Standing Room in a Small Camper! Meerkat Trailer Tour 2024
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- Опубликовано: 20 мар 2024
- The standing height garage-able trailer that can be towed by almost any vehicle just got better! The Meerkat Trailer, with it's indoor kitchen and less than 1,200lb towing capacity is the perfect small camper if trailer size and weight are a concern. And while small, it still has many of the advanatages of a larger camper. For the price, size, and weight this is currently the best small camper trailer that can fit in your garage. Join us as Sean from Little Guy Trailers walks us through the new 2024 Meerkat standing height pop-top trailer. And stick around to the end of this tour as I will be sharing my pros and cons on this little micro home on wheels.
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Correction: In my cons section on the second towing capacity I mentioned, I meant to premise that with “If you are following the 80/20 towing guideline.”
I really like those flip-out windows with the blind/screen combo.
I do too. And I like the fact that I am seeing more and more Euro windows that aren’t arctic tern. While I love, Arctic tern, I’m looking forward to seeing more competitors come into the market with lower prices.
Same windows that were on the Nucamp Tag we rented last year. Much better to have the tip-out style with split screen or opaque shades vs older Meerkats with sliders.
@omahajim22 I 100 percent agree!
Neat little camper I just purchased a used 17’ Casita Heritage Deluxe 2 weeks ago. Looking forward to my maiden voyage.
This is my favorite trailer on the market!
Hey Drew, thank you for your videos on the meerkat! I would have never known about them without your videos. I purchased a 2024 (from Sean) and love it! I do disagree with your con about no electric breaks. I tow with an EV and regen is a decent range extender. I recently spoke to another EV towing enthusiast and he has electric brakes on his trailer from a different manufacturer. He complained the it competes with the cars natural tendency to let the regen slow the vehicle. Still I loved this video! It is really hard to find small trailer videos that are as good as yours. Thank you!
I don't think you disagree with me. My guess is, I still think you believe in electric brakes. You don't believe they are a good fit for an EV that uses Regen to regain kinetic energy that would otherwise be lost during braking. That makes sense. I was referring to underpowered tow vehicles, which is what many meerkat owners tow with. That is the beauty of the Meerkat. You can tow with a vehicle that typically can't tow any other stand up trailer. BUT, like you said and I agree with you, if your EV has adaquate tow capacity to not need or benefit from electric brakes then the brakes would be working against you. Thank you for sharing this comment. I expected to see a lot more EV comment this year, but not yet. Yours is one of the first.
Do I have to buy a camper so you will talk to me L I will
I don't think my messages are getting through ❤️
Call Meerkat this week. YES you CAN get Electric Brakes as an Option
I really like that Meerkat with the pop up!.
Pretty nifty little trailer! Thanks for creating and sharing!
Thanks Preston. Great seeing you!
Simplicity! I like it a lot except for the price.
I have a feeling that is how many people feel. Great simple trailer, but these 2024 prices can be painful.
Exactly what I was thinking. I feel that it is at minimum 5-7 thousand $$$ too high in price. But what hasn't gone crazy in today's price world. That's why i'm keeping my 2002 Coleman/Fleetwood Bayside pop'up. I just love it!!!@@PlayingwithSticks
You could cat a used camper van for the same price as this. That’s ac and heating, an engine, and towing capacity for the same price as this glorified box on wheels.
2024 msrp $30k ish
How much, I d buy it for around 4?$4,200 $5,000
A great trailer if you must park in a standard garage and you really want to keep your Subie/ Rav4, etc. BUT, no frig, no furnace, no propane, no AC for 30k? I can't see it. It seems to be limited in its ability to be used year round.
Yes, a great simple trailer. But, as with most trailers in 2024 the price can be hard to justify.
Cute little camper. Mostly what I would need. However, for the price, i would expect a stove and frig to be included. Probably an awning, too.
and full solar FFS. There are higher-quality 30' well-built production trailers with fridge,furnace, full-bathroom, tandem axles, heated underbelly/tanks, solar, and so much more at this price! INSANE!
Yes, this one is a tough sell for many people. From the beginning they have designed this to be a less is more approach. People who buy a Meerkat actually pay more for this trailer to have less. They want simplicity. Less maintenance, less to deal with.
@EmVOLo 😂 right? It’s crazy as it sounds there are many trailers in the industry where you actually pay more to get less. As a guy who uses these trailers a lot I understand the concept and the value, but at the same time I see how it looks really ridiculous.
