new camper for my Tundra

[daveyboy]

I have lurked on here for awhile and this is my first post.

It is a 1997 8' Shadow Cruisier. I got it from a one owner retired surgeon. He and his wife were tired of climbing up into the camper/overhead bed and bought a new trailer--and are soon to buy a new truck.

Dry weight is 1180 and wet weight full of water, propane, etc. is 1360. I figure with me and my family and gear the Tundra will be a couple hundred pounds over gvwr. I already have 275/70/18 BFG AT E-range tires and have timbrens on the way.

While I didn't score as good of a deal as some on here, I paid $1900 and from what I can tell so far it needs NOTHING. I see no evidence of anything ever leaking, stove works, fridge works, furnace works, lights works, etc. The interior (including the cushions) looks practically new other than the linoleum being a little yellowed.

Here is a pic when I was bringing it home:

 

[greg mgm]

Welcome!
That looks nice on your Tundra. How does your truck handle with the extra weight?
From what I hear the Shadow Cruiser campers have a very good reputation. Sounds like the price you paid is pretty good. Post some interior shots!

 

[Overland Hadley]

Welcome to ExPo db!

Congrats on the new camper. Would be great to see some more photos, including some interior.

Good choice on the Timbrens, I am very happy with mine.

 

[daveyboy]

Welcome!
That looks nice on your Tundra. How does your truck handle with the extra weight?
From what I hear the Shadow Cruiser campers have a very good reputation. Sounds like the price you paid is pretty good. Post some interior shots!

I have only driven it home with no tiedowns, so I was really taking it easy. I am finishing up the Torklift tiedowns today. I am planning a trip through NM, CO, UT, WY and ID soon--that should give me a good idea of how it does.

Welcome to ExPo db!

Congrats on the new camper. Would be great to see some more photos, including some interior.

Good choice on the Timbrens, I am very happy with mine.

My boys have already taken it over as their new little clubhouse and it is full of blankets, sleeping bags, books, flashlights, etc. Once I get it cleaned out, I'll post some pics.

 

[wanderer-rrorc]

mine handles my 8ft skamper no problems!!...but my water tank and chest fridge are all the way up front on the floor...but 600 miles worth of trips and its never hit the bump-stops with my woman and my 3 kiddos..oh..and the dog..

 

[daveyboy]

My camper's maiden voyage will be ~3000 miles, so I am going to go ahead and add the timbrens. When I loaded it to bring it home (full of water and propane) it was about an inch or so off of the bumpstops if I recall.

My water tank is at the front on the floor as well, but the fridge is on the driver's side floor as below:

 

[daveyboy]

I just finished up a ~3000 mile trip starting in NM and going through UT, CO, WY, MT, ID, and OR.

My Tundra is stock except for 275/70/18 BFG AT tires and Timbrens.

For the total trip, I averaged 13.4 MPG.

I also weighed the truck/camper at a grain elevator in Idaho--the total weight was 7940 lbs (much heavier than I would have guessed) with 3500 on the front axle. This includes me, my wife, 2 kids, and our stuff for a couple of weeks trip.

The truck ran great and hauls the weight nicely with plenty of power--I wish I would have gotten better mileage, however.

 

[Overland Hadley]

For the total trip, I averaged 13.4 MPG.

I also weighed the truck/camper at a grain elevator in Idaho--the total weight was 7940 lbs (much heavier than I would have guessed) with 3500 on the front axle. This includes me, my wife, 2 kids, and our stuff for a couple of weeks trip.

What kind of milage does your Tundra get empty? Seem like I remember them getting about 15-16, if so that is about the right drop with a camper.

How far over GVWR are you at 8k? That is heavy.

 

[daveyboy]

Yeah, the MPG was about right, it was wishful thinking it would be better.

The Tundra's GVWR is 7100lbs--so I was about 800lbs over. The "loaded" rating for the camper is 1360lbs, so I knew I would be a little over, but I must have had much more gear than I originally thought.

I don't know anything about the scales I used; I assume that it was accurate.

 

[Overland Hadley]

The "loaded" rating for the camper is 1360lbs, so I knew I would be a little over, but I must have had much more gear than I originally thought.

Yeah, the little stuff adds up fast.

 

[daveyboy]

I am getting ready to load the camper up for snowboarding season--has anyone used their truck camper for skiing snowboarding?

Here are some gratuitous pics from my previous trip... .