The Ascape ST That Camped Beside Us

I didn’t know that the Aliner travel trailer company makes any kinds of trailers other than their foldable Aliners; however, this weekend I saw my first Ascape. The Ascape ST I saw was a canned ham style of tiny trailer. Personally, I like the canned ham design because it saves a lot of space in the back with that straight line.

Marty and Julie bought their Ascape used in 2018. My wife and I met the couple at Lacey-Keosauqua State Park when they set up next to us. This trip was their second trip since they had bought the trailer. Their tiny trailer camping experience was much the same as my wife and mine when we started out. Like us, they started small with the Ascape with a used unit in order to ease into camping, Without a large investment, they had a chance to find out what they liked and what they didn’t, but worked for them and what didn’t work for them when it came to camping.

They bought their 2018 Ascape for $14,000, having waited a year before buying, hoping the owner would come down on the price . . . and the owner did! Their Ascape has a bed and table, a shower and bathroom arrangement with a pullout toilet, a propane range, and a propane refrigerator. It has the basics.

One thing the couple really likes is the step down at the back of the trailer floor, which allows them to easily stand while they’re cooking or working. It’s a nice arrangement; the inside is small but well thought out and livable. Like us, Marty and Julie like to spend a lot of time outside when camping, so the inside is more for sleeping or for inclement weather.

It’s always fun to meet tiny trailer owners or little trainer trailer owners when camping. The camaraderie of shared interest and shared lifestyles always create a warmer campground and good memories. My wife and I mentioned to Marty and Julie that if my wife weren’t working, then a small space like the Ascape or like our original Green Goddess RTTC teardrop trailer would still work for us just fine. We love our little Bambi Airstream; it really is the ultimate in many ways. However, we still appreciate the joy and the adventures of tiny trailer living.

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Sleeping on the Airstream Bambi 16 front Dinette Bed Conversion

My wife and I decided to spend our last eight-night camping trip using the front dinette as our second bed. A couple of years ago, we decided after 18 years of marriage to sleep in two bedrooms because of getting up more at night, snoring, and just sometimes having a night of light sleep.

My first experience of sleeping in the front of our Bambi was in our driveway, just spending one night on the dinette bed to see what the experience would be like. I set up the bed, covered it with a folded quilt, and used a sheet and thermal blanket for my covers. The next morning I analyzed my experience and realized that using the front bed was very doable. The cushions were hard, though, so my wife ordered a two-inch covered latex foam pad for the bed. This helped immensely.

After eight nights of camping, using the front dinette as a bed, what we found was that it took about five minutes to either break the dinette down to the bed or to convert the bed back to the dinette. The various components of the bed: the 2-inch latex mattress, the folded quilt used as the bottom sheet, the top sheet and blankets, and the pillows were stored in the back or rear bed area when the front area was being used as a table and not a sleeping area.

Our first experiences of sleeping in the rear bed area together were that sharing the rear bed area was definitely possible, but there were definitely some space issues and some concerns by both of us of not disturbing our partner during the night. By having me sleep in the front area and having my wife sleep in the back area, the small space of the little Bambi 16-foot trailer seemed to be expanded greatly.

By the two of us sleeping front and back of our Bambi 16, we were both able to read a bit before going to bed, yet also do it according to our personal physical readiness for sleep. I could read later than my wife, or I could choose to go to sleep earlier while she was still reading, and there was no conflict on whether the light was on or whether she was active and I was not. And if we woke up during the night, we could read without disturbing one another.

In terms of space, by each of us having an individual bed, we were able to stretch out more and roll over more easily, to change position during the night without worrying about disturbing our partner. We could also add or remove blankets, fluff our pillows, or generally just be more relaxed and natural with the sleep process.

