Our Solar Electric Trailer Journey Devin and Gail Thorpe

We’ve just returned from our latest—and for many purposes—our last camping trip in the Aliner Scout. This is our farewell.
Eighteen months ago, we launched “Our Solar Electric Trailer Journey” with a grand vision of buying an electric truck, probably a Rivian, to two a trailer we’d equip with solar power. We still don’t have a truck, and the latest estimate for when one will arrive is still months in the future.
We didn’t let this stop us. We bought an Aliner Scout camper we could tow with our Chevy Bolt EV. We added solar panels and a 200 amp-hour, 2.5 kWh lithium battery, along with a top-of-the-line inverter/charger and charge controller. After months of research and education, we installed the panels, battery and all the rest ourselves.
Along the way, we shared our journey with you, including our many woes. We hope the challenges and problems we faced helped you or someone else to avoid some of the pain we experienced.
The pinnacle of our journey was a 1,000-mile trip we made towing our little RV with our little ev along the southeastern coast of the United States from Florida to North Carolina and back. What a blast!
On that trip, we were able to go five out of seven days without plugging in the trailer, operating on solar and battery power. And plenty of people told us it couldn’t be done!
While we won’t be posting here any longer, you can follow Devin’s podcast and newsletter here.
We’ll genuinely miss you. We’ve loved building relationships in the real world, from random folks we’ve met at charging stations who share what they’ve learned from our videos to our podcast and YouTube friends who’ve invited us to be guests on their shows. We’ll miss you all.
Thank you for the kindness, support and patience you’ve shown us. We’ve learned a great deal from you!
Now, good luck on your solar electric trailer journey, whatever it may be to you!
P.S. The Aliner is now for sale.




This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit oursolarelectrictrailer.substack.com

We are excited to report that our little Aliner Camper is back in business!
You may recall that a blowout left our rig out of the game. We were surprised by how long it took to get the little popup camper trailer back in service.
Here’s a recap of what has taken so long.
Step 1: Insurance
We were pleasantly surprised by how quickly State Farm received our claim and processed it, sending us an estimate of the cash required to cover the repair, net of our deductible. That entire process took only a week.
Step 2: Find Someone to Do the Repairs
It took about three weeks for us to find someone willing and able to do the repairs. One challenge for us was that there are no Aliner dealers in our area. Not only wasn’t there a dealer with a repair shop we could automatically call, few of the repair shops around were familiar with Aliners or interested in the sort of repair we needed.
Step 3: Find Parts
Of course, finding parts wasn’t our job, it fell to the team that agreed to do the repairs. Not having done much Aliner work, they didn’t have a good supply chain in place for those parts. It took about a month for them to get the parts ordered and then another month for the parts to arrive.
Step 4: Get Permission From the HOA
The next challenge, with parts in hand, was to schedule the work. We hadn’t fully appreciated when we found a team willing and able to do the work that they didn’t have a facility to do the repairs. Their plan was to use our driveway. Our HOA didn’t think that was a good plan, so we had to apply for a waiver of the rules. That application process pushed the repair out another month. The HOA was gracious and quickly approved the plan.
Step 5: Do the Repairs
Last week, in our driveway, the team did the repair. They did a great job cutting out about 10 percent of the floor of the trailer and replacing it. They sealed everything up good and tight. Critically, they took out all the solar power electrictronics and put it all back in. Not surprisingly, it looks like they did a better job than we had done as novices.
Next Step: Go Camping!
With our trailer repaired, we’re planning a little excursion for next weekend!


