Quote: My point of the post is that by in large most truck campers are going to be putting many more miles traveling 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...
...IMO, I think that among the entire spectrum of TC users, from the big hard-sides down to the light pop-ups, you'll find a diverse drivership. I don't think (I could be wrong) that TC users are weighted towards long-haul driving as much as you believe. I think that there are a cohort of short distance boondockers, long distance boondockers, short distance campground types, and long distance campground types. The variance within these classes would be us, for example: long distance campgrounds used just for deadheading it across North America, and upon arrival mostly boondocking.
I believe that many TC users on tight budgets will find ways of adapting to higher fuel (gas and diesel) prices by changing their destinations and modifying their time on the road, while others will continue to drive their habitual distances.
Rising fuel costs are one reason we are moving from a TT to a TC. Maybe not much savings, but when we want to bring the boat camping, at least it won't take two vehicles to get us there anymore.
I'll miss the space of the TT, but I won't miss the yearly registration and inspection, having to be careful about which gas stations, McDonald's parking lots I can fit into, etc. And it will open up more options for places to camp.
Being a newbee may give you opinions that aren't necessarily accurate.
You have to understand that if you have a truck camper, you have to follow sleepy's logic on all things. You should have had to sign a paper to this effect just as the rest of us did. Damn Newbies always screwing up by giving their opinions! He'll learn sleepy, so be easy on him.
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xp8103 wrote: 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.
I'm sorry, I guess it is just hard for me to imagine. I take it you just go to campgrounds and not travel all the time then with that setup? What happens when like last Easter we go camping in Virginia and the entire 3 days of camping it was in the 30's and the wind was blowing and it was miserable being outside? Oh and it snowed. I don't camp when it is that cold usually and the day we arrived it was in the 60's. I did not think it would be that cold or I would've cancelled, but once we got there we made due, although looking back on it we should've headed home.
Don't get me wrong, I have been in TC's and I love them. Like the one poster said you can take boats with you much easier and maneuver around better. Yeah most of the time camping is for the outdoors and you don't have to worry about room, but then there are the days you do. Plus we fight alot.
Being a newbee may give you opinions that aren't necessarily accurate.
You have to understand that if you have a truck camper, you have to follow sleepy's logic on all things. You should have had to sign a paper to this effect just as the rest of us did. Damn Newbies always screwing up by giving their opinions! He'll learn sleepy, so be easy on him.
Gary made several statements including the one about TC's constantly moving.... If he is talking about us he'd be correct. But...
I think most TC'ers probably do 90% of their "camping" within 3 or 4 hours from home.... or 200 to 250 miles from home... or within $100 to $150 round trip from home.
It would be an interesting question for others.
capterik... do you have an opinion... or are you just an assistant moderator for today?
xp8103 wrote: 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.
I'm sorry, I guess it is just hard for me to imagine. I take it you just go to campgrounds and not travel all the time then with that setup? What happens when like last Easter we go camping in Virginia and the entire 3 days of camping it was in the 30's and the wind was blowing and it was miserable being outside? Oh and it snowed. I don't camp when it is that cold usually and the day we arrived it was in the 60's. I did not think it would be that cold or I would've cancelled, but once we got there we made due, although looking back on it we should've headed home.
Don't get me wrong, I have been in TC's and I love them. Like the one poster said you can take boats with you much easier and maneuver around better. Yeah most of the time camping is for the outdoors and you don't have to worry about room, but then there are the days you do. Plus we fight alot.
movein... I agree with you.
A rainy day drags on me in the confines of the camper... Our living room is all the world outside of our camper windows.
My wife and I get along really well... but when the rain hits I'll put on the goretex and go for walks to beat the depressing gloom and confinement.
Welcome. Glad you are weighing in. However, I tend to think the opposite will happen. Truck campers will be more popular and the more expensive Rv's that have their own engines, wheels and registration will likely see a hit in sales. In fact, some of those might step up (not down) from a motor home to a truck camper. About 9000 truck campers are sold each year making it the smallest segment of the RV market. There are over 300,000 fifth wheels, travel trailers and motorhomes produced each year. If just a few move from a motorhome to a truck camper percentagewise it will favorably impact TC sales. Also, baby boomers are not prone to sitting in RV parks. They are active, want to bring some toys, and typically want to camp where they can play, hike, bicycle, ride motorcycles, etc. This often does not lend itself well to established RV parks. The truck camper is perfect for off site camping to camp where where you want to be and not miles from it in an RV park. Watch the baby boomers (not the gas pump) and you will see where the RV trend will be going.
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Being a newbee may give you opinions that aren't necessarily accurate.
You have to understand that if you have a truck camper, you have to follow sleepy's logic on all things. You should have had to sign a paper to this effect just as the rest of us did. Damn Newbies always screwing up by giving their opinions! He'll learn sleepy, so be easy on him.
Gary made several statements including the one about TC's constantly moving.... If he is talking about us he'd be correct. But...
I think most TC'ers probably do 90% of their "camping" within 3 or 4 hours from home.... or 200 to 250 miles from home... or within $100 to $150 round trip from home.
It would be an interesting question for others.
capterik... do you have an opinion... or are you just an assistant moderator for today?
I am sorry if you thought that I was intruding on your job of assistant moderator. I agree with his statement about TC's moving more than the average camper, instead of sitting, and it seems that you do too. I and you especially do not fit the 200 to 250 miles from home category, I am not sure of others, although the fact that there are some great locations within that distance out west, I can see people doing that alot out there. There are times when I agree with you and sometimes when I do not, but you do have more time at this than most. Usually you have a tendancy to come across in a manner that is not benaficial and somewhat condescending or even accusatory,to me anyway if not others. This statement you made and simalar ones in the past, I find no benifit in the posting. THAT is my opinion. You can offer all of the good advice and info, but it might as well be thrown out when you add these kind of statements. Just My Honest Opinion.
I fall under the short distance boondocker crowd. I can easily haul my boat or quad and still get away from it all. If I need to get further up the creek I won't take a trailer and just throw the dirt bike on the front bumper. Living in the middle of some of the very best camping opportunities I am quite satisfied with my short trips. I can usually make two trips on one tank of fuel. So until fuel gets over 5 bucks a gallon the frequency of my camping trips will not be affected. Some day I would like to visit Florida and the rest of the East Coast and maybe even snowbird in the Yuma desert. Unlike Sleepy I don't think I have what it takes to live that long in a TC. I have been looking at TT's but only in ADDITION to the TC.
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Well we just happen to be in the planning stage for a trip to Alaska. So here are some interesting numbers: We will take the Alaska State Ferries up to Haines, AK. Cost for two plus truck and camper under 21 feet long about $2,000. Total mileage for planed tour of Alaska and return home to the Seattle area 4,200. This is figured with the trip planning software from my DeLorme GPS program.
Our cost for driving my truck and camper 4,200 miles at 13 miles per gallon and an estimated fuel cost of $4.00 per gallon is $1,292.30. So for a total trip travel cost of $3292.30 We're going!!
Sharing the cost with my brother makes each share $1,646. Not bad. Did I ever say how much I like the twin bed option in my Lance 915.
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