My question is how many of you tow your Travel trailer off road, We are considering either a truck camper or a small Travel trailer 19 to 20 ft. wondering how practical is it to tow a Travel trailer in to some of the BLM areas out west. We had a 35ft class A motorhome and found it to limiting as to where we wanted to go. Already have a F250 superduty 4WD with 7.3 diesel so I would like to get something to use with it. Thanks in advance for any input.
I've pulled all my trailers offroad. But that was just dirt or gravel roads. Offroad means different things to different people. I wouldn't pull a travel trailer over rutted trails. Either a truck camper, or best of all a popup, are better for deep offroad.
Just pulling a hundred yards off of a BLM or county road should be doable with small to moderate sized travel trailers. When shopping, pay attention to where they hang the sewage drain point. Some are much better than others. Some are so low that I would never buy one, even for on the highway.
The smaller the better, for towed units...I can take my rig just about anyplace a truckcamper can go and some places where they'd be too tall to fit.
My trailer/tow setup is just short of thirty feet long and very maneuverable since it's "articulated in the middle!
I do have four wheel drive, which I wouldn't be without.
Clearances on rutted roads are of little concern for me, since the setup is narrow enough that I can put one wheelside on the center road hump and one on the shoulder- straddling the ruts!
Of course, one must shut one's eyes to the inevitable branches scraping the side of the trailer/tow.
" Not every mind that wanders is lost. " With apologies toJ.R.R. Tolkien
Jayco has a Baja 12E Pop-up trailer that is rated for off-road use, high ground clearance, off road tires, heavy duty suspension and frame, big 63" load platform for up to 1500 lbs of gear, genny and bikes.
All the ammenities such as slideout, furnace, roof A/C, king beds, porta potty or optional shower/toilet, kitchen, lifetime warranty coverage on our power lifter system, roof, floor, walls and bed frames, 2 year bumper to hitch warranty.
My posts shouldn't be taken for factual data. They are purely fictional, for entertainment purposes and should not be constituted as actually related to scientific, technical, engineering, legal, spiritual or practical advice. Amen.
Off road means different things to different people. Plus, your age also has a lot to do with the type of RV you should get. Several years ago I had a small camper I built for my PU. The inside was about 5 ft high and 8 ft long, not a cab over. It was on a half ton pu with a 6 ft bed. It would go any place and we camped in a lot of rough places where I wanted to be in a hard sided unit, not a tent. I also had a cab over camper later. They are great. The down side is age. The wife and I would have a hard time crawling into a cab over bed, or even sitting for long periods of time at a dining room table if the weather turned bad. When we were younger that cab over bed was no big deal, we loved it. Now we like a TT with a bed we can get into and a couch where we can sit and be comfy. Bottom line, if I was young and agile I'd have a cab over camper in a heart beat. We use our Jayco 19RD for BLM land and campgrounds but not really rough tough camping like we used to do many years ago.
I have a 1989 16' TT that I routinely boondock in well off the pavement, mostly in national forests. I can take it most of the places I took my old PU.The biggest obstacle to that sort of camping is narrow, unimproved roads, tight turns and trees, and a TT up to 20' can generally maneuver them quite well. Then too, the sensitivity to steering input of a short TT allows one to wiggle out of tight spots they'd have difficulty with in a bigger TT.
What tends to limit me is the condition of the road and mostly very rocky conditions. Even at my age I can cover really rough ground faster on foot than in a vehicle so I don't try to get that last 1/2 mile if it would shake loose every screw in the TT. If I were starting over again I'd probably opt for a Nash TT, they're built for off-road travel. But I have no complaints at all with my old Fleetwood, other than a rough stretch tearing the door off my frig and scattering the contents around the TT it's held up great.
Welcome to the club, we don't see many people going to a small TT. You'll be able to camp in places you could only dream about in your MH. Another advantage I found was that if there's any open spot in a campground I can likely fit in it. So I rarely ever make reservations and don't have to structure my trips to be a certain place at a certain time. A much more relaxing way to travel in my view.
Thanks for the input,a lot of valid points some of the points you mention are also are concerns, such as spending time inside in bad weather and the only place to sit is in the dining booth. The last time we where out west with the motorhome I injured my back just as we where leaving Denver, drove as far as Grand junction but by the time we got there my wife had to practically pry me out of the drivers seat. Spent the next 3-4 days lying on the couch or the bed can't imagine doing that in a truck camper! As far as going offroad I don't imagine we would be be doing any serious offroading but I can't say for sure because we where not able to get into any of the the out of the way places before so not sure what to expect. We also never make reservations because I don't want to follow a schedule, if we see something and want to stop we aren't bound by having to be anywhere at a prescribed time.
My son went with a TC instead of a somewhat large 5th Wheel after moving to Alaska to be able to get into small & rougher spots off the pavement.
They make some popup TCs which seem pretty nice, such as: NorthStar TCs
Alaskan TCs for a high/low profile, might be neat.
I totally agree with your statement, "We also never make reservations because I don't want to follow a schedule, if we see something and want to stop we aren't bound by having to be anywhere at a prescribed time." Same here.
We went small (easy of towing, finding sites, easy on mpg towing), but seems it would be too small for your wants/needs. Going Small
A new make called the "Lil' Snoozy" seems to not be too too small & should be sturdy for off the pavement going; however, it seems to all electric as well, but a very nice design, good sized bed. Depending on were you "camp", this would be a really nice trailer if you primary or only stay at campgrounds/RV parks with hookups. This would apply to the EggCamper as well. I have read reports about them; a very roomy small trailer. I've read the Snoozy people can sent it to a nearby company to have gas lines, etc. installed & appliances.
* This post was
last
edited 05/19/12 05:43pm by DesertHawk *
View edit history
DesertHawk - Las Cruces, NM USA
2005 16' Scamp Molded Fiberglass Travel Trailer
Side Dinette, Front Shower & Head
2009 White Ford F-150 Reg. Cab
Long Bed with A.R.E. Molded Fiberglass Topper Wheresoever you go, go with all your heart. -Confucius
Offline
