Diesel 80 series versus Dodge Cummins Camper?

[locrwln]

I would have to vote for the truck/camper combo. I have both and if my truck would fit where I take my LC, the LC would be gone. My truck averages 12-14 mpg with my 10' camper loaded up. Now that sounds pretty horrible compared to your 80, but I think once you load up the 80 and add a trailer, your mileage isn't going to be that great. With the truck/camper your only cost really comes down to fuel. And when you hit places like California, you can still do 65-70mph while those towing trailers are stuck at 55mph.

What you loose in mileage, you make up for in comfort. With the truck/camper, you can stop anywhere to cook and camp. Try setting up an overland camper/trailer in a parking lot while you cook your food/wash your dishes/take a nap. Truck/campers are great "stealth" campers. Granted you can't take the truck/camper everywhere you can the 80, but you will be much more comfortable. If the weather is bad, there is nothing like climbing into a camper and turning up the heat, cracking open a book getting your favorite drink and letting nature do it's worse. :coffeedrink:

Jack

 

[Ducks]

If you want to get off the beaten path at all, then keep the LC. Explore more than just the KOA. You can meet a lot of great people traveling around NA meeting up with local cruiserheads that will show you all the great places. Pull a nice trailer with a RTT. Just my 2 cents.

 

[rstl99]

I would have to vote for the truck/camper combo. I have both and if my truck would fit where I take my LC, the LC would be gone. My truck averages 12-14 mpg with my 10' camper loaded up. Now that sounds pretty horrible compared to your 80, but I think once you load up the 80 and add a trailer, your mileage isn't going to be that great. With the truck/camper your only cost really comes down to fuel. And when you hit places like California, you can still do 65-70mph while those towing trailers are stuck at 55mph.

What you loose in mileage, you make up for in comfort. With the truck/camper, you can stop anywhere to cook and camp. Try setting up an overland camper/trailer in a parking lot while you cook your food/wash your dishes/take a nap. Truck/campers are great "stealth" campers. Granted you can't take the truck/camper everywhere you can the 80, but you will be much more comfortable. If the weather is bad, there is nothing like climbing into a camper and turning up the heat, cracking open a book getting your favorite drink and letting nature do it's worse. :coffeedrink:

Jack

If you want to get off the beaten path at all, then keep the LC. Explore more than just the KOA. You can meet a lot of great people traveling around NA meeting up with local cruiserheads that will show you all the great places. Pull a nice trailer with a RTT. Just my 2 cents.

Definitely some great arguments on either side of the equation. Both solutions definitely have their strengths and weaknesses. As someone said on this thread or another one, in an ideal world one would have one of each! Not possible for me unfortunately. And the fact that I already own a diesel 80 probably argues to staying with that for the foreseeable future. Maybe when I've been retired a few years and in need of greater convenience and comfort for long-distance road trips, the truck/camper will become a more advantageous solution for me. :ylsmoke: For now, I'll probably focus on the 80, try to get myself a good trailer, and go with that for a while, see if it will do the trick for me. :smiley_drive:

Thanks to all for the great thoughts and perspectives!!

 

[Viggen]

This is an interesting thread as it was something that I was thinking about also. A 12V, Gen 2 Dodge Ram with an extended cab/ short bed and a Flip Pac or something like an 80 with a trailer. Being in the US, we dont have diesel LCs at our easy disposal so it would have to be a swap (Im sorry but 10 mpg is unacceptable) and with that, you are adding extra money and possible teething problems. Diesel has a more off road travel (not mud friendly) powerband and as a side benefit, gives better mpg.

Its true that an 80 will go more places off road because it is slightly lighter and narrower but, if versatility were your main motives, I would vote Ram. Great drivetrain with okay build quality and good for thousands of miles. If the ride is bad for you, there are many people out there that specialize in upgrades that will yield a better ride and off road capability without loosing any weight carrying ability.

It is hard though, to argue against a diesel power 80 as many of us here in the US would kill to get our hands on something like that.

 

[rstl99]

This is an interesting thread as it was something that I was thinking about also. A 12V, Gen 2 Dodge Ram with an extended cab/ short bed and a Flip Pac or something like an 80 with a trailer.

