I am not sure if this is really the right place but I think it fits here. I 27 and live in Tucson AZ with my and 3year old son and a 8 month old son. We did the minor tent camping in the past and have some of that gear. I started out 4x4/rock crawling with my built Cherokee. We wanted to get out more often so I sold my 24ft enclosed car trailer for a 95 Fleetwood Elkhorn 10.5 cab over camper. On top of my 96 Ford F350 crew cab long bed dually 2wd with 460ci gasser. I then had a flat bed towed behind it with the Cherokee. When I would go out fully loaded I was getting 4mpg in the mts. And 6 in the flat land. Well on one trip out with just the truck hunting offload I slid on ice and ended up way off the road and having to be rescued. Lesson learned only use the jeep for off road. Well last may I got laid off and had to sale the jeep and trailer.
Fast forward i have a new job and now back on track. We want to get back out doors, my problem is the camper is huge on top of my truck is very tall so it limits some places, it weights a ton, and the gas milage is a big down fall, also with out being a 4x4 getting stuck again can be a big problem. Also when taking gear plus kids toys i find the camper being filled and in need of some extra room like a small trailer. A new truck seems to be the logical option but is not an option not wanting to get into a new payment when my truck is paid for. So I find my self thinking about down sizing or maybe deprogressing back to tent camping. The camper is nice we have A/C heat running water and full shower fridge stove and oven. But in no time it will even become to small as the kids grow. I have been a lot about a expo trailer. We recently aquired the family daily driver a 2002 dodge Durango 4x4 5.9L tow package. So far I lifted it 2" and it will be getting 33s this summer along with tube bumpers and roof rack.
So am I crazy to think about going back to the old days by selling the camper and making a trailer to haul behind my Durango. I have an older tent but thinking of getting a good quality tent possibly the Kodiak 9x12 cabin with awning. And for hot water the zodi battery powered unit and a shower/ potty room tent and porta-John. Also looking at the maybe a cabelas camp kitchen for the cooking duties. I already have the cotts sleeping bags out door cooking gear(Dutch ovens, grills, smokers, stoves). I am also thinking of a fridge of some kind.
What is your guys and gals opinions. Any ideas I am missing. Currently we only get to use the camper about twice a year if we have a smaller lighter setup we could possibly go more often.
Fast forward i have a new job and now back on track. We want to get back out doors, my problem is the camper is huge on top of my truck is very tall so it limits some places, it weights a ton, and the gas milage is a big down fall, also with out being a 4x4 getting stuck again can be a big problem. Also when taking gear plus kids toys i find the camper being filled and in need of some extra room like a small trailer. A new truck seems to be the logical option but is not an option not wanting to get into a new payment when my truck is paid for. So I find my self thinking about down sizing or maybe deprogressing back to tent camping. The camper is nice we have A/C heat running water and full shower fridge stove and oven. But in no time it will even become to small as the kids grow. I have been a lot about a expo trailer. We recently aquired the family daily driver a 2002 dodge Durango 4x4 5.9L tow package. So far I lifted it 2" and it will be getting 33s this summer along with tube bumpers and roof rack.
So am I crazy to think about going back to the old days by selling the camper and making a trailer to haul behind my Durango. I have an older tent but thinking of getting a good quality tent possibly the Kodiak 9x12 cabin with awning. And for hot water the zodi battery powered unit and a shower/ potty room tent and porta-John. Also looking at the maybe a cabelas camp kitchen for the cooking duties. I already have the cotts sleeping bags out door cooking gear(Dutch ovens, grills, smokers, stoves). I am also thinking of a fridge of some kind.
What is your guys and gals opinions. Any ideas I am missing. Currently we only get to use the camper about twice a year if we have a smaller lighter setup we could possibly go more often.
