Camper vs cargo

[Delta21]

Any benefit to one over the other? Is it cheaper to gut and remodel an old camper or modify a cargo hauler? Which one more rugged and less likely to leak? Roof issues seem to be major PIA on campers

 

[gumbl3]

money pit all the way around.. rent it if you must

 

[Titan_Bow]

Caveat, I don’t own either LOL, so take that into consideration.
I hunt a lot of places that are miles and miles off pavement. I do see nice RVs out there, but everyone I’ve personally known that’s had one has complained about stuff breaking on them constantly. Especially dragging them across miles of bumpy washboard.
I built out an old army trailer and it’s absolutely bomb proof. I replaced the wheel bearings, tires and added a nice canvas top, painted it and serviced the surge brake. At this point there really isn’t anything that would likely fail other than a flat tire.
I would think you could find a really well built cargo trailer, that was designed to be more rugged? I do know there are a few “overland” style campers out there that are supposedly ruggedized, but you have to look through a lot of marketing BS. Some of those are just the same old shotty built trailers just with off-road tires and the word overland printed everywhere.
I think there are some companies that stand out as far as quality in the RV world, but you are going to definitely pay a premium.
My vote would be to build out a well built cargo trailer, because you really would have an understanding of how it’s built and how you built it. With a travel trailer, you just don’t really know until something breaks.


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[thegrouse]

I had my cargo trailer built, I ensured they fully boxed the frame out. It was pretty well built compared to a standard cargo trailer. My old RV wasn't really well built

 

[Delta21]

I had my cargo trailer built, I ensured they fully boxed the frame out. It was pretty well built compared to a standard cargo trailer. My old RV wasn't really well built

Did you work with a particular company?

 

[Texastrouthunter]

Depends on how much you want to spend to be honest, most of the old campers that you would want to gut out and build are gonna be stick and tin so no matter what you do they are not gonna be the most sturdy. Newer campers that are off-road capable are generally gonna be made from an aluminum cage and fiberglass along with a good double axle like a dexter you can have something that is actually made to go off-road but that comes with a big price tag.

 

[Customweld]

I had a 16x7 cargo that I mildly modified. They are easy to do and there are a ton of ideas on Youtube. I liked the cargo route because I could haul my Pioneer in it.

 

[Moserkr]

I recently purchased a new travel trailer with the intent to rent it out to help pay for it. I wouldnt have bought one otherwise cause they are built like junk. They fall apart on paved roads let alone dirt…. I also wouldnt rent to anyone taking it out for hunting. I will take it out for hunting occasionally, but its mine and I will treat it right. Used or new, they break easily. If you get one, plan on fixing it constantly.

Whats the purpose for you?
Strictly hunting?
Cargo or rugged trailer you build.
Family outings and occasional hunting? Maybe a travel trailer.

I bought a trailer for the wife n young kids for a few “camping” trips we do every year. Hunting in it was an ulterior motive and I only know a few hunts I would even use it on. I still plan on backpacking 99% of the time.

 

[Randle]

My hunting trailer is a gutted old travel trailer built into a toyhauler.Not recommended though.The rear ramp door wasnt done very well and weighs a ton.Its got a hand boat winch to raise and lower it.
I would go with a cargo hauler, so its multi use. Moving, extra storage after moving, you can build it the way you want, lighter if done right, and only add the bare neccessities, (less to break and maintain)
You can put a small freezer and a generator for meat storage , ( I dont)

 

[wapitibob]

Bought our first travel trailer when the kids were young, it worked fine. Then bought an '85 Lance slide in truck camper and hauled it all aver the west for a decade. It went down roads I never should have been on and nothing came apart. Sold it and bought a Nash 17k and took it to WY a cpl times an E OR a bunch; again it just worked. Sold it for crazy money and just bought a 2008 Nash 17c from my hunting partner. Never had roof problems or had one come apart but I bought Lance and Nash.
Only you can decide what will work, no different than packs/boots/etc.

 

[Delta21]

I recently purchased a new travel trailer with the intent to rent it out to help pay for it. I wouldnt have bought one otherwise cause they are built like junk. They fall apart on paved roads let alone dirt…. I also wouldnt rent to anyone taking it out for hunting. I will take it out for hunting occasionally, but its mine and I will treat it right. Used or new, they break easily. If you get one, plan on fixing it constantly.

