Rolling homes: Ford Flex, Trailmanor package makes RVers happy campers

Adapting to economic budgets, Trailmanor is sure to make happy campers out of a whole new crowd of vacation-goers who are abandoning expensive flights and looking for affordable ways to hit the road this summer.

The Trailmanor Elkmont is a recent addition to the lightweight towable trailers designed for smaller-rig hauling. The hook with this unit is that it comes from a company that to date has built all fold-down trailers.

Coupled to the Ford Flex, a new 2009 crossover vehicle with functional appeal in a number of arenas, the Trailmanor made an interesting new camping-time option for my drive.

Trailmanor has been manufacturing low-profile, fold-down, hardside trailers for decades (www.trailmanor.com) and remains the only RV manufacturer to employ the same clamshell design. The top end halves of the trailer hinge up and away from the bottom half, creating a full-height unit with a lot of interior space in camping mode. Yet, the same trailer is low-profile in travel mode and lightweight construction features mean the rigs are no problem to haul, either.

It may be compact, but the Elkmont offers a full-size sleeping space, a bath with small but totally functional features including the tub/shower and sink placement, and a kitchen with lots of counter space and full-size appliances. Those are all the basics we need for fun, comfortable camping.

All major structural elements feature laminated construction for strength and light weight. The net result is a trailer that weighs about 3,220 pounds and has a 3,738-pound Gross Vehicle Weight Rating. This trailer isn't for towing behind your favorite four-cylinder sub-compact car but there are a lot of midsize rigs out there than can handle its weight.

We towed the Elkmont with the Ford Flex, an interestingly oddball crossover rig that's not quite an SUV, not a minivan, nor a station wagon, economy car or pickup. Yet it has features that help it appeal to users from all of those vehicle-ownership arenas.

Seating for up to eight makes it possible to bring the whole crew along in the Flex, and the usual list of safety and entertainment features, plus creature comforts like local climate controls, make sure everyone can enjoy the ride.

The Elkmont has a 540-pound hitch weight so an equalizing hitch was a must, given the Flex's relatively soft people-pleasing coil-and-four-link rear suspension. Once adjusted for the load we enjoyed trouble-free towing with the Elkmont and Flex.

The Flex is just truck-like enough that its suspension and chassis design provides firm control of the load and makes tooling down the interstate or twisting the back roads a pleasure.

At the same time the Flex offers comfortable seating in a quiet driving environment, the dash is functional but well-suited to a driver who doesn't want a truck operating experience for everyday use.

Although the boxy, squared-off exterior might suggest otherwise, the Elkmont was no more susceptible to crosswinds and passing traffic than any other RV.

Trailmanor enjoys strong owner loyalty for its fold-down trailers and it looks like the Elkmont should continue that tradition. Matched to the right tow rig, like the Ford Flex, it's a fine trailer for those with smaller towing needs.

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