Its true that an 80 will go more places off road because it is slightly lighter and narrower but, if versatility were your main motives, I would vote Ram. Great drivetrain with okay build quality and good for thousands of miles. If the ride is bad for you, there are many people out there that specialize in upgrades that will yield a better ride and off road capability without loosing any weight carrying ability.

It is hard though, to argue against a diesel power 80 as many of us here in the US would kill to get our hands on something like that.

Indeed, Viggen, it's not an easy call. Both have their advantages. As indicated, off-roading is not a big requirement for me, where an 80 would be really strong. I've looked at trailer solutions for the 80 and the off-road trailers don't appeal to me, don't seem high in comfort value (some have recommended the M416 (Cdn M101) military trailers, but it looks like too rugged a solution for me, and the Adventure/Tentrax/Campa trailers are very expensive and again, probably make more sense in true off-road or cross-Africa kind of expeditions).

Some days I think: I've got the perfect truck in my driveway: rare (in N-A) 80 series with diesel engine and 5 speed, LHD, 130,000 miles, tough-as-nails and Toyota reliability. But when I try to picture myself on long road trips, traversing N-A, I'm not so sure. The comfort (AC, automatic), stealth camping ability (slide-in camper), and strong drivetrain of a Dodge Cummins are appealing on other days. Plus the Dodge gives me access to versatility of the pickup truck when not camping/trekking. Not to mention ability to get it repaired anywhere in NA if the need arises.

If it wasn't that I have the 80 in the driveway, my decision would be a lot easier, since I couldn't imagine getting my hands on such an 80 and the other solution would be much more readily available. However, selling the 80 to make room for a dodge/camper and then possibly regretting it later, gives me cause to reflect.

Oh well, nothing lost thinking this over carefully. My long-distance trips aren't planned for until next summer anyway.

Thanks for listening to my musings, and offering your thoughts. Appreciate it.
Cheers!

 

[Cackalak Han]

If hardcore offroading isn't important, would you really miss the 80? I think from all the pros you've mentioned about the Dodge, that would be the better option for you. Plus, you could get a pretty penny for that Cruiser.

 

[rstl99]

If hardcore offroading isn't important, would you really miss the 80? I think from all the pros you've mentioned about the Dodge, that would be the better option for you. Plus, you could get a pretty penny for that Cruiser.

Yeah, part of me is leaning that way for sure. Maybe it's a right/left brain kind of thing, or going with one's heart vs one's brain.

For many years I wanted a Land-Rover Series so bad, probably used to dream about one when a kid. Picked one up as a restoration project, spent 2-3 years on it and sold it 80% completed. Swore never to buy a non-running vehicle again!

Then I got a diesel TLC wagon (BJ60). Tough station wagon, body was going, tranny was having issues so sold it.

Heard and read great things about the LR Defender, and picked up a diesel 110 with very low miles and no rust (from Labrador - flew in, bought it and drove it back to Ottawa, which is one reason I want to go back to those northern roads, the stillness and remote beauty up there). Kept it a couple of years, wasn't having enough use for it, and sold it.

Re-acquired another BJ60 after a long search. Tough as nails but standard steering and 4 speed so a bit of a bear to drive in the city (where I live). Chanced upon the 80 diesel locally, bought it and sold the BJ60.

(As you can see from my sig, I've also owned a couple of other trucks, a VW camper whose engine I had to rebuild, replaced by a diesel MB camper I chanced upon, which proved too underpowered and unwieldingly big to keep).

Have since acquired a country place with lots of dirt/gravel roads nearby, and 80 has proved very useful for hauling stuff back and forth from city to country places (in the cargo space in the back after removing the rear seat, or hauling a small utility trailer). And I figure I can enjoy using it to explore the secondary roads and some old logging trails nearby.

But as I said, I've been debating on whether it's the right truck (if I am to own just one) to head back North to explore Labrador, James Bay, eventually Yukon). I'm over 50 and comfort is more and more important, which is why a slide-in camper with comfy bed has more appeal than off-road trailer and RTT. A hardcore off-roader I am not, nor ever seeing myself become. Inching down rock canyons or driving through swamps just doesn't appeal to me.

