BajaNomad - slide in truck campers......

slide in truck campers......

surfer jim - 8-7-2005 at 09:14 AM

I have looked at these in the past and ruled them out in favor of a class c motorhome (20-22 foot)....when I get around to buying something.......

thought I might give them another look as I get closer to making a decision......I like the idea of having 4 wheel drive and LOTS of options for suspension/tires with the ability to go MANY places where the motorhome can't....and maybe diesel engine for towing dune buggy/trailer also...which the motorhome can never have.....

was wondering what is best base truck style...3/4 or 1 ton....cab size ect.......?

anybody with pros/cons /personal experience using these?......

give me some ideas.....

Bruce R Leech - 8-7-2005 at 09:20 AM

I would go with the slide in type because it also slides out and then you have a second even more useful vehicle for work or play. :light:

bajajudy - 8-7-2005 at 09:22 AM

We have an 86 ford 4x4 diesel with an overcab camper and I wouldnt trade it for anything. We can go where ever we want. It is the perfect size for two, although I wouldnt want to have to spend too much time inside. But who stays inside here anyway?
We have really high clearance, good tires(goodrich all terrain) and with the diesel no real worries about reliabilty. Heck at 120,000 miles its just getting broken in. Our mechanico, Mike Quade, has an '85 he swears has almost 1,000,000 on it.
I would get a crew cab but that would be for my 2 dogs. The four of us in the front seat is a little tight.
That is my two pesos worth. We like to get off the beaten path!

dono - 8-7-2005 at 09:24 AM

We have a 4 wheel drive dodge diesel with a lance camper that wieghs only 1600 #s dry and we can go just about anywhere with it. Also the dodge gets great mileage, we do mostly dirt roads and this is the perfect rig for us

yankeeirishman - 8-7-2005 at 10:03 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Bruce R Leech
I would go with the slide in type because it also slides out and then you have a second even more useful vehicle for work or play. :light:

I second that. We had one too....was great! Bruce is righto....the second veh comes in real handy dandy!

Bob and Susan - 8-7-2005 at 10:27 AM

We've had lots of trucks...and...

We would never buy a camper, trailer or motorhome.
Get a tent.

For the amount of time used it isn't worth the money invested....
Rooms are about $20-$40 dollars a night and Palapas on the beach $7 a night.
You can get a lot of rooms for the price of these RV's.

Then where do you store the beast?
If you don't take it off you can't use your bed of the truck.

We now have a diesel and it's the very best engine we've had...power WOW!!!...but it's a 4x4 and just too high off the ground to get to the bed easily. It's toooooBIG!!!

We like lower trucks...we're older...now...

We just bought a trailer for temporary living but we will sell the thing asap.
Just more stuff to go out and fix....

Now boats....that's another story...

yankeeirishman - 8-7-2005 at 10:39 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Bob and Susan
We've had lots of trucks...and...

We would never buy a camper, trailer or motorhome.
Get a tent.

For the amount of time used it isn't worth the money invested....
Rooms are about $20-$40 dollars a night and Palapas on the beach $7 a night.
You can get a lot of rooms for the price of these RV's.

Then where do you store the beast?
If you don't take it off you can't use your bed of the truck.

We now have a diesel and it's the very best engine we've had...power WOW!!!...but it's a 4x4 and just too high off the ground to get to the bed easily. It's toooooBIG!!!

We like lower trucks...we're older...now...

We just bought a trailer for temporary living but we will sell the thing asap.
Just more stuff to go out and fix....

Now boats....that's another story...

Thats the right advice! Note that I said we "had" a pull out! We got tired of all the fussing and preps. Tent rules! We now travel in a Land Rover that is well equiped with an solar shower (and stall!), kayaks, tents, food...well...you get the picture! Here we are are "Shark Beach"...an old fish camp alongside of the Sea of Cortez

[Edited on 8-7-2005 by yankeeirishman]

surfer jim - 8-7-2005 at 10:42 AM

I like to go GLAMIS , DUMONT DUNES, OCOTILLO, BARSTOW/LUCERNE VALLEY, and remote baja beaches.....places with no facilities.....both to surf and ride dune buggy.....been doing it in back of pickup with camper shell....need to step up for longer trips now with more comfort....

have other vehicles and lots of garage storage space ...lucky me!.....

like the slide in/out feature.....but not mandatory.....any special "issues" with these units to consider?.......

