Thoughts on the Livin Lite Quicksilvers?

[AZNighthiker]

We removed the dinette bases in our 8' model and we have lots of storage for our gear.

[Coley]

Thanks, everyone, for all your comments and analysis. You guys are awesome. I'm going to read over these again and research some more.

I certainly understand the criticism about the price, but I think it's just what you have to pay for the lighter materials.

[Tenttrailer]

It all about what your needs is. 

One thought, size is not as important to campers in areas that don't experience much rain, bugs or cold weather.   To us east of the Mississippi and north, we can experience days that you have cabin fever due to weather or bugs that require bug spray to be outside.

The cabin size is more important during these days.

[MIpucamper]

I agree with Gemini.  There are times in the spring here in Michigan when you have all three at the same time.  We seem to attract rain where ever we go and having a place to get inside is a good thing.  That is one reason(not the only reason) we bought a Jayco 1207.  That said, I have to say I am very impressed with the weight of the Quicksilver.  If I ever have to give up my truck(you will know when that day comes when you hear me crying all the way across the state), we could easily pull the 8 footer with our VW Jetta TDI.  Even if we lost 5 mpg pulling the Quicksilver with our Jetta we would still be getting 45 mpg, and most of that is on "homebrew".  Right now I can't see myself giving up my Hemi any time soon, but it is nice to know that there are lightweight alternatives out there.  In fact, I never heard of the Livinglite Quicksilver until this post. I am always learning new things here.
Fred

[Tenttrailer]

There are some very light pop up out there. That are much lighter than the QS.

I have run across several diffrent ones that came be pulled by a motor cycle or the very mini cars. they are in the 150 to 400 pound range.  I first saw one on craigslist one year old around $600.  Much to small for my DF. But they are light, very solid construction.  The one I saw was fiberglass canvas and a steel frame 270 lbs dry. Price new was around $900.

http://www.trailmasterinc.com/  Ilike the evo-pod models all fiberglass, pull it my the smallest car or a motercycle http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BkQ_itR6r3Q      web site www,POCKETCAMPER.com

[MicroCamper]

Our QS 6.0 is actually the biggest of the three campers that we have owned. The Combi-Camp and the Roll-a-Home that we used to have were 450 pounds or less, and I pulled both with my motorcycle.

[Coley]

Gemini - a year ago, I did not even know what a pop-up was. I was looking for something to do on a rainy Saturday with young kids, and I saw that the RV show was in town. I figured it would be fun for the kids to climb into and around the big, monstrous RV's. And they had fun.

When we finally got to the pop-up section, my wife and I were like "what the heck are these--these look fun! We could actually do something like this."

Livin lite was not there, but I found them online later that afternoon, while the kids were down for a well-needed nap. I also found this site, and have been lurking ever since.

In the meantime, we bought a big tent (Eureka) and some sleeping bags, and we've gone on a few short camping trips, which have been great. All winter, the kids have been begging to go again soon.

So, that's my brief history with camping.

[Tenttrailer]

We use to do a lot of tent and back packing camping. We first went to a very light Viking popup that only had one bunkend. It almost had no effect on our gas mileage.  We were first overwhelm with the luxury of it, with sleeping off the ground, the sink, the built in ice box, the furnace and inside lights.  It did not take us long to figure out we wanted something different, or maybe it was the growing family.  We are now on camper 4 (pup) after 30 years (2 popups and 2 tt).

When I'm asked what camper to get by friends. I always tell them to use ours or rent a camper and after a week of camping, they would come up with a good list of what's important to them.  If you look at this web site, everyone has an idea what is the best camper.  But that is based on what is important to them.  When buying your first camper, it's not a bad idea to buy a used camper, because there seems to be a lot of people that buy a different camper in the first 2-3 years.  Campers in good condition have a very fast deprecation during the first 10 years and then almost flat line in deprecation for the rest of there usefull life. 

Have fun figuring out your camper.

When we start thinking about a new camper. The DW and I, in private both make a list of must haves and nice to haves, than we compare our list and finalize the list.  We found that if we start by making our list together, we influence each other's list to early and one of us is missing something that is important to them.

