News Story - Idaho State Journal

CHUBBUCK -- Four years ago, Randy Moore decided it was time to get serious about his ideas for building a light-weight, durable camper that would give outdoors enthusiasts some creature comforts while still strong enough to take into the most remote areas.

After two years of research and development, Moore began producing and marketing his campers, the LE-200 and the LE-400, in 2006 as Rough Out Products. Business has been good, and Moore, with the help of his son Derek Moore and his daughter Amber Alder, is now looking into mass production.

"We put these together entirely right now," Moore said. "We put together the steel frame. We even fabricate the fiberglass ourselves."

But that translates into a lengthy production process, meaning the company can only manufacture about 12 campers a year. Rough Out Products' pop up trailers have been well-received at the trade shows the company has displayed them, but any significant number of orders would mean asking customers to wait several months for their camper.

"That's an issue right now," Moore said. "That's why we are looking for funding.''

Rough Out Products is in the midst of that process right now, and if successful, will push the company's production capability up to 10 units per month almost immediately.

"We'd really like to be in the position to have a 20-unit inventory at all times," Moore said.

That's why getting that funding is crucial right now. He already has local manufacturers in place who can produce most of the pieces for Rough Out Products' camper. Then it would be a matter of Randy and Derek simply putting the units together.

The idea for the campers came several years ago when Alder, who handles marketing for the company, said some compromises had to be made for her mother.

"My mother enjoys camping, but doesn't like to sleep on the ground and wants to have her shower every day," Alder said. "(My father) made this for her so we can go where ever we want."

Moore said roughing it is the kind of camping he grew up with. His first experience was as an 8-year-old child when his step-father took the family camping.

"We went to Mackay Reservoir," Moore said. "He told me and my brother we could sleep under the picnic bench or on top of it."

Rough Out Products' campers are for the person who likes to get outdoors, but wants a place to come back to when the day's activities are done.

"We call it sport camping," Alder said. "Maximum comfort and minimum impact."

The impact she is talking about is on the environment where you are camping, especially since these campers are meant to be taken into areas where people would typically take a tent, or just a sleeping bag.

The units are completely self-contained with their own water, propane and even a shower. Of course, some of that is optional. The LE-200 is a two-person camper, while the more spacious LE-400 sleeps 4.

Alder said the LE-400 runs about $8,995 for the basic model, and can run as much as $12,500 when fully loaded. The LE-200 starts at $5,995 and goes up with added features.

Complete information on both units and available options can be found on the company's Web site, www.roughoutproducts.com.

Among the options available are a shower, a water heater, an awning, a bike rack and a kitchen unit that pulls out from the side of the camper, and includes a two-burner stove and a sink with a faucet. Because they build the units locally, other customization requests can often be accommodated.

The units are also fairly lightweight when compared to other pop-up trailers. Fully loaded, the LE-200 has an estimated weight of 1,200 pounds while the LE-400 has an estimated weight of 1,500 pounds. Alder said she see no distinguishable change in her gas mileage when pulling one of the trailers with her Subaru.

The trailers are constructed with a unibody frame and include full-size tires to make it easier when traveling into more remote places that can be difficult to access.

Randy said that his campers will work fine if all you want to do is stay at a campsite, but they were really built for the avid outdoorsperson who wants to take some comforts with him while going to places those comforts aren't typically available.

"Its more focused around people who are out doing activities," Moore said. "This is a place to come back to after your activities."

This document was originally published online on Tuesday, November 18, 2008

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