Hunting campers

[Idahobugler]

School me on what you use to hunt, any recommendations on certain brands or certain ones to stay away from.

Preferably around 20 feet so I can store it at my house. Wife is wanting to get out more so wall tent is kind of out of the equation due to wanting creature comforts like a shower, toilet etc. I don’t plan on dragging it anywhere crazy just a good base camp that can sleep probably max 3 people and be pulled by a half ton truck.

 

[RichardSkinner]

I like my Four Wheel Camper and custom bed combo. I do fit my family of 4, but it's cramped. 3 Full grown hunters plus gear would be tight. There are pros and cons to cab over campers for this application.

In one hand, it's relatively light and I can get into spots trailers aren't being pulled to for sure.

In the other hand, you are then bound to hunting on foot from camp unless you want to put your stuff away each morning, pop down, and drive a mile away or whatever. When I am solo I don't mind doing that, but when the family is with me then I don't hassle them out of bed.

My options for the latter scenario:
I am considering getting a decent ebike to hitch mount where I can blast off quietly in the morning. From the calcs I have done, my solar setup in the camper would be able to charge something like a Surron light bee with a full day's sun.

I also sometimes pull my Toyota trail rig as a dispatch/hunting vehicle. Next year I will be hunting out of state and definitely will be running the combination like that.

I will say whatever you get, make sure to invest in a good solar set up. I put 2x 175 watt flexible panels on my roof and have a victron setup to charge and control my 200AH lithium battery. With this I can indefinitely run off the sun. Even through cloud cover I can pull enough power to top off what power the fridge and diesel heater used over night.

The efficient 12v fridges now days kick ass. Mine pulls about 3 amps approximately for approximately 20 minutes per hour on average. So overnight it only uses about 10-12AH.

I now run a smaller Alpicool refrigerator chest that cost about $250 on Amazon. This thing sips power and I can put down to 20 deg F to keep my ice totally frozen during a week of hunting. When I tag, I then break the animal down and move the ice to the cooler with him.
^ that I feel is extremely useful.

 

[bigunit]

I modified a 28' bumper hitch to a custom toy hauler. It had some water damage on the back of the camper where the bathroom was so I cut off the last 4 feet of camper and added a flat deck for an atv. I then made a new back wall complete with barn door to drive one or even 2 additional atvs inside.

The best part is the kitchen as well as furnace and ac were intact because they were on the front of the camper. It's been working very well for my since 2017 and sleeps 4 comfortably. I don't miss having a bathroom because we are in the bush or on more luxurious hunts, at a campsite.

 

[pods8 (Rugged Stitching)]

Everything has pros/cons. I've ran four wheel campers in the past and they are awesome for solo run and gun hunting. On a long drive its easy/comfortable to pull off at a rest stop and hop in the back to nap for a bit, etc. But as noted you have to break them down more, I'd often use mine not popped up when solo hunting just to keep it simple. It was a warm/dry place to sleep. I'm building a replacement for myself slowly right now.

I also have a trailer now for family camping but pull it out to some trailheads hunting. Way more creature comforts but slower going both on the highway and especially running down wash board roads. Some hunts bringing the trailer is great, some its out of the question.


Toilet is nice if its above freezing. If its definitely freezing the built in toilet is out so you don't freeze your plumbing and tanks (hardly any trailers are built correctly to operate wet in the winter reliable or efficiently). For those hunts with the trailer I bring water jugs to use in the camper and have a portable toilet and use that in the bathroom instead (put it in the shower stall so there is room), its annoying to dump that later but it is what it is. No water in the tanks/plumbing.

Shower is nice at times but its gonna be sparse otherwise you'll use up your fresh and grey water tank capacity, so the family needs to understand its a submarine shower: water on to get wet, water off to lather, water on to rinse off, done. There is not standing and enjoying the hot water for long repeatedly when you're boondocking or your gonna run into issues.

 

[wapitibob]

Both of these have been great. 6'2 and fit in the shower just fine. Both dual axle, dual large propane, solar. Coolers fit in the 17K front storage which was nice. Pulled both with my 3.5 litre F150. 17C has a "full" bed, a little small unless you're still in your 20's.


2017 Nash 17K, 4500 empty.



Nash 17C, 3300 empty

 

[RichardSkinner]

Everything has pros/cons. I've ran four wheel campers in the past and they are awesome for solo run and gun hunting. On a long drive its easy/comfortable to pull off at a rest stop and hop in the back to nap for a bit, etc. But as noted you have to break them down more, I'd often use mine not popped up when solo hunting just to keep it simple. It was a warm/dry place to sleep. I'm building a replacement for myself slowly right now.

