well i have been saving up for a 40' weekend warrior but right now i don't have the 35k to spend and after this weekend at the hammers the wife put her foot down and told me she was not going again until we have some kind of shelter. so i started to think maybe i should just get a cheapo cab over until i can afford the 5th wheel. if you own one or have owned one what are your thoughts? i have a 2002 f350 crew cab 4x4 single rear wheel with a power stroke. my trailer is a 16' tandem axle aprox 7k fully loaded.

what would you suggest i look for? what should i beaware of?

Talk to Lance and see what he has to say about it.

Do you and the misses have kids that would need to stay in the camper with you?

Remember that you would need to modify your current hitch set-up if you get a camper that hangs over the back of the truck. That in itself can run hundreds of dollars. Tie-downs for the camper are also something to consider.

me and a friend put a slide in on the back of a 25ft. flatbed there is plenty of room left to haul my zooki on the back. it is a step down from my fifth wheel but it works prety good fore a weekend wheelin trip.

If you have a short-box, your options will be limited, also, air-bags are "highly" suggested, it worked great for mine. I had a Starcraft that weighed in at 2100lbs(approx), it hung over the back just a bit, so I didn't need the extended hitch. The problem that we ran into was room, there simply wasn't enough for the two kids and the wife and me. We kept it a total of four months and traded it in on a Coachmen toy hauler. If you can, get the electric jacks, it would be a major help.

I did find a 32ft Thor on ebay that was semi-local that I would have jumped on for $19,800 but we had already gotten the Coachmen, that always happens:mad: Anyway, a 32ft Thor should run you around 22,000-24,000, keep checking ebay.

daniel.

i will never own any 6x6 as long as you are still alive. i just could not let you have thge satisfaction. :flipoff2:


fyrman

yup talked to Lance. ( he is my little brother after all. :D )

2 kids. 2 and 5 years old.

godzuki.

i would love to do that but my wife has this anti red neck reflex and would kick my ass. :D

infantry

ya i relize a 32 - 40 toy hauler is what i really want but i still don't have the cash saved up to go get one. i just recently look at a used 37' weekend warrior that was cherry and he only wanted 19k. problem is i only have 4k right now. :D so if i wanna go wheeling again in the next year i gotta get a camper and then save up for the big toy hauler.

My bro & I had a 12'6" cab over it was killer with 2 kids I would want one with a slide out . I have 2000 psd set up like yours. no complants about the truck. Camper got small with a kid. I have the hitch you will need. will sell cheap dont need it any more 37' motorhome on side yard now!!!!:flipoff2:

I have a 10' Fleetwood Carabou with the extended cabover(Calif queen bed :D ) that weighs over 3500 loaded. I would stay with a 8' (under 2500LBS) for a SRW towing a trailer. I put a lot of miles towing my boat + camper, and ended up getting a DRW because of a couple scary situations with my SRW. An 8' will have plenty of room for the four of you. A couple of things I would make sure and get on your camper based on past experiance.

1. Bathroom (It will make your wife happy, trust me)
2. electric jacks (My favorite option)

Okay, this may sound a little goofy, but it's a thought. At least here in MO, you can legally piggy-back trailers if the one in front is a gooseneck or 5th wheel. What about a used 5th-wheel camper that's not REAL big, and then piggy-backing the playtoy behind? Might not stretch the budget any worse than a decent cabover camper if you do some serious shopping.


TEX

Originally posted by Norm
...... A couple of things I would make sure and get on your camper based on past experiance.

1. Bathroom (It will make your wife happy, trust me)
2. electric jacks (My favorite option) Amen to that! I have an 11 ft Lance and pull my rig on a car trailer behind the f-250 powerstroke. It's nice. If you have two kids and are looking for an RV to get you by a while, a camper of 11 or 12 feet (preferably with the CA Queen bed) will get you by nicely as long as you set down two firm rules fast.

Rule #1: Inside the camper is for us adults.
Rule #2: Outside the camper is for you kids.

We will let you inside when it its bedtime :D

Originally posted by Tusker
Amen to that! I have an 11 ft Lance and pull my rig on a car trailer behind the f-250 powerstroke. It's nice. If you have two kids and are looking for an RV to get you by a while, a camper of 11 or 12 feet (preferably with the CA Queen bed) will get you by nicely as long as you set down two firm rules fast.

