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Posted by: tmm2good
I would vote for the 4x4 pickup with a slide in camper. If you are not camping, you still can use the pickup for towing or other uses around the house. I camp with a guy who has a slide in pop-up on a 4x4 pickup, he takes that thing all over the place. I would think it would offer you more versatility than a dedicated 4x4 motorhome.
Posted by: Bing
the truck camper with the 4x4 is the way to go
I would not recommend a pop-up for what you want
very inconvienient to access the inside of the camper without cranking it up (for packing/unpacking, shopping on the way to the Mts,,,so on)
the mechanical for the pop up is actually heavier than the walls in an upright (more stuff to break also)
storage space is almost non existant on a pop up compared to an upright (upper cabinet space too)
If you load all the heavy stuff to the bottom front, you will have no worries for top heavyness
Now,,,if you go to high on the lift kit,,,,that may be something to worry about.
Posted by: Bing
Its nice pulling into camp,,,,turning off the truck key,,,,,and knowing you dont have to "set up"
Posted by: Bing
if you are a true cheapass,,,,,you might like the end of season deals at places like 'Cruise America'and 'Elmonte RV' (they rent the 8.5 ' campers,,,perfect size for back country)
I checked cruise america,,,,they have 6 in Denver
you can buy 1 season old rental campers at a huge discount (they even put the factory stickers back on)
Posted by: Bing
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Originally posted by: mywifesquad
I was thinking you would buy a truck to haul toy's and tow camp trailer. My mis understanding, sorry. Your desire to do this with a budget in mind is probubly what pull's me to this topic. I love camping/riding with all my high dollar (high debt) friend's. They give me a bad time for my '88 4x4 pulling a '79 Jayco. I ask to see the pink slip's for their toy's, funny they don't have them. I have the pink slip for all my vehicle's. I like that feeling and no payment's either. Of course I rarely if ever buy new. Let some one else take the hit in the wallet. That is why I still have all my toy's listed.
well said
im the same way
my 2 quads cost twice as much as my truck/camper/trailer
its comfortable, functional, and they're all payed for
Posted by: Bing
Quote
What we've found is most important is having a camp unit that requires little set-up and tear-down, you keep all your camping stuff in it for the season, you end up using it more with less stress. The pop-up styles are tougher with less storage space and some set-up tomfoolery required.
my sentiments also
Posted by: BlackandRedWarrior
I know there are companies that make RVs based on 4x4 truck chassis. I'm trying to remember his name, he's on here, he's got a Ram chassis based conversion. It was small. He towed an enclosed trailer with his bikes in there. 700quadman is his name. You can ask him about his rig.
Posted by: BlackandRedWarrior
There's a company that makes a very primitive pop up. Nothing really in it, that has a deck to hold a couple of qauds. Doubt that's what you would be looking for. The only way I would put anything on top of a pop-up is if it was distributed around. Had a friend who tied pallets on top of his and it was ok. Light loud with a good distribution. Or you in some way built a collapsable frame that slotted, pinned into the trailer's frame. Like a ladder rack on a pick-up. Would have to be an engineering marvel to do it though.
Posted by: ShadyRascal
The cheapest way to go it looks like is a pickup and slide-in non-pop-top camper. Although if you can fit your toys in the truck bed you can get a cheap pull-behind camper, flip the axles and put bigger tires on it for ground clearance, you have a handier setup. We have pulled doubles for years with a fifth wheel and sled trailer behind it. This is optimum but you can't get way in the outback with it. What we've found is most important is having a camp unit that requires little set-up and tear-down, you keep all your camping stuff in it for the season, you end up using it more with less stress. The pop-up styles are tougher with less storage space and some set-up tomfoolery required.
Posted by: Scootergptx
We started out thinking about a pop-up. Then I looked at a couple of Class C motorhomes, which I thought would be perfect. Then the wife got involved. The last photo in my gallery is the result. 34 foot Holiday Rambler. Really couldn't pass up the price 6500, and has under 55,000 miles. Generator had only 155 hours on it. It's not 4x4, but still have taken it over some pretty rough terrain. My tent days are definitely over.
Bing, nice avatar. Doing a little redecorating?
Posted by: ostrich
The slide-in pop-up camper would work good, depending on the trailer, some trailers don't like off-road travel. There is also a van called a sportmobile? I think, on a ford 1-ton van chassis, and customized into a camper, the roof cranks up. Best of all they sell it with a diesel, all the comforts of home, pull good sized loads and get decent fuel milage!
Posted by: Cheapass
Here's a challenge.
I have a fairly small family of 4. We love to go into the back country and camp. Preferrably with the toys.
Now, the wife and I are getting too old for primative camping. We have decided to build, assemble, or buy a solution. Now accepting suggestions....
First thought: get a decent 4x4 truck and a popup slide in. Any expereince with this? As we really just need room to sleep with heat, a simple kitchen, and a bathroom if possible... this looks like the way to go. A nice diesel 4x4 with a slight lift, aggressive tires, lockers, and optimized approach/departure clearance ought to work out pretty well.
