Trailer Options

[J.Brower]

Figured you guys would have some advise/ideas on this.
Wife and I are kicking around the idea of getting a bumper pull trailer for a little summer time camping and mainly to stay in for out of town archery shoots rather than hotels. This way we can take our dogs without the worry of leaving them in a hotel, or finding someone to watch them while we are gone. Now for the debate... do we do a 20-25’ standard camp trailer, or do a 20’ v-nose enclosed cargo trailer that gives us the option to haul our camaro, but still offer somewhere to sleep. If we go the cargo trailer route, we would potentially miss out on the luxuries associated with an RV, shower, toilet etc. I would want to do a 20 gallon white water tank for a sink setup maybe outside, a cooktop again maybe outside, heat and a/c would be nice to have and maybe satellite tv? Has anyone gone this route and how did it work? Waste of time too much money? If we go the RV route we would end up needing to borrow a trailer and stay in a hotel or in a friends RV when we take the camaro places farther than we want to drive it. Not sure how feasible it is to end up with a multi-purpose trailer that is functional. The wife said she is over the air mattress on the ground so that tells me I need to do a legit bed/mattress which will take up a lot of space for the car. Too many sides to this to go through it all in my head. Any help would be great!
ETA will be towing this with a 2015 ecoboost f150, so can’t go the 30’ living quarters car hauler, and that would be a little extreme for camping trips without the car

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[Mudman]

It sounds like a truck camper and car trailer is best?

[HillHound]

 That’s what I was thinking. Some of those in the bed campers are pretty fancy. And they’re making them a lot lighter these days so you could probably find one with a decent amount of space that the 150 could haul as well as the car trailer. You might be going a little slow up the hills. Or if you just got a quarter million dollars laying around you could always just go to the diesel pusher route.  But man you see those guys driving those huge things down the road pulling a car trailer behind it they sure don’t look relaxed and on vacation behind the wheel.

[J.Brower]

It sounds like a truck camper and car trailer is best?

I thought about that route as well, but with a 5.5’ bed 1/2 ton I couldn’t find many campers that fit the bill. It is still an option if I can find the right one though.


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[J.Brower]

Also needing to keep this in the 6K range for the RV purchase, car trailer would be a separate fund


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[HillHound]

I can’t think of the brand right off the top of my head but I’ve seen quite a few guys with the pop-up style ones in there Toyota pick ups. Maybe someone on here has some experience with those and can let you know if it would be worth looking at those or if there are too many down sides to the pop-up designs

[Boss .300 winmag]

I’ve camped out of my 7x14’ enclosed utility trailer using two twin mattress, two motorcycles, back ramp open with a large sheet hung it from the top inside steal lip with construction magnets, it was sweet sleeping.😉

Plus all your camping gear with fit nicely, chairs, ice chests, etc.....

You could put a queen on its edge with straps keeping it steady easily.

Don’t waste your money on an RV.

[Boss .300 winmag]

Those portable showers that heat water work good from what I’ve read from others on hear, the money savings over RV, and the repairs of them is what would sell me.

I’ve owned an RV, something is always in need of repair, plus utility trailers hold their value better.

[Russ McDonald]

For 6K on a RV good luck finding anything decent.  If you had more money to soend I would gor a travel trailer.  Your right on the edge of towinf capacity for that F150 at 25 or 26' travel trailer.  Not so much with a utility trailer.  I thought a box camper would also be the way to go but you have to add the weight of the camper and then your tow trailer.  I think a utility trailer is the way to go.  I have seen some pretty nice setups.

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[Boss .300 winmag]

And the hauling options with a ramp are only limited by height, width, and weight as in ramp capacity. If it rolls it goes, riding lawn mowers, motorcycles, appliances, furniture, temp storage when remolding house/projects etc....

But stay away from that chipboard crap they call weather board, when the coating scraps off water will get in it.🤬

They tried selling me on it being weather board.🤣

[Mudman]

I dont think ya have the truck (F150?) to haul a Camaro, trailer and camper.  Toy hauler wont work with the camaro unless ya go huge.  Sounds like a 20ft Cargo with camp gear is best option.  Gonna be towing lot of weight though.

[Igor]

That’s what I was thinking. Some of those in the bed campers are pretty fancy. And they’re making them a lot lighter these days so you could probably find one with a decent amount of space that the 150 could haul as well as the car trailer. You might be going a little slow up the hills. Or if you just got a quarter million dollars laying around you could always just go to the diesel pusher route.  But man you see those guys driving those huge things down the road pulling a car trailer behind it they sure don’t look relaxed and on vacation behind the wheel.

In my experience, it isn't going "up the hills" you should be worried about with all of that weight.  It's going down the other side........................

[ctwiggs1]

I don’t know man.  It seems to me like in your budget you need to pick your priority and go with it.  If you want to have an RV, get an RV.  If the Camaro is the priority, focus on that and use your money for hotels.

Unlimited budget would be motor home and trailer or tow dolly for the car. Plenty of motor homes towing cars behind them.  What you’re likely going to get within your budget will probably be cost prohibitive to use due to the amount of maintenance you’re likely to see.  RVs start to die the minute they go off the lot.

