Owner Spotlight

HC1

Don and kris bybee

From

Sacramento, CA

Year and Make of your Happier Camper?

Picked up the Happier Camper HC1 on September 1, 2015

What’s your tow vehicle?

2011 Subaru Outback 4 cylinder with after market transmission cooler, Sumo Springs, and Gorilla Brand Mud Flaps  (also added clear bra to the lower front of the trailer for ding protection)

Why did you buy a Happier Camper?

Our trailer is serial  #2, with #1 being the prototype.  For about 2 years, before we realized Happier Camper was designing a trailer, we had looked for a small trailer, towable by the Subaru.  I knew it had to be light, so I started looking at used Scamps, U-Haul, Compact Jr., etc.  I looked at a lot of “perfectly restored” trailers.  Though they looked great when you walked up, always crawl under a trailer for the real story.  Lots of weathered and rotted particle board sub-floors.  Then we expanded the search to new trailers.  We looked at a Cricket but found them a bit too industrial/spartan, and reliant on a canvas pop top.  We also looked at the Meerkat.  These are nice and light but build quality was iffy and I never did find that 6’5” bed the marketing literature talked about.  Finally we found the Happier Camper, on line.  The prototype was not complete yet so we probably waited another year or so before we could actually see one.  We drove to LA and I remember the excitement sitting in the prototype talking to Derek, the designer, abut his thinking process that led to this trailer’s unique features.  We loved the openable rear hatch.  We loved the open feeling you get inside the trailer, that you do not get when there are full height builtins.  We loved the flexibility of the interior, from many different sleeping arrangements, to using it as a bar for my daughter’s outdoor wedding in Joshua Tree.  We were moving up from tent camping so this seemed luxurious to us.  The other big plus is that there is no wood in the structure of the trailer.  Only wood cabinet doors and table tops.   We placed an order while we were there.  It was still a bit of a wait to pick up the trailer but it has been worth it.  We love our HC1 and figure it will be the one thing of ours our daughter will want to inherit.  

Best camping trip you’ve taken with your Happier Camper?

It is hard to say what is the best.  We love the Southwest.  Two years ago we took a trip to Death Valley, Las Vegas, Grand Canyon, and Sedona.  The coast of Oregon and California are great.  Also what is nice are the 2-3 day trips where you pop out to the coast for a quick break.  Typically I will take the mountain bike and Kris will take her landscape painting materials.  The mornings I am off riding and she is painting, and then we get back together the rest of the day for shared activity.  The trip I am ready to repeat is Palm Springs for “Modernism Week”.  We stayed at the most upscale RV park I have ever seen.  (7 pools, two golf courses, soaking spas, pickle ball, tennis, restaurants, bar, espresso bar.)  Every day was filled with tours of mid-century modern homes, developments, and businesses, topped by a visit with the HC folks at the Vintage RV Show.  You can do it all in an HC1.

What’s your next planned camping trip?

Tuesday, June 2, we leave to camp at a county park near Portland, to visit our daughter and son in law for the first time in over 1 year.  We will then take a loop up to the Hood River area, out to Maryhill to visit the Maryhill Museum, down to bend to visit Kara, (#happieroffice) dog sit, and see Bend, and then to a park near Crater Lake.  This will be a bit over two weeks on the road.  After that I am taking the trailer back to Happier Camper for a bit of wheel work and the installation of the built in heater.  (was not available when we originally purchased)

What camping destination is on your bucket list?

There is nothing that really stands out.  We have not been to the Washington area with the trailer yet, and you can never go wrong with a loop through the southwest national parks.  We would love to get back to Mesa Verde.  Of course, there are always the Happier Camper meetups which are a lot of fun.  

Any advice for new owners?

  • Get the solar package.  Without this your battery does not charge unless the trailer is plugged in.

  • Get the built in heater if you want to travel in the cool season without being plugged in to 110 volts.  -Do not get locked in on trip dates based on expected delivery when you first order.  

  • Use scale cut outs for planning, and really think about how you will use your trailer before ordering.

  • Practice driving and backing in a large parking lot before hitting the road.

  • Get all 4 stabilizers.  (we did not and added the front later.)

  • Get the BAL Light Trailer Leveler when you can.  Makes leveling much easier.