing to pay extra for.
Part of the difference in opinions might relate to where we live and camp. I'm in South Florida and do most of my camping there. The humidity is a real issue most of the year. In the day, it's keeping cool without air conditioning. The ventilation doesn't cut it except for 60's and low 70's weather. As I said in the video, that's probably true for most or all small RV's. At night, there is probably more of a condensation issue because of the humidity and cooling temperatures. Thanks for the comment and feedback.
What about flies? I can’t stand them. That would be a dealbreaker for me. There are a lot of black flies where I live and they’re smaller than mosquitos.
I had an Aliner for 5 years. I agree with all his comments. I didn’t hate my camper but it did have those flaws. Mostly lack of space inside and uncomfortable bedding. We enjoyed it but we won’t miss it.
All RV/trailers come with very cheap foam in the cushions. Go to your local upholstery shop and buck up to get better foam. Also keep it in a dry, covered stall/garage during winter, this helps out alot. Most just put a tarp on and leave it outside, that's when leaks occur.
Had a 2014 A Liner for 2 years, had to sell when spouse died. We loved it. Easy/quick up and down. Selling point was it was low profile, hard sided and had ac and heater...we only used the heater. Ya, it leaked in driving rain (didn’t park the right direction prior to rain starting) but 4 inches of rain in 4 hours in southern Nebraska is a bitch! We cuddled up and watched the Stanley Cup finals on the laptop. I’m honestly looking at buying a new one for myself as a solitary woman....and I’m comfortable with that because I know I can manage it on my own. I will buy a smaller one than what we had though.
Did you ever replace the gaskets? We’re pulling the trigger on a 2016 LXE and I looked on the aliner site and they have gasket/seal maintenance kits - we’ve been tent camping for 20 years and love it but this will be an option for three season camping!
I was one of 2 adults that owned an Aliner. I loved it. Most wonderful camper We ever owned. I sold it and bought a brand new Lance camper. Biggest mistake I have ever made. Lance used to be a good brand. Well mine is a piece of crap.
@@hayesman76 I'm sorry it's taken me so long to respond. I've been crazy busy. I bought a brand new 2012, 992 model. I was told recently that they won't be making this model any longer. So here it is. Lance put in 1 good fan and 2 low quality shit fans. In the bathroom and the kitchen area. Both fans were dead within a year. The housing around the fans that holds it in the ceiling also just fell out one day. Both fans. I had a water leak in the kitchen area. I took the back camper back to Lance Manufacturing in Lancaster California. The main guy there his name is Mike he's an asshole. They took the camper into the warehouse for an overnight stay. The following morning they come out and they tell me they didn't see any water on the floor and they don't know where it's leaking from. When I looked at the camper I asked them if they had hooked up a water line up to it during the course of the night. Their response was oh no we didn't do that. I told him in order for it or wherever it is to leak it needs pressure on it like from a water line. I stood there and looked at these men one of them being a mechanic for Lance like they were the dumbest fucking things on the face of this Earth. When they hooked it up to a water line imagine my surprise when it leaked. I had a second water leak that one was from the lovely plastic pieces that they use coming out of the water heater. I fixed that mysrlf and put in brass fixtures. They used some shit quality plastic. The TV, when the man came out from the cable company to see what was wrong with everything we had internet and cable television in the camper. The man from the cable company said that they had not used that kind of a system hookup in approximately thirty years he would have to change it around and move some wires and rewire some of it so it would work. So Lance is also using Antiquated equipment. Closet door broke one night while laying in bed I have a closet door on my leg. That was a broken bracket. In the bed area there was a sunroof / moonroof and it had to shade that was Blackout Shade Or a screen both of those broke we couldn't use either one to slide it across the moonroof or sunroof to keep the Sun out. The curtain the one across the bed it was a privacy curtain that was broken. We had electrical problems the box for all the fuses used a little 3 inch box fan in there to keep it cool well that stopped running and we didn't know it. You have no way of knowing if it's running or not because it's covered with a plastic cover so you can't see it. So that burned out the converter. I replaced the converter replaced the little 3 inch box fan. We had a propane leak I had to replace the two hookups to the two tanks on the outside of the camper. On the outside the handle as you're going up in the camper came off in my hand one day I didn't pull it that hard. After approximately two years the graphics on the camper are peeling off they need to be replaced. On the outside where there are screws they have a cover over them that cover piece all needs to be replaced and should have been replaced when it was about a year old. I know there's got to be more things on there can't think of them right now but if you plan on spending your money on a Lance camper be careful. Take it easy.
Kate Dunno First of all, thank you for your VERY ALARMING AND DISTURBING reply! To be honest, I’m shocked and flabbergasted by what you wrote because Lance is supposedly one of the best-built campers in the USA. In fact, it’s my understanding that because California has a Lemon Law that applies to RV’s and travel trailers as much as to cars and trucks, Lance products were built especially well because of that Lemon Law. Thanks again for taking the time to share the litany of broken things in your Lance Trailer. The information about the antiquated cable system especially is unbelievable!
I own an original 1979 A frame caravan. Made in New Zealand by Southern star caravans. I think this company designed the first A frame. It is made from aluminum so very light (450kg). There are no leaks or drafts and New Zealand can get very windy. I agree it is only useful for up to three people. Or two adults and two small children. Our double bed turns into a couch. I love this caravan. After 38 years it still looks like new. They are a great design low wind resistance towing and they are better than a tent. You feel safe because they are locked up with metal sides. Cheers, Brent
I am so fortunate to have come across your review. I'm 63 and when not camping, like to use my rv as my man cave. Yet I don't want bugs, sealer problems, no tech, and Im 6ft and cant stand sleeping sideways! My brain can't accept it! Thank you, thank you.
As stated...it's for those of us who just want a step up from tents and soft sided pop-ups. They are designed to be light and can be used where soft sided shelters are not allowed (parts of Yellowstone). There are canopies for them. That being said they are too expensive new and loose a lot of value, so buy used. We picked up a classic off road capable unit that was in perfect shape for $6000.
I'm from the UK and have been watching Slim's channel for quite a while (probably why this was recommended). It looks like a very 'British' way of camping. Personally, I have a 30ft Class A RV imported from Florida. Love not having to set anything up, can even drive from one campsite to another with the children watching TV, the washing machine going, turkey in the oven and the coffee maker getting a pot ready for me the second I stop. I love the outdoors too, don't really want to revisit the stone age to enjoy it, but that's just us. Obviously, those towing an Aliner will get at lease double the number of miles per gallon, indeed Slim goes from Canada to Mexico a lot quicker than we ever could without winning the lottery. An Aliner can venture a lot further off road, the only Class A I've seen by a lake is on the brochure! We have draughts and less than perfect insulation too (why don't you Americans ever select the double glazing option when buying new), finally despite the many chassis options having a 4X4 variant, RV manufacturers almost never offer that option, at least you can tow an Aliner behind a 4X4 vehicle.
I disagree with most of these comments. It all depends what you are wanting from your travel experience. There are so many configurations of a-liners available, something to suit everyone. I have an Australian model and we fit 3 adults sleeping plus 3 large dogs in the annexe. Such a great camper, I love it. Easy to pop up and tow and my 1999 model has heaps of clever storage and a great layout.
Good for 1 or two, never experienced drafty, condensation yes, we use bucket storage just like a tent, I found bed fine, fans are needed in tents also, never had seal problem, loved our Ranger.
I thought the same thing. But, he later followed up with the bug/mosquito comment and that made sense. Yes, it drafty but those drafts also let bugs in. When you seal that drafts air circulation get poor. Maybe he should have said it has poor air circulation instead of poor ventilation.
A draft, in that when it's cold out, there are all kinds of places for leaks of cold air to come in. When it's really hot out, the little leaks don't do squat to help cool the trailer, which is what you want then.
I love honest videos like this one! In our 2018 LXE though our sofa bed cushions have been comfortable for us. Also that's a bad gap along the top of the A-wall...have you thought about replacing the weather stripping? Aliner has been good about sending us parts like that. Excellent tip on checking all the screws! And that situation with the weatherstripping in the peak needing to be fixed every year...our local dealer wasn't so good but we had good repairs from a RV repair shop that Aliner put us in touch with. You shouldn't need to fix that every year. Regarding the lack of ventilation and the awning points, ours does get hot really quickly and we don't even have a bubble window. I think it may be the dark tinted windows heating in the sun, so we're making some outdoor shades plus an awning ourselves, with a design that doesn't involve pressure on the A-wall seals. But why doesn't Aliner provide something like that? The Pahaque awning requires sandwich between the A-wall and roof seals which we suspect is bad for the camper.
Average Alice gives some good suggestions! Of course I am prejudiced as I follow her channel for lots of good tips along with Slim’s for lots of good enhancements
Slim Potatoehead uses pipe warmer foam things on his roof where it comes together to seal out cold. He also talks about the metal parts sweating in cold weather. Thanks for all of the "heads up". I love the look but I'm not a handy pers5with tools.
Good info...things I hadn't thought of and I can definitely see as possible and have had a couple different types of campers. Thank you for your honest and forthright comments.
Thanks for posting this. Most of these items I would not have thought of on my own. Where I'm coming from, is that I am almost 67, and I'm getting too old and worn out to really enjoy tent camping anymore. But I don't have a big enough yard to store a full-size travel trailer, something 24 to 28 feet long, but even if I did have room to store a larger trailer, my tow vehicle can only handle 2,500 pounds. Another problem with tents, is that I like to camp in the Mojave Desert in the winter months: Death Valley in particular, and there can be huge windstorms out there, with gusts to 50 mph, that might last up to 48 hours. The A-liner Scout is light enough to tow with my vehicle, but the fact that all the storage cabinets are down at floor level is a serious problem, too.
