We are looking for a very lightweight camper tent trailer sort of thing for our 2011 Sub. Outback. I am very concerned about towing weight with all loaded. Does anyone have one out there, or have experience with other campers that are like this - ie LifeTime Trailer Tent? Thanks for any suggestions and sharing your experience.
Does Anyone know about the Sylvan Sport Go Lightweight Camper Trailer?
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The sylvan looks a little expensive. I have been looking at the lifetime and lets go aero little giant trailers. They seem to be about the same price. Have you seen any of the livinlite popups? I wish I could get buy in from my wife...I would get an livinlite xlp.
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Yes I looked at it closely. Very expensive for a very low quality lightly built trailer and tent. The Livinglite trailers are great much better value and you can rig up a rack over the soft top that places the load weight on the hard box sides.
We bought the Lifetime trailer the tent quality is unmatched and the trailer doubles as a proper utility trailer. Regarding weight we have towed countless boats and trailers with the 2.5 since 2001. Our current 2010 cvt limited tows great. Go anywhere in extreme temps 100+ degree heat rediculous climbs etc you want your dry empty trailer weight to be 1200lbs and under. Our Lifetime trailer is exceptionally well built 900lbs empty. The 2.5 with two adults one kid lots of camping crap hardly even notices the trailer. We run 21mpg in the hills at 60-65mph and 25-26mpg at 65-70mph.
My boat is max trailer width 1700lbs empty with trailer behind the car. Tows very nice 16mpg at 70mph with head wind. 23mpg no head winds 60 mph. Power is generally never the issue. Cooling capacity is really the limiting factor.
My rigs SubaruOutback.org Member Galleries - subiesailor Gallery
The Lifetime site exceptional quality PopUp Times Magazine – Lifetime Tent Trailer
Lifetime Tent Trailer
Thanks so much for your feedback. I will look more closely at the lifetime. Did you purchase it directly from the lifetime company, or through Cabelas etc? I had also been looking at the Aliners and was just concerned about weight is all. Its just the two of us and our pup and the usual camping stuff. We also have been ground tent campers so have all the usual things like camp stoves and such. Just looking for an option to get off the ground! Knees and back can't do that kind of thing so much anymore!
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Costco bought it online on a Thursday it was delivered to my front door on Tuesday. You do need to assemble the LifeTime trailer but they do an exceptional job regarding the instructions and how the trailer is assembled. Very easy to do and the quality of the parts and tent is impressive.
The only time you need to worry about weight is when your buying any of the standard RV branded stuff which are quite heavy for their size due to the materials they use press board interiors, ply floors etc etc.
I was tempted to get the Lifetime trailer from Costco, but it is a different model this year, and not as desirable (to me). Check out the specs and reviews. I would still like to get the original Lifetime trailer, but not the current "Sahara" model.
More Choices
I've been keeping a small file on this as well.
Let's Go Aero
LittleGiant TreeHaus Trailer for camping, cargo, utility, ATV toy hauler by Let's Go Aero - LittleGiant TreeHaus™ Camper: Tent & Utility Trailer
Livin Lite
Quicksilver 8.0 All Aluminum Ultra Light Campers by Livinlite RV
I've been keeping a small file on this as well.
Let's Go Aero
LittleGiant TreeHaus Trailer for camping, cargo, utility, ATV toy hauler by Let's Go Aero - LittleGiant TreeHaus™ Camper: Tent & Utility Trailer
Livin Lite
Quicksilver 8.0 All Aluminum Ultra Light Campers by Livinlite RV
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If all you need is two beds the new one actually does have some interesting features the old one didn't have. You can roll up the tent and lash it down to the front tailgate leaving the entire trailer bed open for hauling gear. Thats not a bad feature. My biggest complaint about the new one are the small beds. They could have easily offered it with full size beds by having the tall side sections with folding extensions like the original. However if you don't need the full size bed its not a bad design.
With two kids and a grand parent who likes to go camping with us - I'm looking at getting the stacking bunk bed cots from Cabellas - and setting them up on the outside edge of the bed - this creates a nice 3rd bunk on the inside edge for a grand parent. Or we can toss the bunk beds on the floor giving the grand parent a full size bed with privacy curtain. Either way the two full size beds for two adults and two kids would be a must. Freaking love the trailer though!!! Will be hauling some demo debri to the dump next month with it. Then in April looking like at least one local fast weekend camping trip is on the planner. With more to come.
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For two the gear wagon concept is a nice one. Gives you a little more weather protection for shoulder season use. Nice size for two people and gear hauling plus easy to tow.
GearWagon 125 Camper, Sport Utility & Toy Hauler Trailer - Let's Go Aero - GearWagon™ 125 Cargo & Camper Trailer Far FAR better value than the Sylvan. The Sylvan is a two person sleeper however much lower quality trailer frame and tent material for a big price. Last I checked it was pushing $7000+. Which case the far far superior materials in the current two sleeper Lifetime trailer and price makes that a clear winner in quality and value for your money.
