My wife and I took our truck and camper to a wedding event this weekend and stayed a few nights. While we were there, I showed her some of the posts of guys getting Hosts, etc. Now SHE wants a Mammoth for more room. We have discussed Class A, C, and B, but like the versatility of a truck and camper. I made sure she understood that also meant a much bigger truck to haul that unit. She didn't blink an eye. Finally, I did the quick math on total cost and still, no blinking. I think I might be in the market for a Ram 5500 and Mammoth...? I really wasn't thinking about upgrading, I like my current set up a lot...mistake?For now, I will likely price it all out and go from there.I'll go back and read the Mammoth posts in more detail, but we want to customize it of course and decide on some other items. My brother-in-law sells for a local Dodge dealer so I can get a good deal on the truck. Decisions.

Heheh, boy I hear that one.. Luv the 5500... no worries on loads etc. Mine does lean a little to the RT side, Ram dealer said springs were ok, so might think of air bags to level it. Driving no problem-O... fun eh?That'll teach ya not to go to weddings. LOL... From a Northern Lite to a Mammoth, Yikes.. heheh, quite a move... kewl... (fellow camper has a NL likes it but felt cramped, going to a toy hauler or AF 811 (short bed).good luck with the new rig.. sounds kewl..PS. My brother live in Normandy Park for years... nice area..liked it..

What ever it takes to keep momma happy.Happy wife happy life!

fpoole, What length of bed/wheel base is your 5500? I will need to get a flatbed installed too.Surprised to hear your truck leans a little. I was hoping I would be able to get away without upgrading the truck suspension, like I did on my current truck: airbags, anti-sway bar, rancho shocks, 19.5 tires/rims. Maybe stops that engage the springs sooner would work? I thought airbags could be a possibility.We had a AF 22 foot trailer, but we both like the truck and camper better (went back and forth). I love my Northern Lite, but we plan to use the camper on more extended trips in the future, more room might make the wife happy?Nice area, we like it. Don't tell anyone. ;)

Make sure to figure overall height with a Mammoth up on top of a flatbed Getting in and out isn't an issue, I'm pretty sure you can order it with an elevator :)

Tizi wrote:fpoole, What length of bed/wheel base is your 5500? I will need to get a flatbed installed too.Surprised to hear your truck leans a little. Yah, leaning, so was I, surprised. It's why I went with the 5500... figured I wouldn't have to do anything and certainly didn't want "Worry/Calculate" stuff...It just could be something is amiss on it, haven't really looked deeply into, but next truck servicing, in a few weeks, I'll have them take a deeper look at it. Only thing I can think of is the Slide out is on that side, but still, shouldn't make a difference.Truck: I order the Standard? maybe longer close to the 10' mark, Cab Chassis with a 9'+ frame and then had a 10' Silverlake mfg, (ID) flat bed put on it. I used to have a Polaris XP1k buggy that needed to fit on it to a staging area if needed (have a winch in the head board area)... I like the flatbed as I'm able to store bins along the side and it's secured by the side railings, locked. So, it works out well.This is how it looked with a smaller buggy, ACE 900..

Did I Make A Mistake? Wife Wants New Rig! | Good Sam Community

fpoole
Explorer
Apr 23, 2017
Heheh, boy I hear that one..
Luv the 5500... no worries on loads etc. Mine does lean a little to the RT side, Ram dealer said springs were ok, so might think of air bags to level it. Driving no problem-O... fun eh?
That'll teach ya not to go to weddings. LOL... From a Northern Lite to a Mammoth, Yikes.. heheh, quite a move... kewl... (fellow camper has a NL likes it but felt cramped, going to a toy hauler or AF 811 (short bed).

good luck with the new rig.. sounds kewl..

PS. My brother live in Normandy Park for years... nice area..liked it..
WNYBob
Explorer
Apr 23, 2017
What ever it takes to keep momma happy.

Happy wife happy life!
Tizi
Explorer
Apr 23, 2017
fpoole, What length of bed/wheel base is your 5500? I will need to get a flatbed installed too.

Surprised to hear your truck leans a little. I was hoping I would be able to get away without upgrading the truck suspension, like I did on my current truck: airbags, anti-sway bar, rancho shocks, 19.5 tires/rims. Maybe stops that engage the springs sooner would work? I thought airbags could be a possibility.

We had a AF 22 foot trailer, but we both like the truck and camper better (went back and forth). I love my Northern Lite, but we plan to use the camper on more extended trips in the future, more room might make the wife happy?