Well, there you go, the quest for the "perfect" truck continues. But, obviously, the reality is: there _is_ no perfect vehicle, and even if one were to find one, one's needs and preferences evolve and would render it im-perfect in time. Maybe the time has come for me to explore another kind of truck solution for my envisioned long-distance travels during post-retirement. Whether a Dodge Cummins, or Ford, or Toyota, the versatility of the truck-camper has great appeal to me. And maybe this is taking me back to my very first truck, a GMC pickup with small V8 and truck-cap on back.

Thanks for listening to the two sides of my brain chatting out loud!

Cheers!

 

[shellb]

Doesn't this answer the question?

:sombrero:

Pretty much!

 

[chet]

unless you have to sell the cruiser to buy the dodge I would buy the dodge first and make sure you like it before selling the cruiser. But it sounds like a truck is more your style now.

 

[rstl99]

Vehicle selection criteria

I decided that I need a more logical approach to choosing between various options for a "travel/expedition" vehicle (ie. 4x4, 4x4 with trailer, pickup, pickup with camper, etc.).

A few years ago, I had drawn up a list of what I felt were MY personal selection criteria, and used it to rank vehicles I had either owned or was contemplating, to help me figure out the one best suited to my needs. Sounds like it's time for me to revise the criteria (with age, one's priorities evolve; for example, there are no longer two teenagers in the equation), and compare different solutions available to me (I had not previously considered the truck/camper approach).

The insights I obtained in this forum will allow me to consider and weigh that option against others, and make me more confident in my decision to either stick with my current vehicle and evolve it, or consider something altogether different.

Choosing the ultimate travel/expedition vehicle

Requirements/Factors - [M]andatory or [D]esirable:
1- Simple, strong, dependable design [M]
1a- Rust resistant, repairable body [M]
2- User-maintainable; well documented; internet support groups [M]
3- Readily-available parts, reasonably priced [M]
3a- Serviceable in remote garages [D]
4- Roomy enough for 2 adults and 2 teenagers [M]
5- Diesel engine [D]
5a- Fuel economy (20-25 mpg average) [M]
6- 4/5 speed synchromesh transmission [M]
7- Able to cruise comfortably (3000 rpm) at 55-60 mph [M]
8- Allows 5-6 hour per day comfortable highway driving (noise, seat, steering, suspension) [M]
9- Able to drive off-road [D]
10- Safe and secure (full frame, good brakes, locks) [M]
11- Large carrying capacity (for extended trips) [M]
12- Internal sleeping capability [D]
12a- Can pull tent trailer [M]
13- Portable refrigerator and stove [D]
14- Drinking water storage [D]
15- Good visibility (front, side, rear windows) [M]
16- Good ventilation [M]
16a- Air conditioning [D]
17- Dual-battery (isolated) [D]
18- Comprehensive instrumentation [M]
19- Reasonable purchase price [M]
20- Cost of ownership [M]
21- Good used specimens in Canada [D]
22- Longevity (Forever Vehicle) [M]
23- "Cool"ness factor [D]
23a- Pleasure factor (to drive, own, maintain) [M]
23b- Personal affinity with marque/lineage [D]
24- Versatility [M]
25- Fit in garage [D]
26- Value for money [M]

 

[cnynrat]

As others have said, they are very different approaches with not too much overlap. If you are looking for comfort, and don't mind the off road limitations, the truck/camper setup can't be beat IMO. The Landcruiser/trailer option would give you much more off road capability (with the right trailer), but at the expense of some comfort. To me, that's kind of the crux of the tradeoff leaving aside the more subjective issues surrounding which vehicle you prefer.

 

[rstl99]

As others have said, they are very different approaches with not too much overlap. If you are looking for comfort, and don't mind the off road limitations, the truck/camper setup can't be beat IMO. The Landcruiser/trailer option would give you much more off road capability (with the right trailer), but at the expense of some comfort. To me, that's kind of the crux of the tradeoff leaving aside the more subjective issues surrounding which vehicle you prefer.

I think you nailed it in a nutshell!
I'll go through my analytical thing just to see how a truck/camper compares against my criteria (and satisfy the left side of my brain), but it will likely come down to what you (and others) have said.
Then it becomes a matter of selecting the truck and the camper (no simple feat as there are lots of choices for each), finding a good used specimen that fits my bank account, and making the move... :ylsmoke: