Re: M_Boats: Pop up truck camper recommendations
Doug, what a coincidence, I am contemplating the same thing. We just sold our Coleman popup tent trailer because the kids are grown and we don't use it anymore and it occupied space in the garage that soon will be the "boat cave", and we obviously can't tow both the M15 and trailer. Anyway, we will just wait until our Jeep Grand Cherokee V8 with 60K miles conks out, which may be quite a few more years, then we will be going to the truck+camper approach. But I have already started researching. Given the weight of the camper plus the weight of the boat and trailer, especially the tongue weight, my feeling is that the camper shell needs to be light for a margin of towing safety. I also favor a "pop-up" type shell that, while on the road, would only extend maybe a foot, less is better, above the cab for less wind drag going forward and less susceptibility to crosswinds. When the truck is stationary, the shell is raised for standing room, either with a canvas tent sealing the hard roof from the sides or a hard-sided design. I have heard very good things about Alaskan campers, but I believe that they are heavy. More realistically, I think a lighter weight design is called for, so I have been looking at designs like this: http://www.fourwheelcampers.com/ There are numerous other brands similar to the ones you see in the above link, with fewer or more amenities. Anyway, hope that helps. Neil
alaskan campers are the norsea-26 of pop-up campers. they are TANKS, better the well built, excellent fit and finish, and weigh a TON. i hunt with people that own alaskans. if you review alaskan's 'e'-prochure the truck on the lower left, in the snow 'warm in winter', on page 7 is a best friend in his camper at our hunting site - http://www.alaskancamper.com/eBrochure.html a small-truck alaskan camper costs more than a new M15. the larger full-sized truck 8-foot models cost more than a new M17. dave scobie M17 #375 - SWEET PEA visit SWEET PEA's www-site - http://www.m17-375.webs.com --- On Thu, 4/15/10, ndorf@surfbest.net <ndorf@surfbest.net> wrote: Doug, ... I have heard very good things about Alaskan campers, but I believe that they are heavy. ... Neil
Another alternative is a full size van with a camper/motorhome conversion. Sporstmobile will build you one on your choice of chassis with your own custom interior for a price comparable to a full size pickup and pop up camper. The vans are available in standard top, raised top and pop-up top configurations and even with 4x4 drivetrain. One real advantage for the ladies and when traveling in nasty weather is being able to use the potty or heat up a snack without leaving the vehicle. For several years, I towed my Slipper 17 behind such a van and on a few occasions, much larger boats. My wife is in poor health and it was a great way for us to travel in comfort. I also towed a big pop up camper when we had a bunch of kids along on camping trips and then, when I needed the utility of a big pickup bed, I simply rented a U-haul trailer of appropriate size. While living in Germany, we had a VW diesel van and now that we are back and retired, we are seriously looking at Sportsmobile. Whitebeard M17 #14, Griselda www.sportsmobile.com
Date: Fri, 16 Apr 2010 06:24:58 -0700 From: wdscobie@yahoo.com To: montgomery_boats@mailman.xmission.com Subject: Re: M_Boats: Pop up truck camper recommendations
alaskan campers are the norsea-26 of pop-up campers. they are TANKS, better the well built, excellent fit and finish, and weigh a TON. i hunt with people that own alaskans. if you review alaskan's 'e'-prochure the truck on the lower left, in the snow 'warm in winter', on page 7 is a best friend in his camper at our hunting site -
http://www.alaskancamper.com/eBrochure.html
a small-truck alaskan camper costs more than a new M15. the larger full-sized truck 8-foot models cost more than a new M17.
dave scobie M17 #375 - SWEET PEA visit SWEET PEA's www-site - http://www.m17-375.webs.com
--- On Thu, 4/15/10, ndorf@surfbest.net <ndorf@surfbest.net> wrote:
Doug,
...
I have heard very good things about Alaskan campers, but I believe that they are heavy.
...
