Air Force has seen fit to move me to Alaska in November. I'm planning on towing my Cherokee on my 16' dual axle trailer with my 04 2500 Dodge Cummings quad cab short bed from North Texas to Anchorage. Almost 4k miles. We are planning on hitting Farmington, Moab, Grand Tetons and Yellowstone on the way up. I'd like to get ahold of a slide in so that as I'm on the ALCAN highway I won't get too desperate for a hotel. It would be nice to have a "hard" tent for camping in November. I don't have alot of money to throw at a slide in so I'll be looking for an older one that is probably 70's or 80's Decor..... Can't find too many slide in's that'll fit a 6.5 foot bed. Will running one for a 8' bed be asking for trouble? Any other options y'all can think of or advice on my plan? Thanks. Tyson
long camper short bed I have had a slide in and a pull behind. I used my slide in when I was towing a tool trailer cross country. An 8 foot slide in on a 6 foot bed is fine, but you will have to be very careful when turning, so you dont put the corner of the trailer into the corner of the camper. I would stay away from hitch extensions for a trip that long, and I would want trailer brakes too. Remember that a slide in is extra weight without extra brakes, You will figure that out very fast when you go up into B.C. Also remember that slide ins are very top heavy, and they are not fun in a crosswind. I would highly recommend a set of airbag helpers on the back of your truck, and put them on seperate lines. This will reduce some of the listing as well as helping with the added weight. I would stay away from any slide in that is more than 8.5 or 9 ft long.
Wow, you replied to my thread almost two years after I posted it. Thanks for the answer though. Lessons learned. Bought a slide in pop up camper... It lasted till Wyoming till a 100mph side wind ripped the roof off of the camper. It's now dead and burried. Bought another slide in and turned to sharp and put the corner of the trailer into the camper. Fixed the hole and still use the camper. Sold the '04 Dodge 5.9 short bed... Bought a '96 Chev 6.5 and cried about the loss in power.... sold the Chevy about a month ago and got an '05 Long bed Dodge 5.9 srw 3500... Installed 5" exhaust, AEM intake, and Diablo sport programmer.... Now I Haul my 9.5' slide in camper, pull my built XJ on a trailer, cruising all over Alaska with a huge freakin' smile on my face. Man I love this truck.
timing is everything! Sorry, I dont pay attention to when things are posted. Is two years considered fashionably late? Sorry to hear about the mis-haps, I dont care how tough someone thinks they are, dragging a slide in through Wyo. in the winter is sure to make you cry for your mama. The first time I went up, I almost left my slide in at the truckstop in Cheyenne with a 'free to good home' note stuck to it. Hope you enjoy every minute of AK. Are you anywhere near Eagle River?
10 min from eagle river. I'm on the AFB. The trip was a learning experience and proof that no matter how heavy something is, you better make sure it's tied down well. The wind could have blown the entire camper out of my truck... I had my tie downs in good so it ripped it in half instead. Also learned that next time... I'll take 70 through the Rocky Mountains.
