Camper shopping

Well I am still learning about the Tacos limitations. I have read the towing bible. So I have a 22 Tacoma 6cyl at with tow package, redarc brake controller, sumo springs, wdh. Found a camper that is listed at 3700 dry weight. Just me and my wife will be camping in it around Louisiana so not many mountains. I should be ok for towing that weight. Anything else I should be concerned with?

 

consider height too, that can be a real drag on a small truck,,, pun intended.

 

What do you have budgeted for this. You can spend a little or a lot.
I paid like $5,500 for this a few years ago - Runaway Campers.
Weighs in at around 1,000 lbs.

 

Length as well. Could be a big sail, cross winds are a bitch. Dry weight 3700, but loaded/wet 5k+

 

I pull a twin axel 18' older camper yeah it's ok. Two factors do I need some thing that big and am I ready to give up all the comforts of home in a tear drop?

 

We are usually at around 2,300 to 2,800 depending on what we are taking with us, but Ive towed our OGT square-drop many thousands of miles with my DCLB without issue. The only annoyance I can see is overloading on the tongue weight at times, and heading into the wind can get more problematic when we have stuff on the roof of the trailer as well.

As was pointed out above, you can go short, or long on price and still get a good trailer. The basics still apply re: tongue weight, weight distribution, packing ect, ect.

IMHO, if you get the right tear/square-drop you dont have to give up much of anything except an inside bathroom.

 

I've towed everything with everything. I'm going to be looking soon for something similar. I'd make sure you get a weight distributing hitch and obviously a brake controller.

 

3700 dry plus 1000 for wet should be ok.

I love how everyone is posting their "not actually tall camper" campers.

Me too, I'll pile in on the itty-bitty camper party.










Just get something that isn't restricted to the shackles of the RV hookup pole. It's a camper. Go outside. Way outside.

 

You should be good to go...enjoy your camping trips this year and take a few pics!!!

 

this is the forken move! If I were looking, I'd do what you did here- buy more camper/weight in a low-pro package, perfect for the Tacoma!
IMO a hard side camper in this size would be heavy AF and giant wind sock, making part of your vacation (the actual drive to n fro) miserable.

 

5 years, 23 states, and it's still rolling. There are plusses and minuses, though for me I think the plusses heavily outweigh the minuses.

There are fantastic advantages to something that tows small and parks small. Not just the mileage and power, though those are nice. But along those road trips you find yourself in traffic, or hunting for a parking space, or in need of a sharp U-turn. I can and have parallel parked mine with just two adjacent spaces open. It's great for grabbing a lunch at that highly rated cafe in town as opposed to whatever is attached to the Flying J. Or it's great for exploring a little more back road and a little less interstate.

And then after lunch I hit that dirt trail and have Lobster Manor set up inside a remote space that was designed for little more than a ground tent.

 

You guys with real experience,
What are Scamps like? I was considering a 13ft one to live out of for some time.
Should I avoid fiberglass or wood?

What about Jayco and Amerilite that are ~16ft (I know these are pretty heavy)

Are those quality brands?

 

For full time living? I'd avoid wood anything then. Either full fiberglass hull or full aluminum. I like scamps and casitas. They are hardy as hell, but their downside is that I have seen a few grow unsightly mildew stains on the roof. It's a major pain to clean once that sets in. It doesn't hurt them structurally, it just hurts to look at. I'd still choose one of those over a Jayco or anything in the FR family.

I mean, I love my wood platformed FR, but it needs maintenance. A lot of maintenance. And a separate house to sleep in while doing said maintenance.

 

What is FR? is that a Model of camper?

So full aluminum would be an airstream or something like that? Do you mind naming some brands? I know casita and scamp as fiberglass brands
I am not familiar with the construction of the frame beneath the skin. I assume jayco and amerilite are made of wood underneath the aluminum skin.

 

FR is the Forest River family of campers (Flagstaff, Rockwood, a few others).

I think Amerilite is under Gulf Stream and is also a stick frame.


There's Escape, NuCamp, Bigfoot, and Oliver campers. I think most of those use fiberglass and aren't on the bank breaking end of things. They're not cheap, but they're also not the niche boutique trailers that have been showing up lately.

 

I've been eyeballing this one, but almost too much for our trucks...they don't really make a lot of small toy haulers..
https://www.chinookrv.com/_files/ugd/c6b373_1d06c0b14866418c97cadeb649ef771f.pdf

 

Garage wouldn't fit my Honda Goldwing, too small. But yea I agree, you'd be much happier towing that with a full size pickup.

 

Scamp has a decent reputation and following. We recently entertained thoughts of getting the 13 footer. May do it some day but not this year.

 

Not a scamp but similar. It’s 13’. I am tall so it’s a little on the small side but tows great. Think more of a hard side tent. Would be tough to full time in it.

 

I would worry about blind spots. I have a Furrion camera system so I don't have to have the strap on mirrors. Our trailer is a Jayco 174bh dry weight is about 3500 and length 21'. I also got an ultra gauge to keep track of transmission temps.