Our experiment with using both beds in our Bambi 16 was a success. Our sleeping habits at home are now more natural naturally mirrored when we are camping. Taking the extra five minutes to make the bed in front and then in the morning to return it to the dinette is time well spent. Ironically, by bringing the extra sleeping items needed for the front bed—the extra latex mattress and the extra blankets—we were able to expand the Bambi‘s living space, if not actually then at least subjectively. By taking five minutes in the morning and five in the late afternoon, we were able to both have an extra bed yet still keep our kitchen table/office space. We use Starlink for our internet connection, so now my wife has a mobile office wherever we travel.

Our nighttime experience was not one of close quarters and elbows and knees, even with our cordial intentions, but one of expanded sleeping space. Especially for longer periods of living together in the Bambi, which we intend to do, providing for ourselves the best environment for a good night's sleep is essential. The classic little trailer design of a rear bedroom, front dinette, and everything else in between we have found to be a very livable space. We intend to continue sleeping by utilizing both rear and front space. It’s a viable option for us, and we recommend for others, too.

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Lake Red Rock, Iowa: Eleven Days in a Little Trailer

"Where have you been, and what have you been doing?" you might ask, since it's been about nine months since I've last posted. The short answer is childcare for grandchildren and other family business. However (and my wife and I are so happy that the however has finally arrived), the kids are now back in school and the other family issues are settling down, allowing Sandy and me to finally use our Airstream Bambi 16 this beautiful fall. I honestly have to add that my emotional predilection is tending more nowadays towards doing and living rather than spending considerable time writing about what I've been doing. 

Photo from Observation Tower, Cordova Park

We are now camping for eleven days at Lake Red Rock, Iowa's largest lake, riding our bikes on the Volksweg Trail and just settling in for a nice quiet time of getting away from our usual routine. It's great to finally be able to use all the cool camping stuff we've accumulated to live a lifestyle that includes time outside, exercise, and private time with Sandy and me, while still allowing Sandy to work her online business and me to write when I feel like it (like now when it's in the 90s outside and it's so cozy inside with our air conditioner). After this trip, we'll take about a week at home, and then it will be another eleven days out in the Bambi, this time at Lacey-Keosauqua State Park, one of our old favorite camping spots. And then after another week or so, we'll be off by jet to Carlsbad, California, for a week to enjoy the ocean and to attend a wedding. Luckily, Sandy's son will be house-sitting for us during this time, keeping everything shipshape. 

As of last night it is now official--we are no longer the smallest camper in the campground. We had a Hiker Trailer roll in across the way, a tiny trailer with, as they said, a small air conditioner because they are, after all, camping in the humid Midwest. I chatted with the husband for a while last night about ease of towing, spending more time outside, and those little potty tents, one of which is pitched next to their tiny trailer. Ah, the Green Goddess memories! 

One table, two work stations

Not, of course, that we are complaining about the set-up of our Airstream. What we really like about our little trailer is that it has a rear bed and a front table (which also converts to a bed). This is the classic design of the small trailers of the 60s and 70s--bed in back, table in front, and everything else in between. This floorplan allows Sandy to work online at the table and for me to relax in the rear bed, with a significant space between the activities. That way, Sandy can work without having to endure my snoring if I take a nap! We can also both work at the table as we are doing today as I write this blog while she works at her mobile office. Starlink has really provided us with a lot of flexibility for her mobile office. We also still hardly use our water, which enables us to camp for eleven days without having to break camp one or two times to empty the black tank and fill our water tank. In a sense, we still enjoy tiny camping, just with a little trailer rather than a tiny trailer. 

We've been riding our new Velotric Fold 1 Plus, heavy but enjoyable e-bikes that we pack in the back of our pick-up topper. Sandy helps me load and unload the 67-pound weight; however, I could remove the ten-pound battery before loading, which would help. We've been riding every day, pedaling to Pella, buying groceries, and riding the Volksweg Trail, yesterday 23 miles from our campground to the end of the trail at Cordova Park. Our Ford Ranger tow vehicle hasn't been moved since we arrived and set up camp. We are happy with the bikes, even though the smaller twenty-inch wheels and the weight makes a different ride than a conventional bike frame, even a conventional ebike frame. The bikes provide us with greater freedom, and we've been getting our regular exercise while still traveling long enough distances to feel we are really exploring. 

