Community Forums

Rscconrad · 04-15-2018, 08:23 AM

Assuming you have the proper truck to handle it, what is the difference (besides mileage) between hauling a 3000 pound unit and a 4500 pound unit.

My last camper was a 4500 lb dry weigh real lite truck camper. My present unit is a fifth wheel.

I want to get another truck camper for quick weekend trips and an extended trip to Alaska. I am thinking of going smaller but then again why not big. Small is fine for weekend trips, but big would be good for Alaska

Anyone care to chime in? Thanks in advance

Scooter · 04-15-2018, 09:14 AM

Are you going solo...or taking dog....and/or human companion ?

Superslif · 04-15-2018, 09:24 AM

Going "big" for a Alaska trip means you have the water capacity and supply storage space over a more basic truck camper. Depending what type of RVing you do in AK., a little extra capacity and space gives you more flexibility on any off - grid spots to stay at. The only downside is if you want to drive to crazy rugged spots.

Rscconrad · 04-15-2018, 09:52 AM

My self, my darling bride and the dog.

Plus picking up kids/grandkids for a two week visit

Scooter · 04-15-2018, 05:08 PM

We had an Arctic Fox 1150 with one slide. DW and dog = cramped. That is why we sold the AF and bought a Class A......

Rscconrad · 04-15-2018, 07:03 PM

Agreed. Which begs the question is a 3000 pound unit easier to haul around than a big boy or is there not much difference

Bedlam · 04-15-2018, 09:32 PM

My Ram 5500 gets the mileage hauling my previous Arctic Fox 811 and current Host Mammoth even though the Host is 2000 lbs heavier.

Scooter · 04-16-2018, 06:39 AM

Our 2000 AFox 1150 weighed in, fully loaded, at about 4800#. We drove a 2002 Chev 3500, LB, D/A and were over the limits. No problems driving......

Rscconrad · 04-16-2018, 04:20 PM

Thanks for the input. Kinda how I thought the responses would be.

tuffr2 · 04-23-2018, 04:55 PM

All the truck manufactures are making there trucks lighter. But they are also adding forward speeds so mpg gains for weight list is not easy to quantify. Lighter is always easier to drive or tow.

I always wonder about these big truck campers. They cost a lot and give less room than a travel trailer. I would look for a 3,000lb camper and make that work. Tight or not.

Bedlam · 04-23-2018, 05:14 PM

We wanted 4wd and towing capacity over 10,000 lbs which is why I have truck camper. I could have a Super C, but it is too long for some of the places we travel and does not have sufficient chassis clearance. We still wanted full amenities which is why we have a triple slide with dry bath and fireplace and couch and generator and solar and...

Rscconrad · 04-25-2018, 07:49 PM

Only thing that ever bothered me with the heavy weight camper was when it was fully extended on the jacks unloading in angled terrain. 4500 lbs on 4 sticks fully extended. I always felt a little relived when it was back on the truck.

Air bags on my rig were a must to get it level.