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I want a camper but don't want to get a new truck...

Discussion in 'Towing' started by HESS2790, Sep 18, 2017.

  1. Sep 28, 2017 at 9:55 AM
    #61
    HESS2790

    HESS2790 [OP] Well-Known Member

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    It does good under 60mph, but anything over that and its 3rd gear and 4K RPM.
     
    Ruggybuggy[QUOTED] likes this.
  2. Sep 28, 2017 at 9:56 AM
    #62
    HESS2790

    HESS2790 [OP] Well-Known Member

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    I still haven't pulled the trigger, Just trying to really make the smartest decision. Financially it just doesn't make sense to trade the taco in since I have only had it 6 months.
     
  3. Oct 15, 2017 at 10:49 AM
    #63
    Parkrat

    Parkrat Active Member

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    I had the same concerns you have when picking out my trailer. I decided to stay under 4000lbs because I figured I would be loading it down with stuff. It's right at 3500lbs Forest River 22bp. Also, didn't want to spend more than 8K. I spend most of my time outside when I camp so it's just a place to sleep and relax when weather doesn't cooperate. I didn't want a wet bathroom.

    [​IMG]

    They make some nice smaller trailers with a slide out and they are around 4000lbs. Rockwood Mini Lites
    http://www.forestriverinc.com/travel-trailers/rockwood-mini-lite
     
  4. Oct 15, 2017 at 11:50 AM
    #64
    jmccalla01

    jmccalla01 New Member

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    Towed a 24 foot forest river evo right at 5k lbs from vegas over the mountains to Barstow CA. 6 hours. Obviously you will need a brake controller and the thing I forgot was the anti sway hitch. I just had it on a stand ball receiver and it was alittle sketchy when the wind blew or passed a semi. 65 mph was about all I could comfortably drive and even still my RPMs were high. averaged about 10 mpg

    20160627_154646.jpg
     
  5. Oct 15, 2017 at 1:51 PM
    #65
    Ruggybuggy

    Ruggybuggy Well-Known Member

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    Yeah that's a little sketchy. No WD hitch, no sway control and the trailer is pushing the truck down too much. Would have been a completely different experience if you were set up correctly.
     
  6. Oct 31, 2017 at 1:57 AM
    #66
    FrayAdjacent

    FrayAdjacent Well-Known Member

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    I'm about to buy an a-frame popup. 1861lb dry. Should be able to haul it with no problems.

    I was originally looking at regular popups - the kind with tent like slide outs. While I think those would be great for good weather camping, and get a lot of room inside since the beds extend out of the main shell area, I plan on doing some longer trips with unpredictable weather... so a hard side camper would be better. I'm also single, no kids, no pets, so a smaller floor plan doesn't affect me as much. The a-frame type campers just seem stupid cool for what I want. I've been doing a lot of research and plan on adding solar panels, better batteries and will eventually get a generator. I think most of my use will be camping for paramotor fly-ins, so most WILL be short weekend trips when the weather is nicer, but I have in mind to do a month long trip starting from Texas, out to Florida to see some beaches, up the east coast stopping in N Virginia to visit a buddy up there for a few days, then across the middle of the country ending up in Utah. I plan on flying as much as I can, so hauling the paramotor gear will be done, but that stuff will all fit in my truck.


    This is basically what I am looking at:

    [​IMG]

    The advantages are that it's light, when collapsed, it's low and won't cause a ton of drag, and it's hard-sided for better insulation. Plenty of amenities, as well!
     
    Ruggybuggy likes this.
  7. Oct 31, 2017 at 4:04 AM
    #67
    Ruggybuggy

    Ruggybuggy Well-Known Member

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    The A frames are nice. You get the benifit of a hard side with the advantage of low wind resistance. Your Tacoma will pull it fine. The only reason we didn't chose one is because the bathroom are not as nice as a regular camper. Most of them used a cassette style toliet.
     
  8. Oct 31, 2017 at 8:59 PM
    #68
    FrayAdjacent

    FrayAdjacent Well-Known Member

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    Yeah, A Frames look pretty sweet, especially for what I want to use it for. I'm looking at brake controllers now. I know the trailer is light, but if it has brakes (which I think it does...) I'll want to make sure they work and that I'm using them!
     