I also have a trailer now for family camping but pull it out to some trailheads hunting. Way more creature comforts but slower going both on the highway and especially running down wash board roads. Some hunts bringing the trailer is great, some its out of the question.


Toilet is nice if its above freezing. If its definitely freezing the built in toilet is out so you don't freeze your plumbing and tanks (hardly any trailers are built correctly to operate wet in the winter reliable or efficiently). For those hunts with the trailer I bring water jugs to use in the camper and have a portable toilet and use that in the bathroom instead (put it in the shower stall so there is room), its annoying to dump that later but it is what it is. No water in the tanks/plumbing.

Shower is nice at times but its gonna be sparse otherwise you'll use up your fresh and grey water tank capacity, so the family needs to understand its a submarine shower: water on to get wet, water off to lather, water on to rinse off, done. There is not standing and enjoying the hot water for long repeatedly when you're boondocking or your gonna run into issues.

Good points.
I love being able to blast 75MPH in the FWC to my destination, and pull off for a quick 20 minute nap in the back with it popped down.

Also agree that when I am solo, a lot of the time I just rack out on the bench bed with it popped down. It stays warmer being a smaller space, and is quick and convenient. I can also stealth camp it in populated downtown areas like that where they crack down on camping. Saved a lot of expensive hotel prices (and DUIs) by racking out in the back top down.

Tanks freezing is a good point. That's another W for the FWC to me. I built out my interior. My water tank and pump is internal to the cabin, so my diesel heater keeps that stuff good. The diesel heater sips fuel. I can leave it on for 5 days and not go through a 5 gallon tank.

Also I use a cassette style toilet for the family to pee in. When I am solo, I also just go in 1 gallon water jugs for simplicity sake. #2s are done in WAG bags using the 5 gallon bucket style toilet seats. Wag bags are actually pretty easy and damn convenient once you get past being a girl about them. I chuck the used wag bags in one of my exterior lock boxes and deal with no smell, no black tanks/smell in my cabin, and don't have to deal with dumping septic and the messy clean out of those.


Just all considerations on how light/luxury you want to go.

 

[vladkgb]

Toilet is nice if its above freezing. If its definitely freezing the built in toilet is out so you don't freeze your plumbing and tanks (hardly any trailers are built correctly to operate wet in the winter reliable or efficiently). For those hunts with the trailer I bring water jugs to use in the camper and have a portable toilet and use that in the bathroom instead (put it in the shower stall so there is room), its annoying to dump that later but it is what it is. No water in the tanks/plumbing.

I've been using my toy hauler, I spent 18 days straight in it last year, brought my SxS inside, but it was during September.

This year I want to take it on a late season hunt in December, first time in freezing weather. Not having water and a pooper would be horrible. My trailer's propane heater heats the underbelly, I plan to bring extra propane and just run the heater 24/7 with cabinets open so the pipes don't freeze. Does anyone have experience doing this? Is it really as bad as @pods8 (Rugged Stitching) describes?

 

[pods8 (Rugged Stitching)]

I've been using my toy hauler, I spent 18 days straight in it last year, brought my SxS inside, but it was during September.

This year I want to take it on a late season hunt in December, first time in freezing weather. Not having water and a pooper would be horrible. My trailer's propane heater heats the underbelly, I plan to bring extra propane and just run the heater 24/7 with cabinets open so the pipes don't freeze. Does anyone have experience doing this? Is it really as bad as @pods8 (Rugged Stitching) describes?

As I noted very few trailers are constructed with wet winter camping in mind. Mine for instance has a layer of chloroplast covering the tanks (corrutated plastic sign material) and a 4" heater line ducted into it (which I closed off cause is a huge waste of heat) also the plumbing is running down there too. If its single digits out you are not going to keep that heated while camping. Folks that live in their campers in the winter skirt off all around the trailer and add electric heaters down there to keep things thawed.

There are a few trailers that are properly built for winter with the tanks inside the insulated envelope, etc.

As noted I bring a 5gal portable toilet and water jugs along and only need to keep the trailer heated to 30s inside while away for the day which is easy to do in comparison. (if its just you and you want to use a piss jug and wag bags as mentioned above that is an option too, I have done that in my FWC usage.)

 

[pods8 (Rugged Stitching)]

When I am solo, I also just go in 1 gallon water jugs for simplicity sake. #2s are done in WAG bags using the 5 gallon bucket style toilet seats. Wag bags are actually pretty easy and damn convenient once you get past being a girl about them. I chuck the used wag bags in one of my exterior lock boxes and deal with no smell, no black tanks/smell in my cabin, and don't have to deal with dumping septic and the messy clean out of those.

