Your thoughts on my future camping setup

[CorbLand]

Vids

Have you looked at the Jumpin Jack trailers? Tent Trailers | Jumping Jack Trailers

These look solid but what I cant get over is the cost. 5000-7000 grand for one? You could buy a car hauler and a kodiak tent for less than that. You would get a bigger trailer, with more weight capacity and have a tent.

 

[rgrx1276]

I used an 18lb Marmot 8 man tent for my truck camping setup and a big buddy heater to warm it. Also have a 5 man teepee with a wood stove for heat if I need another setup. I prefer the 8 man most of the time as there's tons of room for 1 man and more than adequate space for 2.

 

[Gatorgrizz27]

IMO, if you have the space to store it, an enclosed trailer is hard to beat for the price and versatility. If you aren’t planning to live out of it full time, or go from trip to trip to trip, you can have a basic setup that isn’t all that expensive.

Things like a 12v battery system with lights, a roof vent with a fan, 10 ply tires, insulation, and E-track rails would be desirable to just about anyone buying it.

Build a small counter in the v-nose portion, the 7 gallon aqua tainers, a Mr buddy heater and zodi shower, a piece of outdoor carpet and a couple cots, you’re in business. An awning with a drop down room is also nice for extra space.

I’d go that route for the solo or hunting with a buddy route, then add something like a sawtooth plus a lightweight stove. You could set that up next to the trailer for extra sleeping space even in the winter, and have the ability to pack in a camp if you don’t want to take the trailer or can’t get it in.

There’s been a lot of interest in cargo trailer conversions on here lately, I’ll try to do a write up on mine soon, even though it isn’t finished yet.

 

[CorbLand]

IMO, if you have the space to store it, an enclosed trailer is hard to beat for the price and versatility. If you aren’t planning to live out of it full time, or go from trip to trip to trip, you can have a basic setup that isn’t all that expensive.

Things like a 12v battery system with lights, a roof vent with a fan, 10 ply tires, insulation, and E-track rails would be desirable to just about anyone buying it.

Build a small counter in the v-nose portion, the 7 gallon aqua tainers, a Mr buddy heater and zodi shower, a piece of outdoor carpet and a couple cots, you’re in business. An awning with a drop down room is also nice for extra space.

I’d go that route for the solo or hunting with a buddy route, then add something like a sawtooth plus a lightweight stove. You could set that up next to the trailer for extra sleeping space even in the winter, and have the ability to pack in a camp if you don’t want to take the trailer or can’t get it in.

There’s been a lot of interest in cargo trailer conversions on here lately, I’ll try to do a write up on mine soon, even though it isn’t finished yet.

This is my plan when I have the space and money to do it. I want something big enough to fit a side by side, have a bathroom, a stove and some counter space. Propane for heat and some cots and a queen size air mattress.

 

[rgrx1276]

IMO, if you have the space to store it, an enclosed trailer is hard to beat for the price and versatility. If you aren’t planning to live out of it full time, or go from trip to trip to trip, you can have a basic setup that isn’t all that expensive.

Things like a 12v battery system with lights, a roof vent with a fan, 10 ply tires, insulation, and E-track rails would be desirable to just about anyone buying it.

Build a small counter in the v-nose portion, the 7 gallon aqua tainers, a Mr buddy heater and zodi shower, a piece of outdoor carpet and a couple cots, you’re in business. An awning with a drop down room is also nice for extra space.

I’d go that route for the solo or hunting with a buddy route, then add something like a sawtooth plus a lightweight stove. You could set that up next to the trailer for extra sleeping space even in the winter, and have the ability to pack in a camp if you don’t want to take the trailer or can’t get it in.

There’s been a lot of interest in cargo trailer conversions on here lately, I’ll try to do a write up on mine soon, even though it isn’t finished yet.

Love the idea of a cargo camper, but I doubt you're going to be happy with it in a lot of NF's out west. The roads are barely trails and you'll find out real quick you wish you would have brought something smaller. I used a 4x4 2500 pickup this trip.... next one will be in a 4x4 jeep. (roads) were a bitch and something smaller than my truck would have been god sent.

I want to build a camper one day for the better units that can accommodate a comfortable living space but where I hunted this year it would limit a lot of places as to where you can camp.

 

[Bulldawg]

That’s what the atv is for, camp at an easy to get to spot and use the atv to buzz up quick to where you need to go

Love the idea of a cargo camper, but I doubt you're going to be happy with it in a lot of NF's out west. The roads are barely trails and you'll find out real quick you wish you would have brought something smaller. I used a 4x4 2500 pickup this trip.... next one will be in a 4x4 jeep. (roads) were a bitch and something smaller than my truck would have been god sent.

I want to build a camper one day for the better units that can accommodate a comfortable living space but where I hunted this year it would limit a lot of places as to where you can camp.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Gatorgrizz27]

Love the idea of a cargo camper, but I doubt you're going to be happy with it in a lot of NF's out west. The roads are barely trails and you'll find out real quick you wish you would have brought something smaller. I used a 4x4 2500 pickup this trip.... next one will be in a 4x4 jeep. (roads) were a bitch and something smaller than my truck would have been god sent.

I want to build a camper one day for the better units that can accommodate a comfortable living space but where I hunted this year it would limit a lot of places as to where you can camp.

Yeah, that’s the problem especially for guys wanting a ton of space like an 8x20. Mine is a 6x12 and we backpack hunted in CO this year, but it would have made it in to where we parked without any problems, even after the rains. I’d imagine most guys setting up trailers hunt the same areas every year for the most part and know what the roads are like. It could be problematic if you go exploring and can’t turn around.

