Considering Switching to A-Frame

[Hilldweller]

We can't reach the vent dial on our aliner we need a step stool, but when a friend of ours went to open it he just reached up and turned it, we just looked at at each other like???? Geez.

I can reach it just fine but have to get on my knees to use the microwave or find things in the fridge.

 

[Sotovoce]

I was leaning toward soft dormers for the air flow and just a touch more "outdoor experience" but there are several things to consider. Then again, there aren't many A-frame campers for sale in my area so if I find a good deal, I'll probably just settle for what's available and see how I like it.

There are trade-offs with dormers. I don't recall them being available when we bought our Aliner Expedition. Set-up is definitely simpler without them.

When they came out, it was clear that the larger dormer over the dinette made the camper feel really open. Currently the medium sized LXE has more usable floor space because the kitchen is in the front dormer end. Most dormer models don't offer any additional floor space or storage, but do offer a feeling of openness.
If you have the opportunity, check out both hard and soft dormer models. If I were to have an A-frame camper with dormers I would choose a soft dormer over the dinette. As much as I like the bubble windows on my camper, they don't open. Dormer windows do. My problem with the hard dormers was that when I sat in the dinette I couldn't see out the window. I'm vertically challenged, but the windows in the soft dormers are larger and I could see out those.

 

[Karey]

We can't reach the vent dial on our aliner we need a step stool

I have a folding step stool. I need it for 3 of the handles to lock the side wall to roof; and I need for the vent locks; and I put up a shelf for pop-a-plate, pop-a-bowl, napkins, kleenex, and paper towel. I keep the stool under the table and use it for a foot stool.

Unless my husband comes in and pushes up the final bit of roof to lock in place, I use a push broom. But being short doesn't keep me from setting up and tearing down quickly. We love our Aframe!

 

[Susan Premo]

Always was afraid to push it up that way, I'll have to give it a try. A friend pushed up one side whe were setting up, and it seemed he pushed a bit hard for me, but I'm sort of a nervous Nellie about these things!

 

[kudzu]

Always was afraid to push it up that way, I'll have to give it a try. A friend pushed up one side whe were setting up, and it seemed he pushed a bit hard for me, but I'm sort of a nervous Nellie about these things!

The push broom idea is how I did it, also. Could manage it solo from the outside in some scenarios before I had the Fantastic fan installed. That extra weight was the point where I started needing to go inside & use the broom. Well, in my case it was a Mr Clean Magic Reach, but same principle. It is just a variation on the many "poky sticks" I have. If you weren't born with natural leverage, it helps to have plenty of the artificial variety.

 

[Susan Premo]

Very cool.

 

[mx4789]

You mentioned needing a table to work on. When researching my trailer I noticed there seem to be two different models of table. One is a single pole that fits under the table and into the floor and looked really wobbly to me. The other is a stand alone table with folding legs (which is what I got) and I was really impressed as to how sturdy it was. I had it in the living room of my house so I could do some work on my media center computer and it was perfect for computing (keyboard/mouse) and not shaking every time I hit a key. Here is what mine looked like just before I took the legs off and cut it in half to make a counter top out of it.

 

[Econ]

@dcornelius
If I was buying a used Aliner I would call Mama Aliner and ask what year did they increase the frame size the last time. 2016????

I think 2011 is the oldest one I would buy.

There is a thread about Chalet might have gone out of business.

 

[Karey]

You mentioned needing a table to work on. When researching my trailer I noticed there seem to be two different models of table. One is a single pole that fits under the table and into the floor and looked really wobbly to me. The other is a stand alone table with folding legs (which is what I got) and I was really impressed as to how sturdy it was.

I had same thoughts on the single pole. Our table like yours is so heavy and bigger than we wanted so I ordered more legs just like it and we made a smaller table for the trailer. Those legs are very sturdy!

Econ​

Chalet is trying to regroup is what I've heard. A Facebook group person has talked with the original owner and says so, having visited. We love our Chalet and it's so well made!

 

[Papa Glenn]

Our Aframe table came with folding legs. It was so heavy my wife struggled to set it up (she does inside/I do outside). And the legs always seemed to be in the way. I changed it over to a pedestal mount and it works so much better for us.