2005 2500 Slide-In options

[tae73]

I have a question for all you, with the slide in are you still able to pull a trailer on the factory reciever hitch? I have a 5th wheel and seriously thinking of buying a slide in so I wont have to pull doubles to the camp sites.

 

[Lorenz]

I can tow. I use a 12" extension. It may be shorter by a couple of ". Its basiclly a solid 2x2 (or what ever size the standard hitch is) with a sleeve over the last 6" so you can put a standard hitch and ball on the end of it.



I definately wouldn't tow a car with it. The extension exagerates the tongue weight of the trailer and acts kind of like a cheater bar would on the end of a ratchet. The stock hitches on are Dodges are lacking in the meat dept, so I don't trust it to more than my single axel trailer.



There are a couple of companies that specialize in the extension/hitch get up. You can buy one that will extend out to further than what I have and be stronger than the stock hitch w/o the extension. Tork lift is a company I recall off hand.

 

[Lorenz]

Tork lift. Ive never had experience with it. There are others on the market.

 

[LHanus]

I have a Torklift hitch and a Lance 1121. (about 3 foot overhang) Just traveled 3000 mi in early august (colorado - yellowstone - missoula mt - brainerd mn - Black Hills SD back to Boulder co). No problems, most of the time I didnt know I had the trailer unless I looked in the mirror. I was hauling a Jeep Cherokee on a trailer. (My Wrangler had broken down and didnt have towbar brackets for the cherokee) Did use the pac-brake more than I usually do however... ...



Laddie Hanus.

 

[tae73]

Thanks guys, you opened my eyes even more on my choices of campers lengths. I figured I would have to stay with a shorter model to be able to tow behind it. I would be towing a 3000lbs fiberglass walleye style boat.

 

[jmtandem]

Grizzly,



"You won't find a better camper than a Lance. " Lance campers might have a reputation of being nice, but take a new look at the Big Foots, Arctic Fox, Eagle Cap, Alaskan campers, etc. Lance has a lot company these days.

 

[Boomer II]

Grizzly,



"You won't find a better camper than a Lance. " Lance campers might have a reputation of being nice, but take a new look at the Big Foots, Arctic Fox, Eagle Cap, Alaskan campers, etc. Lance has a lot company these days.

You might add Northernlite and Alpenlite to that too.

 

[JIMMMDOG]

You have gotten some good advice about truck campers. I will add my two cents worth. Have you thought about a tow behind camper? It offers more flexibility and allows you to go into a much larger unit. I personally have a slide-in but children soon require lots of gear and its nice to have a full pickup bed to carry it all. If you are set on a slide-in try the Adventurer line. they are made in canada, cost much less than a Lance, have very good quality construction and so far have been great to deal with. they have hardside in many sizes. I personally have the 100 wsb on a 1 ton but the next size smaller will go on a 3/4 ton.

Jimmmdog

 

[smartineau]

Grizzly,



"You won't find a better camper than a Lance. " Lance campers might have a reputation of being nice, but take a new look at the Big Foots, Arctic Fox, Eagle Cap, Alaskan campers, etc. Lance has a lot company these days.

The Alaskan campers are extremely well built, are low profile 8 or 10 foot bed lengths. My boss said no because of the sparse bathroom accomodations. But they are a great camper.



Also as mentioned Northern Lite, Alpinelite, and SnowRiver (US)/Snowbrid(CAN).



steve

 

[Barry]

Remember, buy new and in 36 months you have lost 50 cents of that new dollar spent. Settle down on the units to buy and the ones not to buy. Then start looking. Net work a bit..... let folks know you are looking. Check the local shopper and newspaper. I would rather buy a 3 year old quality unit than to buy a new rat box.



Good luck and good hunting... ... ... .....

 

[Lorenz]

Remember, buy new and in 36 months you have lost 50 cents of that new dollar spent.

Not quite true. You have to know how to buy new in order to sell a year later w/o getting taken to the cleaners.



I bought my 2004 Lance 821 in late 03 for @ $21k (no tax) out of state purchase. Sold it for $19900 Low blue book and kept the torq lift tie downs along with air bags and truck wiring. All in all i didn't loose more than $1k after I had it for 1 yr. I Lived in it for 2 months, honeymooned for 4wks and had the odd weekend trips inbetween.



Though I did buy my Outfitter 2004 used because I figured the resale on it wouldn't be as good. Supply and demand constitutes my thinking here. Smaller name, yet better built, pop up camper has a smaller niche following and smaller user base than a Lance 821 slide out.



good day...

sean

 

[CRuth]

If you go used do a better job of checking it out than I did. Seemed real solid but a few months later I found systemic wood rot. Large part of the reason I made sure my current camper has an aluminum frame.