7 ft wide travel trailer

[d s]

I have been searching trying to find a definitive site or group that focuses
on the merits of 7 ft wide travel trailers. I have been focusing on the
reduced wind resistance these smaller profile tt's have. What I would like
to track down is a list of manufacturers and the years they built them, and
if any current manufacturers still build them.

[Paul Johnson]

Post by d s
I have been searching trying to find a definitive site or group that focuses
on the merits of 7 ft wide travel trailers. I have been focusing on the
reduced wind resistance these smaller profile tt's have. What I would like
to track down is a list of manufacturers and the years they built them, and
if any current manufacturers still build them.

If you are interested in lower wind resistance, check Trail Manor
(http://www.trailmanor.com/). They are 77" wide and "fold" down for
transit.
Paul Johnson

[HHamp5246]

Post by d s
I have been searching trying to find a definitive site or group that focuses

on the merits of 7 ft wide travel trailers. I have been focusing on the reduced
wind resistance these smaller profile tt's have. What I would like to track
down is a list of manufacturers and the years they built them, and if any
current manufacturers still build them. >

Vintage Airstreams were 7 feet wide....... ones made in the 50s and 60s. Of
course, because of their shape, even the new wide body ones have reduced wind
resistance.

Hunter
http://members.aol.com/ILuvBrady/summer2004.htm

"Life's journey is not to arrive at the grave safely in a well-preserved body,
but rather to skid in sideways, totally worn out, shouting
"...holy shit...what a ride!"

[Ralph Lindberg]

Post by d s
I have been searching trying to find a definitive site or group that focuses
on the merits of 7 ft wide travel trailers. I have been focusing on the
reduced wind resistance these smaller profile tt's have. What I would like
to track down is a list of manufacturers and the years they built them, and
if any current manufacturers still build them.

You would have to draw up the list yourself. Scamp, Casita, BigFoot (no
longer), Trilium for just a start

[Pete Dumbleton]

Post by Ralph Lindberg

Post by d s
I have been searching trying to find a definitive site or group that focuses
on the merits of 7 ft wide travel trailers. I have been focusing on the
reduced wind resistance these smaller profile tt's have. What I would like
to track down is a list of manufacturers and the years they built them, and
if any current manufacturers still build them.

You would have to draw up the list yourself. Scamp, Casita, BigFoot (no
longer), Trilium for just a start

Bigfoot is still being made, altho they might be pretty wide now. as I
think they make a 21'. In fiberglass alone, there are Scamp, Casita,
Bigfoot, Escape, Trillium and perhaps something else.

However, the width isn't the only thing. I did a "springover" on a
Jayco, raising its upper and lower profiles and found it towed better
because the lower profile matched my picktruck's bottom. The raised
upper profile was more than offset by removing the air dam.

Likewise, anyone who has towed a "box"-style RV and also towed an
Airstream or Avion will tell you that the rounded trailer tows much
easier.

Clearly, the frontal resistance on a multi-story 5W is right up there
with 18wheelers.

[Leon in Texas]

Post by d s
I have been searching trying to find a definitive site or group that focuses
on the merits of 7 ft wide travel trailers. I have been focusing on the
reduced wind resistance these smaller profile tt's have. What I would like
to track down is a list of manufacturers and the years they built them, and
if any current manufacturers still build them.

Trailmanor builds a 7'7" trailer. They are lightweight and can be
towed with a vehicle with a tow rating of @5500 lbs.... Also, they
fold down for towing, thus reducing wind resistance even more. You
probably will need a weight-distributing hitch, but not a sway bar...
See www.trailmanor.com

[d s]

I have actually seen a HiLo trailer and found the idea very interesting but
I have reservations on the hydraulic system, and the lack of storage.
Otherwise this is the greatest idea going for reduding wind resistance.

Post by Leon in Texas

Post by d s
I have been searching trying to find a definitive site or group that focuses
on the merits of 7 ft wide travel trailers. I have been focusing on the
reduced wind resistance these smaller profile tt's have. What I would like
to track down is a list of manufacturers and the years they built them, and
if any current manufacturers still build them.

Trailmanor builds a 7'7" trailer. They are lightweight and can be
fold down for towing, thus reducing wind resistance even more. You
probably will need a weight-distributing hitch, but not a sway bar...
See www.trailmanor.com

...

[Leon in Texas]

I have actually seen a Hi-Lo trailer and found the idea very interesting but
I have reservations on the hydraulic system, and the lack of storage.

Trailmanor is a folding trailer, somewhat similar to the Hi-Lo, but
the shells open and close via torsion bars. It is a manual operation,
but one person can easily do it. It is similar to opening the trunk
of an automobile...and unlike a pop-up, It can be opened and closed in
a heavy rainstorm, and everything inside stays dry. You don't have to
open it up when you get back home to air out (mildew prevention)
either. And you can remain hitched to the tow vehicle when stopping
overninght on a trip. The Hi-Lo's also have this ability. Hi-Lo's
are heavier than the Trailmanor. Both have good qualities, and things
that the owners wish were better. Then there's the Aliners...