@@PlayingwithSticksit's not just looks and I'm gonna have to be that guy I guess, but my reactions were not KNEE JERK or GUT reactions by any means,(meaning quick or unfair, or hasty) they're from doing over 12 years of literal research over THOUSANDS of trailers in person and online and talking with short and long term poor to rich trailer owners of dozens of brands that have come and gone, and many that are still around.. Lil:guy has always been overpriced in the market as it's a thing with them and I'll leave it at that. Same with many other fly-by-night boutique teardrop/squaredrop shops that have long wait lines, charge 2x more than they should just for the niche market that these trailers are a part of. They're not sustainable at all for 99.9% or at least the VAST majority of people, no matter how much money they may have. There are literally trailers 15-20K that have better construction, features, and you get a lot more for your money. The simplicity shouldn't cost more when there are literally dozens of small trailer boutiques out there, SEVERAL IntechRV, or NuCamp models are less money, and have better build quality, better tires/suspension, and actual stoves, refrigerators, furnaces and so much more! I mean no disrespect, I just like to keep it real, no matter who might be sponsoring the video I just watched. Blessings!
@@PlayingwithSticksso many cut corners. the front "box" is barely attached to the body, it's bottomless, it's a cheap plug to the battery for "solar ready" the canvas HUGE hole in the roof is inevitably a problem, the cabinets are seriously over-build for such a small trailer that gives a HUGE hitch-weight issue, balance is very off, and they are build cheap with 13" tires I mean I could go on and on, but I want to point these things out so you can either correct me, agree with me, or bow out 'cause I like to stay in reality of what I see and know. Not really here to cause trouble I've followed you for years. I'm just honest to a fault :) Blessings!
Thanks for the comprehensive tour.
It’s a very nice little camping trailer, with lots of innovative features.
If I was single, I would definitely consider it.
My wife, however, is addicted to shower stalls, holding tanks, etc.
Happy Camping!
This is off topic, but I remember being at the Meerkat display at Busch Gardens, and my ex had eaten a large buffet meal just before getting off a roller coaster that made him sick. 😂 Well, the meerkats were standing up and watching him across the road while he did his business in “private.” 😂 I’d buy a Meerkat just for the memory of that experience. 😂
Haha. Great comment here!
that's hilarious lol
Are you going to use your white privilege money?
Drew I look forward to each of your videos. Thank you for focusing on this segment
Thank you. I’m glad you’re enjoying them. In terms of segment, are you saying small camper tours in general, or are you referring to standup campers?
@@PlayingwithSticks small camper tours. Love my Kodiak stealth
That’s always been one of our favorite trailers. That and the polar bear has always intrigued us.
Love this little design but the lack of brakes is a deal breaker for me, and as a Floridian having to rig a portable ac is a pretty big con. I'm hoping to add a mini camper to my class B next year, so hopefully they are listening to feedback because this would make an awesome "guest wing" to my van.
Thank you for the updated video. It was your 2021 video that introduced me to the Meerkat, and after additional research, I ordered one in April 2021. Due to the pandemic I didn't receive it until July 2022. I got the updated model with the larger front box, newer windows, and the lighted wooden rails above the windows. I see a lot of comments about the price, and it is more than some larger trailers. However, I needed something I could pull with a smaller SUV. My garage has only has a 6' door, so I can't store my Meerkat in it, but I also can't park a large SUV in it either. I am also a single, Gen X female, first time trailer owner and like the simplicity of no tanks to empty, easy winterizing, and the ability to be able to set everything up by myself. BTW, trailer brakes are an option. I got them on mine because I live in NY and they are required for any trailer over 1,000 lbs. They use an Echo brake controller from Curt. Fortunately new buyers no longer have to wait a year for delivery, but for me the Meerkat was well worth the wait.
Thank you so much for sharing this. And thank you for sharing about the trailer brakes as well. Sean also let me know that I was wrong on that one. I was so glad to hear that! All the reasons you love the meerkat is why we think it is one of the best trailers out there. It realy meets a lot of needs, for such a small little camper.
Great video Drew! Did we miss Con #3? We watched it a couple of times and swear that we only saw two cons at the end. Our 2024 meerkat is scheduled to arrive to Nebraska from California from the shipper in about a week, so we look forward to providing some direct owner comments after we have a couple of days with it. Edit: we’ll be towing with a 2023 Tesla Model Y LR, so we’ll give you our impressions about regen braking. We don’t think the lack of brakes will be an issue. We towed a Nucamp Tag 5 wide last year (heavier than the Meerkat) and had zero issues.
With something as powerful as the Tesla, you’ll have no need for those electric brakes. The only benefit really is that stopping power and less wear and tear on the brakes in the mountains. But in terms of wear and tear on the transmission and engine, that Tesla is not even going to know, that thing is behind it. I don’t know if you are a #GBR fan, but I am still scratching my head about that Trev Alberts loss. Seems like every time we get something good going, we can’t seem to get a break. 😂 yes, in the edit. Somehow I messed up a number of things in that pro and con section. Sometimes I hear it so often from going over and over the edit that I overlook missing pieces. I even accidentally left out the part about using the 80/20 guideline for the vehicle with a 2000 pound capacity that I was mentioning. I’ll do better next time, I promise! As for cons the big one for me, was the usability of that front box. If you’re going to make it bigger, but still keep that battery exposed inside, it kind of defeats the purpose of what you can store in there. If you were to partition off that battery, then you can throw in wet items, dirty items, random items and not worry about your battery. If you ever want to do a video with the meerkat being towed by your electric vehicle, let me know. I always try to sneak down to Nebraska for a game or two in the fall. And this year with Raiola behind center, I’ll definitely be making it down.