This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit oursolarelectrictrailer.substack.com

When you purchase an item after clicking a link from this post, we may earn a commission.
We haven’t talked much about the Aptera we’ve pre-ordered, so we thought we’d use our newsletter, podcast and YouTube show this week to explain the seven reasons we pre-ordered one of these solar-powered EVs.
The Aptera is a solar-powered, three-wheeled vehicle enclosed like a car (so you’ll frequently catch us calling it a car) but regulated more like a motorcycle.
Reason #1: Extreme Efficiency
We expect the Aptera to be the most efficient vehicle on the road. With 10 miles per kWh of range, the little EV will be 2.5 times more efficient than our Bolt and five times more efficient than the Rivian electric pickup we’ve ordered.
Reason #2: George Jetson Style
Devin says the first thing that came to mind when he saw a photo of an Aptera was George Jetson’s flying car. It is that spacey!
We love that! We get that not everyone wants a car that attention-grabbing, but we do. We want to be talking to people about energy efficiency, solar power and Our Solar Electric Trailer Journey.
Even with our Chevy Bolt, we are frequently stopped by people curious about EVs. We can’t wait to drive the Aptera!
Reason #3: Solar Panels
The solar panels on the Aptera can provide up to 40 miles per day of driving! To get that, you’ll need to upgrade from the base model’s limited solar panel coverage to get the whole vehicle covered with solar.
With that upgrade, you could get 10,000 miles (theoretically even more) of free electricity from the sun every year! It is hard to imagine.
Reason #4: The Incredible Range
We’ve pre-ordered the 600-mile range version of the Aptera. The longest-range option will run 1,000 miles on a single charge! Production will begin, the company says, with the 400-mile range option and then move to the 250-mile battery.
The batteries in the Apteras don’t appear to be designed for super fast charging, but that may come. For now, the company promises 40 to 60 kW fast charging (about the same as our Bolt). Keep in mind, however, that given the vehicle’s efficiency, it will be charging 2.5 times faster than the Bolt in terms of miles per minute.
At this rate, the Aptera should be capable of adding 100 miles of range in ten minutes!
Reason #5: Affordability
The Aptera starts at an almost unbelievable price of just $25,900. The version we pre-ordered with all-wheel drive, the full solar package and 600 miles of range still comes in under $40k.
That is an excellent price for a car that doesn’t require charging for routine, around-town driving or even short road trips.
Reason #6: Speed
With the all-wheel drive package, the Aptera will have a 0-60 time of just 4 seconds. That’s fast.
We think of our Bolt as fast with its 7.2 second 0-60 speed. We can’t wait to put the hammer down in the little Aptera!
Reason #7: We’re Invested
Aptera is raising money via investment crowdfunding. We invested shortly after we pre-ordered the vehicle. Today, you can invest as little as $210 via the crowdfunding site Republic.
Let’s be clear about a couple of things here. We’re biased. Aptera can’t make our car until it raises more money. We want people to invest. We’re not financial advisors. Don’t invest because we did!
So, there you have the seven reasons we’re excited to have pre-ordered an Aptera!
Do you need a hook on the garage wall for your EV charging cable? This one might work.
If you’re interested in investing in companies that help address climate change, you may wish to learn more at SuperCrowd23. Subscribers get 50 percent off!





This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit oursolarelectrictrailer.substack.com

