Mounting a Pickup Truck Camper on a Utility Trailer

[Buck62]

Okay, I know this has been discussed somewhere here, but I couldn't find it with the search function.

I've been thinking about mounting a lightweight (popup style) truck camper on a utility trailer. I presently have an extra clean 1994 Starcraft Starflite popup. But the wife won't camp with us (myself and two small boys) unless she can sleep in something with hard sides that's more like a travel trailer.  

Our tow vehicle is a 2003 Honda Element with a 1,500 lb maximum towing capacity, which basically eliminates almost most travel trailers.  Scamps and similar fiberglass travel trailers are light enough, but they're  too expensive for us and are too tall to fit in our garage.

So, I'm thinking that a popup-style truck camper mounted on a 4 X 8 utility trailer might be the way to go. I'm talking about a "used" camper here, since we can't afford a new one.

Questions:

Would there be any problems with hitch weight or "top heavy" issues?

Are there any good reasons NOT to do this?



Tips, clues and commentary would be appreciated.... THANX!

[ForestCreature]

Are there any good reasons NOT to do this?
 
 THANX!

Sure there is, going from a pop up to a "pop up style" is a lateral move...it still pops up and she likely won't be happy. Sounds like you would be better off being patient and finding an affordable older small TT to come up for sale.

Besides that  mounting a truck camper ona trailer frame really sounds unsafe driving down the road.

[CAPEd CODger]

I'd see if I could find a used "A-Liner".... folds up, and has hard sidewalls.
I would think it'd be lighter as well.
1500 lbs. is not a lot of capacity.
Is that the max trailer weight, or is that the limit with passengers and gear and trailer?

Big difference.

Best of luck in your search.

Bob

[Buck62]

Sure there is, going from a pop up to a "pop up style" is a lateral move...it still pops up and she likely won't be happy. Sounds like you would be better off being patient and finding an affordable older small TT to come up for sale.

I showed her pics of the truck camper with a pop top and she's fine with that. She just doesn't like having canvas on the sides because she thinks a furry little creature might crawl in during the night or that the wind would blow the trailer over because the canvas would make it like a big kite.

Besides that  mounting a truck camper ona trailer frame really sounds unsafe driving down the road.

That's what I'm trying to find out. I've seen it done before, but I'd like an educated opinion on the weight distribution issue.

[Buck62]

I'd see if I could find a used "A-Liner".... folds up, and has hard sidewalls. I would think it'd be lighter as well.

I like Aliners very much, but even a 15 year old used one goes for over $3,000. Aliners less than 10 years old usually cost anywhere from $5,000 to $12,000, which is too rich for my blood.

1500 lbs. is not a lot of capacity.
Is that the max trailer weight, or is that the limit with passengers and gear and trailer?

Big difference.

Best of luck in your search.

Bob

Thanx, Bob.

1,500 lbs is the max towing weight, not including about 700 lbs inside the car.

I'd like to get a travel trailer, but they're too tall for my garage (I live in Chicago... in the city). A teardrop camper doesn't have the sleeping capacity, so that option is out, too. I need something that has hard sides, sleeps four, weighs less than 1,500 lbs, and is less than 6'2" tall overall. The only trailer I've seen that actually fits those specs to a "T" is an old Metzendorf travel trailer. But they're rare and quite costly, if you can even find one. I'd like to keep this under $2,000... total cost.

[ForestCreature]

How about an older in decent shape hard sided Apache pop up?

[Buck62]

How about an older in decent shape hard sided Apache pop up?

I looked at a couple of them already. Each one I looked at was supposed to be in "excellent" condition. But when I got there it was a different story... they needed a significant amount of work and a LOT of cleaning. The owners basically said they meant "excellent" in reference to it's age.

I'd rather go with something newer and cleaner that doesn't need a month's worth of scrubbing, caulking and repairs.

[austinado16]

Honestly, if you're on that tight of a budget.....and I am, so I know where you're coming from......there's just no way around finding something that doesn't need work.  Campers are in that price point for a reason.

But realistically, with that light a towing capacity, it's time to have a sit-down with your wife and educate her on what the realities are........and not the suppositions.  I mean; you can sit around and imagine all sorts of crazy sh!t happening 24/7, or you can go enjoy life.

If critters and wind were an issue for pop-ups, you could rest assured they wouldn't still have the cult following that they've enjoyed for 40 years.

[wavery]

Okay, I know this has been discussed somewhere here, but I couldn't find it with the search function.

I've been thinking about mounting a lightweight (popup style) truck camper on a utility trailer. I presently have an extra clean 1994 Starcraft Starflite popup. But the wife won't camp with us (myself and two small boys) unless she can sleep in something with hard sides that's more like a travel trailer.  

