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Pickups Pickups - Archived Discussions Cabover Campers & Camper Trailers (pickups) 
1377 messages, Last post on Nov 20, 2003 at 1:43 PM
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| If you like the explorer then I would recommend jumping up to an Expedition. If you get the 5.4 with the 3.73 rear end and the tow package you will not have any problems at all, the only downfall is that you will probably get 15mpg not towing and around 11-12mpg towing. If fuel mileage is that big of a concern then the only option is to go with a crew cab diesel but the money you save on fuel will be thrown out the window up front (along with a few thousand extra $'s) due to the added cost of a crew cab diesel over an Expedition. | |
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That is a fairly heavy trailer, nothing will tow it like it isn't there. You will need to drive differently than you do without the trailer. Mileage will suffer in any case. My dad pulls a 6000# trailer with a 5.3 Silverado. He gets 20+ empty and about 10mpg with the trailer in tow. Expect about the same with your trailer. Automatics are preferred for towing. Much easier to manage, get rolling, maneuver for parking, etc. While I prefer a manual trans, I can understand an automatic for towing. An extended cab pickup may fill the bill for you. But, expect it to be significantly slower with the trailer and to get about 10mpg. Mike L |
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I pull my new 28' travel trailer (weighing in at 6600 gvw) with my 2000 3/4 ton 2wd Silverado Ext Cab. It has a 7200 GVW for trailer towing. I have the 5.3 w/auto trans. 3.73 locking rear differential and get 15-16 mpg at best empty and 9-10 mpg towing. Plenty of towing power and room for the kids or whatever with the extended cab. As Mike said move up to an Excursion or try a Yukon from GM if you don't want to go the pick-up route. The Explorers are not meant to handle this kind of wieght. Ray T. |
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| Ok I found the specifics as far as wight goes. It's 4.127 lbs unloaded and a maximum of 6,020 loaded.. WE hadn't really decided whether a SUV such as excursion, yukon or a pickup is the answer from the sounds of it if we want 4 drs then the larger suv is the way to go unless we want to drive a "truck" for everyday use. Are there any preferences on which would be the best and have the most get up and go such as you can have with all the lbs being pulled?? As far as gas mileage goes, at best we only get about 16 with our explorer empty. Are sway bars recommended with any vehicle and what about the air shocks? Like I said we are really new to this travel trailer thing. | |
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Check with your insurance company - you may find the SUV has significantly higher insurance costs - and that may help you decide. The SUV will have a more carlike ride, but the pickup may handle the load of the trailer better. Air Bags (not airshocks) would help the SUV handle the trailer. The advantage of airbags is you can pump them up when needed and lower the air pressure when the trailer is at home. And you can still choose the shocks you want. Air shocks put a static load on the shock mounts that were not designed to carry weight. Good luck, Mike L |
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Have you taken a closer look at these larger SUV's ? they are actually built on a truck chassis. So to think your not driving a truck because it's an Excursion, Tahoe or Yukon is a misnomer. The combination I have would serve you well or go for the quad cab (4 dr.)set-up now available with a shortened bed for cargo. The length is going to be very close when compared to the SUV's you'd need to tow with, gas mileage will not be oustanding no matter what choice you make. Ray T. |
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I am the new proud owner of a six-pac hard side truck camper on my ford ranger. What tricks, helpful hints, etc are out there about loading, unloading, or storage? BTW the ranger seemed to handle the #1000 payload. I've been following the various discussion on this thread with interest. |
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Congrats, I just got my T100S just before Christmas. I have a Dodge Dakota Quadcab with a V8. I like the camper alot. We put A/C and a few other options. I built a new table becuase the other one was to big and added a under cabinet toaster oven next to the vent fan. Lots of projects done and more on the way. Good luck. Robert |
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Sorry, I forgot some of your questions. Not sure which refrigerator you have but if it is the small one, just above it where the outside light switch, waterpump switch and the battery meter is, is wasted space. Cut it out and make storage out of it. Where the heater thermostat is mounted next to the seat is also wasted space. Change the thermostat out to a digital and add a small 12v fan so you can keep air curculating when the heater turns off, you will be much more comfortable. The dumb sink drain cap outside, replace it. Go to Camping World, they have a cap that fits it and it changes it to a garden hose fitting. Run the hose to a small jug on the ground or placed in the bed when the camper is still loaded, that way you can always use your sink. I mounted a lighted ac switch to control the converter/charger. I dont always want it on so now it is switched. All of my switches have been replaced with lighted ones so I can see what I have left on and they dont really draw anything to worry about from the battery (dc switches at least) I dont have any loading/unloading ideas as I have only done it once so far. Let me know how your doing and if you come up with anything, let me know. Robert |
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henne, Thanks for your reply. I'll have to talk to my wife before I start cutting holes. I noticed when I was lowering my camper that the back legs would alternate touching the ground when lowering either the front or back supports. I guess that means I could lower one of the backs all the way but that would leave it ready to teeter and I feel better if it didn't move too far. I am also concerned that if it is leaning too far that there would be too much strain on the supports. I also worry about lowering each leg too far would rack the supports and I don't know how much they will take, although #1050 is a light weight. Also how high do you lift the camper to slide the truck in and out? Probably high enough to allow one to disconnect the electrical outlet, rather than pull forward enough to expose it. If you unload the camper on a slight slope, will the legs take the strain? How do you line up the camper? the clearances are rather small. My wife and I are considering putting the camper on wheels so we could push it into more perfect position as well as into the garage between trips. |
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