by "WiscoProud" (wiscoproud)
Published 06/26/2017 at 16:23
by "WiscoProud" (wiscoproud)
Published 06/26/2017 at 16:23
No Tags
STARS: 1
My wife and I used to camp all the time before our daughter was born, but haven’t gone since. No particular reason why, just busy. Anyways, my wife’s parents had a camper when she was growing up and brought up the idea a month ago or so. Being the dutiful husband I am (who loves toys of all shapes and sizes) started to look into them. We also went to a small expo put on by our local Camping World last Sunday.
While we’re open to all options, we seemed to gravitate towards the travel trailers. While a motorhome would be nice for longer road trips, its largely useless outside of that. We ended up both liking a Heartland Pioneer BH270, which is a 32' travel trailer, with a queen size bedroom and bunk beds for our daughter/future brood. Here it is:
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The two big issues are (aside from paying for it) storage and towing. While I could put it in our driveway, it would effectively block off half of it, so I would want to store it somewhere, and just get it when I need it. The other issue is that it was a GVWR of 7,700 which is well above my Land Cruiser’s 6,500 tow rating. Not to mention putting 10% of that on the hitch is 50% over the Class III tongue weight rating of 500 lbs. So, I would need to get a truck to pull it.
While I love my Land Cruiser, I also have a compulsion to trade vehicles every couple of years. I’ve had my Cruiser for 3 years meaning I’ve started getting the itch. I also refuse to drive boring vehicles, so I’ve been considering a 2010-2013 Ram Power Wagon.
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While they don’t have nearly the payload of the “worker” 2500s, the 1700-1900 payload and 10,000 lb towing are more than good enough for me. It would also guarantee that I would still be able to get back into the woods for hunting. They are also horrendous on gas, although my cruiser only averages 16mpg on my commute, so I would need to get a commuting vehicle too.
Realistically we couldn’t do a trailer until next year at the earliest, due to putting new windows in our house this year, but I would need a truck first anyways, so it could work out.
So what do you guys think? Am I out of my mind? Anyone interested in a 2004 Land Cruiser with 165k miles and mods detailed on my page?
"MasterMario - Keeper of the V8s" (mastermario)
06/26/2017 at 16:28, STARS: 0
Honestly, I would try to stay around ~24' for camper length. My parents had a 30 footer growing up and it was more than plenty for the 4 of us, it’s mostly just to sleep in anyways. But you sometimes get limited to where you can camp since some sites aren’t big enough for such a large trailer and pulling such a big trailer can be a pain. Just my 2 cents.
"Mercedes Streeter" (smart)
06/26/2017 at 16:31, STARS: 0
I prefer pitching a tent, but sleeping in a 32+ft rolling hotel room isn’t bad either. My parents get 5-7 mpg while towing.
"WiscoProud" (wiscoproud)
06/26/2017 at 16:32, STARS: 0
I’m with ya. The model we liked had a 24" version, but that one didn’t have an outside door going directly to the bathroom. Not a big deal to me, but my wife really likes that. I will bring up that point though.
"rb1971 ARGQF+CayenneTurbo+E9+328GTS+R90S" (rb1971)
06/26/2017 at 16:33, STARS: 6
I had to look twice before I figured out that the camper does not have a chimney.
"WiscoProud" (wiscoproud)
06/26/2017 at 16:34, STARS: 1
We’ve always tent camped too. One thing that appeals is it opens us up to going out in colder weather. We’ve camped when it was mid-40s out, but that gets tiring fast.
"HammerheadFistpunch" (hammerheadfistpunch)
06/26/2017 at 16:35, STARS: 1
Get something smaller. Truthfully We’ve loved our popup. I mean they are all made like crap but at least with the popup its a smaller amount of things to go wrong. They store way easier they tow like a dream and they offer WAY more bed area than a hardside. or maybe a hybrid.
"Baskingshark" (Baskingsharks)
06/26/2017 at 16:37, STARS: 1
We have a 19 footer that we bought used but it good shape. It’s plenty big enough for the wife and our 9 and 6 year olds. It’s about 3500 pounds dry and our Honda Pilot tows it with no problems. The tow capacity of our Pilot is 4000 pounds for reference.
