Perfect trailer for one or two people
Written: Jun 13 '01 (Updated Jun 13 '01)
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Pros: small, easy to tow, great floor plan, reliable, clean, comfortable, inexpensive
Cons: Small, horribly decorated (like all trailers and RV's) not many sleeping combos
The Bottom Line: The 19 foot 2000 or 2001 Mallard is great for anyone who wants an easy-to-use-and-tow trailer with all the conveniences of a big one.
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| jenningspaige's Full Review: 2000 Fleetwood Mallard |
My mom bought this trailer last summer and we stay in it about once every three weeks. She paid $10,000 or so for it, and so far it has been worth every penny. The Mallard she got is the 19 footer, and it's great for us.
What I like about it best is the layout. The floor plan is designed in such a way that the inside of the trailer actually feels bigger than my 27 foot trailer. This is because everything is against the walls so there is a large open space in the middle. It's hard to describe, but it makes the trailer a square shape instead of a rectangle. Nothing makes me feel more cramped that a long, narrow trailers (and most trailers are long and narrow, unless they have slideouts). This Mallard doesn't have any slide-outs and it still feels wide and roomy. You could actually play Twister on the floor if you wanted to!
The Mallard is great for one person or for a couple. If there is more than one person staying in it, they have to be pretty intimate with each other because space is limited. There is only one double bed (that isn't very big) and the dining table makes into a twin-sized bed for a second or third person. There is also an overhead bunk bed above the dining table, but you'd have to be a sadist to actually put a person up there. If anyone could even figure out how to get up there, I don't think they'd appreciate the two inches of clearance from the ceiling or the inch thick "mattress" provided. I wouldn't even put a limber child in that bed. It's basically a storage area for any sane person.
The bathroom is typically small and cramped, but it has nice ledges on either side of the toilet to put stuff on or rest your arms on. The shower has nice water pressure and is large enough to move around comfortably. The shower is also deep enough to sit in or bathe a child in, so that is nice. The hot water heater is big enough to take about a 10 minute hot shower, which is more than I can say for most travel trailers. Mine only lasts about five minutes, and it's 9 feet longer than my mom's Mallard. The sink, cabinet, and mirror are just outside the bathroom in a little cove. You can't stand there if someone has the bathroom door open because the door is right in the way. This can be annoying at times. Also, for some horrible reason, there are two gaps at the top and bottom of the bathroom door! Unfortunately, you can hear everything going on in the bathroom from anywhere in the trailer. This is a downside, but I've seen this type of thing in almost all the trailers I've looked at. I guess it's one of those things you have to live with just like the awful decorations.
Yes, the decorations. We found the nicest decoration of all the trailers, and it still looks like a cheap motel room (to me anyway). The mirrors have ugly gold engravings in them, and the knobs and handles are all ugly brass. The floor is a nice white linoleum, but then there are three different colors of blue in the fabrics - a dark blue plaid on the dining seats, a light blue rose pattern in the wallpaper, and a DIFFERENT blue rose pattern on the bedspread and window curtains. There is nothing to be done about this and I still haven't found a decent trailer decoration. Luckily it's not a house and you don't have to see it every day.
The appliances have all worked effortlessly since the day we bought it. The air conditioner is strong and fast, the heater is strong and fast, and it's always comfortable inside. The roof is extremely durable. It's made of some type of rubber that has a lifetime guarantee on it. As the owner of a 1979 trailer with a leaky roof and hence water-stained ceiling, a rubber roof is a great thing to invest in. You never have to seal it like you do with other trailers. The refrigerator also works great and can be used with electricity or propane.
Everything on the trailer is incredibly easy to use. A three-year-old could figure out how to set it up and take it down.
Like anything, it has a couple downsides. The TV antenna is only on one wall, so you can watch TV from the dining booth but not from the bed (unless you move the TV in which case you can only watch movies which is a pain). Also, like I said the decorations and the gap in the bathroom door. Also,in the double bed, if there are two people, it is very easy to bang into the mini blinds, which either wakes you up or startles you and is bothersome. Other than that it's great, and I honestly don't think we could have found a better trailer for our needs.
I would recommend this trailer to anyone camping alone or with a significant other and possibly a child as well. The double bed is very very comfortable and the booth is surprisingly comfortable and large as well. It feels like a bigger trailer than it is, and you definitely don't get that railroad car feeling inside it. It's really easy to tow and you won't need a huge truck to do it. A regular 1/2 ton pickup will easily take this trailer around the country and should provide tons of fun.
Recommended:
Yes
Amount Paid (US$): 10,000
Condition: New
Model Year: 2000
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Epinions.com ID:
jenningspaige
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Member: Jennings Paige
Location: Los Angeles, CA
Reviews written: 52
Trusted by: 7 members
About Me:
Just trying to help you make educated decisions. Please remember to rate my opinions. Thanks!
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