Just doing some wondering but it occurs to me that truck camper indutry is about to take the worst hit of all the RV classes.
By it's very nature truck campers are designed to travel. Unlike other RV's who travel to a destination and spend most of their time parked in a campground the whole idea of truck campers is constant traveling. 4$ gal fuel for large RV's headed for a destination with stays of weeks or more in one spot will not be overly hit them with high fuel prices.
TC's designed for pretty much constant travel will take astronomical hit in the economics of travel cost. The truck camper manufacturing industry had got to be shaking in their boots. Combined with overall bad economic news lately I would be expecting TC makers to be taking big hits in their sales and in much more peril than other RV manufacturers. I recently notice the the local dealer I bought my TC from is no longer selling TC's. I would also think that this would badly depress the resale value of TC's more than other RV resell values.
Any thoughts on this. Am I paronoid? Won't affect me since for me the whole reason for a RV is to travel, otherwise I would get a condo somewhere.
I guess I don't see it the same way. If anything the current economic state makes a TC even more desirable. Unlike most any other RV, they have little to no cost associated with them other then normal upkeep. No registration (depending on state), no smog, no upkeep of another whole vehicle as in Class A/B/C's and the vehicle used to carry it is easily adaptable to many other uses. While TC's share several of these benefits with TT's and 5'rs they are still much easier to store then either of those. I also don't see the basic premise of a TC to be to stay constantly on the move. I see it as a way to get away from the masses into more remote camping areas while allowing me to easily tow my toy along if I desire. And nothing says that you can't stay parked for a period of time in a TC just like in any other RV. You just get to do it in a much more remote location away from the crowds. Which come to think of it makes it less likely you will need to move in the first place.
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
I think it depends on the type of travelling people are doing. I know that I'll be using a TC until I can't get up the steps into it or no longer drive a truck. As for the cost, I had a similar discussion with a snowbird friend of mine, it just means that he has to budget a hundred dollars more than last year. But he drives down and parks the motorhome in one spot for 5 months and drives back. In 2005 he used approximately $300.00 in fuel, in 2006 he used $350.00 in fuel. Now for us truck guys, we don't have the luxury of parking for 5 months (although it would be nice but not easy to explain to the girlfriend or boss at work) I know the truck manufacturers worry, but they have industry and the government to bail them out (look at the airline industry). The TC manufacturers don't, but they also know that they can design smaller (like mine) or larger. Usually they also have sidelines like small TTs or Truck caps. I wouldn't worry too much, although I wouldn't buy a new TC and expect to make back my money on it in 1,2,3,or however many years you have it. It's not like real estate where you buy low and sell high and make a good profit. (before the market took a slide) I know from talking to a former co-worker at an RV dealer ittends to go like this: Oil prices go up, they sell more Park Model TT and Small Pop up trailers. When oli prices go down or even with Cost of Living, then the TT's %th Wheels, TC, and Motor Homes sell. When Oil Prices are high, Used rules the market, but when Oil Prices are low, then the new stuff sells. He's watched it for over 40 years and not much changes, other than the RV dealers usually start selling ATV's or Ski mobiles or Rototillers to make up for the loss of market share.
As for me, it just means spending less on fishing tackle to put in more gas. That's all.
Life is short, Play harder.
2002 GMC Sierra 1500 Regular Cab Long Bed 4.3L V6 Automatic 2WD
Geez guys, You're preaching to the choir here.
Nobody loves his travelite 960rx 2006 2500 Silveraldo reg cab gasser more than me.
My response to high gas prices is like Sleepy. I am boondocking at all times. Set up camp in Ft Walton Beach Fla on the beach at Barrier Island National Seashore for the day with my folding sea kayak, snorkeling, binocs and spotting scopes checking out the birds and girlies in thongs. When they close at sunset I move to AJ's drinking cold brews on their deck listening to live band overlooking Destin Harbor. With their approval I crash for the night in their parking lot without a worry about local police ban on RV's since I am in a truck camper. Return to my campsite on the beach. Far better than any expensive condo would get me. Do this everywhere. Downtown areas with all the bars you only need to find a legal parking spot and leave by morning. Would never have anything but a TC.
My point of the post is that by in large most truck campers are going to be putting many more miles travelling than other forms of RV's in the large majority of cases and I fear that this will harm truck camping interest far more than other RV classes with these high gas prices and TC's could become even a smaller slice of the RV industry. Especially the smaller TC makers. Lets hope not.
I think you answered your own question in your last statement. "Since for me the whole reason for a RV is to travel". I think that this applies to most TCers. If so, it is still the best RV available. Sleepy talked about traveling 10,000 miles a year. Likely that his typical setup is finding a level spot, dropping the stairway and opening a beer. Steve talks about it as a way to get away from the masses. Both statements are a great argument for the future of the TC.
However with that said, I do think that the whole TV industry will be under pressure. Those of us with RV's will probably keep using them but entry of new people into RVing will likely drop off. I hope I'm wrong.
I agree with Steve. I think TCs may make MORE sense. I know that with my TC on, I am getting 13+ mpg. Most of the bigger gasser RVs struggle with that. And add to that that an RV requires maintenance, insurance, and it's own slate of things and TCs make more sense. We'll budget an extra $100 for now. I know I'm in a very small minority who thinks that the next economic slow down, whatever that ends up being will ease pressure on oil prices and the price of gas will drop. It's inevitable, economies are cyclical. But get used to $3.00 gal. It may drop but unless and until we find alternative sources it won't be to sub-$2.00.
Yep I have a TT and to me a TC makes more sense too regarding gas mileage, and even moving around easier. I went to my grandparents for Christmas. We have a big family so sometimes no room to sleep, etc. They live in the valley of a mountain, with very thin roads and lots of hills. This past year I wondered if I could've pulled the TT so my family could sleep in there. Fact is there is no way I could get the TT in their yard much less to the location. A TC would solve this. Only thing a TC is not setup good for 4 people, a dog and a cat, unless the weather always cooperates or like some say if you are always traveling. So until the kids are grown it is out of the question for us.
Movein,
Not a good setup? We camp with two families in TCs, one with 2 teens and (at one time) 5 dogs - 3 border collies, 1 yellow lab and one pom, the other had three yonger teens and 2 dogs. Neither would consider camping any other way.
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