Life with a trailer behind...

We have a basic 8-1/2 ft x 16 ft body cargo trailer - we tow it behind our 3500 - using a Super-Truss system and an Air-Safe suspension coupler.

We don't like travelling without it because it completely eliminates the fore and aft "camper jiggle" we get when not trailering. Our camper does not have cowl struts like a Lance.

The ride is eerily smooth on the busted highways of our region when hooked up to the trailer via the Air-Safe system.

The trailer is our garage - bikes, plus chairs, outdoor cooking stuff, tools etc.

We like.

I also tow a 8.5x20 trailer behind my truck camper. Mine sits low with dropped torsion axles which makes towing and loading easy but you have watch driveways and unimproved roads. I am under 50' overall length (23' trailer and 25' truck/camper) and fit most pull through sites. Wider sites that are short allow me to double park in a 25x20 footprint.

Consider upgrading the axles to the heavier models for the same size. My trailer is over 3000 lbs empty and then I carry two vehicles, 84 gallons of water, 25 gallons of LPG and 17 gallons of gasoline which all make the weight creep up. Soon I will be installing solar and a battery bank in the trailer which will easily add 500 lbs by the time I'm done.

If I decide to go bigger in the future, I will go with a stacker (think of a double decker) instead of going any longer. Too may times we use the ferry system in our area that charges in 10' increments and I want the length to stay at 50' or less to keep charges down and campsites open.

I even put an awning on the big trailer:

Life with a trailer is my life. Having a trailer has never been a hindrance to me.

I started with a 6x12 and used it from 2010 through last year when I sold it. I sometimes kick myself for selling it. I sold it because it wasn't big enough for the uses I put it through outside of camping. I use it for other things, and the size was starting to test my patience.

It never was a problem. Prior to selling it, I took it on most all of my trips. The only times I didn't take it was when I went to AM Solar to get my solar installed in 2010 and a few trips when I took my mobile garage (8.5' x 20') with my Jeep in it, or multiple motorcycles.

The only trip I have ever taken without a trailer was to AM Solar. I have been doing the truck camper thing since 2010. Truck has 40k miles on it now, and a high percentage of them are with the camper on board.

Two words describe towing a trailer: Adapt & overcome. It will only be a nuisance if you let it be.

I have never had a problem getting fuel.

7x14 is an ideal size. If the wheels / fenders are totally outside the trailer box, it will be nearly just as wide as the camper, which means you can see it out of both mirrors while backing up.

My 6x12 had a track width narrower than the camper. If I was trying to back up in a straight line, I couldn't see the trailer until it was crooked.

6x12 didn't give much room for gear in front of the motorcycle(s) I hauled.

I want to get either a 7x12 or 7x14 to replace the 6x12 I had, but I'm not in a big rush to do it.

The 6x12:



The 8.5 x 20, which I still have. I scored this beauty from Craigslist and made a 600 mile road trip each way to get it.



The 6x12 was my motorcycle and gear hauler when camping. I carry things like lawn chair, patio rug, generator and gas, and other misc camping stuff.

I sold the 6x12 about 2 weeks before my big motorcycle adventures last year, so I used the 8.5 x 20. It's huge and doesn't have a lot of ground clearance when going in and out of driveways off city streets, but who wants to tow such a behemoth on city streets anyway?

One thing I will highly recommend to anyone looking at getting a trailer, and you may have to special order it to get this feature, is get one with a tongue at least 48" long.

Dealers that don't have a clue will order all their trailers with a standard 36" tongue, and that short of a tongue isn't conducive to most truck camper uses. the camper will likely hit the front of the trailer in a sharp turn. You can adapt to the problem and get a longer SuperTruss extension though.

When I bought my big trailer, I thought I'd need a longer SuperTruss, so I ordered one, then discovered I was OK with my short one.

Do I like having a trailer? YES!!
It gives me extra storage space for gear, even if I don't haul a motorcycle.

you get used to it being back there pretty quickly,and you do have to pick your gas stops accordingly.i always try for the outside pump lanes.backing them isn't as bad as it seems.just dont crank your wheel when backing.a little goes a long way.

Install a back-up camera, not a cheapie, and not wireless. It really makes a big difference, with or without the trailer. It es especially great with the trailer, for connecting, backing and monitoring the trailer while on the road.

I have had my back-up camera since 2005, and it has never failed to work. I flat tow a Suzuki Samurai. I thought the camera would only be worth while when towing. I was wrong. Backing up a TC in a parking lot is a piece of cake with the camera.

Don't forget it is back there. surprising but it is easy to do. When switching lanes leave plenty of room.

Artum Snowbird wrote:
Short trailers are not easy to back up, but the best learning is done when it's not a panic. Hook up the trailer and look in your mirrors to see how far you can swing and still make the curve. If you go to far, it is impossible to correct, you have to drive forward to make the curve smaller.

X2
The best thing you can do is practice and you can do that without the camper on your truck, just use your mirrors without looking over your shoulder or using the center rear view mirror.
Even 7ft wide will be almost invisible to you until you turn or at least wiggle. A back up camera would help a lot.
Having your bike for exploring and errands would be nice.
Happy camping.

ANother question along the way- many campgrounds want to know how long your rig is before you reserve a given space. Of the limit is 35 feet. My truck and trailer behind it total 40 feet with the truck being 25 feet. If I understand right I just call it 25 feet and disregard the trailer, or tell the campground folks it is 25 feet and a 14 foot trailer?

For fuel stops, choose a truck stop or other pump with lots of space.

So far as getting into a site, you probably will have enough space in many sites to drop the trailer where you want it, and then put the truck where you want it. If you decide to back in, work with your spouse to develop a system. Take your time, and if in doubt, get out and look.

Lots of info on here about how people get assistance backing (or not.)

And don't cut a right hand turn too tight and scrape the trailer.

Short trailers are not easy to back up, but the best learning is done when it's not a panic. Hook up the trailer and look in your mirrors to see how far you can swing and still make the curve. If you go to far, it is impossible to correct, you have to drive forward to make the curve smaller.