Alaskan converted into a travel trailer!

[DavidGraves]

Howdy

I would like to add that it also depends on ones' use of a trailer.....local drive to the park/ campground ? or Interstate mega miles to some other location ?

It sounds like the initial poster is okay with his current set up depending on his use.

The notion of a larger tandem trailer enters the realm of the old tandem VS single axle holy war.

More likely with a larger tandem trailer, one is tempted to carry more stuff, and max out the load anyway.

In my meagre opinion, a lightly loaded trailer is generally a PITA.

Thanks for the rant...feel better already.

David Graves

PS And he is not using a Harbor Freight Special

 

[myfootstepsfirm]

Thanks for the healthy discussion gentlemen.

For what it is worth, I've had the trailer out 2 dozen times all over the state of AZ. It pulls like an absolute dream. It's very smooth and completely stable. I've put thousands of miles on it with no issues.

My truck is a 2003 Tundra with a 7,000 lb tow rating so at 2,100 lb trailer weight you can't even tell it's back there.

Another thing to keep in mind is that I am close to a few of the limits...not "at" the limit or "over" the limit so I don't feel that what I am doing is unsafe in any way. The combined tire weight limit is 2,960 lbs. I am at 2,100 lbs fully loaded.

The trailer does not have it's own brakes and I've never felt that I needed them. I've had it up to Prescott and Payson which is extremely hilly and the Tundra brakes have worked flawlessly even on extended hilly decents. No problems whatsoever.

As David points out, I am using a decent quality trailer and I believe that helps as well. Overall I am super happy with the project and would definitely do it all over again.

 

[tcorfey]

Great job! It looks really nice.

That is one area I struggle with or think about alot because I have a dually it is hard to take the camper on and off even with the heavy duty Rieco Titan jacks it is a slow and time consuming process. Having the option to either put my 8' NCO on a trailer or put it on the truck is something I have considered. There are times when I use my truck for chores/as a truck and so that plays in to my rather frequent add/removal process. For quick overnights or short trips it would be cool just to hook up the trailer and not have to load the camper and then unload it. Currently, I only load the camper if I am staying more than one or two nights.

Regards,

Tm C.

 

[Nailhead]

Nice build!

The PO of my Alaskan had the same idea in mind, but he didn’t pull it off quite so nicely, in function or form:

(At this point, a photo was to be inserted, but Tapatalk doesn’t do that with this forum apparently, and I don’t do photo hosting. Imagine an 8’ NCO perched on a blue mid-sixties Chevy pickup bed with a spare strapped to the tongue. Fun with computers...)

Oh well.

 

[myfootstepsfirm]

I had it in the bed of my Tundra at first but the frequent on / off was a pain. Now, it’s nice to go to a campground unhitch the Alaskan and use the truck normally.

BTW - not knocking on the traditional Alaskan guys...after all they were built to be truck campers lol. I know I’m the odd man out

I also thought about buying a ‘60’s truck bed w axle and turning that into a trailer then mounting the Alaskan in it...but the way I fabbed it looks more polished. I had a coworker with an untrained eye that thought my Alaskan travel trailer came like that “from the factory”. Which tells me I did my job correctly.

The whole project was pretty easy...I’d definitely encourage others to give it a go. Happy to answer any questions!

 

[Desert Okie]

I have a 1958 8 NOC that I put on a 3/4 ton pickup bed trailer. I replaced the axle and tires and shocks. The tires are LT215/8516. I do not worry about the trailer being overloaded and being tough enough as the trailer came from a 1965 GMC. I have been very happy with the trailer setup. I used it for years loaded on the pickup, but with newer pickup the bed heights changed so I just put it permanently on the trailer. I carry an ATV in the pickup and only use it for hunting and fishing in the back country.

 

[myfootstepsfirm]

Desert Okie,

Would love to see a few pics!