Forum Discussion

chast's avatar
chast
Explorer II
Nov 09, 2015

Help me get unspoiled?

Hi all--20+ years of full-timing and looking for the ideal change?
We have two spots now that we go between--a 1950 Spartan trailer in Pennsylvania and a Bounder in Florida on a leased lot. We have a car in PA and a car in FL. We also have a micro-mini Class C which we use to travel between the two spots. We are real spoiled! Would like to simplify our lives and have less vehicles on the road. Am considering a truck camper so that we could off-load the camper and the truck would be our daily driver. Too much trouble loading and off-loading? Our other choice is a B class van but could I drive it everyday and get used to the low MPGs and the uncarlike handling? Would appreciate any and all input to help me get unspoiled! Thanks.
Seeking Advice
  • chast's avatar
    chast
    Explorer II
    Nov 09, 2015
    Cute gbopp! Have you ever spent a summer in Florida?? NO THANKS! I'll take the cool of the Poconos!
  • gbopp's avatar
    gbopp
    Explorer
    Nov 09, 2015
    Leave Pennsylvania and don't go back.
    That's my plan but, so far it's not working. :(
  • chast's avatar
    chast
    Explorer II
    Nov 09, 2015
    Thanks to all of you for your input. Maybe some clarification will help. We have considered some of your ideas but--don't want to stop RVing, hate motels, don't like to drive more than 200-300 miles a day, have a dog, don't want the inconvenience of flying with shuttles at each end, etc. We could off-load the TC at each end with no problem, but do I want to drive a truck every day, especially one heavy enough to handle a TC. Think the B would work but could I drive it everyday as my primary vehicle. We have been wrestling with these decisions for a while now and can't seem to find a satisfactory solution.
  • bukhrn's avatar
    bukhrn
    Explorer III
    Nov 09, 2015
    the bear II wrote:
    I would use one of the cars to travel between PA & FL, keep the Spartan and Bounder, get rid of everything else. Stay in motels when travelling between the two states.
    X-2, besides the MPG thing with a Class B,is the ridiculous cost of them, they cost far more than a larger class C, i would go with the bear II's idea.From PA to FLA, you're only talking one night in a motel.
  • Snowman9000's avatar
    Snowman9000
    Explorer
    Nov 09, 2015
    Unless you want a pickup truck, I can't see a benefit from doing the TC plan. Personally, I(we) would fly back and forth. Second choice, drive and stay in hotels, which could eliminate one of the cars too.

    If you have to have an RV, a simplified B van would be great, and should not be bad as a daily driver.
  • rockhillmanor's avatar
    rockhillmanor
    Explorer
    Nov 09, 2015
    chast wrote:
    Hi all--20+ years of full-timing and looking for the ideal change?
    We have two spots now that we go between--a 1950 Spartan trailer in Pennsylvania and a Bounder in Florida on a leased lot. We have a car in PA and a car in FL. We also have a micro-mini Class C which we use to travel between the two spots. We are real spoiled! Would like to simplify our lives and have less vehicles on the road.

    Am considering a truck camper so that we could off-load the camper and the truck would be our daily driver

    . Too much trouble loading and off-loading? Our other choice is a B class van but could I drive it everyday and get used to the low MPGs and the uncarlike handling? Would appreciate any and all input to help me get unspoiled! Thanks.


    First question would be is WHERE you are going to 'offload' the TC?

    Check with your CG's where you have the 2 RV's parked at first.

    It has been my experience that most CG's do not allow just the camper part of a TC parked on a site. Seen it happen to a couple of friends of mine. I know they allow the FW's to drop but I've seen some that don't let you drop the TC.

    Just saying call first before you trip the trigger on one.:C
  • the_bear_II's avatar
    the_bear_II
    Explorer
    Nov 09, 2015
    I would use one of the cars to travel between PA & FL, keep the Spartan and Bounder, get rid of everything else. Stay in motels when travelling between the two states.
  • jmtandem's avatar
    jmtandem
    Explorer II
    Nov 09, 2015
    Hi all--20+ years of full-timing and looking for the ideal change?
    We have two spots now that we go between--a 1950 Spartan trailer in Pennsylvania and a Bounder in Florida on a leased lot. We have a car in PA and a car in FL. We also have a micro-mini Class C which we use to travel between the two spots. We are real spoiled! Would like to simplify our lives and have less vehicles on the road. Am considering a truck camper so that we could off-load the camper and the truck would be our daily driver. Too much trouble loading and off-loading? Our other choice is a B class van but could I drive it everyday and get used to the low MPGs and the uncarlike handling? Would appreciate any and all input to help me get unspoiled! Thanks.


    I have owned three truck campers over the last 25 years. It takes quite a stout truck to haul all but the lightest truck campers. That means when the camper is off the truck you will have the truck like ride. If that does not bother you, then the truck camper might work. It usually took me about 15 minutes to get the camper off the truck, reduce pressure in the air bags, reduce pressure in the rear dually tires, and replace the tailgate. Putting it back on was about twenty minutes. Some folks perhaps can do it faster. TC's are very versatile, take only one (albeit large) parking place, and are very maneuverable. One downside is that some campgrounds will not allow the TC to be off the truck.

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