Picking Up Our Runaway RangeRunner 6x8 Micro Camper and Getting It Ready for Our First Trip

A 20 week lead time was pushed back to 26 weeks on the Runaway RangeRunner 6x8 micro camper we ordered back in December. We booked a vacation thinking 20 weeks would be plenty of time, but the delay put us in a serious time crunch. We were able to build a bed platform, cut down a queen size memory foam mattress, install a Maxi Trac 8x8 awning, Maxx Haul hitch rack, and we even did a bit of decorating.
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[@chrismorrison728]

Runaway makes a great little unit. I live near Clarksville, TN and I've rented them from How We Roll there in Cleveland on several occasions. I decided I wanted one but didn't want to wait for the long lead time, so I built my own from the trailer up. It was a learning experience but it allowed me to make some design changes not offered by the manufacturer. If I may make a suggestion, you should consider ditching the plastic license plate attachment point, they get brittle over time and break off. You'll make a stop and notice your plate has been lost out on the highway. Enjoyed your video and safe travels.

[@iamcraiggentry]

Already replaced it with a diamond plate one. Thanks for the tip though, and thanks for watching.

[@travelinman482]

​Craig Gentry Where's your safety glasses, gloves, and mask? You need these things when sanding processed wood.

[@rodneyjordan6745]

​@@travelinman482Out of doors, not so much.

[@Jay-hr3rh]

We found having the bed lengthwise offers more convenience. You don't have to crawl over the person next to you to go to the bathroom/woods.

[@iamcraiggentry]

We preferred the extra room at the front and I don't get up at night.

[@Jay-hr3rh]

@@iamcraiggentryWhen you turn 50 years old, that would change. 🤣😂🤣

[@iamcraiggentry]

@@Jay-hr3rh I'm almost 43 so I'm trying to get it together.

[@gotlostacres]

We did a similar roadtrip from MS over to CA then up across to CO and back down over 30 days. We took the rear seats out of our SUV, built a bed frame and did the same thing for our bed but had storage underneath. BEST trip we’ve ever taken.

[@iamcraiggentry]

Sounds fun!

[@charlesmoman]

We really enjoyed our Runaways. Our favorite mod was adding LED lights on the rear of the camper. It makes you SO much safer on the road - especially in heavy rain and at night, Check out this video to see how I did ours. Be safe out there! kzbin.info/www/bejne/qn2reaZ9m7Gef6s

[@iamcraiggentry]

Awesome, thanks for sharing. We'll check that out.

[@diegovamanos6770]

@@iamcraiggentry Hi Charles Moman, your adventures and educational videos of your Range Runner, along with some other owners, inspired me to get my Range Runner. I am going to install the extra brake/turn signal lights as shown on your video. I'll let y'all know how it goes.

[@Glasscity84]

Nice job. Happy camping!!

[@iamcraiggentry]

Thank you!

[@rhondalyn100]

Great vid! Warmed my heart as we picked up our brand new 2018 RangeRunner from How We Roll four years ago and had so much fun building it out. We've been all over the southeast in it; some of the best times of our lives. Great job on your bed platform and, Aspen, you did a sweet job of decorating. Welcome to the Runaway family...We love our Runaway! 🙂

[@iamcraiggentry]

Thanks for the warm welcome!

[@justinshoulta5649]

That’s awesome Craig. Nice!!

[@iamcraiggentry]

Thanks buddy!

[@alinatamashevich3354]

You forgot the washers on the U-brackets, also paint the zinc hardware or switch to stainless hardware. And, cut the excess threads off and file the roughness down.

[@kenbradley4645]

Fantastic job. I got mine the same way you did. Someone cancelled they order and I bought it. I placed additional LED stop lights on the back, added a tool box and spare tire. Good luck on your trip.

[@iamcraiggentry]

Thank you! We're home now, I'm editing our trip video. I hope to post it in the next couple of days.

[@DirtyJakTheDustyBean]

Great video! We have been starting to talk about doing this as well, love it.

[@iamcraiggentry]

Thanks for watching!

[@wil7228]

Nice rig . Enjoy

[@iamcraiggentry]

Thank you, we've been loving it.

[@diegovamanos6770]

Way to go! I am setting my Range Runner now and waiting for the Texas heat to break before I go camping. I did change the license plate holder, swapping out the plastic one for a metal holder, don't want to lose my plate to the highway gods. Have a great time, keep the videos coming.

[@iamcraiggentry]

Awesome to hear about your camper. Are you going to make some videos for us to watch? We need more Runaway content!

[@diegovamanos6770]

Yes, I will be making videos. I have a few already in mind: the flooring I installed; the license plate holder; how I will secure the trailer from theft; a tarp I bought, and campfire cooking, plus whatever else pops up.

[@iamcraiggentry]

@@diegovamanos6770 awesome, I'll subscribe!

[@JavierBlanchardBJJ]

Congratulations, awesome video

[@iamcraiggentry]

Thank you!

[@markjoost2652]

Congratulations, Craig! Nice work. I'm in the beginning stages of building out my "new to me" 2022 RangeRunner. I ordered a queen size trifold mattress, so I believe I will build a pull out slat bed that will function as a couch against the west wall when not in use. It will provide storage underneath and the mattress will turned south to north to unfold into the bed. I have the usual black interlocking 3/4" foam gym pads on the floor. I probably won't have time to make the bed frame before my girlfriend, Renee, and I head out on our first trip in two weeks... North Florida to North Georgia, East Tennessee, and the southern Appalachian mountains, but it will be a blessing nonetheless! Great job on documenting your KZbin channel, Craig! May all of your adventures be fun and abundantly blessed!

