Well, I graduate in about 7 months.....have a great job lined up and am ready to start taking some vacations a.k.a. wheeling trips much more often now. I currently have an 18' bumper pull car-hauler which I'll probably keep for utility use and short trips here and there. On the other hand, I really would like a toy hauler or similar set-up.

Opt.1 I've been looking around at different toy haulers and while some are really expensive, others aren't so bad. I need something with a 14' garage for my Nissan.

Opt.2 My other option is to buy a nice 20' beefy gooseneck and tow a bumper pull 20' or so camper behind it. The campers I've seen are ~$12-20,000 depending what you get, plus the trailer at ~$5000 = ~$17-25000 total while keeping the versatility of trailers independently.

Opt3. And one last option, go with a ~40' goose neck, buy a 20' camper, load on the front of the gooseneck as a permenent mount, and have the truck on the back like Jay Albreit's set-up, for not much more then option 2.

I don't really mind spending the money up front to get something I want and be done. I don't sell vehicles so this camper setup would be around for a long time before even thinking about replacing. So what do y'all think? What are your experiences with any or all of my options?
I have some time for shopping and planning, but I like getting all the info. I can up front and well in advance.

Thanks

You want to be careful about option 2. That rig is frequently legal in the Western states, not so much in the East. Personally, I like that idea, set up camp, still have the carhauler and a partsrunner without breaking camp. BTW, here in Minnesota, it's specifically legal with a 5th wheel, but not an inverted ball gooseneck hitch.

I have a buddy with his camper mounted on his goose neck. Its sucks up the gas hauling it like that. It creates such an air pocket and just kills fuel milage.
Buy a camper amd use a bumper pull or buy the goose neck and tent it up.

thanks for the replies so far...I'm going to check into the laws for different states. Option 2 is of course option 2...if I can find a nice toy hauler for a nice price, I wouldn't mind that, but if I can serve the same function while offering versatility for half the cost...it's hard to weigh. Anyone else? Thanks!

I'd look for a used race-car hauler w/living quarters. Pulling two trailers would be a beating for several reasons.

Albright's (and mine for that matter) are fine... but heavy... and not enclosed. Personally, I don't care for enclosed... I like the flatbed in the back.

I considered that, but having trouble finding a race care trailer with living quarters....granted I've only been looking for a day...

I'm in the hunt for the right combo right now. I can almost garantee you'll be pusing the CWR of your truck with option 3. I'm still looking into it more. Figure 7K for the big trailer and around 4K for the "rv trailer" plus your rig. I don't know what hte '95s are rated to haul but I'm betting your close if not over.

I'm looking into a 36-40' trailer and an ultara light 20' trailer (2400#) plus my Willys is 6200#, and I'll be pushing the 18K capacity of my '06 F350 dually....food for thought.




:usa:

PS, I've been looking for almost 6 months now, so you might be timing this about right to be done when you graduate :flipoff2: :)


:usa:

haha, thanks. I need to check the GCWR for the truck, but the nice thing with option 2 is the weight...a 20' gooseneck trailer is probably 3k lbs for a stout one, plus 4k for the rig, then i found some 20' bumper pull campers for 3k lbs. That's only 10k towing, no sweat. Then add another 2k for cargo and misc. stuff, still shouldn't be a problem.

gvwr=8600 lbs, and I know the truck with me in it and full tank is 6100 lbs.

I'm going to look up the GCWR...

http://www.thedieselstop.com/faq/9497faq/geninfo/95ttg/16.php3


apparently I can only tow an 11,400 lb trailer. With a GCWR of 17000 lbs.

http://www.fleetwoodrv.com/brandtomodel/floorplan.aspx?brand=pegasus/pg&m=210RB

looking at something like that if going with a doubles towing....

2784 lbs dry weight, so probably around 3k wet plus a little more for some extra gear.

Having hauled option 3 for about 3 years I would never go back.

