Current Travel Trailers / RVs you're towing - Reviews and Recommendations!

[VandalSibs]

I'm pulling an Airstream Basecamp 20X.

I tried out a Sol Horizon too, but ultimately decided I liked the Basecamp better, mostly for the larger sleeping area (the shape is a bit odd but the total area is very close to a king bed).

At 55mph I see 1.5 or even 1.6 mi/kWh, at 65 it drops to 1.3 mi/kWh or so.

Having a trailer makes charging stops so much nicer, since you can just flop in the trailer for 45 mins or so, have a snack, and get back on the road.

My wife and I looked at the Basecamps back when we were first researching trailers. At the time, we were towing with a Model Y and I think the weight was a huge limit. The cost was also a factor.

What do you think of the build quality between the Airstream & the Sol Horizon? I'm still interested in the Basecamps as a potential upgrade, but one thing I remember seeing on various Airstream boards and the subreddit was that the build quality had gone down the tubes since "the old days"...

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[bike123.com]

I've been curious as to what Travel Trailers/RVs members of this community are towing with their R1Ts/R1Ss (and in the future, maybe R2s and R3s!?) - If you have some shots, share them! Give us some info about your set-up, the good and the bad, and whatever other thoughts you might have...

I'll start off:

Wife and I tow an inTech Sol Dawn. It's a 16' with some funky design choices that we really love - tall enough for me to stand up in (I'm 6'3"), decently light for what is packed in there, and is easy to maintain (winterizing takes about 15 minutes, and that includes draining the water heater).

One thing that would be nice is slightly bigger sleeping space - I'm quite tall and my wife is too, and no matter how we arrange ourselves, the sleeping space is just a bit too small. We've thought about bumping up to a bigger rig in the series (the Sol Dusk), but the cost right now is just a bit much. But if our current trailer met with an accident...... hehehe.

Very nice unit.
We helped an employee buy the Lil Guy Micro, 1600# so he can tow with his Outback and for paying for it with no interest 3 year payback we get to use it.
Too bad lil guy bit the dust last year but we like the low height, compact design, and low step in.
The unit that caught our attention was the happier camper - though for just a few outings in a year……
Nah.
The Outback guy, a bachelor and official owner of the little guy, loves to consume , and to ‘ be prepared’ bought a slide in bed/drawer system as well as a climb-up rooftop unit.
When doomsday comes, he’s prepped.

 

[rhumbliner]

We traded in our Ram EcoDiesel to tow our 27’ Flying Cloud with a DM R1T Max and haven’t ever looked back. It’s so much nicer towing with the R1T.

 

[Riviot]

2013 '16 Airstream "Bambi". Getting an average of 1.4 mi/kWh over 300 miles, mostly back and forth to the Colorado mountains from Denver. Tows like a dream, hardly even notice it's there.

Beautiful! This is what I'm trying to get my smarter half to let me buy.

What speed did you get 1.4MPK? And was that with the Pirelli AT tires?

 

[GogglesPisano]

1972 Boler the wife and I restored although a modern Scamp is based off the original molds.

 

[VandalSibs]

1972 Boler the wife and I restored although a modern Scamp is based off the original molds.

That looks like some really impressive work! How much modernization did you do to it, if any? And do you have any documentation of the work that was done (because that would be amazing to see!)?

 

[GogglesPisano]

That looks like some really impressive work! How much modernization did you do to it, if any? And do you have any documentation of the work that was done (because that would be amazing to see!)?

Thanks. It was a total gut job. Managed to save the original stove and fridge though as we wanted to keep the charm of the era. Completely reoutfitted the interior with modern insulation, cabin heater, 12v system, etc. Used all stainless and marine hardware and fittings.

 

[VandalSibs]

Thanks. It was a total gut job. Managed to save the original stove and fridge though as we wanted to keep the charm of the era. Completely reoutfitted the interior with modern insulation, cabin heater, 12v system, etc. Used all stainless and marine hardware and fittings.

My wife will get a kick out of this - thanks for the pictures!

 

[clockwork crane]

My wife and I looked at the Basecamps back when we were first researching trailers. At the time, we were towing with a Model Y and I think the weight was a huge limit. The cost was also a factor.

What do you think of the build quality between the Airstream & the Sol Horizon? I'm still interested in the Basecamps as a potential upgrade, but one thing I remember seeing on various Airstream boards and the subreddit was that the build quality had gone down the tubes since "the old days"...

From my limited experience, I would say Airstream is a bit ahead of inTech on quality, but the two of them are way way ahead of almost everyone else (except maybe the other fiberglass brands like Casita, Escape, etc), so the difference between an Airstream and an inTech seems relatively small. And IIRC Airstream and inTech have similar warranties (3 years).

There are a couple of design flaws with the Basecamp, having to do with the roof: the black plastic halo around the roof line does degrade over time and can crack, and the way water is funneled off the roof can interact with a bad rear door seal (not common but it happens) to leak water around the rear hatch. I've had a halo crack (patched up for free under warranty) but no rear hatch issues or leaks.

I have heard some stories about 2021 and 2022 ('covid era') Basecamp trailers, but my own experience with a 2023 has been generally fine. I took it back to the dealership for minor fixes (window screen adhesive melting, that small halo crack) but there were no serious problems.

For me the decision was much more about interior layout and sleeping space. The center aisle in the Basecamp feels slightly wider than in the Horizon so it's easier to maneuver, and definitely the bed is a lot more spacious.

 

[Lil'O Annie]

We got our 2024 Aliner AMP "all-electric" in May 2024 and ran around quite a bit with it last year. So far we love the thing. Gearing up now for this season.

