Post Your Camper

[notjeep]

Glad I found this link. I have an 05 V6 4x4, and pull a Dutchman 1204 12' pop-up. I have a 3 inch lift, and 32" tires on stock wheels. I have installed a cold-air kit, and a TRD cat-back exhaust. I live in Arizona, and I have to travel up the mountains most every time I want to camp. With everything loaded, my truck struggles pretty much all the time. From the time I drop it on the hitch, OD is off, or its 60mph on the flat highways. With OD off, it tows ok, but as soon as I point it up a hill, it's workin really hard. I can't just sell it and get a V8, nor can I afford a supercharger. 99% of the time, its the wifes familymobile. On camping weekends it the TV. I'm trying to see what options are out there to help this thing up the hills. Any medium hill, I'm at 3500 rpm, buzzin in 3rd with the AC off. Any STEEP hill, I'm in 2nd gear. Is this what all of you guys are doing too? Going up the hills stresses me out cuz I feel like Im wringin its neck to maintain any speed. Now, Im climbing from 1500 to 7-8000 feet, so it's pretty steep. I was thinking a gear change may help offset the tire size change, and help with the hills. Anyone have any mods that work for them? Performance chip... gear change... turbo? lol

 

[notjeep]

BTW - does hitch weight affect towing? How do you change it? Mine sits heavy on the hitch. I try to load the weight to the back of the PU, but it just seems as the axle is too far back to make a difference. Thanks

 

[fun_runner]

BTW - does hitch weight affect towing? How do you change it? Mine sits heavy on the hitch. I try to load the weight to the back of the PU, but it just seems as the axle is too far back to make a difference. Thanks

Do you know how much that pop-up weighs? Or how much weight is actually on the hitch? If all you need to do is level the TV out some with the camper hooked up, I'd get a set of air springs in the back.
I pull a 3500lb camper with my '97 w/ 3.4 and a 5spd and really dont have much trouble pullin a hill in 4th at 60mph on some relatively steep hills. I'm only at about 500ft above sea level which I know helps greatly. Re-gearing might be your next step to keep the engine in its power band when towing. The only thing keeping me from a lift and bigger tires is the fact that it'll take away valuable power needed to tow without putting in new gears to compensate for the bigger tires.

 

[TechWrench]

BTW - does hitch weight affect towing? How do you change it? Mine sits heavy on the hitch. I try to load the weight to the back of the PU, but it just seems as the axle is too far back to make a difference. Thanks

The general rule of thumb I have read about indicates that the hitch weight(actually amount of weight the tongue of the trailer places on the tow vehicle's hitch) should be between 10-15% of the total weight of the trailer. Having too much tongue weight will cause the rear of the tow vehicle to sag, and may exceed the tow vehicles tow ratings. Too little tongue weight can contribute to sway problems. The only way to tell for sure is going to a set of certified scales for proper measurements. If the tongue weight is within the specs for the trailer, and not too much for the hitch rating, and the rear of the tow vehicle is riding too low, then you may need heavier springs or air bags for the tow vehicle.

 

[Qjake]

Thanks! The folks we purchased it from in Missouri in 2009 really did a fine job of caring for it. The inside was very clean considering it's a 41 year old trailer that has been toted down the road a bunch. It has been used and loved. It's pretty cool. Doesn't get much better than that IMO. :cheers:

Here's a vid that was playing at the RV show, not sure about the older Airstreams but makes their newer campers look ever better. Gotta keep the family safe eh. :boink:

:lookout:

PS. Gotta love hauling around your camper in a Porsche :biggrin2:

 

[Titanpat57]

Homemade off road trailer...

Started as this....

and ended as this.... sleeps two in the rooftoop tent and two inside.

Drop down kitchen of the side, 30 gals of water, porta potty and hot water heater, used with a shower tent. 2500lbs loaded

 

[stanleybb50]

Homemade off road trailer...

Started as this....

and ended as this.... sleeps two in the rooftoop tent and two inside.

Drop down kitchen of the side, 30 gals of water, porta potty and hot water heater, used with a shower tent. 2500lbs loaded

Wow - that's actually incredible. Good work.


- Sent via Tapatalk for Android

 

[pickerdd]

Homemade off road trailer...

Started as this....
<snip>

That is seriously cool!!

 

[Titanpat57]

Thank you guys!

Here's the inside..almost done, hopefully this weekend!

I insulated with 1" foam, covered that with lightweight knotty pine....just need some trim at the seams

There's a plywood frame that lays across and supports a queen size mattress...sleep in there a week or so ago for 4 nights and loved it!

 

[68dave]

My 2003 gulfstream.

