Support Trailer

[Grodyman]

Well with a family of 5 and a Lance 830 it became clear that to make the truck camper work I need a support trailer. I just picked up a Carry-on 5x8 utility trailer with wood floor and steel sides. There were too many things cluttering up the floor space of the camper (laundry bag, trash bag, duffle bags, toys, multiple pairs of shows (each), water bottles, etc.)

I can also carry more items like firewood, extra propane, barbq, additional chairs etc. to make the outdoors more comfortable.

I have come to realize that with a family this size I cannot carry everything I need only using hitch mounted cargo trays, and the inside clutter adds up making the camper feel even more crowded.

I believe the use of a truck camper is maximized with a small utility trailer or enclosed trailer as support. Hopefully photo soon.

Please post photos of your support trailers/experience.

Gman

[deltabravo]

With the interior of my trailer gutted right now, maybe I should do a new thread on it, describing the upgrades.

[deltabravo]

For those looking at getting a trailer, I'd HIGHLY recommend getting one with a tongue A-frame that is at least 4' long.

3' makes sharp cornering a problem, because the camper jacks may hit the trailer unless you have a long enough ball mount, or hitch extension.

In many cases, you will have to special order a trailer to get a 4' tongue.
The exception to that is Freeway Trailers in Fife, WA. They understand the need for a longer tongue and order all their trailers with at least a 4' tongue.

I'd also recommend 7' width, so you can see the darn thing while backing up. You can't see the trailer body, but you should be able to see the fenders.

My 6x12 was difficult to back up, because I couldn't see the trailer until it was crooked.

[deltabravo]

deltabravo wrote:
I have two support trailers....
6x12 Wells Cargo Road Force
8.5x20 Haulmark

I use them for different type of trips.

When I head to the Plain, Washington Overland Rally this summer I will take the big trailer.

I usually use the small one most trips, but that may change this summer.

Last year, about 3 weeks after the post above, I sold my 6x12. I was using it a lot for transporting goods to various shows I attend. It was becoming too small for that chore. I had planned on upgrading to a 7x14 down the road, but 1 year later, that still hasn't happened.

When I sold the 6x12, I had already made the plan to start using the big trailer for my motorcycle adventure trips. I did that June of last year, and loved it. It was nice to keep the bike in the trailer overnight, and have a place to work on it out of the dirt.

A few weeks ago I stumbled across my 6x12 on Craigslist and was very temped to buy it back. The seller was the person I sold it to and was asking more for it than he paid me for it. When I contacted him, he tried to claim that he had spent a bunch of extra money upgrading the lighting to LED. I was the one that did all that.

About 2 months ago I parked my 8.5x20 in my shop so i could do some upgrades to it. I finally got started on that about 2 weeks ago.

I am insulating the ceiling and installing a plethora of new interior lighting. The lighting upgrades are two-fold: bright lights when I use it as a motorcycle garage or product display showroom, and more subdued lighting to make it a man-cave on longer trips.

A comfy recliner would be nice, along with a big screen TV to watch movies.

[deltabravo]

Stuff I carry in mine:

Generator.
firewood and chainsaw (occasionally)
Extra water on long trips, or remote camp sites.
Motorcycle (or two), but not on all trips.
lawn chair(s)
patio mat
fuel for generator and motorcycle.
stuff such as extension cord, extra hoses and other doo-dads to set up around camp.

My truck has about 35,000 miles on it now. At least 25,000 miles of that have been traveling with the camper on it. Truck and camper were placed in service as a camping rig in early 2010, I don't daily drive the truck.

Of all the trips with the camper on, only 2 or 3 have been without a trailer:
1. Feb 2010 - Drove from Tacoma, WA to Eugene, OR to AM Solar to get the solar installed.
2. Last weekend I drove from Spokane to Tacoma for a show without the trailer - the trailer was already in Tacoma from the weekend before when I towed it there with my other truck.

[Grodyman]

Great replies...it's pretty funny but now I find myself admiring every trailer I see on the road, open landscape type and enclosed, love it!

I too never thought I would want to pull a trailer with a truck camper, one of the things I like is to park anywhere, but with the ability to carry extra water, coolers, chairs, firewood, etc. it will more than make up. Still no longer than a teardrop trailer with my 5x8 Carryon. With a family of 5, it just is necessary.

I'll try and get a pic.

Gman

[Bedlam]

We have 20' enclosed behind our 3/4t s/b truck. When fully loaded for camping with everything filled, I am at 8000 lbs on the rear axle. This is 7000 lbs of trailer and gear and GCW of 19,000 lbs.

[Wheelholder]

I have thought of this idea also. I have a concern with the tongue weight of the trailer on the back of the pickup.

We also have an 830 on a s/b 2500 silverado. My current weight on the rear axle is approx 6400#. Tires are capable of handling 7500#.

Has anyone weighed their rig with trailer attached?