@@PlayingwithSticks Just got our Meerkat yesterday - delivery organized by Eric at Little Guy from California via a freight broker. That way we didn't have to register and pay tax in CA - although the shipping was $1900. Win some, lose some. We just didn't have the time to get to San Diego to bring it home at this time of year.
Actually a bit larger inside then we imagined it, only having had pictures and videos to evaluate it. We had never seen one in person before making the purchase. Pleasantly surprised overall - great build quality, fits in our garage with loads of room to spare, and the standing height on the standard height popup is perfect for me. Lots of other great things to say about it - we may decide to make a video in a month or two once we've had some time with it. Our #1 issue was garageability and easy towing, and it fits that 100%. Other aspects we will adjust to over time. The price is high, of course, but we are much happier vs buying a much larger and heavier sticks and tin box. No tanks, no fuss. Hook up and Go. Just like the good points you've mentioned.
I want to change out the existing WFCO Converter to the "AD" model that auto detects Lithium (it shipped with an older model that would only support Lithium up to about 84% charge), because I'd like to put a 200Ah Lifepo4 battery inside the bottom of the tall closet along with an inverter. We could definitely use backpack/suitcase portable solar panels while at a camping spot, but it would be nice to have something on the roof to charge in motion. It seems to make the most sense to attach a surface mounted flexible panel on the top of the popup dome, but I've also read that having a solar panel directly mounted to a surface may unnecessarily heat up the surface it's glued/taped to. We will research that more soon.
Regarding the Huskers, neither of us are really sportsball fans, but we've been to a few Husker FB games and it's a fun atmosphere. Becky and I would be happy to hit up a game with you if we can all make it happen next Fall.
And if you do make it to Eastern Nebraska, we would love to help you make an Tesla-tows-Meerkat video for your audience. Hit me up anytime. We've only towed about 1 mile so far (back home from the grocery store parking lot where we met the 40' trailer that delivered). That short drive was about 480 Wh/Mile, so we need to get out for a proper 55-60mph tow test with our Y. More to come about that.
A plus of the new larger front box is the ability to store the spare tire in it.
This is a cute little trailer. 😊
It really is! I love how it looks at the campsite and rolling down the road.
This is a really great trailer! I prefer surge or inertia type brakes over electric brakes for small trailers. Thus no brake controls needed on tow vehicles. Love the euro windows, those are the best to have. What about shocks on the axles? Is that a option for any small campers? I hate finding everything in my camper bounced all over if not double securely tied down...
Agreed. My new favorite here in North America is the Autowbrake. It is a proportional brake controler, very similar to what you are mentioning. getautowbrake.com/products/autowbrake-trailer-mounted-electric-brake-control
Most campers in 2024 are using Torsion Axles (so essentially rubber dampeners) or independent suspension. Gives a much better ride than the leafsprings most of us are used to.
Great to see you again, my Friend. 😊
Same to you!
Really incredible little trailer... But come on with that jankey stove. Great video 😊
😂 I felt that way the first time I saw it as well. Overtime I’m warming up to it, because it does give you a lot more additional counter space. But it still feels really out of place. If I was to build my own trailer like this, I would still use a portable stove inside. Mainly because I would primarily do my cooking outside. And I assume that’s the type of person they built this trailer for
Love the layout,and lite interior.i woyld orefer my own fridge anyway.
Thanks for sharing
I really like the Tab 400 as an option to downsize from a 30’ tow trailer with slideout. I think the 2024 Meerkat may be a viable, more affordable option. I’ve had basic pop up trailers in the past, so I think I have reasonable expectations for a Meerkat. The pop up trailers are a lot of work to setup and take down, especially in a rainy climate like the Pacific Northwest. So, having a mostly hard sided Meerkat may make sense and keep me on budget. Thanks for the review with pros and cons!
It’s always nice to know other see this trailer how I see it. I have said for years this is one of my favorite trailers, but I realized quickly that most people don’t see it that way. and I get it. It’s kind of weird to pay more for less.
Thanks Drew! I love what they have done with this trailer. I think the tongue box seems like a missed opportunity of what could have been. Definitely a very solid entry in that category of trailer overall in my opinion!
Brad, I know if you had this tongue box you would do a lot to it. I think you and I both would move that battery to a different location inside the trailer. And then dedicate that tongue box to outdoor storage. Jen mentioned earlier maybe sacrificing a little bit of that indoor hidden storage to either house more battery capacity or to add a portable power station. I still have to get caught up on your emails. Thanks as always for the support. Coffee is actually free this morning where we are staying. I guess it’s ice cream and mango sticky rice on Brad!
