Steve_in_29 wrote: Other then limited use in some custom campers (which are only loosely based on a TC and in truth have more in common with a cargo box) where has steel framing been "common" in the TC world? Aluminum frames "are not common" in TCs?? Have you somehow missed most of the last decade in the TC industry? Almost every manufacturer is using aluminum framing now.
Most work-type campers and frame-mounted as well as in-bed truck bodies are steel framed.
None of those are TCs so where does your assertion that steel construction is common in TCs come from?
Quote: You got me on new camper construction in aluminium framing. Most I see are wood framed or composite fiberglass/other resin-type construction. Which brands are now using welded aluminum tube frames?
Possibly I should have used many instead of "most" but with at least 10 companies currently building aluminum framed campers, I believe that constitutes more then half the active manufacturers of TCs and probably close to three quarters of all TCs produced (if not more) are now aluminum framed.
Lance
Outfitter
4Wheelcamper
All Terrain Camper
Arctic Fox
Host
Citation
Phoenix
Adventurer
Oregon Camper
Eagle Cap
Alpenlite (recently deceased)
Fleetwood (recently deceased)
2007 F350,SC,LB,4x4,6.0/Auto,35" tires,16.5 Warn,Buckstop bumpers
2007 Outfitter Apex9.5,270W solar,SolarBoost2000e,2 H2K's,2KW inverter,2 20lb LP on slide out tray,4 Lifeline AGM bats,Tundra fridge
95 Bounder 28' ClassA sold
91 Jamboree 21' ClassC sold
Steve_in_29 wrote: Other then limited use in some custom campers (which are only loosely based on a TC and in truth have more in common with a cargo box) where has steel framing been "common" in the TC world? Aluminum frames "are not common" in TCs?? Have you somehow missed most of the last decade in the TC industry? Almost every manufacturer is using aluminum framing now.
Most work-type campers and frame-mounted as well as in-bed truck bodies are steel framed.
None of those are TCs so where does your assertion that steel construction is common in TCs come from?
My bad. Since we are discussing the outside box and frame structure of truck campers, with not alot of concern for what's inside them, be that RV appliances and beds, or work-related tools, parts or equipment, I defined 'TC' rather loosely, as applying to any camping- or utility-purpose box structure being carried on the back of a pickup or chassis-cab. My appologies, I should have clarified what I was referring to.
Stevein29 wrote:
socaldesertrider wrote: You got me on new camper construction in aluminium framing. Most I see are wood framed or composite fiberglass/other resin-type construction. Which brands are now using welded aluminum tube frames?
Possibly I should have used many instead of "most" but with at least 10 companies currently building aluminum framed campers, I believe that constitutes more then half the active manufacturers of TCs and probably close to three quarters of all TCs produced (if not more) are now aluminum framed.
Lance
Outfitter
4Wheelcamper
All Terrain Camper
Arctic Fox
Host
Citation
Phoenix
Adventurer
Oregon Camper
Eagle Cap
Alpenlite (recently deceased)
Fleetwood (recently deceased)
All these companies are using welded tubular aluminum frames??
If so, that is good news for them, they've come a long ways from the wood sticks and plywood construction they have been using for many years.
kcabpilot wrote: An interesting subject but really, the original concept of a modular slide in camper is not generally compatable with off road use. For use on really rugged terrain you need something that is integral to the vehicle or completely seperate.
JeffPritchard wrote: - impervious to rodents when parked
I think we ALL want that! Good luck though, unless its ALL metal, rats will still enjoy partying in it.
They basically ruined my 2003 small Class A. Next weekend I'm going to tear apart the whole dash area to see if I can find where they are getting in. I've taken to calling it the "rat mobile". Just basically hoping I can bring it back to life and replace enough stuff and eventually pay it down to a point where I can sell it for what I still owe. Pretty much the worst purchase I've ever made in my life.
So far, knock on wood, the new Lance seems to be rat proof. At least if they do find a way in to that, I can actually get to all parts of the outside, and fix/strengthen it; so at least I have a fighting chance. With a class A, there are too many places you just can't get to.
jp
The rats got into my friends Class C motorhome from under the dash, either through the firewall where the wiring comes in, or through the hvac ducting. They had quite a fiesta in there and made a mess of the whole places.