any special options worth getting?.....want a/c and generator but what else?....

bajajudy - 8-7-2005 at 11:04 AM

We tent camped for years and the set ups and take downs wore me out. With the camper, you arrive, you get the chairs out, set them up, open the cooler, get a cold one, sit down and you are set up! Whoopee
Also no more arguments over...does the foot go shiny side up or down? do these poles go in first? where did this lump in the middle of the tent come from?
As for the high clearance...we have stairs. I am not getting any younger either and that is why I prefer the camper. ...easy!

bajajudy - 8-7-2005 at 11:06 AM

This is our old camping vehicle. We now only use it for trips to the beach with the dogs....the dogmobile

Neal Johns - 8-7-2005 at 11:18 AM

Bajajudy is right. Get a 4X4 Camper of some kind.

You arrive in a remote camp and your room is ready. Does the wind flap the camper sides so you can's sleep? No! (Yes, in a tent).
Do you have to move everything outside to sleep and then can't sit up? No! (Yes in a shell or SUV).

While I require a low PopTop camper because we wander around the Southwest where there are low sticks with fungus on them, (whata you call them, Trees! Thats it), and get tilty quite a bit, a regular camper will work many places in Baja. You can never go back.

Truck campers-----

Barry A. - 8-7-2005 at 11:28 AM

I have a 1000 lb Callen camper on my Ford F-250 ext. cab 4x4 and I wish I had sprung for the F-350. It is just more rugged, but the F-250 does ok if your careful.

The biggest problem with a big camper, even a Lance, is that the torque of the vehicle on the back roads of Baja can really tear the campers up over time. Callen (steel frame) campers seem to be the only one that can resist falling apart, and CAllen campers are not what you call delux inside, or I have never seen one that is delux. But, if you are willing to be careful, and drive very slowly on dirt roads, then the standard campers probably work fine.

Personally I agree with others on this board and prefer to keep it simple, but not quite tent camp----that is why I opted for a custom made CALLEN camper shell with cab over storage, and boat rack on top, and that I can stand up in. I have had it for 23 years and I still love it, and my wife does too, but it has no amenities inside as we do everything outside, except sleep.

Just me two cents worth.

TacoFeliz - 8-7-2005 at 12:17 PM

Another vote here for slide-ins... We have a 4-Wheeler pop top on our 4x4 V8 Tundra and love it. Quicker camp setup, more creature comforts, goes everywhere and slides out when you don't need it. (Wife also has declared that she has no further interest in sleeping on the ground.)

BOLT IT DOWN GOOD... First trip with it to Baja backcountry proved that better hold downs were needed (ripped out two of four), but after addressing that it has been all over the outback in Mexico, the CA Sierras and desert.

After a lifetime of tent camping and twenty years of camping out of a Jeep I'll never go back.

Tomas Tierra - 8-7-2005 at 01:40 PM

4wheel pop ups are the way to go...Set up in seconds, don't flap, light weight, low center of gravity when traveling, aluminium frames bend not break..

we bought a used one for $450 8 years ago, ripped the indside out, re did it..Were on our third Toyota with this camper!!

bajaloco - 8-7-2005 at 01:52 PM

The truck and camper route is the way to go here. Unless you get a very large class A coach, you won't be able to even pull your toys. Check into towing capacities on all rigs, it's even more important to be able to stop the set up....know your limits.

Also, many campers are equipped with jacks which enable you to remove the camper and still have the normal truck.

Tomas Tierra - 8-7-2005 at 02:05 PM

Sweet Rig Neal Johns!!

I saw a picture on one of these threads of you with your pop up camper and a busted up front end...what happened old timer??

Neal Johns - 8-7-2005 at 02:41 PM

What happened? Oh, nothing much. :lol:

I ran over a divider in Vegas making a left turn and must have pulled the ball halfway out of the socket in the front suspencion. Not only is this Old Timer half deaf, but half blind at night.

No worries, I thought, but it came back to bite me in Baja.

