Post Your Camper

[Dusty Driftwood]

I'm in the market for a towable camper. I've been thinking pop-up, but also interested in the hybrids and hard walls (to a lesser extent). Lets get a look at what you're using to get away from it all and enjoy some R&R. And, as someone that is shopping for the right camper, please include some specs on weight, age, likes, dislikes and maybe even purchase price.
Thanks

 

[Qjake]

I'm also in the market for a lite weight camper, would prefer hard wall tho. KZ, Cruiser RV and LivinLite RV all make 16-18 foot hardwalls that are under 4k GVWR. Anyone have/are familiar with these brands, opinions plz.

 

[chenmy]

I'm in the market for a towable camper.

 

[gptoy96]

Hey guys, I don't venture out of the 4th gen section much so didn't see this thread sitting here.

I just bought my first trailer this past summer, an 08 Jayco Jayfeather 197. I knew my truck could pull 7000lbs, but being a first time tower I wanted to keep well below that capacity as anything heavier made me nervous, both for towing and for killing my truck. Mine dry is ~3200lbs, 4200lbs loaded. The T4R tows it like a champ, although I have no experience to compare against I've never felt uncomfortable nor felt as though I was abusing my truck to pull it around.

In my area bears are fairly common so that kept me away from pop ups or hybrids as I felt just as safe in those as a tent. Mine has a front U dinette, and back jack/jill bunks. My wife and I sleep on the bottom and my 2 girls share the top bunk (they're still fairly young/small). It's worked well for us our first few trips. Until we got the trailer my wife wouldn't camp, now she has her own "home" and she's much more comfortable. (We once all 4 camped in the back of my tacoma under the cap-wow was that cramped!).

As with vehicles, I'm not one to buy new, depreciation doesn't make sense to me so we found this 08 that was in brand new condition, looks like it just rolled out the show room and we got it for at least $10K below a new one's sticker.

Anyways, if you have any questions about it feel free to ask.

 

[brockeverly]

I love my pop up camper. Tows great, mileage barely decreases, and feels like "camping".

 

[Koz]

My Trailmanor SL2720.

 

[giguchan]

here's my old skool both trailer and runner...

 

[fun_runner]

I have a 2009 Fun Finder X189 with a slide out.
Dry weight is 3000lbs with about 260lbs on the hitch
Used to pull it with my 96 with a 2.7L, 5spd. I was surprised how well it actually did. Never got into any major hills with it but even on a decent grade I'd stay above 50-55mpph

Now I pull it with my 97 with the 3.4L and a 5spd. And, as expected, it pulls the camper even better. Both Runners had/have Air Lift 1000 air bags inside the rear coils so it sits perfectly level.

One thing I've noticed is that having the tandem axle setup seems to make the camper pull better/straighter going down the road. Better weight balance, less bounce compared to a single axle trailer.

I had the vinyl graphics changed from the red, like every other Fun Finder, to green with some glow-in-the-dark

 

[giguchan]

Fun,
I have been looking for a new TT... for some reason my runner is not very happy when towing anything... i have been thinking of an older sequioa somthing with some balls.... i do like to camp...
thanks for the inspiration

 

[fun_runner]

Why isnt your 4runner happy when towing? Tryin to pull too much?

 

[Dusty Driftwood]

Cool campers, keep em coming!

 

[combatmedic]

 

[giguchan]

Why isnt your 4runner happy when towing? Tryin to pull too much?

Hey Fun,
Thanks for the reply... I'm not totally sure why... It just seems that i cannot get out of my own way when on the road.. I tow a jet ski- 1200 lbs and my P/U you have seen it.I think less than 2000 lbs not really sure.. I never tow with water. or a big load... I must admit that the truck tows better with the P/U than it does the Jetski.. I think it might have something to do the weight on the tongue or something like that.. I also have the K/N installed and the Toyota exhaust... just makes it sound louder and more laboring.. i guess... I should also mention that i have new bigger tires on the truck which i'm sure did not help anything.

My Runner is supposed to be able to handle things like this with ease.. I keep thinking that i might need a V8 or something with a lot more power. I have been searching after a sequoia but ihave not pulled trigger on one yet. i'll post pictures with the new bigger tires shortly

 

[Koz]

My Trailmanor SL2720.

