I just got back from FL pulling my Small Orbit TT. I got really tired of hitching, unhitching, backing up and re backing up. I saw some really cool truck campers. can some of you guys tell me about your likes or dislikes about a TC? What brand is a popular model?
Thanks.
one of the nice things about tc's is the mobility..
you can get them as basic as basic gets or go all out mobil 5 star hotel choice is yours.. or if your handy and wish to you could get an older one and redo it to your liking
I bought an 04 Lance 1121 w/dinette slide-out and on-board generator in July of that year and haul it on a F-350 7.3 diesel dually. The camper is 19 feet overall, has about 11 1/2' of walking space and is fully self-contained with a dry bath. It listed at 3,280 lbs. dry weight and ready for the road, weighs about 4k. Mileage with the camper loaded is between 12-13 mpg. depending on mountainous or flat terrain. Suspension modifications in the form of Rancho 9000 adjustable shocks and Firestone "ride-rite" airbags greatly improved handling.
Purchased originally for use in heavy business travel, I have over 200,000 mi. with the camper. I've comfortably dry-camped in the cold down to -8°F and stayed cool during Florida summers. It goes wherever the truck fits, height considering, or can be off-loaded in a campground. Thus freeing up the truck. Towing is an option with a TC, although I don't have the need.
It's the SUV of RV's. Go almost anywhere at any time. The only complaint I would have is in what makes it such a great over-all choice for travel... it's size. I live out of it, not in it. That makes for some tough days in inclimate weather. One person is fine most of the time. There are a lot of "excuse me's" with two people; and with three or more, it's "get the he'!! out of my way!". A bigger rig would be better for retirement and full timing. One year, one month, and 23 days... but who's counting.
Edited for spelling!
* This post was
edited 05/07/12 07:24am by Eycom *
Being truck mounted, a TC for us is the most maneuverable RV out there, next in line would be a small Class C. When just my wife and I are traveling, we generally take the TC and leave our 5th wheel at home. With the TC, we can stop at any gas station to refuel, just as if we were driving just the truck, easy to stop at one of the big box stores and resupply on groceries, if we want to stop at some "attraction", it is usually easy to find a place to park the truck/TC, we get 3 mpg more per gallon of diesel with the TC than we do the trailer, the TC has 4 less tires on the ground that need to be checked often, and we tend to take less junk with us. (just not room to haul it all)
For trips where we are going to be parked for a week or more, the trailer gets to go most trips, just so nice to have the extra room inside, especially on a rainy days or two. Often our daughter and her two sons, 7 and 9 years of age, go with us so the trailer goes on those trips. We have made a few trips with all five of us in the TC, but only when we can be outside most of the time and only use the TC for sleeping.
As I get older, 70 now, I am starting to appreciate the floor level bed in the trailer more and more. The cab over bed in the TC still works for us, but I can see the day arriving in the future, where mobility problems will cause us to cease using the TC, just because of the cab over bed.
The combo works well for us as we use the same truck to haul the TC or pull the 5th wheel.
joe b.
Stuart Florida
Formerly of Colorado and Alaska
Chevy 3500 DRW Dmax CC - Rockwood 8281 SS 5th Whl & 2008 Lance 845 TC www.pajbcooper.com web site
Alaska Trip 2011 posted
Colo-Utah-Ariz 2012 trip posted
"Without challenge, adventure is impossible".
Quote: I got really tired of hitching, unhitching, backing up and re backing up
After three truck campers and one 30 foot TT, I can assure you that I would much rather hitch/unhitch a TT than take on and off the truck camper. I can hitch a TT in under two minutes. The TC's strengths are as stated above by others -- maneuverability and size. Offsetting that is a MSRP price entry fee for the TC being as much as or often more than the TT and the fact that most TC's require far more truck capacity than one that is only pulling a TT. If you like to unhitch and use your truck to run around while the TT is at the campground, that might be an issue as well always having the TC on the truck or spending the time and energy to off load and reload it.
'05 Dodge Cummins 4x4 dually 3500 white quadcab auto long bed.
'09 299bhs Tango.
Having both a truck camper and a class b motorhome, for us the bvan is better. It also has it's down sides as does the truck camper. We also have a TT.
SkipJ
1992 Airstream B-190 van
1989 Airstream 25' Excella Trailer
Outfitter Apex 9.5 Truck Camper Ford F-350 Diesel 4x4
We bought our TC to have more flexibility to get into the smaller, more private, out of the way campgrounds you find in a lot of the state forests and many national parks. For this purpose, the TC has worked out perfectly and we just love it. The only downside, as other have mentioned, is un-hitching. We use to have a 30' FW and when we got to our CG and wanted to take off somewhere, it took only minutes to un-hitch and we were on our way. But that is the only downsize. For us, it has way too many pluses to go back to a FW or anything else. We really love our TC.
"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
We bought our TC so that we can tow the boat without worrying about the length law. It is quicker to hitch a tt or 5er than to back under a TC (but we're still new at it). But, the TC gives us options to go anywhere and can use smaller sites than the other RVs might need. We love it!
We have an Adventurer 910FBS and it has plenty of space for us and 2 dogs (1 is 85 lbs) and the storage is amazing. Going from a 5er, I never expected to be happy with a TC but, I'm sold and DH couldn't be happier!
2011 Adventurer 910FBS,Torklift tie downs,Fastguns & Wobbl-stopprs
2012 Dodge 3500 DRW 6.7L CTD, 4x4, LB,CC,6 speed auto,3.73 axle, General 17" on/off road
2008 Lund 1825 Explorer Sport,115 Merc,9.9 kicker,Torklift Super Hitch,42" Supertruss
USAF ret E-9&E-7
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