Aluminum Camper Forum

The tent was $725 with shipping.

Quote from: MitchB on July 10, 2017, 11:15:22 AM
What's everybody using for group 24 or 27 deep cycle batteries these days?  It's about time for me to buy a new one and I'm not going down the golf cart battery path right now. Going to stick with a single 12v probably group 24 although I'd go to 27 if it would fit in my current battery configuration which limits me to about 11 1/2 inches.

Mitch

What is the golf cart battery path? Im interested in alternative options.

This is not just for emergencies, but this is everything I can think of that I keep in my trailer as far as tools and spare parts. I keep it all in a soft sided bag inside a 5 gallon Home Depot bucket with lid in case I need a bucket for anything.

• Tire Iron
• Screwdrivers #1,#2,#3, Phillips and Flathead
• Small Socket Set (Nothing Larger than 3/4 Needed)
• Star Bit Set (Test This First - All Screws on my QS10 are star)
• Speedy Stitcher (For Doing Canvas Repairs, See Youtube)
• Fuses (Check Converter For Amperage)
• Breaker (Severe Just-In-Case)
• Few Rolls Of Paracord (You'd be surprised how much you will use it)
• Carabiners
• Plastic Shower Curtain Rings (For use with carabiners and paracord) (Think Clotheslines, Kitchen Utensil Stringer, etc)
• Clothespins
• Flashlight
• Duct Tape
• Electrical Tape
• Multimeter (And education on how it works)
• Small Bottle Jack
• Survival Blankets (5x7 tarp on one side, mylar on the other. Can be slipped above the beds, mylar facing down, for extra heat retention if cold)
• 12v Cigarette Light Style Extension Cord
• Wire Stripper/Crimper Tool
• Small Roll of 12-16 Gauge Wire
• Misc Electrical Connectors (https://www.harborfreight.com/150-piece-terminal-and-connector-set-67683.html)

Quote from: pjcd on June 26, 2017, 06:21:32 PM
Great little trailer, I had one a few years ago, got a lot of attention at the campgrounds.  The only thing I would get is one of those tools for unsnapping the canvas, (instead of just pulling the material). I also spent a lot of time putting UV protection on the cover, it dryed out family quick. Enjoy!

I second that. I dont ever touch a snap without the tool now. I have ripped so many snap apart trying to do it any other way.

https://www.amazon.com/Top-Snapper-Snap-Tool-Boat-Snaps/dp/B00GHU5PXO/ref=sr_1_1?s=boating-water-sports&ie=UTF8&qid=1498515647&sr=1-1&keywords=snap+tool

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=acQYN-zIeZU

This is most definately not what you are looking for but...

I have a quicksilver so I couldnt go with a thick mattress because it wouldnt fold up.

I have a intex PureSpa inflatable hot tub and it is made with this tech they call durabeam or fibertech. Its tiny little threads that are threaded across the inside of the inflatable tub to keep it from flexing when pressure is applied like my 240lbs sitting on the edge. On top of that, my purespa sat on my back patio for 2 years through the arizona summers and winters before I moved and I never re-inflated it once. It really impressed me.

I was walking through Walmart before our last trip and I found an intex queen 13" thick air mattress with that same fiber tech webbing inside and decided to try it for $54. My wife was against it from the start and demanded a real mattress. This bed was perfect on our last trip. My wife would get out of bed and I couldnt even feel the mattress move. It was firm and supportive. Since I have been home I actually have been laying on my $6000 sleep number bed wishing I could sleep on my $54 intex bed again. Its very sad.

Here is my OEM "mattress" on top of my intex bed. By the way, the OEM mattress was used as a topper in the situation above.

https://goo.gl/photos/UZrvnNwdtbe4SB7JA

Here is the mattress I bought. See the video for more detail on the fiber-tech construction.

https://www.walmart.com/ip/Intex-Queen-13-Elevated-Dura-Beam-Airbed-Mattress-with-Built-In-Electric-Pump/43310144

Quote from: nolichuckyjake on June 20, 2017, 03:32:42 PM
Very interested in your rear carrier mod.  Have you used it yet, and how much weight are you carrying in it?
I'm needing to carry a generator (about 75 lbs.) and spare gas (30-35 lbs.).

I have a neighbor who welds aluminum professionally.

Thanks.

