Slide in Camper or trailer?

I was actually surprised that there weren't that many posts regarding this. Unless I'm using the wrong keywords.

Planning for the future, I'm starting to look at trailers and slide-ins. However, it looks like I may have shot myself in the foot for slide-in on a short bed.

Since I have a double cab short bed (check my descrip or sig for full truck specs) what would any of you recommend if I'd like the following:
- stove to cook
- fridge if possible
- decent sized bed
- wet/dry bathroom (size doesnt matter.

I know that I'm limited to, I think, 1200lbs cargo cap so I really don't know if there is a slide-in camper around 1000lb that isn't a pop top, but a full hard shelled bed camper.

Is there any slide-in that isn't a pop up under 1200lb?

Would it be better to just go with something like a Travel Lite or Jayco?

 

My opinion is that the Tacoma is not suited for slide in campers. Just not enough payload.

A high rise canopy with a drawer system with a small bumper pull trailer is what I went with.

 

If you want a bathroom you either need a trailer or a new truck that can carry a decent size slide in camper.

 

Couple of thoughts for you:
1. if you want something on the back of your truck, the tacoma can handle something like a Vagabond Drifter wedge camper, but you'll have to build out your interior to match what you want, but your bathroom will either be a porta potti or an exterior shower tent. Any full body campers are pretty close to maxing your payload
2. have you looked at something like an a-liner trailer (hard sides but a pop up)
3. I did a cargo trailer conversion (6X12 wedge). Have a queen bed that folds out, and built a bathroom up front, although not for showers, but that would be up to you what to build (google cargo trailer conversion). I went that way so I could build something that could carry my motorcycle, but still be used as a full camping trailer.
4. Full size trailers pull hard due to wind resistance and not so much the weight. A lot of guys use them, but you need to be prepared to use the go pedal and rev it, and accept poor fuel mileage.
5. I am not a fan of pop up tent trailers. I live in Grizzly country, nuff said LOL. But I don't think that's a problem in Jersey. But wait until your first day folding it down in the rain, and you may rather want to face a grizzly haha.
Hope that helps.

 

I have been down both these roads.
Slide in camper-
I had a 07 pastime slide in camper. Truck we set up with an add a leaf and firestone air bags. Camper had a 2 burner stove, fridge, bed over the cab (queen size) no bathroom. The truck handled it very well. 1000lbs dry. It worked fine for the wife and I.
Jayco Baja 184bs trailer-
18’ with a slide and bunks in the back, queen up front, 2 burner stove and fridge with a bathroom. 3200lbs Dry loaded down with all of our hunting gear the truck pulled it well.

I DRIVE my vehicles. That being said, the in bed camper was less strain but more top heavy. The trailer was a little added pull but not so too heavy. It really comes down to what you really want. Go look around at both.

 

I would go with a trailer for sure. We just recently purchased a GeoPro 19 FBS rated at #3000 dry. I have a 2015 DCSB with a 3" lift and air bags on the back. The truck pulls it but the wind and hills will let you know you have the extra weight in the back.

 

I can pull this at 80 to 85 mph if I need too. Usually rolling with Cruise control on at around 65 mph. Went on a 7 state, 2600 mile run and had a blast. Set up base camp, explore for a couple of days, then move onto someplace else. Spent a week in Moab and another week in CO. Hope this helps.

 

Just can’t be scared. Stopped before we hit the pass heading over to deer camp this year. Old timer goes “is that little thing going to have enough to pull that camper over the hump”? I said give her hell. Last hard pull of the pass I stepped out of the slow lane portion and went around him. The look on his face was priceless.... I don’t plan to use my Tacoma to always drag the trailer but it handles it just fine.

 

You could look into pop up campers, lighter and have everything you’re looking for.

Mine holds heat fine.

 

I'll be sure to let you know what I scale at after once the boat and all the gear is on the trailer.

 

I figured as much. The payload limits nearly everything decent that has a shower.

I plan to move back to AZ in the next year so I'd be bringing it to high country (northern AZ for you non-desert folk).

I've been looking at a lot of trailers. So far I've been eyeing ones that sit around 3-4k dry. Wet or dry bathroom, queen or King, nice kitchen, etc. I'd love to have one with the door to the rear but I still don't know if that's the best layout.

Only true way is to start going to RV lots and checking them out and to start asking trailer owners themselves.

Interesting on the idea of converting a cargo trailer into a camper. I've seen a few vids on them.but never really looked into it.