@@PlayingwithSticks Sounds like you are staying at a high class joint! 😁 Mango sticky rice sounds interesting! Yes, I would want to move the battery inside for sure. I also liked that they used a removable water jug for the water supply! Enjoy the ice cream/sticky rice!!
@jgrant4520 we really are! It is the center of low season here so a budget hotel and a high-end hotel are the same price. I’ll have to send you some photos.
@jgrant4520 yes, that removable water jug, while such a simple concept, I’m surprised more people don’t do it on their own builds.
@@PlayingwithSticks I hope that it becomes more the rule than the exception!
If I could get it without that HUGE hole in the roof; I'm over 6', but a trailer that small I don't need to stand up in it. and $30k? gotta be NUTS! Just my 2c.
I appreciate the feedback. It is always nice to hear people's initial gut reaction. Good seeing you!
So fun
The canvas still makes me think it has a shorter lifespan and higher maintenance after rain. The interior is amazing looking though, and the water pump feeding into a water jug you can buy at a gas station is very cool. I’m going to copy the water idea. Lack of built in solar and go use your portable panels is a bit huh?!
Like you, I love the water system in this trailer. If you can even call it a system. And you’re right anything with Canvas is going to have a shorter lifespan. Like I mentioned in the pro section, the beauty of this trailer is they really minimized the canvas so repairs will be much more affordable and simple.
Thanks Drew! Even though I’ve already built my own teardrop from DIY plans (when is your review of the Wander Tears Vaga coming?!) - I thoroughly enjoy your reviews. Look forward to more.
I keep telling those guys I need to get together with them. Our paths just haven’t crossed yet. Maybe I need to reach out to the community and see who owns one. That probably makes more sense.
@@PlayingwithSticks I’ll shoot them an email :) we own one so I can help if you’d like. We went with their DIY plans and built from scratch, but now they sell kits as well.
Looks like a card playing trailer
I think it would make a great card playing trailer
These are pretty cool little trailers and a great alternative to a Scamp. I wouldn’t want to use that toilet inside. Do they have an awning option or the ability to attach one? That would make a huge difference in overall space in and out that provides shelter.
I feel like an awning would be perfect to complete that retro styling of this trailer. The one they sell for it is by PahaQue. It also can come with a screen room. Here is a photo www.google.com/search?sca_esv=97d3c4185a5a42ee&rlz=1C1VDKB_enUS1071US1071&sxsrf=ACQVn0900VuHWzhVP7rx3-pSQNLtND6S6w:1711152368808&q=meerkat+trailer+awning&tbm=isch&source=lnms&prmd=sivnmbtz&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwiTq-Woi4mFAxW_IDQIHT-EAroQ0pQJegQIEhAB&biw=1920&bih=945&dpr=1#imgrc=jUnaSYDhSwGd4M
There is a Keder rail for an awning but it mounted just above the door, so it is kind of low. The awning they sell to go with it does dome up in the center to give more head room. Many Meerkat owners opt to use a pop up canopy. I have a 13" one that I can put over the entire trailer and still have covered space outside the trailer. This comes in handy when it is rainy.
Cute, but just like with the Black Series, I will never understand light or white seats in a camping rigs.
Drew, big fan of your channel. Unrelated to this particular video, I have a question about Hiker and Intech trailers. I like the thought of being able to use the Intech to haul cargo. How much "better" would you say the Hiker is for camping? So much better that it's worth giving up the easier cargo loading of the Intech if camping is the primary use of the trailer? Thanks so much!
What is the fresh water capacity? How about the CCC?
How does it compare to the Aliner camper trailers? I would love to see your opinion about them.
I keep trying to track one down. One of these days...
Good review 👍
I don't like the little turret pop up. Looks gimmicky, like they did the least amount they could to give you more head room. I might be off base on that as I haven't stood in one. But looks like if you're standing at the kitchen you're looking at the turret raiser. I think for that price they should make the whole roof go up.
Cheers
They have always been about the less is more approach. Like you, I prefer a full tilt-top or pop-up. But at the same time I do see the advantages of this small circular pop top area.
The pop top does cover most of the usable standing room in the trailer. The sections where it does not pop up contain storage cabinets in the front, and the fan and more storage cabinets in the back. Also at the back is where the seating/bed is, so you don't really need it there.
@@margretrodas9767
Good points. But doesnt quite hit the Goldilocks mark for me. I want wider so the wife and I can have comfy single beds. I would not purchase a trailer today that does not have an aluminum trailer frame.
I think I have pretty much given up on the Travel Trailer manufacturers. If there is something out there I like the build of, the price is beyond me and if the price is there the fit and quality are not. So, I have a really nice all aluminum enclosed cargo trailer that I will build out to my specs. I am fortunate to have the time and skill. I and can go back to the guy who made it for lifetime warranty work🤣
Best wishs
Fold up or sideways
I can’t get over paying Casita prices for that tiny of a trailer.