We have had it for probably 3 years now and we love it. We take it out for 6 or 7 trips a year and I have yet though that we need a larger trailer.
"RamblinRover Luxury-Yacht" (ramblininexile)
06/26/2017 at 16:37, STARS: 0
Motorhome is the clear advantage for long range/long term trips. Park without necessarily having to set up and level, no unpacking, and a lot easier to make short stops with as well on your way somewhere. Travel trailer is when you’re going to exactly one place for several days to a week and might use your “normal” vehicle for repeat grocery runs from the campsite or whatever.
The tricky thing there is that the motorhome demands more real estate to park. Slightly. Another being that if you use a truck regularly then you wont have downtime and mechanical concerns with your Camping Device other than tires, hubs, etc.
My folks had a big Coleman popup for years, but we eventually went to a motorhome for being a little more self-contained, more plug-and-play, and that was what we went on a 7,000 mile multi-stop trip with. Just be aware that you may want to switch in future to something that you can stop halfway to the destination in and make a sandwich.
"Straightsix9904" (Straightsix9904)
06/26/2017 at 16:41, STARS: 0
You can’t take a pop up into a few national parks. That said, it is only like 5.
"Urambo Tauro" (urambotauro)
06/26/2017 at 16:42, STARS: 0
If you must have a RV, I think travel trailers are the way to go. 5th wheels do tow nice, but regular trailers are easier to maneuver when parking, and you don’t necessarily need a pickup truck to pull them around with.
"MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner" (montegoman562)
06/26/2017 at 16:43, STARS: 1
my in-laws have one of these Rockwood Roo 21SS
It’s a pretty great setup in a smaller package of only 21 feet.
King size bed flops out in the front and back. 5,000 pounds empty (this is a slightly newer model than theirs from 2011 and it’s listed at 5700). I even towed it with a Ranger once (it was not happy about it, but it hit 70 mph on the freeway lol). I get it if you want actual rooms and your direct bathroom access you mentioned, but this has been a great set up. The AC has no trouble keeping up with those tented beds and you can convert the couch and the kitchen table into more beds.
Anyhow, cool package in a smaller more easily towable set up. Thought it was worth mentioning.
"HammerheadFistpunch" (hammerheadfistpunch)
06/26/2017 at 16:44, STARS: 1
Sure you can. You just can’t leave anything remotely related to food in it. Though there are SOME sites in some parks that require a hard side. In that case...get a hybrid. They count.
That being said, I find their rationale a little lacking. I mean how hard is it to get inside a hardside camper for a bear? about 10% harder than a tent? They aren’t made well and they certainly aren’t smellsproof.
"WiscoProud" (wiscoproud)
06/26/2017 at 16:44, STARS: 1
I said that too, but my wife didn’t want to upgrade in a year or two. She pointed out how her parents started with a popup, then switched to a camper, before ultimately upgrading to a (very nice) cabin. She wants to cut out the first stage. I also think she wants to quit her job and just travel, so that may be skewing her ideas.
"Mercedes Streeter" (smart)
06/26/2017 at 16:44, STARS: 0
That’s a good selling point! With a capable tow vehicle (and potentially a sway limiting hitch) a travel trailer isn’t hard to pull. Crosswinds (especially those on say...I-94) can be a bit of a pain though. The biggest PITA is maintenance. Travel trailers often seem like they’re built by the lowest bidders.
"WiscoProud" (wiscoproud)
06/26/2017 at 16:45, STARS: 1
There was a guy at the expo talking about they wouldn’t let you bring it into Yellowstone. Considering its 1,300 miles, I don’t think it would be an issue.
"WiscoProud" (wiscoproud)
06/26/2017 at 16:46, STARS: 0
I would love to rent a motorhome and travel out west to visit relatives, but being able to use the pickup for other duties would be ideal.
"WiscoProud" (wiscoproud)
06/26/2017 at 16:48, STARS: 0
That’s what I had in mind. I’m good with up to 6,000 lb GVWR, which gets you into a surprising amount of trailers. My wife really wants the bunk beds though, and that pushes us into a bigger size. I would just kick the kids outside in a tent myself.