Rule #1: Inside the camper is for us adults.
Rule #2: Outside the camper is for you kids.

We will let you inside when it its bedtime :D

LOL i was kinda thinkin tHAT IT WOULD BE MORE OF.

#1 INSIDE IS WHERE WE LOCK YOU UP ALL DAY
#2 we will be back when it is time for bed

:D

yes a bathroom is #1 priorty for the wife. mine is ..well i don't really have one just as long as the wife is happy but the eletric jacks with the remote control sure is cool.

Originally posted by camo


just as long as the wife is happy

Come awn:D

You know what happens when the wife is happy out there, good food is what happens.:D :D

camo,i have the same problem you have.i also enter my stock dogs in a lot of comp.that requires all day and sometimes night long events.i have been staying at hotels but this past weekend my last run was after 2 a.m. and thats a pain in the ass with 3 kids.so what i was thinking about doing and looks to be the cheapest.getting a pop-up camper with a shower and shitter.then when i went wheeling i could hook it piggy back to my tow traler,of course with saftey chains,just my thouight anyway...

camo,i have the same problem you have.i also enter my stock dogs in a lot of comp.that requires all day and sometimes night long events.i have been staying at hotels but this past weekend my last run was after 2 a.m. and thats a pain in the ass with 3 kids.so what i was thinking about doing and looks to be the cheapest.getting a pop-up camper with a shower and shitter.then when i went wheeling i could hook it piggy back to my tow traler,of course with saftey chains,just my thouight anyway...

Camo,
You've seen mine. 11.5' Lance in the Crewcab Powerstroke. I love it. I thought about a 5th wheel, but I also tow my 26' boat with it. I wouldn't be able to do that with a 5th wheel. Do it! :)

i bought a slidein popup camper from www.fourwheelcampers.com just outside of sacramento ca
i bought the biggest model they offer and it weighs 800 lbs
the only thing i wish they had offered was a built in shower

For $4K, you could get an old Dodge van with a portta-potti and a ice box!:D

I told you guys you were welcome in my POS motorhome. You get used to the smell!

Originally posted by EMIEVEL
For $4K, you could get an old Dodge van with a portta-potti and a ice box!:D

I told you guys you were welcome in my POS motorhome. You get used to the smell!

i don't mind being a mooch but the wife wants her own hut. :D

Just a thought
The cheapest solution would be leaving your wife at home :D

Glitter-man -- if you do most of your 'wheeling at JV, consider getting a camper trailer. These things depreciate so dang fast -- and you could park it in Ridgecrest. Tow your buggy and trailer to Ridgecrest and offload the buggy, then make the wife drive the tow vehicle and camper to JV, while you man the buggy.

In some states you can legally double-trailer the buggy behind the trailer but I don't think that is legal in CA, and most camper trailers aren't built for it...

The above plan would allow you to keep your current tow vehicle and all of its bling, and if you really don't do that much non-local overnight wheeling, you might be dollars ahead.

Randii

Thinking out of the box...

If you go to JV most of the time, why not by a piece of turd property on Boone Rd. or nearby (our buddy has done his)...there were 20 acre lots for under your 4k limit and drop a travel trailer there for good. Put together a sweet Bender Base Camp and no schlepping your shit back and forth...little shop area....COME AWWWN. Andys place has running water, flush shitter, etc...its the bomb, better than any RV out made.

Co Pilot, Rammy and I were talking about the exact same thing this last weekend :D

For what we have into the motorhome we could buya pad out there. The only bummer is that you'd have to exo-cage the whole place cause of all the tweeker/thievs out there :(

Camo- been thru it all- I Pm'd you by the way.

first we did tents, motels etc.

Bought a 5'er and tandem towed, did a few trips, can be a handful, most small 5'ers are to light duty to be in the middle, need sway bars, tail waggin the dog, can't back up, real pain. I've got a lot of miles towing too so it's not newbie issues.

Bought an 8' 1600 lb slide in with shower etc great for two maybe 1 kid if you sleep in it and get out of her way (leave the camper) when she's "Gettin ready". They are just too small.

