Truck Camper and hauling supplies

[jeepit]

What do you who have truck campers use or pack supplies for camping? My wife n I have a small Lance camper. I like the durable construction, ease of manuvering, favorable MPG but when it comes to bringing camp supplies we are short on room. Wood, extra propane, chairs etc. We have been thinking of a small enclosed trailer to tow behind truck.

 

[fkovalski]

See thread discussion here for my storage solutions--> https://www.turbodieselregister.com/forums/showthread.php?240983-Truck-Camper-amp-box-mounted-fuel-tank

 

[Midnite]

I've just got a small plywood sided trailer that I load up with supplies and throw a tarp over it. An enclosed one would be really nice, but a lot more money.

 

[Grizzly]

jeepit, As you know I too had a Lance truck camper, however it was an 11' 3", but we still were crunched for space. Most especially when we made a trip to Alaska in it. I loved the camper, mileage and maneuverability, but we hated the lack of space. I made a box for the back of the camper to put chairs, wood blocks, fishing rods and other inexpensive items, just in case someone were to steel them, which no one ever did. See picture.



That's the reason why we sold it and purchase a 5th wheel. I don't get the mileage nor maneuverability with it, but we love the space.



george

 

[jeepit]

How did you attach the box? I see it sits on the bumper. I don't have that option.

 

[Grizzly]

It's tied to the ladder very securely and sits on the bumper. Worked well for years.

I also had storage on the roof, which I rarely used.

george

 

[MDM]

I had the same issue as you. I built a 3ft ext. for my hitch and used a hitch haul.

 

[EGroeneveld]

What do you who have truck campers use or pack supplies for camping? My wife n I have a small Lance camper. I like the durable construction, ease of manuvering, favorable MPG but when it comes to bringing camp supplies we are short on room. Wood, extra propane, chairs etc. We have been thinking of a small enclosed trailer to tow behind truck.

We have a larger camper. If we are riding quads and camping we have a whole enclosed trailer we can throw stuff into.

We also sometimes just throw bikes and firewood into our 12' utility trailer.



When we don't want to tow we put the bikes on the bike rack, (we have front and rear hitch setupss). We have one outside storage cabinet on our camper we keep full of wood. If we need more wood we fill up a card board box and just put it on the floor until we get to the camp site. Also our camp chairs fold up and we put them under the dining table while traveling.



Other things you could do would be to get a Thule or Yakima Pod for on top of the camper or a hitch hauler for things like firewood. And there are also hangers for the chairs that use the ladder. One of my neighbors has all kinds of stuff bungee'd to his ladder, chairs, rugs, steps, etc... .



I really do prefer to not haul a trailer unless we are needing to take quads or the RZR. When we are just camping we try to live with the storage on the camper. Then sometime I almost want to set up a 6*10 utility trailer just for hauling behind the camper. I'd setup a nice bike rack on it. And a couple of truck boxes to keep everything locked up and dry.

 

[jeepit]

We usually put tables and chairs up on the bed, coolers on floor, wood in cab on backseat in a box, propane on backseat plus all the other crap my wife needs along. Ineterior of back seat area is starting to show wear after years of loading this way. I try to be as careful as possible but scratches are inevitibale.
I am leaning towards possibly a small enclosed trailer. I could use it for other purposes too and keep everything dry. Moving things when needed etc. . I have a flatbed trailer for hauling the Jeep around but if I use that when weather is bad everything on it gets wet n dirty. Tried a tarp. . that was ok but after driving for hours water gets on everything.
Last fall we did take the Jeep along and loaded that with wood but it seems ineffecient to hall all that weight around. We did, however have the Jeep to go into town for supplies.
Wife wants a travel trailer for the room inside. We are going to a camper show today in Green Bay just to look at what is out there. Then hit Titletown Brewery for beer n dinner.

 

[Grizzly]

That sure sounds like fun.

We really like a our 5th wheel, even though we give up mileage. I actually wanted a 24', but I couldn't order one with an on board generator and 16" wheels. Once you're rolling down the highway with the 5er, you can't even tell it's back there.

 

[jgillott]

We usually put tables and chairs up on the bed, coolers on floor, wood in cab on backseat in a box, propane on backseat plus all the other crap my wife needs along. Ineterior of back seat area is starting to show wear after years of loading this way. I try to be as careful as possible but scratches are inevitibale.

I am leaning towards possibly a small enclosed trailer. I could use it for other purposes too and keep everything dry. Moving things when needed etc. . I have a flatbed trailer for hauling the Jeep around but if I use that when weather is bad everything on it gets wet n dirty. Tried a tarp. . that was ok but after driving for hours water gets on everything.

Last fall we did take the Jeep along and loaded that with wood but it seems ineffecient to hall all that weight around. We did, however have the Jeep to go into town for supplies.

Wife wants a travel trailer for the room inside. We are going to a camper show today in Green Bay just to look at what is out there. Then hit Titletown Brewery for beer n dinner.

I purchased a 6x12 V-nose enclosed trailer 2 winters ago as an ATV hauler. A buddy of mine has a pop up truck camper that he hauls on his Ram and suffers from a lack of room as you have described. He borrowed my trailer once to take with him on a trip and immediately went home and bought one for himself. He loads his with the gen set, wood, sleeping bags, camping gear, extra fuel, etc. and has room to spare. I don't think he even unloads most of it after his trips. Just drops it and the camper in his building and it's ready for the next time out. He has been extremely happy with his choice.



For all they cost, and how useful they are all around, I don't think you are going to be disappointed.

 

[DBentley]

I built a rack for the front of the truck that pins onto the fisher plow mount to take the 120 qt cooler and the firewood.
Then the back seat gets filled up with everything else.
It's nice to have the camper empty after a long day or in the rain so your not unloading to get in for bed.