Well, I thought I would tell a story of my quest to find the perfect camper setup that fits my situation. This might be a long story, so beware. Some might find this boring, and others will laugh their head off. I also will see others saying, what kind of fool would do something like that.
This all started about 11 yrs ago, when I went through that big D word. (Divorce)
I turned into a single parent with 2 kids. I no longer had that extra vehicle pulling the boat when we would go camping. I am not a weekend camper, but I usually take about 5 one-week vacations a year. Now to let you know the problem. Most places we go are anywhere from 1 to 4 hrs away. We are avid water sports nuts. I had at that time about $2,000 worth of water sports gear. I had a motor home (c-class), and a Correct Craft inboard. First problem was to get all this STUFF to the campground by myself. I no longer had the truck and bed cover. The stuff was just in our way inside the camper. Also, I will not leave the boat in the water overnight. So I would have to break camp in the morning to put the boat in the water, and also break camp in the evening to load it back up. And I called this a vacation. This did not work at all. Way to much work.
So, first attempt at solving this. I built a hitch to pull the truck (standard) behind RV, and boat behind truck. I know I know, what an idiot. 45 mph all the way, not enough brakes to stop fast, and the angry looks I received for going slow. All I can say, I was stressed out to the max. Only made one trip like this.
So I sold the c-class and bought a small 5th wheel. Pulled boat behind camper. Had good brakes, (truck and camper). I still did not set any speed records. So I had the truck to take care of the boat problem. The problem now was I was gathering a lot more water sports gear. I was up to about $6000. I could not put this high dollar gear in the bed of the truck anymore. So, I built an enclosed trailer for camping gear and water sports gear. I figured I was going to have too make 2 trips. So I hooked this behind camper and returned for the boat. This worked for several years, and even had relatives help bring the boat a few years.
I was bound and determined to do this myself and make 1 trip. So the quest goes on.
I was on a camper lot looking and wishing for a small toy hauler. Those things are expensive. I only had the 92 5th wheel to trade and about $6000 cash. I was not getting another payment. So, no toy hauler. I did see this truck camper, and my mind started thinking. Now understand that I know nothing about truck campers. I sure did learn quickly though. So I am thinking, camper in back of truck, boat behind truck, and enclosed behind boat. I know, what an idiot.
The dealer made the deal, he really wanted to trade. I found out later why. But that’s later.
So guess what I had, 2000 Arctic Fox 1150. One of the heaviest %$$#$%^ out there. I traded trucks when I got the 5th, so I thought I had enough truck. Ford DRW 350. Wrong!
But I continued with the plan. First I built receiver out of 12 channel with 2 receivers. A 48” long hitch. (My opinion, better than you can buy) I have built another one for someone else since.
I now have a ProStar 190 Mastercraft.
If any one knows about the back of these trailers, you know that there is nowhere to put a hitch. So I built a removable one with pins, and did not mess up the look when it is not there. Can we all say it together, is this guy out of his freaking mind. One trip is all it took. Worse than the c-class, truck, and boat. And yes there is more. The quest goes on.
Now for the reason he wanted to trade. Why I did not see it, or even do the research first on the 1150. Why do we do things when we know better? It had a sagging wall under the slide. It was so bad that the gearbox broke trying to let out the slide. I have to make a quick comment while I am talking about the gearbox for the slide. What a piece of @#$%. Who ever designed that thing, well I think I better not make that comment. They used two chain sprockets as spur gears. Also the biggest sprocket was on the motor. It’s no wonder it struggled when using it. When I called them, they said that they had never had a problem with that, and they wanted to sell me another. Well, after telling them my opinion, I said no thanks. I made my own. Worked better than new, but with one problem. No backup crank in/out. I would have to pull the motor then crank. I did have a way to move it if I had too. Enough of that, back to the story.
I have built a few trailers the last few years and was ready to build another. So the idea of being able to put the camper on it and have enough room to build a ski box was at the back of my mind. The design was not that much of a change from what I was wanting in a trailer. I needed for it to haul a dually pickup. There are several of these trucks in the family and all of them pull 5th wheels. So a 5th wheel hookup was the ticket. I kept my hitch when I sold the camper. Also, not the average person was going to be able to borrow it. That is a story by itself.
$3000 later, (everything new) I had my 20’ trailer. 2 6000-pound axles with brakes. 5” channel for frame, 8” up front and 3” for everything else. The design at the back of the trailer is what allowed me to put the camper on it, and also put a dually on it if I needed to.
The whole reason for doing this is allot of storage in a small area. I am now up to about $10,000 in ski equipment, and need all the lockable storage I can get.
Now I needed to fix the slide. One call to Virginia, and I had a date set to get it fixed. I had yet to see if the camper would go on the trailer. I back it under and saw that I could make it work. I had a couple of weekends to make it work if I was going to take it to Virginia that way. I had to make a platform for it to sit on because of the generator, sewer line and step bumper. And why not put more tanks (black and water) in the frame. So I go online and ordered 5 tanks. Three 36 gal black and 2 30 gal water tanks. One of the 36 gal black is for camping but not part of this story. I built the frame to fit the camper and tanks.
Once I was through with that, I built a removable air deflector on front of trailer.
I finish the install of camper on the trailer 1 day before I was to leave for Virginia.
