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Member
Posts: 5
| Howdy folks!
I have a Chevy 2500HD truck that I intend to carry a camper on while towing horses. I think the camper weighs about 2500 lbs when loaded. The horse trailer is about 2700 lbs with 2500 lbs of horses. Say another 1500 lbs of tack, feed, gear and people for an approximate total of 9200 lbs. In order to do this I'll need an extension on my hitch. I'm wondering first of all if this is safe with this size truck and also what the best hitch setup is. I've looked at a Torklift hitch and extension which is rated for 20,000 lbs. Is this the way to go or are there other options? Naturally safety is the first priority.
Thanks a ton in advance! |
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Extreme Veteran
Posts: 373
 
Location: Texas | what size camper? 8' needs no extension. We have a 9.5', so we have a longer extension. I'd not want a longer camper with the horse trailer in tow
Dually or not? I personally prefer a dually with the camper for stability. You can get a bit of side to side, or wind issues and the dually really keeps things more stable.
We have a tendency to carry a lot of "stuf" in our campers, so really consider the weight you think things will be. The weight given is often dry weight, no water in tanks etc. Then look at your trucks rating
here are some pix of our camper ties, and hitch
http://rides.webshots.com/album/14477263kZldcwvJVd
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Expert
Posts: 5870
 
Location: western PA | You will need an optional suspension upgrade for the rear axle; IE air bags or shocks, Timbrens or springs. The longer the hitch extension and tongue weight, the lower the truck will ride. You may also be overweight on the truck's rear axle and tires' capacity. We pulled with that type of rig for many years with a single rear wheel axle truck. Even with sway bars, Timbrens, and larger tires, the high center of gravity ruined its handling and the wind and passing trucks made things testy at times. We went with GN trailers and have never looked back. |
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Member
Posts: 5
| Originally written by trot-on on 2011-10-03 12:16 AM
what size camper? 8' needs no extension. We have a 9.5', so we have a longer extension. I'd not want a longer camper with the horse trailer in tow
Dually or not? I personally prefer a dually with the camper for stability. You can get a bit of side to side, or wind issues and the dually really keeps things more stable.
We have a tendency to carry a lot of "stuf" in our campers, so really consider the weight you think things will be. The weight given is often dry weight, no water in tanks etc. Then look at your trucks rating
here are some pix of our camper ties, and hitch
http://rides.webshots.com/album/14477263kZldcwvJVd
Thanks for the reply. The truck isn't a dually and the bed is 6'8". The camper sticks out past the bumper about 17".
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Member
Posts: 5
| Originally written by gard on 2011-10-03 12:27 AM
You will need an optional suspension upgrade for the rear axle; IE air bags or shocks, Timbrens or springs. The longer the hitch extension and tongue weight, the lower the truck will ride. You may also be overweight on the truck's rear axle and tires' capacity. We pulled with that type of rig for many years with a single rear wheel axle truck. Even with sway bars, Timbrens, and larger tires, the high center of gravity ruined its handling and the wind and passing trucks made things testy at times. We went with GN trailers and have never looked back.
Thanks! I was planning to have air shocks installed too. You think it might not be enough truck? That's what I'm worried about.
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Expert
Posts: 5870
Location: western PA | The camper alone, with its necessary gear and fluids, will greatly tax your truck's competency. Installing a two foot hitch extender and adding the tongue weight of a trailer, will push the truck past any safe towing capabilities. |
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Expert
Posts: 1723
Location: michigan | Don't do it. I hauled a truck camper/BP trailer with only one horse and hated it. Like gard said- went to a GN and never looked back. |
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Expert
Posts: 3853
Location: Vermont | Be careful when using an hitch extension for trailering with a slide-in camper. This puts more leverage on the trucks receiver hitch. And usually lowers your trailer capacity by a third. Read the label and use a weight distributing hitch for the maximum capacity. |
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Extreme Veteran
Posts: 373
Location: Texas | So it is a short bed truck? I personally would not do it... And to add, we have been truck camper with bumper pull users since about 1984.