  9. Nov 1, 2017 at 4:04 AM
    #69
    Ruggybuggy

    Ruggybuggy Well-Known Member

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    If the trailer has brakes take advantage of them and get a brake controller. Find a proportional brake controller which works better than a time delay. It's a few more dollars but worth it. If I remember correctly I only paid around $50 from etrailer.com. Here is some good info on controllers. https://www.etrailer.com/faq-brakecontroller.aspx
     
  10. Nov 1, 2017 at 10:42 PM
    #70
    FrayAdjacent

    FrayAdjacent Well-Known Member

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    I ordered a brake controller, a Tekonsha P3. Might as well!

    Well, it turns out the rockwood 122A I was going to look at may be bought (unless the guy's financing falls through). I found a nice 2015 rockwood 194HW a little further away for a 'not bad' price. I'm going to check it out Saturday. If all looks good, I'll buy it.
     
    Ruggybuggy[QUOTED] likes this.
  11. Nov 2, 2017 at 5:20 AM
    #71
    jethro

    jethro Master Baiter

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    A frames are nice to tow but suck to camp in. I felt claustrophobic in one. They are an inefficient space design if you ask me. I would do a popup before an a frame.
     
  12. Nov 2, 2017 at 5:42 PM
    #72
    FrayAdjacent

    FrayAdjacent Well-Known Member

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    I hear that, they are small. I'm single with no kids, and it would only be me, so I think I'll be fine. I started out looking at more traditional popups. They have the advantage of having the beds outside the base floorspace, so they're more roomy... but they're canvas and I think they'd be less insulated, and maybe more prone to damage. Probably also a bit more prone to hearing everything outside. I dunno, I wouldn't mind one for a weekend if the weather is nice... but I'm tentatively planning a very long month-long road trip with lots of camping, and I think an A frame will be more comfortable should the weather be a bit less increment.

    As always, YMMV. I think both a frames and traditional popups are pretty cool, and both have advantages and detriments.
     
  13. Nov 2, 2017 at 9:19 PM
    #73
    Ruggybuggy

    Ruggybuggy Well-Known Member

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    I always think of the canvas pop up bed area as a dinner table for bears.
     
  14. Nov 3, 2017 at 7:24 AM
    #74
    jethro

    jethro Master Baiter

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    Well so does the National Parks Dept. because you are not allowed to use campers with pop ups in a lot of them for that very reason. So keep that in mind, if you ever want to camp in Yellowstone, no canvas or tent frame pop ups or even pop outs.
     
  15. Nov 3, 2017 at 1:16 PM
    #75
    FrayAdjacent

    FrayAdjacent Well-Known Member

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    I heard that about Yellowstone. I may get up there someday, and an a-frame will work fine for that! :D
     
  16. Nov 4, 2017 at 2:09 PM
    #76
    FrayAdjacent

    FrayAdjacent Well-Known Member

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    I'm gettin it! Put a down payment on this today:

    [​IMG]


    2015 Rockwood 194HW. The dealer says they pretty much just got it. Still dirty, and a few little things need sorted. They say they'll fix everything and make sure everything is working 100%. That bad boy shows it's 2052LB dry, and it has brakes. I got the brake controller, but haven't installed it. Will do that so I can go bring this thing home next weekend!
     
    stickyTaco and JDB02 like this.
  17. Nov 4, 2017 at 8:35 PM
    #77
    2lazy2

    2lazy2 Well-Known Member

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    Congratulations!
     
  18. Nov 12, 2017 at 7:02 AM
    #78
    FrayAdjacent

    FrayAdjacent Well-Known Member

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    Picked it up yesterday, it's sitting in my driveway for now.

    The Taco towed it just fine. I could feel it was there, of course, but no sway, no clunky braking. I have a Teknonsha P3 brake controller, and it worked fine. One thing I did notice is the trailer is a bit wider than the Taco, so I need to get some towing mirrors, rearward visibility wasn't great. Being a 'high wall' camper, it was tall enough that I pretty much couldn't see over it.

    All in all, I'm happy with it. I'm going to have fun in this thing!
     
  19. Feb 6, 2018 at 9:12 AM
    #79
    ejl923

    ejl923 Well-Known Member

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    ill be interested in some updates. for a while i discounted getting an A frame, but im warming up to them for weight/full hard shell
     
  20. Feb 6, 2018 at 1:45 PM
    #80
    TRD_LB17

    TRD_LB17 Member

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    Hey @HESS2790, curious if you did decide on a travel trailer and which one?
     

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