New subject: Watch your back, Tom! Old Timer? Just a young 74. :lol:

Tomas Tierra - 8-7-2005 at 03:19 PM

Yep, that's the shot..where were you and how did you fix??(I don't need gps #'s:lol

74 I'm sorry I thought you were older..

surfer jim - 8-7-2005 at 03:24 PM

Just returned from TRAVELAND ? in IRVINE.....saw a Bigfoot truck camper and looks pretty good for what I would need....they have put a lot into a limited space but it works....top of line priced about $30K....but reminds me of a border salesman...no prices posted but you will get a special deal....TODAY......

did like to concept of the truck camper so that was part of my shopping....they say go with the 1 ton truck......will be looking on internet for other manufactures also....

ps. to neal.....what's up with that?..... :lol:

[Edited on 8-7-2005 by surfer jim]

mcgyver - 8-7-2005 at 03:35 PM

I have the "Four Wheel "brand pop top camper also, an older model on a 2004 Tacoma that I remodeled on the inside and made about 2000 miles offroad in Baja last year with it and most of the time pulling a Geo tracker behind that. I take it to Bahia Guadalupe,Punta Remedios,Yubay, Punta Calamajue Las Animas, San Rafael, San Fransquito, Baja 1000 race course south of El Arco, Maralimmo beach through Queens Camp. Any where I want to go. I too had to modify the hold downs, now I have the two rears bolted to a chain that goes behind the bumper and lead slightly forward to prevent it from sliding backward, both front and rear tie downs are reinforced with 1/4" alluminum plates bolted to the camper. We rode out a 70 MPH gale at Maralimmo with no trouble with the poptop up, thought the Tacoma would roll but the top was holding good.

Tomas Tierra - 8-7-2005 at 04:06 PM

I bolted through the floor of my 4 wheel pop up on a 95 T-100 in four places (existing holes

) Did not line up with the frame, bad.. Ended up poping the welds of the bed away from the frame..It never popped off, but I ended up getting rid of the truck shortly after..

7 1/2 foot camper on a 6 foot bed = no bueno

Slide-in considerations

Hook - 8-7-2005 at 09:49 PM

I have a 93 Lance 9-4 slide in, as you know. It's the Squire version, which was not the top of the line at the time. Now, they are calling these the Lance Lites.

I went with the 9-4 version because I have a heavy boat that I tow; its about 8500 lbs. Anything longer than 9-6 would have forced me to use a hitch extension that would have been technically illegal and dangerous to tow for any real distance. The 9-4 version I have has no rear bumper and has the aluminum "facia" removed from the lower rear area. This allows the license plate to still be visible; no removing when you take the Lance off. This is easy to do and not uncommon for large capacity towers (hmm, there's a synonym I just discovered).

In talking to some of the Lance salesman, they admitted that once you go above the 9-6 (no more 9-4s anymore) versions of the Lance, you are at your legal GVWR limit for a 3/4 ton truck. They recommended a 1 ton. That's what I have, but it was mostly due to finding a good used deal.

Of course, a 1 ton truck means a very different ride when the cabover is NOT on, unless you have coil springs up front. On sections of fwy that have been laid in sections, you may want to issue your female ridealongs a sports bra. :lol:

It is almost impossible to mitigate this unless you drop the air in your tires to a decidely non-optimized level.

We have downsized to this from a 24 foot class C. It was much more comfy but I saw the handwriting on the wall when gas hit 1.60 a gallon and sold it off. ANY CLASS C, EVEN THE NEW ONES, CAN LEGALLY ONLY TOW ABOUT 3500 LBS. so that was also a consideration. We now carry creature comforts that let us relax outside, instead of inside.

I have a good friend who owned a Northstar pop-up camper; an 8 footer. I had to admit it was versatile in where it would go but it did not have a john (big + for women) and indoor shower. But the main complaint he had was that in winds over 15 knots, the canvas sides would make quite a bit of noise that made sleeping problematic. In really bad winds, he felt that there was a danger of the canvas separating from its anchor points. He usually dropped it which mean he and the current girlfriend were relegated to the dinette area.

Here are my recommendations:

1-absolutely do NOT buy a new one. The traderonline publications are filled with late model units that people have deemed "too small" for their needs. New additions to the family have a way of doing that. These things work best for two people. Decide what you want and be patient. My was spotless; I got it for 2800.00 with a 2 year old A/C unit the previous owner had installed by the Lance dealer.

Of course I have backed into a tree limb and the neighborhood basketball hoop since. :rolleyes:

2-if you travel single mostly, look at the 8-foot models. They lose the most value as used ones and they are the most common ones found, used. You will find many of these being dumped for 1/2 their price new and with only 2-4 uses! BUT BE SURE YOU ARE HAPPY WITH THE LAYOUT. The 8 foot versions are also narrower than all the others, at least in the Lance line.

