Advice needed

[DTro]

I have a small 14ft boat with a 25hp on it. Probably 1000 lbs loaded. I currently am using a RAV4 to tow with. I have been looking at trucks and planted the seed in my wifes head the other day. Her response was that if I bought a new truck she would like to get some sort of camper to go with it. I've showed her truck campers and have seen a couple of nice ones that would work out good.

It's just the two of us (for now) and a med size dog (Beagle).

1. How big of a truck can I get by with? I'm partial to Toyotas and have been looking at the Tundras. This will also be my everyday vehicle, so I guessing a big 1 ton dually wouldn't be the best option.

2. Can I get a camper that would fit on a double cab?

3. Can a hitch be attached to a pull behind pop up? I know it can be pulled behind a fifth wheel.

I don't want to go overboard on this, but I also need to keep mama comfortable at the same time.

Any advice would be appreciated.

[Eric Wettschreck]

Dude, Keeping mama comfey cozy is a smart move.

Yes, you can get a camper that will fit on a double cab. However, it will be smaller. Which, if you're thinking Tundra a smaller, and lighter, camper is the ticket. It's pretty much a weight thing. I wouldn't put a 4000 pound camper in the back of a half ton pickup. If you're thinking brand spankin new you can get a lot of nice camper for not a lot of weight.

I don't know how legal it is, but I personally don't think I'd put a hitch on the back of a pop up. Pretty much because the frame of a pop up really isn't made for that type of action. If you look at them they look fairly cheesy.

My $.02 for your situation would be get a pickup camper and pull your boat behind the truck. if it's only the 2 of you, and you're willing to not have a monster huge camper, it's a nice set up.

[IFallsRon]

There's a thread here regarding towing. I recall that you're only allowed to tow behind a fifth wheel and there's a length limit of roughly 45 feet.

here's the link:

http://www.fishingminnesota.com/forum/showflat.php?Cat=&Number=592502&page=4&view=collapsed&sb=5&o=&fpart=1

[Coach]

In Minnesota it is 60 total.

[Big Roy]

Check the door decal specs on the Tundra and find out the GVRW. An example is a 1 ton F-350 dually is 11,300lbs and the truck weighs 7,300lbs so the payload is 4,000lbs. That means you can put a 4,000lb camper on it. The rule of thumb is to go at least 25% under that when you consider a fully loaded camper.

[CodyDawg]

I would highly recommend a 5th wheel. The cost of one is the same or less than a camper (weird but true) and the difference in room is astronomical. If the wife is any consideration at all (and you indicate she is) then go look at one before you buy a camper. you can pull a boat behind it (I do) and you have a vehicle once you camp. With a camper, it is a lot more work to unload from the vehicle. You cannot pull a boat behind a popup legally. If you want details, let me know, I have been pulling the triple setup for 5 years now and love it.

[cadaver]

I also have a fifth wheel and pull triples ..but i also have a f250 with a 460 for a motor ...i dont think the tundra would pull a fifth wheel of any size that you wife would be comfortable in...i would suggest a popup and put you boat on top of that ..i did this for years and it worked well...some of the popups you can get now are pretty nice...

[Big Dave2]

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I have a small 14ft boat with a 25hp on it. Probably 1000 lbs loaded. I currently am using a RAV4 to tow with. I have been looking at trucks and planted the seed in my wifes head the other day. Her response was that if I bought a new truck she would like to get some sort of camper to go with it. I've showed her truck campers and have seen a couple of nice ones that would work out good.

It's just the two of us (for now) and a med size dog (Beagle).

1. How big of a truck can I get by with? I'm partial to Toyotas and have been looking at the Tundras. This will also be my everyday vehicle, so I guessing a big 1 ton dually wouldn't be the best option.

2. Can I get a camper that would fit on a double cab?

3. Can a hitch be attached to a pull behind pop up? I know it can be pulled behind a fifth wheel.

I don't want to go overboard on this, but I also need to keep mama comfortable at the same time.

Any advice would be appreciated.

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Ist thing to do, if you like the toyotas is go to a dealer and check out all the weight ratings. More importantly the payload capacity and the GVWR if you are looking at getting a pick-up camper. I know that for some reason my '04 dodge ram came with a piece of paper in the glove box that states this vehicle is not intended for use with slide-in pick-up campers. I'm not exactly sure why. If after examining the weight ratings you think it may work for you, I would look at a pop-up pick-up camper. They are lighter and dont buck as much wind going down the road. 2 people and a dog should be quite comfortable in one of these. I happened to notice also that there is one for sale on FM right now.

As far as fitting a double cab, it should make no difference what-so-ever. The only thing will be if you are looking at getting a short box. An 8 ft p-up camper will hang over the rear and sit on the tail gate and you very well may need a hitch extention in order to tow your boat. Your boat sounds very light and a well made home made extention would probably work good for you. Contact FM member Wally-eye and he can tell you about the one that he has.

No way on the hitch for the back of a pull behing pop-up. I wish you could but it is not legal in MN unless you are using a 5th wheel.

Good luck

[Big Dave2]

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Dude, Keeping mama comfey cozy is a smart move.

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Also very good advise.

[DTro]

Thanks for all the advice!

I'm currently in a holding pattern with all this Mideast stuff going on. Rest assured, if I go out and get a new truck, gas will skyrocket

[Big Dave2]

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Thanks for all the advice!

I'm currently in a holding pattern with all this Mideast stuff going on. Rest assured, if I go out and get a new truck, gas will skyrocket

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Just in case you havn't noticed, it already has.

[DTro]

lol, no actually I mean REALLY skyrocket. I am not kidding when I say I expect to see $4 really soon.

[harvey lee]

I agree with you DRTO,I think gas will be 3.50 by bow hunting season.I'll have to hitch hike to North Dakota or go for a week at a time.crooks

[Big Dave2]

Maybe we will have to have a new category here on FM, Carpooling. We could post where it is we want to go and others can ride with and share the gas.

[LaZyDayZ]

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Maybe we will have to have a new category here on FM, Carpooling. We could post where it is we want to go and others can ride with and share the gas.

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I think that is a very good idea and I will practice it this winter on my trips to the pond!!