The places we go can be reached with a stock Pathfinder right now.
Alternately, one of the pickup/van frame based small motorhomes with the transfer case and axles of a 4x4 pickup dropped under it. Preferrably a popup model, to gain a lower profile and center of gravity.
We want to have our cake and eat it too....
Edited to add: we want to tow in a hi-rise trailer with toys on it, too. The Jeep, with strong tires and a rear locker, can do this right now. Not too heavy, 2 bikes most of the time, rarely 2 bikes and a quad.
Posted by: Cheapass
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Originally posted by: mywifesquad
This may be a decent alternative. I have a ford 4X4 that I put 2 dirtbikes and 1 quad in and I tow a tent trailer behind it. It has served us well for many year's.
We have actually looked into a solution like this. Also looked in to the possibility of reinforcing the roof of a popup to hold the toys.... looks too ungainly to be a real possibility though.
Posted by: Cheapass
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Originally posted by: Bing
if you are a true cheapass,,,,,you might like the end of season deals at places like 'Cruise America'and 'Elmonte RV' (they rent the 8.5 ' campers,,,perfect size for back country)
I checked cruise america,,,,they have 6 in Denver
you can buy 1 season old rental campers at a huge discount (they even put the factory stickers back on)
There is one in Loveland, a nearby town to me. I'll go check them out. Found an 86 Ford 4-door truck with an 8' bed, diesel, 4x4, and a moderate lift already done. Ugly as sin, beat to heck, but runs like a top-$1600.
May be a great solution for the cost.
Posted by: Cheapass
No worries, looking in the long term. Looked at a few slide ins that are for sale by private individuals... trying to get an idea of price and condition round here.
Looks like I can get an 8' slide in with the basics, to sleep 4, for about $1000 in very good condition. $3000 for a popup model.BR>
I also saw a camper on a Ford F250 4x4 chassis in a parking lot, Put a note on it asking the owner where they got it. This would be perfect. I hope they reply.
Posted by: Cheapass
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Originally posted by: mywifesquad
Since you are still in the looking process let me give you one more thing to think about. I have owned 3 truck/camper combo's and a 25' self. cont. motorhome. With all of these I towed toy's on a trailer. I now am on my second camping trailer and I will never own a motorhome/camper again. The reason is when you set up a trailer for your camp you still have a truck to drive around. It is no big deal to some but for me it has come in real handy. Just something to think about.
I've considered it, but not all states allow you to tow tandem, and I always take toys when I travel. Too much of a cheapass to pay $20k for a toy hauler when I can pay $2000 for a slide in and a truck.
Posted by: Cheapass
Yea, cheap looks like it will be a truck and slide in. Already have the trailer, SnowBear brand from Sam's. WOW, the bang for your buck on this one. Best $600 I ever spent. Big enough, tough as hell, and carries 2500lbs without complaining.
I have considered the truck bed for toys and a camper trailer, but the towed weight is pretty high that way. I'd never make it up Crystal Mtn, and pingree would be hell.
Posted by: mywifesquad
This may be a decent alternative. I have a ford 4X4 that I put 2 dirtbikes and 1 quad in and I tow a tent trailer behind it. It has served us well for many year's.
Posted by: mywifesquad
Quote
Originally posted by: Cheapass
Quote
Originally posted by: mywifesquad
This may be a decent alternative. I have a ford 4X4 that I put 2 dirtbikes and 1 quad in and I tow a tent trailer behind it. It has served us well for many year's.
We have actually looked into a solution like this. Also looked in to the possibility of reinforcing the roof of a popup to hold the toys.... looks too ungainly to be a real possibility though.
Year's ago when we had a smaller truck and smaller tent trailer and trying to get everything to fit. I considered reinforcing the roof of our popup to haul a xr75 and a minitrail 50. I came to the same conclusion you did. Plus you would have to unload before camping and some times we get where ever we are going late at night and just want to sleep, not unpack.
Posted by: mywifesquad
Cheapass, I don't want to rush your decision but did you come to any conclusion's over the weekend?? What did you look at?? Like?? Not Like?? Just curious, hope you don't mind. MWQ
Posted by: mywifesquad
Since you are still in the looking process let me give you one more thing to think about. I have owned 3 truck/camper combo's and a 25' self. cont. motorhome. With all of these I towed toy's on a trailer. I now am on my second camping trailer and I will never own a motorhome/camper again. The reason is when you set up a trailer for your camp you still have a truck to drive around. It is no big deal to some but for me it has come in real handy. Just something to think about.
Posted by: mywifesquad
I was thinking you would buy a truck to haul toy's and tow camp trailer. My mis understanding, sorry. Your desire to do this with a budget in mind is probubly what pull's me to this topic. I love camping/riding with all my high dollar (high debt) friend's. They give me a bad time for my '88 4x4 pulling a '79 Jayco. I ask to see the pink slip's for their toy's, funny they don't have them. I have the pink slip for all my vehicle's. I like that feeling and no payment's either. Of course I rarely if ever buy new. Let some one else take the hit in the wallet. That is why I still have all my toy's listed.
