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Member
Posts: 21
Location: WA State | I am relatively novice to trailering compared to many of you and so have asked advice on this forum over the years. I thought I would share some of my experiences now that i have owned my camping rig for a year - might be informative to others still thinking about which way to go. I haul alot through the north Cascades up here in WA state and mostly trail ride, including camping.
I have owned a 2 horse handy little trailer for about 6 years now. I started out towing it with a heavy half ton F150 with a basic light canopy on it. It was not comfortable, but kept me out of the rain.
When I was thinking about what kind of rig to replace it with I was considering 3 options:
1. Keep the F150 and buy one of those very small and light fold down campers. They weigh about 1000 pounds and do not have the amenities of a regular camper but are much lighter and friends advised me I could do that with my much loved F150 - but I have to tell you I had some discomfort with that for all the mountain driving I do.
2. Get a bigger truck, keep the 2 horse trailer and put a camper on the bigger truck
3. Get a bigger truck, and get a gooseneck type weekender rig for camping and keep the 2 horse for day hauls. Yikes - owning and maintaining 2 horse trailers!
Well, I wound up going with option #3 - and had some self doubt about it after the fact. I bought a used Dodge 3500 deisel automatic tranny and a 1996 Featherlight aluminum weekender that was in pretty decent shape and a great price last year. The sellers put in a new aluminum floor and I had it all inspected so it isn't beautiful, but not an old rust bucket or anything either. It is a 4 horse with stud dividers on all stalls so I use it more like as 2-3 horse trailer with lots of storage for camping. It has the cowboy shower in the first stall and i have a little flushable porta-potty in there too. Primative, but works for me.
The downside is that it is pretty big (24' box) and the living area isn't nearly as nice or comfortable as a camper. LOVE that new truck even more then I loved my F150 though. :)
In a fit of buyers remorse, I was actually considering selling the featherlight and getting a camper so I didn't have such a big rig until I traveled with a close friend this weekend. She has a diesel 3/4 ton truck with a camper and pulling a bumper pull. We went to central washington where we hit what I consider "medium" wind - that rig blew around like a parasail anytime we were over about 45-50MPH - it was a slow slog home. I had no idea how dramatic the difference is in the towing/driving experience.
The weekend before, we were in separate rigs and she had a heck of a time with the high winds that didn't really bother me. She told me what a tough drive it was, but I really didn't appreciate it until riding with her.
So, my conclusion is that while I gave up some amenities having the older gooseneck weekender versus the camper - my rig is SO MUCH stabler and easy to drive that I know I made a good decision with this option.
I can drive normal freeway speeds even if there is a little wind. I don't feel semi's passing me, I never feel any sway. As a bonus, now that I am getting into carting that big rig with the ramp on the back makes taking my cart places very easy - I don't need someone to help me load or unload my 2 wheel cart. I have room to take my riding horse, my driving pony, his cart and all the camping supplies I can imagine needing (and some I don't need!), take bikes, you name it - I have room! I also have the flexibility to haul a friend's horse if i wanted to.
I don't spend alot of time inside the camping area when i camp, so for me, this tradeoff was worth it. | |
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| Good for you! you wont regret upgrading. The safety of the bigger truck is a much nicer and less worry. have fun with the new rig.. | |
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Expert
Posts: 2958
  
Location: North Carolina | thanks for posting ... Somebody will be thinking of you in their decision process. | |
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Regular
Posts: 70
| What a wonderful comparative review! Your set up sounds lovely! It's just what I like, too :) Thanks for sharing. | |
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 Veteran
Posts: 218
Location: Ohio | Great review and comparison. I have looked at campers with bumper pulls and truck campers and wondered how they worked together. The flexibility you enjoy sounds like you made the right choice.
As for your 3500, I know exactly how you feel. We upgraded to a one ton last fall and absolutely love the new truck.
Enjoy your summer in your new rig! | |
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Extreme Veteran
Posts: 373
Location: Texas | We have been camper owners since about 1985 or so. Have always had a dually 1 ton with them, and had very good stability. I'd not want a camper with out duallys especially pulling a horse trailer. Had a 4 horse bumper pull for many, many years, and now a 3 horse. A year ago we had the opportunity to change to an LQ trailer, and the camper was getting really tired, and due to be retired. 3 horse, mid tack, 9' LQ. So, my observations. The camper and bumper pull, I could go anywhere, any road, any gas station. If we wanted to go back into a remote camping area on narrow gravel roads with a lot of twists and turns etc, we had no issues. But, the over head clearance was always something to consider, climbing in and out of it was getting old, and we just left it on the truck as that was easier than taking it on and off.The LQ takes more planning on getting in and out of places. Parking lots, some gas stations, and remote campgrounds will be tricky. I will admit, this particular trailer is too low, and needs blocked so the tanks are not so vulnerable. I love just stepping up easily to get in the LQ without a bunch of steps. Even though ours is not an electric jack, its not that bad to unhitch the truck if needed. Our fuel economy is about 1mpg better (maybe 1.5) than the camper with the LQ. The over all rig is a bit heavier, but the wind resistance is not as bad, and the camper really pulled down the MPG.I miss the camper, and am questioning if the LQ is right for us. Or, maybe now that we have had it a year I know things I'd like different, and maybe we just need a different LQ. | |
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 Elite Veteran
Posts: 736
Location: Western WA | I must have been in the same windstorm you were in this weekend. I live on the west (wet) side of WA and was at a show in Walla Walla. My show buddy who lives near there asked if the wind bothered me going home. She pulls a 3 horse bumper pull with a SRW 1 ton and a camper. I pull a 3 horse gooseneck LQ trailer with a DRW 1 ton. I only noticed the wind when I stopped at Ellensburg to get diesel. Your comparison reminded me of why she asked. Her experience with wind is far worse than mine. | |
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Member
Posts: 21
Location: WA State | There are definately advantages to campers - don't get me wrong.
My weekender is a really high trailer, it has a ramp for a reason!
I was told it was custom ordered to be extra tall and since it doesn't have a built in bathroom, it doesnt have the gray and black water tanks underneath. My clearance is better then my little two horse - however, it is a long sucker with a 24' box plus 8' gooseneck part - that is for sure! I am okay at gas stations - so far anyway. I think hard before making a quick stop somewhere though making sure I dont have to run over a curb to get out...lol.
When I camp with the Backcountry horseman, I am good in the open field type situations, it can be tougher in some of the "campgrounds" though as i need a bigger spot and need to plan the turn around etc. Since I am not retired I never get there early - more commonly the last one to arrive then the first!
Anyway, if I were more concerned with the living amenities, I think the camper is better.
In my case, I need easy to deal with since i do it all myself, so the horse trailer I can hook and unhook myself, I feel safe hauling over the mountains and stable in high winds and at high speeds so that all was a higher priority for me and the rig i have addresses that. I think the biggest negative is since i was buying used I wound I wound up with a bigger rig then i would have chosen if I was custom ordering it but sometimes you have to take what you can find when you are on a limited budget. Mine is technically a 4 horse trailer, but it would have to be 4 pretty small horses to ride in it comfortably. | |
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my experience on a weekender trailer versus a camper