 

[Morals]

12' Flagstaff by Forest River.

Going camping tomorrow for Easter weekend! I have bike rack on top now though to haul the family rigs.

 

[Koz]

Thank you guys!

Here's the inside..almost done, hopefully this weekend!

I insulated with 1" foam, covered that with lightweight knotty pine....just need some trim at the seams

There's a plywood frame that lays across and supports a queen size mattress...sleep in there a week or so ago for 4 nights and loved it!

How much does it weigh?

Koz

 

[Titanpat57]

How much does it weigh?

Koz

About 2600# with 31 gal. of water, and two very large 6V batteries.

The inside still has a bit of trim to do and a couple of coats of poly...but I just want to go camping!



The water tank and batteries live up front.....gives about 350 lbs of tongue weight.


Tows great.

 

[Koz]

Check this out!

Toyota Prius camper conversion unveiled at Tokyo Auto Salon | Car Advice

Koz

 

[TechWrench]

Check this out!

Toyota Prius camper conversion unveiled at Tokyo Auto Salon | Car Advice

Koz

Sorry, but IMHO, that is FUGLY. With the light weight of the base Prius, I wonder how it would do in a stiff cross-wind. Might just take off, like the Flying Nun...........

 

[fun_runner]

12' Flagstaff by Forest River.

Going camping tomorrow for Easter weekend! I have bike rack on top now though to haul the family rigs.

I'm kinda jealous. I wish I could have gone camping over Easter. Still a little chilly up here. My camper is still winterized . . . at least for a few more days. First trip of the year is next weekend.

 

[36bound]

Our popup camper is called an Aliner. This particular model is referred to as, "the classic". Ours has the optional "off road" package which provides a heavy duty axle, larger tires and substantially more ground clearance. The empty weight is 1,650#s; standard tongue weight is about 175#s. Loaded with enough gear for a 2 week trip it weighs 2,300#s and the tongue weight jumps to about 230#s (I know this for certain as we just had it weighed on a certified scale).

What's particularly nice- and unique - about the Aliner is that it sets up and comes down in LESS than one minute. And it can be set up without having to detach it from the tow vehicle. So drive until you're tired; park wherever; and in less than one minute, you're "camping" or tailgaiting or sleeeping, etc. As an outdoorsman I particularly appreciate that I can arrive at a destination after dark, and in literally a minute or less, be set up for the night. And on Sunday afternoons when I'm out hunting, I don't need to worry about heading back to the camper earlier than I'd like to, just to allow time to break camp. Really, a cool little unit that is PERFECT for towing with a V-6 engine.

This one is set up with an inside/outside stove; outside hot/cold "shower"; inside sink with hot/cold water; fridge; freezer; microwave, air conditioner, sofa that pulls out into a queen size bed; and a table/sitting area that converts into a full size bed. It's large enough inside for two adults and two kids or a couple of hunting dogs.

 

[brockeverly]

Glad I found this link. I have an 05 V6 4x4, and pull a Dutchman 1204 12' pop-up. I have a 3 inch lift, and 32" tires on stock wheels. I have installed a cold-air kit, and a TRD cat-back exhaust. I live in Arizona, and I have to travel up the mountains most every time I want to camp. With everything loaded, my truck struggles pretty much all the time. From the time I drop it on the hitch, OD is off, or its 60mph on the flat highways. With OD off, it tows ok, but as soon as I point it up a hill, it's workin really hard. I can't just sell it and get a V8, nor can I afford a supercharger. 99% of the time, its the wifes familymobile. On camping weekends it the TV. I'm trying to see what options are out there to help this thing up the hills. Any medium hill, I'm at 3500 rpm, buzzin in 3rd with the AC off. Any STEEP hill, I'm in 2nd gear. Is this what all of you guys are doing too? Going up the hills stresses me out cuz I feel like Im wringin its neck to maintain any speed. Now, Im climbing from 1500 to 7-8000 feet, so it's pretty steep. I was thinking a gear change may help offset the tire size change, and help with the hills. Anyone have any mods that work for them? Performance chip... gear change... turbo? lol

I told you how to fix this buddy! LOL

 

[brockeverly]

Here is my babies

Trailer is a 2011 Coleman Santa Fe Cp with a 5" lift. Weighs in at around 3000#. Tows just fine regardless of the scenario. A lot of higher RPMs, but from 12% highway grades to axle deep mud for ten miles from a boondock site I have never had a problem.

 

[Qjake]

Brock,

How was the lift achieved on your camper? Just curious as I have a utility
trailer that rides a bit low for my liking and was going to use blocks.

TIA

Q