Living in a small travel trailer in the desert and forrests

[SoulRaven]

I am wanting to use a small 15' travel trailer (an AR-One 15RB hybrid), pulled by a 2014 Ford Escape to live in while being in the desert blm and forrests. Is there any particular problems I may encounter that would make this a bad idea. Or just general things that I should be aware of. I would also be using this set up to go other places also. Standard RV parks and other pay for stay would be considered also but as the exception not the rule. In other words, I want to do this as inexpensively as possible, with my preferences always toward the free side of things.
And, for that matter, could there be reasons that this would be a good setup for living arrangements full time? Looking at the other side of the coin.
Thanks
Steve

 

[cyndi]

The wind in the desert can and will tear the canvas up. Also, slide-outs are often pulled in during high winds and gustier weather due to their vulnerability (canvas tears and being blown off track). Make sure your hybrid is livable with the hybrid extensions pulled in.

 

[akrvbob]

That looks like a very nice trailer. Like all RVs they are optimisitc with their numbers. They claim a 650 cargo capacity but the water and propane have to come out of it first. By the time you move in it will be over gross weight. But that's pretty normal for RVs.

Cyndi's right, you couldn't put out the back bedroom in the wind, but you could sleep on the dinnette instead so no loss. In the heat the back bedroom will be wonderful and in the cold and wind you' just leave it folded up!!

By the time you load it up I bet it's at least 3500 pounds probably more. Is an Escape rated to tow that? I thought it was a tiny SUV? The Forests require climbing big hills and lots of them, at least out west they do.

I think it's a good plan but I would strongly consider a better tow vehicle.
Bob

 

[sushidog]

On the other hand, an Escape would pull an Aliner, Chalet or Forest River A-frame hard-sided pop-up with ease. My fully loaded 06 Aliner XLE with all the bells and whistles) weighs in at only 1,700 lbs. For one person that would be an ideal trailer for your TV. Not only are they light weight but they have a small frontal area and a low center of gravity for better handling. Plus they are available with all the amenities of a bigger camper. Check out my rig: http://www.cheaprvliving.com/blog/living-traveling-pop-aliner-trailer/

Chip

 

[jimindenver]

The Escapes with the largest engines and tow packages are capable of 3500 lbs. I didnt see any tongue ratings so there may be a limitation there.

Camp lite shows one of their smaller trailers being towed with a mini. http://www.livinlite.com/camplite-floorplans.php

 

[highdesertranger]

well everyone has good advice so far. are you planning on taking this set up on unpaved roads? I agree with bob that it's going to be over weight. that means your tow vehicle is going to be beyond it's tow rating or right at it. highdesertranger

 

[SoulRaven]

Yes it is the Escape is rated to tow 3500 lbs. I will have a anti sway and load distribution hitch on. And of course the trailer has its own brakes which will be utilized from the TV.
And yes, 650 lbs can get eaten up fast. I wouldn't be carrying the fresh water full. May a 1/4 to 1/2 full. The TV has the Ecoboost engine so, I think it will have the power to pull it without much effort. I don't have the trailer yet, so I don't know know that for sure. But I have followed some other blogs about others using an Escape like mine with the same type of trailer with no problems. Of course mpg suffers some while towing. The Escape gets about 28 mpg average normally. So I am guessing it will drop down to maybe 18 mpg or so.
And yes I would just use the dinette bed on windy or harsh conditions. I probably wouldn't be taking normal showers in it while extended boon docking either. Just stand in the tub area and use a pan of some sort to sponge bathe, and maybe use trash bags in the toilet to line it with cat litter, sort of like the 5 gallon bucket method. But I will be able to make improvements on those methods as I go.
The advantage I like in this sort of set up is the space I will have and being able to move around inside without much effort or inconvenience. I know, I am acting a little wimpish here but if I can do it with not too much hassle of towing a trailer and all that involves it would be nice. Otherwise, if it seems more trouble than it's worth and too restricting as far as the traveling aspect is concerned, I will scrap the trailer idea and try something else
Thanks to everyone in the advise and input.. I am open to all you ideas and suggestions. I want to get this moving but I want to do it as efficiently as possible. And, with as few problems and oversights as possible also.

 

[SoulRaven]

Too much trailer not enough truck. How do you plan on even being able to see around the trailer with the side mirrors?

Buy yourself a 5x10 cargo trailer with an RV side door (about 900 pounds empty) and it will be just 1500 pounds fully loaded.

 

[SoulRaven]

Too much trailer not enough truck. How do you plan on even being able to see around the trailer with the side mirrors?

Buy yourself a 5x10 cargo trailer with an RV side door (about 900 pounds empty) and it will be just 1500 pounds fully loaded.

The weight problem I understand, and am planning on staying within the limits of this trailer. I will try to be sure to keep it at the 3200 lbs loaded safe capacity. The Escape is rated to tow 3500 lbs with the equipped correctly......which I am going to do.
Mr.LooRead you bring up something else I hadn't really thought of that much. The Escape has decent side mirrors that seem to give me plenty of rear view seeing. I don't really understand why that would be much of a problem seeing that the total length of the trailer is 17' including tongue and bumper, and that the total of both Escape and trailer hooked together would be about 35'. Would you go into a little more detail about this as a problem with what I am considering? Like I said earlier, I am completely open minded about finding out if what I am going to attempt is going to be more of a hassle than it's worth. All suggestions and comments are very welcome.
Thanks
Steve

 

[acfdexpo]

http://www.fiberglassrv.com.    Check out moulded fiberglass trailers.  Lightwieght and they seem well built.  Escape, Scamp, Egg Camper, Parkliner, etc...  A little more expensive but could be worth the investment.  