Nice and honest video. I just purchased a 2007 classic for a low price, and knew there was some water damage. As it turns out it wasn't "some". About 1/3 floor down the door side it, I have a seal kit as all seals are bad / old. Both skylights leak, 1 is broken. I am considering fabricating one as a raised aluminum framed flat panel skylight that opens and is screened with 1/4" Lexan sheet for a better build and $140 and can be repaired at any hardware store vs the 1/16 polycarbonate 60 inch bubble (which costs 750 bucks less the sealant and modification required and is only glued to the roof and takes 3-4 months to get) . All roofing interior has water damage. The trailer welding is terrible and only has spot / stitch fillet spot welds on 1 side, filled with uneven legs , uncut, cold lap , lack of penetration, and no spatter cleanup and the there aren't enough supports for the flooring from an engineering aspect. I am now considering buying and transferring the camper onto a more solid trailer or at the very least upgrading the axle to 3500 lb from the 1200, and having leaf springs. As for the cabinets, they are 1"x2" pine framing, where most is split and loose sections are missing, none are visible so it wasn't fixed during manufacturing, so it shows shoddy, uncaring craftsmanship that is rushed , and no screws are straight for strongest penetration. The cabinets are flimsy 1/8" boards. What surprised me the most is the floor - OSB 1/2 with a coating only on underside. The topside had some crappy linoleum on it. They could make these trailers a lot better with little cost and better workmanship. I will rebuild the floor new 3/4 marine grade plywood with 4 coats of West Marine Epoxy all sides and Delrin sheeting facing for road side (30 bucks each at any hardware store) epoxied bonded to the subfloor (1/4" thicker - more resistant, actually will be waterproof , stronger and lighter than the 1/2" OSB board) then application of a waterproofing liner to underside of trailer, along with premium interlocking waterproof tiles for the floor topside. The wiring is the worst - this is a shock and fire hazard as stock and didn't accommodate for leaks. In short - it is an amateurish rat nest that isn't remotely compliant with NEC or any code, not even common sense. I looked at brand new campers as well - everything is basically the same regarding construction. It looks nice, but is poor and hurried construction to optimize profits. If you buy one - expect a lot maintenance issues, unless you rebuild it yourself when it starts to have problems in a few years. These are a decent design, but someone stating they are "Well Built" is obviously someone who doesn't know materials engineering, mechanical engineering, welding inspection from an AWS CWI standpoint, metallurgy and coatings from a NACE level 3 standpoint as well as Electrician to minimum Licensed Journeyman. All of these, I happen to use in my assessment, as well as possessing the credentials. The Aliners are a good design concept, and with quite a few correctional modifications / replacement of the substandard materials and workmanship, you can have a sturdy, lightweight camper that will be trouble free for several decades that sets up in minutes. My cost for the trailer was 3200 dollars - in total with all the modifications, I will be about 6000 dollars total and about 2 weeks of work and have a rugged, waterproof hard sided popup for the beach, mountains or wherever versus the 25000 for new and crappy workmanship.
1) I dont want to share my space with more than one person. 2) Drafty? Never noticed. 3) Condensation? Not yet. 4) Shelving...I dont live in mine so dont need much storage space. 5) Dinette bed not comfy- good! No long term guests! 6) Ventilation not great. That is what the fan is for. 7) Seals and screws. No issues with seals. Keep lockette in camper for screws that come loose. 8) Scarey in bad weather. Better than a tent but need to be in a car if lightning. 9) Not awning friendly. You got me there. There is one made for A frame campers. Other than that, they are homemade. 10) Not good for tall people. Well, my brother is 6'2" and slept on the converted dinette and did fine. 11) Not electronic friendly. You can easily add a usb outlet. It would take a little more if you want cable tv, but HEY, YOUR CAMPING!
Thanks for the video. Very helpful. The draftiness, not easy to heat or cool and bugs makes an expensive trailer less worth it. Might as well go with a tent.
Thank you for posting this video. I am 6 feet 3inches tall. I was thanking about buying one July 16,2024 for $2,000 grand. I was gonna trade my '91 Mazda mx-5 car for it. I think i changed my mind. I was going to fix it up over the years. This one needs work. Has no ac, has nothing inside. Maybe it's not worth 2,000. They cost new over 20,000.
WOW! Update. I end up trading even for a 1998 Aliner. So far i love this tiny house. These problems with it. I am fixing them all now. It will be a project.
Thanks so much for a great video. Really like how you punctuated each negative with how “you won’t like it.” Spoke to me. Was seriously close to buying one, but realized I liked the “idea” of an Aliner, not the reality of an Aliner. Thanks again, as even the largest A-frame from any manufacturer would be too small for our family. To quote the film Galaxy Quest, “Commander, you have saved us!”
The seals are the big thing that worries me about these types of trailers (not just ALiners but other similar "hard shell" pop-up type trailers). I'm at the point where I think I might be better off in the long run just getting a smaller non-popup trailer (like an R-Pod) and have less to worry about in terms of seals. My other concern with these (although I've never seen it happen) would be having it collapse in the wind, whereas with a regular travel trailer, you wouldn't really have that concern because it's a rigid structure.
Here in Australia same as you guys in the US we have the airliner, cruiser & cruiseliner... I have the cruiseliner & frankly I love it! in some respects I agree with you it is really a couples camper... I think the moral of the story is do your research and fine what works for you... R 🇦🇺.
I never had any of the problems that you speak of. I even attached a showerset up the back of the camper. No awning was not a problem I used an easy up.
draft? pipe covers Vs paper towels, condensation may happen on every trailer.propane heaters create it!!, may be we need to compare the quality with a Rockwood if seals and screws get undone in a cheap way. thanks for sharing, this would help me decide at least to find the best quality of A-frame pop up
a) in case you are riding out bad weather b) hunting season is also football season so you might want to catch an afternoon game after coming back from the tree stand.
THANK you for the downside and I'm excited to see the upside you've done. I've had tents, motor homes, regular trailers and fifths wheel trailers, tent trailers. Knowing the drawbacks ahead of time better prepared me for my purchase. These are exactly whay I've been waiting for. P.S....a lady on a video I previously watched said parking hers INTO the wind helps cut the drafts tremendously.
Family Size. We have the Dinette/bed in the aft section and the bunk bed in the front section. I’m not sure they offer this anymore as far as a floor plan. I have a 2006 Aliner DL. The most we ever had were 2 adults, 10 year old boy, and a big dog. The boy took the top bunk and the dog used the bottom like a kennel. Latter on after we got a conversion van, 2 kids would sleep in the van. Plus the dog, the boy, and mom & dad in the dinette bed. The Coleman Pop Ups have canvas and due to their fiberglass construction they typically weigh over 4,000 pounds! An empty Aliner comes in at around 1,000 pounds. The Aliner uses an Aluminum outer skin with a styrofoam core, and a luanne plywood interior that is then covered with a vinyl “wall paper”. That is why it is durable and lightweight. Except for the exterior corners, there is no heavy fiberglass/PVC like materials used in Aliner. Any camper like the Aliner or Coleman will have hinges, flanges, weather stripping, foam, rubber seals. If your Aliner or any camper is stored year round outdoors, the sun’s ultraviolet rays will cause significant damage to the camper, especially any materials that contain rubber or seals. You can expect insects to come at you when camping. If a site is especially bug infested, I will use an outside fogging insect area repellent. Prior to setting up, while we go for groceries or firewood etc. also using citronella candles and some other insect control solutions outside the camper is important. Condensation is an issue. You must use the Fantastic Fan! We regularly use a large sized recycled bathroom towel to wipe down the inside of the camper. We use the same towel laid out flat between the triangular sidewalls of the camper while the camper is stored and whenever we are towing. This is so we can protect the windows. You must wipe down the interior aluminum components on a regular basis. Storage Space. We use Rubbermaid style containers of all sizes to store nearly everything in the Aliner. These containers each have a letter & numbering system. This corresponds to a “load plan” and laminated alphabetized cross referenced card/sheet system so I know where everything is stored in the camper. These containers can be stowed on the beds, in the aisle, under the beds, in the rear storage areas. Most are removed and placed in the tow vehicle or on the picnic table and under a canopy when the camper is being used, or the tow vehicle is also used for sleeping. This takes a significant effort and the experience of many trips to fine tune what is really necessary in your Aliner. But once you have this information organized, it is so simple to update your supplies and have visibility of your inventory. Another popular hack is to use a spring loaded shower curtain type rod that can be erected inside the Aliner between the 2 triangular walls and then hang cloth shoe organizer bins from one or both walls for additional storage space for small items like flashlights, walkie talkie, bug spray, eyeglasses, keys, phone chargers etc. this keeps the counter space uncluttered. I would strongly recommend that whatever camper you have that you carefully examine the construction of the cabinets and other structures and you further reinforce the interiors with epoxy and screws to help with the integrity of the camper strength. You can also use lock tite brand adhesive to secure screws and bolts in place. In amy camper things can shake lose! We never store any water or food in the Aliner. We always use a separate Rubbermaid bin for food. I have a corresponding laminated sheet for shopping check lists. This significantly cuts down on wasted time. Making meals ahead of time, and then stowing them in a cooler to be reheated using the Aliner microwave oven is a big time saver. We also like using other cooking tools like an electric pressure cooker, NuWave oven, or cast iron Dutch Oven. These are techniques we have developed over many trips that help us maximize our space and stay organized and super efficient. Many Aliner owners will modify their floor plan to suit their needs. I am over 6 feet tall. I have to sleep at a diagonal. I would definitely switch the bed by 90 degrees to accommodate a Queen size mattress if I were living in the Aliner full time. For me, the crucial feature of the Aliner was tow weight. Already