The hitch weight was only 400 pounds. This will not be a problem once I get the ski box built, but for this trip it was. I put a 300 gal water tank at the front of the trailer. I put around 100 gal (833 lbs) in it. Strapped it down and went on a 5-mile test run. Pulled great and I left sat morning. Had a great trip with no problems. The trip cost about $1000 but was worth it. They put a whole new cradle in it with a new (much better design) gearbox and motor. I struggled with taking it to them. I do everything myself. I could have done a better job of the install, but I am satisfied with the job. I could not have bought the parts for $1000.
I guess I need to explain why the camper is at the back of trailer. First, I did not want or have a need for a flat deck trailer. If I were to use one of them, I would be around the max height of 13.5’. I am at 12’. Plus I have other needs for the trailer. I had to design the rails a little higher than normal, and could not get the back of camper over them without the camper getting too high.
With so much going on this winter (adding on to my shop, putting new floors down in house, and redoing interior of the boat) it will be spring before I completely finish the changeover. I need to build ski/camping box, quick removable step for the back, and hook up the tanks. I already know what to do with the tanks, and it will be worth a picture when I am through.
I actually left out allot, because I do not need to be sitting here doing this.
Now I have a custom 20’ 5th wheel (dual purpose) with a (soon to be) ton of storage, and able to pull my boat. And everything has brakes. There will still be those that say I am overloaded, and I am. But I bet that I am less weight than that factory 5th pulling a bass boat. I know there are things I will never try again, been there and done that. And if someone learns from it, great. I will be the first to say that I am extremely lucky that no one has been hurt along the way. I have actually had a good time doing it. I like to design and build. I hope that this is the ticket, if not, you will get more reading.
i been thinking of something similar. a trailer long enuff for the camper and my jeep on it. in the future building my own tc for a flat bed about 14 ft with a rear living room. thinking a 34 ft trailer, the camper would be removeble, and go on to a flat bed p/u when the trailer isnt needed, or if i wanna put 2 jeeps on the trailer. it will be very heavy, f550 at least to pull it. nice work on the setup you built. perhaps a trailer long enuff for the camper and the boat would be an option fo ya?? 40ft triple axle??
Thanks for the comments.
Now that the main story is told and I have figured out the photobucket thing, I can add some things that I left out. I will just do a little at a time when I get a chance.
I'll start with the first picture I listed. This was actually the 2nd enclosed that I built for camping. The first one I was not too proud of because I did not have a sheetmetal brake. I built my my own brake that is air operated. That is when the 2nd enclosed was built. Here are 2 more pictures of the 2nd one.
The first picture is the shelf's on one side with a cabinet for life jackets in the front.
Look at the second picture and you will see a fan mounted in the back wall. I stacked my extra fridge and freezer on top of one another. The fan is to pull the heat out and also the moisture from the life jackets.
Now for pictures of my first enclosed. The only reason I am posting pictures of it, is because it is just unique. Please dont look at the craftmanship. One side is for camping gear, one side for watersport, and the front for the fridge and freezer.
Prostar your work is just great, I am impressed. I am confused about something, you said you had no need for a flat deck trailer. Looks flat to me so I figure I am missing something. I came up with the idea that a flat deck means the deck is above the wheels, am I close?
'01 Dodge 3500 CTD, Lance 1121, Air Bags, Rancho 9000, All Wheels Under Power When Needed, A Few Engine Mods For Increased HP
Burning Grease, 800 ft/lbs. of torque from something you throw away.
Awesome trailer. I had similar thoughts on a trailer ( day dreaming ) because having something like that to haul stuff on occasion is very nice.
Of course I don't have the place to put it, the money to build it or the welding skills and workshop.
One question... do you ever sleep?
Dave & Sue,
DINKS and dedicated to having fun as much as possible.
05 GMC LT crewcab dually
07 Northern Lite 10.2 CD SE, highly optioned version...
A lot comes on a SE.
Looking at the 7th pic down, I can't figure out how you "backed the trailer under the camper" when the camper jack legs aren't wide enough to let the trailer fenders thru?
'01 Dodge 2500 4x4 QuadCab HO Cummins 6 spd,19.5 Ricksons,Ranchos,Hellwig sway,4 leaf helper springs,Titan V hitch w/28in. extension.
'03 EAGLE CAP 950,slide out,dual batteries,Honda EU2000.
roadranger wrote: Looking at the 7th pic down, I can't figure out how you "backed the trailer under the camper" when the camper jack legs aren't wide enough to let the trailer fenders thru?
Looks like with the dually brackets in the swung out position they would clear the fender.
Thats quite a setup you have there. We have always just carried all the skiis/boards, jackets etc. in the boat, but from the looks of it you have quite a bit more stuff that you bring.
The quality of your workmanship looks very nice. It is amazing what a man, a plan and a welder can do! Oh, and a few bucks.
Greg
"Never argue with an fool, they will only bring you down to their level and beat you with experience"
Nice looking boat. Isn't that a "Protour" edition. What year is it? Without the handle catcher it looks a lot like my '94. Great boat. Mine has the standard engine (275 HP) with the powerslot transmission. First year they had the EFI. Never had 1 problem with it in 13 years. Later, Dave.
Raften wrote: Prostar your work is just great, I am impressed. I am confused about something, you said you had no need for a flat deck trailer. Looks flat to me so I figure I am missing something. I came up with the idea that a flat deck means the deck is above the wheels, am I close?
I'm sorry, I do not know what the trailers are called with the deck above the tires. I just always called them flat deck. I guess they are mostly used for hauling heavy equipment like dozers. That kind of trailer would have put me 14 to 15' high. Later today I will post a picture of the side with the sewer line and you will see the problem with clearance.
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