What kind of camper do you have???

Excellent! I own the MicroLite 25BRDS, which is the same trailer but sold under the Flagstaff name, instead of Rockwood.

I agree that they are excellent family trailers and have a very efficient layout. The interior feels larger than the exterior would imply.

We made it one season on the original mattress. Kept the mattress but added a foam topper which has been a game changer.

 

Nice!
Yeah it's a good looking trailer for sure. Maximizes space and definitely makes you feel like it's larger than it is. Good on you for making it that long! My wife is OK with the mattress but I just can't lol we upgraded our master bedroom mattress last year after years of saying it's fine, it's fine... now I've got a taste of the good life. Will buy the Zinus 10" queen short and see how much better it is.

 

Not sure how others do it, but I will say this about the front bed. I put the straps that hold the mattress down over the mattress but under the mattress cover and fitted sheet. Then we use a top sheet and a comforter that tucks in under the mattress. This setup lets me get the bed ready before we travel, and when I drop it down, I don't have to make it up. We keep the pillows in the closet cabinets on each side, so at bed time we literally just drop the bed and toss on the pillows and we're good to go.

 

You kept the mattress cover? Damn I threw that out right away lol. We make the whole bed and put the pillows where the straps go over the bed in a V pattern so it’s all there tucked in. Pull the bed down and ready to go

 

No, I got a new mattress cover.

Good idea with the pillows and straps.

 

Without sounding like a moron, what purpose does the mattress cover serve? We just put our fitted sheet on the bed, then normal sheet, then comforter - just like you would in your house.

Oh yea, we were trying to keep it all contained within itself and there is plenty of room with the curvature of the front cap near the window to allow for the pillows to be on the bed when you fold up!

 

We use mattress covers on all of the beds in our house as well, so for us, this is how we keep it "just like home."

The mattress cover really is just one more layer between us and the mattress. In the trailer, if we go to bed smelling like campfire smoke, it's less likely to transfer to the mattress and I can just wash the cover, along with the sheets, when we get back home. It also helps to prevent any moisture from making its way to the mattress, so if there's a sweaty night or a spilled drink, it keeps the mattress clean and fresh.

 

My wife had a dream and it was so real to her she relieved herself a bit before she woke up. Thank God for the cover. I might have shared a bit too much.

 

been there

 

Yikes, it happens to the best of us.

 

Lance 1575

 

Looking at this Tuesday for 12k, any thoughts ideas or suggestions? Thank you in advance! Been told over and over the truck should handle with no problem. Just checking with others experience.

2016 Heartland Trail Runner 26SLE, pulled by a 21 Tundra CM, 4x4.

Dry Weight 5,738 lbs.
GVWR 7,500 lbs.
Hitch Weight 586 lbs.

Length 28.9 ft.
Width 8 ft.
Height 11.17 ft.
Interior Height 6.67 ft.

 

I had a 2010 Heartland Trail Runner. Basic, simple. $12k is strong for that one. I paid $12.4k for mine in 2009. It was a 28QBHS

 

Good/bad price? Going to offer a little less, but WDH and other things are coming with it. Looks to be in good condition and well cared for after speaking with the guy for 20 minutes.

 

Check the tires, probably need new ones if original. I would move towards Goodyear Endurance if they are not. They seem to have the best performance out there. While you are there looking at the tires check to make sure that the brakes are working.

 

Look for soft floor or other evidence of water leaks. These are basic budget campers, so not the latest and greatest of lightweight construction techniques. Older framed windows that leak after the caulk dries out and stick built construction with wood floors that rot. We enjoyed ours, but you have to keep up with the maintenance on an RV. It’s trying to dissolve constantly. Check age of tires, condition of caulking, test the sensors on the panel to see if they’ve been flushing the tanks etc. $12k may be the market, but I personally would buy something of higher quality for that kind of money used.

 

Make sure you know the history of the camper. Lots are coming up from Florida with hurricane damage. Make sure to get up on the roof and check for cracks in the caulking. Biggest thing to worry about is water damage and mold. Look for soft spots in the floor and water stains on the walls. If it’s got a funky smell, walk from it. Funky smells mean mold. Make sure they have it hooked to shore power and operate everything to make sure it works. Ask how often they service the wheel bearings.


The Tundra will pull it fine.



I’ll add. Operate the slide and make sure it works perfect. Rack and pinions slides are good but Schwintek slides are not so good. Check the slide seals for damage and they should be soft and pliable it the maintenance was done. Also check for soft spots in the floor of the slide.

 

Looks slightly longer and heavier than mine. You should be ok on payload with that hitch weight if you have less stuff in the bed than I do.

 

Price seems low if anything to me. We paid $30k CAD for our trailer 2 years ago. New ones are 60+.

 

I paid $32k for my 29ft Outback double slide in 2021. Paid $25.9k for my 21ft. Apex Off-Grid a few months ago. These are both a more premium, better constructed product than the Heartland Trailrunner line. A 7-8 year old entry level camper in that size at $12k is not low. Probably close to what it should be.

 

Thanks for everyone's feedback. We brought it home Tuesday, have some prep to do before storing it for the winter. More pictures will come next year

@KNABORES @PBNB @Ruggybuggy @Cpl_Punishment

2016 Heartland Trail Runner 26SLE.

 

Congrats!

 

When you winterize it don’t forget to run plumbing antifreeze throught the exterior shower and through the city water inlet. Anode should be removed from the water heater and drained then bypassed to complete the winterization. Add antifreeze to the drains so the traps don’t freeze.

Nice camper BTW. I’ve always liked stick and tin builds.

 

Thanks for the tips, you're right on the money. Just watched this video about 30 minutes ago. It described a lot what you described to the T.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?app=desktop&v=3xN2-ahkL5g

 

Finally! A bumper pull from Brinkley.

https://www.brinkleyrv.com/rvs/travel-trailers/model-i/

 

Josh the RV nerd did a good review of the Brinkley TT.
https://youtu.be/PqwVzTfw0gE?si=mDQt9wWLadhcsFLM

 

Soloist Alpha trailer. It is awesome at just a little over 800-lbs. Has enough power to go indefinitely off-grid, outdoor shower, propane heat, etc. I have only used it a couple of times but gets a lot of attention at a campsite. Unfortunately, I am not able to use it for the near future due to a recent cycling accident.

 

I saw the bumper pull and the Air in person, I like the layout, but it didn't feel "premium", it felt like they just use better color combo, the rear opposing slide outs are literately same as ones on Grand Design even the same layout.

I wasn't really impressed, it's almost near Airstream price but just feels like a nicer Jayco.

 

My impressions of the Air when I first went into one was that it gave me that same feeling GD used to before they became mainstream and closer to the rest of the pack in terms of finish. GD still has great layouts, but I think Brinkley is filling that old GD niche (as they should given ownership and R&D model). Time will tell, though. I know GD is trying to reclaim their reputation.

 

I really hope GD does, still looking for that ideal next trailer.