covered Ventilation under item 3 & Condensation. Even if you have an AC unit, using a supplemental small desk fan, will significantly improve your comfort. I would also recommend a timer to use with the Fantastic Fan & the desk fan. Already covered seals under number 2. Anytime you have ANY camper, connections and screws will come loose. You must before preventative checks and services EVERY time on every vehicle. Reinforcing the vehicle with epoxy and Loc-Tite is a smart habit. Aliner in bad weather. If I can see on radar that a storm front is coming through, I will close up the Aliner and pack everything away and turn my tow vehicle and Aliner into the approaching storm front. There are several warnings about erecting the Aliner in high winds. Not unlike ALL other RVs, it is basically a box kite. I only had one occasion where we were forced to use a hotel because the weather got so bad, it was going to become a survival exercise rather than a vacation. A storm front was coming through and the temperature dropped almost 30 degrees. And it was raining for an extended period of time - over 12 hours. I knew we didn’t have the correct clothing and I knew the family was not going to be happy, so I made the call and got the hotel room. The weather forecast got the temperature plunge and the duration of the front very wrong. I have camped in the Aliner during all seasons. As long as you understand the limits of the Aliner for extended moisture and excessive wind, I have no major concerns. It’s called extreme weather for a reason. The Aliner does Not have fiberglass in the roof! Canopy. I experimented with 2 different variations for canopies with my Aliner. The first one involved the use of Tyvek house wrap, the second involved the use of a large white poly tarp. Both designs were VERY large. Roughly 25 feet square. The Tyvek version used recycled aluminum poles designed for a 10 foot square tarp. I upgraded to spruce cudgom made lumber mill worked wooden poles. The spruce poles and the white poly tarp were fantastic! At the time I had a large full size conversion van with a gigantic roof rack. I could carry a Lifetime brand collapsible picnic table and 6 or 7 of the spruce poles on the van roof rack with zero issues. The main design flaw was the friction of the canopy on the peak of the Aliner and the inevitable tears that would occur where the apex of the roof made contact with the canopy. I tried using Gorilla Tape and thin closed foam material from a hobby and craft store to cushion the area. It just would only last only for a short time. I ended up buying a heavy duty grommet kit and would simply cut down the tarp and add new grommets on the amputation side and reuse. In both designs I used epoxy to secure a 1/4 inch diameter x 4 inch long carriage bolt at a 45 degree angle (roof closed) and 90 degrees with roof erect. This was used as a “floating” method of keeping the edge of the tarp in place. I put no considerable amount of weight on that peak. The spruce poles are about 6 feet long. We pre-drilled holes and then screwed in 8 inch galvanized carriage bolts. After the bolts were secured, I used a dremel tool to cut off the bolt heads to make the ends for the spruce poles for the grommets on the canopy. I also used a rubber glue like deck sealant to cover the spruce poles. They are in awesome shape after 13 years.The mill wright who made the poles is a true craftsman and artist. You need to seek out a lumber yard to do that type of fabrication for you. It won’t be cheap. But you get what you research and invest. My next step in this design is to try using leather as a way to guard against friction on the apex. It is important to note that I am using 15 inch galvanized spikes (2 per pole) and braided poly nylon rope that is already precut and tied to the correct length to stake down each of the spruce poles. The picnic table is crucial to this design. Approximately 10 feet moving from the roof peek out away from the Aliner door, I would use a heavy duty sliding adjustable aluminum pole. This pole would stand on top of the picnic table and would extend to a padded and reinforced grommet hole above the table. Initially I was using a tennis ball covered by a sock taped to the pole. Later after I became expert with the grommet kit, I decided it would be best to commit to the hole and the grommet. The majority of the weight is on the poles and not on the roof apex. The entire philosophy of the canopy is to use the space created by the canopy. With a Coleman gas lantern the white poly tarp really reflects the light and the area is well lit at night. We have hosted many large gatherings under the canopy. You can fit more than 10 chairs plus people at the picnic table even during a rain storm. So the storage, activities, meals, visitors, all of these activities center on the canopy and picnic table. The Aliner is used for sleeping and that’s about all. Tall people sleeping sleeping (already covered in number 5). The happiest Aliner owners are tinkering experts. I hope one day, you find the camper that works best for you. Happy trails!
I would have agreed with all the positive comments previously until recently when the driver side window of my 2016 Scout was broken. I contacted a local dealer but was told to try the factory. After contacting the factory I was informed the the window for my model was no longer available. Try a local glass company. OK, I did. They could not replace the glass due to the construction on the glass frame. Said they would damage the frame trying to install the new glass. So, now I own a 2016 Aliner Scout that is completely useless!
Sorry to hear about that. Since the trailer is folded down when you travel, you might be able to jury rig something for when you are set up so you can still use it.
Yep. #4 is the reason I did not buy one of these. No cabinet/shelving and all the appliances are very low, you have to bend down to cook, use the sink, etc.
Purchased it in March 2018 from Imperial RV in St-George, Ontario (went bankrupt!). I wanted a really basic, easy to put up solid wall camper to take into the back country for really bare essentials camping (experienced outdoorsman, don’t need any toys when I camp). Spent more on this than on my last (new) car, and I’m retired on a very small partial pension, so this has been a serious disappointment, and I can’t afford the costly repairs needed. My conclusions: light, easy to put up & take down, BUT cheap materials, shoddy workmanship, multiple defects. Only done two real camping trips in 2 years- on gravel roads that were a little bumpy but not exactly 4-wheel drive roads, so the “Off Road” category should imply solid construction- certainly NOT THE CASE!! Problems: 1. First time I took it for a drive, it was raining- found water leaks in 3 spots- took it back to dealer, said they fixed it (they didn’t, though I’m sure they billed the manufacturer for a warranty repair).) 2. First actual camping trip, cabinet over right side wheel well quickly filled up with dust, sand, GRAVEL (!!) & water from defective seals over wheel. Dealer had gone bankrupt so had to take to another shop in Brantford. Original water leaks still leaking (pop-top seal in 2 places & under door). Can actually see open sky in 2 spots along pop-top seams. 3. Split door problems: a) the little latch on the top part became loose right away & almost always splits- have to relatch almost every time I open/close the door; tried tightening multiple times, now hopelessly loose. b) Bottom part of door- screws constantly coming undone, lost 3 of them on just one short road trip. c)The cheap aluminum frame has become warped and from constantly re-tightening the screws, the holes are now too big & the screws won’t stay in; door doesn’t stay closed & can’t lock it. 4. Second trip (Sept. 2020), on the way home going 90kms/hr, the right-side black latch holding down the top somehow became loose and top started bouncing- bottom door flew open and entire door frame is now so warped that it is impossible to close the door at all. 5. Trivial, but lock on fan cover was installed backwards (at factory). 6. Dangling wires under axle could easily get caught/ripped out on even minor road bumps (I fixed that myself). So I’ve spent $14,000 of my hard-earned tiny pension/savings for a vehicle that is essentially unusable after just 2 trips because I can’t close the door and the trailer leaks constantly.
For the door, you may want to try this. Once you have the latch together when you have set up camp, or have it parked at home, just put a strip of white duck tape right along that seam. Believe it or not, at least in my case, it's enough to hold it together. When I'm outside, I try to close the door by pushing hard where the two sections come together with the duck tape. Closing it from the inside seems to work OK by just holding the handle. The leaks I have had have come from the window seams. I have used flex tape after cleaning thoroughly and drying (alcohol or bleach-based seems to do the job). I put the flex tape all around the windows/anything with a seam other than where the two sections of the roof come together. Does a decent job. Won't last forever, but has worked and is fairly simple. Haven't had any leaks where the roof sections come together that I'm aware of. Good luck. Don't give up.
Just curious.. how old is your Aliner? It appears to be an older model. Not to diminish your points, but as with most things, in time many things are corrected when issues like the ones you've mentioned are brought to light. I own a 2007 Fleetwood Sea Pine popup camper which is definitely roomier inside and has been a great camper but the newer Aliners (and similar manufacturers) provide better insulation (called blocked insulation which is basically lightweight styrofoam) along with hard side protection rather than regular canvas. Plus since they fold down to regular popup size they are easily towable with less wind resistance as are regular popup campers. I've been looking at newer Aliners and have been pretty impressed.
I like your honesty. Not to diminish your work or your situation, your trailer, with the horrific interior and spare tire inside, looks like it's from a flea market? If you've had it 7 years and well-used by a family, I understand. But, not a good subject for a video review, pro OR con... .
It's not a Barbie House. Those of us who work full-time and have a ton of other responsibilities can't worry about every nick and scratch for an RV we only have time to use occasionally. That's the reality most of us live with. If I ever lived full-time in an RV and didn't have to work, I'm sure it would be different.
You mention leaks and gaps, yet the one you are showing looks pretty beat up. Perhaps it being beat up is cause of this issue. Drafty, yet poor ventilation? Not sure this is possible. Seals coming undone? Again it looks beat up.
No camper is perfect...all have pros and cons....wife and I have a Rockwood Roo Hybrid and 2 other advantages a trailer like ours has over a pop up or Aliner is you can use the washroom and/or fridge anytime you stop. The other one is when camper is stored for the winter...I go in our Hybrid at least once a week to check for rodent damage. We had a Starcraft pop up and the mice really made a huge mess....it was very demoralizing for the 2 of us. Rockwood Roo is a heavier camper so you need a more powerful tow vehicle to drag it along but the money we spend on gas towing it is offset by being able to watch for rodent damage.
