What trailer camper do I need?
Posted by MuchPaleontologist58@reddit | overlanding | View on Reddit | 14 comments
really just trying to achieve a similar capability as this setup. we have a GX460, and would like to explore keeping it instead of getting a truck + slide in if possible. seems like most tow campers are mostly made for dedicated camp grounds and rest stops. we are trying to do more Offgrid surf/snow trips
dbrmn73@reddit
Check out www.tinycampercomany.com They have several version for street and offroad. I have their Kong that I pull with a 2dr Wrangler and it has done some significant offroading with no issues at all.
smashnmashbruh@reddit
Most important three questions.
what are your expectations and current exposure, you said a gx, great what have you done any traveling? Just camping? RTT? Is it built?
what capabilities do you want and need. List them out.
Then figure out your budget.
Then intersect those. The market is vastly flooded with options. I’m driving a Buddy spare GX 460 right now and with 33s that thing dogs there’s no way I don’t wanna drive it pulling a camper.
My normal rag is a ram 2500 power wagon with a rooftop 10 on bed bars and while it doesn’t have running water, it has everything I need for 2 to 3 weeks on the road and it cost me less than $5000 for camping. Truck expense excluded. Getting a camper ranges anywhere from 10k for a Shell to 75K for a hard sided sleep inside set up.
MuchPaleontologist58@reddit (OP)
Whatever rig we have would fit two people. We are comfortable in tighter spaces if it means enabling more mobility and freedom (i.e. not beholden to RV sites). We will be working remote and taking calls throughout the day. Fine working under an awning, but would like to have enough space for two people working inside if weather isn't cooperating (although we'd do our best to plan around this). I'm fine doing my biz in the woods, but some sort of shower system would be nice (either outdoor via water tank or indoor doesn't matter).
Budget is max $30k
I didn't quite understand your comment about your experience with the GX460. Are you saying you wouldn't want to tow it with a camper or that it's a solid option towing with a camper??
Adorable_Swing_2150@reddit
Skip trying to recreate the truck plus slide-in setup with a GX460. For offgrid surf/snow trips I'd go small hard-side teardrop with an outdoor galley and awning room, otherwise the trailer gets big fast and the GX starts feeling cooked on grades. Two people working inside is possible, just gonna be tight.
MuchPaleontologist58@reddit (OP)
Any recs on teardrops? Most I’ve looked at look tiny
Adorable_Swing_2150@reddit
Bean Trailer is the first one I'd look at, but yeah most teardrops start feeling tiny fast once you're both inside. If workday space matters, I'd lean more squared-off than classic teardrop.
smashnmashbruh@reddit
One more note. I enjoy roughing it and unplugging for 2-3 days. After that I need a full shower, meal, people, potentially supplies. So I found that I’m always near a hotel.
I haven’t done extreme remote trips because I don’t have the setup. I could do 14-20 days but there would be exceptions.
I found the cost of a hotel every 5 days was worth it over a camper at 40k hoping I love it and it sticks.
Also hate storage. When we had the Airstream, I was spending like $700 a month in a note $150 for covered Parking $85 for insurance and we wouldn’t use it for three months at a time. Again, I was in my marriage that I am no longer in and it was complicated but I like to share my experience so that other people don’t make the same mistakes
2eaver@reddit
I don't necessarily have a recommendation, but can offer a few insights.
I have a diy 5x9 square drop. I LOVE it. I just came back from 4 days of camping with it. After two years of regular use, while I still love it, I don't think I'd want to full time in it. Mine is outfitted with a fridge, 10 gallons of water, 280Ah of battery, a TV, and 400w of solar. While I do have a 270 awning for shade and cover from inclement weather, I cannot understate the value of having a place to retreat to when the weather turns to shit. I suppose the same could be accomplished with an awning room, but you mentioned taking calls during the day, and now you're potentially dealing with flapping fabric during your call.
Any trailer can be made to be off-grid capable, with the right upgrades. My buddy full times in a Black Series HQ19, works full time, plays video games, and 3d prints stuff all the time. He also has 1800W of solar, and 400Ah of 24v batteries. He only uses rv sites when he's in town for VA related stuff, or visiting family. The rest of the time, he's off grid, so it can absolutely be done.
I would actually recommend renting a few different styles of trailers to find out what you really want. Remember, you're going to be living in it, so it would really suck to spend 30-40k on something, only to hate the experience 6 months later.
smashnmashbruh@reddit
I want to also piggy back. Renting a trailer say for 1 year, 4 trips, 4 different trailers. To realize you don’t wanna spend the money on a real trailer is priceless. I went and rented two different RVs and my wife demanded we get an airstream because it’s so cool and we had nothing but problems I was able to sell it for what I owed and get out from under it and I would highly recommend renting trailers. I’m almost to the point where I would rather fly in rent a jeep rent a trailer use somebody else’s equipment spend what seems like four times as much money and have zero downtime 0 Maintenance zero headaches.
