I can boil the whole thing down (for me at least); the camper is just life support, not the main focus in itself.
Two things sell me on a TC; 4 wheel drive and being able to tow a really heavy trailer.
I'd actually like to have a big roomy 5th wheel RV instead of a truck camper, but then I couldn't pull anything. I had a 26' Winnebago and then a 24' Pinnacle (both class A) but due to their long rear overhang and short wheelbase they did a terrible job trying to tow my 10,000 pound trailer.
A crewcab dually just plain rules as a tow rig.
Then there's the four wheel drive... no need to even start that discussion, right?
We downsized from a 4000#+ TC with slide and all the trimmings to a smaller pop-up. Our reasons were that we wanted to carry a canoe on the top and at 11', our Citation was already too high and after rockin and rollin on some rough Mexican roads, it's nicer to have a lower centre of gravity. And we are used to being in small tents for long periods of time, less space was OK for us. Citation in Mexico. Outfitter at Chilco Lake, BC
Dave
2006 F350 Diesel 4X4 CC SRW, Michelin XDS-2 19.5's, Vision Wheels
2011 Outfitter 9.5 Extended Cabover
Some Of Our Fun:http://daveincoldstream.blogspot.ca/
DianneOK wrote: We took the 40' Teton and FL60 to a truck wash. The water was too hot and out came the Ford and TC
AFTER I QUIT LAUGHING FOR TWO MINUTES, I can now TYPE on the computer's keys again...
That's the funniest thing I've read in a long time. I LOVE it. My eyes are still watering.
What an enlightening description of stepping down in size and utility without giving up the required 'parts' such as the heater, a.c., stove, bath, microwave, generator, bed, etc.
We took the 40' Teton and FL60 to a truck wash. The water was too hot and out came the Ford and TC
Seriously, after having very large 5ers for many years on the road, we now have the TC and love it. If it were only one of us, we both feel we could fulltime in it.
It fits our needs and can go where we want. We now have the option to use our truck for more than just a TV. When we had the boat and the fiver, we had to make 2 trips....triple towing was not an option. 83' on the road was frowned upon
Everyone has their own needs.
Dianne (and Terry) (Fulltimed for 9 years)
Donnelly, ID
HAM WB6N (Terry)
2012 Ford F350, diesel, 4x4 SRW, crew cab, longbed
2009 Lance 971 Truck Camper, loaded
Life Member Good Sam
Geocache..."RVcachers" RV net Blog
This summer was our transition from a 30' Wildcat 5th wheel to our truck camper. It was my wife who had her eye on them for several years and often said, once the girls were grown and not able to travel with us as often, we should concider a truck camper. We also often wished we could camp in many of the smaller state forest campgrounds in out state of Michigan and the national parks we could rarely fit into with our 5th wheel into. So for a couple of years, I hung around this forum to research what might work for us. I also requested a ton of brochures from all the major TC manufacturers so we could get an idea of what floor plans we would prefer. From what we looked at, we both agreed that even though the TC would be a major down sizing from our 5th wheel we still wanted to enjoy some of the comforts we enjoyed in the 5th wheel, primarily a slide and a dry bath. I've read many who scoff at those of us who have our size TC but it is something that suits us perfectly! After this summer of touring the Michigan UP and fitting in all those tiny camp sites, we couldn't be happier with our decision. We can dry camp in the smallist of camp sites and still be able to stretch out and have a separate bath to shower in. And most importantly, if this keeps my wife happy and wanting to keep going out camping with me, than I feel I really hit the jack pot with this camper!
Ken
"The Journey is the Destination"
2004 Chevy Silverado 3500 LT Duramax/Allison DRW 4X4
Banks Powerpack, Sprayed-In Bed Liner,
TorkLift Tiedowns, StableLoads, FastGuns with Locks and RideRite Air Bags
I have a 9' 11" Lance 981. It has 1 slideout. Its about as big and heavy as I would like to go as far as a TC is concerned. If I went bigger I would opt for a TT or a not monsterous MH. But the manuverabilty and 4x4 capability is the main attraction of a TC for me. That and I can change out the drive component by swapping trucks if need be, or swap TCs if need be. As far as bigger TCs with multiple slides, I would start loosing the features I value in a TC. Plus I offroad on the beach alot, which , with the bumps and shifting stresses the TC structure.As for multiple slideouts ,its my feeling that more large slide openings in the framing would make for a less ridged , and sturdy TC frame in those conditions. And I think a TC is more solidly put together than a class C with 4x4 added, and would hold up longer on offroad stresses than a Class C.
We got a huge camper because my wife said " I like that one."
She is right because we can go here
and here
In comfort. Yup we are old and comfort is important.
I got 4x4 so we can go through this
and do this
Everybody has their own needs and desires. Maybe you are making it too complicated.
And don't forget doing this
2005 Dodge 3500 DRW:Firestone air bags w/ in dual cab control, Rancho 9000, Helwig sway bar, 55 gal fuel tank, cold air box
2005 Lance 1191: generator, TV, A/C, solar
Bayliner 19.5 Capri & 12 ft. Gregor
1965 TBird
Rosie the dog
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Outfitter at Chilco Lake, BC