[@iamcraiggentry]

Thanks Mark!

[@travelinman482]

@Craig Gentry Why did you use 2x6s and not 2x4s? And why not drill some "weight relief holes" into the 2x6s? Wood is a lot heavier than aluminum framing (Extruded 8020).

[@rwfrogismyname]

Awesome man, out here living the life

[@iamcraiggentry]

Well, on the two weeks of vacation I get each year.

[@Cutman318]

Cool

[@iamcraiggentry]

Thanks for watching!

[@larryparson9609]

Congrats Happy Trails

[@iamcraiggentry]

Thanks for watching!

[@dylanstreet8566]

I like the Vibes bro! Definitely pleasant to watch!

[@iamcraiggentry]

Thanks homie, I appreciate that!

[@Jay-hr3rh]

Your video helped us on the bedding design. We bought a camper yesterday from XYZ Camping in Pa. We will be driving down from Massachusetts to pick it up in one long ass week from today.

[@iamcraiggentry]

That's awesome, congrats! I think I'm going to make a bed specific video and share a little more info on what I did and why I did it that way.

[@Jay-hr3rh]

@@iamcraiggentry Good stuff 👌

[@aycarambas]

Woah muchoww buenow!!!

[@iamcraiggentry]

Thanks!

[@crxseth]

Nice work! Can't wait to see more of the trip! Almost to 1000 subscribers!

[@iamcraiggentry]

Thanks! Slowly getting there!

[@crxseth]

@@iamcraiggentry Money coming soon.

[@iamcraiggentry]

@@crxseth wrong. I'm WAY behind on watch time.

[@crxseth]

@@iamcraiggentry Keep pumping out videos to get your watch time up. One a week.

[@iamcraiggentry]

@@crxseth I wish I had that much extra time.

[@snotbubbles3276]

How sweet, unfortunately I think the Runaway has gotten a little pricey for what you get at $7500 base price. You can easily get a cargo trailer that will allow you to stand up in for the same amount of money these days. You seem to definitely have the skill set to do that type of conversion. Safe travels.

[@iamcraiggentry]

We ordered ours before the prices went up so we paid right around $7500 with a few options. A cargo trailer will be a lot heavier and Runaway is no longer using any wood in the construction. I compared campers for years and the Runaway just made more sense for us. Rustic Trails might be next, I love those and I've always wanted a teardrop.

[@rodneyjordan6745]

​@@iamcraiggentryNot using wood makes no sense.

[@iamcraiggentry]

@@rodneyjordan6745 all the people with tiny campers that have rotted would disagree with you.

[@rodneyjordan6745]

@iamcraiggentry There are boats that live in the water 8 months out of the year that are 40 years old that have very little rot. The seams must not be very tight and/or the owners are not taking care of the unit.

[@iamcraiggentry]

@@rodneyjordan6745 which is why a composite material is a better option.

[@snowcrash395]

Seems like a perfect plan to set up a 60"X70" shortened queen size bed along an east/west orientation, but I'm concerned the 70.5" isn't long enough. Is it cramped for someone who is over 6' tall?

[@iamcraiggentry]

I'm just under 6' tall, I do wish I could stretch out a bit more when relaxing but I curl up a bit when I sleep so it doesn't disturb my sleep at all.

[@snowcrash395]

Luckily for us we're just planning to use Thermarests, east/west first. If that doesn't work, we'll go north/south. Anyway, I'm getting a lot out of your Runaway videos. Thank you.

[@iamcraiggentry]

@@snowcrash395 thanks for watching!

[@supernemo7057]

Thanks for the nice video! I have a question . dose it has any insulation?

[@iamcraiggentry]

Thanks! The material they use is a 3/4 inch corrugated poly board so it has a little air gap. Condensation is common on the inside if the indoor outdoor temps are a lot different.

[@rustyharvey3481]

Wow you did a great job I’m starting to like these runaways very much ? You look tall like me I’m 6.2 Is the trler 8 feet wide 6 long Or 6 wide 8 Long

[@iamcraiggentry]

It's 6 wide 8 long. You'd probably have to have spotters and oversize load signs if it was 8 wide. I'm just under 6 feet tall. I wish I could sprawl out a little more but I still prefer the bed East West. If I was your height, I'd probably go North South. I love having this extra space to enter though, and having a seat on the edge of the bed. Thanks for watching!

[@rustyharvey3481]

@@iamcraiggentry appreciate the info Great watch look forward to more vids

[@EZPB]

🥰

[@iamcraiggentry]

Thank you!

[@poolman3939]

How come your selling your runaway Thinking of getting a rouser. Should I rethink that.

[@iamcraiggentry]

Not at all! These campers are great! We have some expensive mountain bikes that we're not comfortable with leaving out back on a bike rack so we're going to get a van and lock them up inside. We wanted a van from the start but we're now seeing it as the best option for us.

[@drhobbs1669]

You said you waited to you got home to get tags. Did Runaway give you something to make it street legal for your trip home?

[@iamcraiggentry]

It probably varies from state to state but I don't think it's 100% necessary here. I bought mine from a dealer, they were out of temporary plates. We didn't have any issues getting it home.

[@sulenedossantoslimaneves9208]

Faltou o banheiro

[@iamcraiggentry]

Thanks for watching!

[@rudnndndsrf]

More less a bed on wheels….bout it.

[@iamcraiggentry]

Exactly