550 / 560 Must-have Options?

JeffL

JeffL

Newbie
Hi all. My wife Carolyn and I are deciding which options to select for the 550 Ultra that we hope to order later this summer. For example, we're definitely getting: electric brakes, built-in TV, side entrance tent with rain fly, galley windscreens, and storage cover. We're also inclined to get Air Conditioning, since we like to sleep cool, and it would be hard to retrofit an AC unit later. Are there any other "must have" options that you can highlight, that would definitely be worth the added up-front investment? For those options that can easily be added/retrofitted later, we're inclined to add them later.

About us:
We are two healthy, active adults in our mid-50's, whose standard of luxury is a 9' by 9' Coleman tent with a queen-size air mattress on the floor. Our tow vehicle is a 5-year-old Ford Fusion sedan. We don't plan to do any really cold-weather camping, but do plan to visit state parks and national parks around the entire US.

Thanks for any suggestions and advice.
 
BUMPER, AC for SURE. We love our TV - when it rains you have something to do and getting the news is always nice - helps with watching the weather. But the one option we did NOT get that I wish we did was the grab bars to help pull yourself in. You may be more fit than we are, but if you plan on keeping it for years, having that option might be of help if you develop medical problems that require some assistance.
 
Jeff, We've got the 550 Ultra as well, after going back to a Coleman tent and queen sized air mattress from the pop up we used when the kids were small.
I'd suggest the SUV option, which gives you a couple extra inches in elevation. That comes in handy when working in the galley. The other options I'd suggest would be the door screens, although they can be added later. We use them almost all the time, even down to the mid-40's, coupled with a down comforter. Great for ventilation and an almost tent-like feel. Also, the Alcan cover, which can be added later as well. I added ours myself last summer after a 2 week trip to NM and CO, where we acquired a few dings despite my best efforts to avoid ANY gravel roads. We also added the bumper, which can be added any time. It's handy when washing the teardrop - you can stand on it - and it would help protect the trailer in a minor bump situation. Even though they can all be added after the fact. they usually will require a scheduled trip to Necedah, which wouldn't be too far for you to travel.
We don't do any cold weather camping either, so a furnace for us would just be a space waster. That's my 2 cents, there will be others.
Good luck!
 
Jeff,
We bought a 550 classic with the ultra light upgrade. Like Ken, I added the bumper, & screen doors. We went SUV height. I think this was a good move. I added the receiver hitch. We almost never head out with out using it for more cargo. During hunting season, it can be a real plus.
As far as the handi-bars, Cary took care of us on that. They were the ones on the website for the 550. I use them to lift myself up. I am a fit 50+ year old. But there is not much to grab that is made to grab. I don't stay the night with out using them. My wife has a disability and they occasionally get used by her.
Hope this helps,
Steve
 
You may want to get the trailer hitch if you want to carry bicycles. Not sure that you need the galley windscreens, though. We don't have them and the galley is just fine!
Deb
 
Welcome to the forum, Jeff and Carolyn. I didn't see the fantastic fan in your options list - perhaps that's because it is included by default. This is pretty much a must-have.

You live in Minnesota and are considering the AC but not the heater? Here's my 2 cents: As an ex-tent camper, anything but HOT weather was always just plain miserable to camp in, so we would never have considered camping any other way. However, this changes with a Camp-Inn. In the NW, our camping season used to be only a couple of months long, but with our teardrop we can camp comfortably from May through October - most of the time, anyways. As you plan on visiting state parks all over the US, I think the furnace would end up coming in very handy. We ran the heater for 5 or ten minutes both nights at Mossyrock just this weekend and the weather had been good. (We have both the heater and the AC).

As far as space goes, I think you will find that either way there will be enough space to fit everything you need. We take less junk on every trip. :)
 
As you can see, everyone camps differently! Welcome to the forum! We have a 560.