This is all for now. I wish everyone happy travels and good times. When the weather is too hot or cold, I'll probably get out of my garden, off the hiking trail, or off my bike and write another post. It's great to share and to be part of the camping community. 

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Simplify Your Camping Experience with a Blue Mountain Tiny Trailer

Interior, Blue Mountain Appalachian Touring

Tiny trailer camper owners are usually seeking a simple, uncomplicated camping experience, and a new tiny travel trailer company, Blue Mountain Camper Co., is seeking to fulfill tiny travel trailer camping dreams. Their mission statement reads thus: "The Mission of Blue Mountain Camp Co. is to build affordable, simple-to-use, and easy-to-tow campers. There are no dealers or large manufacturing facilities, only handcrafted mini campers designed to last." 

My prior blog article on this company provided background on the company's experience--over 400 little trailers constructed since 2012 (see "Blue Mountain Camper Co. -- a New Company Old in Experience.")

This article focuses on the two tiny trailers the company is currently building, the Appalachian and the Acorn. According to the company's website, the construction of these campers include three features: rot-free composite construction, advanced insulation, and pop-out windows.

• Rot-free Composite Body: "This includes the floor, walls, and roof. No wood structure to rot or decay."
• Advanced Insulation: "All models have a spray foam insulated ceiling."
• Pop-out Windows: "All models feature awning-style windows with shades and screens. These windows are much more effective in the rain than sliding windows."

The 2025 Blue Mountain Acorn is an entry-level travel trailer, pricing beginning at $7,850 for the four-foot-tall model. A buyer can choose from a 4’ tall interior (975 lbs) or a 5’ tall interior (1,090 lbs), which immediately adds $2,085 to the price tag. Since these trailers are built to order, some of the possibilities in a tiny trailer--beyond being a "hard-sided tent"--are available upon request. The unit comes with an efficient air conditioner, and a roof rack is an optional feature. The Acorn's webpage has many more exterior and interior photos available.

The Blue Mountain 2025 Appalachian Touring model, with only a five-foot-tall model, is an entirely different tiny travel trailer experience, providing many more camping amenities, including birch cabinetry, which is why the price tag begins at $13,850. It's easy to see this new company's marketing strategy--feature two models, a simple, lower-priced camper and a more luxurious model. Then potential buyers will have a vision of possibilities. "At 1,570 pounds, the Appalachian Touring is a compact camper that most mid-sized SUVs and vans can tow. It has added safety features, such as standard electric brakes." This model also includes quite a few nice "extras." 

The main thing to remember when purchasing a Blue Mountain trailer is that the ordering process is individualized. The company's webpage has a "Build and Order" tab which takes you to an order page where you can choose the trailer you want and the extras you want. In addition, you can interact with the build team to individualize the process even more. Lead time is 2-4 months prior to pick-up, depending on the model you choose and the time of year you order. 

I've written enough introduction here. If you are interested in ordering a trailer or in just browsing, go to the company's webpage, check out their deals, and feast your eyes on some beautiful tiny trailer craftsmanship. The company hasn't listed a telephone number yet, but the webpage has an email address, so individual questions can be sent and the communication process begun. There are many good tiny trailers available on the market, and Blue Mountain trailers are a welcome addition, providing even greater choice to those interested in getting out there by going small. 

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Blue Mountain Camper Co. -- a New Company Old in Experience

There's a new trailer company on the mountain!

"I just bought a 2013 Rustic Trail that is actually titled as a Leonard, because that was the trailer frame it was built on. The couple I bought it from, bought it new from 'some guy up in Pilot Mountain, that said he was starting a teardrop company.'" This quotation comes from the Facebook group Rustic Trail Teardrops and Friends, and it's the perfect introduction to this article. 