[JungleJim]

There are some very light pop up out there. That are much lighter than the QS.

Yes, and much smaller than a QS.
I'd love to learn about other 10 ft popups that are as light (or lighter) as our QS 10.0   

[SteveP]

As a Jayco owner that searched for years for a lightweight pup with the right amenities there are only two reasons I don't own a Quicksilver. 

The primary reason is that the nearest dealer who actually kept any stock at the time was in Denver, 14 hours away.  A dealership in Houston would get in one or two in the spring but they disappeared fast.

The second reason is that Debi insisted on a having a built in bathroom, but she really wanted a TT at the time. 

If I had been able to find one locally I probably would have just bought it aloing with a new porta pottie.

If your complaining about the lack of amenities in the Quicksliver I don't see how you can recommend any other comparatively lightweight trailer, except possibly the Aliners.

[Travelhoveler]

I'd love to learn about other 10 ft popups that are as light (or lighter) as our QS 10.0

Our Chalet LTW has a 10 ft box and has a dry weight of 990 pounds.  Not a lot of difference, but it is a little lighter. 

[JungleJim]

I'd love to learn about other 10 ft popups that are as light (or lighter) as our QS 10.0

Our Chalet LTW has a 10 ft box and has a dry weight of 990 pounds.  Not a lot of difference, but it is a little lighter. 

You got me on that technicality    ( 30 lbs lighter.)
But your box is not 10 ft (at least not according to the manufacturer's site). The inside length is 105.5" (less than 9 ft) ....how thick are the walls?

I should've stated a 10 ft box with the same volume when open....but I think you knew I meant that 
Volume per pound...I don't think anything currently being built can beat it.

[manualman]

As noted, the Starcraft Starflyer 10.0 is about 100# heavier than the QS10.  To me, that's about a tie.

[JungleJim]

As noted, the Starcraft Starflyer 10.0 is about 100# heavier than the QS10.  To me, that's about a tie.

Considering it a tie would depend on your tow vehicle 

One needs to also note that the Starflyer 10.0 only has one Queen bed (& one full bed), whereas the Quicksilver has 2 Queen beds. The QS 10.0 also has more seating inside (which was important to us.)
That additional 135 lbs might, or might not, be important depending on your tow vehicle.

Something has yet to be built that bests the QS 10.0 in the volume per pound category.

Don't get me wrong, I do like the Starflyer.  Especially if one doesn't have as much to spend on a camper.
Anything that can get a family camping is a great thing.
Starcraft is thinking a little outside of the traditional "box" by going without a typical door in the Starflyer.
I'm sure Starcraft could get the Starflyer to lose 135 lbs if they thought even a little  farther out of the box....
In the size per dollar category, the Starflyer wins

[JungleJim]

As a Jayco owner that searched for years for a lightweight pup with the right amenities there are only two reasons I don't own a Quicksilver. 

The primary reason is that the nearest dealer who actually kept any stock at the time was in Denver, 14 hours away.  A dealership in Houston would get in one or two in the spring but they disappeared fast.

The second reason is that Debi insisted on a having a built in bathroom, but she really wanted a TT at the time. 

If I had been able to find one locally I probably would have just bought it aloing with a new porta pottie.

If your complaining about the lack of amenities in the Quicksliver I don't see how you can recommend any other comparatively lightweight trailer, except possibly the Aliners.

Dealer location would wipe it off my list also. Luckily, we have one a little over an hour away.

Livinlite has been listening to the complaints from potential buyers about the lack of amenities.
They have created the Quicksilver XLP.  http://www.livinlite.com/xlp-overview.php
The QS XLP has many of the features people want including a full LP package with furnace, (3)-way refrigerator, exterior hookup for a grill, cassette toilette, front storage box, etc..
It weighs 479 lbs more than the QS 10.0, but you get a lot more for that additional weight.

Livinlite keeps expanding it's offerings.
Maybe they'll offer a low weight A-Frame in the future!