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Member
Posts: 45
| I would agree with what others have said and don't do it. One(camper) or the other(trailer) and you'll probably be ok, not both. I say probably, because of putting an 8' slide-in(2,500lbs) on a SRW short bed truck is putting a bit of weight a ways behind the rear axle and if you add a decent weight trailer(with the first good crosswind or passing semis), I wonder how hard that dog is going to wag his tail. We've hauled an 8' slide-in(crankup style, weighs apprx. 1,000lbs) with a 3H BP(with est. total trailer weight of 7,500lbs.) from IL to MS on our farthest trip with no issues. But that was with an 01 GMC dually(8.1/Allison) without the need for any suspension "help" mounted on the truck. The trailer does have a weight distribution setup. Point being, just because all the numbers say ok(GVWR,GCWR,suspension helpers and hitch ratings), doesn't necessarily make it safe. Good luck. |
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Extreme Veteran
Posts: 399
Location: Ottawa, Illinois 61350 | It will be a case of the "tail wagging the dog". A dually is the route to go, if your going to be doing the truck camper and trailer duo. We deliver hay with gooseneck trailers; one on a dually one ton, and the other on a 3/4 ton with air bag suspension. The 3/4 ton also is a 4x4 off road model. We still get that "sidewall sway" feeling versus the stable feel of the dual wheels on the one ton. You won't like the feeling if you stay with the single wheel truck with the camper/trailer set up. |
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Member
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| Thanks for all your comments! So even if I beef my truck up with air bags, a Torklift hitch and extension, weight distribution system, etc. it's still a no go? What if I get a 350/3500 dually with a diesel engine? |
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Member
Posts: 5
| In Florida by the way...no hills to speak of. |
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Expert
Posts: 5870
Location: western PA | Originally written by Muddy on 2011-10-05 12:36 AM
Thanks for all your comments! So even if I beef my truck up with air bags, a Torklift hitch and extension, weight distribution system, etc. it's still a no go? What if I get a 350/3500 dually with a diesel engine? Then you would have a truck, that would carry and pull almost anything you would need concerning horses. |
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Veteran
Posts: 188
Location: Ingalls, Ks | I started out with a camper on a pickup, only it was a dually diesel. My trailer was an FRP 4 horse weighing just short of 6k empty. I built my own receiver extension by adding extra attach points on the outside rails of the frame mount, and by using leveling bars on the hitch. Many miles, no problems, but as I think about what you're wanting to do, my concerns are the rear tires. I guess if you could put everything together and figure out you're not overtaxing that rear end, then it might work, but it's hard to beat a dually with an overhead camper. Hope you never have a tire blow out, that would be a problem!! |
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Expert
Posts: 1723
Location: michigan | If you are going to do all that just buy a GN... |
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Extreme Veteran
Posts: 373
Location: Texas | I have an F350, dually, 4x4, and the 9.5' camper with the 3 horse trails West is a nice set up. It just depends on where you want to spend your money I guess, and if you get new, used, and maybe what you already own.
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Member
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| My good friend bought a camper for her 2007 SRW Dodge 3500 diesel 4x2. It had about a 2' overhang off the back bumper. She then added an extension hitch to pull her small 2 horse straight load with one horse. She went to have air bags put on the truck and the shop told her-NO WAY, that will blow the air bags right out because it's such a big camper. She had heavy duty springs installed. She hauled with it one time. And then sold the whole setup because it was SO dangerous with so much sway. She said a semi passed her and she thought her whole rig was going to flip. |
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Extreme Veteran
Posts: 373
Location: Texas | Originally written by arrestado on 2011-10-07 7:15 AM
My good friend bought a camper for her 2007 SRW Dodge 3500 diesel 4x2. It had about a 2' overhang off the back bumper. She then added an extension hitch to pull her small 2 horse straight load with one horse. She went to have air bags put on the truck and the shop told her-NO WAY, that will blow the air bags right out because it's such a big camper. She had heavy duty springs installed. She hauled with it one time. And then sold the whole setup because it was SO dangerous with so much sway. She said a semi passed her and she thought her whole rig was going to flip.
A 10'camper on a non dually? I'd personally not do that even if I did not tow.... my 9.5' is the biggest I'd be comfortable with... and, we do have airbags, and have not had issues, but I bet our camper was no where as heavy as that 10'
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Expert
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Location: Rocky Mount N.C. | Originally written by trot-on on 2011-10-09 12:58 PM Originally written by arrestado on 2011-10-07 7:15 AM My good friend bought a camper for her 2007 SRW Dodge 3500 diesel 4x2. It had about a 2' overhang off the back bumper. She then added an extension hitch to pull her small 2 horse straight load with one horse. She went to have air bags put on the truck and the shop told her-NO WAY, that will blow the air bags right out because it's such a big camper. She had heavy duty springs installed. She hauled with it one time. And then sold the whole setup because it was SO dangerous with so much sway. She said a semi passed her and she thought her whole rig was going to flip. A 10'camper on a non dually? I'd personally not do that even if I did not tow.... my 9.5' is the biggest I'd be comfortable with... and, we do have airbags, and have not had issues, but I bet our camper was no where as heavy as that 10' Any of you remember these trucks? Maybe they should start building these again, F-350 Super Camper Special, talking about a loooong bed SRW!! We had one for pulling grain and cotton wagons on the farm. 390 V8 with a 4 speed. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2shZ2UNQxrQ http://www.flickr.com/photos/18005580@N06/6212969992/in/photostream http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_G3DjZetEqK8/SXeShKl7FRI/AAAAAAAAEAQ/YJ65ygLWVIo/s1600-h/1970-1979-ford-trucks-24.jpg |
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Extreme Veteran
Posts: 373
Location: Texas | those trucks were built TOUGH!
