An RV buyer shopping for a lightweight trailer has a lot of choices, and all present compromises to one degree or another. A small hardwall trailer can be snug for a growing family, and a tent trailer with lots of space has its own idiosyncrasies and challenges. The TrailManor product line is an interesting and functional solution to the light weight/better function part of the question.
TrailManor’s products are unique in the RV marketplace. Unlike the products of similar concept, the TrailManor units expand the interior space horizontally as well as vertically when set up. That can make a big difference in living-area comfort.
We matched the TrailManor with the Infiniti QX56, which is rated to tow 8,900 pounds, so the TrailManor’s 3,880-pound wet-but-empty weight presented no great challenge for the Infiniti.
User comfort and safety are high on the priority list for the Infiniti QX56, as are power, performance, build-quality and all the trappings of a high-end SUV. The rig is sized and configured like many full-size SUVs — three seating rows and up to eight-passenger capacity, with four doors and a lift gate in back. Infiniti wanted the QX56 to reflect the driving-experience desires of its discriminating owners, so it went through the entire powertrain and tweaked and adjusted it to suit.
It’s safe to say that no other trailer looks like the TrailManor when it’s folded for travel mode. Both top halves nest snugly over the bottom half, with significantly visible weather seals at the joints, the external support arms and hold-down latches detracting somewhat from the overall exterior appearance. However, it quickly becomes apparent that the practicality of a low-profile travel mode overshadows any objections to exterior aesthetics.
Although the Infiniti QX56 isn’t for everyone, its owners don’t need to give up any towing prowess in favor of luxury accommodations. Likewise, the TrailManor buyers can enjoy lightweight, low-stress towability and their full-scale living spaces at the same time. Combined, the rigs make for a very nice, albeit high-buck, package.
Pick up the January 2005 issue of Trailer Life for full test impressions and details on the Infiniti QX56 and the TrailManor 30′ — then subscribe to Trailer Life, so you can stay informed on the latest tests, previews, tow vehicles, and technical and RV-lifestyle information.
TrailManor Incorporated, (865) 426-7426, trailmanor.com.