[bka0721]

DoneItAll wrote:
I could see myself adding a trailer for longer trips but I'm having a hard time to convince myself to take that path. One of the primary reasons I chose to haul a truck camper was that I absolutely didn't want to tow anything; otherwise I may as well pull a travel trailer. Tell me what would be the distance on a long trip where the extra storage would be needed.

John

Hmmm. Maybe 30 miles? Some people takes toys with them and a trailer does that, whether going to a lake, mountains, or the desert. Everyone has different needs, as you do too.

I once thought a trailer would be a limiter, but it more than makes up for the negatives, with triple the positives. Some have said you can't tun around where a truck and camper can. I showed that was possible, a couple of years ago, on a one lane mountain road. True, it takes longer, but it can be done.

Fisher Bill wrote:
Hold the Phone!

Can you tell me what make your service body is?

Always wanted to use one of those for extra cargo, do you have a make or model#?

Thanks, Bill

It is a Knaphiede Service Body, right out of their catalog. Looking at your signature for your truck and Camper, you will need to get a different truck to have a service body and that camper. You could look at a flatbed and make it work, with your truck and some storage boxes.

b

[deltabravo]

R2D1 wrote:
Nice rig deltabravo! An 8.5x20 would be awesome too!

Thanks. I love the big one!

I found the 8.5 x 20 out of state and jumped on it. THe only problem was I had to completely rebuild all 4 brakes because the previous owner kept pumping the "ez-lube" hubs full of grease, and it eventually blew out the rear seal and wrecked the brakes... and he didn't even know it.

Here it is:
I had this at Overland Expo in Flagstaff 2 years ago. Yes, it has roof A/C!! and a 30 amp shore power hookup.

[R2D1]

DoneItAll wrote:
I could see myself adding a trailer for longer trips but I'm having a hard time to convince myself to take that path. One of the primary reasons I chose to haul a truck camper was that I absolutely didn't want to tow anything; otherwise I may as well pull a travel trailer. Tell me what would be the distance on a long trip where the extra storage would be needed.

John

For me, it’s not about the distance, it’s about the duration of time away from civilization. The support trailer can be both a powerhouse and supply warehouse for boondocking.

Nice rig deltabravo! An 8.5x20 would be awesome too!

[Fisher_Bill]

Hold the Phone!

Can you tell me what make your service body is?

Always wanted to use one of those for extra cargo, do you have a make or model#?

Thanks, Bill

[DoneItAll]

I could see myself adding a trailer for longer trips but I'm having a hard time to convince myself to take that path. One of the primary reasons I chose to haul a truck camper was that I absolutely didn't want to tow anything; otherwise I may as well pull a travel trailer. Tell me what would be the distance on a long trip where the extra storage would be needed.

John

[Butch50]

mlts22 wrote:
Another good thing about a support trailer is that it is a good way to ensure that your campsite stays yours, especially with first come, first served sites. A sign can "blow away", but a trailer that is well chocked will take felony-level actions to move it out of place.

Until someone decides they want the trailer. On the news here a couple of nights ago a business had their trailer coupler locked and their security camera showed the thief backing his truck up to the trailer. Then broke the lock on the coupler and drove away with the trailer. The only thing that is funny and I would love to see the thief's face when he busted the lock on the back to open it up and find 2 coffins stored in it :S. The business is a coffin sales business. Can you imagine the crook trying to take these to a pawn shop trying to pawn them. Most of the time they expect to find tools or some good stuff in them.

I'm in the process of getting my 7X14 Road Force all set up. I had the floor and 2" up the side sprayed with LineX. I have wired it with A/C so I can just run an extension cord to the side and plug it in and have power inside it. I also removed the brake away battery and replaced it with a Grp AGM 24 battery mounted inside of the trailer. I then added some backup/docking lights to the back. I have them hooked into my reverse from the truck but I also have a switch on the inside of the trailer I can switch them over to run off my battery in the trailer so if needed I have some work lights on the back. I also added a switch that allows my dome lights to work off the battery in the trailer also so even if not plugged into the truck I can still have dome lights. I'm thinking of removing the vent and installing a fantastic fan in it so I can get some air flow into the trailer on hot days. I added a Wheeldock that is a front wheel locking for my Harley when I load it in, by just loosen a couple of 9/16" screws I can take it out so I can load the ATV without interference.

It just seems it never ends as I keep seeing things to add to it.

[deltabravo]

deltabravo wrote:
6x12 Wells Cargo Road Force

Here it is:

(for those familiar with the South Hill Puyallup area, they can probably tell where the pic was taken, if you have a keen eye.)

[deltabravo]

R2D1 wrote:
I’ve been thinking about turning my 7x14 Wells Cargo into a support trailer.

DO IT!

I'd like a 7x14 instead of my 6x12.

a 6' wide trailer is hard to back up and keep it straight because I can see it until it's crooked!