If I don't have room in the minivan, we put it in the trailer when traveling. When we get to the campground it will either be stored outside, or in the trunk of the van once it's been unpacked.
Aliners are poorly built. I have a Chalet A-frame built in Oregon. Top notch materials, none of the problems that Aliners have. When I was looking to buy I had them side by side at a dealer and you could see the difference. Everything was far superior to the Aliners. I have had Aliner owners check mine out at a campground and they are blow away by how much better they are. There are limitations on what they have but quality of the Chalets is not one of them.
The wood bottom is another reason why you should think twice. Ours rotted out eventually and the cost to re-do it from a RV service facility was more than the value of the trailer. I'm 6 foot 1 and didn't have a problem sleeping for that reason, but if you have one person who gets up at night for whatever reason, you might be climbing over the other person. Too small for bad weather camping with two or more people, just not enough space to spend the whole day in. But, we did have some fun years of camping before the wood bottom deteriorated.
thanks for everything... are you a east coast camper? i live in the west and wondering if i should my aliner... i love my aliner nothingin in it scout thanks
I wonder if they still make a Hi-lo camper. It sounds like a decent alternative to an A-liner. I camped in a Hi-lo as a kid. Great shoe box type design. Felt like a regular TT but pulled like a pop-up. I'd guess that they dumped the Hi-lo idea for campers with slide outs but if you find a Hi-lo, its worth giving a serious look.
Well, if you find one, it'll probably be a vintage rig, so the cost might not be that much. I still remember the looks we got when dad pressed the switch and what looked like a pop-up tent camper expanded upward into a full height hard side TT. Perhaps that type of design deserves a come back. (But I doubt it'll happen.)
They seem heavy? To me anyway. I went and looked at an older one (a 2001 hi-low towlite) and LOVED the look of it but it was over 5,000 lbs. I have a 4.8L V8 van. Not sure how that would work to tow. IDK. She wanted $6500. But the layout was good and the trailer went up hydraulically within seconds. And not sure who to take it to if it ever got stuck.
What year is that a liner that you're demonstrating? It looks to be built back in the '50s or '60s or maybe early '70s. It looks old. It's definitely not a new model.
Ya Aliner is “Camping” and light weight to pull with smaller vehicles . Deluxe tent for 2 still as much as I tried to hate this video 1 thing for me is a killer I’m 6’1 most RV beds are to small dinettes forget about it. Turn the bed the other way that’s a Big RV not something with that footprint but I had an idea what about inflatable seals instead of slims pool noodle 👍
You didn’t talk about bathrooms…. There’s about 2 models that have collapsible wet baths built into them….. but the vast majority of A-Liners and A Frames don’t have facilities built into them…. And for those dealing with them, how fun is emptying a cassette toilet? I was looking for a light weight towable and this looks very maintenance heavy…. One question, why do you have a wheel inside your rig?…… Maybe it’s time to find an alternative to an A frame since you’re not having the greatest of luck with yours…. BTW, maybe you should have spent a few dollars more to get a model with dormers on both ends. Just saying
Wondering what year your Aliner was (is?)? I can't open the amazon.com link because it's actually amazon.to. Which I can't open because it won't let me get to that foreign link.
Since you have to raise the roof to access the beds, it's not useful for stealth camping. You can put a padlock on one of the brackets when you close it up.
Beds Fine at 6' Tall: I'm 6 feet tall, and don't have to sleep sideways in the bed. I've got to disagree with you on that point. I replaced the couch with a standard twin mattress, and have a couple inches to spare at the end of the mattress. I have an Aliner Classic, 2011.
I've had 2 Aliners. Both were better than tent campers and no, they don't have the storage of a 32' motorhome. Never had any of these problems other than the "not friendly for awnings" comment. They are light, set up in less than 60 seconds, come down in less than 2 minutes and have most of what you need to camp. The key word there is camp. C.A.M.P. Not this take your whole house with you thing that people do nowadays. I like them and they are well built.
tent campers are great much better than a frames ,my pop-up has everything
I would also add sex is better because of proper beds
do you agree with the 6 foot tall sleeping issue? I have a tall family and I'm 6'1
LOL.
Frank T in
I live in Canada and have had a Rockwood A122 for 3 years now. Never had a draft. Never had a problem. I spent 3 years looking at trailers before I bought one. No regrets.
You know Brett, my wife and I had a Starcraft pop up and it was not very good. So we were looking at a Somerset popup which is the same company that makes the A-liner. Well, we ended up getting a Hybrid Roo BUT the Forest River A frame campers and pop ups are equal to or better than the Somerset or A-liner. I don"t know how good our Roo is because we have yet to use it but it appears from all I have seen and read, Forest Rive rmakes a hell of a product.
We have had one for 6yrs. Love it
Brett Barnes I agree. I thoroughly enjoy my A-liner.
If you’re getting drafts, then your seals and/or weatherstripping needs to be replaced.
Have a Rockwood 212 hw and went threw a big hail storm this summer and no draft or leak should of gotten a Rockwood a frame
We were camping in the Badlands when a group of Native American guys who had been exhibition dancing in the campground commons walked by our Aliner. One of them said "Oh, I see you have your own little metal tipi". That has to be the mindset for someone to be happy with an Aliner. It, and other small campers, are best suited for people who mostly camp outdoors, and sleep inside. While the concerns expressed in this video are accurate, they need to be taken in the context that all trailers have maintenance, towing, storage, and other operational issues, and none are perfect for everyone. We are empty-nesters and have a 2013 Aliner Classic that we bought new. We have put thousands of miles on, and we have found simple workarounds for all these space and maintenance issues. I am 6'2" and sleep like a baby in the Aliner.
Do you sleep diagonally?
@@bigyingadventurestoo9916 Nope... rear bed in a 2013 Classic is 60" x 76".
Thank you for opposing view
When you say sleep like a baby, that means you wake up crying and wet right?🤣
@@georgewhite6428 haha 🤣
2 of us coming from a tent popup after 10 years, the Aliner is perfect for the next chapter of our life. We don't carry much stuffs, and don't spend inside in the middle of the day. Love the ability to stop anywhere to have a quick rest and meal, 15 minute setup.
Thanks for sharing your experiences. I definitely agree with you on most of your points but I do think it's important to put into context the other options out there for people looking at campers. I think the most appropriate comparison for any A frame camper is the popup camper. Both camper types fold down and both usually less than 3,000 lbs fully loaded. My comments below are framed in comparison to my previous Rockwood Premium 2302 popup and my Aliner LXE. Most of my camping is around attending astronomy star parties and some state park camping with my family.
Points I agree on:
#1 - Not for large families - definitely! Popups are a much better for larger families but they do require much larger set up and tear down time. If my kids (all older than 10 now) come with my wife and I, they get to sleep out in a tent while we enjoy the Aliner.
#4 - Very little efficient cabinet space; definitely! Just like most foldable camper options, all your storage is in the non folding part of the camper.
#5 - Dinette beds are not great and do require a topper which will also make setting up and packing away more complicated
#8 - Scary in bad weather. I agree with you here as well but I think you'll find any small trailer scary and loud in a storm. I've braved wicked summer thunderstorms in the mountains in my previous popup camper as well in my Aliner; I'll take the solid walls of the Aliner any day over any other folding camper.
#9 - Not awning friendly. Another yes here as well, but even the popup's awning is pain. I've found using a popup 10'x10' a much easier and better alternative.
#10 - Not for tall people - Agreed, prospective buyers need to make sure they fit.
#11 - Not electronic friendly - with regards to mounting a TV, definitely, there is no good place to mount one but the same can be said for popup campers; if you want a TV, you'll have to dedicate some counter space for it. As the the USB connections, my Aliner did not come with any but is was very easy to install several, Aliners should come with these as standard equipment.
Points I disagree on:
#2 - Drafty/gaps - I'm on my 3rd year of using my Aliner and I can safely say I've experiences no gaps in the conners or where the roof pieces join. I also have a front dormer on my and there are no gaps there.
#3 - Condensation - Just like in tent camping, you're going to get condensation unless you're circulating air. I will keep the window of the door slightly cracked at night and I never get condensation.
#6 - Ventilation - I have to say between 1 window that opens on the road side, 2 windows on the curb side that open, one window in the dormer and the roof vent, I get plenty of ventilation. I've only used the A/C twice when camping. Once in Aug in SC during the eclipse and once in on a Memorial Day river tubing weekend in Virginia (horrible humidity then!).
#7 - Seals and Screws - I've had no issues with with any seals or screws. However when not in use, I keep my Aliner in my garage, out of the elements. I did this with my popup as well; it looked almost new when we sold it after 7 years of use.
In the end, the best small or foldable camper will be an individual decision that will vary from person to person depending on what you are willing to compromise on or willing to pay extra for.
Part of the difference in opinions might relate to where we live and camp. I'm in South Florida and do most of my camping there. The humidity is a real issue most of the year. In the day, it's keeping cool without air conditioning. The ventilation doesn't cut it except for 60's and low 70's weather. As I said in the video, that's probably true for most or all small RV's. At night, there is probably more of a condensation issue because of the humidity and cooling temperatures. Thanks for the comment and feedback.
What about flies? I can’t stand them. That would be a dealbreaker for me. There are a lot of black flies where I live and they’re smaller than mosquitos.
@@stymiedagain Me too. That is the one I liked the least.
