new to the forum.quick question?

[glendale]

Hey guys i am new to the forum and have some questions.I have myself the wife and two sons (7&9). my vehicle is a gasser 03 f-250 crewcab. i tow a car trailer with a car quite a bit. i would also like a camper.that is how i eventually found this forum. so here is my question. do any of you guys tow a car trailer with your pop-up in? and most of the time it would be myself and the kids on short weekend trips.i assume once in a while it will be the wife and I.i have decided on a fwc (build quality and weight) so any of you guys sleep four in a fwc? i have a 6 foot bed and don't want to hang over do to hauling a trailer.the times that i will have both the camper and the trailer will be fairly few and far between but if i am going to buy a camper i might as well have that option.thanks.

here are some pics of my current set-up.

 

[docdave]

A 6 1/2 foot camper is going to be snug for a family of 4, depending on how big ya'll are and how much you'll be cooking and eating inside. Lots of people get along ok, but since a popup is narrower than a typical hardside, the dinette bunk will be small for 2, especially as they grow. You could tow with a modest overhang, up to a foot, but few campers are available in that size range, and none from FWC, as far as I know. Some 8 foot campers are designed for short box trucks, but they can adversely effect your CG and towing ability, especially if you don't load them really carefully. I guess if it gets too crowded, you could put the boys in a tent . Myself, I like a long box and a longer camper, but for us, we kinda like a few more amenities.

 

[glendale]

thanks

i actually wanted a long bed. in hind site i am glad i did not buy one i would have not fit in my driveway. i am fine putting the boys in a ten that is not a big deal.

 

[tanglefoot]

Any chance you were going through Wyoming/Northern CO with that white T-bird on the trailer this past week? I could have sworn I saw that combo going the other direction on our way back from South Dakota.

With a family of four, you might look into a camper with an extra slide-out bed, like Northstar's Xtra Bed option.

 

[glendale]

Any chance you were going through Wyoming/Northern CO with that white T-bird on the trailer this past week? I could have sworn I saw that combo going the other direction on our way back from South Dakota.

With a family of four, you might look into a camper with an extra slide-out bed, like Northstar's Xtra Bed option.

no the t-bird was a quick in town job.I like that camper a lot what does it weigh?

 

[tanglefoot]

Ah, okay. I wonder if it was the same car on someone else's trailer? That's some jaw-dropping trailer cargo you have.

For the TC650 (6'8" floor), Northstar's dry weight spec is 1,345 lbs.

http://www.northstarcampers.com/online-catalog.php?view=item&parentId=11&catId=13&numId=24

 

[bob91yj]

I've got an '05 Wrangler Unlimited in the trailer, along with spare parts, supplies etc for a week in the mountains around Silverton. Trailer can't weigh more than 9995 pounds...says so right on the tongue data plate! Add in the lift/metric '35's on the truck ('06 DMax 4x4), and I'm scared to run it across the scales. Pulls/stops just fine.

 

[>>>---WW---->]

I have a Bronco 1200 that is 8 feet long. It sets on a F-250 short bed just fine and extends over the tailgate. I usually take the tailgate off. This allows me an extra few inches of clearance to operate the jack on the tongue of my car hauler trailer.

You can also buy a hitch extension if you want, but I don't think that is really necessary.

 

[glendale]

so i thought i would give you guys an update. i still do not have a camper but a few days after christmas i went to leave for work and somebody decided they wanted my truck more then me.yeah it was stolen and never recovered. so i bought another 03 f-250 this one is a 2 wheel drive shortbed 6.0 diesel.so i can now tow a little better.any way i have not given up and do still plan on getting a camper.

 

[longhorn1]

We have an F-250, 8' bed and have a 2014 FWC Grandby. We got ours with the front dinette. That sleeping arrangement might be a little cramped when our grand kids get older. Right now they would fit in the front dinette together. If you are just taking the boys, you should be fine, and even with your wife 4 should sleep fine or put them in a tent. I think you can get the extra long pullout cab over bed, but you will need to ask FWC. My wife and I have a system down in the mornings so we keep out of each others way. I get up first, go out side and set-up the grill for breakfast. Once she is dressed she starts the inside breakfast preparation (coffee in the coffee press and passing out the mornings breakfast. Not sure you will find a pop-up that it isn't crowed for even 2 people. However, with that said, the advantage of a pop-up is to go where others can't. You would have to consider the FWC Hawk I believe for your 6' bed. I researched Outfitter and Hallmark. Both are quality operations, however the weight and cost were considerably higher. With all of the options those would have cost $40K+/-. My loaded FWC Grandby cost $25K. Outfitter has the Juno model with a fold out tent in the rear. I'm not sure about the camper length, but if I'm correct it is 9'-10'+/-. The Northstar weight is more than a FWC and you will need to confirm that. Have you gone to Wander the West. Great place for FWC and loads of info to help with your decision. Best of luck.

 

[craig333]

I used to tow a trailer until someone needed it more than I did. I think its a lot easier if you camp in nice weather where everyone piles out in the morning. Hanging out in bad weather you'll get cabin fever in a hurry.

 

[seeNik48]

We have a Hallmark Ute (8.5') on an 8' bed. With two large dogs plus us it gets a bit crowded. One dog sleeps with us, the other gets the dinette seat cushion. They share the back seat of the extended cab. So, with two boys who might be antsy, sort of like dogs, you may have personal space issues. We have a morning ritual that works for us. Hubby awakes earlier than I do to have his coffee (I am not a coffee drinker) then I get up, walk the dogs, feed them, exercise them while he gets us ready to leave. Neither of us eats breakfast until later in the morning. In the evening, I take the dogs for a walk and feed them while he sets up. We usually boon dock so not hook ups or backing in/out. The dogs come inside and I fix our dinner. Works for us. As someone suggested, a tent would be a good idea. or, set up a bed over the dinette. I believe that Outfitter makes a bed drawer. which is cool or that pop out tent someone else mentioned. With a 6 foot bed you are limited to a smaller camper especially you tow or you could get a longer camper and get a tongue extension. Sorry that someone stole your truck, especially after Christmas.

 

[Wandering Sagebrush]

We pull a 25' Airstream behind a 2000 F250 with 7.3 liter diesel. The trailer is about 7,500 loaded. Our camper is a FWC Grandby that is around 2,000 loaded.