Whats the purpose for you?
Strictly hunting?
Cargo or rugged trailer you build.
Family outings and occasional hunting? Maybe a travel trailer.

I bought a trailer for the wife n young kids for a few “camping” trips we do every year. Hunting in it was an ulterior motive and I only know a few hunts I would even use it on. I still plan on backpacking 99% of the time.

Kinda my plan. Hunting rig that I can take the family out during spring/summer.

 

[Moserkr]

Kinda my plan. Hunting rig that I can take the family out during spring/summer.

We are in the same boat then so to speak. If its a hunting/family rig, I would look at an actual travel trailer then. A hunting cargo trailer is ideal for hunting, not so much for family life. My wife wouldnt go that way, maybe yours would. Also depends on kids ages, mine are both under 4.

If you live in an area where people recreate, and can swing the workload of renting your trailer out, consider it as it helps offset the cost of a newer one. At my current rate Ill have mine paid off in less than 3 years for a $50k trailer. PM me if you want some details on how it works. It has allowed my family to own something we otherwise could barely afford. Plus it turns a built like junk money pit into a money producing asset. I wouldnt want to pay for one the way they are built so with a little elbow grease, other people are paying for mine.

Only makes sense to buy one if you plan on using it a bunch. Otherwise people using a trailer 2 times a year are better off renting it - my target market.

 

[MightyWhitey]

I’ll say this, even when you custom order your cargo trailer with square tubing in the walls instead of the cheaper S channel, make them take a piece of the plywood wall off to show you it’s square tubing before you hook up to it and drive off. I ordered and bought a 7x16 from Family Garden Trailers in Guthrie Ok and didn’t find out I didn’t get the upgrade I ordered until I’d drove it 2hrs back home and the buddy I had helping me had all the walls tore off and half the insulation up by the time I got back to see it. It took multiple phone calls with no satisfaction, over a month of them keeping the money for the upgrade they never delivered on, and my favorite quote from my last call with him was “if you step foot on my place again I’ll beat you with a ball bat”.

So do your homework because the majority of people selling cargo trailers know less about what they’re selling than used car salesman. Crawl up under it, make them show you the wall framing and I’d even take some calipers to measure the skin if you order thicker skin. And do not leave the lot until you’re positive you got what you paid for. Don’t trust their word. Good luck!

But I’d go cargo over camper any day.

 

[wesfromky]

One other thing to keep in mind - some campgrounds do not allow DIY setups, or even older campers. Might be more common with the longer term places, but still something to consider. Along with insurance as well - might cover the cargo trailer, but probably not the cost of the mods.

If I was going to get something prebuilt, I would be looking at fiberglass RVs - they just seem to be a bit more durable.

 

[thegrouse]

Did you work with a particular company?

A local trailer company offers a build to suit option and I had the frame beefed up. It wasn't much more IIRC

 

[stanginthe11s]

and my favorite quote from my last call with him was “if you step foot on my place again I’ll beat you with a ball bat”.

I would have gone down there and handed them the bat, then proceeded to show him how he'll save money on tooth paste. I like moserkr idea but then again I bought my camper because I'm to lazy to build one so I'd probably be to lazy to rent it out lol. I got mine used for a good price and had to replace the roof but wasn't too bad, its still going years later but it is now mostly a hunting rig but all in all I'm happy with it. if you have the knowledge, ability and desire building your own ensures you get what you want and you know everything about it.

 

[MightyWhitey]

Yeah I asked him to meet me so we could talk more about my money and his bat but he declined ha.

 

[johaw]

I don't have an opinion on the camper vs cargo hauler remodel as far as initial cost. I would look at future maintenance costs.

1. How easy is it to winterize/de-winterize
2. How easily can access the moving parts like the water pump, fridge, heater, and water/waste storage tanks, and exterior water lines like fill lines and shower, and interior fuse box.
3. How easy is it to access the water lines.

 

[Wrench]

My arctic fox has more miles in low range than most. Still solid as a rock.

 

[Moserkr]

My arctic fox has more miles in low range than most. Still solid as a rock.

Now thats good to know. They make a better rv than most from what I hear.