"HammerheadFistpunch" (hammerheadfistpunch)
06/26/2017 at 16:48, STARS: 1
I brought mine to Yellowstone.
"WiscoProud" (wiscoproud)
06/26/2017 at 16:49, STARS: 0
I like that design and showed her one. Unfortunately they didn’t have one on hand. The next step will likely be going to the actual dealer and seeing what they have, since they only brought a small sampling.
"HammerheadFistpunch" (hammerheadfistpunch)
06/26/2017 at 16:55, STARS: 0
Its just that most of the people I talk to start in a popup and move up...but they always move back down or regret going too far up the scale. That being said if you plan on spending a lot of time in one, it might be worth it to have something bigger without the need to pop one up...which can be a pain. I still think you consider something smaller and lighter on account of the fact that it simplifies life enormously. Unless you plan on spending more than 30-60 days a year in it, in which case comfort takes the cake. If I were shopping again I would be looking at hybrids. The bed setup is minimal, and you gain SO much floor space putting the bed on the outside. You can make a 22 feel like a 32.
"ZHP Sparky, the 5th" (e30s2k)
06/26/2017 at 16:58, STARS: 0
Consider something like a Sprinter conversion van? I’ve seen some pretty sweet ones. Definitely more cramped than a lot of options – but you have the benefit of not having to tow anything and being in a more or less regular vehicle that can keep up with traffic and not get horrendous MPGs. Only problem is they are crazy expensive. Recently drove by this Mercedes 4x4 converted Chinook Bayside. Looked it up online and my eyes fell off my face when I saw the price. Toilet being with the kitchen is weird, but pretty cool concept in general. Think I prefer some of the bigger Sprinters over this though still.
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"WiscoProud" (wiscoproud)
06/26/2017 at 16:58, STARS: 1
“must” is the operative term. Considering we haven’t gone camping in almost three years, the benefit cost needs to be weighed. Personally, I’ve always wanted a piece of hunting/recreation land up north, and this would let us spend time there in comfort, without having to build a cabin.
"MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner" (montegoman562)
06/26/2017 at 16:59, STARS: 0
Yeah it’s a cool set up that gets you light-weight space, which is the best space in a trailer. I get her reasoning for a bunch of this stuff but sometimes the level of truck you need to be able to have is too much to make it a logical call. That’s what drove my in-laws to this design. Now they have a 1500 sierra just because my father in-law wanted one so they can pull this thing like there’s nothing behind the truck hahaha. At the time though they were hauling with a 5,000 max tow Mountaineer so they were limited.
"vicali" (vicali)
06/26/2017 at 17:02, STARS: 1
We bought the Tacoma in hopes of one day getting a trailer, started looking around a few months after getting the truck. Looked at a Tundra but not willing to daily it the other 350 days a year.
We stayed under the 6500lb tow rating easily by getting under 20ft of trailer. We spent the last ten years camping in a Westfalia so this feels huge.
With a few add-ons; scanguage, brake controller, friction-sway bar, equalizer hitch, load E tires, next airbags- the Tacoma tows it just fine for the three weeks worth of camping we do.
It would be nice to pull it along like nothing was back there, but I don’t mind- we’re in vacation mode anyways.
Ours is 19ft, bathroom with tub, couch bed up front, table bed, and flip bunk at the back.. Lots of room for our family to grow - and easy to get in and out of spots.
It lives in our driveway, takes up a quarter of the space but around here storage is close to $1000 a year..
I just finished our solar kit last weekend- 90w built into a pelicase with a 30ft extension. I’d also recommend switching the 12v bulbs to ebay leds.. Previous owner had upgraded to two 6v heavy duty batts - we’ve done 10 days straight and ended up with 1/3 power left.
"Baskingshark" (Baskingsharks)
06/26/2017 at 17:04, STARS: 1
We looked a quite a few, with this one there is a bunk over our bed and then the table converts to a bed for the other kid. That’s what sold us on this one. The nice thing about the smaller trailers, especially with the dual tires in the back, is that it is easy to tow and super maneuverable.
