MH or TC - Which is better to get into the Boonies?

[katet78]

MH or TC - Which has more versatility to get into the Boonies?

We currently have a 25' TT but are considering trading it for a 20'-24' MH or upgrading our truck and getting a TC. We are tired of campgrounds where it's a party/summer camp atmosphere, we want peace and quiet and we know to get that we have to get off the beaten path.

For those of you that have MH's or TC's, which do you find better for taking up a dirt forest service road and dry camping? I would imagine that TC's allow you to go a little further up roads that may not be nice smooth gravel as well as the convenience of dropping the TC and taking the truck if needed. However, MH's have the convenience of just get in and drive (and access to facilities en route) and slightly less setup/break down time than a TC. Does anyone currently have (or had) a MH and find that you wish you could go further with it because you have challenges finding a dry camp site on weekends?

[Gjac]

Everything in life has trade offs. For myself I would rather have a small Class A to camp in and a 4 wheel drive car/jeep to explore. The A will have more FW capacity which is the limiting factor for dry camping. A small A will also have have more storage in general, better suspension , leveling system and more CCC.

[time2roll]

Typical maintained forest service road I would just take your small trailer, small class C should be fine also. Done this plenty of times.

4x4 TC for overland and primitive unmaintained roads or jeep trails such as the above pictures. You will give up some convenience such as smaller holding tanks etc.

[2gypsies1]

We've taken our 40' motorhome on good gravel roads for boondocking, including your state of Colorado. It just depends on what kinds of roads you're thinking of going. We towed a Jeep so once we were set up we used the Jeep for exploring deeper into the boonies.

[FunnyCamper]

OP you also have to take into consideration the size.

A TC is way more mobile than a MH.

but are you willing to camp in a TC? We had one. Only reason was to get us off the dirt, have more conveniences than our tent and we pulled a very big boat behind us 🙂 While they give you what you need, they do not give the comfort of a bigger rv or mh.

So while you want to just 'get out of the campgrounds' it sounds more like you are wanting to just pull off from others, and not climb unbelievable treacherous areas to access, then it is important to remember your comfort and size of your rv that you want to enjoy.

We have a total 34 ft toyhauler trailer. We can go alot of places off the beaten path but we aren't climbing mountains by any means 🙂

[jefe_4x4]

"There are places I would never take either, where I've seen Jeeps towing very small offroad trailers with their camping supplies - a TC would never make it up those roads."

yeah, I know what you mean. I've been there: Goler Wash in D.V. after a T-storm and accompanying flash flood:

My brother John and his TC was with me on the same trip:



At least these rocks will not get stuck in your tread:

[mrw8i]

We camp all over the deserts of So Cal - no campgrounds. Drive miles down back roads, washboard roads - don't see people for days - 100 miles from any store or gas station or highway. Other times we camp in the desert with lots of people around and near towns, but still no campground - so I guess that's boon docking.

When camping in the mountains/forests of California we prefer USFS campgrounds because of the fire restrictions. No campfires/BBQ and sometimes no camp stove when boon docking in the forest, but can usually have a campfire in the USFS campground - but not always. There is one USFS campground we go to yearly, that might have one or two other campers in it.

Wally World - no can't do that.

[katet78]

To clarify, boondocking to us is going away from a campground and just pulling off a road somewhere where (hopefully) there's no one around. We currently camp in campgrounds with our TT.

Thanks all for your posts, they are giving us lots to think about.

[toedtoes]

mrw8i wrote:

BoonHauler wrote:

mockturtle wrote:
IMHO, staying in USFS campgrounds is not boondocking.

X2

Maybe, but my 35' Toy Hauler ain't getting to the ones I go to. My 17' TT can barely make it there after driving down 10 miles of one lane unpaved washboard forest service road with 2000 foot elevation change, and can barely make it around the tiny tight road in the campground.