I had an Aliner for 5 years. I agree with all his comments. I didn’t hate my camper but it did have those flaws. Mostly lack of space inside and uncomfortable bedding. We enjoyed it but we won’t miss it.
All RV/trailers come with very cheap foam in the cushions.
Go to your local upholstery shop and buck up to get better foam.
Also keep it in a dry, covered stall/garage during winter, this helps out alot.
Most just put a tarp on and leave it outside, that's when leaks occur.
Had a 2014 A Liner for 2 years, had to sell when spouse died. We loved it. Easy/quick up and down. Selling point was it was low profile, hard sided and had ac and heater...we only used the heater. Ya, it leaked in driving rain (didn’t park the right direction prior to rain starting) but 4 inches of rain in 4 hours in southern Nebraska is a bitch! We cuddled up and watched the Stanley Cup finals on the laptop. I’m honestly looking at buying a new one for myself as a solitary woman....and I’m comfortable with that because I know I can manage it on my own. I will buy a smaller one than what we had though.
Did you ever replace the gaskets? We’re pulling the trigger on a 2016 LXE and I looked on the aliner site and they have gasket/seal maintenance kits - we’ve been tent camping for 20 years and love it but this will be an option for three season camping!
@@DutchDame67 didn’t replace gaskets. Am actually considering buying another ALiner as a single older gal because I know I can deal with it on my own.
I had mine for 4 years and the only thing was getting locked out it...other then that my wife and I love it.
I was one of 2 adults that owned an Aliner. I loved it. Most wonderful camper We ever owned. I sold it and bought a brand new Lance camper. Biggest mistake I have ever made. Lance used to be a good brand. Well mine is a piece of crap.
Kate Dunno
Wow. I’ve been a big fan of Lance travel trailers and would like to know what made you write that.
hayesman76, What would you like to know ? I have a list of all of the things that are wrong with the camper.
Kate Dunno
Whatever you’re willing to share.
Thank you.
@@hayesman76 I'm sorry it's taken me so long to respond. I've been crazy busy. I bought a brand new 2012, 992 model. I was told recently that they won't be making this model any longer. So here it is. Lance put in 1 good fan and 2 low quality shit fans. In the bathroom and the kitchen area.
Both fans were dead within a year.
The housing around the fans that holds it in the ceiling also just fell out one day. Both fans. I had a water leak in the kitchen area.
I took the back camper back to Lance Manufacturing in Lancaster California. The main guy there his name is Mike he's an asshole. They took the camper into the warehouse for an overnight stay. The following morning they come out and they tell me they didn't see any water on the floor and they don't know where it's leaking from. When I looked at the camper I asked them if they had hooked up a water line up to it during the course of the night. Their response was oh no we didn't do that. I told him in order for it or wherever it is to leak it needs pressure on it like from a water line. I stood there and looked at these men one of them being a mechanic for Lance like they were the dumbest fucking things on the face of this Earth. When they hooked it up to a water line imagine my surprise when it leaked. I had a second water leak that one was from the lovely plastic pieces that they use coming out of the water heater. I fixed that mysrlf and put in brass fixtures. They used some shit quality plastic. The TV, when the man came out from the cable company to see what was wrong with everything we had internet and cable television in the camper. The man from the cable company said that they had not used that kind of a system hookup in approximately thirty years he would have to change it around and move some wires and rewire some of it so it would work. So Lance is also using Antiquated equipment. Closet door broke one night while laying in bed I have a closet door on my leg. That was a broken bracket. In the bed area there was a sunroof / moonroof and it had to shade that was Blackout Shade Or a screen both of those broke we couldn't use either one to slide it across the moonroof or sunroof to keep the Sun out. The curtain the one across the bed it was a privacy curtain that was broken. We had electrical problems the box for all the fuses used a little 3 inch box fan in there to keep it cool well that stopped running and we didn't know it. You have no way of knowing if it's running or not because it's covered with a plastic cover so you can't see it. So that burned out the converter. I replaced the converter replaced the little 3 inch box fan. We had a propane leak I had to replace the two hookups to the two tanks on the outside of the camper. On the outside the handle as you're going up in the camper came off in my hand one day I didn't pull it that hard. After approximately two years the graphics on the camper are peeling off they need to be replaced. On the outside where there are screws they have a cover over them that cover piece all needs to be replaced and should have been replaced when it was about a year old. I know there's got to be more things on there can't think of them right now but if you plan on spending your money on a Lance camper be careful. Take it easy.
Kate Dunno
First of all, thank you for your VERY ALARMING AND DISTURBING reply! To be honest, I’m shocked and flabbergasted by what you wrote because Lance is supposedly one of the best-built campers in the USA. In fact, it’s my understanding that because California has a Lemon Law that applies to RV’s and travel trailers as much as to cars and trucks, Lance products were built especially well because of that Lemon Law.
Thanks again for taking the time to share the litany of broken things in your Lance Trailer. The information about the antiquated cable system especially is unbelievable!
Stayed in an older Aliner last weekend with gusty winds and hard rain - never had an issue, watched my TV and charged my phone.
I own an original 1979 A frame caravan. Made in New Zealand by Southern star caravans. I think this company designed the first A frame. It is made from aluminum so very light (450kg). There are no leaks or drafts and New Zealand can get very windy. I agree it is only useful for up to three people. Or two adults and two small children. Our double bed turns into a couch. I love this caravan. After 38 years it still looks like new. They are a great design low wind resistance towing and they are better than a tent. You feel safe because they are locked up with metal sides. Cheers, Brent
Every time a screw comes undone (probably from vibration) you can use threadlocker and put it back. Pretty soon, they will quit coming loose.
I am so fortunate to have come across your review. I'm 63 and when not camping, like to use my rv as my man cave. Yet I don't want bugs, sealer problems, no tech, and Im 6ft and cant stand sleeping sideways! My brain can't accept it! Thank you, thank you.
I have a 2017 Chalet Arrowhead and have had it for a year and I LOVE IT. Most everything you said is kind of true but I love mine
Yes, I like mine also. But wanted to help people decide if it was right for them. These things aren't cheap.
As stated...it's for those of us who just want a step up from tents and soft sided pop-ups. They are designed to be light and can be used where soft sided shelters are not allowed (parts of Yellowstone). There are canopies for them. That being said they are too expensive new and loose a lot of value, so buy used. We picked up a classic off road capable unit that was in perfect shape for $6000.
I'm from the UK and have been watching Slim's channel for quite a while (probably why this was recommended). It looks like a very 'British' way of camping.
Personally, I have a 30ft Class A RV imported from Florida. Love not having to set anything up, can even drive from one campsite to another with the children watching TV, the washing machine going, turkey in the oven and the coffee maker getting a pot ready for me the second I stop. I love the outdoors too, don't really want to revisit the stone age to enjoy it, but that's just us.
Obviously, those towing an Aliner will get at lease double the number of miles per gallon, indeed Slim goes from Canada to Mexico a lot quicker than we ever could without winning the lottery. An Aliner can venture a lot further off road, the only Class A I've seen by a lake is on the brochure! We have draughts and less than perfect insulation too (why don't you Americans ever select the double glazing option when buying new), finally despite the many chassis options having a 4X4 variant, RV manufacturers almost never offer that option, at least you can tow an Aliner behind a 4X4 vehicle.
I disagree with most of these comments. It all depends what you are wanting from your travel experience. There are so many configurations of a-liners available, something to suit everyone. I have an Australian model and we fit 3 adults sleeping plus 3 large dogs in the annexe. Such a great camper, I love it. Easy to pop up and tow and my 1999 model has heaps of clever storage and a great layout.
Good thoughts. Looking forward to your 10 Reasons to Buy an Aframe style camper. I have an Aliner. Mostly, I like it.
Thanks for the comment. Should be uploading in a day or two.
Beats the heck out of a tent, and everything needs maintenance, besides when camping it's called the great outdoors adding a few luxuries is simple.
Agree
A tent is cheap. I would by a Rockwood.
Good for 1 or two, never experienced drafty, condensation yes, we use bucket storage just like a tent, I found bed fine, fans are needed in tents also, never had seal problem, loved our Ranger.
#2 drafty and #6 poor ventilation. Seems contradictory.
Yeah, and then he says "bad ventilation!" lol Can't have all 3, pick one. Drafty, condensation or no ventilation!
I thought the same thing. But, he later followed up with the bug/mosquito comment and that made sense. Yes, it drafty but those drafts also let bugs in. When you seal that drafts air circulation get poor. Maybe he should have said it has poor air circulation instead of poor ventilation.
Listen to his talk and keep things on context SMH
they're drafty but ventilation isn't great? this video actually did help. thank you for your input...
A draft, in that when it's cold out, there are all kinds of places for leaks of cold air to come in. When it's really hot out, the little leaks don't do squat to help cool the trailer, which is what you want then.
I love honest videos like this one! In our 2018 LXE though our sofa bed cushions have been comfortable for us. Also that's a bad gap along the top of the A-wall...have you thought about replacing the weather stripping? Aliner has been good about sending us parts like that. Excellent tip on checking all the screws! And that situation with the weatherstripping in the peak needing to be fixed every year...our local dealer wasn't so good but we had good repairs from a RV repair shop that Aliner put us in touch with. You shouldn't need to fix that every year. Regarding the lack of ventilation and the awning points, ours does get hot really quickly and we don't even have a bubble window. I think it may be the dark tinted windows heating in the sun, so we're making some outdoor shades plus an awning ourselves, with a design that doesn't involve pressure on the A-wall seals. But why doesn't Aliner provide something like that? The Pahaque awning requires sandwich between the A-wall and roof seals which we suspect is bad for the camper.