"WiscoProud" (wiscoproud)
06/26/2017 at 17:06, STARS: 0
Its a distance thing. I presume you’re much closer than I am. If it were closer, I’d do it in a heartbeat.
"MasterMario - Keeper of the V8s" (mastermario)
06/26/2017 at 17:09, STARS: 1
So much squat
"WiscoProud" (wiscoproud)
06/26/2017 at 17:10, STARS: 0
I’m with you on that. If we were to get a smaller one, putting it in the driveway might work too. To justify the cost of a $15-20k camper, we would need to use it at least monthly.
"WiscoProud" (wiscoproud)
06/26/2017 at 17:12, STARS: 0
No kidding. The one we liked seemed to be put together well, but some of the other ones they were showing were already falling apart. Considering it was an expo, I would have imagined they would have brought their best.
"Urambo Tauro" (urambotauro)
06/26/2017 at 17:13, STARS: 0
Yeah, and keeping a trailer somewhat in your periphery (even if it’s just at a local storage facility) helps guard against some random nasty surprises, like if a tree happened to fall on the cabin or something. Not to say that that can’t happen to a RV, but at least you don’t have to drive several hours or whatever to find out about it.
RVs have their own maintenance concerns, but at least with a travel trailer you wouldn’t have a whole ’nother powertrain to look after like you would with a motorhome.
"WiscoProud" (wiscoproud)
06/26/2017 at 17:14, STARS: 0
Yeah, I wish my Cruiser had a higher tow limit. The 200 series bumps it up to 8500, which would be fine, but the prices on used 200s are still insane.
"HammerheadFistpunch" (hammerheadfistpunch)
06/26/2017 at 17:19, STARS: 0
another nice thing about a smaller trailer, we paid 6500 for ours. BAthroom, inside and outside shower, heat, etc. We on;y use it 2-3 times a year (And the couple we share it with another 2-3 times) so it makes great economic sense to us. Even towing it with the 80 I get 12 mpg. 14 with the GX
"WiscoProud" (wiscoproud)
06/26/2017 at 17:20, STARS: 0
I would pick somewhere local. There’s got to be a self-storage place by me that does them. A number of my neighbors have the extra wide driveways and leave them parked outside, but ours is only wide enough for the two car garage.
"WiscoProud" (wiscoproud)
06/26/2017 at 17:24, STARS: 0
Very nice. That’s the size I was thinking of myself. If I can get her to a legit dealership so we can look at more options, I think she would be on boards, but who knows.
"WiscoProud" (wiscoproud)
06/26/2017 at 17:26, STARS: 1
Ironically, just last week I was trying to talk my wife into getting a sprinter 4x4 instead of a minivan. They are very nice, but dear god are they expensive. For a work vehicle, I would have thought they’d be cheaper.
"WiscoProud" (wiscoproud)
06/26/2017 at 17:29, STARS: 0
Yeah, I’d be lying if I said that wasn’t a concern. I’m pretty good with trailers, but 32' is a big damn trailer.
"nermal" (nermal)
06/26/2017 at 17:29, STARS: 2
I have a 25' toy hauler that I tow with a diesel truck.
Truck advice: Get at least a 3/4 ton diesel if you want to pull a sizable hard side camper. Having double the towing capacity that you need may seem like overkill until you actually use it. The additional power, mass, and braking and suspension will make the towing experience much more enjoyable. Remember that you’re not just dealing with the weight of the trailer, but also the aerodynamics. Also, factor in the weight of people and other stuff in the truck vs payload rating.
Camper advice: Go to a large RV show and look at as many as you can. Most trailers are made in Indiana by either Thor or Forest River by morons who are generally too drunk to get a real job, so they get a job at an RV factory. They are paid by their work output, not by the hour. So, combine drunken morons trying to work as fast as possible, and that’s why you get notoriously poor build quality. Expect to pay significantly more for a camper built by a smaller company.
RVs are not like cars. Buying one is not like buying a car, neither is owning one. Dealers aren’t required to provide warranty service if they didn’t sell the actual trailer. You can usually get 30%+ off of MSRP without much hassle.
