Newbies looking for advice

[TURBS]

I don't think I want 95 lb projectiles in the cab with me.
Thanks anyway


TURBS
08 duramax tuned n modded, 32bhok Sabre

[Mountndream]

While I hate to disrupt truck talk (go big or go home), I would offer this as a much needed dog accessory.

http://www.amazon.com/Camco-43981-Al.../dp/B00BMRRXU0

This has kept our dogs in the trailer more times than I can count when the lovely wildlife scampers past. It has saved us from replacing the screen literally every trip. Not to mention, if the kids got out, we wouldn't be leaving till i found them.

Now back to truck discussions. We just bought a Dodge ram 2500 crew cab and getting the camper shell on it today. We really like this truck.

[PSUFan1]

We used a piece of fiberglass cut to size at Lowes and attached it to the screen door.

[cmcolla77]

Wow! The response here has been amazing! Thank you - all of you for the much needed and appreciated advice. Trust me when I say that our dogs are our children, and even IF they were in the bed of the truck, they would be crated and the crates would be secured. We would never allow them to be "free to roam". With that being said, they have always ridden in our vehicles and we would feel awful not having them with us. We will also be definitely shoring up the screen door(s) of whatever we get. We learned the hard way at home that our dogs don't always "see" the screen when they've decided that there is something far too interesting outside to wait for us to open the door.

We have begun to look at heavy duty trucks (thanks to all of you), and I think we will be going out this weekend to take a few for a test drive. We definitely want one that will eventually handle a 5th wheel at some point, so we don't have to worry about upgrading the truck as well. We are looking at the Fords and Dodges. No doubt we will find something that works! LOL

Getting very excited to begin this journey! Our next cross-country move is going to be far more comfortable and interesting than the last!

[HONDAMAN174]

Wow- I wAs just looking at where you are located. My planned route to Hemet for the Memorial Day rally would be pretty close to you as I was thinking of cutting thru Barstow and coming around big bear then over to Hemet. Are those roads pretty well kept?


2014 Stealth Evo 2850 "Woodstock"
2011 Toyota Tundra Rock Crawler TRD 5.7 "Clifford"

[cmcolla77]

HONDAMAN, if the roads that you are looking at include 247 around Big Bear, use serious caution! It is a very winding road, and you will have a heckuva time trying to navigate them with a large truck nevermind a trailer. It wasn't fun in an SUV, and we had to slow down to 10mph in some places. Not saying that it can't be done, but it will be a tricky drive. There are some hairpin turns beyond Big Bear down 247 that you will have to do some fancy navigating through.

[kenlea98]

Everyone seems to be focused on TT or 5ers which is great but not the only option. We went with a gas class A mostly because of the dogs. I would never consider putting my dogs in the bed of a pickup. My theory is if you wouldn't put your kids there you shouldn't put your dogs there. In the MH we are able to monitor the dogs and make sure they get water and breaks as they need them. Granted our two dogs are old and spoiled but it's part of having a pet. Our previous setup was a 5er with a one ton Dodge 4 door with the back seat set up for the dogs. Worked well but we are more comfortable in the MH. Rain or shine we can deal with it and don't have to get out to go eat, potty breaks (the people kind) or anything else if we don't want to.

Any RV option is great and each has it's advantages. Bad part of a MH is it is another vehicle to register, inspect, maintain, etc. A trailer is much simpler in that regard. But in overall comfort I will take the MH.

Just another opinion

[Stormrider151]

Originally Posted by cmcolla77

HONDAMAN, if the roads that you are looking at include 247 around Big Bear, use serious caution! It is a very winding road, and you will have a heckuva time trying to navigate them with a large truck nevermind a trailer. It wasn't fun in an SUV, and we had to slow down to 10mph in some places. Not saying that it can't be done, but it will be a tricky drive. There are some hairpin turns beyond Big Bear down 247 that you will have to do some fancy navigating through.