I’d love to hear your comments about the Aliner Scout Lite…hard sides, airy, stand up height, 1100#! Lots less $$
I would love to hear my own comments on it as well! I have literally been looking for this trailer all over the place. I keep finding it at campgrounds, but can never locate the owners who live inside it. We were running late one day and we came across a lady who had one and she let me take a quick peek at it before we had to run off. I loved it! But I didn’t have enough time to really give it a good look.
Ha! We happen to live 15 minutes from an Aliner dealer in Portland, OR! Getting close to pulling the trigger on it, but since I’ve learned so much from your channel, I kinda wanted your blessing 😅🏕️❤
I am a big fan! Basically, the only complaints I’ve heard from owners is that sometimes these can be tough to take down on a high wind day. And they will not properly go up unless your trailer is 100% level. And then my issue with most aliners is I find them to be much too heavy for most smaller tow vehicles. But yours is not that case at all. So yes, from what I know, an aliner has my blessing. I actually tried to buy one last year and couldn’t find one and ended up going with a pop-up camper and absolutely hated it. 😂
Drew quick question. Is the Meer Kat built by Little Guy Trailer that is out of OH but manufactured in PA or is it a totally different company?
This is a cool design and so few things to break. Almost sounds like you can customize to be a bit taller if you have an 8 foot garage?
Good question, I should have addressed that. Little Guy from Ohio is who I call BIG Little Guy. Meerkat is truly a Little Guy out of San Diego. Two completely different companies. Where it gets really confusing is many of the trailers Little Guy from San Diego sells is actually from BIG Little Guy.
@PlayingwithSticks ya I noticed in this vid a Little Guy (Big Guy) Max in the back ground. Instesting
Nice little trailer but definitely need the electric brakes. After my last squaredrop not having them, I'll never buy another trailer without them.
I used to think I didn't need them for my trailers. Then I got my first trailer with them. I still thought I only needed them for large heavy trailers. Then I used a small camper with them. Now, like you, I find them very useful for all trailers.
Trailer Brakes. Called Meerkat in San Diego and you CAN order Electric Brakes as an Option.
So that is not longer a downside.
Woot woot! Love it. We need to pin this.
I had Little Guy install brakes when I ordered my 2022 Meerkat. Brakes are required on all trailers over 1000 lbs. dry weight in NY. This is not a new option, so I was surprised when he mentioned that in the video. I love my Meerkat!
It surprises me, but I have to say it: I like it!
Loved the retro design, the windows (that front "V" shape... wow!), the interiors are nice as well, specially the bed extensions are pretty smart conceived.
On video looks big, but it gets tricky after looking that forester towing it.
For a second I thought the rear will be an extra door similar to Airstream´s.
That front box doesn't look very sturdy.
Hey Drew: Nice graphics!, I have this weird feeling that those conversions are vanishing with time eh!, but anyways I do appreciate your work making it easier to me and whoelse is more familiar with metric system, amigo (I really do!).
Thank you for bringing another great product to us!
I'm your fan.
Did you see my last comment on the pop-ups trailers?, let me know what you think before I messed it up :D
Yes, this one looks bigger on video than it really is. That would be neat to have an extra door in the rear. No, those conversions are here to stay. Because Sean was talking so quickly I found the text to be distracting. So I had to remove a number of text that had conversions in them on this video. You have convinced me that they are here to stay. Oh no, I must have missed your comment. Where did you leave it?
@@PlayingwithSticks
ruclips.net/video/74wQiuK9jAM/видео.html&lc=UgyT5xjuPTRuEEhQ8794AaABAg.A0zRCP9kNvWA0zbCHMj-Xs
I think my Subaru Outback Wilderness handbook stipulates the use of trailer brakes at this weight
Wait, I think you are joking right? Sometimes I am bad at picking up good humor. Your are saying at 1,200lbs or less they require trailer brakes. Or are you saying the Subaru max towing capacity is measured using trailer brakes? Meaning trailer brakes must be used to get their max towing capacity? On my Kia I have both a trailer brake capacity and non-brake capacity in my manual. It is insane how big mine is for such a small tow vehicle. It is clost to 6,000lbs. But the problem is with the Subaru and the Kia, they both have such soft suspension. Yes, you can tow a lot of weight, but your rear end will be dragging haha!
My Plano boxes of camping and car gear caused my OBW to sag more than my trailer, so I just put the back seat down and moved all the weight to the center. It’s definitely better, but I feel I’m reaching some limits of the car.
@Penny-mk7fv you sound just like us. Last year I installed sumo coils. It might’ve helped a tiny bit, but definitely didn’t do the job. This spring I’m installing airbags. They’re slightly less than $100 and I think they’re going to do the trick. Once I installed them, I’ll share on the channel how it went. I filmed the install of the sumo springs as well. So, at some point, I’ll be able to show a video of how easy both of those were. They’re not the easiest, but with a couple of tricks I’ve learned it’s also not too difficult. Good idea moving that weight forward. That makes a lot of sense what you did.