Not sure when it's boon docking and when it's not. I could skip the campsite and drive another mile down that same road and could call it boon docking. The only difference, no campfire allowed boon docking. Neither has trash, water, electricity, sewage - one has pit toilets but I prefer my own black tank.

Technically, boondocking is the same as dispersed camping. No campground, no facilities. You are just setting up camp out near a trail (service road) somewhere.

Dry camping is done within the developed or primitive campground.

But people mean all sorts of things when they use these terms (like "boondocking at Walmart"), so you can't really assume what the OP really wants to do until they come back and clarify.

[mrw8i]

BoonHauler wrote:

mockturtle wrote:
IMHO, staying in USFS campgrounds is not boondocking.

X2

Maybe, but my 35' Toy Hauler ain't getting to the ones I go to. My 17' TT can barely make it there after driving down 10 miles of one lane unpaved washboard forest service road with 2000 foot elevation change, and can barely make it around the tiny tight road in the campground.

Not sure when it's boon docking and when it's not. I could skip the campsite and drive another mile down that same road and could call it boon docking. The only difference, no campfire allowed boon docking. Neither has trash, water, electricity, sewage - one has pit toilets but I prefer my own black tank.

[BoonHauler]

mockturtle wrote:
IMHO, staying in USFS campgrounds is not boondocking.

X2

[mockturtle]

IMHO, staying in USFS campgrounds is not boondocking.

[RedRocket204]

mrw8i wrote:

BoonHauler wrote:

Muddydogs wrote:
You mean I can't take my 30 foot toy hauler up forest service roads to dry camp? Well don't tell my trailer that since it thinks it can go about anyplace my truck will go. I don't 4x4 my trailer but in general it works just fine on most FS roads, a 25 footer would be even easier to tow around.

I'm going to give it a shot with my 36 footer .... 🙂

There are places we take our 17' TT, that we would never take our 35' Toy Hauler. I know we'd get stuck in the Toy Hauler. There are places I would never take either, where I've seen Jeeps towing very small offroad trailers with their camping supplies - a TC would never make it up those roads.

Yep, exactly. What hasn't been addressed is the amount of very tight switch-backs one can encounter in the CO high country. You would never take a 30 ft trailer up those as you will get stuck. If you are willing to plan not going to those areas, then so be it but the OP has not stated avoiding areas as such.

Sure, an Earthroamer would be awesome if you've got $200,000 plus to spend... and they are out of Longmont area to go and checkout. A TC or a custom Transit/Sprinter van is going to be the ideal vehicle for high country CO get-aways barring you are not intent of full-blown 4x4 rock crawling, part breaking type 4x4ing.

[mrw8i]

BoonHauler wrote:

Muddydogs wrote:
You mean I can't take my 30 foot toy hauler up forest service roads to dry camp? Well don't tell my trailer that since it thinks it can go about anyplace my truck will go. I don't 4x4 my trailer but in general it works just fine on most FS roads, a 25 footer would be even easier to tow around.

I'm going to give it a shot with my 36 footer .... 🙂

There are places we take our 17' TT, that we would never take our 35' Toy Hauler. I know we'd get stuck in the Toy Hauler. There are places I would never take either, where I've seen Jeeps towing very small offroad trailers with their camping supplies - a TC would never make it up those roads.

[BoonHauler]

Muddydogs wrote:
You mean I can't take my 30 foot toy hauler up forest service roads to dry camp? Well don't tell my trailer that since it thinks it can go about anyplace my truck will go. I don't 4x4 my trailer but in general it works just fine on most FS roads, a 25 footer would be even easier to tow around.

I'm going to give it a shot with my 36 footer .... 🙂

[Muddydogs]

You mean I can't take my 30 foot toy hauler up forest service roads to dry camp? Well don't tell my trailer that since it thinks it can go about anyplace my truck will go. I don't 4x4 my trailer but in general it works just fine on most FS roads, a 25 footer would be even easier to tow around.