The EcoFlow system is stellar--48v system with 800W solar panels that easily kept the 5kWh lithium battery charged up even in the heavily forested areas with some slightly overcast skies. Solar panels easily run the fridge while traveling down the road, while also adding charge to the battery. Built-in induction burner really cooks great and I prefer induction for sure! It has propane back up for the fridge and heater for when the sun isn't shining, which gave us confidence to boon dock and still have all we needed. Has heat pump AC/heater. There have be times when the battery gets full, and rather than waste the good sunshine coming in, I just plug in the R1T for a little charge boost, getting around 3 miles/hour, which isn't much, but better than nothing. The cassette toilet is really nice and easy to deal with compared to dumping a black tank. Plenty of room for tall people.

As for the range hit--speed makes a huge difference. For our quad with AT tires we get 289 non-towing highway miles. With the trailer that drops to 180, so we're seeing around a 37-40% drop. Efficiency is around 1.2-1.5mi/kWh. The R1T estimated the weight of our full trailer at 3,500lbs. (empty weight is 2602lbs), which I think is fairly accurate.

Sleeping in this has be way better than expected. Lots of room and very comfortable. All in all, we are very happy with this for our specific needs and adventures. It can do light off-road travel and is a great boon docker. Sets up quickly and easily.

Charging the R1T off the AMP after 5kWh battery was full while boon docking.

Fits well in short tight places.

We can haul everything we need.

Love the solar panels. Easy to clean when dormers are not up. Also, can angle a panel toward the sun if needed in early Spring or late Fall.

ALINER AMP SPECS -(Aliner's Hype about this rig)
Join the EV Revolution with Aliner Amp. Introducing the latest innovation in outdoor adventuring the Solar-Powered Aliner Amp. Designed to blend sustainability with comfort, this cutting-edge trailer redefines how we experience the great outdoors. The iconic Aliner structure provides ample space and efficient aerodynamics, while its solar-powered capabilities revolutionize off-the-grid living. Equipped with two 400-watt state-of-the-art solar panels seamlessly integrated into the dormer roofs, this camping trailer harnesses the power of the sun to charge its onboard amenities, including LED lighting, climate control, induction range cooking, and charging outlets. Imagine embarking on your wilderness journey with the freedom to explore remote locations without sacrificing modern conveniences. With the Solar-Powered Aliner Amp, you can embrace nature while treading lightly upon it, making your camping experience unforgettable and environmentally conscious.

Features include:
*EcoFlow Complete Plug and Play 48 Volt Power System
*2 x EF 400-Watt Rigid Solar Panels (800 watts total)
*Front and Rear Hard Dormers
*Dometic Refrigerator (3.0 cu. ft. Three-Way)
*Air Conditioning with Heat Pump
*6,000 BTU Furnace
*On Demand Water Heater
*Flush Mount Sink with Glass Cover
*Hidden Swivel Cassette Toilet
*Interior Hidden Shower (32" x 32")
*35 Gallon Fresh Water Tank
*Outside Utility Shower
*LED Interior Lights
*LED Exterior Lights
*3 Interior Electric Outlets
*One Exterior Electric Outlet
*Outside LP Connection
*3 Baggage Doors
*4 Heavy Duty Stabilizer Jacks with Sand Pads
*15" Aluminum Wheels with Off-Road Radial Tires
*Full Size Matching Spare Tire and Carrier
*10" Electric Brakes
*3,500 Pound Axle with Torsion Suspension
*Dual LP Tanks
*High Wind Lift Assist
*White Vacuum Bonded Fiberglass Exterior Panels with Off Road Splash Graphics
*Black Anodized Aluminum Extrusion
*Diamond Plate Stone Guard
*Galvanized Double Step
*Commercial Grade, Midnight Black, Raised Coin 100% Polyvinyl Flooring
*Performax 500 Premium Marine Grade Flooring
*Simona Boatboard Interior Cabinets and Furniture (Riveted Constuction)
*Welded, Aluminum-Framed Cabinetry and Furniture
*Azdel Lightweight, Thermoplastic Composite Interior Wall and Ceiling Panels

 

[lslick23]

Nothing huge but lots of fun with the family! A Viking 2108ST pop up

 

[Tucker74]

Airstream 23CB … ~1.3mi/kWh

 

[Tanuki68]

2014 Escape 19. We’re seeing 1.3 to 1.6miles per KWh at 65 mph depending on head winds. Prior to the R1T I had a 2022 Ford Lightning. The R1T tows just fine but the Lightning was amazing. I feel the trailer much more with the R1 than I did with the Lightning. I suspect it’s because the Rivian suspension is much firmer and the Lightning was very cushy so the trailer jolts and such never made their way to the driver’s seat I also miss the 240V to really power the AC when dry camping lobe the R1T but there are things about the Lightning I miss too

 

[Lil'O Annie]

The R1T tows just fine but the Lightning was amazing.

We have a 2022 Lightning Lariat, too, and I agree with everything you said about it compared to our 2022 R1T. We love them both, though. The Lightning is best for long distance travel on the highways...just floats, but you can't beat the Riv for all the off-road fun stuff, so we'll keep them both. We'll often take both of them depending on what we're doing.

 

[EVtowing]

Hoping to get an R2 in 2026 to replace my Model X which I use to tow a Safari Condo Alto F1743 (about 2200 lbs fully loaded, full kitchen and bathroom, queen size bed, 2 person dinette, added 735W solar on roof, 600AH LiFePO batteries). It will be interesting to compare energy usage numbers. With the X can tow about 130 miles at 60mph on a level dry road with no headwinds before needing to charge.

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