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Let's talk campers

Wades_76_cj7

RZR guy, NO I am not gay..
Joined
Jun 13, 2020
Member Number
1987
Messages
1,174
Loc
KC MO
We currently have a 32' TT Toy hauler. it's an 09 open floor plan which we like. has a bit of water damage in the front driver's corner. it's paid for and only using it 10-15 nights a year I don't really desire buying something newer/nicer for how much it will just sit. Wife mentioned last night while packing for our TN vacation that if we find a camper we like we should upgrade. :eek:

I would really like a Sundowner style gooseneck TH but those are $$. Hell Toy Haulers in general are $$. Have any of you went from a TH to a regular fifth wheel and pulled the SXS on a flatbed behind it? I realize that I will have to plan fuel stops, can't back up, yadda yadda.

It would be cheaper to just rent a house/cabin when we go on trips vs payments, maintenance, insurance, taxes. But a camper offers freedom to camp in spots that we may not be able to get a cabin/house. The regular RV have smaller tanks from what I have seen and with the idea of pulling doubles I am limited to about a 33-35' 5er.
 
I see plenty of 5ers (and some bumper pulls) with smaller trailers and SxSs on the highways around here.

In my mind, depends on the destinations. Places like Moab, having a small trailer along helps due to their restrictions. But a AirBnB also helps there. KOH, Sand Hollow, dunes, and other self contained parks; an extra trailer isn’t as helpful. And the larger TH tanks are beneficial, especially if there’s a fuel nozzle also.

My newest, is a horse turned crawler hauler (so a cheap knockoff Sundowner). Moab is the only place on my radar that’s not ideal, but finding a place in town makes sense.
 
I see plenty of 5ers (and some bumper pulls) with smaller trailers and SxSs on the highways around here.

In my mind, depends on the destinations. Places like Moab, having a small trailer along helps due to their restrictions. But a AirBnB also helps there. KOH, Sand Hollow, dunes, and other self contained parks; an extra trailer isn’t as helpful. And the larger TH tanks are beneficial, especially if there’s a fuel nozzle also.

My newest, is a horse turned crawler hauler (so a cheap knockoff Sundowner). Moab is the only place on my radar that’s not ideal, but finding a place in town makes sense.
do you have a build thread on your hayburner turned crawler hauler?
Some friends of ours have a 3 horse slant they use as a toyhauler. the issue I have with their set up is the living quarters are tiny in there. bed over the neck, dinette that you have to crawl over to get to the bed, corner bath and kitchen. plus with the angled wall it is not a good usable space.
 
Running a 3/4 ton truck I would prolly be in BDL territory on the rear axle wouldn't I? 2 seat RZR is about 1600# stock?
I wouldn't give two shits about anything less than 10k on a full floating truck rear axle.

The hubs/bearings/housing are all more than up to the task. Just buy enough tire for whatever it is you want to carry.
 
do you have a build thread on your hayburner turned crawler hauler?
Some friends of ours have a 3 horse slant they use as a toyhauler. the issue I have with their set up is the living quarters are tiny in there. bed over the neck, dinette that you have to crawl over to get to the bed, corner bath and kitchen. plus with the angled wall it is not a good usable space.
Bought it as is.

Was done decently to use the slanted wall. Kitchenette on the short wall. Roll over couch and wet bath on long wall.

Then uninsulated storage inside behind the slant wall. Probably going to take the extra sink out since it’s just taking up room and doesn’t have a connected drain (bucket).

Outside really helps. 3k generator under the deck. Huge storage space under the deck down the middle.

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I wouldn't give two shits about anything less than 10k on a full floating truck rear axle.

The hubs/bearings/housing are all more than up to the task. Just buy enough tire for whatever it is you want to carry.
ah yes the towing expert with the Lezburu and POS Aerostar for a tow rig with a rented trailer.. :homer:


alright everyone go home, the master has spoken.
 
Local dealer has a Work and Play 38RLSW with a salvage title for $26k. Fifth wheel, 12' garage. 1 slide. 11k dry weight. I have always liked the Work and Play campers since they have a one piece aluminum roof. In my mind that is better than the regular rubber RV roof. But I don't know anyone that has owned a W&P. Salvage title is from storm damage that was fixed supposedly.
 
ah yes the towing expert with the Lezburu and POS Aerostar for a tow rig with a rented trailer.. :homer:


alright everyone go home, the master has spoken.
Did you ever think that just maybe a guy on a car forum has owned other vehicles prior to what he owns currently. :idea:
 
Running a 3/4 ton truck I would prolly be in BDL territory on the rear axle wouldn't I? 2 seat RZR is about 1600# stock?
Possible without knowing the specs of your setup. The weight is pretty well distributed over the front axle though.
The thing about 5er's and doubles is gets looonnggg. And dealing with a second trailer is much more of a pain in the ass than a deck IMO.

With the deck you get to keep your full bed space for storage and you keep the ability to camp and haul the sxs to a different riding location.
 
Possible without knowing the specs of your setup. The weight is pretty well distributed over the front axle though.
The thing about 5er's and doubles is gets looonnggg. And dealing with a second trailer is much more of a pain in the ass than a deck IMO.

With the deck you get to keep your full bed space for storage and you keep the ability to camp and haul the sxs to a different riding location.
that is very true..