Mine is a 500lb capacity aluminum harbor freight carrier. I drilled 2 holes in the side of the carrier and secure to the bumper with square shaped U bolts from lowes. Then to prevent the torsional twisting on the bumper itself, I shot 2 bolts through the front of the carrier and through the frame of the trailers box. I have definitely carried 100lbs no problem with a small generator, propane tank, gas tank, and misc utility items. I weigh 240 lbs and have gently stood in the carrier with no flex either. My wife has followed me on trips and said there doesn't look like there is anything to be concerned with. Its on there solid.

https://goo.gl/photos/32JTyU6R7k9MGghK9

I did something similar but a little more complex.

https://goo.gl/photos/tS45JXEpku3To4Y16

Mine is a net hammock made from 1/2" galvanized pipe with 4 pre-bent 90 degree corners from Home Depot and 2 Reese SUV cargo nets from Walmart. It is suspended from the bimini poles using rope chains that I made out of paracord, each with a carbiner for adjustability of height and angle depending on where you want to hang it (i.e. over the dinette or over the bed). Inside the left net is a large mortar mixing tub that creates structure in the net and is also used as our shower pan for showering (I have a diy shower curtain setup made from takedown pvc pipe. Another thread for another day).

https://www.walmart.com/ip/Reese-Carry-Power-Hammock-Cargo-Net/15125845

I verified with Livinlite that the same 819859 custom axle is used for the 8 and 10 quicksilver models at a capacity of 1500lbs.

Here is the link for the etrailer discussion regarding brake parts for the QS10 which would be the same on the 8.0.

https://www.etrailer.com/question-158902.html

I totaled all of this up and the price came to just shy of $500 including the controller for your car. After talking with Dan Miller at Livinlite, it became questionable of whether or not it would be advantageous to have Dexter just build a new 2000lb axle with brakes for a similar price.

I haven't gone through the motions of finding out exactly what it would cost yet but I did verify the contact for the Torflex division of Dexter is 405-262-6700 if anyone wants to look into it.

Quote from: Sean on January 13, 2017, 10:56:01 AM

I've seen someone post about replacing the benches with the Plano sportsman trunks. I havent tried it, but if I recall they mentioned that three set side by side are nearly a direct replacement for the bench. The 56qt model is the one used http://amzn.to/2iktXwY
I use these for a ton of storage in the camper. They fit nicely in the walkway during transport. They stack very well when at camp, and the tops are lockable. I use them for everything from food storage to gear organization. I figure it keeps the little critters away from our food and makes it far easier to put away when we need to keep things out of reach for larger critters.

-Sean

Yeah that was me. They have worked out awesome. I actually left the original dinette seats in the backyard of my old house as planter boxes filled with dirt when I moved to Colorado.

They are almost a direct replacement with 2 exceptions: 1) The original dinette was at an angle to clear the driver side fender-well that sticks up through the floor but the plano sportsman is not. Therefore I put the bin just to the inside of the fender-well only on that side and the walkway side sticks out maybe 2". Not enough to even be noticed though. The other 3 bins at the back stay flush with the wall. 2) The bins are just slightly shorter at the ground section than the original dinette so when converting to a bed, you need to lay a 2x4 wide side down to hold the bins away from the little pony wall or else the table has a slight chance of falling through. The 2x4 keeps the bins snug to the table on both sides so there is no chance of it falling through while laying on it. I weigh 240lbs and stand directly on the table all the time while its in its lowered position.

In total I have 9 plano sportsman bins in my camper. 6 black for the seats @ 3x3, and 3 green for everything I take outside. The 3 green go into the aisle while travelling.

I was wondering if someone knew why the type of material was selected for our quicksilver tents and how everyone feels about it? I understand its waterproofing abilities, but other tents and pop ups are also water resistant while still being an actual fabric right?

I have had so many struggles lately with my tent that my wife is now suggesting we sell before something really major happens to the trailer. We have only taken our trailer out 5 times since I bought it in November of 2015 and every single time I open it, something else has broken. I would say 95% of our issues are related to the tent being vinyl vs fabric and either shrinking with lowering temps or being more difficult to clean.

• We have lost 15 total snaps on the tonneau cover and tent and I use the tent snap tool every time.
• The tent becomes so tight if the temps drop below 65 that we have ripped 2 zippers off (1 door, 1 window) and had to hand stitch them back on.
• I have snapped 2 zipper pulls in half trying to zip up windows at night.
• We have black marks inside and out that will not come off with anything we have tried.
• Alot of our major seams look like they are stretched to the max and the thread holes are so big that we can see the color of the sky through them. One of these threads shares the awning zipper and I am stressed out about having the awning up every time in fear of a single gust of wind ripping the whole side of my camper off.

Top-Stitch just quoted me the price of 4 months of my trailer payment for a replacement tent so I am considering talking to my local boat canvas shop about a custom build at that price. Thats where my material research comes in. I am trying to understand the background on the choice of material. Was it to keep costs low? Is it improved over a quality canvas in some way?

I just don't get it. I love my trailer but its becoming really uncomfortable to open it up for a trip not knowing whats going to fail next.

Thanks,