The longer you go, the less clearance your tail end has on severe, offroad dips. Unless you lift the whole truck, of course, which costs you mileage on the pavement.

3-absolutely get one with an outdoor shower. Mine has both an indoor and an outdoor. I prefer the outdoor one where temperature and privacy allow, but they are also convenient for rinsing rods/reels, dive gear, and the cabeza in really hot weather.

4-look for ones newer than 10-12 years old. After that, the fridge life may be a question mark. If older than that factor in the cost of a new fridge. Camping World is the place to get them.

5-buy one with (or install) a Fantastic Vent. This is a brand name for a vent with a 3 speed intake/exhaust fan built into the vent housing. By using it as an exhaust fan, you will clear the cabin of heat fast and you will draw cooler outer air through any open window. This can be really valuable on hot nights when you crack only the window next to the bed. Get one with a thermostatic control; you can set it to start when the temp hits a certain value. Everyone who owns one loves them! About 150.00 and easy to install.

6-if possible, find one with the electric jacks for raising the camper up and down. This is a big plus and, unfortunately, one that I dont have; mine are hydraulic manual pumps. But I also dont have a monthly payment. :bounce:

And since I have a diesel, the Lance only costs me about 1 mpg difference. That's worth it to me to leave it on all the time. My commute is very short. Bob H can tell you the versatility of being able to drop the Lance off the back of the truck quickly with the remote control electric jacks.

7-A/C is nice to have, especially if you plan on camping in high heat/humidity. They will require a generator or an electrical hookup. I carry a Honda 2000 with me if I suspect it might get uncomfortable......but I almost never bring it. Newer Lances have generator options from the 9-6 model up.

In closing, I'd just say that diesels are no bed of roses to operate but their benefits in operating costs and towing capability are worth it. You really should give them 3-5 minutes warm-up each morning, so think about your neighbors and how they will react. They are cold-blooded beasts. And they are loud, especially the Cummins (Dodge). Plus the added weight (diesel and the camper) has you watching out for really deep sand (as you saw at La Bocana).

Slide-outs are really a plus in the TTs, 5th wheels and RVs I've been in. I have also been in the new Lances with a slide-out; very nice!

If you decide that diesel is for you, start a new thread and watch the Ford/Dodge debate rage. I get about 13.5 mpg with the Lance on and about 14.5-15.0 w/o it. I have the 3.73 rear axle on a Ford with the 7.3L PSD. I use a programmer and have a K&N filter and a flow-thru exhaust with a 3.5 inch drop from the turbo. 37 gallon tank, so plenty of range. But diesels are "specific purpose" vehicles. Either you want them for their range or you want them for their hauling capacity. If you can get by without needing one or both of those, then I would probably go with a used gasser.

[Edited on 8-8-2005 by Hook]

[Edited on 8-8-2005 by Hook]

Corky1 - 8-8-2005 at 06:13 PM

Excellent post Mr. Hook.

Corky :saint:

surfer jim - 8-8-2005 at 10:25 PM

Looked at the LANCE today....good units....liked the 9'6" size myself....think I saw the LITE model.....should work with the 3/4 ton OK......may need a 12" extension to tow for me.....priced around $18k.....

Bob and Susan - 8-9-2005 at 06:04 AM

Do the math...

$18,000 WOW!!!
If you got a nice hotel for $40 a nite...

and used the camper 15 days a year on vacation (two weeks)

you'd break EVEN in 30 YEARS!!!!!! :saint:

surfer jim - 8-9-2005 at 07:12 AM

If you look at it in terms of $$$ you are correct....but where I go there are NO hotels...remote beaches or desert..."in the middle of nowhere".....

and what happens when the hotel is "full"?.....

pappy - 8-9-2005 at 09:50 AM

i believe the camper is a tax write off-considered a second home kind of thing. jim, check outfittermfg.com.they make the best slide in pop-up campers(imho)aluminum frame= light,strong and no rot.the site has a clip from a four wheel drive magazine-a ford with one of their campers in baja,etc

i too love tent camping but sometimes the wind and rain get to be a bit much so it's nice to be able to hang out in relative comfort.i don't mind the set-up and tear down, but it is so much easier to have it all in camper and just pull up, set out the chairs and crack a cold one

Surfer Jim

Hook - 8-9-2005 at 11:12 AM

Step away from the Lance Dealers and put your hands behind your head. :yes:

Seriously, there is no reason to get a new one unless you are simply impatient. The big ticket items that CAN fail (AC/fridge) only total about 2000.00 INSTALLED. A carry along Honda 2000 generator is another 1k (much less than what the dealer wants for an installed model, much less versatile, much heavier and much louder than the Hondas).

