Is this an ok combo for full timing?
I've got two medium large three legged dogs (no joke) who can't get in or out of an SUV or any kind of truck and get a little stir crazy in confined spaces. They're not all that heavy but they're too heavy for me to lift in and out. Plus it scares the heck out of them when I try. Goofy dogs but I love them. I knew the low clearance of both the minivan and the scamp would limit my options for boondocking but that's just how it is.
The scamp weighs 1200 lbs. Maybe 1900 with full tanks and fully loaded. With empty tanks but still loaded with food and clothes etc. 1500lbs. The dodge is rated for 3500 with towing stability built in and a 400lb tongue weight. It's new and those numbers are why I chose it. (If I head for high elevations I'll be dumping the tanks first and filling again close to wherever I decide to stay awhile).
The scamp has 170 total tongue weight including propane and battery. It's just me and the dogs and I drive kinda slow.
I figure on adding solar to the minivan with a couple of flex panels on the roof and an AGM battery riding in a torklift box in the passenger foot well cos the dodge is front wheel drive so I think I need to try to keep weight over the front axel. It's also rated to carry 7000lbs which I'm pretty sure includes that tongue weight.
My thinking is the scamp will be pretty much for sleeping and washing. I've got a portable stove so I can cook outside. With all the seats stowed the minivan is big enough so the dogs can lie down and move around a bit while traveling. When camped I can work at my laptop in there if it's chilly out otherwise with the back doors open its like kind of a porch.
I'm planning to say bye bye to conformity and heating bills and humidity in early September and head west following the sun.
It can't be worse than my old Minnie Winnie that used to drop to 20mph with the pedal to the floorboards when I'd take it up to the White Mountains in New Hampshire, can it?
Am I crazy?
Should I avoid the highways all together? I'd actually prefer that.
I've got two medium large three legged dogs (no joke) who can't get in or out of an SUV or any kind of truck and get a little stir crazy in confined spaces. They're not all that heavy but they're too heavy for me to lift in and out. Plus it scares the heck out of them when I try. Goofy dogs but I love them. I knew the low clearance of both the minivan and the scamp would limit my options for boondocking but that's just how it is.
The scamp weighs 1200 lbs. Maybe 1900 with full tanks and fully loaded. With empty tanks but still loaded with food and clothes etc. 1500lbs. The dodge is rated for 3500 with towing stability built in and a 400lb tongue weight. It's new and those numbers are why I chose it. (If I head for high elevations I'll be dumping the tanks first and filling again close to wherever I decide to stay awhile).
The scamp has 170 total tongue weight including propane and battery. It's just me and the dogs and I drive kinda slow.
I figure on adding solar to the minivan with a couple of flex panels on the roof and an AGM battery riding in a torklift box in the passenger foot well cos the dodge is front wheel drive so I think I need to try to keep weight over the front axel. It's also rated to carry 7000lbs which I'm pretty sure includes that tongue weight.
My thinking is the scamp will be pretty much for sleeping and washing. I've got a portable stove so I can cook outside. With all the seats stowed the minivan is big enough so the dogs can lie down and move around a bit while traveling. When camped I can work at my laptop in there if it's chilly out otherwise with the back doors open its like kind of a porch.
I'm planning to say bye bye to conformity and heating bills and humidity in early September and head west following the sun.
It can't be worse than my old Minnie Winnie that used to drop to 20mph with the pedal to the floorboards when I'd take it up to the White Mountains in New Hampshire, can it?
Am I crazy?
Should I avoid the highways all together? I'd actually prefer that.
tjb