Nice area, we like it. Don't tell anyone. ;)
burningman
Explorer II
Apr 23, 2017
Make sure to figure overall height with a Mammoth up on top of a flatbed
Getting in and out isn't an issue, I'm pretty sure you can order it with an elevator :)
fpoole
Explorer
Apr 23, 2017
Tizi wrote:
fpoole, What length of bed/wheel base is your 5500? I will need to get a flatbed installed too.

Surprised to hear your truck leans a little.

Yah, leaning, so was I, surprised. It's why I went with the 5500... figured I wouldn't have to do anything and certainly didn't want "Worry/Calculate" stuff...

It just could be something is amiss on it, haven't really looked deeply into, but next truck servicing, in a few weeks, I'll have them take a deeper look at it. Only thing I can think of is the Slide out is on that side, but still, shouldn't make a difference.

Truck:
I order the Standard? maybe longer close to the 10' mark, Cab Chassis with a 9'+ frame and then had a 10' Silverlake mfg, (ID) flat bed put on it.

I used to have a Polaris XP1k buggy that needed to fit on it to a staging area if needed (have a winch in the head board area)... I like the flatbed as I'm able to store bins along the side and it's secured by the side railings, locked. So, it works out well.

This is how it looked with a smaller buggy, ACE 900..
fpoole
Explorer
Apr 23, 2017
burningman wrote:
Make sure to figure overall height with a Mammoth up on top of a flatbed
Getting in and out isn't an issue, I'm pretty sure you can order it with an elevator :)

Heheheh, yah, that's about right, an elevator...
The bed kicks it up a little and that first step is a Lulu...

Aside from getting the Torklift Glow Steps, couldn't afford them, I got a Step Giant and it works well. Slides right in on the floor when closing up... Sturdy...

Leaning:

and finally, the side storage... I really like. Also, I have a little room in the front/head board area..

The smaller Action Packers fit just perfectly. The bigger ones do too, but I fill them up and they get too heavy, so prefer the smaller ones..

Hope that helps... but a ladder is needed for access.. total rig is apx 12'6" so 13'....
jimh406
Explorer III
Apr 24, 2017
Can't wait to see one more Mammoth!

I'd consider it if I wasn't working on remodeling a house and ranch. One other thing to keep in mind is your MPG is going to go down. Overall, we can't complain about a rock solid platform with worse MPG. It's not like an large RV gets good MPG.

Your wife needs to take a look at the Mammoth threads. :)
Tizi
Explorer
Apr 24, 2017
fpoole wrote:
Tizi wrote:
fpoole, What length of bed/wheel base is your 5500? I will need to get a flatbed installed too.

Surprised to hear your truck leans a little.

Yah, leaning, so was I, surprised. It's why I went with the 5500... figured I wouldn't have to do anything and certainly didn't want "Worry/Calculate" stuff...

It just could be something is amiss on it, haven't really looked deeply into, but next truck servicing, in a few weeks, I'll have them take a deeper look at it. Only thing I can think of is the Slide out is on that side, but still, shouldn't make a difference.

Truck:
I order the Standard? maybe longer close to the 10' mark, Cab Chassis with a 9'+ frame and then had a 10' Silverlake mfg, (ID) flat bed put on it.

I used to have a Polaris XP1k buggy that needed to fit on it to a staging area if needed (have a winch in the head board area)... I like the flatbed as I'm able to store bins along the side and it's secured by the side railings, locked. So, it works out well.

This is how it looked with a smaller buggy, ACE 900..

That length looks good for a mammoth. Nice set up. Yes, I mentioned to the wife the flatbed would cost more...
Tizi
Explorer
Apr 24, 2017
fpoole wrote:
burningman wrote:
Make sure to figure overall height with a Mammoth up on top of a flatbed
Getting in and out isn't an issue, I'm pretty sure you can order it with an elevator :)

Hope that helps... but a ladder is needed for access.. total rig is apx 12'6" so 13'....

very helpful!
Tizi
Explorer
Apr 24, 2017
jimh425 wrote:
Can't wait to see one more Mammoth!

I'd consider it if I wasn't working on remodeling a house and ranch. One other thing to keep in mind is your MPG is going to go down. Overall, we can't complain about a rock solid platform with worse MPG. It's not like an large RV gets good MPG.

Your wife needs to take a look at the Mammoth threads. :)

That's what got her started. I showed her a few pictures...now I am spending a another rainy day getting quotes. Those trucks aren't cheap. My brother-in-law quoted the truck I want at $50K. Geez.