Will our Tesla be able to take us camping all over Quebec this summer?
Who are we?
We are Eric and Marie-Pier, owners of a Tesla, model Y, since September 2020. We recently purchased a beautiful Bonair Oxygen trailer, 19 feet long and weighing about 2000 pounds. This is a mega change for us, as we were “seasonal” in the same campground for 7 years with a big 38 foot trailer that had 3 extensions, 2 enclosed bedrooms, a bathroom adjacent to the master bedroom, an island and a fireplace. And we sold it all about 2 years ago. But the desire to get back on the road is stronger. With only the Tesla Y as a family vehicle, we needed a small, ultra-light, streamlined trailer. The Oxygen trailer seems to be the ideal candidate to meet all these criteria. As it is a rather old trailer, we plan to make several improvements and some to make it more current.
Let’s take a look at our new find
The Oxygen trailer is made entirely of fiberglass. Water infiltration is therefore almost impossible. The model looks a bit like a classic Boler. The company Bonair which made it unfortunately went bankrupt in the 2000s. It is therefore a model that was manufactured in very small quantities, only about 70. And we managed to get our hands on one!
We intend to change the refrigerator, because it is really very small. We found a “Mini-Bar” type that we often use on a terrace or at home. We will have it modified so that it works only on 12 volts. It should then consume very little energy. We also want to remove the propane tanks and all the related equipment. We want a completely electric trailer, or running on 12 volts battery.
As for the cushions, we are going to change the cover, because it is an old fashioned fabric. We have started our research to find a seamstress or an upholsterer, but as we are currently in a time of pandemic, it is not easy to find at affordable prices. The first estimate we received from a professional upholsterer was $2700. This is not at all the budget we had in mind! We thought it would cost us around $300. So, it’s really beyond the amount we want to invest in the cushions.
A big challenge
The challenge will be to accommodate a family of four in this very small space. We are two adults and have two grown teenage girls, one of whom is 13 and the other 15. They will have to share the table that converts into a bed for sleeping. It’s quite a change for them, because in the old trailer they had a big closed room just for them with a big bed each. So it’s going to be a nice challenge, especially because we are three girls. We have the chance to have a toilet, it’s very good, but there is no shower. And for the girls, the shower is quite essential. But Eric is a good handler and he’s confident he can install one.
Subscribe to our YouTube channel to live this experience with us. You will be able to see the evolution of our trailer and follow us as we travel with our electric car.