I like this camper - Chalet Takena

 

The second happiest day in your life is when you buy a boat.

The happiest day in your life is the day you get rid of it! 

 

I'm much the same with the samll 5th wheel...just dreaming ahead.  This kitchen remodel I'm doing is going to keep me poor and humble for a while.

 

Thanks for the tip and link.  It seems similar to the Scamp but, I like it's look/styling much better.  I wonder if they would do some custom work?  I really don't need or want a big dinette and would rather have a larger bathroom/floor space.  The tank sizes are a bit smaller than I would like but, when dry camping, one could always use the external/portable tanks.  Weight and size wise, it's right where I want to be. 

 

My Coleman is aluminum framed with fiberglass walls that are gel coated, similar to the Pod.  It has the EDPM rubber roof.  I found the article very interesting.  Personally, I don't worry about it.  With proper maintenance, it should last longer than I will own the unit.  IMHO, anything is going to weather and oxidize with time....even fiberglass with gel coat.  My old 5th wheel had a solid aluminum skin for a roof and other than checking the sealer around the vents, etc., it was maintenance free.  But, as the aluminum oxidized, the black streaks were a constant (and difficult to remove) battle.  The proposition seems to be; what kind of maintenance/problems does a person want to deal with?  To each his own.

 

Buying and selling in general.....about the only one who comes out ahead (money wise) in the proposition is the RV  dealer.  With that said, there are folks who spend much more on boats, motorcycles, etc.  I think Tech and I camp about the same amount - 30 to 40 days per year.  Spending that much time in an RV (by my reasoning) justifies getting something that I like and fills my needs.  Does buying/selling a camper make good financial sense....hell no!  Everything about these things are money gobblers....right down to buying wood for the campfire.  But, sometimes in life, it's OK to get something just because you want it.  

 

 

In mine, the dinette benches are "fixed" and do not move (both have storage).  The table has 2 permanent flanges mounted to the floor with 2 removable upright tubes that support the table top.  These tubes can be removed from the flanges and table top and the dinette could be made into a bed, though I have never done so.  The idea of spanning a platform between the top of the benches for a second (bunk) bed never occured to me....it's a good idea.  But, like you say, it would be something else to deal with.

 

For your situation, what you are looking at is a better floorplan than mine.....it's already ready for the kids.  I agree with Terry, by the time you add on some options and your stuff, you'll likely be over 3000lbs.  Mine is 3018lbs as you see it above but, empty propane tanks, no battery, no fluids in the holding tanks and no "stuff".  I don't notice a big difference in pulling this vs. my old RP173.

 

Although mine was advertized as 27 gallon fresh water capacity, the tank is really only 20 gallons - according to my measurements and volume calculations.  20 plus 6 in the water heater plus about a gallon in the plumbing lines.  Many manufacturers seem to do this.  With that said, if I'm frugal, I can stretch this 3 days.  Until I get around to upsizing the tank, I carry a couple of 6 gallon water jugs and top off the fresh water, as needed.    I would suspect the one you are looking at probably has a 20 gallon tank.

 

Personally, I'm casually looking for a small lightweight 5th wheel.  So far about the only thing under 25' is the Scamp - which I think is kind of short on ammenities.