Cab over vs TT

[dpuckett]

My girlfriend and I are planning a trip out to Colorado, WYoming, and/ or Nebraska this early summer, and have been looking for campers, either to put on the truck, or pull behind it. We have found an older 16ft TT for $650, but also a cab over camper for $250. The difference will almost buy a good bed for the p/u to put the cab over on, so that is not an issue.



She is leaning toward the TT- more room, not as top heavy, more amenities (relatively), and you can unhook it to go touristing.



But, I contend that the Cab over will mean less wiring, brakes, overal weight (though not necessarily less fuel used, due to wind resistance), easier to park when on the road (truck stops or campgrounds), fewer tires to worry about, less space at home during the week than the TT.



Neither one of us have looked at either one, just seen the ads. I am making the assumption that they are structurally sound, otherwise we'll get pass on either or both. I also realize that for the asking prices, they could need a bunch of interior work, but once again, I can handle that as well. My father has a cab over on his 92 W350, and it gets tipsy in the wind, but the p/u does with a regular shell, too, (long story) so I cant really make a definitive assessment there. I'm thinking with a sway bar, new shocks, proper stabilizers and tie downs/ chains, whatever, for the camper, and dropping 5-10mph, we should be more than safe.



WHat do you guys think? I'd like to hear opinions and experiences, good or bad, with either set up. It is just the two of us, so space isnt a real priority . Whatever we get will also be used for closer to home weekend excursions as well.

 

[EricBu12]

Well, the decision is as diverse as the people or persons wanting it for the type of RV-ing you want to do... . and you have scratched the surface on your quest.



There are pros and cons to different kinds of RV's out there. I/my family (parents) have had almost every kind



Pop-up,... 17' tt,... 20' tt,... . 28' Motorhome,... . 9' slide in camper,... . 27' 5th wheel,... 29' 5th,... .



My Trailers so far have been a 28' toyhauler TT, and now a 36' toyhauler with 2 slides.



During the early times my parents took us on vacations and we were 4 kids so the TT and the motorhome were made for lots of sleeping. (8 for the moho).



So since you are only the 2 of you, that narrows the choices. any chances of children? Will your RV now take the new additions?



TT's are very flexible and there are alot of different floorplans that make it livable rather than camping. Sometimes the difference between a camper and a TT is like a tent to a trailer. .



In your situation, space is mostly more important,... . Gotta have room for food, clothes, BEER , ... Elbow room, places to store things like leveling blocks, chairs, firewood, emergency supplies, etc. You will find that in a camper, you will be putting things on the rear ladder, on the roof, build a platform on the rear to store things... . Even for a short trip or local getaways... . The newer campers that have slides are nice but are as much as a trailer so unless you are a loner on a trip to alaska or remote places, trailers are better.



I would recomend a regular TT about 20-25' long..... The 16' is OK of it has enough storage. Some newer TT have pass-through storage outside that go under the bed.



Your wife has the right ideas and one of them is the unhooking to sight-see... also allows storage in the truck if you want like a tool-box, shell, toneau cover, etc for that all important storage.



Another thing to consider, in a camper, ALL of the RV is on the truck so that reduces how much you can have. Even having extra tires and brakes and such, your GCVW is higher with a TT than with a camper for your GVWR.



Some insights and personal likes:



Fridge on the passenger side. (reduces chance of flame out from passing trucks)



min. 6 gal. water heater... they make 12 gals. (have it in my 36' 5th)



Make sure the tires can handle the GVW of the trailer. (ex. my 36' 5th is 15,500 GVW and that is what the 6 D rate tires can handle)



On the older trailers, try to look extensively for water damage, leaks and such. Some are hard to see unless you look.



Don't get a trailer that has a 3 way fridge or if you do get one with it, get a new fridge, be much happier and less trouble.