[HDinNY]

Post by d s
I have been searching trying to find a definitive site or group that focuses
on the merits of 7 ft wide travel trailers. I have been focusing on the
reduced wind resistance these smaller profile tt's have. What I would like
to track down is a list of manufacturers and the years they built them, and
if any current manufacturers still build them.

It would help to know how you will use the info. Many makers
built 7' wide trailers in the smaller lengths, 20' and
under. Most wouldn't fit a family except for weekend
camping. Most would still be fairly heavy and not suitable
for small vehicles not intended for towing.

Sunline has built and still builds, lower front profile
trailers that are of excellent quality. They also built many
models, both conventional trailers and 5th wheels, that were
7' wide. These would be a good buy used if inspected for
water damage first.

Award built trailers that were almost as streamlined as the
Airstreams and towed quite well. Used ones have to be
inspected real close for water damage. Prices are generally
higher than the trailer is worth. Awards are 7'9" wide, as
are many other trailers, but due to the front and rear shape
are economical to tow.

Thor used to build 7' wide trailers but frankly, I've never
seen a used one that weathered well. Maybe if they had been
carefully maintained, they would be okay but I don't care
for them. Hope this helps.
HD in CNY

[d s]

I have seen the award trailers and agree that they look like a great design
but the resale cost is a bit prohibitive. Sunline must be an American brand
and are not seen around Edmonton, Alberta (at least by me). The more I
search the more I find Aero or Aerolite and the Thor derivitives.
I plan on using this trailer for weekends and the annual 2 week road trip. 7
ft wide and 21-25 ft long would do nicely. Fiberglass would be the best
since they appear to be less prone to seam leaks.

Bigfoot and Trillium are available but not in the longer length. I must
avoid fifth wheels as I tow with a van or 1/2 ton with a propane tank in the
short box.

I would appreciate anyone's input with eperience towing a narrow width TT.

Post by d s
I have been searching trying to find a definitive site or group that
focuses on the merits of 7 ft wide travel trailers. I have been focusing
on the reduced wind resistance these smaller profile tt's have. What I
would like to track down is a list of manufacturers and the years they
built them, and if any current manufacturers still build them.

It would help to know how you will use the info. Many makers built 7' wide
trailers in the smaller lengths, 20' and under. Most wouldn't fit a family
except for weekend camping. Most would still be fairly heavy and not
suitable for small vehicles not intended for towing.
Sunline has built and still builds, lower front profile trailers that are
of excellent quality. They also built many models, both conventional
trailers and 5th wheels, that were 7' wide. These would be a good buy used
if inspected for water damage first.
Award built trailers that were almost as streamlined as the Airstreams and
towed quite well. Used ones have to be inspected real close for water
damage. Prices are generally higher than the trailer is worth. Awards are
7'9" wide, as are many other trailers, but due to the front and rear shape
are economical to tow.
Thor used to build 7' wide trailers but frankly, I've never seen a used
one that weathered well. Maybe if they had been carefully maintained, they
would be okay but I don't care for them. Hope this helps.
HD in CNY

...

[HDinNY]

Post by d s
I have seen the award trailers and agree that they look like a great design
but the resale cost is a bit prohibitive. Sunline must be an American brand
and are not seen around Edmonton, Alberta (at least by me). The more I
search the more I find Aero or Aerolite and the Thor derivitives.
I plan on using this trailer for weekends and the annual 2 week road trip. 7
ft wide and 21-25 ft long would do nicely. Fiberglass would be the best
since they appear to be less prone to seam leaks.

snipped

I really think you'd be better off with an early Airstream.
They hold up better than any other but Avion and were built
in 18', 20', 22', 24' sizes. One of these used can be picked
up for under $5,000 American and would be a much better buy
than a newer 7' wide Thor. The only leaks found in
Airstreams seem to be from the clearance lights.
HD in CNY

[d s]

I have recently found a 20 ft argosy that I will be looking at this weekend.
I like the build quality of the aluminum trailers, but the floor plans are a
blast from the past. My wife is focused on a rear bunk bed setup for the
kids that is typically found in newer TT. I'm trying to get her to
compromise but I have to modify this argosy in some way.
Ultimately the desire to go with 7ft width is reduced frontal area, easier
to see around in the mirrors, and less of a driveway obstruction.

I'm curious about what experience you have with Airstream?

