Show me your camper!

[the MfM]

 

[Rumbo]

Just bought a 2004 Monaco Knight. This thing is a dream to travel in, just needs a little updating and a deoxidation polish. Started by getting rid of the old nasty carpet first thing. Only 15k miles on it!

 

[AZMark]

How much harder are these campers to tow vs a 21’ boat?

We’re looking into renting one for the first time in a couple weeks and trying to decide on size. My vehicle is a Toyota land cruiser rated for 8500lbs so I’ll be within the vehicle limits, but I don’t know about what it’s actually going to feel like.

The drive will be steep, but I regularly tow my boat up most of the worst parts anyway. 7% grades on several hills.

I was thinking 28 feet and 6k lbs or so is about my comfort limit but I don’t know if that’s reasonable or not? All the rentals seem to come with weight distribution hitches.

Thanks in advance for any advice.

 

[Tex72]

How much harder are these campers to tow vs a 21’ boat?

We’re looking into renting one for the first time in a couple weeks and trying to decide on size. My vehicle is a Toyota land cruiser rated for 8500lbs so I’ll be within the vehicle limits, but I don’t know about what it’s actually going to feel like.

The drive will be steep, but I regularly tow my boat up most of the worst parts anyway. 7% grades on several hills.

I was thinking 28 feet and 6k lbs or so is about my comfort limit but I don’t know if that’s reasonable or not? All the rentals seem to come with weight distribution hitches.

Thanks in advance for any advice.

6k is pretty manageable for a 1/2 ton without max towing package.
Wind is also a factor, so shorter is easier.

 

[PEARCE]

I would say that around 6k pounds and max of 30' in length would be manageable. However, i wouldn't tow a 30 footer with a LC unless you are very familiar with the how your vehicle handles a camper. It's very different compared to the boat. You're not gonna notice the weight anymore then the boat. What you will notice is the wind. Campers are just boxes on wheels that act as sails going down the road. Crosswinds are the worst followed by a semi truck passing you a close second. Hopefully the rental will have some sort of sway control built into the weight distribution system. A longer wheel base on your tow vehicle is your friend when it comes to towing period, especially campers. Length adds stability. Good luck.

 

[Farny]

Just bought a 2004 Monaco Knight. This thing is a dream to travel in, just needs a little updating and a deoxidation polish. Started by getting rid of the old nasty carpet first thing. Only 15k miles on it!

Breaking bad with a boat!! Love it

 

[Beachcampin]

How much harder are these campers to tow vs a 21’ boat?

We’re looking into renting one for the first time in a couple weeks and trying to decide on size. My vehicle is a Toyota land cruiser rated for 8500lbs so I’ll be within the vehicle limits, but I don’t know about what it’s actually going to feel like.

The drive will be steep, but I regularly tow my boat up most of the worst parts anyway. 7% grades on several hills.

I was thinking 28 feet and 6k lbs or so is about my comfort limit but I don’t know if that’s reasonable or not? All the rentals seem to come with weight distribution hitches.

Thanks in advance for any advice.

Are you going to be moving from camp site to camp site? If not you can also look into having the unit set up for you right at your destination campground for a small fee. Also allows you to forget about size issues. Get a giant fifth wheel, be comfortable and let someone else hook up that janky sewer hose. As for on the road, towing a trailer is not a fun way to travel. Going in a motor home is fun for the fam, they get to hang out and play with all the toys and have access to a bathroom easily, but much more expensive.

If you’re doing a long haul with several stops, then a travel trailer is the way to go, but I wouldn’t go on freeways without sway control. We’ll see you out there.

 

[jocolo21]

Winnebago Spyder , just make sure you do wider 7klbs empty, plus the toy inside, 100 gal of water and gear

 

[jcyamaharider]

We updated our camper last year. 2021 Momentum 381. 15ft garage, love it for hauling a sxs.

 

[Beachcampin]

We updated our camper last year. 2021 Momentum 381. 15ft garage, love it for hauling a sxs.
View attachment 187666

Those look like too much fun. Trying to get my son out of it would be the trick.

