Who Tows with a Cab-over Camper?

[BigDan]

I was thinking of getting a cabover camper and then hooking up my car trailer. I dont like thoes super light pop up campers because they dont have anything in them just a bed and sink. I've seen people towing big cabovers with a hitch extention since the camper hangs so far over the back of the truck and I dont think that too safe towing the weight of my trailer. Is there a cabover that has a ****ter and a shower that I wouldnt have to use a hitch exention. I might be ok with a outside shower. Does it get crazy towing with a cab-over and a trailer. I'm towing about 7,000lbs



Thanks

BigDan

 

[nwjetboat]

I have a 81/2 foot cab over with an inside toliet and outside shower. Wet weight of the camper is about 2400lbs. I also tow a 6500lb boat, with a tongue weight of 285 lbs. I installed a set of firestone ride-rite air bags for stability reasons.

The 81/2foot models do not require an extension.

Cross winds can be a pain on two lane roads, you just have to slow down a bit.

A headwind with a cabover will make you think you have an anchor tied to the rear of the truck.

I do know several that do have 10foot campers that weigh in the neighborhood of 3000lbs and tow similar boats. They both use air bags and have extension hitches and have no problems.

 

[wcjp]

Check out Torklift. With the SuperHitch and weight distributing setup you'll be able to tow 7,000 pds of any extension you need.



www.torklift.com

 

[Boomer II]

I've got a Bigfoot 10. 6 and tow a Jeep on a trailer behind that. I built a 30" extension like the torklift that works fine. My Jeep and trailer weigh approx. 5500 pounds.

 

[JWhitcomb]

I carry 5K and tow 4K and there is no way I would do it without training wheels.

 

[Rams-n-Hogs]

I've got an 8 1/2 ft S&S that is fully self-contained, (inside and outside showers). Weighs about 2500 wet. Doesn't need an extension to tow with. I pulled a car trailer (about 8000 lbs), with the camper from Alaska to Maryland with no problems.



Jim

 

[MGordon]

I looked up the info on my Reese Class V hitch and extension.



With a weigh distribution hitch you can tow 8000lbs (800lbs tongue weight) at a 24" extension. For a weight carry hitch the numbers are 6000lbs trailer (600lbs tongue weight).



If you go out to the maximum extension 34" to 41" the weight distribution hitch gives you 6000lbs (600lbs tongue weight) and a weight carry its rated for 4500lbs (450lbs tongue weight).



So you could go as long as 10' for a camper as long as you use a weight distribution hitch.

 

[SMorneau]

I have a 1993 Elkhorn 9. 5 ft hardside camper and I use the factory, POS, hitch with about a 12" extension to tow an enclosed, aluminum, tandem axle snowmobile trailer with a couple of ATV's in it, maybe 3500lbs. The factory hitch broke and was rewelded. I also added the MOPAR hitch repair brackets. Not good enough for a car trailer. Obviously you already figured out you need a more adequate hitch.



My camper weighs in at about 2,600 lbs loaded and with air bags and Rancho 9K shocks it handles well. Like anyone with a brain, I drive more conservative speeds with a load. I understand the point about the training wheels but I would much rather deal with 4 nice 19" commercial tires on decent rims. I just don't think the duallies are worth the effort if you don't need them all of the time and the 19's are nice. The dually trucks have the same axles in front and that is the best reason to keep the camper as light as you can anyway. You can get a bigger camper than a popup and be happy if you stay on the road, drive carefully, don't exceed the rating of the tires, tune the tire pressures, airbags, and shocks and have good trailer brakes.



If you get the torklift setup they have a nice attaching system for the rear of the camper. I am not so sure about the front setup, I think it could cause some major damage to the frame if it were struck on an obstacle. I would fabricate my own belly bar to hold down the front. JMO.

 

[Desperado]

I have a 9. 5' Lance full self contained with in side and out side showers weight is 2780# I have to use a 12" extension to pull my 4600# 20' aluminum boat total weight is about14000# no problem. Last weekend I pulled the Lewiston grade (7% for 7 miles) with this load and was able to climb at 60mph with a lot of pedal left, I think that I could have done 70 mph but I would have had to back out of it to make one of the corners.

 

[drtrox]

And then there was this guy that I saw at a Flying J in western PA. The Boat was CT and the truck was WA. .



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[JWhitcomb]

I sure would stay far from that if I saw it heading my way.

 

[sheldon]

I have a Summerwind 811s camper on my truck and tow a car trailer with my 51 Ford Woodie on it. Fully loaded it is about 16,500 pounds. I have aig bags and have had no problems. Was very leary of the extented hitches so I went with the most camper without sticking out the back. The sad part is that Summerwind went out of business last November. There may be a couple lying around.

 

[pcarlson]

I have the Bigfoot 8'11" and tow my 7'x12' tandem cargo trailer just fine. I did go with a Reese class V hitch and dropped the factory one. The Reese is 2. 5" tube verses the 2" factory hitch. The extension is 2. 5" and is a pretty heavy duty unit plus you can cut these to the lenght you need. The standard 2" receivers only sell extensions to 18". Anything over that someone made it. So if you use a slide in and need an extension over 18" you will need a different hitch.

 

[ray1933]

MPG/Towing

Desperado

What kind of milage do you get with your 95 hauling the load around. With our 10. 6 Alpenlite driving with out a heavy foot staying under 2000 RPM's and no head wind to speak of we run 16 to18 MPG. Different story with the horse trailer behind.



We had a custom extenison made and had the factory hitch reninforced. But it takes to men and a small boy to put it on.

But it does work good.

 

[Mtngoat]

What kind of air bags are you guys using??



Robin

 

[ray1933]

Towing with a camper

Firestone Ride Rite Airbags. I use 60 psi with just the camper, 70 with the boat trailer and 80 psi with the horse trailer behind.

Have used Ride Rite Air Bags starting with my 91 Dodge.

Common sense driving makes for a very safe towing rig.

 

[Desperado]

Re: MPG/Towing

Originally posted by Ray

Desperado

What kind of milage do you get with your 95 hauling the load around. With our 10. 6 Alpenlite driving with out a heavy foot staying under 2000 RPM's and no head wind to speak of we run 16 to18 MPG. Different story with the horse trailer behind.

Ray, I'm not sure I haven't check the mileage with the hole mess I also have a really heavy right foot, I have to fill up soon so I'll post what I get when I can.

 

[Demon Dodge]

I tow a 28ft 3 axle car trailer behind my 92 with an 11. 5 ft Vacationeer camper. I made my own hitch extention. It triangulates to the bumper with 2 2x2 pieces of 3/16 wall tubing. I have never had a problem with it and we have been all over the country pulling the race car around.

 

[Desperado]

Ray, the last trip out was about 70% hills that are around 6-8% grade and with my heavy right foot (moss don't grow on a rolling stone) I only managed 14mpg, but was able to cruise at any speed I wanted, usually around 65mph and that is even up the hills.

 

[nwjetboat]

Mtngoat, I use Firestone Ride-Rite. Had them on my previous '97 pickup with no problems.