Truck-camper recommendations for long-distance treks up North?

[rstl99]

Lucky. I'm on the US private sector "work until you die" plan.
Personally, I sure would hate to part with the diesel Landcruiser. I have an 80 series myself (a '97 LX450) and it is just an awesome vehicle. Amazing capabilities and mine is pretty much stock. A diesel version would be even better.
My trailer is an Outlander Sherpa II, currently for sale:
Add a roof top tent to the trailer and this combination will go places that my camper just would not fit, and if you are interested in "wheeling" a trailer is a much better option. The ability to drop the trailer and have a more compact vehicle is great. I am selling the Outlander, though, because the camper is my first choice for anything extended, and I don't need both. I bought it mainly to haul extra fuel without adding more weight to the truck itself. I am now working on upgrading a larger enclosed trailer because we have 2 dual sport bikes I would like to bring along instead of the Mtn bikes.
Anyway, it is all relative to time, money, and what you will put up with. Lynn and I spent 2 weeks in Iceland last August...cold and wet, but no bugs...in a much more basic set-up, and I'd do it again in an instant:

Well, I hope Freedom 55 is as good as it's made up to be! I'll let you know in a couple of years.

Yes, I'd be sad in a way to part with the diesel 80, which is one reason I'm so torn about all this. But I already own another "specialty" vehicle (an early 80's Benz diesel sedan for summer), and a daily driver, so 3 vehicles is enough! (insurance, licencing, and maintenance/repair time/cost add up!)

That trailer of yours would probably be a better solution than the ex-army trailers I was pondering, were I to stick with that kind of configuration. I don't know, I suppose I've never experienced a lot of "wheeling" but just don't think it's part of my "makeup". I occasionally watched some Land-Rover fanatics crawl over boulders and drive through muddy swamps and thought: what's the point of putting a truck through such stress? I mean: if you're a cross-continent expedition and have to drive through a landslide or a wash-out, fine, it's a necessity for survival and you're glad your truck can do it, but to do it "just for fun" had no appeal to me. I like to stay on a road of some kind, maybe a bit marginal at times, but still a road.

Something to be said for traveling light, indeed! I suppose it applies to luggage on a plane trip, and vehicle/supplies on a road trip. Getting a bigger rig means bringing more stuff. Though sleeping in a nice, dry, large and comfy bed has a lot of appeal!!!

 

[wild1]

Truck campers

The truck is a 2001 f350 ford one ton fitted with a knaphide utility box and a 8 foot Alaskan popup camper. The really nice thing about this combination is that the footprint when the camper is lowered is no larger then most standard trucks with a topper but extended it provides 6'4" of headroom and a queen size bed plus all the amenities of a full size camper. The utility body swallows all of our gear with ease and provides dry lockable storage, a real plus in areas like Baja.The truck is a v-10 with an automatic trans. A very nice driving combo but quite thirsty compared to your landcruiser.

 

[washington taco]

Arctic Fox campers are very popular with the snow machine crowd in WA state. Built for cold weather.

 

[wanderingeye]

light weight

posted on KSL http://www.ksl.com/index.php?nid=218&ad=10572344&cat=150&lpid=

 

[805gregg]

If I had a large hardwalled camper,a regcab dually would be necessary for me also. We had a lot of wind on I-15 southbound in the Vegas area last April and the srw's w/hardsided campers were getting tossed around like a ragdoll. Conversely,the duallys were like the Rock of Gibralter. So many considerations and parameters out there.

Dullys pick up rocks between the tires off road and then get flats.

 

[RR1]

Dullys pick up rocks between the tires off road and then get flats.

It is extremely rare. I drove a logging truck for a couple seasons never once got a flat from a jammed rock.

The dually rock flat is more of an urban legend (or would that be an rural legend) than anything.


http://www.expeditionportal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=22512

 

[Photomike]

After putting in a lot of miles on my TC (SRW truck) I have to say that I have never once felt unsafe with it. Last year came back in a cross wind of 110km/hr and it handled great. I was more worried about having a blown window in the TC than I was with how it handled. Last month we again were in 70-90km/hr winds and I was thinking how good it handled ~ would be comparable to my Pontiac Montana for getting blown around.

With that being said my TC is very low (and light) compared to many on the road, I have seen some that are another two - three feet higher. With the added height and the change in the center of gravity I could see having a lot more problems with the wind hitting from the side.

Myself if I went any bigger with a TC (wider, taller or heavier) I would go up to a much heavier truck. I have been looking at some of the GMC 4500's & 5500's and think that is the way to go (just have to convince the wife). With a heavier truck, more width, dual rears, heavier frame, etc. it would not have a problem with the weight on its back. I think that many TC's (as well as trailers, 5th wheels & motor homes) on the road are pushing the limits of safety as the vehicles are just not made to haul that much weight with that dramatically altered center of gravity, no matter if you have duals on the back or not. JMHO