 

[Wayloncle]

We traded our travel trailer in for a 2021 Montana High Country 377FL around May of last year, it was perfect timing, it was when used prices were way up but new unit prices were still normal. We love love the Front living, this one has a loft over the rear bedroom that the kids stay in.

 

[jthackman]

our 32' 5th wheel...cruiser aire 28rd

 

[AZMark]

How much harder are these campers to tow vs a 21’ boat?

We’re looking into renting one for the first time in a couple weeks and trying to decide on size. My vehicle is a Toyota land cruiser rated for 8500lbs so I’ll be within the vehicle limits, but I don’t know about what it’s actually going to feel like.

The drive will be steep, but I regularly tow my boat up most of the worst parts anyway. 7% grades on several hills.

I was thinking 28 feet and 6k lbs or so is about my comfort limit but I don’t know if that’s reasonable or not? All the rentals seem to come with weight distribution hitches.

Thanks in advance for any advice.

The rental camper worked out ok and towed well. It was 27’ total and about 6000lbs. I wouldn’t want to go much bigger, especially for maneuvering through trees.

Weather was terrible for 2 days and our first site started flooding so I had to load up and move the damn thing in the rain and mud. Not fun. I was worried we’d end up with a stuck trailer but got out ok and luckily found a much drier spot.

 

[textman]

 

[Coult45]

First time towing with the new truck. Downsized from a 39' 5th wheel to a 30' last year, and then traded the 2011 dually for this 2500HD a few months ago. Towed like a dream, and I don't think I'll ever need to actually use the slider hitch. The rounded front design of the 5th wheel gives great clearance for sharp turns.

 

[Beachcampin]

The rental camper worked out ok and towed well. It was 27’ total and about 6000lbs. I wouldn’t want to go much bigger, especially for maneuvering through trees.

Weather was terrible for 2 days and our first site started flooding so I had to load up and move the damn thing in the rain and mud. Not fun. I was worried we’d end up with a stuck trailer but got out ok and luckily found a much drier spot.

View attachment 188732View attachment 188733

Those two pictures don't even look like the same camping trip! Been there though. Once had to run to the Walmart in the middle of the night (back when they were still 24X7) and buy rubber boots because the water at our campsite in Ocean City, MD was not receding. moved it into the parking lot for the rest of the night and found a better site in the morning. Road was OK, but the campsite was under 6" of water. Don't know how they didn't flood the septic system.

 

[ToddW850]

2018 Thor. First pic is 2 weeks ago at Port St Joe/Cape San Blas, FL area for scalloping with the boat.

 

[2kwik4u]

Not 100% certain how I haven't posted in this thread yet. Guess I just missed the opportunity to show off.

Anywho. Wife and I bought this camper back in late July. First weekend there was the 28th. Had some family drama and soccer schedules that have delayed a full deployment of usage of the thing. We're hoping to get much more use next year. It's permanently parked currently, and we're likely to leave it that way. I don't have a tow vehicle that can handle this size trailer, and even if I did, I'm not sure how often we would. Got the camper for a song and a dance ($31k) because the previous owners were getting a divorce, and she wanted it, but he didn't. Told me they slept in it a total of 7 nights since they bought it (brand new) in Nov of '19. I've been pulling plastic off unused things each visit it seems. Rear bunks still had plastic on the mattresses. Grill had never been unwrapped. Aside from sitting outside for almost 3 years you can hardly tell it was used.

2018 Forest River Heritage Glen LTZ 312QBUD <--click for floorplan......I think all that's right.




The lot is located about 2 miles from the ramp at Patoka Lake here in Indiana. It's about a 55min drive from the house. Just far enough away to make it a chore to go home, but not so far that we can't "bail out" if we need to. Lot is 150ft deep and 60ft wide. Rent is fairly cheap at $1,600/yr, and we "think" we'll get some good use from it.

To say we've learned a lot in two months is like the understatement of the decade there. It's been a constant learning curve, and we're still settling in. Still not 100% certain we're "camper people", but we got in cheap enough I think we're gonna try it for a few seasons and see how it works out.