Here is My dilemma,
First off it may seem like I'm crazy even thinking about a major purchase, the economy is horrible the stock market is killing me ! gas prices are ridiculous
but it's time to start enjoying my retirement while I'm still physically able.
The wife and I love to camp, we don't camp in established camp grounds we go out of our way to find the least travelled forest roads where there are no other people or at least they are 1/4 mile away, this is why we have a 4x4 Grand Cherokee, being on these roads requires a camper with good ground clearance, our current camper is a unique camper with a off road suspension its very light weight only 650 lbs goes anywhere and tows like a dream !! we used to tow it with our 2008 Pontiac Torrent then the 2016 Jeep Grand Cherokee.
Now the dilemma we love it but I cant set it up by myself (bad shoulders/ bad knee's) the lid is also the queen bed and due to the extended bumper and the fact that it has no hydraulic assist I can no longer flip it over by myself to the tent position and all 105 lbs of my wife is starting to struggle also then there are the tent poles and all the snaps its a bit of a pain but has served us well for about 9 years.
Time to look for something with little or no set up , pull in, set stabilizers open door !! HOWEVER my criteria limits me !! I WILL NOT OVER TAX MY TOW VEHICLE !! I have to be able to stand up in it, want it to weigh no more than 2000 lbs and be less than 20 ft long
with a bed you don't have to convert every day , you see I want to be able to get into those quaint small boondock places !!
Right now the only thing that checks all the boxes is the Aliner Classic 15 ft total length, 1725 lbs and tow height 5.9 inches, perm queen bed or sofa and perm dinette, center height when open over 6 feet, off road susp. I opened one up my self with very minimum effort in less than 2 minutes. but lord they are $$
I have looked at full hard side campers, to big , to tall, to heavy but here is my biggest concern, cheap crap materials, poor, poor craftsmanship I saw some brand new never off the lot with trim falling off, laminates peeling slapped together with staples and glue
unbelievable !!doesn't anybody have quality control or integrity anymore ?
Here are a few pics of my old rig, everything I needed and nothing I didn't, If it wasn't for set up Id keep her,
I'm hesitant in this economy but I have things I want to do before I'm worm food. note she's at home in the tall pines or the desert




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Might sound like a strange suggestion, but could you spring-load the surfaces you’re having trouble with so it’s easier on your knees and shoulders?

Stretch the spring one time in the right place, then raising and lowering should be much easier. Like a car window - the spring loads when you pull it down, and helps you lift up when you need it.

However, I know nothing of your attachment points, their integrity, nor whether they could stand the strain of substituting for your shoulders and knees.

Going 1 step further, what about some simple hydraulics? Probably too much weight, but just an idea.

Chris

 

I can't help as I've never had one of those fancy trailers. I either use a tent or sleep under the stars.

 

You might want to look at a TrailManor mini. Hard sided pop up. Size & weight seem right
for you. We owned the 2720 it was a good trailer. Best of luck in your hunt

 

A-Liner or Rpod with the lift kit installed.

 

Motels are still not that expensive.

 

That Trail manor is pretty cool !! a still smaller version would be great, when open it seems huge I don't think I could open it in some of my favorite spots. Kudo's to them for innovation !!

 

I have looked at a R-Pod 180 and my wife really liked it ,they are being discontinued for some reason, the 180 models not R-Pods, not sure why they would discontinue it seems to be one of their more popular models, still a little heavy for me at 3000 lbs. My Jeep is rated at 6200 lbs tow capacity (it has the tow package ) but I'm not buying that, I refuse to over tax my vehicles there are many long mountain grades here and I always see people pulled to the side of the road with the bigger rigs and I say to myself your towing to much !!
It keeps coming back to the Aliner Classic (with dormers ) and off road package, total 15 foot hitch to bumper and 1800 lbs dry weight and only 68 inches closed tow height, perm or folding bed and a dinette that can be made into a bed no converting every night.
I am determined to explore or exhaust all the possibilities before doing this. it's a major purchase, probably my last camper and I want to be sure I make the best choice.
With all that said pretty soon I will be lucky to go to the corner store, GAS @ OVER $5.00 A GALLON !!! I will be camping in my back yard !!
one way or the other some how this $hit has got to stop !!