Forum Discussion

downtheroadIgo's avatar
Feb 04, 2017

Weight of bed ends

A number of years ago, I was active on the tent camping forum, here.
We had to give up camping because my wife has some medical issues and setting up camp was getting to be a bit much. I was never a minimalist camper. I loved my toys. :)

We've rented cabins in some of the areas we like to go to, but it's not the same and we miss the state and national park campgrounds. We're thinking about getting a trailer.

We both agree we don't want to have to drive a truck or a very large SUV. We're looking at new cars and it looks like our towing limit will be around 3500 lbs or so. We've ruled out pop-ups because the set-up is somewhat involved. We did have one many years ago. I've researched regular trailers a bit and anything in that weight range is very, very small.

However, it looks like there may be a few nice hybrids that fit in that category. I do have one concern, though, about lowering and raising the bed ends. From what I understand, this works best as a two person job. I'm confident my wife can handle the inside part, my question is about the outside part. I'm 68 and in good health. However, I don't expect to get much younger, as time goes by. Just how heavy are those beds and are they difficult to raise and lower. I remember the bed ends on that very ancient pop-up were supported by large galvanized pipes and were quite heavy. Someday lifting that that much weight well over my head could become an issue.

I would appreciate any advice anyone can offer.
  • When choosing a tow vehicle and trailer, in addition to the weights you will also have to consider the frontal area of the trailer. Looking at the Ford towing guides, for example many smaller vehicles are limited to 20 or 30 square feet of front area of trailer. (7 1/2 feet wide but only 3 to 4 feet high). Better suited for a pop up.
    Our one and only long trip with a 2000 Ford Windstar and HTT trailer averaged only 4 mpg. Worst trip ever.

    On the bunk end question, the bunk ends are not that heavy, but could be a bit of a challenge to get fully closed and latched, depending on your dexterity.

    Ken
  • The untold story of the "magical" 3500lb GVWR trailers is that they have very little cargo capacity.
    Plus vehicles with that towing capacity, almost always have the frontal area limitation that any hybrid TT will exceed. That's usually minivans and CUVs.

    Suggest you look at something like the RPod or T@B.

    As far as the bunk doors go, I'm 62 years old and have no problems raising and lowering the doors by myself. And I've had shoulder surgeries.
  • I can't speak to the weight issue, except to say that 3500 lbs is misleading. I have a small hybrid and a Ford Explorer and they JUST fit.

    As to the bed ends being a solo thing, my answer is NO. I camp alone and I need a second person to help put them back up. It's not that they're heavy, but the canvas must be tucked in as you go, along with the cables. (Easing the bed ends down is no trouble at all.) If I won't have help, I just turtle. It's no trouble at all.

    Of course I'm biased, but I think hybrids are the way to go. I'm a fan of sleeping under canvas whenever possible.

    Happy camping!
  • My old hyrbrid weighed in at 4100lb for a normal weekend and 4400 for a holiday weekend. Could not tow it with a 5.3 v8 trailblazer with a 3.42 rear.
    Was that vehicle light years ahead of the cuv garbage presently offered.

    They eliminated the 6100 to 6600 class of tow vehicles for daycare variationts poorly suited for off trail, snow and towing.
  • I see where you say you don't want to drive a "truck" but I pulled my Jayco X17C with a 2012 Nissan Frontier with no problems. It's smaller and drives more like a car. As far as the weight of the ends, they are not heavy...just a bit cumbersome. As someone stated above, making sure the canvas is tucked in seems to be the hardest part. I tend to get in a hurry when folding the ends up and have to hold the bunk about half-way closed while tucking in the canvas. There are probably work arounds that could help you with this.
  • We had a Starcraft 21SSO hybrid for many years. I had no problem taking the beds down or putting them up by myself. Weren't heavy at all.

    I folded the canvas towards the middle and folded it up. Never had to do the tuck thing. Might be how it was designed, perhaps some are easier than others.
  • I'll give you a newbie's perspective.... Taking down the bed ends is easily a one-person job. The hardest part may be simply reaching the latches (depends how tall/short you are).

    Putting the beds up can be done by one person, but I find it helpful to have DW tuck in the tent ends on one side while I do the other. It isn't heavy, but it does take two to make sure there's no canvass caught in the side.
  • I have a 2011 Starcraft AR-ONE 15RB.The unloaded weight is 2490 lbs and the same unit without the fold-out bunk end would weigh 2260. So for my unit the bunk end would adds approx 230 lbs. This most likely includes the internal bracing needed since the fold down door is relatively light The bunk end adds a lot of inside space which sometimes I just use as storage when camping. Great place to put grand-kids when they come along.

    I have towed it short distances with my Subaru Forester, but normally use my Ford Explorer. A 2500 lb unit I believe could easily be towed with a Ford Escape or similar SUV.

    See my 15RB at My Campers.