On a TT you will need a equalizer even on a light trailer, makes more of a solid connection and less wiggle... you might want a anti-sway slider as well.



other than what I have said, the only other thing to consider is the floorplan to work for you. bed in front, kitchen in the rear or front,... . a walk-through bath or side room style. . lots of options... . I know you are limited when looking at used and less than $1000 but you never know what you can find...



Hope all this helps. I truely would recomend a TT but thats me. good luck on your adventures...



Heres my latest RV and will have for a long time...



#ad




#ad




In this pic, you see the dinette on the right, it is on a slide with the couch, the door to the 12' garage for the toys.



#ad




#ad




Shot of the garage for my quads. This trailer has all of the things I mentioned above and then some. It is a comfortable trailer to "Live" in and to go out to the desert and have fun



#ad




Every garage has to have a workbench and this one is no exception... also have a compressor... .



#ad

 

[Hokey]

trailer vs camper

Well, the decision is as diverse as the people or persons wanting it for the type of RV-ing you want to do... . and you have scratched the surface on your quest.



There are pros and cons to different kinds of RV's out there. I/my family (parents) have had almost every kind



Pop-up,... 17' tt,... 20' tt,... . 28' Motorhome,... . 9' slide in camper,... . 27' 5th wheel,... 29' 5th,... .



My Trailers so far have been a 28' toyhauler TT, and now a 36' toyhauler with 2 slides.



During the early times my parents took us on vacations and we were 4 kids so the TT and the motorhome were made for lots of sleeping. (8 for the moho).



So since you are only the 2 of you, that narrows the choices. any chances of children? Will your RV now take the new additions?



TT's are very flexible and there are alot of different floorplans that make it livable rather than camping. Sometimes the difference between a camper and a TT is like a tent to a trailer. .



In your situation, space is mostly more important,... . Gotta have room for food, clothes, BEER , ... Elbow room, places to store things like leveling blocks, chairs, firewood, emergency supplies, etc. You will find that in a camper, you will be putting things on the rear ladder, on the roof, build a platform on the rear to store things... . Even for a short trip or local getaways... . The newer campers that have slides are nice but are as much as a trailer so unless you are a loner on a trip to alaska or remote places, trailers are better.



I would recomend a regular TT about 20-25' long..... The 16' is OK of it has enough storage. Some newer TT have pass-through storage outside that go under the bed.



Your wife has the right ideas and one of them is the unhooking to sight-see... also allows storage in the truck if you want like a tool-box, shell, toneau cover, etc for that all important storage.



Another thing to consider, in a camper, ALL of the RV is on the truck so that reduces how much you can have. Even having extra tires and brakes and such, your GCVW is higher with a TT than with a camper for your GVWR.



Some insights and personal likes:



Fridge on the passenger side. (reduces chance of flame out from passing trucks)



min. 6 gal. water heater... they make 12 gals. (have it in my 36' 5th)



Make sure the tires can handle the GVW of the trailer. (ex. my 36' 5th is 15,500 GVW and that is what the 6 D rate tires can handle)



On the older trailers, try to look extensively for water damage, leaks and such. Some are hard to see unless you look.



Don't get a trailer that has a 3 way fridge or if you do get one with it, get a new fridge, be much happier and less trouble.



On a TT you will need a equalizer even on a light trailer, makes more of a solid connection and less wiggle... you might want a anti-sway slider as well.



other than what I have said, the only other thing to consider is the floorplan to work for you. bed in front, kitchen in the rear or front,... . a walk-through bath or side room style. . lots of options... . I know you are limited when looking at used and less than $1000 but you never know what you can find...



Hope all this helps. I truely would recomend a TT but thats me. good luck on your adventures...



Heres my latest RV and will have for a long time...



#ad




#ad




In this pic, you see the dinette on the right, it is on a slide with the couch, the door to the 12' garage for the toys.



#ad




#ad




Shot of the garage for my quads. This trailer has all of the things I mentioned above and then some. It is a comfortable trailer to "Live" in and to go out to the desert and have fun



#ad




Every garage has to have a workbench and this one is no exception... also have a compressor... .



