Hey Boondockers; what TT do you have?

[BPRescue]

Hi All,
Just wondering about those who mostly boondock in remote areas; especially in the west. What TT do you have, and what have you learned, or rather what would you do differently in regard to your choice?

I have a PUP that will go almost anywhere I want to go and rarely do the campground thing. Instead I like to go to remote areas that per conditions and range, eliminate all but those 4 wheel drives. I am considering adding a bit of simplicity, comfort and speed by "upgrading", or shall I say adding to the fleet (I will keep my off road PUP unless this renders it useless), so looking to hear your experiences and recommendations. Someone brought to my attention Outdoor RV's Black Rock series, and it just may be on the leader board per the suspension, stronger frame, etc. Either way, there is no doubt I would hit the occasional full hookup campground, but the priority is dry camping.

I also have solar on my PUP that allows me to dry camp as long as I want sun and propane permitting. In that regard I will be adding 300-400 watts on the camper and doing the 6V battery thing to help here. May get a generator as a backup, or for hot weather camping, but I like it quiet...

Thanks all!

[beemerphile1]

BPRescue wrote:
...What did you put inside yours? You have any issues with gas smell, rubber marks/damage or other environmental issues in having a toy hauler?

BMW R1100GS

I rolled up the carpet when hauling the bike, there are some tire marks on the floor. If the toy doesn't leak, smells and spills should not be a problem.

Since we no longer haul the bike I have gutted the living area and am remodeling everything to be more comfortable. Toy haulers have compromises due to things needing to fold out of the way.

[Huntindog]

webwrangler wrote:
If you're planing on doing what they're doing in the photo, you might as well take all your supplies and cooking stuff and throw it on the floor before you start, because that's where it will be when you get to your campsite. 😉

That road is a piece of cake.. But I did upgrade all of my cabinet door latches.

[carringb]

I also have an Outdoors RV. It gets drug (literally) down many trails. I've had it break loose over the side of a very steep embankment, and have to winch the whole combination up the hillside. I used it about 200 days a year, about half that boondocking. So far since November, its seen more snow and ice than dry pavement!

[1320Fastback]

I use a toy hauler but do ride dirtbikes in our deserts so kinda have too.

Tow to to some remote areas but nothing too extreme being 2wd truck.

Black water will be your limiting factor as noted in a previous post. I've been considering a 15 gallon external temporary dump tank.

[Vintage465]

Also a big fan of Outdoors RV. I have Creek Side 20fq. Basically a 20 ft box. 24 total length. 66 gal of water 300w of solar, 2-6v batteries. Generally able to go 5-7 days out in the 20-30 degree climate. Many models in the Outdoors RV line up and the Northwoods co.

[BPRescue]

beemerphile1 wrote:
When talking trailers, I think toy haulers make the best boondocking rigs.

Large water tanks, built in generator, stronger frames, more cargo capacity.

We no longer haul toys but have no plans to get rid of our toy hauler.

You know, I have considered that and it would resolve the issue of my 12' aluminum boat. I did not like them "as" much in features as a regular TT, but you can't deny all the points you brought up. I will definitely look at them closer.

What did you put inside yours? You have any issues with gas smell, rubber marks/damage or other environmental issues in having a toy hauler?

[daka320]

We have the 2014 Eclipse Evolution T225 TT. Been boondocking in it numerous times here in AZ. What I can say about it is when the dirt roads start to get rocky and rough, we go no further. It just tears up the tt too much.

[BPRescue]

webwrangler wrote:
If you're planing on doing what they're doing in the photo, you might as well take all your supplies and cooking stuff and throw it on the floor before you start, because that's where it will be when you get to your campsite. 😉

Maybe the way you pack. I'm not a rookie webwrangler... :R

[TUCQUALA]

Outdoors would be a first choice, but I'm biased!! They have put a lot of new upgrades on all of the lines they make. Kinda mixed up the way they named them in the past, but if you spend time checking all the brochures, you'll see how they differ and what each line has or doesn't have. The Black Rock has been mucho upgraded, and is aimed at off road use as a selling feature. There are some options now that used to be standard, but the base package is much improved as far as suspension and boondocking capabilities.

Northwoods (Artic Fox & Nash) have many of the same features as ORV has, but has not (at this time anyway) moved toward what ORV has done with its builds. They are very off road capable, but, in my opinion (again!!), at this time ORV has many advantages to Northwood. Yes they are "sister" companies, but built separately and at different locations in La Grande.

We tow our Timber Ridge into the boonies most of the time. Sometimes over roads in WA & OR forests that look just as bad and worse than your stock photo. We have not suffered any problems doing this in 2 yrs of camping. I do wish we would have bought a year later, to get the many upgrades that came right after we wrote the check!!! But some upgrades are already in the works!!!

[webwrangler]

If you're planing on doing what they're doing in the photo, you might as well take all your supplies and cooking stuff and throw it on the floor before you start, because that's where it will be when you get to your campsite. 😉

[Sandia_Man]

We have a toyhauler TT that I've taken down some pretty rough roads, of course we are going very slow while doing so. We prefer to boondock and with over 100 gallons freshwater and over 40 gallons of fuel onboard we can easily go a couple of weeks. Blackwater tank is our limiting factor. Our solar panels significantly reduces our genny runtime for recharging our pair of 6 volt GC2 batteries. Obviously we can't go everywhere a truck/tent camper can go, but our 4wd Chevy HD and/or our ATVs can get us to spots we want to hike.

[beemerphile1]

When talking trailers, I think toy haulers make the best boondocking rigs.

Large water tanks, built in generator, stronger frames, more cargo capacity.

We no longer haul toys but have no plans to get rid of our toy hauler.

[BPRescue]

profdant139 wrote:
Is that a PUP in that picture?? It looks like maybe a tall hard sided pup?

The picture is not of my PUP, it is just one I searched to show someone with a TT on a modestly rocky road... Trying to paint a picture I guess...

[profdant139]

Is that a PUP in that picture?? It looks like maybe a tall hard sided pup?

Anyway, I have a very small TT that we use for offroad boondocking. (Not really offroad -- off pavement, rocky dirt roads). It's a 12 foot Fun Finder, modified for rough travel. See links in my signature for more details.

But honestly, if you want maximum off road capability, a truck camper is the king. We decided that a TC is a little too cramped for us. So we use the TT as a remote base camp. During the day, we take the truck to really rough areas. Sometimes there is a TC at the trailhead. Sometimes the road is too rough even for a TC -- low branches, narrow trails, etc.

Anyone interested in using a TT for rough roading must be aware that a TT will slow you down. You can't go fast over big rocks or you will damage the frame, even if the TT is lifted.