new light weight camper

[bruce_and_tanya]

Looking for a new camper. We have a Toyota Tacoma, able to pull 6500# max. We were looking at the Koala camper and the Freedom Express. We like the rear living room with the recliners in the back. RLS model. We want the slide also. Are there any other campers out there that will fit our needs.

[djsamuel]

Don't know if you're interested, but figured I'd throw this out. We recently purchased a Camplite 21BHS travel trailer. It has a box length of 21' (overall length of 24'), a queen size bad, two bunks and a dry bath. Has a dry weight of 3499 pounds and a GVWR of 5000 pounds. The trailer is made of aluminum with no wood at all. We really like it. The 21BHS as well as other models/floor plans can be seen by CLICKING HERE .

[1stvee]

I can't help you with a TT model. But, be careful with the length and hitch weight of the trailer. I towed a 2450 Trailmanor with a v6 Tacoma DC. It did great. I moved up to a 5.6 v8 4Runner that would tow approx. 8500 LB. I went to an RV show and bought a Cruiser Inc. 24SD ViewFinder TT 4450 LB Dry. The 4Runner pulled it up Colorado Mountains like it was not there. Problem, The length, hitch weight plus short wheelbase caused it to squirm and sway so bad it was "white knuckles" all the way, even with WD hitch and 2 sway control bars. Traded the 4Runner for 5.7 v8 Tundra DC 10000+ tow rating with tow pkg. With WD hitch (no sway bars) I forget the trailer is back there. I am adding rear air bags to the truck only because I carry a 3200 watt Onan/Cumins Gen and lots of other stuff when we go to the mountains. Be sure you hook one up and pull it around some before you buy.
Good luck... 1stvee

[mdcamping]

No problems towing with my 07 Tacoma, got over 100k (towing and non towing) and I'm able to maintain 62 to 67 MPH while keeping the rpm under 3k 95% of the time.

Mike

[Mike_Up]

Also don't be confused by the term ultra lite because they can be heavier than standard weight trailers. See my thread here.

[BarneyS]

legolas wrote:

star 2008 wrote:
APEX Ultra-Lite Travel Trailers

An Apex Travel Trailer does not just start off as a frame, walls and roofs… it begins with an idea! Our belief is that getting the little things right is a BIG THING! The Apex is not like other lightweight trailers… it is much smarter because we set new, higher standards for this innovative, truly lightweight trailer.

What makes an Apex smarter? Quality – Lightweight – Innovation – Eco-friendly – Design.

Each and every Apex model must achieve high scores in each of these standards in order to earn the Apex seal of approval. Our rating system is gathered and driven by the end user… you the customer… in order to produce a quality and most customer friendly lightweight trailer on the market!
http://www.coachmenrv.com/products/apex.aspx?page=floorplandetails&floorplanid=4511
278RLS

Hitch Weight 681 lbs. (309 kg)
Base Weight 4,777 lbs. (2,167 kg)
GVWR 7,000 lbs. (3,175 kg)
Cargo Carrying Capacity 2,223 lbs. (1,008 kg)
Exterior Length 30' 5" (9.3 m)
Exterior Height 10' 2" (3.1 m)
Exterior Width 96" (2.4 m)
Fresh Water Capacity 49 gal. (185 L)
Gray Water Capacity 33 gal. (125 L)
Black Water Capacity 33 gal. (125 L)
Awning Size 16 ft.

This sounds like a commercial sales pitch to me.

Where is the moderator?

I agree that it does look like a commercial pitch but in looking at his other posts, I think he was just trying to be helpful to the OP and simply posted a copy/paste from the manufacturers website. He should have probably stated it was a copy/paste. In my opinion, no mod action is needed, although I am not the mod of this forum.
Barney

[legolas]

star 2008 wrote:
APEX Ultra-Lite Travel Trailers

An Apex Travel Trailer does not just start off as a frame, walls and roofs… it begins with an idea! Our belief is that getting the little things right is a BIG THING! The Apex is not like other lightweight trailers… it is much smarter because we set new, higher standards for this innovative, truly lightweight trailer.

What makes an Apex smarter? Quality – Lightweight – Innovation – Eco-friendly – Design.

Each and every Apex model must achieve high scores in each of these standards in order to earn the Apex seal of approval. Our rating system is gathered and driven by the end user… you the customer… in order to produce a quality and most customer friendly lightweight trailer on the market!
http://www.coachmenrv.com/products/apex.aspx?page=floorplandetails&floorplanid=4511
278RLS

Hitch Weight 681 lbs. (309 kg)
Base Weight 4,777 lbs. (2,167 kg)
GVWR 7,000 lbs. (3,175 kg)
Cargo Carrying Capacity 2,223 lbs. (1,008 kg)
Exterior Length 30' 5" (9.3 m)
Exterior Height 10' 2" (3.1 m)
Exterior Width 96" (2.4 m)
Fresh Water Capacity 49 gal. (185 L)
Gray Water Capacity 33 gal. (125 L)
Black Water Capacity 33 gal. (125 L)
Awning Size 16 ft.

This sounds like a commercial sales pitch to me.

Where is the moderator?

[legolas]

bruce and tanya wrote:
Looking for a new camper. We have a Toyota Tacoma, able to pull 6500# max. We were looking at the Koala camper and the Freedom Express. We like the rear living room with the recliners in the back. RLS model. We want the slide also. Are there any other campers out there that will fit our needs.

I have a Koala 26 SS which is "rear living". I looked for a long time to find a light weight rear living TT and the Koala is one of the lightest at 5700 empty. IMO you be hard pressed to find a rear living that your TV can handle without being maxed out in most if not all areas of measurement.