Sounds a little like the tail of the dragon. US 129 at the Tenn. NC line. I've seen folks try to negotiate that and have a terrible time. Sometimes the motorcycle guy's have to escort these rigs through so an accident doesn't happen. It does take a lot of planning especially when you get in the mountains.

[HONDAMAN174]

Was actually thinking of 247 to the 62 to the 10 then to 79- the scenic route.

We did big bear last June by going up the 247 and up the back way and although it was a little twisty and steep (15% grade) we did ok. It actually convinced DW to upgrade Clifford with an intake and exhaust because he was struggling at the tail bottom of the hills. 😊 he's a really good doggie now- a pretty good growl when you spur him!


2014 Stealth Evo 2850 "Woodstock"
2011 Toyota Tundra Rock Crawler TRD 5.7 "Clifford"

[cmcolla77]

HAHAHA!!! Glad Clifford is up to par now. The roads are pretty well kept. We haven't been up there since the snow started, so I can't speak to what they are now, but I see RVs heading up 247 from 62 all of the time. I would assume that the locals wouldn't head up there if the roads were bad. (We live about 2 miles from the intersection of where 62 meets 247, so we see everything that heads up that way.)

[HONDAMAN174]

Well if you get your unit and truck before Memorial Day, Hemet could be an excellent shake down trip! Think of all the ideas(expenses) you could get from the other members...


2014 Stealth Evo 2850 "Woodstock"
2011 Toyota Tundra Rock Crawler TRD 5.7 "Clifford"

[cmcolla77]

LOL, we're used to "ideas" costing us money. We're both scuba divers as well - PADI (put another dollar in). Seems like all of our "hobbies" are the ones that seem to cost the most! Might have to seriously consider Hemet as an option - we're hoping to have everything by then. It would be a great trip!

[Blackhat6mike]

We have a Chevy Silverado Crew Cab 2500 HD Duramax/Allison that has as much or more room in it as any SUV we have owned. Back seat folds up or down. Also, being diesel, it fulfils the towing needs of any unit we may own in the future. Our cat and dog own the back seat. The bed can be used for extra spare tire, generator, jack, water cans, etc. Things you wouldn't put inside an SUV.
Go Big! You won't regret it down the road.

[HONDAMAN174]

The link just for fun-

http://www.forestriverforums.com/for...ad.php?t=78717




2014 Stealth Evo 2850 "Woodstock"
2011 Toyota Tundra Rock Crawler TRD 5.7 "Clifford"

[wuffwuff]

We travel with two dogs, a Cocker and 80# Airedale. I removed the back seat from my Ram 1500 Quad Cab, and even though it has a cargo floor, I cut a half inch sheet of plywood to place over it filling in the gaps (of the Cargo floor), then carpeting it. They've traveled over 10,000 miles with us.

[wuffwuff]

[cmcolla77]

Well, we did it! We bit the bullet and got ourselves into a 2014 Dodge Ram 2500 4WD Diesel something or other with the 8' bed. We've got the towing vehicle, now it's time to go get the trailer! Thank you all for all of your help. I didn't realize how much room was in the back seat of this tank! We could live in the cab of this truck! (Okay, maybe not, but there just seems to be so much room. Although no doubt that it'll fill up quick once we start packing.) Need a little time (couple weeks) to recover from the sticker shock and we'll be headed up to get the TT. LOL

[kcjoe1]

You'll love your new truck. I have an 08 Ram 4 WD, 6.7. There is no problem pulling my 5er down the road at 70mph. You might think about a 5th wheel. They pull really easy. Their easy to hook up to. And they might give you more room for your pets to be more comfortable in. Were down to 5 furry kids and they have a Great time in our 8289WS. The opposed slides give them a lot of room to play in.
Just my .02.

[CTGREG]

Congrats on your new truck! You will love it! The only reason why we went with the MegaCab, is that it gives even more room for the furry kids. Now can you imagine the sales that Ram would have if they put the MegaCab with the long bed? All of the others would go out of business! (my opinion) This is the third Ram Truck we have had and no regrets.