My tow vehicle is a F350 DRW 4x4 Crewcab Lariat w/ 6.2 gasoline engine with a payload rating of 5000+ lbs. With the exception of upper (a7200) Torklift Stabeloads, my suspension is stock.
I previously had a Host Tahoe 1050 DS on there which clocked in at approximately 4000 lbs. and it handled great so I was comfortable with moving up to a larger camper. One thing I am grateful for is that the two primary campgrounds I use throughout the year offer fresh water fill up as you pull into the campground loops so I can make the drive down with the tanks empty which saves a ton of weight.
I was actually going to order a new Host Mammoth or a Chalet TS116 but I had some gentlemen locally back out on buying my camper at the last second and he royally screwed up the deal I had set in place to purchase a new one. So after a delay in selling my Host Tahoe, there was a pre-owned Everest for sale here in Alaska that I jumped on. I had to drive from Anchorage to Fairbanks (400 miles) to pick it up but it is *EXTREMELY* difficult to find a quality pre-owned truck camper here in Alaska so I bit the bullet and committed to drive down and purchase.
The exterior looks very similar to my Tahoe (which was an 07, this Everest is an 08). When I stepped inside I was blown away by how absolutely massive it is. It is more like a class C RV than a truck camper. Love the side entry door. My first TC was a Lance 1161 with the side door and then I went to the Tahoe which had the traditional rear door which I did not like.
I was very impressed by the basement storage. With my Tahoe when I went camping the back seat of my truck was full with extra gas cans, my Yamaha generator and miscellaneous fishing supplies. Now, I can put it all inside the sliding basement storage compartment and keep my leather interior clean. The one thing I did not like was discovering the black locking latches on the basement storage compartments use the evil CH751 lock (whoever invented the CH751 needs to die a slow and painful death). Any Host owners out there replaced these locks? I am going to try and swing by a locksmith and see if I can get these re-keyed just to have a bit more security.
I drove 400 miles back home with the camper and it handled fine. Was able to put the cruise control at 65 mph, lock out 6th gear and drive home comfortably. Left to right it is level, but front to back it does have some squat. Local shop quoted me 810 bucks for a complete air bag system inclusive of parts and labor. I am thinking of doing the Timbren SES and Torklift lower stableloads first before bagging the suspension. Like I say, it handles fine, all I'm looking for is maybe a reduction of 2-3 inches in the rear sag and I'd be happy. From what I've read the Timbren SES will do this. Will probably order this week.
One more thing, the guy I bought it from was carrying the camper on.......... a SRW........ F250!!!!!!! He had about every suspension mod imaginable but I still found the fact that he had it on a 3/4 ton amazing (he told me he didn't feel comfortable going more than 35 mph down the road though....) I guess he bought the camper intending to upgrade to a one-ton DRW down the road, but circumstances forced the sale of the camper. He sold it to me below low-book value so I was appreciative of the deal he gave me since it was barely used and is as-new on the inside and out. Still need to dewinterize it (you can see a bit of anti-freeze in the shower there) I can't wait to Memorial Day to go out King Salmon fishing and break her in. Hopefully I'll have the suspension dialed in by then.
Here is a picture on the road home from Fairbanks to Anchorage
Here she is at home parked in the driveway.
I previously had a Host Tahoe 1050 DS on there which clocked in at approximately 4000 lbs. and it handled great so I was comfortable with moving up to a larger camper. One thing I am grateful for is that the two primary campgrounds I use throughout the year offer fresh water fill up as you pull into the campground loops so I can make the drive down with the tanks empty which saves a ton of weight.
I was actually going to order a new Host Mammoth or a Chalet TS116 but I had some gentlemen locally back out on buying my camper at the last second and he royally screwed up the deal I had set in place to purchase a new one. So after a delay in selling my Host Tahoe, there was a pre-owned Everest for sale here in Alaska that I jumped on. I had to drive from Anchorage to Fairbanks (400 miles) to pick it up but it is *EXTREMELY* difficult to find a quality pre-owned truck camper here in Alaska so I bit the bullet and committed to drive down and purchase.
The exterior looks very similar to my Tahoe (which was an 07, this Everest is an 08). When I stepped inside I was blown away by how absolutely massive it is. It is more like a class C RV than a truck camper. Love the side entry door. My first TC was a Lance 1161 with the side door and then I went to the Tahoe which had the traditional rear door which I did not like.
I was very impressed by the basement storage. With my Tahoe when I went camping the back seat of my truck was full with extra gas cans, my Yamaha generator and miscellaneous fishing supplies. Now, I can put it all inside the sliding basement storage compartment and keep my leather interior clean. The one thing I did not like was discovering the black locking latches on the basement storage compartments use the evil CH751 lock (whoever invented the CH751 needs to die a slow and painful death). Any Host owners out there replaced these locks? I am going to try and swing by a locksmith and see if I can get these re-keyed just to have a bit more security.
I drove 400 miles back home with the camper and it handled fine. Was able to put the cruise control at 65 mph, lock out 6th gear and drive home comfortably. Left to right it is level, but front to back it does have some squat. Local shop quoted me 810 bucks for a complete air bag system inclusive of parts and labor. I am thinking of doing the Timbren SES and Torklift lower stableloads first before bagging the suspension. Like I say, it handles fine, all I'm looking for is maybe a reduction of 2-3 inches in the rear sag and I'd be happy. From what I've read the Timbren SES will do this. Will probably order this week.
One more thing, the guy I bought it from was carrying the camper on.......... a SRW........ F250!!!!!!! He had about every suspension mod imaginable but I still found the fact that he had it on a 3/4 ton amazing (he told me he didn't feel comfortable going more than 35 mph down the road though....) I guess he bought the camper intending to upgrade to a one-ton DRW down the road, but circumstances forced the sale of the camper. He sold it to me below low-book value so I was appreciative of the deal he gave me since it was barely used and is as-new on the inside and out. Still need to dewinterize it (you can see a bit of anti-freeze in the shower there) I can't wait to Memorial Day to go out King Salmon fishing and break her in. Hopefully I'll have the suspension dialed in by then.
Here is a picture on the road home from Fairbanks to Anchorage
Here she is at home parked in the driveway.
tad94564 wrote:thejustin wrote:tad94564 wrote:
Replacement CH571 locks
I just ordered a bunch of these for my Host Mammoth - they fit perfectly EXCEPT for the water door.
Now, I have one key for all the doors, and they also have in stock keys with LEDS!
Does your Mammoth have the black latch type locking mechanism? I'm going to go out later and see if I can somehow just get the ch751 lock out and replace with a different tubular cam lock.
Alas, no. The doors are insulated on the Mammoth, and therefor different. It came with the el-cheapo ch571's, and I really justed wanted one key for all of it (and yes, I know about the fact that a master key - a screwdriver - can open anything.)
True, if somebody wants in bad enough they will get in. It's just about deterring them enough so maybe they'll move on to the next camper. We had some problem with a young punk kid down at the Kenai River ferry campground going around to everyones RV's while they were across fishing and stealing stuff from their storage compartments by using his own CH751 key (we caught him and put the fear of god in him though ๐ ). Replacing those locks is generally the first thing I've done on all of my RV purchases.
