Why dont more Mudders RV?

[cruisertom]

We did the tent thing, then the pop-up and now have a 35' travel trailer. And yes I struggled with the idea of A/C and all the amenities that I never had camping as a kid. But that was in Colorado, the first night camping in the midwest I thanked my wife for fighting me to buy the A/C unit for the pop-up.
Now with two kids and the humidity and serious downpours on occasion I really like my travel trailer. The downsides are it weighs almost 10k when loaded and you really have to think before you pull in to get gas (which can be expensive) My son and I do tent camping with Boy Scouts and mom and daughter hang out at home. I like both, they are very different. We have found good state parks that the campsites are cheap and spread out, and have found expensive crowded private campgrounds that the slide out on ours almost hit the awning of our neighbors. Not cool. We just keep looking for the good ones.
Lastly, when we go camping it is to go see cool places in nature. We don't spend much time at camp. But if the weather gets bad it is really, really nice to hole up in something that is warm (or cool) and dry, you can stand up in, and still entertain the kids and take a shower.

 

[lucky]

I struggled with the camper vs real outdoorsy type camping(RTT) too. Then my better half wanted the camper so I bought this Lance 910 and its pretty comfortable so far. I still use the RTT for myself when i go out. here is a pic of my tow rig

 

[80t0ylc]

I struggled with the camper vs real outdoorsy type camping(RTT) too. Then my better half wanted the camper so I bought this Lance 910 and its pretty comfortable so far. I still use the RTT for myself when i go out. here is a pic of my tow rig

Nice rig and setup. What engine is in your Ford dually and how's the uphill performance when both camper and fully loaded trailer are attached? I have a similar setup, but about 20 years older and flat tow either my Mini or my FZJ. My tow rig is a '90 F250 with the stock 7.3 L IDI Diesel (non turbo). With both camper on and vehicle in tow, I have to be real patient on hills

 

[Enigma]

That is a pretty sweet set up. One of these days....

 

[Mace]

I used to put my cabover in the bed of the truck and run my 18' flatbed with the 60 behind it. Worked okay, but the extension on the trailer would make 70+ speeds a bit more exciting. I moved the camper onto a gooseneck trailer and am MUCH happier..

 

[TXLX100]

Quite the rig lucky. That truck is big by itself.

 

[rusty_tlc]

I used to put my cabover in the bed of the truck and run my 18' flatbed with the 60 behind it. Worked okay, but the extension on the trailer would make 70+ speeds a bit more exciting. I moved the camper onto a gooseneck trailer and am MUCH happier..

Gee Mr Mace do you have any pictures of that????

 

[80t0ylc]

Gee Mr Mace do you have any pictures of that????

Ditto! What did you do with your 60 if you were already pulling a trailer with the camper strapped on it???

 

[rusty_tlc]

Ditto! What did you do with your 60 if you were already pulling a trailer with the camper strapped on it???

I was janking his chain look at this thread

https://forum.ih8mud.com/trailer-tech/617460-another-redneck-toyhauler-2.html

 

[80t0ylc]

I was janking his chain look at this thread

https://forum.ih8mud.com/trailer-tech/617460-another-redneck-toyhauler-2.html

Wow! Thanks for link, Rusty!

I think I need a turbo for my 7.3 L IDI....... 25 mph on some of the secondary road passes that I traverse just ain't cuttin' it. And really, now that I think about it, I should be trailering my towed rigs instead of flat towing. A trailer with brakes because I don't know of any way to use the brakes of a flat towed rig while it's being towed.

 

[lucky]

Nice rig and setup. What engine is in your Ford dually and how's the uphill performance when both camper and fully loaded trailer are attached? I have a similar setup, but about 20 years older and flat tow either my Mini or my FZJ. My tow rig is a '90 F250 with the stock 7.3 L IDI Diesel (non turbo). With both camper on and vehicle in tow, I have to be real patient on hills

I have the 6.7l diesel in the Dually with a 6" lift and 37" tires. I am running about 650HP and 1100TQ in this set up. The whole setup weighs between 22-24k lbs. I havn't had to slow down on a hill yet. I can maintain 80mph thru the passes in Montana, Idaho and Utah pulling this. I have gauges to monitor EGT, Boost, A/T temps and it is all steady.

