2019 Hallmark Milner (brief review)

[Scott_H]

Just a brief write up on my initial experiences with 2019 Hallmark Milner. I hope this is useful information to anyone considering one!

https://www.surfandsnowcountryimages.com/Photo-Essays/Outdoor-Gear/Hallmark-Milner-fldr/Hallmark-Milner-page

 

[desert-trails]

Nice write up, Scott. We're sure happy with our used Cuchara we bought last year. Campers that are well built and great customer service from a family owned business is a plus. Thanks for posting.

Cliff

 

[Scott_H]

Nice write up, Scott. We're sure happy with our used Cuchara we bought last year. Campers that are well built and great customer service from a family owned business is a plus. Thanks for posting.

Cliff

Glad you're enjoying yours. Certainly buying used is a good way to go. I started that way and there just weren't that many for sale so if you can find one that meets your needs, you've got to act quickly. Happy Trails!

 

[LosAngeles]

Nice write up!

and congrats.

i have our Hallmark on order. Also with Truma Combi Plus.

very excited.

cheers

J

 

[Scott_H]

Thanks LosAngeles! When will yours be ready? The Milner is really just perfect for what I was wanting out of a truck camper. The Truma Combi was an important factor in my decision. It’s performed just as I’d hoped: quiet and efficient. I have no reason to think durability will be an issue, only time will tell. The only thing is if you have water in the unit and freezing temps are expected and you won’t be using it, you’ll want to winterize it. Truma says their warranty does’t cover it. It’s easy and not tools ate required. You simply bypass it and drain it. Gravity takes care of the rest. Of course if you have the unit on, it’s no problem to use it cold conditions. Anyway, good luck with yours and if I can answer anymore questions, I’m happy to do that.

 

[smlobx]

Congratulations from another satisfied Hallmark Owner!
i love the hatch over the bed! If we ever get another one I will be sure to get it.

 

[Scott_H]

Congratulations from another satisfied Hallmark Owner!
i love the hatch over the bed! If we ever get another one I will be sure to get it.

Thank you! So far the hatch has been a great feature and it is really made possible by the roof's lifting mechanism. The jury is out for winter camping as it could be cold but I don't think so at least not any colder than what a fan cover would be like. I'm sure it's much thicker than one of those and is weather sealed. There is a thermal snap cover which should help if it comes to that, though I would hate to obstruct the view.

 

[LosAngeles]

Heya - we get ours Feb or March.

thanks for the offer of answering questions - much appreciated.

Thanks LosAngeles! When will yours be ready? The Milner is really just perfect for what I was wanting out of a truck camper. The Truma Combi was an important factor in my decision. It’s performed just as I’d hoped: quiet and efficient. I have no reason to think durability will be an issue, only time will tell. The only thing is if you have water in the unit and freezing temps are expected and you won’t be using it, you’ll want to winterize it. Truma says their warranty does’t cover it. It’s easy and not tools ate required. You simply bypass it and drain it. Gravity takes care of the rest. Of course if you have the unit on, it’s no problem to use it cold conditions. Anyway, good luck with yours and if I can answer anymore questions, I’m happy to do that.

 

[Happyjax]

Nice write up Scott. Thanks for sharing. Always nice to see fellow photographers!

 

[Scott_H]

Nice write up Scott. Thanks for sharing. Always nice to see fellow photographers!

Thanks Happyjax! I'm primarily a headshot photographer but love getting outdoors for some nature work when I can. Popup campers make it so easy to do that and the Hallmark in particular has really make it comfortable as well. It looks like you have a camper pending, so good luck with yours!

 

[Scott_H]

Heya - we get ours Feb or March.

thanks for the offer of answering questions - much appreciated.

That'll be a fun pickup for sure!

 

[ski3pin]

Thanks for posting your review. We are lucky we have such a nice selection of camper choices to make our adventure travel - I should say Wandering - dreams come true.

 

[Scott_H]

Thanks for posting your review. We are lucky we have such a nice selection of camper choices to make our adventure travel - I should say Wandering - dreams come true.

I agree! It can be overwhelming when beginning the search for your your first TC. There are many quality brands with many models and options for different styles of wandering. There are many crossover innovations worth considering, too. It's incredibly rewarding to get through the whole dream/research/selection process, wait...wait, take delivery, and then hit the trail making lifelong memories.

 

[Bigfoot]

The Truma sounds nice but wasn't an option when we got our 2014 Hallmark. Nor was a lithium battery. We did get the skylight which is good for roof access, but even with the shade it lets in too much sun and moon for comfort. I had to make a completely opaque cover for it as they did not offer a thermal snap cover. A compressor refrigerator was a must for us but lasted only 4 years. The north-south bed option is wonderful and we will never go back to the awkward east-west arrangement.

There are a few components I would have changed if possible. I hate the horizontal propane tank which is expensive, a pain to remove and reinstall, and does not hold as much as an equivalent vertical tank. The outdoor shower is handy but is cheap and the first thing to freeze; we could do without it. The generic entry door and screen have been damaged with normal use; they could be better.

Overall a sturdy camper that has served us well for exploring the backcountry.

 

[Scott_H]

I suppose every year advancements are made and implemented. For instance, I think Lithium batteries are a more reliable option today than they were in 2014. As for the Truma it's been popular in the vanlife community for several years but not in the truck camper community. When I was considering Truck Campers, I was happy Hallmark was willing to go through the steps to install this and that willingness was a huge reason I went with the Hallmark. A couple of other truck campers were doing this so it wasn't a complete leap of faith. The snap over cover for the skylight does a nice job of keeping out the daytime sun but I actually love the Moonlight and stars. I did get the outdoor shower with the detachable hose, so it's easy to drain after each use. I can certainly see where the north south option would be nice. I'm certainly looking forward to many years of adventure with the Milner!