 

[rgrx1276]

Yeah, that’s the problem especially for guys wanting a ton of space like an 8x20. Mine is a 6x12 and we backpack hunted in CO this year, but it would have made it in to where we parked without any problems, even after the rains. I’d imagine most guys setting up trailers hunt the same areas every year for the most part and know what the roads are like. It could be problematic if you go exploring and can’t turn around.

The last time I used a trailer it was in Colorado and I had horses for my ATV mode. Promised myself that would never happen again unless I had a designated wrangler to take care of them. I wish in these days I could hunt the same place year after year, but drawing an elk tag or a good deer tag isn't always an easy thing.
I do like to check out a new area, that was one of the reasons I went out to New Mexico this year 2 weeks before the season. A jeep with a tent and my groceries would have allowed for much easier exploring than my full sized 4x4 2500 crew cab, especially in tight spots where there was no way I could have possibly gotten a trailer turned around much less parked in a decent spot. I could have used the campgrounds but that wasn't going to happen, I like my privacy too much.

 

[rgrx1276]

IMO, if you have the space to store it, an enclosed trailer is hard to beat for the price and versatility. If you aren’t planning to live out of it full time, or go from trip to trip to trip, you can have a basic setup that isn’t all that expensive.

Things like a 12v battery system with lights, a roof vent with a fan, 10 ply tires, insulation, and E-track rails would be desirable to just about anyone buying it.

Build a small counter in the v-nose portion, the 7 gallon aqua tainers, a Mr buddy heater and zodi shower, a piece of outdoor carpet and a couple cots, you’re in business. An awning with a drop down room is also nice for extra space.

I’d go that route for the solo or hunting with a buddy route, then add something like a sawtooth plus a lightweight stove. You could set that up next to the trailer for extra sleeping space even in the winter, and have the ability to pack in a camp if you don’t want to take the trailer or can’t get it in.

There’s been a lot of interest in cargo trailer conversions on here lately, I’ll try to do a write up on mine soon, even though it isn’t finished yet.

Would be interested in seeing your trailer setup.

 

[Desk Jockey]

My $0.02. Even a smaller toy hauler gets heavy when you load it with gear and an ATV. I inherited one from my dad and gave it a whirl. It worked but it was heavy to me. Not sure what kind of driving you are doing but my 5.7 tundra was not going to be enough truck to pull a loaded 22 foot toy hauler on a lot of long haul trips IMO. Would have been a real pain in the ass for any kind of rough roa too. I wasn’t using it enough so I sold it.

If I go with a trailer again, I would probably get an enclosed and mod it a bit.

 

[Idaho_Potato]

I have been considering one of these for a solo setup. You can get them pretty big up to 14x14 and put in a lightweight wood stove.

http://www.buckstitchcanvas.com/tents-frames/canvas-cowboy-range-teepee?cPath=22&

The appeal to me is the single pole setup - no jacking around with a metal jigsaw puzzle and 50 lbs of canvas in the dark. They also make models with 2' side walls to get a little more stand-up room. The teepees are supposed to be better than a wall tent in high winds too.

 

[Benjamin_Parker]

I've been doing more solo trips the last few years, that trend is likely to continue. I usually truck camp and strike out with my ATV from there.

My current setup is F-150 truck with trailer and ATV, that part works fine for the most part. My issue is the camping setup. I have a 12x17 wall tent w/ 200 lb wood stove, it's awesome but a pain to put up by myself for a 3-4 day trip. I also have a 3 man tent that is fine in warm weather. I do like a shower every day or two so I want a few more creature comforts.

I keep debating on what I want to buy so I can quickly set up camp and have decent accommodations with shower and heat.

My thoughts so far:
1. Pop-up toy hauler so I can still bring my ATV. Leaning towards this option since it would be nice for family camping trips too.
2. Get rid of ATV, buy a jeep and get whatever camper I want. Downside here is I like my ATV and I can get more places than with a jeep.
3. Buy an enclosed trailer and modify it so I can use it as a camper.
4. Buy a lighter weight tent and wood stove, something like a 4/6 man tipi.
5. Hard-sided toy hauler RV, but these seem to be more expensive than pop ups.

Your thoughts? I'd like to hear about experiences with pop up toy haulers as well, I've heard mixed reviews with some saying they fall apart over time.

Hi Vids,

I think go for option 4 because there's a lot of options out there, but I can refer you to a review done on pop-up tents that I think you will find interesting The 10 Best Pop Up Tents of 2019.

Top pick is the PeakTop Instant Tent 4 Person Automatic Pop Up Tent which to me looks like a possible option for you

 

[Antarctica]

Truck camper man! No trailer, 4WD, secure, quick to move locations. The F150 may challenge your ability to go this route.

 

[Titan_Bow]

Look at Oztents and Turbo tents. I have a 10 man Turbo tent and I love it. It’s 10x20 and I can easily put it up myself in 10 minutes or so. The Oztents go up a lot faster than that. You could modify either to run a wood stove but I’ve not done that. I just use a Mr. Heater, or if in a campground with electric, I’ve got an electric space heater I’ll take. The tent is like a cabin and holds up to harsh weather like a champ.
I have been thinking about getting a smaller Oztent for the smaller footprint. Again, very quick deploying tent and made from sturdy materials.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Glendon Mullins]

Kodiak Canvas tent, all the benefits of canvas tent, easy to set up

 

[w33kend_warrior]

Was tossing around getting a small camper vs a tent recently, mostly out of dread of having to set up a tent. Think I have decided to go the tent route however for the money savings.