Thanks for sharing your experiences and knowledge.
Average Alice gives some good suggestions! Of course I am prejudiced as I follow her channel for lots of good tips along with Slim’s for lots of good enhancements
I really appreciate you taking the time to make this video. It gave me a lot to think about.
Thank you.
Slim Potatoehead uses pipe warmer foam things on his roof where it comes together to seal out cold. He also talks about the metal parts sweating in cold weather.
Thanks for all of the "heads up". I love the look but I'm not a handy pers5with tools.
lots of how to videos on YT. Start learning to use tools, you'll be proud of yourself every time you finish a project.
i have a nothing in it barebones 2006 scout.. it leaks and drafty but i don't care, i love it
Good info...things I hadn't thought of and I can definitely see as possible and have had a couple different types of campers. Thank you for your honest and forthright comments.
Glad you found it helpful.
This is valuable information for those evaluating campers prior to purchase. Thx
Thanks for posting this. Most of these items I would not have thought of on my own. Where I'm coming from, is that I am almost 67, and I'm getting too old and worn out to really enjoy tent camping anymore. But I don't have a big enough yard to store a full-size travel trailer, something 24 to 28 feet long, but even if I did have room to store a larger trailer, my tow vehicle can only handle 2,500 pounds. Another problem with tents, is that I like to camp in the Mojave Desert in the winter months: Death Valley in particular, and there can be huge windstorms out there, with gusts to 50 mph, that might last up to 48 hours. The A-liner Scout is light enough to tow with my vehicle, but the fact that all the storage cabinets are down at floor level is a serious problem, too.
Nice and honest video.
I just purchased a 2007 classic for a low price, and knew there was some water damage. As it turns out it wasn't "some". About 1/3 floor down the door side it, I have a seal kit as all seals are bad / old. Both skylights leak, 1 is broken. I am considering fabricating one as a raised aluminum framed flat panel skylight that opens and is screened with 1/4" Lexan sheet for a better build and $140 and can be repaired at any hardware store vs the 1/16 polycarbonate 60 inch bubble (which costs 750 bucks less the sealant and modification required and is only glued to the roof and takes 3-4 months to get) . All roofing interior has water damage. The trailer welding is terrible and only has spot / stitch fillet spot welds on 1 side, filled with uneven legs , uncut, cold lap , lack of penetration, and no spatter cleanup and the there aren't enough supports for the flooring from an engineering aspect. I am now considering buying and transferring the camper onto a more solid trailer or at the very least upgrading the axle to 3500 lb from the 1200, and having leaf springs. As for the cabinets, they are 1"x2" pine framing, where most is split and loose sections are missing, none are visible so it wasn't fixed during manufacturing, so it shows shoddy, uncaring craftsmanship that is rushed , and no screws are straight for strongest penetration. The cabinets are flimsy 1/8" boards. What surprised me the most is the floor - OSB 1/2 with a coating only on underside. The topside had some crappy linoleum on it. They could make these trailers a lot better with little cost and better workmanship. I will rebuild the floor new 3/4 marine grade plywood with 4 coats of West Marine Epoxy all sides and Delrin sheeting facing for road side (30 bucks each at any hardware store) epoxied bonded to the subfloor (1/4" thicker - more resistant, actually will be waterproof , stronger and lighter than the 1/2" OSB board) then application of a waterproofing liner to underside of trailer, along with premium interlocking waterproof tiles for the floor topside. The wiring is the worst - this is a shock and fire hazard as stock and didn't accommodate for leaks. In short - it is an amateurish rat nest that isn't remotely compliant with NEC or any code, not even common sense. I looked at brand new campers as well - everything is basically the same regarding construction. It looks nice, but is poor and hurried construction to optimize profits. If you buy one - expect a lot maintenance issues, unless you rebuild it yourself when it starts to have problems in a few years. These are a decent design, but someone stating they are "Well Built" is obviously someone who doesn't know materials engineering, mechanical engineering, welding inspection from an AWS CWI standpoint, metallurgy and coatings from a NACE level 3 standpoint as well as Electrician to minimum Licensed Journeyman. All of these, I happen to use in my assessment, as well as possessing the credentials. The Aliners are a good design concept, and with quite a few correctional modifications / replacement of the substandard materials and workmanship, you can have a sturdy, lightweight camper that will be trouble free for several decades that sets up in minutes.
My cost for the trailer was 3200 dollars - in total with all the modifications, I will be about 6000 dollars total and about 2 weeks of work and have a rugged, waterproof hard sided popup for the beach, mountains or wherever versus the 25000 for new and crappy workmanship.
Wow I thought the Aliner was a good option, but have a Rockwood A122 A frame and have none of these issues you spoke of.
We had one and loved it. All those reasons are valid points. Thank you for sharing!
Thanks for watching Paul
1) I dont want to share my space with more than one person.
2) Drafty? Never noticed.
3) Condensation? Not yet.
4) Shelving...I dont live in mine so dont need much storage space.
5) Dinette bed not comfy- good! No long term guests!
6) Ventilation not great. That is what the fan is for.
7) Seals and screws. No issues with seals. Keep lockette in camper for screws that come loose.
8) Scarey in bad weather. Better than a tent but need to be in a car if lightning.
9) Not awning friendly. You got me there. There is one made for A frame campers. Other than that, they are homemade.
10) Not good for tall people. Well, my brother is 6'2" and slept on the converted dinette and did fine.
11) Not electronic friendly. You can easily add a usb outlet. It would take a little more if you want cable tv, but HEY, YOUR CAMPING!
Why would you mentioned a little screws? Put a drop of Loctite on them
I have since done that.
The canvass pop ups aren't allowed in many parks due to bears. A-frames are allowed because the have hard bodies.
Thanks. I was wondering about that.
No camper is very good. I lived in a 35 ft. Travel trailer 8 years full time. I bought it new.
Thanks for the video. Very helpful. The draftiness, not easy to heat or cool and bugs makes an expensive trailer less worth it. Might as well go with a tent.
Thank you for posting this video. I am 6 feet 3inches tall. I was thanking about buying one July 16,2024 for $2,000 grand. I was gonna trade my '91 Mazda mx-5 car for it. I think i changed my mind. I was going to fix it up over the years. This one needs work. Has no ac, has nothing inside. Maybe it's not worth 2,000. They cost new over 20,000.
WOW! Update. I end up trading even for a 1998 Aliner. So far i love this tiny house. These problems with it. I am fixing them all now. It will be a project.
Thanks so much for a great video. Really like how you punctuated each negative with how “you won’t like it.” Spoke to me. Was seriously close to buying one, but realized I liked the “idea” of an Aliner, not the reality of an Aliner. Thanks again, as even the largest A-frame from any manufacturer would be too small for our family. To quote the film Galaxy Quest, “Commander, you have saved us!”
You’re being very generous in your assessment, 2 people max for camping.
The seals are the big thing that worries me about these types of trailers (not just ALiners but other similar "hard shell" pop-up type trailers). I'm at the point where I think I might be better off in the long run just getting a smaller non-popup trailer (like an R-Pod) and have less to worry about in terms of seals. My other concern with these (although I've never seen it happen) would be having it collapse in the wind, whereas with a regular travel trailer, you wouldn't really have that concern because it's a rigid structure.
Here in Australia same as you guys in the US we have the airliner, cruiser & cruiseliner...
I have the cruiseliner & frankly I love it! in some respects I agree with you it is really a couples camper... I think the moral of the story is do your research and fine what works for you... R 🇦🇺.
is it that hard to put a strip of the one sided sticky foam strip along the wall rails like the stuff people use in their door frames of houses?
Thanks much for sharing your experiences with aliners
I never had any of the problems that you speak of. I even attached a showerset up the back of the camper. No awning was not a problem I used an easy up.
draft? pipe covers Vs paper towels, condensation may happen on every trailer.propane heaters create it!!, may be we need to compare the quality with a Rockwood if seals and screws get undone in a cheap way. thanks for sharing, this would help me decide at least to find the best quality of A-frame pop up
Great video. Thanks for the candor.
I want to be outside. So why would anyone want to bring a t.v. or laptop camping?
It's all personal preference depending on where you're camping and what you're doing there.
a) in case you are riding out bad weather
b) hunting season is also football season so you might want to catch an afternoon game after coming back from the tree stand.
Personal preference dufus
THANK you for the downside and I'm excited to see the upside you've done. I've had tents, motor homes, regular trailers and fifths wheel trailers, tent trailers. Knowing the drawbacks ahead of time better prepared me for my purchase. These are exactly whay I've been waiting for. P.S....a lady on a video I previously watched said parking hers INTO the wind helps cut the drafts tremendously.
Its a pop up camper not a airstream.
Too expensive and too many problems
Family Size. We have the Dinette/bed in the aft section and the bunk bed in the front section. I’m not sure they offer this anymore as far as a floor plan. I have a 2006 Aliner DL. The most we ever had were 2 adults, 10 year old boy, and a big dog. The boy took the top bunk and the dog used the bottom like a kennel. Latter on after we got a conversion van, 2 kids would sleep in the van. Plus the dog, the boy, and mom & dad in the dinette bed. The Coleman Pop Ups have canvas and due to their fiberglass construction they typically weigh over 4,000 pounds! An empty Aliner comes in at around 1,000 pounds. The Aliner uses an Aluminum outer skin with a styrofoam core, and a luanne plywood interior that is then covered with a vinyl “wall paper”. That is why it is durable and lightweight. Except for the exterior corners, there is no heavy fiberglass/PVC like materials used in Aliner.