Last week, we attended the Florida RV Supershow in Tampa for the second time. What a blast! We exhausted ourselves roaming the show occupying the entire Florida State Fairgrounds, climbing in and out of dozens of travel trailers.
We left with a list of 13 RVs we’d consider towing with our Rivian R1T when it arrives this summer. We want a trailer that is in that sweet spot for towing range (weight) and comfort (size). The smaller the trailer, the farther we can go. The bigger the trailer, the farther we want to go. Here’s more of our analysis.
We’ve narrowed the list down to eight models with floorplans and features we like.
Here’s our list, showing dry (unloaded) weight and length.
We anticipate that the fully loaded weight of the trailer will be about 2,000 pounds more than the dry weight. We’ll review them in this order, from lightest to heaviest.
Gulf Stream Vintage Cruiser 23RSS
Devin’s favorite is the smallest trailer that made the cut—not entirely for that reason. The Gulf Stream Vintage Cruiser 23RSS is styled inside and out with a retro feel that Devin loves. The bathroom divides the bedroom from the rest of the living space. It does lack a feature we both want—theater seating.
Venture Sonic 231VRL
Gail’s favorite, perhaps she’d call it a reluctant favorite, is the next up on the list in terms of weight. The floor plan does an even better job than the Vintage Cruiser of using the bathroom to divide the trailer into three private rooms, which is important when we need quiet for work or when we have house guests. Like the Vintage Cruiser, it lacks theater seating.
Forest River Rockwood Mini Lite 2104S
The Forest River Rockwood Mini Lite 2104S is the shortest trailer on the list. With a murphy bed and good-sized slide-out, the trailer feels roomier than we’d otherwise expect. The short trailer would be more maneuverable, too. There is a theater seating option that eliminates other beds for guests or when Gail makes Devin sleep on the sofa.
JayCo Jay Feather 21 MML
The JayCo trailer offers theater seating, a dinette and a sofa/murphy bed set up. Still relatively small among the trailers on our list, we see how this one could work for us. The open floor plan creates a sense of spaciousness but doesn’t provide anywhere to have privacy.
Keystone RV Passport SL 229RK
The distinctive feature about this floorplan is the bona fide wall and doors between the bedroom and the rest of the trailer. It has an option for theater seating that we love.
Cruiser RV Shadow Cruiser 228RKS
The Shadow Cruiser 228RKS is similar to the last trailer but lacks the wall and has a curtain for bedroom privacy. It does come standard with the theater seating we love.
Twilight RVs Twilight Signature TW2280
The Twilight RVs Twilight Signature is the only one in the size range we found with a king-size bed. That’s pretty compelling. It also has theater seating but privacy is limited to a curtain around the bedroom.

Grand Design Imagine XLS 23LDE
The heaviest and longest trailer on our list, it is the only one with two doors—one in the bedroom and one in the kitchen. It features theater seating and maximum privacy with a big bathroom dividing the trailer.
We’re not sure which of these we’ll get. Almost certainly, we’ll find a fairly new but used model so we can use the savings to install the solar panels and battery storage we want.
You can help us decide. In the comments, please answer any of the following questions we have for you:
* Which is your favorite?
* Which would you pick for us?
* What else besides weight, length and theater seating should we consider?
* Does weight correlate with durability?
* Does weight correlate with insulation?
We’re excited to get your feedback before the Rivian arrives and we hit the road!



This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit oursolarelectrictrailer.substack.com

