Edmunds.com | Inside Line | Auto Observer Your Account | Help | Directory
You are here:
![[F]](http://a332.g.akamai.net/f/332/936/12h/www.edmunds.com/media/townhall/webxicons/site.gif){kind=small}
Forums
Pickups Pickups - Archived Discussions Cabover Campers & Camper Trailers (pickups) 
1377 messages, Last post on Nov 20, 2003 at 1:43 PM
You are in the Pickups - Archived Discussions Forum. Your Host is kcram
This discussion is ARCHIVED. To reactivate the discussion, post a request in the Lost? Ask the Pickups Host for directions! discussion.
In addition to this subject, some of you may also be interested in
Pickup Bed Caps and Pickup Truck Accessories.
Post your messages about Cabover Campers & Camper Trailers below. Happy Motoring!
| A friend of mine knows all the trails in Little Basin. I could give you his email if you are intrested in going again. | |
|
I've almost finished the installation of the AirLift compressor on my 2500. Mounted the compressor on a 1/4" aluminum plate the is sandwiched between the parking brake cable bracket and the frame, just behind the driver. No holes drilled in the truck. Mounted the dual gauges at the bottom, middle of the dash. Right in front of the shifter. Used two existing screws, so no holes drilled. Routed the wiring/plumbing into the cab through a drain plug at the driver's side back of the cab. Then down the wiring channel under the sill plate, across under the top of the carpet and to the gauges. Coiled the excess up behind the air ducting on the passenger side. I still have to hook the airlines up to the airbags. I will run them inside the frame and tee into the existing lines and leave the fillers at the license plate bracket. Vince, I'm not too interested in the trails at Little Basin, or to intested in Little Basin for that matter. I can see how it would get very noisy in the summer. Mike L |
|
|
I have a 2003 Silverado 2500HD duramax / allison crew cab long box. Man, it sure used to be easier to say I've got a pick-up! I've been seriously considering switching from a motorhome to a pick-up camper. I like the Lance slideout models but I am concerned about the wieght. My truck is obviously a single rear wheel design. The load rating is about 3100 lbs in the bed. The camper would probably end up about 3500 lbs. I can get below the 3100 by opting for a non slideout model. I would definately prefer the extra room though and I have no desire to have a dually truck. Has anybody hauled one of these around in a SRW truck? Did you add airbags? How did the truck handle it? I would like to be able to bring my boat and still have a truck to drive while camping. This seems like a great way to do it. The camper needs to sleep two big adults and my six year old twins. Any ideas on what works and what doesn't? |
|
| I have a 2000 2500 4x4 ext. cab. Silverado with a Lance 920. From my experiance you will be overweight with any Lance except maybe a Lance Lite. Mark | |
|
Where do you get the 3100lb load rating? I really doubt it is that high for just the camper, rather that is probably for the passengers + cargo + camper. Look on the sticker in the glove box for the camper rating. I have a 2000 2500 reg cab 4x4 and the camper rating is about 300 lbs lower than the GVWR - curb weight. You will be way over with the Lance slide out. I have a Lance 9.4 foot stickered at under 2500 lbs and with two large adults the total rig is 9100 lbs, 500 over the limit. This is due to cargo, tools, food, etc. I guess. The truck does fine with that load but it sounds like you would be even more over the limit. The camper is great and fully meets my needs but it would be crowded with 4 people. You should look at the second bed in the slide out area. I've never seen one made up but I know the seating area is smaller than in the non-slide out models. If you can put the kids in a tent then the camper would be fine. |
|
| So you finally went for the compressor! I wish you had put in one of those fancy high volume models so we could use it on our tires. That way we could air down to smooth out the washboards. I think you'll enjoy using the airbags to help level, it's often enough for me. | |
|
You mean one of those expensive high volume units? Actually, the cost of the big compressor isn't that much more. What you really get with the AirLift model is the low pressure sensors, gauges and pre-plumbed kit for easy installation. Easy is a relative word. I'm into my kit for about 8 hours with another 2 to go. I'm very fussy about how I install something. I must have 5-6 hours into making and fitting the bracket I mounted the compressor onto. But, I'm happy the way it worked out. Mike L |
|
|
Why airbags? I thought your camper was fairly light weight - especially for a 2500. By the way, I'm getting ready to go to Alaska; any tips on the trip and camper setup? I think I've got mine mosquito proofed and have finally stopped the roof from leaking. Jim |
|
|
The camper is fairly light, but with water, food, clothes, pots and pans, it is 16-1800#. The airbags allow the truck to be leveled side to side (the side with the refrig, stove, hot water heater, furnace weighs more than the side with the dinette and closet). I also use the airbags to level at a campsite. I can get 3-4" easier with the airbags than I can with 2"x6"s. Do you have a route picked for Alaska? Or places to visit in Alaska? How much time do you have? We took 7 days to get to Alaska - 3500 miles. I would recommend the Stewart-Cassiar Highway. It is well paved gravel and less traveled than the Alaska Highway - its also about 3-400 miles shorter and quite scenic. If you are on the Alaska Highway, either way, stop at the Liard River Hot Springs and soak in the natural hot water for awhile. Enter the water more downstream and work your way up. I would suggest you enter Alaska via the Top Of The World Highway. Takes you through Dawson City. We found the campground at Minto (on the Yukon River) quite nice. They open the campground about Jun 1, you can check in Whitehorse at the visitor center for information. It is a glorious drive up and over the pass entering Alaska. In Alaska - If you can, take the drive up the Dalton Highway to Prudhoe Bay. Take the tour of the oilfields and Artic Ocean for $25. We were the only ones on the early morning tour and it was well worth it. If you go up the Dalton, there is a campground in Fox (just north of Fairbanks) and they have a sweet water spring just outside the campground. Fill your water tank with that wonderful water. Denali National Park is a must see. Sometimes the easiest way to get into the park is to agree to camp for 3 days at the furthest in campground. Otherwise, you may have to wait a day or two to get a campsite. Seward was just too crowded for our tastes. Spend some time in Homer - camp at the end of the spit, on the water. We took a ferry ride from Whittier to Valdez. You have to get reservations for the train ride (with camper) to Whittier and for the ferry to Valdez. One phone call got both reservations. We found gas and supplies easy to come by. If there is something special, a certain brand you want, you may want to stock of on that - otherwise, it is available as you go. We found the portions served in restaurants to be huge! More so in less populated areas. And the costs were about the same as here. Seward was as close as we came to a 'bad' time. And it was worth seeing the Aquarium (or whatever it is called). Just the miles of RV's parked along the water was depressing. We stayed out of town at a small campground. A lot of the roads are gravel. And the gravel roads have soft spots from melting ice and snow. Watch for 'wet' spots or holes and slow way down and go around them. On any gravel road, slow down and pull over when approaching traffic. The traffic throws up rocks, and you hit them at the speed you are traveling. By slowing down and pulling over, you can save your windshield. Good, fairly new tires are advised. As is a good spare. We didn't have any flats (on new LT tires) while others did. Take your time and take lots of pictures - you will have a great time! You can send me an email if you want to come down to Santa Clara and see our Alaska trip photo album. But, I'm out of town from the 6th to the 21st. Mike L |
|
| Has anyone ever repaired a Suburban furnace to eliminate a horrid screeching when it starts up? It seems to be common on older units as both my campers have the problem. | |
You are here:
Forums
Pickups Pickups - Archived Discussions Cabover Campers & Camper Trailers (pickups)
New? Join Now!
Forum Tools
Search Forums
Browse by Vehicle
Browse by Board
Browse by Topic
Today's Chats