@@PlayingwithSticks Above a certain weight, they recommend trailer brakes. The towing capacity is something like 3500 lbs, but they don't want you towing that much without trailer brakes. I'll try to remember to look it up in the owner's manual.
@@PlayingwithSticks Your Kia can tow 6,000 lbs??? That's incredible. Literally!
What model?
I like the comment about the tail dragging 😀
Definitely a “classic” looking trailer. For me I think you are better off not getting the fridge or icebox option. Those seem cool (pun intended) but they are not much on space. Agreed, you need trailer brakes!
I like the pun! And I agree, if I got this model I would opt for the extra storage as well.
Ahh not what I'd ever consider personally. It's trying but it's like half trying on everything without doing anything actually good
A trailer manufacturer realizing you don't want a blue light on at night is unique. Will they actually sell any ice boxes? The tongue box is big, but the inside seems poorly used.
We see tongue boxes like this quite often. If it was me I would add a partition inside the box. If the battery is in the same space as everything, like you said, it kind of defeats the purpose of the larger size.
I am surprised at the price. A Tab 320 is $26,000-27,000 and has a lot more amenities other than not fitting in the garage. I wonder if that is MSRP but they sell for less.
Good question. My guess is that they don't sell it for any less. I think MSRP on this is a little closer to $31K. They have always been a less is more company. People who love this little trailer are willing to pay more to have less amenities.
This looks suspiciously like the Hymer Eriba Puck trailer without the overrun brakes and the galvanized chassis. A nice trailer for sure, but give me the European version anyday of the week.
Yes, very similar. Good eyes.
I'm currently working on a small fiberglass trailer with a pop top. It's a 1970 Campster built by Trails West. No bathroom but it has everything else. I'll weigh it when complete but it should come in under 1000 pounds easily. And it has electric brakes. Neat little camper and at 6'3" I can stand up in it with the pop top up. So that's nothing new. I'm charging $10k for the restore so she will have about $14k into it when complete. And it is vintage.
I have never heard of this one. It reminds me of the Hunter Compact. What a great find! I am jelous.
That's a lot of camper for half the price of this one. Love it! Always fun seeing you on here and hearing about your current builds.
I need those hand brace bracket things that lock the pop top in place. Can you help?@@PlayingwithSticks
@mobiltec yes, of course. Could you do me a favor and take a screenshot of the exact component you’re referring to? And you can send it to contactplayingwith sticks@gmail.com. That way I know for sure you and I are on the same page and then I will reach out to those guys.
Will do@@PlayingwithSticks
Please say hi to May and the kids. 😊
Once they are up I will! Good seeing you my friend.
you know, the more i look at this, the more i think... the popup really isn't needed. i'd use a pair of roller chairs and/or walker chair in there. really how often do you walk around trailers? most of the time you are sitting inside, laying down, etc. walking hunched, or just zipping back and forth in a roller chair seems best.
this is really a budget entery trailer, but you have to consider you are likely going to be paying for a buddy heater or using shore power electric heater at a camp site. No AC, so you might be using a portable ac unit. The battery is in an external, semi exposed mount, meaning it can't be heated or cooled... SO you are likely going to be using a solar generator during cold weather anyway... and all that for 30k
This is one of those trailers, Jen that I wish you could get inside one in person. On paper, it doesn’t make sense but in person once you see how tiny it is, but how well it lives, it’s really incredible. The pop top when I show it looks really small but it’s not. It’s more than just this tiny space to change clothes and stand next to the kitchen. You don’t even notice that the whole trailer isn’t popped up. It’s just placed in such a strategic location that it works. But, because it’s so small I can’t imagine it would be that hard to make a composite version and eliminate that canvas. And as far as the hunching goes. I’ve now had the opportunity to be in multiple campers where I have to hunch. For the average height American, I find some of them just drive me crazy and some I don’t even notice. The one that drove me crazy was the Intech flyer. Or one of the Intex I always get them confused that one I had to hunch so much it just felt awful. But when I am in trailers that are 5‘9“ tall like the little guy micromax, I don’t even notice I’m hunching. I found that one to feel really good.
Do you need a brake controller to tow this?
No you do not. Good question.
Because there are no tow brakes and no option to buy them.
You can get brakes as an option, and you use an Echo brake controller. It uses Bluetooth and connects through your phone.
I'd love to see this towed with a Chevy Bolt or Ford MME
That would be neat!
You're missing three important items you need heat you need air conditioning, you need refrigeration. Show me that's the most three basic I gotta have
Waaay too expensive for me. Super nice though.
Why couldn't they put surge brakes on the tongue?
It is such a common practice in the EU, but it hasn't picked up momentum here in the North America yet.
13" wheels?
My tiny Runaway Camper has 15" wheels. Even the trailer I had for going to the dump had 15" wheels!
Seems like you'll have more wear on your tires and wheel bearings.