The rats got into my old truck camper from the bottom around the tanks and up through the floor via the spaces where the plumbing passes through, I assume, as their earliest nests were around that area. I fought with them for a long time but eventually they won and made a hotel out of it over the off-season. Between them and the leaking and not being able to afford to take camping trips very often anymore, I ended up selling it.
The rats also got into the fuse box of my pickup. Fortunately they didn't do much damage there, just ate the insulation off a few wires and probly left when they got shocked.
kcabpilot wrote: An interesting subject but really, the original concept of a modular slide in camper is not generally compatable with off road use. For use on really rugged terrain you need something that is integral to the vehicle or completely seperate.
That Tiger is neat. Probly more livable than a truck camper, yet more versatile than a van-based class C, though it is basicaly a class C.
As far as the mounting goes, bolting a truck camper to the bed floor of a pickup would accomplish the same mounting characteristics as bolting a motorhome body to the frame on a chassis-cab.
Steve_in_29 wrote: Other then limited use in some custom campers (which are only loosely based on a TC and in truth have more in common with a cargo box) where has steel framing been "common" in the TC world? Aluminum frames "are not common" in TCs?? Have you somehow missed most of the last decade in the TC industry? Almost every manufacturer is using aluminum framing now.
Most work-type campers and frame-mounted as well as in-bed truck bodies are steel framed.
None of those are TCs so where does your assertion that steel construction is common in TCs come from?
My bad. Since we are discussing the outside box and frame structure of truck campers, with not alot of concern for what's inside them, be that RV appliances and beds, or work-related tools, parts or equipment, I defined 'TC' rather loosely, as applying to any camping- or utility-purpose box structure being carried on the back of a pickup or chassis-cab. My appologies, I should have clarified what I was referring to.
I am aware that many upfitters use steel construction however I am unaware of any TC makers that did so and that was the only part I took issue with.
Stevein29 wrote:
socaldesertrider wrote: You got me on new camper construction in aluminium framing. Most I see are wood framed or composite fiberglass/other resin-type construction. Which brands are now using welded aluminum tube frames?
Possibly I should have used many instead of "most" but with at least 10 companies currently building aluminum framed campers, I believe that constitutes more then half the active manufacturers of TCs and probably close to three quarters of all TCs produced (if not more) are now aluminum framed.
Lance
Outfitter
4Wheelcamper
All Terrain Camper
Arctic Fox
Host
Citation
Phoenix
Adventurer
Oregon Camper
Eagle Cap
Alpenlite (recently deceased)
Fleetwood (recently deceased)
Quote: All these companies are using welded tubular aluminum frames??
If so, that is good news for them, they've come a long ways from the wood sticks and plywood construction they have been using for many years.
Yes they all use welded aluminum construction. Lance, while welding the framework within the various walls, uses an appropriately shaped aluminum extrusion and adhesive to assemble the camper itself.
Thanks for the comments about the Tiger. It's a C that tries to act like a TC. I don't need a truck, just an RV. I've been driving small 4x4 C's since 1991. The Tiger is my second one. From my many miles of off pavement experience, I have to tell you all that probably no liveable and affordable RV is a true rock-crawling off-road machine unless maybe you consider a Unicat affordable.
Things in a C flex differently than in a TC. In my old rig, rough conditions caused a couple of cracks in the drain/gray tank system. Also, once a cupboard in the old rig fell off the wall, possibly my bad for not regularly checking screws. I've put double latches on all of the Tiger cabinets. That and better packing techniques have stopped the problem of everything ending up on the floor on rough roads, a problem that my old rig never had due to different latches in the first place.
I have not yet found the perfect off-pavement RV, but I am sure enjoying my Tiger and hoping to happily wear it out many years from now. There is something to be said for having a fairly satisfied mind instead of always modifying or replacing your RV. That doesn't mean I don't keep looking around at what's out there, just that I am no longer seriously shopping (thank goodness).
* This post was
edited 05/18/08 02:24pm by Tiger4x4RV *
Steve_in_29 wrote: Yes they all use welded aluminum construction. Lance, while welding the framework within the various walls, uses an appropriately shaped aluminum extrusion and adhesive to assemble the camper itself.
Well that is great! I went to the Lance website after you listed them and saw the picture of the frames being welded. Appeared to be using the MIG process with same type of push-pull torch I used to use in my manufacturing job welding aluminum extrusion of similar thickness and alloy as what Lance described on their website. Couldn't really find much detail on any of the other websites I tried to find, though I didnt check them all. Lance had the most info about it of any I saw.
Offline