GearWagon 125 Camper, Sport Utility & Toy Hauler Trailer - Let's Go Aero - GearWagon™ 125 Cargo & Camper Trailer Far FAR better value than the Sylvan. The Sylvan is a two person sleeper however much lower quality trailer frame and tent material for a big price. Last I checked it was pushing $7000+. Which case the far far superior materials in the current two sleeper Lifetime trailer and price makes that a clear winner in quality and value for your money.
We did purchase the Sylvan Go. We love it! And we are old tent campers and VERY impressed with the quality of the materials. They have been updated since the original models. We found a dealer that is close to us and that has been great. The other popup tent trailers we were considering were less expensive but much heavier and came with features we didn't want. Also the dealers were in the western part of the state or in New Hampshire and we really did want to see it, and be able to deal with someone close if possible. Re the Wellbuilt/Lifetime. I didn't like that we would have to build some of the unit ourselves. Also didn't like that we couldnt put it up or down and kick the tires so to speak before we purchased it. I was only able to find online dealers verus somewhere we could actually look at it. I had gone to a couple of RV shows and they were not there. The hybrid trailors, the A-liners and teardrops etc were just more weight than I wanted in in some cases more money.
Anyway - thanks so much everyone for offering your feedback.
Anyway - thanks so much everyone for offering your feedback.
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Enjoy! Report back after you get a chance to use it a bit do a little mini review plenty of other folks no doubt have the same general idea light - easy etc.
I just used my lifetime trailer to haul 1000lbs of demo debri to the dump doing a sizable remodel on the house. Building the trailer was super easy one of the easiest things I've assembled over the years given it was built exceptionally well with the assembly process very well planned out using the aspects of the trailer to make assembly very easy. Basically if you can turn a socket wrench you can easily assemble the lifetime trailers. The savings in the price is well worth it.
The only thing I find interesting about the Sylvan from a design aspect is the hard top section that raises up.
switch to hammock camping...
"We also have been ground tent campers so have all the usual things like camp stoves and such. Just looking for an option to get off the ground! Knees and back can't do that kind of thing so much anymore!"
https://www.hammockforums.net/forum/?
i'll never be on the ground again either.
and it'll be cheaper and better gas mileage.
"We also have been ground tent campers so have all the usual things like camp stoves and such. Just looking for an option to get off the ground! Knees and back can't do that kind of thing so much anymore!"
https://www.hammockforums.net/forum/?
i'll never be on the ground again either.
and it'll be cheaper and better gas mileage.
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Phill this was the big reason I picked up the lifetime rig. Wife was loosing interest camping due to sleeping on the ground. I added costco memory foam toppers to the top of the stock padding - the queen sized beds now are nearly as comfy as our bed at home. The big reason I like the life time trailer is the toy hauling ability and multi use option using the trailer to haul stuff like debri to the dump etc. I get far more use out of the trailer all year long vs just during camping season etc. The larger 13inch tires are big deal for long road trips also. Not a fan of the midget tires on many of the little trailers. I've delt with enough burned out bearings and bad tires over the years ;-)
I have camped in tents, Pop ups, 25' Fifth Wheel, and now I have a Teardrop. It has a queen size memory foam mattress, pull out galley with stove and sink, and I have a small pop up shower enclosure and porta potty for my wife. Nothing beats it comfort wise, is a snap to set up and it is very campable and great looking to boot. Everytime we camp it draws a quite a bit of attention. We love it, weighs <900lbs and tows great with my '12 2.5 OB. You can pick up a decent one for 4-5K:29:
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Hey Soon - what shower set up do you have? I've been trying to cobble together some ideas for showers. So far I haven't actually bought any of the bits and pieces yet.
Thinking sun shower bag then some sort of PVC pipe frame with a tarp cover sitting over a inflatable kiddie pool type base. Thats the rough idea anyway.
Sun shower bag could be hung off a bar rigged to the trailer vs having to find a tree or some other way to hang it.
Most of the campgrounds we camp in have showers available. However for the times when they are not available, I have this as an enclosure:Trekker Fold a Privy.
Cabela's: Trekker Fold-A-Privy
It sets up and also comes down in literally seconds and is the easiest one I have ever seen. Used with a solar shower it works fine and is not too pricey. We use it for the porta potty for my wife at night as well.
Sylvan Sport
The "Go" which I own, is remarkably well built. It is NOT a camper as people keep referring to. It is a multi-use trailer that offers the ability to camp with an extremely high quality Kelty tent that is fully water proof. So far I have used it to haul crap to the dump, pickup sheetrock, plywood etc. Haul my extremely large motorcycle (BMW GS Adventure) to the shop (The Go is also a full tilt hydraulic ramp). I have gone to a local lake and used it as a home base for covered eating, I have camped in hail. You can haul 12 mountain bikes, 6 Kayaks and whatever else you can dream up.