Good point. I did a lot of studying about wheels when doing drag and friction research with Charles on our trailer. It is much deeper than this, but simple answer. What I found was that 14s are the ideal size and weight for efficiency. The advantages of 15's were clearance and ride comfort. And then 13's obviously were weight and cost. In terms of number of rotations and heated bearings once you get to 12s it really can be an issue. What Charles and I found is best for this style of camping is narrow 14's. You get the height benefit of the 15's, but the resistance benefit of the 14s/13s. But, we settled on 15s, because I just love how they look. Haha. For me, aesthetics often win over.
@@PlayingwithSticks Charles Moman? I know him and his wife, Suzy, from Runaway Camper Homecoming Rallies.
@@PlayingwithSticks Interesting. The last comment made me laugh! 😀
The heck with the data. These look nicer! 😀
I love the MeerKat and the Scamp. The windows and roof you can raise are wonderful on the MeerKat. Im not wild about the MK kitchen. I'm always leary of sleeping on a bed made of couch cushions. I need a good solid mattress.
I get you on that bed comment. I also mentioned in a lot of videos I don’t like converting from a table to a bed every day. The ideal trailer for me would be a meerkat that is 17 feet long that has a permanent bed and a permanent table. That would be the dream come true.
I have a mattress topper that I use on top of the cushions. I roll it up with the bedding at the back end of the trailer during travel, and fold it in half to make a day bed during the day while camping. They do have an option for an additional table mount toward the front, so you can have the bed half way out and still have the table up. I got this option, but never end up using the table inside anyway. I always end up eating outside.
Eriba puck
How much?
Ah. $30,000.
I question that price. They didn't want to give me a price that low last year on a camper with no upgrades.
Cheryl, this is an interesting comment. Can you explaaiin a little more. I got my pricing from the trailer builder. I think the MSRP though was about $30,099 or something like that. I can't remember what it said.
@@PlayingwithSticks I emailed them about a 2023 camper they had on their website a little over a year ago. The website said to contact them for their best price, but their best price was only a couple of hundred less and essentially $30K. There were no upgrades or options on the camper. It was very hard to get anyone to respond at all. I had to send multiple messages. I was planning a trip out West and wanted to go there and make a purchase, but they just didn't seem interested in making a sale. Maybe it was the distance, but I don't recall they ever asked where I was. As a result, I bought another camper before I made the trip that I have been really happy with for $7K less.
@cherylbarrett3443 thank you for sharing this Cheryl. Like you, I vote with my dollar. If I’m going to spend this type of money, I better feel comfortable with who I’m dealing with. In little guys defense something I often tell people about them is that when you talk to an owner of a meerkat, nobody seems to talk about the meerkat they all seem to talk about Sean. All of them love to go on and on about how great of a buying and picking up process they had with Sean. There’s something about him, that just puts people at ease, and makes them feel really good about their purchase. I’m going to say Sean was definitely not involved with any of the contacts you had with little guy. I don’t think Sean‘s allowed to take any vacations anymore after this comment 😂
@cherylbarrett3443 Cheryl I know I know the answer to this, but for some reason I’m forgetting. What did you end up buying?
@@PlayingwithSticks I have an Intech Flyer Pursue--which turned out to be pretty flexible. I can set it up for me and the dog, and I can add another bed for my sister when she is adventuring with us. The back doors are the key.
The unit shown can’t be defined as having a kitchen as it has neither a built in stove or fridge.
I’m pretty sure it can be. Many of us have kitchens without stoves or fridges.
I'm still not a fan of the pop up circle, why couldn't they have made the whole roof be on an angle
Like you, I prefer a full pop-top or tilt top. But, like I mentioned in the pros there is a big advantage to this when it comes to maintenance. Much less canvas, simple gas struts. This wouldn't be a nightmare to repair if something every went wrong.
Hi Drew, I'm a big fan of your channel and I have a question you may or may not answer . I'm going to be retiring in just over a year and I want to hit the road with my German Shepard and go see what this beautiful country of ours has to offer. I'm a single female and I want to find a trailer to live in full time. I was hoping you might have some suggestions, or do's and don'ts. I want to be comfortable but simple. I most certainly want a designated sleeping area. I've been looking at bean, and escaped topo2 but not sure how those would be living in full time. Any help you can give me would be much appreciated. I also understand if you don't want to comment either way. Thanks for your time. Btw, when are you going to start manufacturing a small teardrop? You are so good at pointing out what works and what could be improved. Thanks for all your videos they are super, and your family is awesome.
A-frame tongue box...then prevent you from using it for larger things by putting a tire in the way. Absolutely bizarre choice.
Haha. Yes, and not to mention the battery sitting in exposed with all your gear. This is common practice in the industry, but I’d like to see more people start partitioning the battery off from the rest of the compartment.
@@PlayingwithSticks The battery is housed in a plastic case, so none of the gear is actually touching it. You do have to be careful of the wiring, but that too is concealed in plastic tubing. I can fit a surprising amount of things in the front box including my light trailer leveler, stabilizer crank handle, locks, chocks, extension cords, small propane tank and kneeling pad.
