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If you have a toy hauler thats fine. Regular bumper pull trailers are overweight with full water, food and all their gear. Almost all toy haulers I've looked at had over 4k lbs of cargo available. Most bumper pulls are closer to 1500lbs or less. That is what I'm getting at. It was a shotgun blast and not intended to hit everybody so dont jump in front of it as if it was intended for you.
So you're saying a regular bumper pull travel trailer can't go in boondocking because it's overweight if the fresh tank is full? Most travel trailers have a 40-60 gallon tank, some 80. Even if a toy hauler has 4k cargo capacity, once you load up the toys, gas station, fresh tank etc you're close to what's left for a regular travel trailer. Anyway I disagree with you. A travel trailer can go boondocking and not be overweight by simply filling the fresh tank and putting food in the fridge, unless you really overload your trailer with crap.
So you're saying a regular bumper pull travel trailer can't go in boondocking because it's overweight if the fresh tank is full? Most travel trailers have a 40-60 gallon tank, some 80. Even if a toy hauler has 4k cargo capacity, once you load up the toys, gas station, fresh tank etc you're close to what's left for a regular travel trailer. Anyway I disagree with you. A travel trailer can go boondocking and not be overweight by simply filling the fresh tank and putting food in the fridge, unless you really overload your trailer with crap.
Here is a random bumper pull. Not the shortest in the lineup and not the longest. 35ft and over you are better off with a 5th wheel. Hands down you can out maneuver a bumper pull that is sticking behind your bumper 35' with a 35' 5th wheel.
11,295lbs GVWR - 9516lbs ULVW = 1779lbs of cargo capacity. Freshwater capacity is 54 gallons or 448lbs of water. That reduces your cargo to 1331lbs. This is also assuming the weight empty from the factory is accurate. This is irrelevant because I and many others who boondock carry a means to refill the freshwater since our waste holding capacity is so much more than freshwater holding capacity.
1779lbs - 118 gallon grey and 54 gallons if black and we can just use the weight of water and say 1033lbs of holding tank weight when full. Now your cargo capacity is down to 746lbs after boondocking for 2 weeks in a regular bumper pull camper. Again, assuming the factory stated weight is accurate.
You are right they can go boondocking. But they have to really watch it if they don't want to be overweight and off-roading.
I've always read mostly good things about Artic Fox trailers and if Outdoors is using the same build features they cant ge that bad.
They build them the same and use the same frames. One seems to have more options or included creature comforts than the other. Otherwise they're pretty much the same.
After continuous boondocking/ traveling now for the past 7 years (2,410 days out of 2,594) and having alot of time to think about this.
My personal check list would be....
Has to be 5th wheel, personal taste.
Structural build with the largest holding tanks possible. Makes it easier for 2 week stays. Upgrade tires to a 'G' if possible. Look for or upgrade to MorRyde independent suspension system.
Length is something to think about. I've had a 30' 2 slide and present 35.6' 3 slide. Having 3 slides really seems to open thing up for fulltime living.
Built in trailer hitch for the toy.
The ability to add solar to the roof and lfp batteries. I have 1,280w now and that would be the minimal but wouldn't mind a little more 1,600-1,800w. I have 500ah lfp now and has been doing fine but couple hundred more wouldn't hurt if we decided to go with a residential fridge, mixed fellings on residential and boondocking.
All extra bling inside trailers doesn't interest me that much, the bones of the trailer are most important.
I've owned a few Northwood trailers, Arctic Fox, Nash, Desert Fox. They are well made. Sold the Desert Fox to buy a Grand Design Momentum. The Momentum seems to be well made, but already need to replace the springs. It's a 2022 with 2,000 miles on it and the springs are almost flat and 2 have a slight 'W' shape.
I've owned a few Northwood trailers, Arctic Fox, Nash, Desert Fox. They are well made. Sold the Desert Fox to buy a Grand Design Momentum. The Momentum seems to be well made, but already need to replace the springs. It's a 2022 with 2,000 miles on it and the springs are almost flat and 2 have a slight 'W' shape.
That's brutal.
I have 15,000 km's on my 2022 that I just picked up new last July. I just repacked the bearings, greased up the wet bolts (CRE 3000) and inspected everything. The springs look good and I always haul it with a full 100 gallon fresh tank and around a 2000 lb Suzuki Samurai in the garage. They are 7k Dexter axles. I have an ORV 29TRX bumper pull toy hauler.
I've owned a few Northwood trailers, Arctic Fox, Nash, Desert Fox. They are well made. Sold the Desert Fox to buy a Grand Design Momentum. The Momentum seems to be well made, but already need to replace the springs. It's a 2022 with 2,000 miles on it and the springs are almost flat and 2 have a slight 'W' shape.
Like this?
I broke every leaf spring once and then once I broke a replacement I went with 4k springs. The flat spring is after driving the Alcan and I never had any water in my tanks while driving that trip. The 4k springs have a positive arch with all my tanks full still.
What brand batteries are you running now and are you happy with them?
When our 4x Trojan T-105 batteries die, I will likely go with a Signature Solar EG-4 rack battery.
Regarding the trailer choice, we almost bought a Glacier Peak and were impressed with the build quality in person.
Same setup after 7 years. GBS- Elite Power Solutions
I have over 2,400 partial cycles of 35-45% DOD, which would equal 900 or so full cycles so far. I'm sure there is some ah lose but I haven't notice it yet.
That's brutal.
I have 15,000 km's on my 2022 that I just picked up new last July. I just repacked the bearings, greased up the wet bolts (CRE 3000) and inspected everything. The springs look good and I always haul it with a full 100 gallon fresh tank and around a 2000 lb Suzuki Samurai in the garage. They are 7k Dexter axles. I have an ORV 29TRX bumper pull toy hauler.