I’m not saying that fits OP, but I highly recommend the rental to learn more .
Also recommend just renting a trailer in general like not necessarily an RV but get you a box trailer fill it with stuff get to the weight limit and then see how your GX handles
smashnmashbruh@reddit
Great clarifying question, short answer I would NOT want to tow a camper full time with a Gx.
I would recommend, finding a similar weight camper prior to purchase and testing.
the GX has a V8 but does not have like a tow package with a trailer break and other things so you’re gonna have to modify it. The weight of the GX isn’t as high as a truck. The length and width are smaller so it becomes a little difficult.
The gx I’m borrowing has 33 tires a lift front rear bumpers and a rooftop tent and it is sluggish past 60 mph it would struggle to tow a camper.
I will add that I have a buddy who has a woolly bear camper, which is a rooftop tent on a trailer specifically built for Overland. He’s widen the wheelbase and shortened the height so it’s more stable. He has a high-end articulating tow hitch and it’s a Tacoma, which is the V6, but he bought the manual version and he has it specifically re-geared and it works and works well, but he definitely sluggish with trailer. Power wagon gets to 65-75 for highway no worries but sluggish compared to stock (I’m on 40s) but I’m always waiting on them to get to speed. I get better gas mileage and range than he does.
30 K you’re probably looking at maybe getting inside full-time but that’s going to be more bare bones.
I’m in the same boat honestly I could sleep in the truck for a night or two and have a regular ass normal 20 foot RV that I tow to a campsite and then I do offloading and then I come back to the trailer and I could split my dual use rather that trying to overdo the Overland version of the trailer.
You could even get a more compact more off-road version that has more ability to Boondock in an average fiberglass trailer.
My smittybilt xl gen 2 has an annex with floor and works in heavy rain. Being an external living area does help. You could do external living area and work out there when the weather is nice you could also set up the two front seats for remote work. I work from the driver seat with a steering wheel lap table, and I put the seat all the way back and I have a mouse in a laptop. I’ve also tried using a VR headset as an extra monitor. I have Starlink in the cab and that works pretty well I’ve done 6 to 8 hours in that because I have a nice truck with nice seats.
It’s notifies 5 days a week but works for heavy heavy weather.
Anti Shanty makes great trailers but 30k is a really solid starting point.
Almost certainly recommend rehearing.
That was a lot of info. Hope it helps. Glad to keep talking about it.
Ok_Emotion_9685@reddit
Build a M416 silly. Wayyy cheaper than buying new junk and feels amazing when its done.
MilitantPotato@reddit
We wanted a box, a kitchen, and something durable and lightweight.
Using a bucket toilet is fine for us. As is no indoor shower.
We went with a boondocking trailer, it's been all over the west with us, over 25,000 miles.
I specifically got a bend teardrop, added a propane shower (our trips are often work related, so washing the wilderness off is needed.)
https://www.bendteardrop.com/
Their small model is under 1000lbs. They'll do fancy suspension if you want, but I've found the leaf springs to be plenty. I did add sumo springs bump stops though.
That said, there's hundreds of builders all over the country.
I built a window AC into a portable AC unit, got a diesel heater for winter, and use a portable battery bank for electronics.
The trailer has a small solar setup that runs the fan and lights for days, I wish I'd installed that myself to save some $ though.
https://imgur.com/a/VfkXEcL
Baconshit@reddit
Smart to turn the Yakima box around. I thought about mounting mine over the bed before I bought my snugtop, but it was a touch too long.
MilitantPotato@reddit
Its cool ya spotted that detail. It wouldn't fit otherwise, it's a bit more annoying to take off and put on, but being able to put it over the bed has been worth it.
When we take bikes I put them over the bed with Yakima front loaders and slap the Yakima box on the trailer racks.
For long trips without bikes, the box over the bed is surprisingly fuel efficient, with it and the trailer we average 16-17 mpg, the box doesn't reduce milage a noticeable amount behind the cab.
With bikes over the bed and the box on the trailer it's closer to 14mpg.
Just the truck by itself gets 23mpg at 65.
I debated getting a topper, but the limited access to cargo, and having racks 7ft up made it less than ideal. I'm wicked tall so everything in the bed and on the cross bars is within arms reach as is, needing a ladder or whatever would be a huge pita.