No AC. No electric brakes. $30k. Wow!
My guess is they just haven’t considered the need for the brakes yet, now that their weight has increased. At 920 pounds I see why they never thought of offering it as an option. But now that they’re pushing up against peoples tow capacities, it really makes sense. Yeah, these small camper prices in 2024 are painful.
So much money for so little.
Yes, definitely a less is more approach here.
Interesting idea but for $30k, I'd rather have a tricked out 13' Scamp.
I might be wrong, but I feel like they’re going to lose a lot of sales to someone like scamp now that their weight is a bit higher
$ price too high.
Also the extra weight will hurt their sales I think.
I thought the same thing about the sales. The original weight made this capable for most tow vehiles that couldn't tow anything else you could stand up in. Now, they are competing with the big boys.
My biggest con is the ugly logo on the side of the trailer… otherwise this is a wonderful thing!
😆 there are a number of people who feel that way. That is something they’re willing to remove at the factory before it leaves the lot.
EWWW ok first personal quam, i do NOT like an exposed battery like that i would prefer a "bathtub" case to protect it. Where i live, coming into town there's a dip by the police station that can act as a standing flood point during heavy rains. it can often get to be 2-3' deep there. that could easily surge flood the entire battery... and with Lithium batteries that could quickly end in fire.
Overall i love the design, but personally i'd be willing to give up some "interior storage space" for say, a larger battery bay in the rear, or maybe instead, a pass though compartment allowing for a plug in solar generator.
Hi Jen. I was expecting that first personal quam. That is becoming one of my growing pet peaves as well. I am seeing it on so many trailers out there. Even with the Bean, I struggle to understand why folks aren't using just simple partitions to make these spaces more usable. Oops, I just continued reading your comment. Your take was about water, mine was about use of the space. Good point on the water. I like that idea of swapping interior "hidden storage" space for an interior battery bay.
@@PlayingwithSticks internal space and partisans are one thing, but that battery was completely exposed, with a wide open space under it. to me, that was just dangerous... even ignoring water, there was the chance of a rock or other material getting kicked up into the battery... and batteries were never designed to "tank" damage. be submerged. or such. and add to that people might just pile stuff on top of the battery risking a short...
UGGG...
Sorry... its just me being picky but... sooo unsafe!
@jenniferstewarts4851 no, it’s good that you’re talking about this. Isn’t it crazy how many trailers you and I have seen over the years with thus same tongue box design popping up on this channel? Nobody seems to be concerned though. And I probably should mention we’ve also seen propane and batteries in the same compartment.
@@PlayingwithSticks yep, but most times.. the boxes have bottoms. its not like the battery is just strapped to a metal bar and completely exposed at the bottom. this just urked me because it could quickly be submerged and... well we've seen what can happen to lithium batteries when they get wet.
@jenniferstewarts4851 good point.
Lol.. $30,000... yikes!!
Yes, these small camper prices in 2024 are wild!
Aluminum body, but fiberglass on the bottom and on the top?! Good grief
I don’t think it came out the way he wanted it to. Essentially the entire trailer is aluminum, with a fiberglass pop top, and a fiberglass front box on the tongue.
@@PlayingwithSticks obviously! A salesman should be informed on what he or she is selling.
@mpwasz1 Sean knows these trailers inside and out. His family actually built this trailer. In his defense, he gets super nervous for these videos as you can tell by the speed of his talking and just his body language. It’s so funny, once I hit that record button it just changes everything for some folks. I’ve been doing this for years and the camera still makes me uncomfortable. It’s such a weird phenomenon.
No bed assembly need apply. 😒
Yes, still that shifting around between table and bed that I don't like. But, if I had to do it, this is definitely the way. I really love this setup. As most people know, I really LOVE this trailer. The whole thing speaks to me. Yes, there are a ton of sacrifices. But, to get a trailer that offers this much in such a small package is so neat.
Still too expensive. You can buy a complete new car for that!
Looks like a toy. Can’t stand upright unless under the dome. 👎
I could see that. This definitely isn't for everyone. But, those who like it, LOVE it!
Too much money!
Thanks Paul for sharing your thoughts
It's too bad about the extremely ugly graphics.
Way too much for what you get! It cost so much less to make this!
How much 😂😂😂🤦🏽♂️ oh yeah sure 🤦🏽♂️👎🏽😂RIP-OFF sorry
You don’t have to be sorry…
@@PlayingwithSticks😂👍🏽
Man you could put a bigger axle on it bigger left springs cut the wheel well and bigger tires and go of roading with it
I would want bigger wheels even for on-road camping!
Yes, I have seen this on a number of Scamps over the years.
I would take skinny 14's. I think that would be perfect.
14s by 32sx70
Look at you, I say, skinny 14s, you have an actual tire size. How dare you one up me! 😂 Just kidding. Thank you 🙏