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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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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. |
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| 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. | |
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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 |
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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 |
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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 |
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| 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. | |
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Could it be as simple as a plain bearing in need of lubrication? The heat and vibration (that makes the screech) of the shaft wobbling in the bearings could cause some residual oil to migrate into the bearing and lubricate it - for a little while. I'd take it apart and try to lubricate both support bearings. Then test it before you put it back together. Mike L |
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Found another popup camper - called an Aliner. You've probably seen those small popup a-frame type trailers; well they've removed the wheels and stuck it in the bed of a pickup. You can see it at www.aliner.com. It's called the Truck Cabin Freedom. Be prepared for an extremely slow web site. Mike - Thanks for the info. We haven't decided on a definite route as yet, we were thinking of driving northbound and taking the Alaskan Marine Highway southbound for part of the way. It sounds like a lot of fun to be able to ride one of those ferries. My wife and I collect ferry rides anyway and this seems like an excellent chance to ride one more. My job deteriorated into a 100% travel position, so last Nov. I decided enough was enough and retired. I said that to say that I have no timetable - I was just going to wing it as far as the time was concerned. We're going to take it easy and just enjoy the trip. I have been to Alaska a couple of other times (on work contracts) and I was able to do some sightseeing on those trips, but I do want to travel the Haul Road to Prudhoe Bay. Where did you stay in Deadhorse? Interesting name: Deadhorse. The name conjures up some unpleasant images although the real explanation for the name is certainly mundane. The Milepost says that the area has been overrun with grizzly bears the past few years - I'm not telling my wife that part until we get there. If I told her before hand she would say 'I'm staying in Anchorage, pick me up on the way back'. |
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| Yes Mike I thought the same thing. Getting to those bearings is another thing though. Once I do get in there I wonder if a little oil will be a long term fix. The right way is to replace the bearing and maybe the shaft but that could be difficult for a variety of reasons. | |
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Thanks for the tip, what an interesting idea. I can't say it's particularly good looking on the truck when folded down but that's not so important. I wonder how much it weighs when optioned out. The 500 lbs specified is for almost an empty shell. I sat in one of the trailer versions at an RV show. It's small inside because the A-frame design is inefficient but I liked it anyway. One thing I noticed is you really need the skylights in the roof because that is where your head goes when sitting on the seats! I added the site to the camper list. HARDSIDE: http://www.bigfootrv.com/ http://www.lancecamper.com/ http://www.fleetwoodrv.com/truck_campers.html http://www.skylinerv.com/2weekender.htm http://www.wrv.com/products/index_atc_ltd.html (Alpenlite) http://www.starcraftrv.com/hardsidetc.html http://www.northern-lite.com/ http://www.nashtraveltrailers.com/campers.html (Arctic Fox) http://northlandcampers.com/index.shtml http://www.summerwindcampers.com/ http://www.hallmarkrv.com/ http://www.okanaganrv.com/camper.htm http://www.shadowcruiser.com/ http://www.kz-rv.com/truck_camper/truck_campers_index.htm (Sportsman) http://www.s-scamper.com/ http://www.wcrv.net (Adventurer) http://www.six-pac.com/ http://www.camperking.com/ (2 bedrooms!) http://www.roamercorp.com/ http://www.thorindustries.com (use pulldown) (Corsair, Citation) POPUP: http://www.fourwheelcampers.com/ http://www.palominorv.com/ http://www.phoenixcampers.com/index.html http://sunliteinc.com/ http://www.northstarcampers.com/ (RC Willet) http://www.alaskancamper.com http://www.lite-craftcampers.com http://www.hallmarkrv.com/ http://outfittermfg.com/ ALTERNATIVE: http://www.rockytoppers.com/truckcampers.htm http://www.sportmasters.com/tonneau.htm#campalong http://www.outbackproducts.net/index.html http://www.aliner.com/page37.html (popup hardside A-frame st |
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