Limits?

[Jaxie]

We currently have a Sportsmobile 2WD and are kicking around the idea of getting a 4WD vehicle. Not sure yet whether we want to go with another Sportsmobile or with a truck camper. (We currently have a Dodge 1500 and it's getting time to buy another. If we go the truck camper route we'd buy a 2500/3500).

My question is this, where do you have to "watch out" where you are going?

I already know that driving around most urban areas isn't fun in a truck but it's not bad. What I want to do is go down forest service roads and do some touring. By which I mean driving around and if I see anything interesting just pull over. So 4x4 for the forest service roads (I'm not talking the White Rim Trail here, just some dirt/gravel roads with maybe a lot of overgrowth).

Is it pretty easy to travel this way? I guess I look at all that overcab/height/weight in the back and wonder how it affects the truck handling etc.

Thanks

[jimh406]

Almost all main forest roads in WA/OR have a high canopy to allow for fire trucks and logging trucks. Secondary roads can be lower and more narrow, but usually not by much.

As long as you have strong tires to deal with the large rocks that they rock the roads/gravel with, you should be fine.

You could always sample some of the roads you think you will travel and take a look.

[dadwolf2]

A 4wd Sportsmobile is very offroad capable but obviously we are biased toward the versatility of a 4wd truck & truck camper.

Since you don't have a truck yet I would recommend going straight to a 3500. Even with a pop-up you won't have too much truck for the camper.

"Where do you have to watch out?" Even in the Southwest, with a pop-up, I've had to watch out for low overhanging Juniper limbs. Mostly I've had to watch out for width as the Joshua trees and Cholla stretch out their fingernails along my truck & camper. I've had to watch out for granite as I went through the Needles tunnels (boy was that one tight). I've come within an inch of touching the rear overhang crossing a dry ditch.

"Is it pretty easy to travel this way...how it affects truck handling" Yes, it is very easy to travel this way. Probably very similar to your Sportsmobile. You just drive it like you would a truck. If you watch the weight and don't overload your truck you won't experience white knuckle driving. My wife has no problems driving our truck camper.

I look at Jefe 4x4's list and I see a seasoned camper who isn't afraid to use it. You pay to play rough!

[jefe_4x4]

With a truck camper you get a 'feel' of how wide, how tall, and how long your rig really is. You learn to bob-and-weave around things that might tear at your siding and develop an eye about your own clearance. To mitigate the size/clearance problem I bought one of the narrowest, least tall, and lightest hard side campers i could find for a short bed truck. We have been some interesting places with Minum. Of course, everything, and I do mean everything in a truck camper set up is a compromise. With our smaller footprint and height clearance comes smaller tanks. The way you save on weight is with lighter materials and smaller tanks and appliances. Plus, leaving a lot of heavy, useless stuff at home; not pressing down on your suspension.
None of this 'off-road' travel is a free ride, however. Here is the list of stuff that went south while trying to negotiate routes that were slightly too narrow for passage:
1. Top bathroom small vent smashed by passing branch. replaced.
1a. Half of the aluminum luggage rack railing torn off. Sealed the holes and capped off the end that was left.
2. Fridge side vent torn off.
3. Side flood light ripped off.
4. Fridge roof top cap ripped completely off by a passing Joshua Tree. Replaced recently.
5. L. frnt. clearance light smashed, twice.
6. Large dent in the R. frnt. of the cabover from a passing unmovable tree.
7. Stove exhaust vent has been nibbled away by passing flora. Now also has a pivoting tab to keep it down in place.
8. many long, deep scratch marks on both sides of the camper.
9. Installed a latch on the water jug compartment floor-level near the rear door. Those six heavy 1 gal. jugs refused to stay put over undulating terra.
10. installed an improved freezer compartment latch after the orig. part broke.
11. Have not replaced the broken frnt window due to speeding AK truckers on gravel roads.
12. Replaced ladder on rr. after backing into a gigantic tree in Glacier N.P.
To wrap it up, you will soon find how far you can go. It's a period of adjustment we all go through.
I just hope nobody here winds up with my old Lance when I'm gone. Heaven help you.
regards, as always, jefe

[silversand]

....sounds like you want to navigate both urban and tight little-maintained "service roads".

We have been doing this since we picked up our pop-up truck camper (Outfitter Caribou) in 2005. Parking and navigating all manner of urban areas across North America: no problem, with our 2500HD long bed, and 8-foot pop-up. Just check underground parking for height if you go this route.

Have fun!
Silver-

[Jamm3r]

Jaxie wrote:
We currently have a Sportsmobile 2WD and are kicking around the idea of getting a 4WD vehicle. Not sure yet whether we want to go with another Sportsmobile or with a truck camper. (We currently have a Dodge 1500 and it's getting time to buy another. If we go the truck camper route we'd buy a 2500/3500).

My question is this, where do you have to "watch out" where you are going?

1. Branches and other overhead obstructions. If there are just a few you can trim them with a pole saw
2. Unusually narrow road areas or brush extending into the road, depending on how many scratches on your rig you're willing to tolerate
3. Mudholes longer than your wheelbase.
4. Fallen logs and similar obstructions, unless you're willing to saw them and clear them.
5. Potholes and uneven areas bad enough to pose a tipping hazard or that may cause the side of the camper to tilt into brush or other obstructions
6. If the rear of your TC overhangs the back of the truck then you're at risk for dragging the back of the camper when you hit a dip in a rutted road or when there is a sharp angle upward in the road.
7. Areas intended more for Jeeps than pickups may require a shorter turning radius than you can achieve

Be aware of the legal/political environment around you as nationwide the trend is towards closing roads to vehicles if they truly require 4wd for access.

Is it pretty easy to travel this way? I guess I look at all that overcab/height/weight in the back and wonder how it affects the truck handling etc.

The overall handling situation will depend on your rig. I find that tree branches are the main limitation. In the desert southwest it might be different.

[cewillis]

There are several here that do just as you describe, including me, with little unexpected difficulty -- but it's always a good idea to watch out where you're going. A popup tc saves a little overhead room, but several also use hardside. You need to be aware of the camping rules in National Forests these days.