When you purchase an item after clicking a link from this post, we may earn a commission.
Recently, we had an experience that will serve as a powerful object lesson for you. While traveling to southwestern Florida to help with recovery efforts following Hurricane Ian, a tire on our Aliner Scout blew out. We’ll not only share the surprisingly bad story but also some tips for avoiding this fate.
The Devastating Blowout
Devin made the trip alone to join a group of volunteers from our church helping people recover after the storm. About halfway, while passing through suburban Orlando, a passenger in a passing car signaled to Devin that something was wrong.
He pulled over to discover the driver’s side trailer had blown. There were few real challenges changing the tire and getting underway. Within an hour, Devin was back on the road.
He called Gail to report the problem noting, “It could have been much worse.”
Upon arriving in Port Charlotte where he “camped” in a church parking lot, he set up the trailer and discovered it was much worse.
It was a rainy day and there was water inside the trailer. The electrical system wouldn’t work at all to power anything. A quick investigation yielded the truth: The blowout did serious damage to the trailer, including large holes in the floor of the cabinet with almost all the electronics.
Everything inside the cabinet was wet; there was debris from the road and from the tire inside. It was a mess.
“I was despondent,” Devin said afterward.
The following day was dry. While Devin worked with the volunteers, the trailer sat in the warm sun drying out. That evening, Devin tried the electrical system and found it operational.
Looking back, Devin admits the first sign of trouble came an hour before the blowout. He picked up a vibration coming from the trailer that he correctly judged to be a problem with a tire. He stopped to check it out at a rest stop but couldn’t see a problem. Nervously, he proceeded—a choice he now regrets.
The trailer is currently out of service and awaiting repairs. It is difficult to get the necessary parts, like the replacement wheel well destroyed by the blowout. While insurance will cover some costs, new tires would have been much cheaper than our deductible.
How You Can Avoid the Same Fate
While there are no absolute guarantees you can avoid a blowout, there are three keys to avoiding one. Two are common knowledge but one we believe is important is rarely considered.
* Tire Pressure. Always check the air pressure in the tires before every trip. We are diligent about this and confident that this wasn’t a factor in our little disaster. Improper air pressure is, however, the leading cause of blowouts—especially under inflation, which increases stress on the tire causing failure at freeway speeds.
* Tread. When a tire is worn out from too many miles, easily seen in the tread, it is more vulnerable to blowing out. Our trailer is fairly old but had seen little use. The tread on the tires appeared virtually new. The tread itself was not the cause of our blowout.
* Age. Our tires weren’t worn out, but they were old. For nearly a decade, they lived outside holding a trailer. They didn’t have many miles, but they’d lived too long in service. We considered replacing them but put it off, another decision we regret.
So keep in mind these three simple tips:
* Always check the tire pressure.
* Check the tread wear before every trip.
* Replace the tires every 4 or 5 years even if treadwear doesn’t require it.
By following these simple steps you like (likely) avoid the sort of disaster we experienced.




This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit oursolarelectrictrailer.substack.com

When you purchase an item after clicking a link from this post, we may earn a commission.
The Aliner Scout A-frame popup trailer roof features four springs, two on each side. The springs make lifting the roof easy. One of our springs broke. We replaced both springs on that side. This is how we did it.
With one spring broken, the Aliner folks recommend discontinuing the use of the RV.
This project scared us. Aliner recommends having it done by a professional. When opening the roof without the bungee cords attached, you can do catastrophic damage to the camper.
To prevent that, you’ll want to open the rig next to your garage or other structure that will block the wind or gravity from grabbing the roof and overextending the hinges.
Before you can do that, you have to disconnect the bungee cords. Do this simply by removing the caulk that hides the screws holding the bungee. Then remove the screws. Save them to reattach the cords.
Before opening the roof, we’d recommend taping the loose bungee cords to the top of the roof to keep them out of the way.
The springs are mounted in holes in the front and back walls of the trailer. The other end of the spring is inside a sleeve about five inches long mounted on the aluminum frame of the roof/ceiling.
To remove the springs, you just remove the sleeve and then pull the spring out of the hole. To remove the sleeve, which is attached with rivets, just drill out the rivets.
Pulling the springs out of their holes takes only a minute or two of tugging with some enthusiasm.
Getting the replacement springs in the hole takes a bit more time and finesse. We found a rubber mallet helpful. Before you remove the old ones, take a careful look at how they are seated so you can put the replacements in the same place.
Once the spring is in position, you can slip the sleeve back into place and use rivets to secure it just the way you found it. We fastened these rivets with this rivet gun.
With the springs installed, you now need to reattach the bungee cords. The key is to create some slack at the end of the cords so you have maximum flexibility and ease. I used a clamp like this one.
With the end of the bungee hanging slack, you can now easily use the same screws and caps to reattach the bungee cords in the same place they were originally attached. Be sure to squire plenty of caulk under the caps before tightening the screws. Don’t over-tighten! Then be sure to add more caulk over the screws and around the cap to ensure a good seal.
That’s it. It really is about as easy as that sounds. Below is the video we found from Rick at Going Nowhere Fast that is helpful. I’d only note that you can save some steps he needed simply by getting the right rivets. Again, these worked.
If you have tips or questions, please leave them in the comments. We love hearing from you.


This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit oursolarelectrictrailer.substack.com