The Go is some of the most clever engineering I have seen. It bothers me that people can make comments about this trailer without ever seeing or touching it. It is leaps and bounds more sophisticated than the Livinlite Jeep trailer plus you can haul anything you want up to 1,000lbs. It is the single best piece of camping, hauling, utility gear that I have ever purchased.
The Livinlite is just a utility trailer converted into a camper. You can't haul anything significant and I guarantee that if you put them side by side you will see that the GO is far superior in quality and engineering. The GO is made from extruded aluminum, all parts down to the axle are top of the line, tires can do 90mph (Not recommended but can) Oh and yes, we haul it with an Outback.
Go see for yourself and don't listen to ridiculous comments of people who have not experienced one. I looked at everything thinking that the GO was an overpriced tent until I took the time to see one in person. Yes, I looked at the Livinlite stuff as well.
Nuff said.
I have to pipe in on this misinformation. "Very expensive for a very low quality lightly built trailer and tent". That is an absolute BS comment to make. It sounds more like a Livinlite employee.
The "Go" which I own, is remarkably well built. It is NOT a camper as people keep referring to. It is a multi-use trailer that offers the ability to camp with an extremely high quality Kelty tent that is fully water proof. So far I have used it to haul crap to the dump, pickup sheetrock, plywood etc. Haul my extremely large motorcycle (BMW GS Adventure) to the shop (The Go is also a full tilt hydraulic ramp). I have gone to a local lake and used it as a home base for covered eating, I have camped in hail. You can haul 12 mountain bikes, 6 Kayaks and whatever else you can dream up.
The Go is some of the most clever engineering I have seen. It bothers me that people can make comments about this trailer without ever seeing or touching it. It is leaps and bounds more sophisticated than the Livinlite Jeep trailer plus you can haul anything you want up to 1,000lbs. It is the single best piece of camping, hauling, utility gear that I have ever purchased.
The Livinlite is just a utility trailer converted into a camper. You can't haul anything significant and I guarantee that if you put them side by side you will see that the GO is far superior in quality and engineering. The GO is made from extruded aluminum, all parts down to the axle are top of the line, tires can do 90mph (Not recommended but can) Oh and yes, we haul it with an Outback.
Go see for yourself and don't listen to ridiculous comments of people who have not experienced one. I looked at everything thinking that the GO was an overpriced tent until I took the time to see one in person. Yes, I looked at the Livinlite stuff as well.
Nuff said.
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Hey RR I don't have a livinlite though we have several family members who do and I've borrowed them and used them. #1 Livinlite custom builds to your needs two of the rigs are custom from the ground up for a slight bump in cost. The 3rd is stock off the shelf.
Ever heard of the Jumping Jack trailer its considered one of the best ATV off road camping rigs built in the US. The trailer I have was built by the same hands sold under the Lifetime brand its identical only set up as a single ATV rig vs the double that the Jumping Jack is designed for. Yes its a utility trailer with a very heavy canvas tent think Military grade its not your thin nylon weekend camper tent material. The trailer its self has a floor made up of 2x6's and it has welded tie down loops all over the place the tent slips out and the top heavy deck designed to haul a 600lb ATV tip up to create a tall sided Utilty trailer I took 1800lbs of demo debri to the dump two months ago. The next day I took my 12ft racing sailboat over to the club using the same trailer with the tent stowed in it and went sailing.
In camping mode we have a 4x6 carpeted floor stowed in the tent bag and two queen sized beds with privacy curtains with a 2inch foam pad which then has a 2inch memory foam over that again all stowed in the tent bag under the main hauling deck.
We sleep two kids - two parents and on some trips we sleep a grand parent all with their own beds. Kids get put into bunk cots when the grand parent tags along. Mom and dad get their own room. Whole rig empty behind the car is 900lbs 12ft hitch to tail lights with 13inch tires and big ground clearance we take it off road to some of out of the way camping spots with zero issues.
The GO was being sold for $8000 when I looked at it. It consisted of light tube frame bolted together with plastic fittings and a very light weight single season tent with two single bunks. Also had very small tires.
The Lifetime 4x6 the single ATV camp trailer version of the Jumping Jack was $1900 heavy steel welded frame bolted together only plastic on it are the lights and the heavy tail gate ie porch step bumpers. And it has very nice 13inch wheels to boot. Very different machine than the Go or the Livinlite which is more road oriented vs off road utility of the life time trailer. The Livinlites are very nice and the custom rigs have some super cool features.
My ideal set up for when the kids are older will probably be a Tacoma with a Fourwheel drive pop up camper 800lbs - and our tent trailer for the kids. Or if we are hauling the boat the kids get a tent on the ground.
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