eagle cap versus host

[kassiejax]

I'm planning on buying a TC preferably late model (2 - 3 years old.

I'm going to be full timing, so I am looking for one with several slide outs, lots of storage separate sitting area and dining area.

The floor plans I like are the eagle cap 1160 or 1165 and the Host Cascade or Everest. I'm also going to need to get a stable lift installed on it. And yes I know I will need a one ton dualy.

I would really appreciate feedback from people with some knowledge about these campers.

Since I live in Florida, I am one or more thousand miles from any place selling them so I'd like to make sure I'm looking at the right one before I drive to a dealership.

Thanks so much for any advice.

[jimh406]

Looks to me like the F450 is about the same for payload in 2017. http://www.ford.com/trucks/superduty/specifications/payload/

[Fish_mojo]

Any thoughts on how the new generation 2017 F450 will handle an EC 1160/ 1165 vs the 2015/ 2016 F450?

[billtex]

Very pleased with our EC...our 2nd AMLRV product. Going in to our 4th season with this camper and so far very trouble free. We spend 50 + nights/year in the camper...it gets used quite a bit and is holding up well.
Purchased from TCW...and still supported by Bill and Ryan...regardless of any business/brand changes they have made, they stand by their Customers and products they have sold.
We would purchase another AMLRV in a heartbeat, especially one with recliners!

Good luck with your decision.

[jimh406]

I have a "small" Host. The one in my signature a 9 1/2 and double slide. It's still heavy. I also have a F450. The springs are light with only 5300 payload, but fine for mine with air bags and energy suspension bump stops and Bilstein 4600s. My truck does have 19.5s and the a large rear axle.

We have liked it a lot for the past 10+ years. They've made improvements over the past few years, but also changed the layout a bunch as well. I think you have to inspect the individual camper especially if used to make a call at what you like best and the build quality of the individual unit. That's not unique for TCs.

I've said this before, but I think if you plan to keep it a long time, consider flying to the Northwest and while here take a look at Arctic Fox as well. Fwiw, Alaska flies nonstop from Orlando to Seattle. I do the round trip most years. It's an easy flight and if you watch, not that expensive either.

[BendOrLarry]

I live in Bend Oregon where the Host campers are made. In 2008 I bought a new Everest triple slide. I put it on a 1 ton Dodge, not a dually. I spent a lot of money on wheels and 14 ply tires to handle the weight. I put on air bags and a heavier sway bar. Had the camper truck combination until a year ago last spring. I pulled a boat and we camped in the winter with snowmobiles. It was a GREAT camper! We never had an issue not having a dually and we took that rig many wild places. I would have preferred a dully mainly for the lower center of gravity.

[Bedlam]

Boatycall, You did the best upgrade to keep unload ride tolerable. My F250 had the same setup as your F450, but I had 50 PSI in the bags so I could carry a 4000 lb TC while towing an 8000 lb trailer.

OT: Before my jaunt out to MN and WI, I replaced my worn out LRD trailer tires with LRE's. About half way through my trip, my trailer caught scrap in the sidewall and toasted a tire with just over 2K on the tread. I'm back to running my LRD spare until I have time to put a new LRE tire on my rim.

[GeoBoy]

Truck Camper Warehouse in NH has a used 2015 Host Aspen for short bed trucks. Bedlam is right, if you are considering a triple slide camper a 550/5500 is mandatory forget all the background noise about a 1 ton dually doing it. Unless you absolutely have to have a TC, a class C would be a better choice.
Truck Camper Warehouse use to sell EC and dropped them because of quality issues and lack of support from the manufacturer.

[Boatycall]

Bedlam wrote:
I'm convinced the F450 pickup has a neutered suspension to increase ride quality.

:M
Grrr... right again.

For having a 14k rear axle, it has pathetic springs when it comes to being loaded, but it rides pretty decent empty. I didn't want to put super huge heavy spring packs under it and have it ride like a tank empty. So I've done the selectable lower Stableloads, uppers, and finally airbags. This way I can ratchet out the lower stable loads, let the air out of the bags, and I still have a pretty decent ride when empty.
I love the Stableloads, but alone they couldn't make up for the stock spring's inadequacies when I carry everything, so I need those + 80lbs of air to sit level as in the pic in my sig.

[Bedlam]

kassiejax wrote:
I appreciate the input about the trucks, I always assumed I would need a big, big truck, Stablelift (I did call them) said they would recommend leaving the jacks on along with the stablelift to manage the heavy weight.

However, I would also like come opinions about the campers themselves. What experience do people have with Host versus Eagle cap.

Also only tangentially related. I was looking at some slightly older campers (2015) and noted that the NADA prices seem to run about $10,000 (an even 15,000) over what the dealers seem to be asking (and those weren't the NADA lowball prices. Is that an accurate picture of the mark up on these things?

Thanks again for everyone's help.

1. Thinking more about the Stable Lift: Can you even use it with a DRW setup? It doesn't swing out like front jacks and would clear a flatbed or rear wheel well lips.