How much do you notice the weight that high on your truck? Granted it is a dually so that will help as well with sway.

I realize it's towing but how much does the SXS on the deck above the cab affect your fuel consumption?
 
that is very true..

How much do you notice the weight that high on your truck? Granted it is a dually so that will help as well with sway.

I realize it's towing but how much does the SXS on the deck above the cab affect your fuel consumption?
Without the trailer you will know its up there, hard to explain but it rides like a mid 80's Cadillac Fleetwood, wallowy?

With the TH tongue weight it is planted and I can't really tell the difference from just TH to TH/SXS

Mileage appears unchanged on both 1800 mile trips. The first trip I made it was actually better mileage but the second trip it was back to normal.
 
Having owned truck mounted campers, both a bumper pull and a 5th wheel toyhauler, and have now moved to a class a pusher bus, truth is, there is no best setup. Just different setups. If we didn't have kids, I'd like to go back to a truck camper. Simple, no additional insurance tags or tires to deal with. Will fit in any campsite and you can still pull a trailer with your rig. On the flip side, the space and amenities in the larger units is nice.
 
Last year we went from a rear living room 30' 5th wheel to a 35' 5th toyhauler wheel with 10' garage. We used to double tow occasionally, but we are doing more trips bringing toys (ATVs and dirt bikes) these days, and wanted to extra/separate living space for the kids. We're happy with the decision.

As mentioned, there is no perfect setup. You just have to figure out what will work the best for the way you want to use it.

Pete
 
so this horse trailer you mentioned, how wide is the inside? between the doors mainly. thats a decent idea worth looking into
 
update to this.

Last Saturday I was bored and wanted to go look at a 39' 2014 Work and Play fifth wheel. Local RV dealership that deals mostly in salvage title stuff. I wasn't really interested in that unit but hadn't ever looked at a W&P up close. That MF'er had to be 13'6" tall. :eek:had to be 8' ceilings in the RV. I am 6' and I could stand up no problem in the bedroom over the neck. weighed 12k empty I think? My truck would have been able to pull it but a dually would have been better. Honestly though it was not that nice of camper. Fit and finish is typical RV bullshit and all I could think about looking at the damn thing was getting 7mpg pulling it anywhere.

We looked at several others there on the lot and after seeing what I was willing to spend it was clear I will just keep what I have. I only get two weeks of vacation a year and most of the time we do Moab or something like that and it's cheaper to flatbed the RZR and rent a condo/house. My less stress on me driving with a flatbed vs 10k of windsail too.

Our camper is paid for so I am ok with it sitting in the driveway most of the time. It's only costing insurance and taxes now so fuggit. i suggested to the wife we could sell now since we don't have any camping trips planned for at least another year. But she isn't quite ready to sell yet.
 
Our camper is paid for so I am ok with it sitting in the driveway most of the time. It's only costing insurance and taxes now so fuggit. i suggested to the wife we could sell now since we don't have any camping trips planned for at least another year. But she isn't quite ready to sell yet.
congrats on renewing your subscription to being a responsible adult
 
update to this.

Last Saturday I was bored and wanted to go look at a 39' 2014 Work and Play fifth wheel. Local RV dealership that deals mostly in salvage title stuff. I wasn't really interested in that unit but hadn't ever looked at a W&P up close. That MF'er had to be 13'6" tall. :eek:had to be 8' ceilings in the RV. I am 6' and I could stand up no problem in the bedroom over the neck. weighed 12k empty I think? My truck would have been able to pull it but a dually would have been better. Honestly though it was not that nice of camper. Fit and finish is typical RV bullshit and all I could think about looking at the damn thing was getting 7mpg pulling it anywhere.

We looked at several others there on the lot and after seeing what I was willing to spend it was clear I will just keep what I have. I only get two weeks of vacation a year and most of the time we do Moab or something like that and it's cheaper to flatbed the RZR and rent a condo/house. My less stress on me driving with a flatbed vs 10k of windsail too.

Our camper is paid for so I am ok with it sitting in the driveway most of the time. It's only costing insurance and taxes now so fuggit. i suggested to the wife we could sell now since we don't have any camping trips planned for at least another year. But she isn't quite ready to sell yet.
Welcome to my world of 7MPG and typical camper/TH bullshit.:eek:
I have never found any deals at any type of dealership...vehicle, RV, etc.
I have yet to find a camper/TH that is built like they should be. They are all built poorly, with cheap parts, and are overpriced for what they are.

The open floor plan setups are the best, IMO. I can't bring myself to buy one that has a garage, even if it is 14'. For hauling my samurai, or a few 4 wheelers, 14' would work. But I've had 5 four wheelers in my 31' open floor plan one (16'7" on one side, 14' on the other with huge fenderwells that fuck up the width) with one being a Honda Rubicon that is 7' long.
Plus a lot of the TH with garages have a slide for the living/kitchen area. I don't care for slides.
My 5th wheel TH has a low front (2005 Weekend Warrior SL3005), which I like for not catching as much wind. But you can't stand up in the bedroom, unless you are under 4' tall.
I'd like to find one that has an open floor plan in the 33-35' range and with a little taller front, so there is more room to stuff four wheelers in, when needed and more headroom in the bedroom, so I can stand up.
 
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