Finally, get the biggest water tanks possible. Factor 5 gallons per day for a male and 20 for a female. That’s about how it works out in my case anyways. Make sure you read up on proper care of the poo tank as well.
"Mercedes Streeter" (smart)
06/26/2017 at 17:36, STARS: 0
Oh no, that’s just how these things are built. In ours (a 2007), we discovered the cabinet doors are wrapped white, not painted white. We discovered this because one of the vents in the bathroom is an inch away from the cabinet door. When my mum ran the heat in the trailer, the wrap started coming off. I mean, if you’re going to wrap something, at least don’t put it directly next to a potential heat source?
Parts of the awning are held together with brittle plastic.
The counters can’t take heat well either, so I have to put a towel between my hair straightener and the bathroom counter.
And let’s not even talk about how easy it is to break anything in there.
Oh, and newer trailers that don’t have fluting are often built with something called Luan plywood. That in itself isn’t bad, but some builders (most notoriously Thor Industries) have no idea how to glue the outer skins to the Luan, leading to crazy bubbling on the outer skin. Such is usually harmless, but bubbling can lead to water leaks in the future.
"WiscoProud" (wiscoproud)
06/26/2017 at 17:38, STARS: 1
Thankfully I’m aware of the difference in buying an RV and their often shitty construction. Several at the Expo had literal parts falling off and on one the table that turns into a bed didn’t fit or have the necessary mounting points. Thankfully, I’m able to work on pretty much all that myself.
I’m pretty set on getting a 2500 if I do it. The payloads on many 1500s aren’t much higher than my land cruiser, which doesn’t work with a 700 tongue weight, two adults, and gear.
Unfortunately, there aren’t any more RV shows this year by me, but there are a couple of big dealerships we can go through. The brands they carry will be limited, but it we can hit more than one we should be okay.
"WiscoProud" (wiscoproud)
06/26/2017 at 17:43, STARS: 1
yeah, Steve Lehto had a pod cast a while back about RV cases he’s had. It was enlightening. I’m confident in my ability to fix most anything that breaks, but unseen stuff like the plywood makes me nervous. I’ve seen others bring up Thor industries as garbage too.
"Future next gen S2000 owner" (future-next-gen-s2000-owner)
06/26/2017 at 17:47, STARS: 2
I would get a couple tents or a pop up. Something like this. But I’m all about staying small. That stuff is way cheaper and people tend not to use campers/RVs nearly as often as they think.
Then get whatever you want to DD. I’ve found a few pop-ups that are under 1000 lbs. meaning you can tow them with a sedan.
Think long and hard. The monthly note on a camper is going to suck if you can’t unload it quickly.
"WiscoProud" (wiscoproud)
06/26/2017 at 17:49, STARS: 0
Oh I know. I’ve already brought that up. I kinda wanted one of the tear drop designs with the outdoor kitchen on back. That way you’re still in the elements, but have a structure to sleep in. Having kids is likely putting the kibosh on that though.
"Future next gen S2000 owner" (future-next-gen-s2000-owner)
06/26/2017 at 17:52, STARS: 1
I’ve been stuck in a pop-up with all six of my immediate family. Yeah it kinda sucks, but that is what makes camping memories. Forces you to play card at the crappy fold out dining table for three hours.
I’m a fan of pop-ups. I don’t think you can call it camping with a big ol’ trailer with all the amenities. Maybe I’m just a grumpy old man.
"nermal" (nermal)
06/26/2017 at 17:54, STARS: 0
I bought my trailer after about 3 years of looking. Eventually I settled on what I wanted, and arranged everything online with the dealership. I ended up driving about 3 hrs away to get it, and had an overall great experience.
My Ram 2500 diesel has been flawless, obviously YMMV. If you’re looking at one, get the 14+ for the coil spring suspension. Maintenance is expensive if you pay somebody or a pain if you do it yourself, but at least it has long intervals. Check the hour meter as well, lots of idling = bad.
