Blasphemy! Considering a travel trailer?
#1
Posted 17 August 2011 - 09:14 PM
It has been a busy year and I haven't been very active around here. Lots has transpired including the purchase of a 2007 Tundra which handles my totally remodeled 89' fleet like a dream. However the PITA of getting the camper on and off and managing it at my house is getting to me along with a few other issues. With the height of the new truck it is hard to get in an out and hard for the dog, could get some scissor steps to fix that. I live on a hill which has made it dangerous and impossible to load and unload the camper safely at home so instead of paying storage fees I store the FWC on a flat bed trailer and tow it a few miles from the house to a flat parking lot, load it there, head home and park the trailer before heading out for the trip.
We have also found that when we take the camper deeper into the backcountry, due to our limited time lines we spend the bulk of our time driving or in the camper and not enjoying the outdoor activities and explorations that we love, so we have more often lately been using the camper as base camp in more of a front country or not so deep back country capacity to go launch our adventures.
This has all led me to the point of considering a travel trailer, blashphemy I know, but take heart I am not considering a 30ft living room on wheels. I am thinking of something in the 16ft range like a casita, scamp, MPG, livin lite or even an old air stream Bambi or globe trotter. The Livin Lite's have an off road package with higher clearance that you could take to a few deeper places and for anything more hard core we could just go old school in the back of the truck with the camper shell. What is really attracting me to this is the ease of hooking it up and going but more importantly the ease of dropping it at my destination as a base camp and still having mobility without having to break camp every day. A Big plus would be room for all of our toys on the truck like whitewater rafts, paddle boards, kayaks etc...
Now I know the general consensus here will be to keep the FWC but I'd like to hear from some people who have had both or gone form one to the other and maybe here some things I am not considering with the travel trailer option. Again these are under 3,000 lbs and in most cases under 2,000 lbs 16 foot trailers so fuel economy and wear and tear on the truck are not a huge concern to me.
Ok, thanks in advance for the advice!
Rich
#2
Posted 17 August 2011 - 09:19 PM
#3
Posted 17 August 2011 - 09:51 PM
2010 Ford F250 4X4; 6.4 Powerstroke Diesel; Warn 16.5 winch; Airlift Springs; Transfer Flow 47 gal. fuel tank, BDS 4" lift kit, BDS dual steering stabilizer with upgraded Fox 2.0 shocks, Toyo 35X12.50X18 Open Country M/T tires, Pro Comp wheels; 2008 FWC Hawk Camper; 2000 Toyota Tundra.
#4
Posted 17 August 2011 - 10:02 PM
My name is Paul and I live here in the midwest. I started out with a 30 foot class C motorhome. It was me, the wife two kids and the pooch. We did that for 4 years. Got tired of paying car insurance 12 months and using it 4 months. Went to a Travel trailer 23 feet long. It was nice but backing up was a chore and took alot of time. Kept it only one year. Then I got a brain storm for a 4 season truck camper with all the toys. It was awesome, we all fit really good with A/C and a shower! The best thing was remote control electric jacks. Easy off the truck down and up. The bad thing about the midwest is the sun beating on the camper. I got the idea to get the FWC Grandby, nice and lite 800" compare to 2400" 4 season. Not so easy to take off truck. The first time using the battery drill I thought boy are you stupid for buying this camper. The nice thing about the FWC is I store it on a dolly in my garage out of the weather. Thats where it has been since last summer. You said it your camper is hard to load and unload because of the hill at your house. I wouldn't feel safe parking a travel trailer on a hill. I can not tell you to keep the FWC or get a travel trailer that is up to you and your better half. The only thing I would suggest is rent a trailer for a week and give it a try. Try and back it next to your house on the hill! I hope this helps, sorry to be long winded.
Paul Vollmer
#5
Posted 18 August 2011 - 12:07 AM
I think you would be happy either way as long as you still get out.
#6
Posted 18 August 2011 - 12:27 AM
I think a very practical small setup that would still be manuverable and be able to take stuff would be a pop up truck camper with a small, 12-14' trailer/mini toy hauler with a bathroom/shower in the front. you would then have room in the back for dirt bikes, kayaks, other toys, camp chairs, tools,etc. and not have everything packed onto the truck.
2003 Ford f150 supercrew
1998 Ford E350 van
2012 yz250
#7
Posted 18 August 2011 - 12:49 AM
www.KuenzliPhotography.com
2012 Four Wheel Camper - The FWC Build
"If life was fair, Utah would be closer to home" DD
#8
Posted 18 August 2011 - 02:31 AM
Craig K6JGV_________________________ 2004 2500 CTD 4X4 FWC HAWK 1960 CJ5
#9
Posted 18 August 2011 - 05:40 AM
I realize this may not be an option for everyone, but wanted to share our experience and how we resolved the tradeoffs.
Good Luck,
TK
#10
Posted 18 August 2011 - 06:53 AM
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