Question:
A friend of mine lives in Northern Idaho on a couple of acres, does computer
repair, has a 3/4 ton truck, and knows I full-timed in a class A for a few
years. With spring/summer coming up, he had asked me about buying a used RV
for travel and camping. Since he already has a truck, doesn't need an extra
insurance bill, and has plenty of space to store whatever isn't being used,
we talked a bit about truck campers or travel trailers instead.
Unfortunately, I don't know zip about them, but figured you people might. He
likes dirt biking and fishing (well drowning worms, he's a sick puppy). The
TT sounded good since he could put the dirt bike in the back of the truck
and hook the trailer up for weekends, but sometimes he does onsite service,
drives back roads, and would like to pull over and wet a line, and cook up
whatever he catches. In those instances, having a camper on the back of his
truck sounded like a better idea, (and having a stove/fridge with food to
eat in case he doesn't catch anything). His worry about that, was that it
sits in the back, and he'd lose the area to carry his dirtbike.
Do they make any sort of carrier for a lightweight dirtbike (under 300 LBS)
that goes on the front or back of the truck. Do campers in the back of the
truck, with the overhang, still allow access to the hitch? Can he hang that
much weight on the back, or should he consider pulling a small trailer when
he wants to use the dirtbike? Is there a better way, that we hadn't thought
of, but that you folks can suggest? Any ideas?
Answer:
-Couple of questions from somebody who just sold a Lance camper after
using it for several years on three different trucks.
. Specifically what truck and how old. I bought the Lance and put it
on a 1984 3/4 Ford F250. Not enough truck for even the camper. I was
overloaded and swayed down the road with only minimal control. Then I
got a 95 F350 Power Stroke dually crew cab. Plenty of power, plenty of
control. I put a solid steel extension out the back of the receiver
hitch and could pull a four horse trailer with no problem. I have seen
3/4 ton Chevrolets with the bigger lance on them pulling a trailer, but
there doesn't seem to be a lot of rubber on the road for that.
. Is he traveling alone? If so, then the truck camper will work. It
takes a special relationship to live for more than a couple of days in a
truck camper. It can be done, but it is cozy.
In short - I recommend the truck campers, but only if your truck can
really handle it.
-He has a 2001 F250SD (it's on lease thru work, lease is up in May, so he
could go for a 350 when he gets a new vehicle). That's what he worries
about, some of the campers are lighter/some heavier, and what about the
extra weight of the bike or trailer. Will a 350 be enuf. What about dualies?
As for alone? Yes, he got freed (errr.. separated last week, actually he
used to hunt and fish, until his wife took his shotgun and aimed it at his
head).
Actually, he liked the idea of an extension, at least for work (and
building), that way he can pull a small trailer for deliveries or to haul
building stuff.
So, a 350 dually, and an extension for a trailer hitch, sounds like a better
idea? He's not to hot on the diesel idea (the dirt bike is gas, and he likes
the idea of siphoning gas out of the tank when he is out biking, not to
mention it gets very cold in northern Idaho during the winter and he is
afraid of starting/cold/short drives).