Any camper like the Aliner or Coleman will have hinges, flanges, weather stripping, foam, rubber seals. If your Aliner or any camper is stored year round outdoors, the sun’s ultraviolet rays will cause significant damage to the camper, especially any materials that contain rubber or seals. You can expect insects to come at you when camping. If a site is especially bug infested, I will use an outside fogging insect area repellent. Prior to setting up, while we go for groceries or firewood etc. also using citronella candles and some other insect control solutions outside the camper is important.
Condensation is an issue. You must use the Fantastic Fan! We regularly use a large sized recycled bathroom towel to wipe down the inside of the camper. We use the same towel laid out flat between the triangular sidewalls of the camper while the camper is stored and whenever we are towing. This is so we can protect the windows. You must wipe down the interior aluminum components on a regular basis.
Storage Space. We use Rubbermaid style containers of all sizes to store nearly everything in the Aliner. These containers each have a letter & numbering system. This corresponds to a “load plan” and laminated alphabetized cross referenced card/sheet system so I know where everything is stored in the camper. These containers can be stowed on the beds, in the aisle, under the beds, in the rear storage areas. Most are removed and placed in the tow vehicle or on the picnic table and under a canopy when the camper is being used, or the tow vehicle is also used for sleeping. This takes a significant effort and the experience of many trips to fine tune what is really necessary in your Aliner. But once you have this information organized, it is so simple to update your supplies and have visibility of your inventory. Another popular hack is to use a spring loaded shower curtain type rod that can be erected inside the Aliner between the 2 triangular walls and then hang cloth shoe organizer bins from one or both walls for additional storage space for small items like flashlights, walkie talkie, bug spray, eyeglasses, keys, phone chargers etc. this keeps the counter space uncluttered. I would strongly recommend that whatever camper you have that you carefully examine the construction of the cabinets and other structures and you further reinforce the interiors with epoxy and screws to help with the integrity of the camper strength. You can also use lock tite brand adhesive to secure screws and bolts in place. In amy camper things can shake lose! We never store any water or food in the Aliner. We always use a separate Rubbermaid bin for food. I have a corresponding laminated sheet for shopping check lists. This significantly cuts down on wasted time. Making meals ahead of time, and then stowing them in a cooler to be reheated using the Aliner microwave oven is a big time saver. We also like using other cooking tools like an electric pressure cooker, NuWave oven, or cast iron Dutch Oven. These are techniques we have developed over many trips that help us maximize our space and stay organized and super efficient.
Many Aliner owners will modify their floor plan to suit their needs. I am over 6 feet tall. I have to sleep at a diagonal. I would definitely switch the bed by 90 degrees to accommodate a Queen size mattress if I were living in the Aliner full time. For me, the crucial feature of the Aliner was tow weight.
Already covered Ventilation under item 3 & Condensation. Even if you have an AC unit, using a supplemental small desk fan, will significantly improve your comfort. I would also recommend a timer to use with the Fantastic Fan & the desk fan.
Already covered seals under number 2. Anytime you have ANY camper, connections and screws will come loose. You must before preventative checks and services EVERY time on every vehicle. Reinforcing the vehicle with epoxy and Loc-Tite is a smart habit.
Aliner in bad weather. If I can see on radar that a storm front is coming through, I will close up the Aliner and pack everything away and turn my tow vehicle and Aliner into the approaching storm front. There are several warnings about erecting the Aliner in high winds. Not unlike ALL other RVs, it is basically a box kite. I only had one occasion where we were forced to use a hotel because the weather got so bad, it was going to become a survival exercise rather than a vacation. A storm front was coming through and the temperature dropped almost 30 degrees. And it was raining for an extended period of time - over 12 hours. I knew we didn’t have the correct clothing and I knew the family was not going to be happy, so I made the call and got the hotel room. The weather forecast got the temperature plunge and the duration of the front very wrong. I have camped in the Aliner during all seasons. As long as you understand the limits of the Aliner for extended moisture and excessive wind, I have no major concerns. It’s called extreme weather for a reason. The Aliner does Not have fiberglass in the roof!
Canopy. I experimented with 2 different variations for canopies with my Aliner. The first one involved the use of Tyvek house wrap, the second involved the use of a large white poly tarp. Both designs were VERY large. Roughly 25 feet square. The Tyvek version used recycled aluminum poles designed for a 10 foot square tarp. I upgraded to spruce cudgom made lumber mill worked wooden poles. The spruce poles and the white poly tarp were fantastic! At the time I had a large full size conversion van with a gigantic roof rack. I could carry a Lifetime brand collapsible picnic table and 6 or 7 of the spruce poles on the van roof rack with zero issues. The main design flaw was the friction of the canopy on the peak of the Aliner and the inevitable tears that would occur where the apex of the roof made contact with the canopy. I tried using Gorilla Tape and thin closed foam material from a hobby and craft store to cushion the area. It just would only last only for a short time. I ended up buying a heavy duty grommet kit and would simply cut down the tarp and add new grommets on the amputation side and reuse. In both designs I used epoxy to secure a 1/4 inch diameter x 4 inch long carriage bolt at a 45 degree angle (roof closed) and 90 degrees with roof erect. This was used as a “floating” method of keeping the edge of the tarp in place. I put no considerable amount of weight on that peak. The spruce poles are about 6 feet long. We pre-drilled holes and then screwed in 8 inch galvanized carriage bolts. After the bolts were secured, I used a dremel tool to cut off the bolt heads to make the ends for the spruce poles for the grommets on the canopy. I also used a rubber glue like deck sealant to cover the spruce poles. They are in awesome shape after 13 years.The mill wright who made the poles is a true craftsman and artist. You need to seek out a lumber yard to do that type of fabrication for you. It won’t be cheap. But you get what you research and invest. My next step in this design is to try using leather as a way to guard against friction on the apex. It is important to note that I am using 15 inch galvanized spikes (2 per pole) and braided poly nylon rope that is already precut and tied to the correct length to stake down each of the spruce poles. The picnic table is crucial to this design. Approximately 10 feet moving from the roof peek out away from the Aliner door, I would use a heavy duty sliding adjustable aluminum pole. This pole would stand on top of the picnic table and would extend to a padded and reinforced grommet hole above the table. Initially I was using a tennis ball covered by a sock taped to the pole. Later after I became expert with the grommet kit, I decided it would be best to commit to the hole and the grommet. The majority of the weight is on the poles and not on the roof apex. The entire philosophy of the canopy is to use the space created by the canopy. With a Coleman gas lantern the white poly tarp really reflects the light and the area is well lit at night. We have hosted many large gatherings under the canopy. You can fit more than 10 chairs plus people at the picnic table even during a rain storm. So the storage, activities, meals, visitors, all of these activities center on the canopy and picnic table. The Aliner is used for sleeping and that’s about all.
Tall people sleeping sleeping (already covered in number 5).
The happiest Aliner owners are tinkering experts. I hope one day, you find the camper that works best for you. Happy trails!
I've never seen a model with a bunk bed. I tried to figure out an easy way to turn the dinette into a bunk bed, but couldn't make it work.
I would have agreed with all the positive comments previously until recently when the driver side window of my 2016 Scout was broken. I contacted a local dealer but was told to try the factory. After contacting the factory I was informed the the window for my model was no longer available. Try a local glass company. OK, I did. They could not replace the glass due to the construction on the glass frame. Said they would damage the frame trying to install the new glass. So, now I own a 2016 Aliner Scout that is completely useless!
Sorry to hear about that. Since the trailer is folded down when you travel, you might be able to jury rig something for when you are set up so you can still use it.
Yep. #4 is the reason I did not buy one of these. No cabinet/shelving and all the appliances are very low, you have to bend down to cook, use the sink, etc.
Objective. Thanks. Looking forward to next post. Strongly considering Aliner purchase
I'm glad you found it helpful.
Hi and thanks for the great video! Have you had any issues with leaks? We are on the fence but this is the biggest issue we’ve seen. Thanks
Some people are harder on their gear than others. It looks like you may be on of those.
No. I just work and have a life.
How rude
My kids share the floor in there tent so they can share a double lol
No..none of that problems 2020 A liner..🇦🇺
There are now expedition aliners that can easily fit 4 people.
Purchased it in March 2018 from Imperial RV in St-George, Ontario (went bankrupt!). I wanted a really basic, easy to put up solid wall camper to take into the back country for really bare essentials camping (experienced outdoorsman, don’t need any toys when I camp). Spent more on this than on my last (new) car, and I’m retired on a very small partial pension, so this has been a serious disappointment, and I can’t afford the costly repairs needed.
My conclusions: light, easy to put up & take down, BUT cheap materials, shoddy workmanship, multiple defects. Only done two real camping trips in 2 years- on gravel roads that were a little bumpy but not exactly 4-wheel drive roads, so the “Off Road” category should imply solid construction- certainly NOT THE CASE!!
Problems:
1. First time I took it for a drive, it was raining- found water leaks in 3 spots- took it back to dealer, said they fixed it (they didn’t, though I’m sure they billed the manufacturer for a warranty repair).)
2. First actual camping trip, cabinet over right side wheel well quickly filled up with dust, sand, GRAVEL (!!) & water from defective seals over wheel. Dealer had gone bankrupt so had to take to another shop in Brantford. Original water leaks still leaking (pop-top seal in 2 places & under door). Can actually see open sky in 2 spots along pop-top seams.
3. Split door problems: a) the little latch on the top part became loose right away & almost always splits- have to relatch almost every time I open/close the door; tried tightening multiple times, now hopelessly loose. b) Bottom part of door- screws constantly coming undone, lost 3 of them on just one short road trip. c)The cheap aluminum frame has become warped and from constantly re-tightening the screws, the holes are now too big & the screws won’t stay in; door doesn’t stay closed & can’t lock it.