For us, the must haves were the heater (in the NW, it is nice to have heat to dry out during a storm or to take the edge off, especially if your memory foam topper has gotten rock solid from the cold, plus you need shore power to run a heater unless you can find a 12v one), we opted against the AC, but feel the door screens are a must (and we have the sunroof and fantastic fan, so we felt like we were covered), SUV height, in hindsight we wished we had the bumper (and may figure out a way to do that in the future), Alan cover (we live on a gravel road, and have not regretted this...sure it can be added later, but it is protection from the start), and electric brakes as well as the inverter that stops the trailer from draining power from the car when parked. I think those were all our musts.

We decided against the TV (we figured we would keep up easier with technology with portable devices and use our iPads, but mostly just try to unplug completely...plus we like the extra interior storage), AC (probably isn't going to get hot enough where we plan to camp, and we haven't regretted it yet), galley windscreens (haven't felt we needed them, plus, I just put the counter up and block wind if I need to).

Have fun shopping!
 
Welcome!
We have had our 560 Ultra since November and have camped with our toddler in both freezing and warmer weather here in SoCal. So far the galley screens, heater, alcan cover and bumper are definitely must haves. The TV can come in handy when everyone gets a cold and it's nasty outside. The AC will be handy pretty soon here. Otherwise, it would be nice to have the extra storage. We added the solar option but don't have panels yet. So far not an issue. When campground power goes out we've been fine.
We don't have memory foam on our mattress--just laid down an old flannel sleeping bag and it did the trick without getting hard at night. The tear gets mighty warm in hot sun without shade, so glad you are opting for AC. The heater is a great option, but it sounds like you like to sleep cool. But when we are out and about it is nice to be able to have a warm cabin to help dry clothing, etc. Enjoy shopping!

Stelena
 
Must-have options: Spare tire?

Everyone,
Thanks again for all the thoughtful responses. Lots of excellent information for us as we narrow-down our options wish-list.

I noticed that no one mentioned a spare tire. Of course a spare would come in handy if I ever experience a flat tire; but a spare is going to be heavy and bulky and one more object to maintain, and I'm likely to never need it. I'm thinking I'd rather spend the extra money on heavy-duty tires; I've even heard of tires that can be driven on (for a while) even if they go flat. Thoughts, anyone? Do people generally go without the spare tire?
 
Re: Must-have options: Spare tire?

We got the spare tire. I wouldn't want to go without it. I had run-flats on my car, and we didn't like them. The rubber is really hard, making traction less than what I wanted (and they were miserable in the wet). It might be different on a trailer, but we have swapped them off the car and got other tires instead.

I guess I never think about the spare tire, since it is tucked away and I don't see it! Out of sight, out of mind...unless I need it, and then I am glad to have it.
 
Re: Must-have options: Spare tire?

How about on a 550? Is the spare tire as "invisible" on the 550 as it is on the 560? From our factory tours, I seem to recall that the spare tire clamped onto the tongue of the trailer.
 
Re: Must-have options: Spare tire?

Hi, Jeff. We have a spare for our 550 and it's stored in the storage bin under the mattress.

Kathy
 
Re: Must-have options: Spare tire?

Jeff,

I keep the factory spare tire in the under bed storage, along with a breaker bar. Purchase the spare from Camp Inn.

Even if I had ordered a new ter, I would not have the installed furnace. A off the shelf small electric heater works great, along with an electric mattress pad. Also can heat with dog heater and using the interior lights.

The one option I don't have is the AC. Would have been nice a few times last year. The fantastic vent fan moves a lot of air when needed.

Jean
 
Re: Must-have options: Spare tire?

We did not get the spare tire as would probably need help if we had a flat and we do have AAA.
 
Re: Must-have options: Spare tire?

We carry a can of fix-a-flat. This was actually Cary's recommendation over the spare tire. Close to 10k miles so far with never an issue...
 
Re: Must-have options: Spare tire?

I got lucky, the spare on the Flex bolts right to the trailer. Check your TV bolt pattern, you might not need the spare.
 
Re: Must-have options: Spare tire?

Dave,

AJ drives a Ford Flex. Neat looking crossover SUV sort of vehicle.

Cary
 
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