Info on cab over campers

[Texas Diesel]

We are looking at getting a cab over for the 3500 and selling the 5th wheel.



Any information on cab overs, mounting, pitfalls, towing a trailer behind etc.



Can you get a cabover for a flat bed? Seems like there would be more room.



Can you get a genset or do you lose too much room.



What are price ranges for used? New?





We know nothing about them, help!

 

[Jumbo Jet]

#ad




LPG Gensets are available for most. The Lance has space and all the wiring and plumbing to add one. I just don't have one.



Extended hitches are available. As you can see, I pull my BBQ smoker behind mine.



The 1030 has a dry bath (separate shower) as opposed to the wet bath (shower while sitting on toilet).



Prices range from upper teens to $30k +. Some dealers have left over year models. I knew one dealer that had brand new 2002 models this past summer. Warranty was good and price was about $9k less than new.



My unit is a 1999 used by an older couple that traveled from CT to FL and back twice a year. She wanted the camper so she could have her own bathroom - did not use public toilets. The camper still had the plastic protecting the carpet. Camper is just like new. You can find quite a few used campers that have hardly been used. I bought this camper for just over $10k. I don't think they ever used the oven.



I have seen campers on flatbeds that had additional trim panels to fill in the open space.



How many people will be traveling/camping together? Mine is great for two, crowded with three. We traveled about 4,000 miles with ours from August to December. I have a 3,500 mile trip planned for March. I average about 13-14 MPG running 65-70 mph.



I have a fifth wheel also. There are times we need it too. The wife and I really enjoy traveling with the TC. We bought an older, cheaper TC a couple of years ago to determine if one would work for us.



The Lance 1030 has all the appliances and conveniences that my 31' 5th wheel has, except the room!



Here is a good place to gauge the prices of used and new http://tn.adventurervcenter.com/ . This is where I bought mine. They are the #1 Lance dealer in the Eastern US.

 

[Texas Diesel]

Thanks for the info JJ.



Lots of good reading. We are going to start taking a month off every year and travel. We need to be able to take the BMW's with us on these trips.



Just not sure we could survive 4 weeks in a CO camper. But toy haulers are huge. Right now we have a 23' 5th wheel and it is just about perfect, size wise.



Nice smoker... Need an assistant BBQ chef? Taste tester??

 

[paguilera]

Campers and weight

We have gone thru several campers, from pop up to a Bigfoot 10'6" and are now camperless due to a fire in Baja... 15 years worth of conclusions with a 95 v10 2500 HD and, now, an 02 3500 4/4 ctd. Conclusions... ;. You must use a frame mount tie-down (and don't buy any tie down... do some research (I prefer Tork-Lift)... bed mount camper tie downs may result in serious damage to the bed (IMHO. . others have different experiences)... . a big camper may still damage your bed... . use a rubber bed mat and keep the tie-downs properly adjusted... . not tooooo tight... use only a spring loaded tie down..... the real issue is weight... . a big camper, with all the options, will show a base weight of, say, 3200 pounds... but the options will increase the weight to 3600 or more. Then, load it down for a year long trip and weigh the whole rig. On the way back from such a trip, I weighed in and came up with a weight of 5000# for my bigfoot 10'6" and all the gear we were hauling... . (my wife likes to collect!). In order to handle all this weight I added two full size leaves and re-arched the rear, in front I uprated the springs with the next size oem spring, then rancho 9000s all the way round. It rode like a truck!!!... but it did the job. I am now in the process of going KORE all the way round as I will be towing,,,,by the way... . even with all the anti-sway goodies, a big camper will limit where you can go... yeah, I went off road a good bit in Baja and the US, including 40 miles across the back of the Tetons. . (watch your height... my truck with the bigfoot, went 12 vertical feet}... . but I also broke my bed (on both trucks) and think the world of firestone air bags... a must... . but find someone who really knows how to install them... I don't think they are enough, by themselves, to handle a really big camper (unless welded to the frame, not bolted)... but others may think otherwise...

Oh yes, whatever you do, buy fiberglass exterior... I love bigfoot campers, heavy, but weatherproof... I haven't tried a flatbed, but I think an aluminum flatbed would be great... with lots of room for storage... fuel, etc... . also, with a class V hitch and a stinger, you can tow... I towed a 20 foot boat, loaded with gear, to baja and back lotsa times... . as for gen sets... I can take them or leave them... . I have had generators... they take up lotsa space, use about a 20# bottle of propane in 24 hours... and take up lotsa space!!!!. . Our last rig had 2 batteries aboard, 150 watts of solar (2 75 watt panels and a charge controller) and two extra group 27 batteries in the wheel well... we could do about two weeks in rainy weather and never charge... . and put a bbq, a big cookstove, and more, where the genset went... (. you can always buy the unit, " generator ready" if you want) of course you can't run a/c on solar... . and I think my extra batteries may have been overkill... . but, hey, when you really need a/c go somewhere and plug in, or carry a genset... for when you know you will camping on the beach for a couple weeks... but you can live with a couple 12v fans over the bed and a serious 3 speed fan hatch... (a must anyway) Hope this helps... Paul

 

[Texas Diesel]

That kinda cinches it, dont want to go through all the mods for a heavy CO camper. Or bed/frame issues.



We looked at CO campers today and pretty much decided to bite the bullet and get a toy hauler.



We are thinking about getting an Artic Fox, any opinions on Artic Fox brand? Or suggestions now that we decided on a toyhauler?



TIA



Any suggestions on dealers in Texas?