Ryan

 

[80t0ylc]

I have the 6.7l diesel in the Dually with a 6" lift and 37" tires. I am running about 650HP and 1100TQ in this set up. The whole setup weighs between 22-24k lbs. I havn't had to slow down on a hill yet. I can maintain 80mph thru the passes in Montana, Idaho and Utah pulling this. I have gauges to monitor EGT, Boost, A/T temps and it is all steady.

Ryan

That's impressive! I think the age and nonturbo engine in mine is the problem. My 11' camper weighs in at 2600 lbs dry and the truck is a F250 which is really rated at 3/4 ton. I'm probably stressing it excessively with just the camper. I add the tow vehicle and I really should be in another, stouter rig like an F350 with a powerstroke. Thanks for the reply, Ryan.

 

[cruisertom]

Lucky, that is a sweet setup. I have a 96 f350 4x4 crew cab that I tow my 35' travel trailer with and have recently thought a cabover camper and tow the 60 would be the best of both worlds. Love the stance of your truck, did you regear it? What company did you use as far as chips and aftermarket stuff?

 

[Volcanic Iceberg]

Built my own pop up expedition trailer for the rough stuff and for calmer terrain we take the coleman with flipped axles and larger tires.

 

[lucky]

Lucky, that is a sweet setup. I have a 96 f350 4x4 crew cab that I tow my 35' travel trailer with and have recently thought a cabover camper and tow the 60 would be the best of both worlds. Love the stance of your truck, did you regear it? What company did you use as far as chips and aftermarket stuff?

I think it is the best of both worlds. We tow our boat with it too. A bigger camper trailer would be nice, but would not fit our lifestyle. It's not regeared it just has the stock 4.10s in it. I don't feel the need to regear with the 37s. I am running the h&s minimax tuner with just a hot tune. I have removed the cat and the dpf and added an CAI, intake elbow, and run all synthetic AMSOIL

 

[waexplorer]

I think I need a turbo for my 7.3 L IDI....... 25 mph on some of the secondary road passes that I traverse just ain't cuttin' it. And really, now that I think about it, I should be trailering my towed rigs instead of flat towing. A trailer with brakes because I don't know of any way to use the brakes of a flat towed rig while it's being towed. [/QUOTE]

Use a "Brake Buddy" or other supplemental braking system. Made to put in your towed vehicle (dingy) in front of the drivers seat. It has an arm that pushes the brake pedal on the dingy when you slow the tow rig. Most states require them on dingys over 2000 lbs. Didn't need one with my Samurai, but will with my FJ60. This is my current RV. We're thinking of getting one a little shorter to fit into more places... This is at a swap meet in Packwood WA. Wife prefers this over tent camping, which we did a lot when we were younger. I've done a lot to it for emphasis on dry camping.

 

[80t0ylc]

Use a "Brake Buddy" or other supplemental braking system. Made to put in your towed vehicle (dingy) in front of the drivers seat. It has an arm that pushes the brake pedal on the dingy when you slow the tow rig. Most states require them on dingys over 2000 lbs. Didn't need one with my Samurai, but will with my FJ60. This is my current RV. We're thinking of getting one a little shorter to fit into more places... This is at a swap meet in Packwood WA. Wife prefers this over tent camping, which we did a lot when we were younger. I've done a lot to it for emphasis on dry camping.

Thanks! I'm going to look into it. I've been doing some reading on flat towing and seen others that have suggested using something similar. Oh, and nice rig!

 

[skidplate]

Here's a pic of our weekend excursion to the Mojave desert. My wife has never wanted to camp in the desert but she had a great time. Luckily the weather was perfect, she had her microwave, hair dryers, DVD player, movies, thanks to a Honda 2000 gen., and hot water. She rode on the back of my Rokon and my son and his family had quads and his dirt bike. We discovered an old miners cabin, took lots of pics. etc. This is the only way she will "camp". Now I'm ready for a solo trip in the cruiser!

I have to add that my son and one of his co-workers owns the 5 1/2 acres that we stayed on . We did NOT take all that wood that you see in the pics. when we left we made a nice pile for the next time we or his buddy visit.

 

[dtrain]

Cool to checkout other peoples setups.

We are running a Jayco Hybrid 17z. Wife and kids love it. 80 pulls it great but a little weak on hills... not in a rush so no big deal I guess. Just installed some airbags this past weekend... excited to see if there are any handling improvements.

 

[on2it]

Nice set ups! dtrain did the airbags make a difference?