However, the Honda will only work on the A/C units that have the lowest BTU rating by Duo-therm. Be sure and get one with that, IF A/C IS A BIG CONCERN OF YOURS. I get the feeling that you are a Pacific-side kind of guy, though, and you would really never need A/C over there.

All the other potential failures are easily fixed as the plumbing/electrical, etc. are very accessible. Maybe the biggest problem area to look for on a used one are signs of water intrusion from the roof. Check all storage compartments up high for signs of water damage. If you see it, steer clear.

On the tow extension, I have a 12" one, too, and that's fine for towing up to around 5000 lbs as I recall. I tow friends boats, too. It also provide a convenient place to mount a step for quick entry on the road. For in camp, get one of the accordion-like aluminum stairs.

[Edited on 8-9-2005 by Hook]

Bob H - 8-9-2005 at 02:43 PM

Hook thinks a lot like I do when it comes to slide-in's. The only different thing I would do would to have a 1-ton diesel super-cab instead of the V-10 (which is adequate engough but lacks the torch that the desiel provides). Automatic jacks are a must - we can slide ours off in less than 20 minutes without any hassle at all. We absolutely love taking it to places where there is no other place around. Tent camping got old for us many years ago, then we had an F150 with a carpet kit and topper for 10 years, camping in the back of that. So, now we just love our rig and have taken it places than no other motor home could make it to. We bought ours new, but I looked and looked and looked for a used one that would suit us and it just wasn't there. So, we stepped up to the plate and bought new and got exactly what we wanted. Plenty of storage (plus we put our tandum kayak on top on longer trips).

10-days in Mulege is an example.... YES! It was GREAT!

comitan - 8-9-2005 at 03:06 PM

With over 20years chasing around the Baja and the Mainland with cabover camper Hook knows what he is talking about I couldn't add a thing for my part.

bajalou - 8-9-2005 at 03:26 PM

If you're going to be doing a lot of traveling in Baja, remember diesel here is about 20% less per liter than gasoline. I prefer the extended cab rather than the 4 door for the shorter wheelbase and I don't have to haul a lot of passengers.

:biggrin:

Are the stars aligned?

Hook - 8-9-2005 at 05:05 PM

Jim, when I was searching for my 9-4/9-6 model in the Traderonline, it took me a year to find the right one. I soon discovered that these two were the rarest ones to find used. This is because people that tow big loads know that this is the maximum size you can go.

I just did a search and there are no less that SIX used Lance's in the 9-4/6 category! The LS-4000 is a 9-4/6 model. There are ones in Ridgecrest, Littlerock, Stanton, Los Angeles, Vista and Hesperia. All in California.

Hope this link works:

http://www.rvtraderonline.com/adsearch/rvsearchprocess.html

One tip in using the Trader search engine. Enter an amount between 1 dollar and the uppermost limit you want to spend. By indicating a dollar (instead of zero) you will weed out the dealers who prefer to advertise new units without listing a price. There's a lot of them.Choose California or only the area codes you want to drive to.

[Edited on 8-10-2005 by Hook]

Bob & Susan...

Mexray - 8-9-2005 at 07:07 PM

Your point is well taken, and one I have used about the Diesel-vs-Gas power - takes forever to get your investment back, and with today's fuel prices, probably never. A diesel is great of hauling around one of those humongous 5th wheel 'whales', but for most of the rest of us a gas fueled rig would most likely fill the bill.

...again about those $40 motels...kinda hard to find out in the boonies - but you're right about the investment figures!

Today, my 'perfect' rig would be a 4WD Ford HD extra-cab (for better turning radius), with V-10 (gas hog) pulling power, and a utility body on the back replacing the pick-up bed - you can get them now with a shape that matches the cab's profile (not a square, boxy one) and has all those dirt-proof compartments for your 'extra' gear and the Honda quiet generator. Of course I'd go for lower gearing, electric locker in the rear end, maybe a winch up front, etc, etc. Then slide in a 4wheel type pop-up camper to finish off the 'package' - a perfect Baja, Outback, Rig!...Got $ 65K or so....?

