Can you have your cake and eat it too?

[Dennis58]

Hi everyone

New forum member here with a odd ball can you have your cake and eat it too question? I'm about 3 years out from retirement and in the planning stages of putting together a rig that can meet all my needs.

Some background on me I have owned a couple Class A RV's over the years for both full time and part time use as well as tent camping in my younger years. My next camping adventures will combine ATV's on a occasional basis and several trips to the South/Mid West.

I'm drawn to TC's for their simplicity and compactness but the truck payload weight limits gets eaten up quickly going up in size than adding cargo. I'm not looking to drag 30' plus foot of equipment behind my truck so trailers, 5'ers and Toy Haulers are a non starter with me. Everything seems to start in the 27' range for entry level RV's that seem to me anyway to be cheaply built.

So I said if you can't find it just build it. How about a custom built 22' (floor length) trailer with a 5th wheel hookup. I can place a 10-11' TC on the front and have 11' left on the back for a ATV or Side by Side or Golf Cart. I know the Rock Crawler guys do this with 40' equipment trailers so it should be doable.

I'm not talking something thrown together but a well thought out project that is custom built around a TC I choose. The smaller footprint trailer still gives me access to a lot of campgrounds and I have more flexibility for dry camping.

My tow vehicle is a 2019 Silverado Dully Duramax.

What are your thought on that setup?

Thanks
Dennis

[burningman]

I considered the “redneck toy hauler” arrangement myself; but really it makes so much more sense to just put the camper on the truck and pull a trailer that holds whatever you want it to.

Your total weight is less. A big gooseneck trailer is heavy by itself.
Your maneuverability is better. Goosenecks (or 5th wheels) have to make really wide turns because the hitch point is over the axle instead of behind it.
You have more versatility. You can use just the camper or just the trailer anytime you want.

Advantage of the camper on the trailer... I really can’t think of any!

[Photomike]

Really nothing special but

TCer on Tailer

From a while ago

TCer on Trailer #2

A few more here

TCer on Trailer #3

I like the one that they used a trailer

Tcer and Trailer #4

[Marcela]

If there was an easy way to mount/dismount I'd be all over this. Thought about it many times, having a gooseneck trailer to pull with camper on the front and porch with place to haul all your goodies would be nice, then the maneuverability to be able to put the camper in the back of the truck.

I could never come up with an easy way to load/dismount the camper.

[jaycocreek]

Dennis58 wrote:
Jaycocreek, do you have a picture of your neighbors setup?

He lives around the corner from me and last time I saw the trailer,it was loaded down with firewood..He just got back from hunting and dropped everything off and went and loaded the trailer with firewood..

I think it is still loaded with wood and covered..I will look today..

His rig caught my eye because he started with a AF 811 on a very nice looking Ford F-250 4X4 but he quickly traded to the Wolf creek TC..He had the AF on the flatbed first and my wife insisted I go look at it but by the time I got around to it,a brand new Wolf Creek was on the gooseneck trailer.

He puts his TC on some sort of dolly and pushes it into his garage barely clearing the top for the winter...Everything he does with his TC is different than I have ever actually been around..

I will go look today and if the trailer is there,I will get a picture..

[Dennis58]

Jaycocreek, do you have a picture of your neighbors setup?

[jaycocreek]

What are your thought on that setup?

I think it is a good idea..My neighbor has just that setup and I am envious of the way he did it and it's benefits..

I have the TC/ATV trailer setup but If I could get into a trailer/goose neck cheap like he has,I would do it in a heartbeat..Everyone's needs and wants are different and this setup beats the TC/ATV trailer big time for some needs.

I like your idea as I want to do the same thing.

[3TV]

I would go with either of two routes. A) put the camper on the truck, and tow a trailer for the toys. This is what I do, and I think it works very well.


B) Take a look at ATC Aluminum Trailer Corporation . They make some great enclosed aluminum trailers with enclosed living space in the front.

[TxGearhead]

For just a ATV I agree with Grit Dog. Why make this too complicated.
I'm thinking a high capacity single axle. Upgraded wheels and tires with Vault hubs.

[Grit_dog]

Well your truck is big enough to handle either "configuration", but I'd put the camper on the truck and get a little enclosed to pull behind.....for all the reasons Bedlam said.

[Bedlam]

Open trailers are great for oversized toys. Once you get to a certain height or width, it is hard to enclose legally. I am able to tow a larger garage by putting the living quarters on the truck without going to greater overall length.

[jimh406]

I agree that making a plan to put a TC on a gooseneck seems off. Well, unless you can get the TC for so cheap that it’s basically free. If you use a TC most of the time off the trailer, then that makes some sense to put on a gooseneck some of the time.

[Bionic_Man]

I've seen plenty of truck campers and small travel trailers on goose necks, with Jeeps behind them (usually heading out to Moab).

To me, the biggest disadvantage of this is the same if you get a toy hauler. If you can't drive your ATV from your campground, how do you get to the trails? (lots of states do not allow ATVs or golf carts on the road).

[jefe_4x4]

My main consideration here is this:
The farther you get away from a stock, factory set up the more problems arise that you must fix. If you are a masochist, then all bets are off.
Further, if you still have 3 years to go before bailing on gainful employment, you will change your mind over and over again in the meantime. It's good to dream but I would not make any final until you get a lot closer.
This concept was developed by house hunting, near retirement gurus that bade us refrain from those big choices until 6 months before the fact. For a custom RV, maybe 9 months would be better if you don't have immediately available services close by. You never know what is lurking right around the corner.
jefe

[HadEnough]

I don't know why you'd bother with the expense of a TC. The only advantage they have is being able to fit in the bed of a pickup.

Why not get a small travel trailer ans remove the wheels and put that up there?
.
Less money, mates perfectly with the flatbed once the wheels are gone, better accomodations usually, less money, cheaper. Lol

[coolmom42]

Bedlam wrote:
I tow an enclosed trailer behind my truck camper for a number of reasons:

1. I can separate living quarters from garage and take off without a trailer.
2. Having an enclosed trailer protects my toys from the elements when traveling and also keeps those toys out of view when traveling and making stops.
3. I carry extra provisions, parts, tools and riding gear in the trailer. Think about how you will store and secure those items on an open trailer
4. I sized my trailer large enough to either haul toys or a car to get maximum flexibility out of my purchase.
5. The enclosed trailer can become guest sleeping space or additional covered space to eat or socialize if the weather turns wet.

This sounds like a good plan to me.