Alpenlite Questions

Our non-slide Alpenlite weighed 4000# loaded.

What I look for in a slide is how far out it goes. The best slides extend out 2-1/2 to 3 feet creating a lot of extra living space.

The slides that only go out a foot or so don't do so much for the living space. Although I like Alpenlites, their slides just didn't extend far enough to justify the expense, weight, and complexity.

Yes, the Alpenlite, Saratoga 930, was always my favourite camper, even had a brochure under my side of the bed. The sofa even had a footrest.

Issues solved. Bought an older Bigfoot 25C9.6 yesterday. Now looking for a SRW truck to carry it. Probably a 7.3 Ford and get some air suspension seats due to the rough roads. No ULSD south of the border.

We have 4100 lbs of camper when loaded. I forget what the sticker on the outside says the dry weight is.

Yes, all of the Alpenlites are now orphans :( But if you're looking for a TC from this era (2004-2009) then none of them would have any factory warranty remaining anyway.

My Saratoga 935 comes in right at 4000lbs loaded (note: I don't have the Onan gen'). If you're gonna haul this thing on a SRW truck then you will need a 350/3500 and you should seriously be considering 19.5" wheels and tires.

I think that the 935 has the very best floor-plan of any shortbed camper I have ever seen, period… and it is more spacious inside than some longbed TC's. My family of 4 travels in ours and it never feels cramped (for a TC, that is). In terms of storage, I would say that the 935 is "average". However with just a little bit of work it can made to have plenty of space for all of your stuff. I'm happy to share photos if you need storage ideas.

The Center of Balance is 39", measuring forward from the rear of the tuck bed (not "up").

I haven't had any issues with my slide-out, but it is certainly something to think about if you're planning an extended trip through S. America. At the very least you should become proficient in how to operate it if the drive mechanism should ever fail.

Here's a link to the 2007 Alpenlite Truck Camper brochure.

Cheers,
-Mark

All I can say is that you're probably right about the 4K loaded weight. We really like our 2004 Alpenlite, though it is not that model.