#ad

Very well put and good sound advise I second that. I was reading the post thinking of how I was going to respond but you said it all! I too would recommend a tt 20-25ft. My first was a 1963 covered wagon purchased in 1989 for 300 $'s and my wife and I used that for 6 years everywhere. I even used in december every year in The Salmon, idaho area on late Elk hunts. I have had a couple of campers but prefer the tt for a lot of reasons that were mentioned but mostly because I liked being able to unhook it and travel around light particularly hunting. I used to find a good RV spot in late fall at a bargained good price since it was after the season and leave it there for a month or so going back and forth on weekends and such to hunt. I currently have a toy hauler 21 ft desert fox which has been very nice but nothing like the beautiful outfit described and pictured on the previous post "Nice outfit!!"

Good luck and enjoy shopping around is part of the fun.

 

[sarj]

I'm in my mid 40's and my woman and I travel for surf with 2 dogs. I've tried 3 TT's before buying what I have. I rented a motor home for 2 weeks once also. I took that back on the 3rd day of the trip, and haven't been in one since. I never seriously considered a cabover. We travel with a 22 foot Bigfoot and it's perfect for the two of us. I 'm picking up a doubledoor caravan shell in the next few weeks for gear storage and kyack/canoe transportation.



Being able to unhook and not pick up camp is a high priority for me. TT is the only way to go. You can set up a safe base camp and go on day trips and overnighters with the truck that way. I'd have to have a real specific reason to want to go with a cabover, and boondock hunting is about the only one that comes to mind. Look at you plans real close before you commit to one or the other.



Starting out 'used' keeps the cost down til you figure what works for you. Once I knew what worked for us, we got the Bigfoot, and 2 weeks later I ordered the CTD. Good luck.



sarj

 

[AMink]

Decided on the Caravan, Sarj? Good for you! You'll really like it.

 

[CUMMINZ]

Toys

It has become real obvious that if a man or woman has the jack he/she can acquire anything we could dream of. Places like BassPro and the like has spoiled our life. I can remember 25 or 30 years ago having to make the frills for camping or sporting. These toy haulers look like the cat's meow. That doohicky that hangs on the tree beside your deer stand?? Guess what you can find it on the shelf. Life is Grand!

 

[dpuckett]

THanks for the replies and insights. THis gives me more stuff to mull over this week. (only have occasional net access, mostly at the shop she works at). No plans for kids now, and we probably wont take a whole lot of extra junk. WE have gone camping before on my buddy's hill farm (as opposed to flatland row crop field), and gotten everything except a cooler (didnt take one that time) behind the seat of her Dakota, so I doubt for weekend deals we'd need much more. WE both pack lightly, esp in the clothing/ accessories dept.



-DP

 

[RCook]

We haul a 19' Prowler TT. We've taken it everywhere, including Alaska. It's remarkably spacious and comfortable - to us, who were brought up on tent camping. If Iwere to go new today I'd probably choose a 19 or 22 Arctic Fox TT. I find a smallish TT plenty big for two - we took four for a month to Alaska. I really like being able to disconnect and go sightseeing. I also like having the truck bed available (and covered) for storage. For one this small you don't really need a weight-distributing hitch. We have one, but can barely tell the difference when we use it.

 

[Grizzly]

Go for the cab over, it's only two of you. You don't need that much space. You can always upgrade at a later time as you needs change. I have sort done the full circle. I started out with a 10 1/2 ' cab-over and as my kids were growing we purchased a 29' Alumalite and when the kids were grown and on there own, my wife and I are back in a cab-over camper. It works for us. Pay no never mind to EricBu12 and his million dollar toys. He just like to count his money in front of poor people. Grizzly



Oo. Oo. Oo.

 

[Joe G.]

less space at home during the week than the TT.

I think the space at home is the deciding factor. I prefer the TT for going somewhere because of the reasons others have mentioned above. However, if I didn't have a place to store it I would go with the cab over.