BTW - This trailer weighs 2850 lbs.

Koz

 

[giguchan]

ok a few more.... same truck, same trailer same camping park- but.. wait for it..... diffrent spot!

 

[gptoy96]

Fun,
I have been looking for a new TT... for some reason my runner is not very happy when towing anything... i have been thinking of an older sequioa somthing with some balls.... i do like to camp...
thanks for the inspiration

In the theme of T4R, have you thought about a v8 Runner instead? Both are fantastic vehicles mind you, but the 4Runner has a few hundred pound advantage on towing capacity than the Sequoia (for curiousity I randomly compared 2005 models- 6200lbs Sequoia, 7000lbs 4Runner (4WD)). Probably because of the Sequoia's extra size/weight even though they have the same motor. Unless you're thinking the current gen Sequoia with the 5.7L, then obviously it's a different story.

 

[giguchan]

In the theme of T4R, have you thought about a v8 Runner instead? Both are fantastic vehicles mind you, but the 4Runner has a few hundred pound advantage on towing capacity than the Sequoia (for curiousity I randomly compared 2005 models- 6200lbs Sequoia, 7000lbs 4Runner (4WD)). Probably because of the Sequoia's extra size/weight even though they have the same motor. Unless you're thinking the current gen Sequoia with the 5.7L, then obviously it's a different story.

Hey there..
To be totally Honest with you I never the V8 runner a thought. I know that the V8 runner is supposed to be a fine truck with lots of HP.Can you imagine small truck like the runner with a whopping V8? The thing is that i was also looking for some extra room too with a Sequoia i could yank out the 3rd seat and have some extra cargo space. The main thing is that i would like to be able to go up to a smaller Travel Trailer or bass boat without having to worry about towing...weight or melting anything.. the prices on the Seq's seem to have stabilized but have big mileage.... if i could find one of those i'd be happy.. I would also like one of the 5.7's but that might be- what you said a diffrent story.

 

[TechWrench]

Here is my rig

I, as my sig lists, am pulling a '91 Coachmen Catalina which I use primarily for the hunting season at a friends property here in NY.

 

[giguchan]

Hey,
I dont think i would try to pull that, to me looks like a big TT. for whatever reason MY runner does not like heavy loads.... I'd have to do some Math but i'll bet it might be close to MY limit. Are you off of 17 somewhere? thats where i hunt. I did not get up but only a few times this season. I hunted on Long Island the Majority of the time.I have a buddy who lives up by sharon springs/Burlington flats area good hunting there too. who know maybe the old 97's are a diffrent breed of Motor that the later Models. good thing you have a Transmission cooler i had one installed to at the dealer.

Looks COMFY though... thanks for posting..

 

[TechWrench]

Hey,
I dont think i would try to pull that, to me looks like a big TT. for whatever reason MY runner does not like heavy loads.... I'd have to do some Math but i'll bet it might be close to MY limit. Are you off of 17 somewhere? thats where i hunt. I did not get up but only a few times this season. I hunted on Long Island the Majority of the time.I have a buddy who lives up by sharon springs/Burlington flats area good hunting there too. who know maybe the old 97's are a diffrent breed of Motor that the later Models. good thing you have a Transmission cooler i had one installed to at the dealer.

Looks COMFY though... thanks for posting..

It looks big, but it suits my needs. I don't think your rig would be able to pull it. I don't know too much about the 3rd gens, but I think you have the 3.0 motor, which is not quite the same as the 4.0 V6 I have. I have added the trans cooler, and upgraded the hitch to a WD system with an Equalizer hitch, so technically I am rated at 6,300 lbs. My TT weights in at 5,300 fully loaded, and I definately know it is back there. With my V6, I wouldn't attempt Pikes Peak, but it gets me where I need to go. I am not looking to get anywhere in a hurry when I tow it, just get there. With my setup, I don't have a problem with sway, and I take it easy so as not to put too much strain my 4Runner. I live just outside Schenectady and hunt near Middleburg in Schoharie county, so I have about a 45 mile trip each way. I can maintain 65 on the level, and use 2nd for heavy hills. It also helps that I have been towing for many years, and the experience, IMHO, helps when towing heavy loads.