We had an old Sierra Classic, manual with the "granny gear". Tough truck, that took us to so many camping trips with the horses and camper into the Sierras.... |
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Expert
Posts: 3853
Location: Vermont | One of the advertisers... http://www.torklift.com/horse/ |
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 690
Location: missouri | For Goodness Sake... I would pull that camper off and haul a tent if I couldn't swing a GN trailer with some sleeping quarters... There is only so much weight you can put on those back tires, look at your tire rating. (In the good ole days... we swept the poop out of a 2 hrs BP, put down a tarp under our bedrolls, and cooked over a fire. Those memories are gold. Now, we have so much crap to load and tend to, we may as well be pulling our house.) |
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Extreme Veteran
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Location: Texas | Originally written by calamityj on 2011-10-10 7:26 AM
For Goodness Sake... I would pull that camper off and haul a tent if I couldn't swing a GN trailer with some sleeping quarters... There is only so much weight you can put on those back tires, look at your tire rating. (In the good ole days... we swept the poop out of a 2 hrs BP, put down a tarp under our bedrolls, and cooked over a fire. Those memories are gold. Now, we have so much crap to load and tend to, we may as well be pulling our house.)
But no one makes us get LQ's or campers, or motorhomes. Its our choice what we feel we need. As I age, I find that I appreciate having the camper more than when I was a 20-something "kid". I was excited when we got the first camper shell, and I did not have to sleep in trailer or tent. I had my air mattress laid out in it, ice chest, and it was ready to go!
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Expert
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Location: michigan | When my children were younger and I started showing horses again (after a long break) we had the 3/4 ton truck and a 16 ft BP so we bought the slide in camper. It made it possible to go to local shows and spend the weekend in some sense of comfort. I didn't like the set up but at that time it was the only way to get it done and we did. Now its different-with a GN/weekender LQ its not only comfortable but a whole lot easier to haul. I tend to go 4-5 hours away to a show and on the interstate so I want a rig that easy to drive,back up,load and live in for 4 days at a time. No camping for this girl..I want lights,heat.AC,a fridge. I would never go back to a BP for hauling either a horse or livestock. |
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New User
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Location: Aubrey, Texas 76227 | I would like your perspective. I have a '05 F350 CC DRW 4x4 diesel on which I intend to place a Northern Lite 9.5 Queen Classic TC (yet to be purchased) and then tow a Wrangler 3 horse steel stock trailer with two horses.
1. What tie downs do you use for your TC?
2. What mods have you made to your F350 for carrying the TC and towing? Are you using a hitch extension? Weight distributing hitch?
Every body I know is using GN's. But my wife and I also like to camp and boat. Thanks a ton for your insight.
TJ |
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Expert
Posts: 3853
Location: Vermont | You are going to be unhappy with the limitations you are facing... http://www.etrailer.com/question-6616.html |
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Regular
Posts: 97
Location: mancelona michigan | We have been there and done that.Ford 350DRW extended cab diesel.11.5 ' coachman with extended hitch that bolted to the truck frame and extended up under the camper bottom,and was bolted to it as well. Trailer was not for horses,it was a race boat trailer,3 axels , 28' long with an equipment box on the front to carry spare motor and blower,tools,ect. Trailer was only 8k#.55mph was tops unless cross wing and then less. went up hill very nice but you had to crawl downhill to keep the speed down. Brakes on all 3 trailer axels too.We pulled that for about 3 yrs and hated every minute. Finally ended up with a Kenworth W-900a,front drive axel,air ride and a 22' chassis mounted camper. ran that thing all over the country for 12 yrs with our 2 kids.All 3 coasts,mexico and canada before retireing from boat drags and relaxing with mules and donkeys! The KW was solid at any speed or terain. |
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 Extreme Veteran
Posts: 455
Location: Texas | I haul a 3-horse trailer behind my Chevy 2500HD pickup with a 8.5' pickup camper. I get along good, but my camper is pretty light, about 1300 lbs dry, maybe 1800 lbs loaded and ready to go, and I don't need a hitch extension due to the shorter length.
