Ok guys, trying to figure out a solution. I may be taking a job 2 hours away from where I live. Because I don't know how permanent the job will be, I would prefer not to relocate. So I have a couple options I can commute but that would involve purchasing a fuel efficient car or since I am looking at a tc anyway park it at the job site and come home every couple of days. I'm trying to keep cost down so the tc route works out better because I won't have the 3-400 dollar car payment plus fuel for 140mile a day round trip. So I guess the real question is what size TC would accommodate me? Something along the lines of a lance 1040 or adventurer 950B?
The question is more like "what size TC can _I_ stand?" (and afford)
Looks like you got a decent enough truck, so you can get most any TC on the market except for the ultra huge ones. So, think about how much time you will be spending in it and if you will get claustrophobia.
Are you just going to use it just as a bed and breakfast spot? Then all you need to make sure of is you got a good mattress and a big enough fridge to store a few days worth of food. Are you going to have to spend time it - where you will be relaxing, watching TV? Then make sure you got a comfortable spot to relax, you can see the TV easy from that spot and there is enough room in the fridge for the beer. Are you going to use it as an office or work area? Make sure the dinet is comfortable to sit at for extended periods of time. Is the location going to be subjected to extremes in temperature? Then make sure the A/C is good and/or you have good insulation and a furnace so you dont freeze up.
A couple of other thoughts. You said "..park it at the job site..."
* Can you get a 30 amp connection? If you can only get 15 or 20 amp connection, you will need to use care on how you use your appliances, i.e. turn off the A/C before firing up the microwave, otherwise you will be popping the breaker. If you cant get any electricity, you will need some solar (and no A/C) or a generator.
* Can you get a fresh water connection, or will you have to bring water with you? Will you have a dump station available or will you have to move the camper to dump or bring a "blue boy"? If you dry camp (i.e. no water use and you have a place to shower/toilet) then this last question does not apply.
I use mine to go on site with customers, usually a week at a time so I am familiar with issues in the above paragraph. Sometimes it doubles as an office for me, sometimes I only sleep in it. I also use it as the Portscanner fun vehicle so I had to make sure what we got would keep the DW and the two fur campers happy. I would expect further down the road you will want to use it on vacations so keep that in mind when you make your purchase.
I cant suggest to you what to get, only that you do some serious thinking about all facets of it, not just size. Mrs Portscanner and I spent quite a bit of time (i.e. up to an hour) just sitting in models a different dealerships just to get a feel of what it would be like to be inside it for extended periods of time.
Good luck with your search and your new job!!! Glad to hear you are working!
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2011 Dodge 3500 4x4 DRW Crew Cab 6.7 Cummins, 6 speed auto, 3.73 rear end
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I worked a job which was a 2-1/2 hour commute one way. For five years, I lived in the parking lot for four nights (4/10 work week). I had the same options as you stated, plus I could have rented a room, or something similar for $800 to $1200 per week. Over a five year period, rent would have cost me about $36000, I spent about $10000 on my used TC, and upgrades.
It is an individual thing, but for me, a 2-1/2 hour daily commute got old real quick. Drive home, eat dinner, take a shower, go to bed. Get up in the morning drive 2-1/2 hours to work. My fuel cost was about $100 trip (17 MPG), or $1600 a month.
My truck was a used diesel, and I bought a used Bigfoot TC 11.5 feet. Both are in my signature. I progressively added the creature comforts I wanted. an 8-foot TC would have been just fine, but a 11.5-foot was available at the right time and price.
Don't forget, with the 3-400 dollar car payment you also have to add insurance and maintenance. Your fuel cost will be close to the same, due to the miles traveled. For me, it was simply very exhausting with that long daily commute. Two ways you can spend your evenings after getting off work, driving in traffic, or sitting in your TC.
I don't think the size of the TC is as important as how it is equipped. You can personally install a lot of things. Power to run stuff could be a problem. I started with a battery only, then upgraded my converter/charger and added a Honda 200, then eventually solar. I also purchased an Aircard (Verizon) so I could access the web. I also discovered in the winter months the furnace would eat my battery pretty quick. I then added a Wave3 heater. These upgrades allowed me to use my computer, watch TV and stay warm. The first summer it got real hot, I added a Polar Cub A/C, that would run off the Honda 2000.
A pretty long response to a pretty short question, but for me, it was a major change in my life, and lots of things I could not have imagined. Hopefully I have given you some things to consider. I guess the short answer to your question is that either TC would be fine. Only you can say for sure.
Wayne
blog.rv.net - Your daily guide to the Open Road. 96 Dodge (DSL), 2500 (6200#)
I forgot to mention, I had to keep a low profile in the parking lot. It helped not having slideouts. I mounted my Honda on the back of my TC, it was/is much quieter than the built in generators that I have heard. Parking the TC (Honda) away from foot traffic made a difference. No slides made it easier to change locations after work, for a change of scenery, and return to the parking lot to spend the night.
Wow a lot of good info from the first two posts, i will try to cover what I can, it will basically be somewhere to eat and sleep, I don't know if power or water is available, I have to drive up and scope things out. I'm sure there is an RV park between here and there that I can use a dump station. Also there are shower facilities. I know for me I can get away with small however I do plan to use it with the family which is why I am looking at the 1040 and 950B, still havent ruled out a used 1131 or 1191. Just trying to make the best decision for me and my family financially.
4) Am I the only one to live in it or may someday my family (if you have one)
5) Is this just really a low buck investment for me or can I ever justify big bucks with a large high unit?
1) already have the truck, plan on keeping it as long as it holds up.
2) keep it because a lot of jobs I am looking at involve different locations.
3) yes
4) family use on vacations
5) would love a high end unit but keeping costs down because eventually near future will be building a house once we find a suitable location.
You might also consider a small trailer since you will be leaving this at the parking lot. Trailers are less expensive and also way more popular so you should have lots of used units to look at. Truck campers are easier to use in small places and are stealthier, but those advantages would not seem to apply.
JimK-NY wrote: You might also consider a small trailer since you will be leaving this at the parking lot. Trailers are less expensive and also way more popular so you should have lots of used units to look at. Truck campers are easier to use in small places and are stealthier, but those advantages would not seem to apply.
I'm trying to keep a low profile, and didn't want a tuck and trailer hanging out all week.
When I was in the parking lot, I had absolutely no hookups. I bought, and still use, a Macerator pump so I could dump at home. I dumped on the way home for a while, but sometimes had to wait in line, wind and rain. With the Macerator pump, I could leave a garden hose setup between where I parked at home and a clean out at the house. I could connect in less than 2 or 3 minutes, and/or wait for the rain to slow down. Although I found a free dump station (Camping World), RV park charged from $5 to $10 to dump. It would typically take from 1/2 to 1 hour to dump. All part of the comfort level, sit in a chair at home in the shade with a beer, or wait in line in the cold rain after paying $10.
My suggestion is to took at worst case job locations, not just at the job now. Your intent may be just be "basically be somewhere to eat and sleep", but the reality is you will not only be eating and sleeping in it. If you get off work at 5PM and go to bed at 10PM, what are you going to do for 5 hours? It can really get tough in the winter months.
If you go with a TC with a slide, I suggest you only do so if the TC is usable with the slide in. This job may allow the slide to be out, but will the next job? My preference is no slide. Did I mention the possibility of having mechanical issues, on the job, with the slide? What would you really gain with a slide? Keep in mind, in the winter you have to heat it.
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