Bryan Appleby's Amazing Full Time Truck Camping Story
Truck Camper Magazine Can't wait for Part 2 Bryan!
Forum Discussion
Thanks for the follow up post. :-)
I can relate to being solo.... I'm single, and love every minute of it. Are there things I miss out on not having a wife or kids, yes.
The big cargo trailer I have saw its maiden voyage going to OX12 with my Jeep TJ Rubicon in the back. I was way overweight that trip on the rear axle of the truck. As soon as I pulled out on to the road, and drove a mile or two, I was really tempted to go back home and leave the Jeep behind. As the trip progressed, I wasn't too fond of all that weight behind me. The truck worked hard that trip, and heading south in to Flagstaff I was fighting a headwind all day and could barely keep the truck at 50 mph.
During the trip I decided I'd never haul a 4 wheeled vehicle in that trailer again with the truck and camper.
In some regards, I have outfitted my camper in a similar way to yours, Bryan.
When I was camper shopping, I had specific upgrades already planned, to make the camper more suitable for off-grid camping.
1. replace the stereo with one that I could run multiple sources in to, such as USB, MP3 player, TV/DVD player - the game plan was to use some of the extra parts I had taken out of my Desert Fox.
2. Solar
3. Inverter/charger, preferably pure sine wave.
4. I already had a Honda EU2000i, so I didn't want a camper with an onboard generator.
When I started camper shopping, I liked the non slide AF 865 with its opposite side dinette and rear corner kitchen, and huge bathroom it had, but all of the AC electrical and access to the stereo wiring was hidden, which prevented upgrading it easily. The AF811 was the only one in my size range that looked like it offered good access to upgrade to an inverter.
I eventually bought an AF811. I have a 2000 watt Xantrex PSW 2.0 inverter/charger in it, along with 300 watts of solar. Photobucket is broke, so i can't post a photo of it at the moment.
The only thing I'd change about the 811 is to replace the dinette with a rollover sofa, which I've heard is possible at the time of build, (special request)
The big trailer was purchased used, and was only meant to be an "occasional use" trailer behind the camper with a vehicle in it (Jeep TJ), but that only occurred on one trip.
I've used it twice to haul motorcycles in when I go riding. THe time I first did it, the trailer worked well as a work shop when I was finishing up accessorizing my new bike the day before I rode it on an adventure ride.
Not long after I bought the trailer I had to replace the battery in it, so I went AGM. I added a 1000 watt inverter left over from my Desert Fox Toy Hauler.
I don't plan a lot of traveling this summer, but the 3 trips I do have planned are all in June and I've decided to use the big trailer for all 3 of the trips, one of which is the Washington Overland Rally.
I'm looking forward to reading Part 2.
I can relate to being solo.... I'm single, and love every minute of it. Are there things I miss out on not having a wife or kids, yes.
The big cargo trailer I have saw its maiden voyage going to OX12 with my Jeep TJ Rubicon in the back. I was way overweight that trip on the rear axle of the truck. As soon as I pulled out on to the road, and drove a mile or two, I was really tempted to go back home and leave the Jeep behind. As the trip progressed, I wasn't too fond of all that weight behind me. The truck worked hard that trip, and heading south in to Flagstaff I was fighting a headwind all day and could barely keep the truck at 50 mph.
During the trip I decided I'd never haul a 4 wheeled vehicle in that trailer again with the truck and camper.
In some regards, I have outfitted my camper in a similar way to yours, Bryan.
When I was camper shopping, I had specific upgrades already planned, to make the camper more suitable for off-grid camping.
1. replace the stereo with one that I could run multiple sources in to, such as USB, MP3 player, TV/DVD player - the game plan was to use some of the extra parts I had taken out of my Desert Fox.
2. Solar
3. Inverter/charger, preferably pure sine wave.
4. I already had a Honda EU2000i, so I didn't want a camper with an onboard generator.
When I started camper shopping, I liked the non slide AF 865 with its opposite side dinette and rear corner kitchen, and huge bathroom it had, but all of the AC electrical and access to the stereo wiring was hidden, which prevented upgrading it easily. The AF811 was the only one in my size range that looked like it offered good access to upgrade to an inverter.
I eventually bought an AF811. I have a 2000 watt Xantrex PSW 2.0 inverter/charger in it, along with 300 watts of solar. Photobucket is broke, so i can't post a photo of it at the moment.
The only thing I'd change about the 811 is to replace the dinette with a rollover sofa, which I've heard is possible at the time of build, (special request)
The big trailer was purchased used, and was only meant to be an "occasional use" trailer behind the camper with a vehicle in it (Jeep TJ), but that only occurred on one trip.
I've used it twice to haul motorcycles in when I go riding. THe time I first did it, the trailer worked well as a work shop when I was finishing up accessorizing my new bike the day before I rode it on an adventure ride.
Not long after I bought the trailer I had to replace the battery in it, so I went AGM. I added a 1000 watt inverter left over from my Desert Fox Toy Hauler.
I don't plan a lot of traveling this summer, but the 3 trips I do have planned are all in June and I've decided to use the big trailer for all 3 of the trips, one of which is the Washington Overland Rally.
I'm looking forward to reading Part 2.