2. The value of a camper is what the buyer is willing to spend. Even if the dealers are advertising a used camper at some price, they have wiggle room to make a sale. New prices on truck campers seem to be around 80% of MSRP. I found NADA and KBB to be a rough guideline as well as ads in CraigsList and RVTrader. The two latter are asking prices, so you should be able to deal 10-20% bellow posted.

[egarant]

Truck Camper Magazine is pegging a fully loaded 1160 at 5,991 lbs and a 1165 at 5,795 lbs. They don't have the data on the HOST unit.

They sure are pretty, that is for sure. You just can't believe that all that space and comfort is on the back of a pick up truck, heated floors, dry baths, full wardrobes, island kitchens, theatre seating, basement storage......that is because is shouldn't be. It's just too **** big! I can see a single slide, but anything more and I say go get yourself a class C and keep another unsafe, aftermarket modified vehicle off the highway.

I have a 2013 EC 950 which is a SINGLE slide and I tip the scales right at my GCVWR of 14,000 lbs.

I can't see how any of these double and triple slides can safely be carried on anything less than a 5500 truck.

But as zb39 said, a gasser will definitely increase your payload.

[Bedlam]

Even though Dana spec's their D80 at 11K lbs, it's easy to get to that weight with one of these big campers that has a lot of storage and big tanks. I don't think the AAM axle is rated for much more, so changing brand of truck will not help you - You need to change the class of truck you are looking to use.

I'm convinced the F450 pickup has a neutered suspension to increase ride quality. This is why I suggested going to a real Class 4 or higher truck instead of this 'tweener that should be called a Class 3.5 pickup (I give it an extra half over any of the Class 3 DRW's). Perhaps Boatycall will be able to slip a chassis cab suspension under his to get better weight handling, but I know he also is looking at other options that are less payload intensive than his current setup. My Class 5 truck when empty is over 10,000 lbs which gives me close to 9000 lbs of payload - The Class 4 trucks are not much lighter (leaves you with 6000 lbs payload), so don't expect to haul one of these big campers with one while towing a heavy tongue weight trailer.

[kassiejax]

I appreciate the input about the trucks, I always assumed I would need a big, big truck, Stablelift (I did call them) said they would recommend leaving the jacks on along with the stablelift to manage the heavy weight.

However, I would also like come opinions about the campers themselves. What experience do people have with Host versus Eagle cap.

Also only tangentially related. I was looking at some slightly older campers (2015) and noted that the NADA prices seem to run about $10,000 (an even 15,000) over what the dealers seem to be asking (and those weren't the NADA lowball prices. Is that an accurate picture of the mark up on these things?

Thanks again for everyone's help.

[zb39]

I think it depends on how you pack etc. My 2016 RAM has a 14K GVW. Both axles add up to 15750K.

The tires are above that. But even at 14K with my wife and I in the truck with full fuel we have a payload of 5700lbs. I agree that if you pack heavy with one of these big campers you will be over 5700. Of course you could make the truck a new 2016 reg cab, 2wd, gasser and now your payload just went up to around 7K
Just some thoughts.

[Boatycall]

Bedlam wrote:
Either make will be 4500-5000 lbs dry once optioned. Once you add your gear and fluids expect to be 6000+ lbs. You may want to reconsider going with a Class 3 DRW and look at a Class 4 or 5 DRW truck.

Why is Bedlam always right??

So yes - I have an Eagle Cap 1160. An F350DRW just isn't going to cut it.

I **had** a heavily modified F350 Dually--F550 springs, StableLoads, Roadmaster swaybars, rancho9000 shocks...etc--pretty much everything you could do to an F350DRW to haul a TC. I had to get a newer F450, it just couldn't do it. My TC is over 6,500lbs loaded---then add the tongue weight of any trailer you want to haul and it's just too much for an F350. Rear axle weight was 11,000, and the Dana 80 in it is rated at 10k. Tires were rated at 2,730lbs each, and I was dead-nutz on their absolute max weight capacity.

I had multiple tire failures due to weight, and I just found out from the person who bought my truck(my uncle) it had a cracked rear outer OEM rim.

I LOVE my new (to me) 2015 F450 - Dana110 rear end is rated at 14k Lbs, and 19.5s stock. Much more stable, and tons of power.

Be VERY cautious buying F450's - 2011-2014 use the Dana80 and 17's and therefore have absolutely no TC carrying advantage over an F350DRW. 2008-2010, and 2015-2017 use Dana110 and 19.5's.

Also worth noting - you're buying a TC about as far as you possibly can from the Mfg's. Host in made in Oregon, Eagle Cap in Yakima, WA.

[mike_kellie]

I agree with Bedlam. I'm currently doing it on a 1 ton dually with a Host Mammoth and researching a Ram 5500 cab and chassis to purchase in the next couple months. It's no fun trying to shave weight for a 2 week trip, let alone full time in one. With a class 4 or 5, storage is possible without thought to consequences. That includes carrying full waste tanks looking for a dump station.