"xc90v8/I4 :(" (xc90v8)
06/26/2017 at 18:13, STARS: 0
I live in Europe so i don’t know what’s available in your country.. But when i was a kid we had a camper that was like 7 meters or 23 feet long.
It had 3 beds in the back and and a sitting area that could be converted to a big bed for 2 in the front. It worked very well until we grew a bit older and needed a bit more space. But then we just brought a tent for us 2 boys to sleep in.
The tow vehicle was a Volvo 740 for most of the time. This worked well (but here you can only do 50 mph with a camper anyways).
So I’m not sure you need a trailer (and truck) this big for 2 with a small kid.
"TheRealBicycleBuck" (therealbicyclebuck)
06/26/2017 at 19:20, STARS: 0
Watch Lehto below. The same advice applies to travel trailers, campers, etc.
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Even so, I would consider a small expandable teardrop like the Safari Condo . It’s neat.
"merged-5876237249235911857-hrw8uc" (merged-5876237249235911857-hrw8uc)
06/26/2017 at 21:34, STARS: 0
Pop up is the way to go, should be able to source a good used one out there. Easy to store and you can move them around the campsite if you can’t get it positioned just right with the tow vehicle. We used to have a travel trailer that stayed at a camp ground till my folks wanted to travel to different camp grounds. Then they realized the travel trailer sucks to tow. They towed it around for a summer then we’ve been in pop ups ever since. They work great. And they tow like nothing.
"merged-5876237249235911857-hrw8uc" (merged-5876237249235911857-hrw8uc)
06/26/2017 at 21:35, STARS: 0
You got the right idea.
"osucycler" (osucycler)
06/27/2017 at 09:59, STARS: 0
A few more options:
http://casitatraveltrailers.com/
https://olivertraveltrailers.com/forums/
"MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner" (montegoman562)
06/27/2017 at 10:32, STARS: 0
I wish we had the V8 in our lifted Commander. It’s basically useless for towing at a 3,500 max tow. V6 + Full Time 4x4= crap towing.
"WiscoProud" (wiscoproud)
06/27/2017 at 10:50, STARS: 0
I agree to an extent. I’ve never been a wilderness camper, having always used formal campsites, but there is something about sleeping in a tent.
"WiscoProud" (wiscoproud)
06/27/2017 at 10:53, STARS: 0
That would be a lot easier to justify and I wouldn’t need a new truck. I think I could talk her into a smaller hard side trailer.
"WiscoProud" (wiscoproud)
06/27/2017 at 10:57, STARS: 0
Could you get the Commander with a V8? It seems like an ideal candidate. I think they tried to cover too many bases with the Commander. It seems the lower trims were trying to go after the crossover crowd, but the higher packages were trying to make it into a legit off roader. I think they should have aimed at the Land Rover Discovery market and went full off-road.
"WiscoProud" (wiscoproud)
06/27/2017 at 11:01, STARS: 0
I do like the coil suspension they put in them. Ideally, I would want the outdoorsman package with the ramboxes as well, but I can’t find any used. Prices are still high on the 2014+ too. Lately I’ve been looking at 2010-2013 Power Wagons, which have coil front and leaf rear. No diesel though. That would allow me to continue to use it on forest trails like my cruiser, while still having the capability.
"WiscoProud" (wiscoproud)
06/27/2017 at 11:02, STARS: 0
Actually, that would be about perfect if it had a slide out for more space.
"WiscoProud" (wiscoproud)
06/27/2017 at 11:03, STARS: 0
Personally I love the teardrops like that with the kitchen on the back. That’s a great balance of shelter and camping for me. Plus you can get them with higher ride heights so I could drag it back into the national forests if I were so inclined.
"WiscoProud" (wiscoproud)
06/27/2017 at 11:05, STARS: 0
My wife had a popup growing up, but I’ve never been much of a fan. I do like the rigid ones with popout beds though. Unfortunately, the show we were at only had one, and it wasn’t particularly nice.