[Mike_Up]

pappcam wrote:
The Tacoma is a pretty small TV. Tongue weight and payload is quite limited on them so you'd never reach the "towing" limit on them without being over on those other 2. I'd disregard that 6500lb. towing limit and shop accordingly.

Exactly!

650 lbs tongue weight divide by an average 13% equals 5000 lbs "LOADED".

Subtract 1000 lbs to 1300 lbs for factory options, water, clothes, food, battery, etc and you're at 3700 lbs brochure unoptioned dry weight speced.

There's plenty in this range that will be compatible with your hitch weight.

However, what's your Tread Act sticker payload weight.

My 2008 Sport Trac was the only midsize truck that was truck enough to pull a full size travel trailer. It had a 4.6L V8 with 292 Hp and 300 lbs of torque and with a factory optioned payload of 1218 lbs that "INCLUDED" the hard factory folding tonneau cover that weighed 70 lbs and full length side steps.

We took the cover off to carry stuff so we had a full 1288 lbs of factory optioned payload. The truck had a speced 1400 lbs in the brochure.

We had enough payload for the Jayco Jay Flight 19BH and enough hitch weight capacity (730 lbs rated). The 19BH had a factory optioned dry weight of 3896 lbs. It was on the Tread Act Yellow sticker on the camper.

I'm guessing you have a low payload of 1000 to 1100 which would limit you on who you bring or your tongue weight.

[WoodGlue]

OregonSVT wrote:
I like the Lance lineup myself and am looking into getting a 1575 shortly. I think you will be very impressed by the overall quality of their trailers.

You're making a wise decision if you go with the Lance!

WoodGlue

[dadmomh]

Coming from the HTT side, I couldn't help but wonder how the weights were figured so differently with the TT. I sent a PM to one of our more knowledgeable members and received this reply. After 8 years on the HTT side, this was what I considered to be the norm.

Sent: 09/10/13 01:48pm
Subject: RE: dry weight/base weight
most manufacturers don't include the so-called "options" in their brochure/website "dry" number, nor the battery/propane/water weights.
that would include oven, microwave, spare tire, awning, a/c and so on.
but many people use the "dry" term for the UVW factory(yellow sticker)weight.
it does get confusing, especially when veteran owners chime in.

our Roos had the white weight UVW sticker, inside the cabinet door.
now the have the yellow sticker for that.
the white sticker separated the water and propane out, but included the "options" in that number.
not sure if the yellow sticker weight does the same or not.

Our new TT has the yellow sticker which shows a weight of 6629 and then notes that water weights 8.3# per gallon x the number of gallons per tank and cautions that this should be figured in if you choose to carry water. But note that the dry weight is considerably different that the GVWR.

Dry Weight 5676lbs
GVWR 6629lbs
Cargo Capacity 1025lbs
Hitch Weight 739lbs
Axle Weight 4937lbs
Exterior Height 9.33'
Exterior Length 29.08'
Exterior Width 8.00'
Interior Height 6.50'
Fresh Water
Black Water
Gray Water 37gal
38gal
38gal
Awning Size 21'

[pk1023]

I have a Skyline Nomad 173 that I have weighted at 2200 pounds bone empty. I tow it with a Nissan Quest and it's a nightmare.

However, the good news is that I have tested it with a Honda Ridgeline and it tows like a dream.

I think with the small trucks, you better just try it out first. With a Tacoma, you can plug in an brake controller and give it a shot.

Mine had to be wired for me, that was an even bigger disaster.

But, camping is fun! 🙂

[gmw_photos]

bruce and tanya wrote:
Looking for a new camper. We have a Toyota Tacoma, able to pull 6500# max. We were looking at the Koala camper and the Freedom Express. We like the rear living room with the recliners in the back. RLS model. We want the slide also. Are there any other campers out there that will fit our needs.

I pull my Funfinder 189FDS with a 2006 Frontier, V6, 4WD, six speed manual. The Frontier is nearly identical in size and capacity as the Tacoma. My funfinder weighs right at 3900 pounds ready to roll. I consider this to be a good match of travel trailer to truck. Even though the Frontier also has a 6300 pound towing capacity, as others have pointed out, in order to get the correct tongue weight, you would run out of rear axle payload before any other limit. Probably the upper limit of good matchup for this class truck is more likely a travel trailer of about 4500 pounds.

[anaro]

Dadmomh- dry weight has appliances and furnace and ac but no propane or battery and none of the dealer installed options from what I understand. The yellow sticker on the trailer should include those items but it will still weigh even more after the owner adds their dishes, toiletries, clothes, chairs, tools, leveling blocks, food, hoses, extension cords, wood (if it isn't in tow vehicle), possible air compressor, maybe a generator, and the list goes on. People don't realize how quickly this stuff adds up, how it affects tongue weight and how that affects the tow vehicle. Many also think they can fix tongue weight by loading stuff to the rear of the tt but then fail to understand how off loading the tongue can cause a sway issue. It all boils down to education and research. I can fully admit as a newbie I didn't know what I didn't know or even what questions to ask or research. I was grateful for posts that helped open my mind up to more things to research for myself. I feel it has made me a better rver understanding these things and knowing that even with 2 1/2 yrs under my belt I am still a relative neophyte and have a lot to learn.

[dadmomh]

My understanding is that base weight and dry weight are the same and fictional since they do not include any of the items I mentioned. You are right that if the dealer adds anything such as a slide awning or other, then that is added to the weight shown on the yellow sticker as it left the factory. If that is not correct, I stand corrected. But many folks new to shopping for a camper see the lower weight and think that is what the one they're actually looking at weighs. Far be it for a salesman to point out that the rig actually weighs considerably more.