Over the years we've pretty much done it all...when the kids were toddlers, we had a 23ft, van/MoHo with bunk beds in back...towed the glass bodied VW dune buggy or the sand rail behind for fun stuff in the desert and on the beach.

Later went to a FWD pickup and towed a small camp trailer that we could get through most back roads. Had lots of fun in that rig as the kids got older and more mobile.

The last few years, we're back to tent camping with a small trailer behind our Bronco to carry the extra stuff for camp (just two of us now). It's a better rig when you want to really get out back on some of the 'tighter' places - but you still have to unload your stuff, set up the tent, and then stow all the stuff when you move on...can be real pain for a short o'nite stop!

As above, I'd sure vote the HD pickup with a pop-up camper as the best over-all rig for Baja's outback - for two souls, that is!

Bob and Susan - 8-9-2005 at 08:24 PM

Susan's family ALWAYS had those gas eating motorhomes....so we always did the math....when we saw them sitting at the house.
:lol:

We took a motorhome ONCE!!! After Susan filled the tank and cleaned and cooked...we NEVER took it again :lol:

The power of the diesel we have is outstanding...WOW!!!
The thing is just too high off the ground...i always need a ladder.
It does pull the boat...no problem.

My ole Suburban would have lost a tranny easily on the Santa Rosalia grade. I lost it going to Barstow.

PS Mexray, I need batteries..... :lol:

Bob & Susan...

Mexray - 8-9-2005 at 09:23 PM

I've got four new (in Feb) 6volt, golf cart batt's over on the beach if you need em...They have been hooked up to my small solar panels, and should be in top shape...let me know if you want em...Ray

[Edited on 8-10-2005 by Mexray]

I need to check Kelly Blue Book...

Hook - 8-9-2005 at 09:54 PM

.....for the resale value of those 40.00 hotel rooms, too. :lol:

But Bob and Susan's thinking is sound if you don't have the "adventurer" mentality. I think you do.

Mexray's points are well taken. He probably IS describing the ultimate Baja vehicle in terms of versatility and ability to conquer the most driving conditions. It's either that or one of those pricey 4x4 Sportmobile, E-350 Ford van chassis vehicles. But , then, you're storing your tools and extras inside your living space.

Ever see a truck tent

Sharksbaja - 8-9-2005 at 10:36 PM

Pretty handy during the time I visit Mulege. Perfect for side trips. No critters or sand and a nice fit in the Hemi. Just have to unload the back is all.

[Edited on 8-16-2005 by Sharksbaja]

SLIDE INS

rob - 8-13-2005 at 10:01 AM

Bought an F350 4x4 diesel (with ARBS fore and aft plus winch) in 1998 with an 8ft Lance to spend a year exploring Baja. Terrible camper choice - far too heavy even though it was the smallest Lance on a 1 ton truck.

Sold the Lance for my second go at Baja and bought a Northstar (RC Willett) pop-top. This is the perfect camper for Baja - airy (be sure to put in a Fantastc Vent over the bed for those 105 degree nights) and light. Solar panels on the roof and 2 golf cart batteries. We could go anywhere.

I added a service body to the truck - tons of room but heavy. Not sure if I's do that again, but do love it.

marek - 8-14-2005 at 10:17 AM

I've been traveling Baja for several years in a full size, extended cab, diesel, 4x4 with a Four Wheel pop up camper. The pop up camper, while expensive, allowed us to be relatively comfortable even in remote areas. If you look at the cost, as others have mentioned, hotels are probably cheaper in the long run, but for those who like to access more remote areas, hotels aren't an option. It also allowed us to travel more comfortably with small children and we didn't have to rush to get to the next hotel/lodging. We made camp wherever we wanted. On a side note, I'm actually going to be selling mine because my family has gotten bigger and we are running out of room. Not quite sure what we are going to do at this point.

surfer jim - 8-14-2005 at 02:51 PM

Got any details of your rig/camper?.....photo?...