[J.Brower]

The 6k budget was a ballpark, and just for a trailer/camper. If the enclosed conversion is the way we go we are aware of the work/costs of outfitting it for RV type use. I am also aware of the giant PIA RV trailers can be and the never ending (it seems) issues that come with them. The car isn’t going to be the main use, maybe 2X a year. Mostly will be Archery shoots, recreational camping and possibly a couple hunting trips here and there. For ease of maintenance I am leaning enclosed cargo conversion, but the other side of the brain says RV trailer and deal with issues as they arise.


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[follow maggie]

The rv route will save time & get you something you can use right away and be comfortable, but at $6k, it's going to be an older one. I don't know where you're at, but go east of the mountains to buy it. If you take care of it, it can last a long time. Converting a cargo trailer will be cheaper on the front end, but by the time you get it all kited out, the total cost may not save much, but you can make it exactly what you want for how you use it. It's a lot of work, and if you don't have those skills, it'll look like ass. Installing holding tanks for waste water can be a big hassle to get mounted, or take up space inside you could otherwise use for cargo/living amenities.

Just a couple random thoughts from me.

[bear]

There aren’t many cargo trailers you can get for $6k

[TVHunts]

https://www.smartrvguide.com/L46139003

I had one of these from Pace American,  it was great set up. You have a bathroom/shower combo just like a truck camper and it is small.  Kitchen and fridge are very small. I bought mine for $6800 and sold it for the same price 3 years later. 

Deals are out there if you have patience and are willing to drive a ways to pick it up.

[follow maggie]

There aren’t many cargo trailers you can get for $6k

There are a ton of new cargo trailers you can buy for about $6k. Include used ones and there a lot more.

[J.Brower]

There aren’t many cargo trailers you can get for $6k

There are a ton of new cargo trailers you can buy for about $6k. Include used ones and there a lot more.

Finding a cargo trailer within the budget doesn’t seem to be an issue. I’ve also been finding some decent, but older (2005ish) RV trailers for under 6k. I’m not looking for new and fancy, just something solid that doesn’t need major repairs out of the gate.


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[Boss .300 winmag]

The best time to look at cargo trailers is when it’s pouring down rain, if they have a leak you’ll see it. Even brand new ones sometimes have leaks, I was in a new one checking it out and the first thing I saw was a leak when I stepped up in it.🤯

Needless to say I didn’t buy a Pace, obviously their quality control was lacking.😉

I bought mine from these guys, and would buy again from them.👍

http://bulldogtrailers.com/trailers/cargo-trailers/?inventory_page=1&status=0&status_all=0&status_label=Status&sort_label=Sort+By&categories=0&button=Search&search_label=Search+For&sortby=inventory_number&sortdir=&inventory_sort_by=inventory_number&inventory_category_id=1&inventory_status=

I did a lot of research on the net, tire kicking, Craiglisting, etc... knew what I wanted before I got on there lot, no high pressure sales from them. Of course it’s the type of equipment people buy because they have a need for it as in work, hauling stuff regularly that rentals don’t make sense for.

Basically they sell themselves in a way.😉

PM me your number and time if you want to talk.👍

[NOCK NOCK]

I have both a toyhauler and converted cargo.  The real question to ask yourself (the wife  ) is if you want fancy comfort, or just comfort. The bathroom area is by far the biggest difference.
I would sell our toyhauler in an instant and just use the cargo.  The Mrs is polar opposite on that idea....because of the bathroom. 

[baker5150]

This may seam like kind of a messed up way of thinking right now, but with all this COVID19 crap, I bet guys start dumping "toys" really quick to eliminate payments.
There may be some deals to be had if your a cash buyer and have some patience.

I would kinda feel like a scum bag taking advantage of a situation like this, but it may also help someone out who isn't getting a full paycheck right now and needs to free up capitol. 

I think it's going to be a buyer market here for the next couple months.

[jackelope]

People are putting Lance 650's in the short bed Ford trucks. They seem heavy to me but they are pretty popular. I'd think that would be a much better way to go than camping in a car hauler.
1700 pounds dry. I'd probably put some airbags under the truck.
https://www.lancecamper.com/truck-campers/650/gallery/

 

[Mark Brenckle]

I have both a toyhauler and converted cargo.  The real question to ask yourself (the wife  ) is if you want fancy comfort, or just comfort. The bathroom area is by far the biggest difference.
I would sell our toyhauler in an instant and just use the cargo.  The Mrs is polar opposite on that idea....because of the bathroom. 

https://rvlife.com/waterless-rv-toilets/

[hiway_99]

One thing to think a out if you go the enclosed trailer route with the Camaro is parking at a camp site.  Shouldnt be that big of a deal but something to think about.

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[J.Brower]

People are putting Lance 650's in the short bed Ford trucks. They seem heavy to me but they are pretty popular. I'd think that would be a much better way to go than camping in a car hauler.
1700 pounds dry. I'd probably put some airbags under the truck.
https://www.lancecamper.com/truck-campers/650/gallery/

 

I looked at those, finding a used one (refuse to pay for a new RV) and one in the allotted budget is looking impossible.

NOCK NOCK, could you post some pics of your enclosed conversion? She isn’t super worried about the luxury side of it, mainly just a place to sleep/get out of the weather


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[NOCK NOCK]

pics are posted on here somewhere....I can never find the thread when I want to though. i'll look around for them and post em if I can find em.