She would not drive it either, even with such a lightweight camper in my srw cummins dodge with camper package there just gets to be a gentle sway as you cruise, almost like a crusie ship pitching- she was always trying to correct rather than go with it- a nervous wreck. Towing with a big pu camper with an extended hitch is messy- too much leverage on the chassis- tail waggin the dog- anybody who tells you different does not know better- no offense.

The solution- I fabbed a subframe under a small aluminum framed 5'er, 17' deck out back with dovetail for the jeep and quad- the mess stays outside rather than in your living space. The 5'er is 22' in length (16' floor) so it's considerably roomier than any pickup camper. The fab work is nice, decked in steel diamond plate, does not look rednecky (i had the same concern). Huge storage bins where the 5er tires used to be, Aluminum ramps stored flush in the floor, two torsion axles. sleep six+, full bathroom, way lighter than the big toy boxes (Same tength as 40' toy box but 17' is outdoor deck- way cheaper too- more than $4k though).

It's for sale- why?? Because most places we go her friends are staying in the hotel.

:rolleyes: :rolleyes:

Lance has seen it i'm pretty sure so he'd know it's not hack, has about 15,000 miles going to comps so it's well tested. Tow's sweet.

my lance 11'6" camper was just too small-I could barely take a shower and the wife can't stand the idea of sitting on the toilet while showering-can't use the toilet without leaving the door open to put my leg out-and minimal storage.I am now going to buy a new fifth wheel 24-28 foot and tow doubles with the car trailer or boat not to mention you now have a vehicle to run into town without having to take or unload the camper. Much more for your $$$$$ with a fifth wheel

V6toy- find someone in your area who does this and hopefully go for a ride or better yet drive- it really is a pain and handles chitty- if you obey the CA 55 mph and don't see much cross wind you be ok. check legality too- some states will let you pass through on the interstate but that's about it. Just don't want to see you investing in something that disappoints.

Good luck.

Anybody who wants pics of my hauler can e-mail me at kblume@cox-internet.com

Ken Blume

Not to beat this to death- trying to save someone the headache.

I've looked at a lot of toy boxes and have good friends in the RV biz.

first many of them have low doors or are too narrow inside for todays growing trail rigs- they just plain won't fit inside.

Many are really designed to haul Harleys or dirtbikes/quads. The floors and ramp are not designed to hold the weight of a 4x4 and neither are the hold downs.

Many list their cargo carrying capacity as at or near 4k. This includes water in the tanks and all the other stuff you carry which adds up fast- not much room left for a rig. Also, many designs, even if you hauled a 4k rig and nothing else, and fell within the weight capacity, you are carrying the weight so far back you are falling out of the 15-20% hitchweight range and it will handle chitty and be real ugly in a panic stop.

If your going to spend the coin, look at all these issues and get one that will do the job and keep you and your family safe. some of the High end looking car haulers really don't cost much more and are made to haul rigs and be a camper.

Of course my rig is much cheaper and also addresses all those issues;)
Ken

Ken, if you were at the rock crawl that Rocket City put on, I heard about your setup from Steve Curet... he said it was a sweet looking way to go :)

Do you have any pictures of it? And what price are you asking for it btrw?

I'm asking 12k, unit is even in better shape than when Steve saw it. Shoot me an e-mail at kblume@cox-internet .com and I'll get you a pic. You can also call me for more info 479 636 4669

Ken

have someone post a pick for you here,sounds like what i want just short on cash right now...

Pic's are coming! You might check your local banks, shop around, I was able to get 7.5 or so last year when i bought it, spent cash on all the fab work etc.

Here ya go - nice setup!

http://www.tennessee4x4.com/toyota/images/fs/kblume-trailer-fs.JPG

for me there is four problems with that set up:

1 can't get a trailer that big in where I want to camp most of the time

2. doesn't allow for a boat instead of a wheeler

3. I don't have room to park 40 ft. plus in my backyard but could park two trailers side by side

4. what if you want to just go for the day and don't want to tow 40 ft.