 

This is with no air in my bags and no load equalizer hitch.
I kicked around the cargo trailer idea. Great option if you don’t need the fancy set up. My trailer is the Baja edition. Spring over axle and little bigger tires. Went this route for rough roads while hunting.
Here was my last set up. No bathroom, however I have saw a few with a bathroom doesn’t seem like it added much weight.

 

I've had a pull behind pop up and I currently have both a Hard Sided slide in and a pop up tent Flippac.

Pop up or Pull behind: Don't get a pop up ever. They're cold, drafty, take forever to set up. In general a pull behind is just less convenient. You will not be off roading with it, it will take up room at campsites and will dictate what size and price of campsite you will fit in, and you can't just pull in to the McDonalds and park it. You're always looking for a spot to parallel park with the trailer.

Slide in: It's not that heavy, I've gotten it up some good inclines and through some bad muddy dirt roads. Picture below is at the Wedge Overlook in the San Rafael area in Utah. This is 30 miles down a very muddy dirt road. It will require suspension modifications, and we'll see how the bearings on the rear axle hold up. It is super nice and really convenient. You can hop into it, in any parking lot, make lunch, take a nap, change baby's diaper, it is very very nice. No setup required as mine is a hard side. It is heavy, but so far it's been worth it. Jacking it up and sliding it in is easy. At most 20 minutes to get it into the back of the truck. This is also an advantage over the Roof top tent caps, as I get the open bed of my truck back to haul stuff in when I'm not camping. I have a port a potty in it for peeing at night, and I'll probably add an external shower at some point. We mostly do weekend trips and I just don't worry about showering while camping.

Roof top cap: I have a Flippac and fitted out, it's still pretty heavy with all the camping gear. I've gotten over Imogene pass with it, but it's not that much of an off roader. Flipping and setup in the rain or snow is not fun, and I've had issues in Grizzy country as well. Issue is I have a toddler and he needs to be warm and comfy to eat breakfast. Thus we eat a lot in the camper, thus it's a big bear bait with a soft top. I ended up using a ground tent over the Flippac in Canada as I felt safer in the clean tent with no food in it.

 

I never planned to. If I wanted a $9000 tent, I would have made one in my living room.

Regarding the use of the trailer, I don't plan to go off-road with it. It's for when I want to get away, find a nice fire trail and park it for the weekend. Or a nice and "smooth" path in the woods.

For a weekend off road I to the woods or desert I would just use the bed. I've got a hard shell over it so it would be the cot, gear, and extra gas.
Living in AZ I know what to look for regarding lots and food. If I was towing, I'd just pull over, jump in the trailer and make something vs trying to find parking and get something from the arches.

out of all the options the only thing I want or find most important is an indoor bathroom. Wet or dry. That's what's limiting me on getting a slide in.

Oh, I've seen a few mention airbags or leaf upgrades. If I decide to skip the John and find a lightweight slide in or get a trailer that's close to my max tow weight, will airbags and/or leaf upgrades really be needed? I've already got the fear of frame rust in the future. The idea of drilling into the frame to add the bags gives me an unnerving feeling.

 

Firestone bags require no drilling. For a trailer, with a equalizer hitch you will be fine. For a slide in, it’s a must.

 

This is mostly a bed, but is a slide in for a 5 ft bed:

http://www.wanderthewest.com/forum/topic/18012-2005-four-wheel-camper-falcon-rare-5ft-bed-model/



That's a tempting setup, if it weren't for the toddler and baby on the way, I'd trade my DCLB for a short bed and buy that.

 

What slide-in is that? Looks nice. And what's the total weight?

 

It is a 96 Shadow cruiser. 1140 dry, thus heavy, but it has a very nice 3 way fridge, lots of storage, and nice seating area. I've currently got an add a leaf 2", Rancho 9000 adjustables and Plastic guy bump stops 4.25 inch holding it up.

I've got some hellwig helper springs going on as well. I'm trying to avoid Airbags if I can. I've heard they're bouncy, I don't want to tear them off roading, and they're kind of expensive. At $300, I'm halfway to a new leaf pack.

 

My trailer has all the comforts of home. I also drag it offroad and have airbags on the truck. Bags were 100% bolt on. Fully loaded, I weighed about 3200. Hope to see you on the trail one day.

 

Slide-in's are way way overpriced,buy yourself a small used trailer instead.