Jonathan wrote, "Might have even been the first [RTTC] Grizzly!"

In 2012, Jonathan Sechrist of Pilot Mountain, North Carolina, decided to build himself a tiny trailer camper in his garage. It turned out so well he had a neighbor ask him to build another. Word got around, promises were made, and suddenly Jonathan and his family found themselves busy owners of a travel trailer company, Rustic Trail Teardrop Campers. I owned one of Jonathan's trailers--the Green Goddess, namesake of this blog. It was my wife and my introduction into camping with little travel trailers, and a fun and exciting introduction it was!

The Green Goddess at Red Rock Lake, Iowa

Jonathan headed the young company, Rustic Trail Teardrop Campers, from 2012 to 2020. The Green Goddess, a Polar Bear model, was trailer 285, or somewhere in that range. Then Jonathan sold the company in 2020, and then it sold again in 2022. RTTC is currently moving from Pilot Mountain to the Raleigh area, and Jonathan Sechrist and his family are taking the opportunity and their experience to start a new Pilot Mountain tiny travel trailer company, the Blue Mountain Camper Co.

Western North Carolina flooding victims

Before getting into more specifics about the company, first let's talk a bit about the heart-value of this North Carolina company. Recently, North Carolina experienced horrific flooding from Hurricane Helene. Blue Mountain shifted their efforts from promoting their company to gathering donations and building camper pods for families swept from their homes by the flooding. This post on Blue Mountain's Facebook group page said: "This is how some people are currently living in Western NC. Being an NC-based company, we want to help some of these victims by providing campers before really cold weather hits. For about $3,000, we can build a very basic camper and provide them with shelter from the weather. As a small startup company, we cannot afford to do this alone. We will donate the first one; would you be willing to help with more?" This campaign, although it is no longer continuing, is representative of the company's sense of community.

The Blue Mountain team

The Sechrist family and crew have the expertise that comes from having constructed more than four hundred tiny travel trailers. As the Blue Mountain Camper Co. says on their website, "Having an experienced team build your trailer is critical to reviving a quality, long-lasting tiny-camper. Blue Mountain Campers may be a new company, but the crew is far from it! Comprised of four skilled and dedicated build team members, our crew has been in the business for over 12+ years and has constructed over 400+ teardrop style campers." They go on to say that their company has "no big fancy buildings, large marketing budgets, or distant, hands-off owners. Blue Mountain Campers is a true small family-owned and operated business. When you buy from Blue Mountain, you support our families and allow us to do what we love—creating unique, long-lasting mini-campers."

Part of the Blue Mountain expertise is their goal of building tiny campers that last, "lightweight, easy-to-tow, no-fuss" campers, "simple to maintain campers that will last and last. Thanks to our all-composite rot-free body (floor, walls, roof, inside ceiling), the Appalachian is a teardrop camper alternative that is designed from the ground up to get you on the road to adventure with ease." 

On a recent Blue Mountain Camper Co. group Facebook post, Jonathan Sechrist said: "We are the original founders and builders of The Rustic Trail Teardrop Campers. We sold the company in 2020 right when Covid hit. We have started this new company because we still believe that people deserve a good product at a reasonable price! There are a lot more builders on the block now but many are very expensive. Our hopes are to see quality and affordable pricing prevail in the coming days and months ahead. We are doing everything we can to see customers satisfied and keep our campers affordable."

Jonathan is also about to release a new model tiny trailer called the "Acorn," which will come in four-feet and five-feet tall versions, with the starting weight being less than one thousand pounds. and starting at less than $10,000. The article that follows this one will focus more on what tiny trailer models Blue Mountain is offering, details and specifics. If you can't wait, though, follow the Blue Mountain Camper Co. link and do some browsing on your own! I'm still browsing and researching myself, and will post more soon.

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