Good afternoon tribe! Need some advise here. My TV is a F150 supercrew with short bed. I was totally set on making my permanent living quarters out of a 7x14 cargo trailer. Now I'm looking at the Capri camper. For full time living which vehicle would you choose? Again it will just be me and my K9 friend Mike. Thanks for any advise you may be able to offer!
Capri Camper vs Cargo Trailer
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Lucky mike
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capri is a lite duty camper , but its all there for you. shower ...cooking everything you need its turnkey operation.....add a solar panel or 2 and a couple batteries and its almost heaven in a box!!
Patrick46
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From what I've seen, Capri only makes a pick-up slide-in model.
is that what you're considering??
A 7 x 14 cargo trailer will offer nearly twice the living space, and you can still haul your cargo in it, not to mention leaving the truck's bed available for hauling stuff too.
There are so many different reasons to go in either direction, it's hard to advise you unless you can give us some ideas as to what environment you plan to live in.
What I mean is, will you be traveling alot, or will you be staying in one basic area long term?? Do you plan on sticking to the highways or heading out into backcountry? Are you OK with losing the hauling capacity of your truck bed with a camper in there?? Are you AND your doggy friend OK with climbing up a tall set of stairs to get into your truckbed 'home'?? (older dogs may have real issues with this)
what are your thoughts??
is that what you're considering??
A 7 x 14 cargo trailer will offer nearly twice the living space, and you can still haul your cargo in it, not to mention leaving the truck's bed available for hauling stuff too.
There are so many different reasons to go in either direction, it's hard to advise you unless you can give us some ideas as to what environment you plan to live in.
What I mean is, will you be traveling alot, or will you be staying in one basic area long term?? Do you plan on sticking to the highways or heading out into backcountry? Are you OK with losing the hauling capacity of your truck bed with a camper in there?? Are you AND your doggy friend OK with climbing up a tall set of stairs to get into your truckbed 'home'?? (older dogs may have real issues with this)
what are your thoughts??
Lucky mike
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capri camper...
holding tanks
bathroom/shower
kitchen
refrigreration
sleeping facilities
guess it will depend on what you want for a lifestyle and how your planning on fulltiming....also where you plan on fulltiming......
I started out in a van......did the converted trailer....now Im in an RV I wouldnt go back only because I like the conveniences I have now...not to mention my dog would really be upset to loose the couch!!
holding tanks
bathroom/shower
kitchen
refrigreration
sleeping facilities
guess it will depend on what you want for a lifestyle and how your planning on fulltiming....also where you plan on fulltiming......
I started out in a van......did the converted trailer....now Im in an RV I wouldnt go back only because I like the conveniences I have now...not to mention my dog would really be upset to loose the couch!!
Patrick46 you brought up everyone of my concerns. My plans are to stay out west in Arizona in the winter months, and then either move up in elevation when the heat comes or head east for the summer. Now having said that Lucky Mike brings up all the things I was thinking about the camper. I would already have all the amenities in the camper. With a nice solar system I should have it all. My trailer cost is 4000 before I set it up with all that will be needed to live in it long term. I will have to say Patrick46 I do hate the thought of loosing my hauling capacity. Thank you guys for writing. It means a lot!
Lucky mike
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that was going to be one of my questions.......capri makes alot of truck campers and only a few tow campers....which are you looking at........like patrick said if it is in the bed you will lose needed cargo space.......
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I'm not sure you have enough truck for any camper. What year is it? What is the GVWR of your F150? What is the rear axle rated at? The GVWR of newer models has been going up but if it is from the 90s I can almost guarantee you will be way over gross weight and your tires will probably be over their limit.
How much does the camper weigh and what will be the weight on the rear axle after it is on it? My guess is that it can't handle the weight.
Capri will sell you their campers stripped down with nothing in them, that is probably what you will have to do to make it work. You can buy the base model and add on anything you want, or as little as you want. So you could buy it with just a shower, water heater, tanks and pump. Everything else you could add easily add just what you wanted and leave everything else off. to me that is a huge plus!
The one compelling reason to buy a Capri camper is if you put it on a 4x4 truck and you can drive it anywhere. To me that is a phenomenal advantage over a trailer, especially a big trailer like you are talking about. The trailer you want couldn't go about half of the places I go in the summer; it's just too big. But the Capri could easily go there and even go many more places I can't go now even on a 2x4 truck. Even my small trailer limits me.
Right now I would like to go further back but there is a gully the van could make but not the trailer. Your truck and Capri could go there easily.
Bob
How much does the camper weigh and what will be the weight on the rear axle after it is on it? My guess is that it can't handle the weight.
Capri will sell you their campers stripped down with nothing in them, that is probably what you will have to do to make it work. You can buy the base model and add on anything you want, or as little as you want. So you could buy it with just a shower, water heater, tanks and pump. Everything else you could add easily add just what you wanted and leave everything else off. to me that is a huge plus!
The one compelling reason to buy a Capri camper is if you put it on a 4x4 truck and you can drive it anywhere. To me that is a phenomenal advantage over a trailer, especially a big trailer like you are talking about. The trailer you want couldn't go about half of the places I go in the summer; it's just too big. But the Capri could easily go there and even go many more places I can't go now even on a 2x4 truck. Even my small trailer limits me.
Right now I would like to go further back but there is a gully the van could make but not the trailer. Your truck and Capri could go there easily.
Bob
Bob, Good evening. My F150 is a 2013 4x4 Super Crew cab 5.0 V8. From what I can read the GVWR is 7800 LBS my load capacity is 1700 lbs. The camper I was looking at is 1000 LBS. So would you choose a Capri over cargo trailer? Thank you for your time! Is there a way to respond on the forum without having to email you? I don't want to be a bother.