Neil
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If I had known some of you were interested in campers I'd have posted the sale of my RoadTrek. It pulled my M17 with no problems. It was a 1992 and I sold it for $12K. There are some out there at good prices. It's a buyer's market for used RV's. Of course you don't have the flexibility of using your truck as a carry all and put the camper on when you need it. But the Roadtrek was really a great rig. It handled on the road well. Got 14MPG and was fully selfcontained. When I had Seafrog in the boat yard, I used to pull up to it and use the generator to work and have all the amenities right at hand to work on the boat....you know... beer and sandwiches...head...sink... Joe M17 Seafrog ----- Original Message ----- From: Ronnie Keeler To: Montgomery boats mailing list Sent: Friday, April 16, 2010 10:07 AM Subject: Re: M_Boats: Pop up truck camper recommendations Another alternative is a full size van with a camper/motorhome conversion. Sporstmobile will build you one on your choice of chassis with your own custom interior for a price comparable to a full size pickup and pop up camper. The vans are available in standard top, raised top and pop-up top configurations and even with 4x4 drivetrain. One real advantage for the ladies and when traveling in nasty weather is being able to use the potty or heat up a snack without leaving the vehicle. For several years, I towed my Slipper 17 behind such a van and on a few occasions, much larger boats. My wife is in poor health and it was a great way for us to travel in comfort. I also towed a big pop up camper when we had a bunch of kids along on camping trips and then, when I needed the utility of a big pickup bed, I simply rented a U-haul trailer of appropriate size. While living in Germany, we had a VW diesel van and now that we are back and retired, we are seriously looking at Sportsmobile. Whitebeard M17 #14, Griselda www.sportsmobile.com
Date: Fri, 16 Apr 2010 06:24:58 -0700 From: wdscobie@yahoo.com To: montgomery_boats@mailman.xmission.com Subject: Re: M_Boats: Pop up truck camper recommendations
alaskan campers are the norsea-26 of pop-up campers. they are TANKS, better the well built, excellent fit and finish, and weigh a TON. i hunt with people that own alaskans. if you review alaskan's 'e'-prochure the truck on the lower left, in the snow 'warm in winter', on page 7 is a best friend in his camper at our hunting site -
http://www.alaskancamper.com/eBrochure.html
a small-truck alaskan camper costs more than a new M15. the larger full-sized truck 8-foot models cost more than a new M17.
dave scobie M17 #375 - SWEET PEA visit SWEET PEA's www-site - http://www.m17-375.webs.com
--- On Thu, 4/15/10, ndorf@surfbest.net <ndorf@surfbest.net> wrote:
Doug,
...
I have heard very good things about Alaskan campers, but I believe that they are heavy.
...
Neil
_______________________________________________ http://mailman.xmission.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/montgomery_boats
Remember, there is no privacy on the Internet!
_________________________________________________________________ The New Busy think 9 to 5 is a cute idea. Combine multiple calendars with Hotmail. http://www.windowslive.com/campaign/thenewbusy?tile=multicalendar&ocid=PID28... _______________________________________________ http://mailman.xmission.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/montgomery_boats Remember, there is no privacy on the Internet!
Yeah, baby, a 4x4 Sportsmobile built on a Ford E-350 chassis, sporting a 6.0 liter diesel and a towing capacity of 10,000 lbs; that should do it. My friend has just such an animal, and I love it. They are a little pricey, but they would seem ideal for someone who pulls a boat all over the country and does not need the space of a full motor home. Tom Jenkins On Apr 16, 2010, at 7:07 AM, Ronnie Keeler wrote:
Another alternative is a full size van with a camper/motorhome conversion. Sporstmobile will build you one on your choice of chassis with your own custom interior for a price comparable to a full size pickup and pop up camper. The vans are available in standard top, raised top and pop-up top configurations and even with 4x4 drivetrain. One real advantage for the ladies and when traveling in nasty weather is being able to use the potty or heat up a snack without leaving the vehicle.
For several years, I towed my Slipper 17 behind such a van and on a few occasions, much larger boats. My wife is in poor health and it was a great way for us to travel in comfort. I also towed a big pop up camper when we had a bunch of kids along on camping trips and then, when I needed the utility of a big pickup bed, I simply rented a U-haul trailer of appropriate size. While living in Germany, we had a VW diesel van and now that we are back and retired, we are seriously looking at Sportsmobile.
Whitebeard
M17 #14, Griselda
www.sportsmobile.com
Date: Fri, 16 Apr 2010 06:24:58 -0700 From: wdscobie@yahoo.com To: montgomery_boats@mailman.xmission.com Subject: Re: M_Boats: Pop up truck camper recommendations
alaskan campers are the norsea-26 of pop-up campers. they are TANKS, better the well built, excellent fit and finish, and weigh a TON. i hunt with people that own alaskans. if you review alaskan's 'e'-prochure the truck on the lower left, in the snow 'warm in winter', on page 7 is a best friend in his camper at our hunting site -
http://www.alaskancamper.com/eBrochure.html
a small-truck alaskan camper costs more than a new M15. the larger full-sized truck 8-foot models cost more than a new M17.
dave scobie M17 #375 - SWEET PEA visit SWEET PEA's www-site - http://www.m17-375.webs.com
--- On Thu, 4/15/10, ndorf@surfbest.net <ndorf@surfbest.net> wrote:
Doug,
...
I have heard very good things about Alaskan campers, but I believe that they are heavy.
...
Neil
_______________________________________________ http://mailman.xmission.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/montgomery_boats
Remember, there is no privacy on the Internet!
_________________________________________________________________ The New Busy think 9 to 5 is a cute idea. Combine multiple calendars with Hotmail. http://www.windowslive.com/campaign/thenewbusy? tile=multicalendar&ocid=PID28326::T:WLMTAGL:ON:WL:en-US:WM_HMP: 042010_5 _______________________________________________ http://mailman.xmission.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/montgomery_boats
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participants (5)
-
Joe Murphy -
ndorf＠surfbest.net -
Ronnie Keeler -
Tom Jenkins -
W David Scobie