Mike

Why not get a bumper pull trailer and put a slide in camper in the pickup?

Why not get a bumper pull trailer and put a slide in camper in the pickup?


That's the route I went. IMO it works quite well. If I just want to "go camping"
and not have the 4-wheeler the dually and camper are much easier to manuveer
than a long trailer or doubles. Our 9 1/2' Lance camper is big enough for my
wife and I.

I've considered the slide in campers, I'm just not really a fan of them and they are almost the same price as a trailer camper. And I'd like the extra room when family comes along.

Why not get a bumper pull trailer and put a slide in camper in the pickup?


I did this for a while but putting the camper in and taking it back out of a dually is a major pain. After scratching the dually tub and learning the hard way to secure the camper everytime a storm comes through I was wishing I was back in a tent. The tent wasnt flying with the wife. I also keep the wheeler on the trailer allong with all my spare parts. Mounting the camper to the trailer means if I get a call to go wheeling Im ready in 5 minutes. It also means on sunday I dont need to leave early to get home and unpack. I stay till the end which means more wheeling time. I can pull in at 8pm unhook the trailer, shower and be ready for bed by 9pm. Long and short of it is less wasted time. Also the pickup camper takes far less abuse since it just rest on the trailer all the time. 5th wheels also really hold their value. They dont get as stressed by all the flexing as a toy hauler either.

Mike

that's another good point..I really just want to drive over, hook up and go. Most of my trips will be Friday/Sat/Sun, drive back on Monday, with an annual/bi-annual week trip or so.

20' is a pretty darn huge camper.

For a single young guy, a 12' would be more than ample for you and a few buddies, or a girlfriend.

You could look into a racecar trailer in the 30' range if you like having an enclosed, or stick a 12-16' camper on the front of a 30' GN and be done. I have a wife and daughter, and feel like a 12' would be huge for us.

Having hauled option 3 for about 3 years I would never go back.

Mike

Now THATS badass!

Well, I'm really out of my league here so be sure to take anything I write with a grain of salt. Having said that, some of the guys in my club are thinking about semi's with sleepers or toterhomes. Getting a CDL can't be *that* hard and it seems like a good fit with what you're going for.

It's another option to consider: http://motors.listings.ebay.com/Semi-Trucks_Sleeper-Semi-Trucks_W0QQfcclZ1QQfclZ3QQfrppZ50QQfsooZ1QQfsopZ1Q QsacatZ80760QQsbrsrtZdQQsocmdZListingItemList
(Hopefully that link works)

my ultimate dream is to get a semi-with a 53' trailer fully decked out....but I don't have the time/money to do that quite yet....

I'm going to look at the campers in person tomorrow between classes, that will help give me a better feel for size.

how practical is getting a semi and trailer really? if you've got the room to store it, the time and money for insurance and maintenance, have at it. i recently went the 5th wheel toyhauler route and so far love it. minimal maintenance and any intrest paid from financing is tax deductible (considered 2nd home in ca).

how practical is getting a semi and trailer really? if you've got the room to store it, the time and money for insurance and maintenance, have at it. i recently went the 5th wheel toyhauler route and so far love it. minimal maintenance and any intrest paid from financing is tax deductible (considered 2nd home in ca).


Practical, not really....more so of a dream, I niether have the time or money for it...I'm going to keep looking at the toyhaulers, just doing the research now. If I can find one for a good deal I'd love to go that route. It's just looking like twice the cost or more than the other options...

http://www.fleetwoodrv.com/brandtomodel/floorplan.aspx?brand=pegasus/pg&m=210RB

looking at something like that if going with a doubles towing....

2784 lbs dry weight, so probably around 3k wet plus a little more for some extra gear.


I started a thread in Chit-chat on a pegasus trailer and the guys that sell them are steering me away from them. I liked the Jayco's more, until I found the pegasus and could shave a thousand pounds off... I'm sure you'll hread all about what I figure out ;)


:usa:

I need all the info I can get!