Next Question: Diesel vs. Gas F350

[ttengineer]

Haha, I never thought of lining up the trailers wheel wells with the F550. That's perfect.

When expo companies are asking $100k for a box that sits on a frame, it just makes sense to try something else.

Fair point, but Domestic travel trailers are literal twig built cabins on wheels. They are notoriously poorly made and do not hold up to even the lightest of off road conditions.

If you don’t leave the pavement, go for it. If you do ... go with the gods.


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[Deleted member 9101]

I want to put a travel trailer ON an F450/550.

I wonder if I can hack the hitch and axles off of a TT and just bolt it to a flatbed F550. Box up the wheel well holes for recovery gear storage. Sell it for a half million dollars like Earthroamer. Haha.

Like this, but on the trucks chassis or flatbed:

You'll never know until you try...Haha.

My plan is to pull a large 5th wheel toy hauler and live in it off and on after I retire.

 

[Clutch]

Yeah, that's the way to go. Need to start a company that specializes in converting those. Advertise by driving through a motorhome at 25 mph.

If I'm lucky I'll be able to buy one of our work trucks when it's traded in. If we don't go back to the worthless GM's that are completely worn out when we turn them in.

I don't understand those luxury "offroad" campers...do the people who require that type of amenities even like being outside? Back dirt road exploring and camping are an inherently dirty activity. I just don't see that type of client like getting dirty...perhaps they don't even leave the comfort of their vehicle, and view the outside world through a climate controlled bubble.

I know I drag a bunch of dirt and grime into my setup...what I like best about is...one, I don't have to be careful out of fear of ruining it, and the other I can hose it out when it gets too awful.

Think they should be more on the side of Wildland Fire Fighting vehicles, and less luxury New York appartment. I just don't see those type of finishes holding up from years and years of running down dirt roads.

 

[Clutch]

You'll never know until you try...Haha.

My plan is to pull a large 5th wheel toy hauler and live in it off and on after I retire.

Have looked at brush trucks, but with a 12-14' pop-up box on the back... think I can get it so it is wide enough to get a couple bikes perpendicular to the frame of the truck in a small garage and the rest would be living quarters. Not exactly small, but not overly huge either.

 

[SheepnJeep]

Have looked at brush trucks, but with a 12-14' pop-up box on the back... think I can get it so it is wide enough to get a couple bikes perpendicular to the frame of the truck in a small garage and the rest would be living quarters. Not exactly small, but not overly huge either.

Better spring for a class 5 hitch as well, going to need to tow a fuel tanker along

 

[Buliwyf]

Yeah, it's a ton of work keeping rv's clean. I treat them like boats with a no shoes rule.

I liked the welded aluminum Camplites. But Thor bought and killed them so that they can continue making twiggy trailers. Didn't want the "wood free" trailer movement to catch on, I guess.

I think ORV makes stronger than normal trailers that hold up. I know there's still a couple brands out there making heavy trailers that are tough. They're twice the cost as well, but still just a fraction of Expo truck shells.

Keep in mind, they'll only be bouncing on a flat bed, not actually being dragged down that road. I could always use some vibe isolators as well, but it would be best to avoid that nonsense.

It's almost tempting to build the box myself, or use a cargo box, and then use a trailer for just donor parts. Windows, appliances and such.

 

[Clutch]

Better spring for a class 5 hitch as well, going to need to tow a fuel tanker along

Ha no kidding!

Yeah, it's a ton of work keeping rv's clean. I treat them like boats with a no shoes rule.

Not me...I carry wood, a chainsaw...always climbing in and out...to much of a pain to kick shoes on and off. No shoes in the bed though...and that is about I care about.

 

[Buliwyf]

That's why I crossed 5th wheel trailers off of my list permanently. No cargo room, and I can't tow a utility trailer to get that room back.

 

[Deleted member 9101]

That's why I crossed 5th wheel trailers off of my list permanently. No cargo room, and I can't tow a utility trailer to get that room back.

Why not a 5th wheel "toy hauler?"

 

[Buliwyf]

$$$. Looking at $80 g's and upgrading to a DRW truck then. And still not adaptable enough. I'd still have to carry the garage even if I didn't need it. Not much of a selection. Most are way too big and too expensive.

If I raced motorcycles, heck yeah. I think I'd still rather have a TT TH though. A TT TH is on the table, but a hard one to pick as a winner. The garage would be nice for my scuba gear, that's for sure.

 

[SheepnJeep]

Why not a 5th wheel "toy hauler?"

But then you have to choose between a propane or diesel heater in your toy hauler pulled by a gas or diesel truck. My god man stop before the poor guy's head explodes!



Okay that was my last one I'll stop now

 

[Deleted member 9101]

But then you have to choose between a propane or diesel heater in your toy hauler pulled by a gas or diesel truck. My god man stop before the poor guy's head explodes!



Okay that was my last one I'll stop now

********!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[Buliwyf]

I've never seen a diesel heater in a 5'er. That's some straight up Expo stuff.

 

[toylandcruiser]

Based on what I've seen when looking underneath both trucks and based what I've read and heard, like you, anecdotally.

While the frame on the Tundra is one area I'd like to see beefed up (fully boxed), everything else about the Tundra seems overbuilt (transmission, transfer case, the 2-piece drive shaft, rear axle, brakes ect.) compared to other 1/2 tons.

I don't have a grudge against the F-150, or Ford in general, but rather I don't think it lives up to all the hype and brand loyalty that revolves around it. I hear people claim all the time that F-150's sales #'s (arguably the best in the segment) are proof positive that the truck is the best within its category. There are way more Ford Fusion's and Chevy Malibu's on the road than there are BMW 3 series....does that mean the BMW is an inferior car?

I'm not arguing that the F-150's are analogous to Malibu's and Fusion's while the Tundra is analogous to a BMW sedan; rather I'm saying the logic of that popular argument is faulty. I think Ford makes their F-150's good enough; I think other brands and categories of trucks are over-engineered to better handle long-term abuse....that's just my opinion.

Funny thing... the F150 is rated to tow more, and haul more. It's.5 sec faster 0-60 unloaded and many seconds faster when pulling a 10k trailer...and to top it off it has a shorter stopping distance. Best part is it does all of that while weighing less and using less fuel.

The Tundra is an antiquated design built on a decade old platform. Is it in any a bad design or underpreforming design, absolutely not. Has Ford used stronger materials and more advanced engineering to build a better performing truck, absolutely.

So do tell... how do you justify your claim that the Tundra is "overbuilt." Toyotas engineers and attorneys don't seem to worship at the same alter of Toyota ruggedness that you do.

You’re funny. You’re accusing him of doing exactly what you’re doing. Worshipping at the altar of the blue oval.

 

[Clutch]

That's why I crossed 5th wheel trailers off of my list permanently. No cargo room, and I can't tow a utility trailer to get that room back.

I kinda like these things.