What places have you been to?.....favorite area?.....

marek - 8-15-2005 at 07:24 AM

The rig is a Dodge Diesel, extra cab, 4x4, with KORE Suspension with 35 inch tires. It has big bumpers, winch, pul-pal, recovery equipment, etc. The camper is a Four Wheel Pop Up, Grandby with most options. 3 way Fridge, electric fan, heater, awning, extended bed, etc. It's comfortable, but still light weight and low profile. It's big enough to sleep four people, but small enough to make you want to spend more time outside. It has a fridge, stove, and porta-potti. We use a Sun Shower to keep things simple.

We've taken this set up to Gonzaga, Punta Santa Rosalillita, Punta Pequena (from the North), La Purisima to Loreto, East Cape, the Pacific coast up from Colonet, mountains around Tecate. It will go anywhere, it's just finding the time to get there. We have a comfortable range of 400-500 miles and can stay self contained (with kids and dogs) for about 5 days (water and ice start to limit us).

Camper is for sale, I'm keeping the truck.

marek - 8-15-2005 at 07:30 AM

This is on the north road from Punta Pequena

marek - 8-15-2005 at 07:31 AM

same spot different view

marek - 8-15-2005 at 07:32 AM

side shot

marek - 8-15-2005 at 07:33 AM

let's try this again..............I'm new to the forum

marek - 8-15-2005 at 07:33 AM

interior.............There is a fold down bed on the right and then a queen size bed over the cab.

marek - 8-15-2005 at 07:36 AM

As far as a favorite area, it's hard to say, we've been going to Baja for almost 20 years and it really depends on what kind of a trip it is. I think one of the prettiest places I've been is San Basilio/San Juanico. Usually though, I'm partial to the places with water and sand.

TacoFeliz - 8-15-2005 at 11:22 AM

Marek -

Who built your back bumper? It looks pretty stout with 4 cans and a tire on swing away pivots. I also have a 4 wheeler, but on a 4-door 4wd Tundra and am really loving it. There's nothing like an instant camp when you get to a campsite after dark and hungry.

TacoFeliz - 8-15-2005 at 11:27 AM

Marek -

Another dumb question... Do you unload your roof box every time you put your roof up? Mine came with a Yakima box and any weight in it seems to make raising the roof a superhuman task. I'd like to carry two kayaks somehow but also avoid having to unload them every time I pop the top. Any suggestions?

marek - 8-15-2005 at 11:55 AM

The rear bumper was built by 4x4labs ( www.4x4labs.com ). They do great work and the bumper is stout. I can stand on the swing aways while they are fully loaded. The spindles they use are rated to 7500 pounds. They are fully Baja tested and proven.

Generally, we don't have to unload the roof, but we try to keep only the light weight stuff up top because it does get heavy pretty quickly.

bajajudy - 8-15-2005 at 02:05 PM

Cool rig!
Who needs hotel rooms, right?

An afterthought...is it for a long bed?

[Edited on 8-15-2005 by bajajudy]

TacoFeliz - 8-15-2005 at 03:46 PM

Thanks for the info. After camping on the ground all my life this is like having a hotel room in the boonies.

marek - 8-15-2005 at 05:00 PM

BajaJudy,

It is for a long bed. They say it will fit on a shortbed, with the tailgate down, but you also limit your towing capability at that point because you need an hitch extender.

My rig suits us well. The truck is big, but can go pretty much any place I need to take it. It's got plenty of power and the diesel averages 15 mpg with camper in Baja, and much of that is on dirt roads. With the price of diesel in Baja, it's cheaper for me to be on vacation.

I've had smaller trucks in the past, but with a wife, kids, and two dogs, it gets pretty crowded.

El Camote - 8-19-2005 at 04:15 PM

Great thread! I have a couple related questions to throw in for those experience Baja truck campers.

I'm restoring an older Toyota truck based pop-up camper (but not a slide-in). I kept looking at, and bumping into, that Suburban propane heater and guessed I'd never really need to use it with mostly Baja camping. With space at a premium, I decided to take it out and turned the space it took up into a cabinet for a tool box, jumper cables, tow straps and the like.

Does anyone with a heater like this find much use for it camping in Baja? The interior is so small it seems boiling water for a cup of coffee and issuing a hearty frijole pedo would be sufficient for warmth on a cold Baja winter morning. I just hope I don't regret taking out the heater...although maybe my wife will. :yes:

Also, the camper body is made of fiberglass. Anyone have any experience with the twisting effects from Baja back roads on a fiberglass body?

bajalou - 8-19-2005 at 04:19 PM

Think it was probably a good move removing the heater. I did the same in our trailer here. They use a lot of electricity for the fan - which if you're boondocking, you can't afford. Lots of other ways to provide the small amount of heat required (unless you're camping at the observatory in Jan.)