Post by HDinNY

Post by d s
I have seen the award trailers and agree that they look like a great
design but the resale cost is a bit prohibitive. Sunline must be an
American brand and are not seen around Edmonton, Alberta (at least by
me). The more I search the more I find Aero or Aerolite and the Thor
derivitives.
I plan on using this trailer for weekends and the annual 2 week road
trip. 7 ft wide and 21-25 ft long would do nicely. Fiberglass would be
the best since they appear to be less prone to seam leaks.

snipped
I really think you'd be better off with an early Airstream. They hold up
better than any other but Avion and were built in 18', 20', 22', 24'
sizes. One of these used can be picked up for under $5,000 American and
would be a much better buy than a newer 7' wide Thor. The only leaks found
in Airstreams seem to be from the clearance lights.
HD in CNY

...

[HHamp5246]

Post by d s
I have recently found a 20 ft argosy that I will be looking at this weekend.
I like the build quality of the aluminum trailers, but the floor plans are a
blast from the past. My wife is focused on a rear bunk bed setup for the
kids that is typically found in newer TT. I'm trying to get her to
compromise but I have to modify this argosy in some way.

I had an Argosy motorhome that had bunk beds in the back. If you get the
Argosy, I'll be happy to send you photos of the set up.

Hunter
http://members.aol.com/ILuvBrady/summer2004.htm

"Life's journey is not to arrive at the grave safely in a well-preserved body,
but rather to skid in sideways, totally worn out, shouting
"...holy shit...what a ride!"

[Jerry Donovan]

Post by d s
I have recently found a 20 ft argosy that I will be looking at this weekend.
I like the build quality of the aluminum trailers, but the floor plans are a
blast from the past. My wife is focused on a rear bunk bed setup for the
kids that is typically found in newer TT. I'm trying to get her to
compromise but I have to modify this argosy in some way.
Ultimately the desire to go with 7ft width is reduced frontal area, easier
to see around in the mirrors, and less of a driveway obstruction.
I'm curious about what experience you have with Airstream?

...

We had a 20' 1972 Argosy a while back. The reasons we ended
up selling it were the floor plan and the fact the tranmission on the
van we had at the time wasn't heavy duty enough to pull the 5000#
trailer. I think you have to get to the 24' model to have bunks in it,
but I could be wrong on that. This 20' model had a dinette table
that converted to a bed and a sofa that converted to a bed.

It was a really nice trailer though. The one downside was Argosys
were painted aluminum and the paint wouldn't stick reall well to the
metal, especially on the rounded corner roof sections.

Jerry

[HHamp5246]

Post by Jerry Donovan
It was a really nice trailer though. The one downside was Argosys
were painted aluminum and the paint wouldn't stick reall well to the
metal, especially on the rounded corner roof sections.
Jerry

The rounded corner roof sections were not aluminum, they were steel. The rest
of the Argosy is aluminum though.

Hunter
http://members.aol.com/ILuvBrady/summer2004.htm

"Life's journey is not to arrive at the grave safely in a well-preserved body,
but rather to skid in sideways, totally worn out, shouting
"...holy shit...what a ride!"

[HHamp5246]

Post by HDinNY
The only leaks found in
Airstreams seem to be from the clearance lights.
HD in CNY

If only....... the windows on mine had a serious leak. The curved windows that
wrap around the front. It's all fixed now, but it was a problem.

Airstreams do last forever, but they also do get leaks that need to be
recaulked.

Hunter
http://members.aol.com/ILuvBrady/summer2004.htm

"Life's journey is not to arrive at the grave safely in a well-preserved body,
but rather to skid in sideways, totally worn out, shouting
"...holy shit...what a ride!"

[HDinNY]

Post by HHamp5246

Post by HDinNY
The only leaks found in
Airstreams seem to be from the clearance lights.
HD in CNY

If only....... the windows on mine had a serious leak. The curved windows that
wrap around the front. It's all fixed now, but it was a problem.
Airstreams do last forever, but they also do get leaks that need to be
recaulked.

But if he picked up one of the older models, without the
wraparound window, he'd not have that problem at least. I
don't recall Viola's folks ever leaking. It was a '66 and
had all flat windows. Plus the 60's models were a lot lighter.
HD in CNY

[Chris Bryant]

I don't recall Viola's folks
ever leaking.

Probably more information than we need <g>.

[HDinNY]

Post by Chris Bryant

I don't recall Viola's folks
ever leaking.

Probably more information than we need <g>.

Hah! Good one Chris <g>.
HD in CNY

[HHamp5246]

Post by HDinNY
But if he picked up one of the older models, without the
wraparound window, he'd not have that problem at least. I
don't recall Viola's folks ever leaking. It was a '66 and
had all flat windows. Plus the 60's models were a lot lighter.
HD in CNY

I think they can leak too, sounds like her folks were lucky. The older models
are a whole lot lighter than the new ones like mine. Mine is all solid oak
cabinetry, heavy carpet (I've removed mine) it's a really luxurious trailer.