V6toy,
I understand your concerns but...
1) Towing tandem is going to be longer and messier than towing any 40' trailer as far as getting in and out.
2) You've got me on the boat, though if you've ever seen how the pro bass guys do it it can be done. towing a light boat behind a 5er is all Id' ever consider again, (2500ish) and even then tandem's still a headache- you know how long you'll be with a 24-28' 5er and a 25 foot boat setup (Typical for a 20' boat)
3) Parking 24-28 foot is not that much simpler than 40- but yeah, its 12+ feet
4) same towing, a Big 5er is a big 5er, it's really not much difference.

If you do go tandem- make darn sure the 5er reciever is very well fabbed. The length from the trailer wheels to the rear hitch is considerable and the bumps in the road really get magnified by the length causing the tongue of the last trailer to get yanked around in an extreme fashion- tough on parts and welds- a lot of mid size 5er frames are pretty light and not really up to this type of load. You might ask the manufactures of these units- most will tell you hell no, void warranties etc- at best they'll tell you not to tow more than a jet ski. lots of rigs/ trailers are in the 5-7k range.

Not trying to slam your plans, I've just been there and I'm trying to help you go in eyes wide open. Good luck!:D

I know you are not slamming my plans I have been thinking about this for about two years now and if I didn't have the boat it would be a lot easier decision. I have actually thought of doing what you have but it just doesn't seem flexible enough if i want to just take the wheeler for the day or just go camping with no wheeler.

What would be perfect is a setup like yours where the fifth frame is tube steel and you could telescope and extended frame out the rear to support your rig or boat and have the axles slideable like big rig trailers then you have the best of both worlds but it would probably weigh too much?

i was checking that rig out in disney this past spring. that is a pretty slick set up. i know it's not for everyone but it works great. i have a 24' wells cargo trailer that is kick ass. party room if the weather goes to shit. and i am fixing to convert it into the kids bedroom when we go camping[ just a bunch of fold down cots]. so it will just be the wife and i in the cab over.

go2guy.

your rig is sweet. how much $ ?

Originally posted by Go2Guy
I'm asking 12k, unit is even in better shape than when Steve saw it. Shoot me an e-mail at kblume@cox-internet .com and I'll get you a pic. You can also call me for more info 479 636 4669

Ken

Damn camo, can't you read? Got glitter in your eye? :flipoff2:

GR1 -sounds like you'll be in good shape with the kids in the enclosed trailer.

Matt- thanks for educating Camo for me while I was out:D

Camo- good chance I'll take the rig to Farmington around either Thanksgiving or Christmas- I need to go get my Jeep. I could easily haul my "small" trailer on the flatbed on the way out- you could take the camper from there after I get the small trailer off.:D

doh.. got the glitter out. i will consider it. thanks

the wife and I have owned our Vacationeer 11.5 cabover for
about 9 years now. fully self contained, queen bed ontop, the
dinette coverts to a queen bed too. (but you can't get into the
bathroom then, so I made some shelves so the dinette can be
made into just a twin size)

the whole thing works great. two kids is good. three is getting
a bit much. (my two daughters sleep on the dinette, and the
oldest sleeps on the floor)

I've towed my boat with the camper loaded (tournament ski
boat) and the biggest load towed is my buddies cj7 on a
very heavy duty steel deck flatbed. (trailer weighs 3500 empty,
and the jeep prob around 5k.

it's a big load for a 1990 f-250 X-cab 7.3 diesel/auto trans.

we don't go fast up hill, but we still get there with decent
mileage.....

--next truck: F-550..... (for the brakes)

--Sherpa

Most of our races are weekend events. I've be thinking about this for some time. I bought a used camper for parts. Sink,stove fridg,etc. I was thinking of building a "box" on the front of the trailer with all of this in. I would have a full door on the back that lifts up. That would give you about a 7 foot high door that would open to a roof with posts. Then have a tent with snaps made to cover the rest of the trailer. When it's nice just let it open with the door/roof up. This would make the trailer a little tongue heavy but once the rig is on it would even out. I had a motor home but at some of the events you need a 4x4 to get your trailer and rig up the entrance roads. Rain is another story.

Just fork out the cash we all know you have and pick up this combo.http://www.rv-online.com/single-ad.asp?Recnumber=7314

Originally posted by rob
Just fork out the cash we all know you have and pick up this combo.http://www.rv-online.com/single-ad.asp?Recnumber=7314

That thing is SWEEET!!!! :bounce:


and $53.5K sounds like a deal too