 

[SoulRaven]

That CAR is NOT a tow vehicle.

It has a short wheelbase, no real frame, and is front wheel drive.

When you put about 400 pounds of hitch weight on the tail the front end will float, then a semi will pass you going 80 on I-80 it will start a death roll like a alligator and someone might not live to tell the story.

 

[akrvbob]

When it comes to towing, my philosophy is buy much more towing vehicle than you think you need, and it MIGHT be enough. But if you buy barely enough tow vehicle and it will NOT be enough.

I think manufacturers ratings for tow vehicles are ridiculous at best and probably criminal. The Escape will be okay with 3500 pounds if you take a short trip once or twice a year, but if you are thinking about pulling it all over the country you are looking at doing a lot of premature wear and tear on the vehicle and the possibility of catastrophic failure. I think you will cut the transmission life at least in half.

Your mirrors need to allow you to look down the side of the trailer and see what's behind it so you can back up. At the minimum you need to see the trailer tires in your mirrors. Your trailer is probably 8 feet wide and the Escape is probably 5 feet wide. Each mirror will need to extend out at least 2 feet to see down the side of the trailer. That's not going to happen, you will be driving totally blind as to where the trailer is and where it is going.

I think the trailer is a very good choice. But the Escape is just too small to tow it.
Bob

 

[sushidog]

What, next you'll be telling me that I'm overloaded!

The dealer said it would be OK.

Chip

 

[SoulRaven]

These people made it less than 15 miles from home on a 1200 mile trip and were still in the valley and never made to the base of the first mountain they had to climb.

See for yourself what happens when a 53 foot semi passes an overloaded trailer combo.

http://wnep.com/2014/07/29/family-lost-everything-in-i-81-wreck/

 

[highdesertranger]

bob hit all the nails on the head. I agree 100%, especially about the manufactures tow ratings. to say they were very optimistic when they came up with their numbers would be a gross understatement. you never answered if you will be taking this off pavement. highdesertranger

 

[SoulRaven]

I think everyone is trying to tell me that this combination may work but not too well and that I will be running into problems no matter how careful I am with loading and putting the right equipment. So, without anymore back and forth I am going to have to agree that this combination is not the right thing to do. Back to the drawing board. But I am still going to have to use the Escape because it is what I have, can't change that part. I am going to start trying to find something to hook up to it that will be safe and still give me close to what I want in some basic comforts. the light weight Casitas and others that were mentioned before, and the cargo trailers may be my next options. Although I am a little leery about the cargo trailer, because I think I may have to do quite a bit of revamping such as putting in windows, vents, etc to make it work. I have to be able to see out. And I was wanting to do this with as little to do as possible. I am not lazy, but I just don't want to go through all that.
Thanks to everyone that have input ideas and warnings about this to me. That was exactly what I was wanting.

 

[masterplumber]

I love cargo trailers, obviously because I have one. But to build it nice it is a lot of work - I happen to enjoy that work and it's relaxing for me, but if that's not you, then you're right, you shouldn't go down that road. So I thought I'd throw out an idea I haven't seen in this thread, but I know Bob at least has proposed it elsewhere. How about a cheap Class C motor home and tow your Escape? A decent used one probably wouldn't cost anymore than the newish trailers you're looking at. The mileage penalty is probably less than you think, especially if you buy a smaller one and park it for a couple weeks at a time and run around in the Escape. My wife has a 2003 Escape, and we rented a new one on a recent trip. The new ones are much better, but I still wouldn't tow any trailer that was big enough to be comfortable in, not even one of the Egg ones.

 

[BC Guy]

I towed a 2002 Trillium Outback with an 2008 Escape with no problems.  Of course, the Trillium is only around 1100 pounds with a full water tank and has no washroom.  There is room to install a port-a-potty.
I always think that tow ratings are 1000 lbs too high.

 

[SoulRaven]

masterplumber, you have a good idea there. I have thought of the smaller class C or even a small A. And you are right, the mpg factor has sorta stopped me on that. And, I think the insurance would also be somewhat high. I used to fulltime in a 30' Class a, and the insurance on that was about $800 a year. Of course that was fulltimers insurance. There again, like you say, sitting for a couple weeks or even a month at a time could help absorb those cost a little. Especially if I am boondocking. But then I have the extra maintenance of the motor home to contend with. I have been looking on Craigslist at some units and pondering the situation. Of course, the Escape would have to use a tow dolly since the 2014s can't be towed 4 down anymore. Thanks for the suggestion.

The only thing that this thing will town safely and without too much trouble would probably be the real small things like BC Guy suggested or maybe a popup. Heck, I even have been considering doing a 180 and try using the Escape like Susanne does with her Prius. Setting up some sort of storage and sleeping arrangements in it and travel light. I mean, the important thing is the freedom and adventure......right? I have at one time camped and slept in the Escape on a Coleman air mattress and sleeping bag and pillow in the back with the seats down. It wasn't too bad. I would have to hone it a bit and set some different priorities. I was on a road trip and had a suite case and didn't really prepare for it.
Thanks again for your ideas, it is helping me keep the ideas flowing in my mind. All ideas are welcome.

 

[BC Guy]

How about a hard top folding trailer?
http://www.cheaprvliving.com/?s=aliner&submit=Go
http://www.aliner.com/campers/classic/
2100 lbs and a cassette toilet.