"HammerheadFistpunch" (hammerheadfistpunch)
06/27/2017 at 11:05, STARS: 0
Not trying to talk you out of anything, just saying that with each move up the camper/car size spectrum you take a hit someplace else in the sense you have to have a bigger car, more maintenance and and fewer options for where you can setup shop. Its worth considering in the least. It seems to me that in my travels a 22 foot trailer is about the point where its easy to find the kind of camping you will like. 24 and up starts to be tricky (at least out west) in terms of sites that accommodate.
"vicali" (vicali)
06/27/2017 at 11:12, STARS: 0
Trailer weight is 3800lbs, GVWR 6800lbs.. loaded for camping it’s just shy of 5000lbs. A slider would put it out of Tacoma range..
"WiscoProud" (wiscoproud)
06/27/2017 at 11:15, STARS: 0
Thanks for the links. Those are certainly nice.
"WiscoProud" (wiscoproud)
06/27/2017 at 11:20, STARS: 0
No worries. I completely agree with you. 32' is a huge trailer. Just turning it around would be a headache. I would prefer to stay at 24' or less, we just need to find a floorplan we like.
"WiscoProud" (wiscoproud)
06/27/2017 at 11:23, STARS: 0
I’m actually surprised the GVWR is that high. Does it hold a lot of water or something?
"HammerheadFistpunch" (hammerheadfistpunch)
06/27/2017 at 11:24, STARS: 0
given that...for reasons I can’t yet explain...trailers are top of my brain lately, I would be happy to help any way I can.
"WiscoProud" (wiscoproud)
06/27/2017 at 11:29, STARS: 0
I’ve been mulling them over for a while too. Kinda surprised when my wife brought them up out of the blue. I wish I had access to the kinds of public lands you do. We have some huge national forests, but they’re nothing compared to out west.
"vicali" (vicali)
06/27/2017 at 11:32, STARS: 0
Dual 3400lb axles.. the Jayco we were comparing it to had 2700lb axles and topped out at 5400lbs, construction on the keystone was more heavy duty and materials were better.
I would gladly strip off the a/c, the tv/dvd/stereo, the freezer, and the microwave - we are always boondocking and have never plugged in during a trip.
Water tank is 45gal, grey 38gal, black 32gal.
"merged-5876237249235911857-hrw8uc" (merged-5876237249235911857-hrw8uc)
06/27/2017 at 12:05, STARS: 0
Yeah if you go with the hard shell with pop outs, you might as well go travel trailer. I just remember the towing gear for the travel trailer was a lot more complex, had torsion bars to control the sway and a very heavy duty hitch.
Since we’ve had the pop up it was a lot simpler. I remember laughing at the folks with the super duper gooseneck travel trailers as they try to get it positioned in a campsite, meanwhile we’d get close then pop the hitch off the ball and wheel our rig into place, then proceed to level it and crank it up and be setup before the travel trailer folks were even leveled up. Short of tent camping, the pop up is about as simple as you can go. But they have some really nicely equipped trailers now, ac and all.
I would imagine the cost of admission for a pop up would be substantially less, even new, so might not be a bad way to start out. If you end up with a campground that you frequent a lot, then maybe pony up for a travel trailer?
Good luck.
"vicali" (vicali)
06/27/2017 at 12:14, STARS: 0
We camped in a Westfalia for a long time, and with just my wife and I it was perfect. Traveling was good, setup was easy, a place for everything, and everything was neat and clean, we loved exploring places and driving our little home around.
Add a dog and two kids.. all the sudden there are double the chairs, dishes, shoes, plus beach toys, and bikes, and crates. Setup is now a bit of a process, but once the trailer is set the truck is free to explore.
Plus another thing to keep in mind with kids is if something happens and you have to say; get a kid who stepped on a nail to the hospital - having the truck sitting there ready to go is really nice.
"WiscoProud" (wiscoproud)
06/27/2017 at 12:15, STARS: 1
Thanks. Popups are certainly significantly cheaper and easier to tow. A coworker of mine wants a fifth wheel camper, so we’ve been debating the merits. At the end of the day they’re just too big and too limiting on where you can go.