4. Second trip (Sept. 2020), on the way home going 90kms/hr, the right-side black latch holding down the top somehow became loose and top started bouncing- bottom door flew open and entire door frame is now so warped that it is impossible to close the door at all.
5. Trivial, but lock on fan cover was installed backwards (at factory).
6. Dangling wires under axle could easily get caught/ripped out on even minor road bumps (I fixed that myself).
So I’ve spent $14,000 of my hard-earned tiny pension/savings for a vehicle that is essentially unusable after just 2 trips because I can’t close the door and the trailer leaks constantly.
For the door, you may want to try this. Once you have the latch together when you have set up camp, or have it parked at home, just put a strip of white duck tape right along that seam. Believe it or not, at least in my case, it's enough to hold it together. When I'm outside, I try to close the door by pushing hard where the two sections come together with the duck tape. Closing it from the inside seems to work OK by just holding the handle.
The leaks I have had have come from the window seams. I have used flex tape after cleaning thoroughly and drying (alcohol or bleach-based seems to do the job). I put the flex tape all around the windows/anything with a seam other than where the two sections of the roof come together. Does a decent job. Won't last forever, but has worked and is fairly simple. Haven't had any leaks where the roof sections come together that I'm aware of. Good luck. Don't give up.
thanks
Just curious.. how old is your Aliner? It appears to be an older model. Not to diminish your points, but as with most things, in time many things are corrected when issues like the ones you've mentioned are brought to light. I own a 2007 Fleetwood Sea Pine popup camper which is definitely roomier inside and has been a great camper but the newer Aliners (and similar manufacturers) provide better insulation (called blocked insulation which is basically lightweight styrofoam) along with hard side protection rather than regular canvas. Plus since they fold down to regular popup size they are easily towable with less wind resistance as are regular popup campers. I've been looking at newer Aliners and have been pretty impressed.
2011. Got it brand new.
By the way, those are some of my points in my next video about why you should buy one.
@@bigyingadventurestoo9916 Do you store it inside during the winter or is it kept outside year round? Thank you.
@@reneesmith7860 It's out all year here in Florida on the shady side of the house.
I like your honesty. Not to diminish your work or your situation, your trailer, with the horrific interior and spare tire inside, looks like it's from a flea market? If you've had it 7 years and well-used by a family, I understand. But, not a good subject for a video review, pro OR con...
.
It's not a Barbie House. Those of us who work full-time and have a ton of other responsibilities can't worry about every nick and scratch for an RV we only have time to use occasionally. That's the reality most of us live with. If I ever lived full-time in an RV and didn't have to work, I'm sure it would be different.
You mention leaks and gaps, yet the one you are showing looks pretty beat up. Perhaps it being beat up is cause of this issue. Drafty, yet poor ventilation? Not sure this is possible. Seals coming undone? Again it looks beat up.
I will not buy one just because of the way it looks and knowing the space restrictions inside!
I love your home
No camper is perfect...all have pros and cons....wife and I have a Rockwood Roo Hybrid and 2 other advantages a trailer like ours has over a pop up or Aliner is you can use the washroom and/or fridge anytime you stop. The other one is when camper is stored for the winter...I go in our Hybrid at least once a week to check for rodent damage. We had a Starcraft pop up and the mice really made a huge mess....it was very demoralizing for the 2 of us. Rockwood Roo is a heavier camper so you need a more powerful tow vehicle to drag it along but the money we spend on gas towing it is offset by being able to watch for rodent damage.
Is there any particular reason that you keep your spare tire inside?
If I don't have room in the minivan, we put it in the trailer when traveling. When we get to the campground it will either be stored outside, or in the trunk of the van once it's been unpacked.
I do not own one. But I can’t believe you can’t mount it on the rear bumper. No?
You. Just saved me a lot of bucks brother thankyou,me-1 ,Aliner-0
Aliners are poorly built. I have a Chalet A-frame built in Oregon. Top notch materials, none of the problems that Aliners have. When I was looking to buy I had them side by side at a dealer and you could see the difference. Everything was far superior to the Aliners. I have had Aliner owners check mine out at a campground and they are blow away by how much better they are. There are limitations on what they have but quality of the Chalets is not one of them.
The wood bottom is another reason why you should think twice. Ours rotted out eventually and the cost to re-do it from a RV service facility was more than the value of the trailer. I'm 6 foot 1 and didn't have a problem sleeping for that reason, but if you have one person who gets up at night for whatever reason, you might be climbing over the other person. Too small for bad weather camping with two or more people, just not enough space to spend the whole day in. But, we did have some fun years of camping before the wood bottom deteriorated.
Sorry to hear about that. I will definitely keep an eye on that. If I can get 7 or 8 more years out of it I'll be happy though.
J. Patrick Moore / seems like they would use marine grade plywood.....
All RV's big and small have wood floors. I've seen 200K motorhomes with wood rotted floors
@@alibertylover They do use a specially coated marine grade plywood. Not sure about much older models though.
Spray the bottom with Linseed oil,it soaks in and cures.
Great video. Thanks
thanks for everything... are you a east coast camper? i live in the west and wondering if i should my aliner... i love my aliner nothingin in it scout thanks
I wonder if they still make a Hi-lo camper. It sounds like a decent alternative to an A-liner. I camped in a Hi-lo as a kid. Great shoe box type design. Felt like a regular TT but pulled like a pop-up. I'd guess that they dumped the Hi-lo idea for campers with slide outs but if you find a Hi-lo, its worth giving a serious look.
I don't remember ever seeing one. They are probably worth a lot if you find one in good shape.
Well, if you find one, it'll probably be a vintage rig, so the cost might not be that much. I still remember the looks we got when dad pressed the switch and what looked like a pop-up tent camper expanded upward into a full height hard side TT. Perhaps that type of design deserves a come back. (But I doubt it'll happen.)
They seem heavy? To me anyway. I went and looked at an older one (a 2001 hi-low towlite) and LOVED the look of it but it was over 5,000 lbs. I have a 4.8L V8 van. Not sure how that would work to tow. IDK. She wanted $6500. But the layout was good and the trailer went up hydraulically within seconds. And not sure who to take it to if it ever got stuck.
What year is that a liner that you're demonstrating? It looks to be built back in the '50s or '60s or maybe early '70s. It looks old.
It's definitely not a new model.
Thanks for the info. Helpful.
You are a mono neuron amoeba brain. Had mine for 17 years and it is flawless.
Ya Aliner is “Camping” and light weight to pull with smaller vehicles . Deluxe tent for 2 still as much as I tried to hate this video 1 thing for me is a killer I’m 6’1 most RV beds are to small dinettes forget about it. Turn the bed the other way that’s a Big RV not something with that footprint but I had an idea what about inflatable seals instead of slims pool noodle 👍
That might work. As far as the beds, if you are not sharing a bed with someone, you could sleep somewhat diagonally and you should fit.
Appreciate the info. Thanks
You're very welcome.
I love my a frame
I love our Aliner we brought it to camp in not live out of it. It is not a house.
Very good points - honest. Will watch 10 positive vid. Thanks
You didn’t talk about bathrooms….
There’s about 2 models that have collapsible wet baths built into them….. but the vast majority of A-Liners and A Frames don’t have facilities built into them….
And for those dealing with them, how fun is emptying a cassette toilet?
I was looking for a light weight towable and this looks very maintenance heavy….
One question, why do you have a wheel inside your rig?……
Maybe it’s time to find an alternative to an A frame since you’re not having the greatest of luck with yours….
BTW, maybe you should have spent a few dollars more to get a model with dormers on both ends.
Just saying
Wondering what year your Aliner was (is?)? I can't open the amazon.com link because it's actually amazon.to. Which I can't open because it won't let me get to that foreign link.
Can you stealth camp in one of these? Are they more difficult than other travel trailers to break into when collapsed?
Since you have to raise the roof to access the beds, it's not useful for stealth camping. You can put a padlock on one of the brackets when you close it up.
Drafty and gaps who cares about bugs & drafts the main thing is it’ll leak like a faucet when it rains.
Well this isn't gonna suit my needs at all. Thanks for all the info.
Thanks for sharing!
Beds Fine at 6' Tall: I'm 6 feet tall, and don't have to sleep sideways in the bed. I've got to disagree with you on that point. I replaced the couch with a standard twin mattress, and have a couple inches to spare at the end of the mattress. I have an Aliner Classic, 2011.
Good idea replacing the bench cushions with a mattress.
good excuse not to take the wife.. thanks for the info..
Hey! Wives can be fun......sometimes.
wives are old school
Weather strips will fill the gaps
A hard pop-up you not gonna have the problem
I had the chance to step inside one.Wow it reaffirmed what I thought,that pyramid shape,made it seem more cramped inside Walls are closing in.
Probably depends how much tent camping you have done.
Got to the Buggy part and that was enough info for me.
Central Australia you’ll go nuts with bugs.
Good Info, thanks for the upload.
Watch some Slim Potatohead videos, you may change your mind.
how about other popups
Those walls are filthy. What you been doing - wiping sht down them?
How old is this particular camper?
2011
I enjoyed both videos. I'm glad you addressed the pros and cons. I really like this trailer.
Glad to hear you found it useful.
Geeeese, just stay home man
Stop being so rude.
😂😅🤣😆😂
I thought the new Aliners seemed a bit expensive, I would buy a used Ambulance for much less. I enjoy the stories all the same...
Thank you for making.