Being you haven't purchased the camper, yet, I'd look to see if you can get by with a shorter one. |
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New User
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Location: Aubrey, Texas 76227 | Folks:
Thanks for sharing. Generally helpful. Tell me what I am missing. The center of the ball on my hitch is exactly 9 feet six inches from the front wall of the bed. So a camper with a 9 foot 6 inch bed would have a rear wall sitting right over the ball and not extend beyond the ball (at least not by much if the camper does not have a rear bumper). My trailer has a surge break coupling that has effectively added seven inches to the length of the couple. I took the truck and wife to a local parking lot, dropped the tail gate (creating a 24 inch overhang off the bed), and then had my wife drive in tight circles. I stood on the tail gate, looked down, and watched for any overlap between the tail gate and any part of the trailer that would be high enough to actually hit a truck camper whose bottom was flush with the bed of the truck. There was no over lap no matter how tight the turn. I did not jack knife the trailer. I also took into account that the two rear jacks would hang lower and attached to the campers rear wall. Again, no over lap/impingement. I looked for an could not find a washout that would create a combination of a high angle of entry and exit. I could not find one. So I had the wife back onto a concrete ramp. Again, no impingement/overlap. What am I missing here?
Thanks in advance for your help! BTW - if the 9.6 Northern Lite will not work without a hitch extension, I will go with a Lance 835 or 850. Lance claims no overhang and no need for a hitch extension for these models. Finally, the target dry weight I am looking for on a camper is no more than 2,500 pounds (The Northern Lite 9.6 Lite has a dry weight under 2,000 pounds). Thanks ! |
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Extreme Veteran
Posts: 455
Location: Texas | Tanker Joe, it sounds like you've checked it out pretty well. I know if I left my tailgate down, the tongue jack would hit it, but that sounds like it's not the case for you.
The only thing I can see that you may have missed is the combination of driving through a depression while turning sharp. Such as backing through a ditch or something similar.
I know I have a nice little scratch in the paint on the front of my trailer and a matching little ding on the rear corner of my camper. To be honest, I don't even know when it happened other than it was sometime before my wife pointed it out to me and demanded to know what the hell I was doing wrong when it happened. Ha ha. Our driveway does not have a culvert and so it just kind of dips down through the ditch then onto the road. I often back the trailer in to avoid turning it around, and I assume the contact happened one of those times.
I know an extra foot on my 8.5' camper would not work for me, but that doesn't mean it won't work for you.
If you have a sub-2000-lb camper, I do not see weight being an issue with a F-350 DRW.
I use belly bars for my tie-down points. Then I use chain with turn-buckles from the camper to the belly bars. I lose a little bit of ground clearance right near the center of the wheelbase with the belly bar, but it has never been a problem. And I take my pickup, camper, and trailer off-road quite a bit. There are better options than belly bars, but they also cost more money. |
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Extreme Veteran
Posts: 455
Location: Texas |  |
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Extreme Veteran
Posts: 373
Location: Texas | Our previous rig was just about that exact set u. 2001 F350, dually, 4x4. 9.5' Shadow Cruiser camer, and the first trailer was a 4 horse 1994 Circle J, then we got a 2004 Trails West 3 horse. It was a suer set u, that we could get in to any campground we wanted, often getting some prime campsites due to smaller size, and easier to park. We added airbags to truck. The hitch had extension. 2.25" receiver, and the hitch was solid, NOT tubular. We had load leveling hitch. I'll see if I can find some photos and figure how to post them. We changed to a LQ as it was getting old climbing in and out of camper. But I do miss the ability to go places the LQ can not go |
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New User
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Location: Aubrey, Texas 76227 | Excellent perspective. I must admit that the ditch/wash out scenario gives me pause. The Northern Lite 9.6's appeal due to relatively light weight. I am leaning towards a Lance 850 now. I has a 8'11" floor length and Lance claims no overhang. I guess the bottom line is I am not having a hitch extension. My wife and I are back packers. The only time we are in the camper is to eat, hygiene, and sleep. Otherwise we are outside with our animals. Thanks again. Tanker Joe (120 is the way to go:) |
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Extreme Veteran
Posts: 373
Location: Texas | Our extension: |
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Towing horses with camper on truck.