Our tow vehicle is a 2003 Honda Element with a 1,500 lb maximum towing capacity, which basically eliminates almost most travel trailers.  Scamps and similar fiberglass travel trailers are light enough, but they're  too expensive for us and are too tall to fit in our garage.

So, I'm thinking that a popup-style truck camper mounted on a 4 X 8 utility trailer might be the way to go. I'm talking about a "used" camper here, since we can't afford a new one.

Questions:

Would there be any problems with hitch weight or "top heavy" issues?

Are there any good reasons NOT to do this?



Tips, clues and commentary would be appreciated.... THANX!

I'm gonna be honest with ya....Honda Elements are not made for towing anything......they just don't have the brakes to stop much more than the GVWR for that vehicle.

Find out what your gross combined weight rating (GCWR) is on that vehicle then subtract the GVWR. If I remember correctly you will come up with about 800 pounds.

That 1500 pound tow rating that you are looking at is with the driver and half a tank of gas (and maybe not even that). That is NOT the way people go camping. By the time you load your vehicle with passangers, the dog and camping gear you will be close to maxed out in that car without hooking up the trailer.

[mike4947]

Buck, a couple of thoughts on the issue.
Have the DW actually set foot in the truck camper before you plunk down any money. TC's are notorious for having minimal floor space, especially the ones in the 0-1500 pound loaded weight range. Having to go outside to change your mind turns off a lot of women folk. Especially on the second rainy day.
We've mounted several to bare van and truck chassis as well as flat bed trucks. Two attempts to do it on "utility trailers" met with failure on several attempts before we got one "right".
Figure you'll need a MINIMUM of 100% greater GVWR on the trailer than the GVWR of the TC. It has to do with weight distribution and center of gravity issues.
It's also tough to find a "utility trailer" with the width and GVWR needed. You'll most likely, like us, end up in the "construction trailer" type. Which unfortunately put the weight of just the trailer at or above your 1500 limit even before dropping the camper on.

[Buck62]

I'm gonna be honest with ya....Honda Elements are not made for towing anything......they just don't have the brakes to stop much more than the GVWR for that vehicle.

I wish I'd have known that before I towed my Starcraft popup (1,260 lbs dry) all over the South and to the East coast (twice) through the mountains of Pennsylvania, New York and the rolling hills of Kentucky. I had to make a couple of hard stops with no electric brakes and the four-wheel discs handled it just fine.

That was with two friends, multiple guitars and amps, and all our camping gear. I guess my Element doesn't realize it's supposed to be a wimpy tow vehicle.

[Buck62]

Buck, a couple of thoughts on the issue.
Have the DW actually set foot in the truck camper before you plunk down any money. TC's are notorious for having minimal floor space, especially the ones in the 0-1500 pound loaded weight range. Having to go outside to change your mind turns off a lot of women folk. Especially on the second rainy day.
We've mounted several to bare van and truck chassis as well as flat bed trucks. Two attempts to do it on "utility trailers" met with failure on several attempts before we got one "right".
Figure you'll need a MINIMUM of 100% greater GVWR on the trailer than the GVWR of the TC. It has to do with weight distribution and center of gravity issues.
It's also tough to find a "utility trailer" with the width and GVWR needed. You'll most likely, like us, end up in the "construction trailer" type. Which unfortunately put the weight of just the trailer at or above your 1500 limit even before dropping the camper on.

Points taken.

At this point I'm thinking that I'm better off leaving the wife at home and keeping my Starflite.

[austinado16]

Points taken.

At this point I'm thinking that I'm better off leaving the wife at home and keeping my Starflite.

See.......now you're thinking straight.  Good job.......and welcome back to the man club!

By the way, there's an '87/'88 Starflyer that's been donated to the local Goodwill.  Current asking price is $250.  It's complete, but most of the canvas is shot.  I'm considering buying it for the bag awning, table, carry-out stove, cushions, inside curtains, faucet and a few other things, and then junking the camper portion and making it into a flatbed utility trailer......and selling the trailer.  Let me know if you need anything.  I don't really need any of it for my camper, but it's a shame to see the thing go to the land fill with all those good parts on board!

[waygard33]

I'm with Austinado on this one. You've bent over backwards to investigate the possibilities.

The reality is a light-weight Pop-Up fits your situation. Now it's time for the wife to make some adjustments. The time spent with family is too great a reward to be missed by silly fears.

I don't mean to be callus on her fears but sometimes, things can get a bit ridiculous. I have a sister-in-law that is so afraid of spiders, she will leave my house if I watch a Discovery channel show about them on TV. Give me a break!

How about sleeping pills? That's well within your budget.

Good luck.

[Buck62]

Okay, I talked the wife into keeping our Starflite and she'll give it a try... YAY!

Now, I just have some minor things I want to attend to on it.

Please see my "frame painting" thread in the Mr Fix It forum.