Looking into Camping Trailer

I had and Aliner Ranger for a few years was a really sweet little camper and easy to add a lift kit as well! All the necessary amenities, super lightweight and super fast setup.

 

Thanks. Question for you. I will keep the weight down but what is your thought about long term impact on the engine from towing? I guess what I am asking is not whether it can be done but rather if it should and if that kind of towing impacts the truck on a long term basis. I ask because I just don't really know ...

 

I wouldn't be concerned with the Tacoma engine for the trailers and weights you're discussing here. Eventually it may have effects on the transmission life but should last for a long long time. You may also live longer if you take in minimal calories and stay home 24/7 but that doesn't sound fun either.

Note that the recommendation is not to use overdrive gears (5 and 6) while towing as the torque converter may cause heat issues (heat is the enemy of transmission life.)

 

Thanks ... I am not traveling heavy and to be honest not going through the mountains either ... appreciate that insight ...

 

Haven't seen any adverse affects on mine.

I put in a lot of towing miles. I also stay diligent on maintenance and stick with the heavy schedule - oil changes every 5 and trans every 60.

 

Just my luck when I am ready to pull the trigger on a camper (and I am close) none are available ... the dealer I talked with said the lead time on Airstreams, as just one example, is 6 to 8 months!

 

I believe it. Here's the good news, if you are patient.

I'm willing to bet that by this time next year the bottom is going to start to fall out of the RV market. Two years from now it's going to be desperate bargain time.

People will eventually realize that their huge monthly payment is rotting unused in the driveway, and they'll take a bath trying to unload it to the next sucker. So if you wait you will eventually find some screaming deals.

I personally can't wait, the parks have been overcrowded and annoying enough as it is. Though I am grateful for the silver lining, that the crowds have driven me to boondock it 90% of the time, which is really the better way to camp.

 

I don't know but I like your thinking. I have a feeling that the RV trend will continue for some time as the pandemic has deeply impacted the way people live their lives. You are seeing more and more people sell their homes and living out of their RVs. But we will see. I am patient ... and not in a hurry, either. .

I know from a lot of friends who camp out West that parks are full and some areas in the Grand Canyon and Yellowstone are absolutely unbearable.

Doesn't impact me as I travel north, not west. Northen Quebec, Gaspe, all the way to my favorite places in the Canadian Maritimes. That is, when they open the border again!

 

@averagejp if money isn’t a problem, check out the Safari Condo, I think the R series is the coolest small trailer made.

https://safaricondo.com/en/caravanes-alto/

 

Those are really cool ... price is not as crazy as it seems since they are in Canadian. Another really great option! Thank you.

 

I’ve seen one in person someone pulled it up to Fairbanks for a summer vacation it was amazingly cool.

 

Our Ranger has been in a lot of places over the years. Highly recommend. Plus they pull very easily.

 

Thank you! On a Friday, I needed those pictures. Looks great !

 

They look great, no question.

I think I am at the point in life where I need a small bathroom. Nothing fancy.

I am still looking. It will be a hard decision because there is so much innovation going on in the small trailer market right now that it is making for a really tough decision.

 

Getting a cassette toilet and a instant up shower hut is always a solid solution. Small trailers really tend to hold in that shit smell for a minute, so if it's gotta be indoors make sure you have a decently powerful exhaust fan.

 

This is a 2003 Forest River that I paid $3500 for in 2008. I sold it last month for $3500 and had people waiting in case the deal fell through. My wife and I used it a lot in the 13 years we had it. It is fine if you're going to be in the same spot for several days but we were ready to move up to something self contained. When traveling we can now spend the night and not even have to unhitch.



I don't have a decent photo of my actual camper, but we bought a No Boundaries 16.6 like this.





It is just under 22' and 3500 lbs dry. I'm guessing I'm pulling 4000-4200 loaded. GVWR is 4800. We paid $20,500 for it At the time choices were pretty slim, we had to buy what was in stock.

Time will tell, but we've had it out twice and I've pulled it almost 300 miles so far. I'll mostly pull it with my F150, but I've pulled it with my Tacoma and it handles it just fine. We are leaving in about 2 weeks for a roughly 5000 mile road trip as far west as Arizona and Utah and back to Georgia through Colorado.

The dealer laughed when I asked about a WDH. Said it would be a waste of money, but they did insist on a friction sway bar which they included and installed at no extra cost. Even that may be extra cautious. It pulls just fine with either truck. Measuring from the fenders either truck only sits down about 1-2" with the weight of the trailer on the ball. No sway at all in 300 miles.

 

I'm weird I guess. The last thing I want is a pooper where I cook and eat. I can poop outside.

 

That is really a great little camper ...

 

My neighbor has one of the Opus popups. Really likes it, really solid, pricey. I stopped at the Opus dealer and saw their OP-15 hybrid. Super nice, also pricey. Had to look through windows as the one on the lot was sold.

The dealer told me the next 14 OP-15's they get are already sold!

Personally, I'm looking forward 3 or 4 years from now when the gazillion of TT's that were bought during COVID to come on the market when people are tired of paying storage fees/registration for a rig they used half-a-dozen times.

Absolutely agree, most units are built poorly. Our last unit was a 2010 KZ which was OK quality wise, not horrible but had some minor factory problems.

I intend to be picky on the next one (someday).

Anyone here have experience with the Opus brand and have feedback on their quality/performance?

 

If you're handy enough, you could always make one. My cousin just this week put an off road trailer and camper shell together, its pretty fucking brilliant.