:rolleyes:

bajajudy - 8-19-2005 at 04:21 PM

Camote
I am not a big heater user anyway but I have never felt like I needed one even in the winter.
I think that you made a wise move making the space for things you might actually use.

TacoFeliz - 8-19-2005 at 04:56 PM

Mine came with a heater and I've only turned it on once to test it. A couple of minutes heating something on the stove is enough for most times (I hate snow, so that's not a factor). The test run on the heater drove me out. The thermostat impresses guests.

surfer jim - 8-19-2005 at 05:30 PM

was at a DODGE dealer today and saw picture and specs on their new POWER WAGON ....guess it is new for 2005....this thing looks like a great truck to start with and match it with a lighter weight camper.....anybody know anything about these?.....

If I have time I may stop in Riverside Saturday to look at the GRANDBY and I think 6 pac...both at the same location.....

Last year I bought a BLACK CAT heater for my camper shell.....felt good at Christmas down at the SISTERS .....

comitan - 8-19-2005 at 06:07 PM

OK you want to spend a lot of money:

Try thishttp://www.unicat.net/en/index2-Unicatour.html

PacO - 8-19-2005 at 06:55 PM

Awesome thread. I'll be in this market in 4-5 years for some serious family exploration.

Sharksbaja - 8-19-2005 at 07:51 PM

hmmmmmmmmmmmm! Drat shuld have waited! All that stuff can be installed on the 03-04s I heard but pricey. The whinch and mount kit IS now available that employed on the new "Wagon"

bajalou - 8-19-2005 at 08:04 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by comitan
OK you want to spend a lot of money:

Try thishttp://www.unicat.net/en/index2-Unicatour.html

Get ready for some SERIOUS off road explorations!!!!

:biggrin:

TacoFeliz - 8-20-2005 at 11:45 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by comitan
OK you want to spend a lot of money:

Try thishttp://www.unicat.net/en/index2-Unicatour.html

Slightly over the top for Baja maybe? Especially the first time you meander up a windy, narrow box canyon then have to back out!

Neal Johns - 8-20-2005 at 06:28 PM

I had the factory leave the heater out for more storage space and camp in the snow. No problem, I just get Marian up early to light a burner!

surfer jim - 8-21-2005 at 08:23 AM

Just checked the KORE website....they have some good stuff.....never heard of them before.....guess they only do DODGE?.....

also looked at 4x4labs.....well....I will have to have the $3000....BUMPER....

[Edited on 8-21-2005 by surfer jim]

Capt. George - 8-21-2005 at 08:29 PM

Whistler are you back in the states? e me at me e

gpurrm@hotmail.com

lots to tell you private matters..........

ASAP Amigo george el Vikingo

Capt. George - 8-22-2005 at 06:34 AM

Whistler,

got your e, could not open it? check U2U george

On the new Power Wagons

Hook - 8-22-2005 at 02:04 PM

Are you referring to the redesigned '06 Dodge full-sized QuadCab trucks? Dodge has gotten tired of hearing how much smaller their cabs are compared to Ford and Chevy.

They have not announced when (or if) they will be making a longbed version. Right now, it will be short-bed only. That means that the over 8 foot camper versions may not be an option.

As I have previously mentioned, the softsided popups can be very noisy in even moderate winds......the sound of shuffling canvas. But if you are not a light sleeper, they probably are the way to go. Low profile and much less twisting stress on the frame, as a whole. They should be really easy to find used, too.

They obviously are much poorer on insulation if you need to heat or cool them artifically.

On camper "heaters"-------

Barry A. - 8-22-2005 at 02:33 PM

We just use a "Mr. Heater Buddy" portable propane heater. Self contained using 2 little tanks of propane (tho you can use a 20 lb bulk tank, and hose), supposed to auto-shut off if carbon mono present (but we always vent outside), can also be used outside around the campfire to heat your backside, and will heat your camper in about 5 mins. We hardly ever need it, tho. They cost about $100. Very small and easy to store.

surfer jim - 8-22-2005 at 07:36 PM

new POWER WAGON is based on the 3/4 ton....it has about every traction/suspension thing made....maybe just a step below H1 Hummer...except MUCH cheaper.....