WheelEstate USA
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Add to the camper weight clothes, personal stuff, food, water, household stuff, fuel, you and dog and you're really pushing the limits.
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2wolves when you add the weight of the camper, it isn't going to be evenly, the great majority of it will be n the rear axle and little of it on the front. So you are going to have to find the GWR of the rear axle and then take the truck to a scale and weight it so you get a weight on both axles. Figure your going to put another 1200-1500 pounds on he rear.
That 1700 pound payload and 1000 pounds for the trailer are probably dry weight before you add gas and oil into the truck, before you get in and before you add water and propane to the trailer. Plus you are going to load a bunch of your stuff in it.
But 7800 pounds is probably enough to handle the camper. Your truck should easily handle the trailer.
But the real question is what are your priorities? Do you want to get far into the back-country or are you content to just get back a little where everybody else is? Do you need all the comfort and space of a 7x14 trailer or can you be content in the small space of a Capri camper. I can tell you what makes me happy but there is no way I can even begin to guess what will make you happy!!
Do you go camping? Do you like it? Do you like roughing it or do want all the comforts of home in an RV? Are you going to drive a lot? If so the camper should give you better MPG because it will be much lighter.
That is the critical question!!
Bob
That 1700 pound payload and 1000 pounds for the trailer are probably dry weight before you add gas and oil into the truck, before you get in and before you add water and propane to the trailer. Plus you are going to load a bunch of your stuff in it.
But 7800 pounds is probably enough to handle the camper. Your truck should easily handle the trailer.
But the real question is what are your priorities? Do you want to get far into the back-country or are you content to just get back a little where everybody else is? Do you need all the comfort and space of a 7x14 trailer or can you be content in the small space of a Capri camper. I can tell you what makes me happy but there is no way I can even begin to guess what will make you happy!!
Do you go camping? Do you like it? Do you like roughing it or do want all the comforts of home in an RV? Are you going to drive a lot? If so the camper should give you better MPG because it will be much lighter.
That is the critical question!!
Bob
WheelEstate USA
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In a short bed truck most campers will overhang the bed, unless you find a short camper and they're pretty small. That overhang is going to put a lot more of the weight on the back axle/tires.
I've had a cabover camper of about the same weight on a long 150 Ford and there was a lot of sway when driving. It was especially uncomfortable if there was any crosswind.
Personally, I wasn't happy with that combination. The same camper on a 250 Ford felt stable and a lot more comfortable to drive.
I prefer not to pull a trailer, but would rather, instead of a top heavy camper if I had a short light duty truck.
This is just based on my own experience and others may know more than this old goat.
I've had a cabover camper of about the same weight on a long 150 Ford and there was a lot of sway when driving. It was especially uncomfortable if there was any crosswind.
Personally, I wasn't happy with that combination. The same camper on a 250 Ford felt stable and a lot more comfortable to drive.
I prefer not to pull a trailer, but would rather, instead of a top heavy camper if I had a short light duty truck.
This is just based on my own experience and others may know more than this old goat.
Thanks all for the responses. I've decided to go with a 6x12 cargo, and finish it out the way I want. I really like the idea of still having my truck with topper for extra cargo space. Again thanks to all that responded. I love the tribe here! You guy's are great people for taking your time to help others that you don't even know. Can't wait to visit with you at the next RTR! So my build begins. Pictures to come.
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I think there really aren't any bad choices!! It's just which one is a little better for YOU.
Of course I think you made a great choice since it is so close the one I made!! A 6x12 is a great size!! Plenty of room but still able to take in some rough country. A 4x4 truck with a shell is an outstanding tow vehicle. I suggest getting a little taller shell so you can leave the trailer in storage and take just the truck on 1 week to 2-3 month trips.
I'm looking forward to see how you are going to convert the trailer!!!
Bob
Of course I think you made a great choice since it is so close the one I made!! A 6x12 is a great size!! Plenty of room but still able to take in some rough country. A 4x4 truck with a shell is an outstanding tow vehicle. I suggest getting a little taller shell so you can leave the trailer in storage and take just the truck on 1 week to 2-3 month trips.
I'm looking forward to see how you are going to convert the trailer!!!
Bob
Optimistic Paranoid
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I'm not sure if you were aware of this or not . . .
Over on the Teardrops and Tiny Travel Trailers forum, there's an active sub-forum devoted to Cargo Trailer conversions. Lots of pictures and lots of good ideas there.
Regards
John
Over on the Teardrops and Tiny Travel Trailers forum, there's an active sub-forum devoted to Cargo Trailer conversions. Lots of pictures and lots of good ideas there.
Regards
John
WheelEstate USA
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Have fun with your build.
There is a saying I have kept in mind since my early backpacking days...every ounce counts. I equate that to to 'wheel estate' as every pound counts in a build.
Might sound funny from a guy barreling down the road in a vehicle that weighs several tons, but I haven't forgotten my "roots", so we're running way under gross load. new things come, but old things go and useless stuff ain't happenin'. In with something new...out with the old.
Gotta say....wish I was able to do the same build with a 4x4/topper combo.
Looking forward to pics.
There is a saying I have kept in mind since my early backpacking days...every ounce counts. I equate that to to 'wheel estate' as every pound counts in a build.
Might sound funny from a guy barreling down the road in a vehicle that weighs several tons, but I haven't forgotten my "roots", so we're running way under gross load. new things come, but old things go and useless stuff ain't happenin'. In with something new...out with the old.
Gotta say....wish I was able to do the same build with a 4x4/topper combo.
Looking forward to pics.
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