 

[dward]

TX Diesel,

I could write pages to your questions. I recommend the website RV. NET and look under truck campes. You will find as much info on truck campers as you find about CTD's on this site.

I would say it is the most versatile RV.

 

[Texas Diesel]

We're back looking at them again. I saw the 10'6" w'slide ArticFox and we are waiting for the dealer to get his new shipment in.



Thanks, I'll check it out.

 

[ERobinette]

I have a 2002 AF 99 that I'm very happy with. I highly reccomend Artic Fox, the factory goes the extra mile to make sure they have happy campers. Feel free to PM with any questions. Ed

 

[Regcabguy]

Duals!

Chrysler does not recommend slide-in campers on srw's. Lack of stability,etc. Be sure and go w/DRW and you'll be safe!

 

[Texas Diesel]

Looks like the Alpenlite is our #1 choice. But at ~$33k it's only about $5k less than a 33' toyhauler. Kind of hard to justify but we sure like the 11'6" w/slide out. It will have 2 50W solar panels, charge controller and dual batts, plus a 2500 LPG genset. The slide makes all the difference. Air bags were suggested and a Cat 5 hitch for towing the MC trailer behind it.



We have had a 38' newmar, 16' Aerolite and now the 23' Sportsman. But with the new hobbies (BMW motorcycles) we need a bed and bike storage.

 

[KWinterborne]

If you are really trying to decide between a 5er and a TC, aside from the obvious living space differences, another point you should consider is the holding tanks and the type of camping you will be doing. Remote camping in a TC for an extended time frame can be challenging. On the other hand, you are more maneuverable which makes remote camping easier. :-{}

I second the recommendation to RV Net http://www.tldirectory.com/cforum/index. cfm

I spend more time on there then I do on here.

For us a TC was the only way to go as we take our boat with us a lot. Plus I do like the smaller and more maneuverable aspects of the TC.

Ken

 

[Dkuhlman]

I also highly recommend spending some time on RV. NET regardless of which way you go. Then start narrowing down the specific brands.



We've had about every combination of RV at one time or another. We currently have a 26' Toyhauler that can handle our big cruisers or my Vstrom and her BMW. What we like about this setup is we can drop the trailer and take the truck if the weather turns nasty. No sense riding around in the rain if you don't have to!



PM me here or as Slow Rider on RV. NET if you want more info.



Good luck,



Don

 

[Texas Diesel]

Thanks for all the info! I'll check out RV. NET as soon as i get a little time.



Today I found a Lance 921 w/slideout. Hopefully I can get some feedback on that brand/model.

 

[jmtandem]

Texas Diesel,



BMW motorcycles are made to be ridden, not trailered. Why not ride them where you want to go and have the fun of riding instead of driving?

 

[Texas Diesel]

Texas Diesel,



BMW motorcycles are made to be ridden, not trailered. Why not ride them where you want to go and have the fun of riding instead of driving?

Bad weather, destination of 1000 miles or (much) more, clothes, dog, back surgery wont allow long days in the saddle, like to have our own bathroom, dont want to have to motel hunt every night or deal with reservations, not every place we go has facilities, camera gear, snorkling gear. Probably forgot one or two dozen other reasons...



Biggest reason of all: We're OLD!!!!! 1000 miles on the R-90/6 was no prob when I was 20.

 

[jmtandem]

Glad you are still riding, I own a BMW LT.

 

[Rman]

I too have a Lance 1030. Suits my needs very well. Very well equipped and well built. Things may seem "cheap" inside, but when saving weight that's the way it is with all campers of any type.



The weight issue is a biggie, have a DRW is definitly helpful. I haul mine with a 2500 SRW, it's managable. Torklift tie downs are VERY nice. I have the happijac system on my truck and have been pleased with it. No bed damage and hunt alot and have taken my camper into some very precarious places. To each his own. I have the torklift frame mounts on the rear though. My bumper was replaced and I wasn't too keen on drilling my new buckstop bumper.



I suggest the fastgun tiedown's from tork lift. I'm get tired of putting on the happijac tiedowns.



Good luck with your decision, most of all have fun!

 

[SmithB]

Jmtantem I ride a K1200lt also

 

[Grizzly]

I really do like my Lance. In the 8 years we have had it there have only been three problems with it with the most serious one being the Generac generator. It was still under warranty and was replaced. It's 11' 3" and sometimes we could use more room, especially on a long trip. There are other good brands out there, but none with the quality of a Lance.

 

[Dkuhlman]

Bad weather, destination of 1000 miles or (much) more, clothes, dog, back surgery wont allow long days in the saddle, like to have our own bathroom, dont want to have to motel hunt every night or deal with reservations, not every place we go has facilities, camera gear, snorkling gear. Probably forgot one or two dozen other reasons...



Biggest reason of all: We're OLD!!!!! 1000 miles on the R-90/6 was no prob when I was 20.

Yeah man! Went to Asheville last summer for a week and we got to ride all over the BRP, Deals Gap, the Skyway, etc. . But on the days it rained we took the truck to Cherokee one day to play the slots and the Biltmore Estate on another. We still do motorcycle camping for 2 or 3 day trips but anything longer and the toyhauler comes along. It's definitely having your cake and getting to eat it too!



I should mention I was looking for a truck camper and enclosed cargo trailer at first. I wanted one of the pop top campers so I didn't have a high profile on my 4x4 but I just couldn't find what I wanted. And by the time I started adding up the cost of the camper and and trailer, it wasn't the much more for the toy hauler which I got a 12 year loan on an get to write off my taxes as a vacation home. Sweet! Plus I get to use the big CTD like it was intended for!