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billy1davis48
84325
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Joined: 03/03/2022
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We have been trying everything out like 5vrs TT, Motorhomes and van campers and just can't seem to leave alone the one type we have had before. The only problems we can think of is the swaying and needing to take our bed with us every where.
Are their others that have coped better with these issues and how? I understand many have good luck with thicker sway bars and both back and front
But that leaves taking your bed with you as an issue that could cause us to sell and get something else.
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Slymer
Ontario, Canada
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Joined: 12/14/2012
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HD sway bars are a good call, but I am not sure what you mean by “taking your bed with you”. With all of your previous RV’s you have always taken your bed, or beds,....with you. TC’s are no different in that way, except in some rigs you need to make it up each night & take it down in the morning. Not so with TC’s.
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Mote
Hoosier State
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We like ours because we can take everything with us where ever we go. I have food allergies so we don't eat out. So having our kitchen and bathroom with us where ever we go is awesome.
We were hiking at the Grand Teton's a couple of years ago. Once we got done we got in the camper, cleaned up, ate some lunch use the RR. Couldn't do that if we'd like a 5th wheel back at the campsite and just drove the truck.
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toedtoes
California
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Every RV type is a matter of finding the one with the most pros and least cons and that will be individual.
With a truck camper, yes, you would generally be taking your "camp" with you everytime you want to drive somewhere. If that would be a problem really depends on where and how you will be camping.
If you are setting up a base camp and then taking a bunch of day trips, then the TC is less than ideal unless you can tow a small car or scooters, etc.
If you are doing a lot of one night stops until you reach a destination and then staying place for a while (no day trips), then it would be a good choice.
Some folks use a TC to sightsee, however they might park it at the RV Park and use uber, public transit, etc to get around.
You just have to decide if you can work around the negative of a TC in your personal circumstance and if those workarounds are easier than any inconvenience.
1975 American Clipper RV with Dodge 360 (photo in profile)
1998 American Clipper Fold n Roll Folding Trailer
Both born in Morgan Hill, CA to Irv Perch (Daddy of the Aristocrat trailers)
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Golden_HVAC
Fairview OR, USA
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I guess the advantage of the truck and camper is that you could use the pickup when you have a place to unload your camper. I have seen some campgrounds that allowed unloading the camper at the site, but some have rules against that. Electric jacks can be helpful, and unload the camper in a few minutes.
But I guess the easy way to go camping is a class C motorhome, in the 18- 24 foot long range, perhaps with a rear full size bed, (sometimes with the bath on the drivers side) or queen in the back with a split bath that is forward of the bedroom. It would end up about the same length of the truck camper, without the very high center of gravity. Being built into the van chassis, the water tank, and most of the weight is not 3 feet off the ground, like in a truck camper.
I had a truck camper, then moved up to a 27' class C, and then up to a 30' class A without a slide out (1997 model). I liked each of them, and each was a improvement in water tank size, stability, and easy use. The camper had about 20 gallons of water, the class C about 25, and the class A has 100 gallon fresh water tank, 17,000 GVWR, and 2,734 pound of cargo rating (including water and anything else you might want to add to the RV).
I lived in the class A, and was able to get 3 weeks without refilling the fresh water tank, and dumping the black water.
I don't think I would ever move back to a camper, but might get a A-Frame hardside pop up, like Aliner. That is something that is light enough to tow with my Ford Edge, and get about 15 MPG, instead of the 7 mpg of my class A motorhome.
Even at 7 mpg, the motorhome did not cost all that much in fuel, because I never really drove it over 5,000 miles in one year, so the $1,200 insurance and fuel costs of around $2,500 a year made up most of the cost of owning it.
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stevenal
Newport, OR, USA
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My answer to sway was Stable Loads and aftermarket anti-sway bars. Other swear by their duallies for that purpose.
I'm with those above, who like having everything along when on sightseeing day trips. Others here will say dropping the TC and using the unloaded truck for day tripping is the way to go.
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jimh406
Western MT
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My combination handles well. Lots of things could be impacting the sway including being overloaded, not enough air in the tires, tires not rated high enough, worn suspension parts, etc.
Describe your rig and what have you tried to fix your sway issues.
It's possible for all types of RVs to handle poorly or good.
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Grit dog
Black Diamond, WA
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If you don’t like any means of RVing, pick up another hobby?
2016 Ram 2500, MotorOps.ca EFIlive tuned, 5” turbo back, 6" lift on 37s
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SoonDockin
Oklahoma
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There is no perfect solution. Where are you driving that sway is an issue. One a flat road? Something is wrong. Having a solid base is a big help.
My F450 and huge sail was quite stable driving I70 when semi's were being blown off the road in April of 2022. My previous class C sprinter chassis 25 footer would have never been able to maintain 60 mph in those fierce winds. I was towing a 20 ft box trailer with about 3000 lbs in it. Again a solid base. The whole rig never felt like the wind was going to push me off the road.
2022 Ram Laramie 5500 60" CA New pic soon
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JimK-NY
NY
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There are compromises involved with every RV. For any camper, especially an TC, size and weight are big limitations. TCs seem to keep growing in size and weight. All those comforts of home sell. Then you pay the price with the cost of a large pickup and often poor ride quality. All that weight can limit travels to paved or improved gravel roads. Anyway there is no reason for me to continue to dwell on the downsides of size and weight.
To my way of thinking a TC can work really well for a couple or maybe a couple with one or two small kids. Room for 6 probably means a different type of RV.
There are a couple of compromises that my wife and I have found that work for us. First we want our comforts that starts with a queen sized bed facing north-south. A bathroom with shower is essential. We found that a wet bath really makes sense. The clean up after a shower involves shaking the shower curtain and running a squeegee across the walls and floor. That seems a small price to pay for saving the extra space needed for a dry bath. Next we decided on a TC without any slides. That means we have a narrow aisle, room for a decent dinette but no additional seating.
Again think about the compromises. On the light end there are small popup TCs. IMO those are suitable for week long trips but not for prolonged use and comfort. On the high end there are TC with multiple slides, dinettes plus couches and all sorts of amenities. Before that point I would opt for a different type of RV.
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