The older ones had all light materials to keep them light. Personally, I like
mine better....

Wally Byam, the inventor, would roll in his grave if he could see the new
"classics".

Hunter
http://members.aol.com/ILuvBrady/summer2004.htm

"Life's journey is not to arrive at the grave safely in a well-preserved body,
but rather to skid in sideways, totally worn out, shouting
"...holy shit...what a ride!"

[Lon VanOstran]

Post by HHamp5246
Airstreams do last forever, but they also do get leaks that need to be
recaulked.
Hunter

Anything and everything needs to be recaulked on an RV. Caulk dries out and
cracks. Cracks let water in. Every RV owner needs to go over every inch of his
RV 2 or 3 times EVERY YEAR to make sure there is no bad caulk. I have removed
and replaced every inch of visible caulk on our MH (It's just over 5 years
old). I don't plan to have leaks.

Lon

[William Boyd]

Post by HHamp5246

Post by HDinNY
The only leaks found in
Airstreams seem to be from the clearance lights.
HD in CNY

If only....... the windows on mine had a serious leak. The curved windows that
wrap around the front. It's all fixed now, but it was a problem.
Airstreams do last forever, but they also do get leaks that need to be
recaulked.
Hunter
http://members.aol.com/ILuvBrady/summer2004.htm
"Life's journey is not to arrive at the grave safely in a well-preserved body,
but rather to skid in sideways, totally worn out, shouting
"...holy shit...what a ride!"

...

That depends on what you use to calk them with. There are commercial
caulks out there that can be used on the exterior to seal the seam for
nearly a life time. We used it on gas tanks on aircraft back when they
had wet wings. B-25s, B-26s and C-54s all of them had to be sealed. It
was a two part epoxy latex like stiff, had to mix it up a little at a
time. But it would probably cost quite a lot. Don't know if it has a
commercial name
but the military was EC612, one kind, any way, I don't remember the
other stuffs mil. spec. number, LZ might.

BILL P

[Lone Haranguer]

William Boyd wrote:

I don't remember the

Post by William Boyd
other stuffs mil. spec. number, LZ might.

Sorry. All I recall about the gas tanks is that they were supposedly
"self sealing", when punctured with bullets, they were too close to the
engines when you had an engine on fire and if the cap on the tank above
the bomb bay wasn't put on tight, the gas ended up in the gunner's
compartment.
LZ

[William Boyd]

Post by William Boyd
I don't remember the

Post by William Boyd
other stuffs mil. spec. number, LZ might.

Sorry. All I recall about the gas tanks is that they were supposedly
"self sealing", when punctured with bullets, they were too close to the
engines when you had an engine on fire and if the cap on the tank above
the bomb bay wasn't put on tight, the gas ended up in the gunner's
compartment.
LZ

Those self sealing tanks were like an inner tube put in the old wet wing
it was supposed to be self sealing for real small holes. But this mod, I
don't think made it to all of them, I know not to the C-54.

BILL P.

[MTV]

Post by d s
I have been searching trying to find a definitive site or group that focuses
on the merits of 7 ft wide travel trailers. I have been focusing on the
reduced wind resistance these smaller profile tt's have. What I would like
to track down is a list of manufacturers and the years they built them, and
if any current manufacturers still build them.

Most "Lite" trailers built today are 7.5' vs. conventional heavy trailers @
8'. I couldn't think of any "merits" of 7' except more cramped quarters and
shorter truck mirrors.

Marv

[Jim Redelfs]

Post by d s
I have been searching trying to find a definitive site or group that focuses
on the merits of 7 ft wide travel trailers. I have been focusing on the
reduced wind resistance these smaller profile tt's have. What I would like
to track down is a list of manufacturers and the years they built them, and
if any current manufacturers still build them.

Aerolite (by Thor)

<http://www.aero-rv.com/>

built line of 7-foot-wide trailers back when I bought my 2000 Skamper.

I did a Google search for Aerolite 7 and came up with this:

<http://www.travelaire.com/aerolitetrailerstable2001.html>

Good luck!
:)
JR

[Sonof Ravenson]

Post by d s
I have been searching trying to find a definitive site or group that focuses
on the merits of 7 ft wide travel trailers. I have been focusing on the
reduced wind resistance these smaller profile tt's have. What I would like
to track down is a list of manufacturers and the years they built them, and
if any current manufacturers still build them.

Here's the URL of a web site devoted to fiberglass travel trailers,
many of which are around (+ or - a couple inches) the 7' wide you
specify...

http://fiberglassrv.com/

There's a photo album on the site representing, currenty, 27 different
trailers from Amerigo to Ventura. Not all are still in production, but
some are. FWIW, I own a 17' Casita LD. At 6'8" wide, it's about the
same width as my tow vehicle, a Dodge pickup.