A Better Camping Experience with a Second Vehicle

It doesn’t matter if you’re hunting, fishing or just want to get out and explore more. Your RV, cabover or trailer makes the perfect basecamp but most are not designed to handle narrow dirt tracks and roads that ultimately lead to some incredible places. That doesn’t mean your camper is a limiting factor however. Numerous setups create the ability to bring along a second rig for a better camping experience, specifically for exploring. The ability to take off down a two track dirt road opens up millions of acres of public lands for hunting, hiking, fishing and adventure.

The non Motorized Experience

Before you jump into an expensive vehicle, trailers and complicated towing options, take a look at non-motorized options. They are not right for everyone but a dedicated mountain bike and a pair of hiking shoes can take you to some amazing places. The only downside here is the inability to cut the distance between your campsite and the trailhead. I keep a folding bicycle in my camper and use it frequently. The bike in conjunction with an ATV would be a perfect setup and the bike alone is great for cruising around new towns and riding gravel roads. It’s not a fully capable mountain bike by any means but it has served me well when the awning is out on my campervan and I want to cover a few miles of ground rather quickly.

Related Read: Mountain Bikes and Great Views

Go Light with a Motorcycle

The next step in simplicity and weight savings is a dirt bike. You can ride anywhere where it’s legal and it stores easily in a pickup bed. Carrying the motorcycle on a hitch mount carrier is also an excellent option that works on pull behind campers, RV’s and pickup trucks. I’ve only been on a few bikes but that is enough to know this is a skilled craft. The dirt bike might be the ultimate vessel for serious backcountry roads but it requires the appropriate safety gear and a qualified rider. Take a course, practice on easy terrain and gradually expand your skill set to safely utilize the motorcycle.

After I complete my campervan route down the Pan American highway, I am planning a pickup truck with a pull behind camper. I’ll build a rack on the bed rails to carry my raft and use a hitch mounted motorcycle to run shuttles and access backcountry roads. The motorcycle really is the best option around for portability and functionality. It just lacks the comfort, hauling abilities and ease of use that comes with an ATV/UTV.

ATV/UTV Configurations

The absolute best option for hunting and fishing from a dedicated basecamp with access to National Forest and public land roads is a ATV/UTV. They are not great for riding into towns in most cases and but they navigate difficult terrain with the assurance of having 4-wheels on the ground. Stashing one in the bed of your pickup truck while towing a pull behind camper creates the ultimate hunting camp as you have the truck for surface roads and the ATV for backroads. It’s hard to beat the utility with this setup as the truck bed will still have space for gear and even a big game animal, post-harvest. Flat towing is not an option here which means you will need a trailer or a two hauler style camper when the pickup bed is not an option. Luckily, the ATV is lightweight and easy to load on a flatbed trailer. You can easily pull a pair of them on a trailer with most RV models.

Tow Behind Vehicles

Pulling a vehicle behind your RV or camper is a great option. You can opt for a 4wd that can handle trails and make runs into town for groceries as well. A street legal car can easily town behind your camper. A few different variables do factor into the equation however, especially in the 4wd market. Numerous 2wd rigs will flat tow without issue but many 4wd vehicles require a trailer to avoid transmission and transfer case damage.

Flat Towing - This style of towing is the most cost effective and popular. A basic tow bar connects the camper to the vehicle and pulls it along. No big deal, right? The issue with flat towing is the limited number of 4wd vehicles that will pull along without damaging the transmission. You can immediately rule out a majority of the new vehicle market. To tow, you will need a manual transmission and a transfer case that with a neutral option. This allows the vehicle to roll freely without engaging the transmission and transfer case. Manual Jeeps, Suzuki Samurai models and a few other great 4wd brands will tow along without any problems. Always double check for compatibility before buying your trail vehicle. The manual will show the towing options for the vehicle.

If you are dead-set on flat towing a vehicle that is not compatible, installing an aftermarket lubrication pump for the transmission or a decoupler can solve the problem. Towing on a dolly or trailer is the other alternative.

Related Read: 7 Ways to Make Towing in the Rain Safer

Car Dolly - A dolly is useful for towing numerous vehicles by lifting two wheels off the ground. If you have a front wheel drive vehicle that is 4wd, you can make sure the 4wd is not engaged and place the front wheels on your dolly. Now only the two free spinning wheels are towing on the ground. The downside to a car dolly is the initial investment price but the dolly is far cheaper than most full size trailers. The option is also lightweight and easy to tow behind most RV’s and campers. The dolly opens more vehicle models to towing behind your camper. Many modern full-time AWD models however will not tow with any wheels on the ground.

Full Trailer

The last resort is a full car trailer. The trailer is expensive and fairly heavy-duty to handle the weight of a vehicle. Loading and unloading requires careful strapping to secure the vehicle as well. While this choice is not for everyone, it does reduce wear and tear on the towed vehicle. The tires are not wearing on the road and no parts are moving. If you have the power to tow a full trailer and are comfortable driving with a trailer towed behind an RV or in tandem behind a trailer, it’s a good option. Towing behind a pickup truck with a cabover camper is the easiest option as it limits your overall length and allows for a better field of vision on the road.