Yeah alot depends on if its just me and for how long. If just me I am less apt to use the portable toilet esp. if its just a weekend hunt or something (less likely to have the camper too). If its more days, kids are along, etc. then I deal with the portable toilet in freezing weather.

 

[displacedtexan]

I've got a 19/20' Aspen trail. No slides.

It sleeps 3 pretty comfortably. It's seen a lot of miles, and nights.

I like no slides. Pull into a rest area and you immediately have a real bed and you're own bathroom.

I still hunt and fish out of tents though. Much to the dismay of my primary fishing buddy. Lol

It pulls fine at 80 down the highway.

 

[vladkgb]

As I noted very few trailers are constructed with wet winter camping in mind. Mine for instance has a layer of chloroplast covering the tanks (corrutated plastic sign material) and a 4" heater line ducted into it (which I closed off cause is a huge waste of heat) also the plumbing is running down there too. If its single digits out you are not going to keep that heated while camping. Folks that live in their campers in the winter skirt off all around the trailer and add electric heaters down there to keep things thawed.

There are a few trailers that are properly built for winter with the tanks inside the insulated envelope, etc.

As noted I bring a 5gal portable toilet and water jugs along and only need to keep the trailer heated to 30s inside while away for the day which is easy to do in comparison. (if its just you and you want to use a piss jug and wag bags as mentioned above that is an option too, I have done that in my FWC usage.)

Thanks for the advice. I'll bring the jugs and my portable pooper with wag bags as backup.

My trailer is setup the same as you describe it's a grand design 21g. You mentioned single digits, is there a temperature cut off for when you think it would be ok to use the on board plumbing?

 

[LostArra]

It might be worth a look at Aliner.
Easy tow like a pop up camper but with hard sides.
I've been happy with mine but primarily solo use.

 

[Idahobugler]

Thanks for the suggestions everyone, forgot to mention budget isn’t a huge concern but trying to stay in that 35-40ish ball park but looks like most are fairly affordable.

 

[pods8 (Rugged Stitching)]

I like no slides. Pull into a rest area and you immediately have a real bed and you're own bathroom.

Same.

My trailer is setup the same as you describe it's a grand design 21g. You mentioned single digits, is there a temperature cut off for when you think it would be ok to use the on board plumbing?

I just don't really push it once the nights are likely into low 30s cause all it takes is a cold snap rolling in and I don't feel like fixing a burst plumbing component in the under belly (or even worst a cracked black tank drain spout, eeewww). I just pivot over to jugs and portable toilet, its easy enough.

Thanks for the suggestions everyone, forgot to mention budget isn’t a huge concern but trying to stay in that 35-40ish ball park but looks like most are fairly affordable.

Outdoor RV appears to be one of the better built trailers and comes with a price tag but you could probably find something lightly used in your range. They come with alot of things standard that folks upgrade other trailers with. Their 20bd and 21bd would be nice for a couple, has a dedicated bed (no flipping stuff out of the way), no slides to keep it simple/warmer, etc.

Back Country Series 20BD - ORV

Outdoors RV Manufacturing is located in a picturesque mountain valley of Eastern Oregon. The focus of Outdoors RV is to design RVs for the Four Seasons Climate and Rugged Terrain which encompasses the Outdoor landscape of the Western United States and Western Canada. Our goal is not to be the...

outdoorsrvmfg.com

Back Country Series 21BD - ORV

Outdoors RV Manufacturing is located in a picturesque mountain valley of Eastern Oregon. The focus of Outdoors RV is to design RVs for the Four Seasons Climate and Rugged Terrain which encompasses the Outdoor landscape of the Western United States and Western Canada. Our goal is not to be the...

outdoorsrvmfg.com

 

[Sportsman247]

I ran a truck camper on dually 4x4 for years and now have a 4x4 sprinter van. Each have their own pros and cons but the main advantage for me is that I am not towing a camper and if needed can tow my SXS on its trailer.

 

[yfarm]

Buy a used 17’ Casita preferably with front air rather than roof for branch clearance. Several for sale around 10k. I added a leaf spring axle gained 5.5” of lift, can fit 32” tires. Roof leaks are no longer a concern, has been on blm and fs roads. Sleeps 3 with full bath and kitchen. 3500 lbs loaded, just pulled mine 3000 miles with a bronco at 70-80mph with an anderson hitch, rock steady. Mine is a 2003, only repair has been a water heater and a bathroom faucet, how many RVs have this experience.