"RamblinRover Luxury-Yacht" (ramblininexile)
06/27/2017 at 12:26, STARS: 0
Oddly enough, the motorhome came about because my parents had too many kids for the Coleman, and we needed to upsize. So, while I sympathize with the idea of “splitting the party”, a bigger motorhome also works. Even with the one we have, which is only a P-chassis 27-footer. When we went cross-country, it *was* a good idea to have a secondary vehicle, but my dad brought his 250cc Honda bike on the back bumper, and not a car...
"merged-5876237249235911857-hrw8uc" (merged-5876237249235911857-hrw8uc)
06/27/2017 at 12:40, STARS: 0
Definitely. And really, at that point why not just get a hotel room? If I’m going camping, I’m going primitive, no electric hookup, maybe water, but normally, that’s down the road a bit. Keep it simple.
"MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner" (montegoman562)
06/27/2017 at 12:41, STARS: 0
They actually did go full off road with the highest trim. They had a 4.7L Powetech V8 and then you could up to the 5.7L Hemi V8.
There were 3 levels of 4x4. The Quadra-Trac I which we have (full time non-selectable), then the Quadra-Trac II which was full time but had a low range and a neutral so you could tow more than a hay bale lol. Finally there was Quadra-Drive II available. Electronic Limited Slip Diff’s front and rear and fuel tank, front suspension and transfer case skid plates. QD-II is actually still in use on the Grand Cherokee.
So if you snag a 5.7L QD-II Commander and throw an easily installed lift (same parts/kits as the Grand Cherokee) you’ve got a hell of a 3 row off roader.
"WiscoProud" (wiscoproud)
06/27/2017 at 12:49, STARS: 0
I know you could option it pretty well. I think they should have just kept the top version and not bothered with the lower trims. I don’t recall ever seeing a vehicle with three choices of 4wd systems. Conversely, they could have differentiated the off-road versions with a trim name or something. It just seems like they diluted it with the lower offerings, which hurt perception.
"MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner" (montegoman562)
06/27/2017 at 13:00, STARS: 0
Probably. And the lowest trim (which is what we have btw!) looks like a god damn station wagon with a Jeep grille until you lift it. Huge improvement. We now ride around at roughly the height of 1500/150 pickups and sometimes even look down at them. All it took was 2 tire sizes up and a 2 inch lift kit.
Oh, and the trim level thing is a huge issue, ours never even came with a trim level badge. It’s a Commander “Sport” but doesn’t say “Sport” anywhere on the vehicle. It also doesn’t even say Commander on the back - which is insane.
"WiscoProud" (wiscoproud)
06/27/2017 at 13:08, STARS: 0
Putting a small lift and bigger tires makes a monumental difference on the Commanders. Its like night and day. Its frustrating, because they had a good model, they just seemed to half ass the execution. Why would you not put badges on it? That makes zero sense.
"MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner" (montegoman562)
06/27/2017 at 13:12, STARS: 0
Says it in the black plastic molding on the side.
Just says JEEP and 4x4 on the ass.
So if you squint you can see COMMANDER in that black trim on the driver’s door. Only place it says it. Such an imposing name to be not used anywhere.
"WiscoProud" (wiscoproud)
06/27/2017 at 13:38, STARS: 1
So weird. Its like they were going out of their way to make sure no one knew what it was. Almost like the Chevy SS
"MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner" (montegoman562)
06/27/2017 at 14:53, STARS: 0
Yep, you’ll notice from now on. They did the same on the Liberty at the time, which style wise looks like a short wheel base Commander. Basically, late 00's Boxy Jeeps look de-badged.
"WiscoProud" (wiscoproud)
06/27/2017 at 15:00, STARS: 1
Good point. What an odd choice.
"nermal" (nermal)
06/27/2017 at 17:15, STARS: 0
I’m not sure what the going price on used Power Wagons is, but used diesels are hard to come by. The good ones sell super quick, and for what seems like more than they’re worth. The ones that are priced reasonably are all oilfield trucks or bro trucks.
I’ve had my truck on a few forest roads, it did surprisingly well. I think the 2500s are better off road than the 1500s due to increased clearance and 33" tires from the factory. You’d be surprised at where they can go, assuming good tires.
The price difference between a used gas and diesel will pay for a lot of fuel, but you’ll need it.