Anyone regret downsizing to a camper?

Whizbang, you need to update your blog

whizbang wrote:
We had a 9-1/2 foot camper, and, still have a 7 foot camper. We also full timed for 2 years in a 38 foot Diesel Pusher.

We just acquired a 24-1/2 foot Class C.

So far, the Class C is the best rig for us. The campers were too small. The DP and toad was a battleship.

The Class C is just right. It is a DUALLY and exactly a foot longer than our Alpenlite/F350 combo and WAY more functional and roomy.

I LOVE campers but I have to admit the C is a better engineering and financial solution.

We have had a class c in the past and really liked it. I think about this also as that is what we really have with our 11 foot 6" TC anyway. But as you say the C has a much more spacious floor plan. My truck has the advantage it is a better tow vehicle and occasionally we do take the camper off at site. I also like the quiet ride of a Truck Truck camper combo.

But a C is a great choice also. JMHO

It seems to me that if you migrate to a class A motorhome, you are doing a very different type of camping than if you have a slide in truck camper.
Many of the places we go with our truck camper, one could not even take a bumper pull 25 footer.

cartmancartman wrote:

work2much wrote:
We have been pondering a new camper for a while. There have been quite a few places we have stayed that we would have been restricted to enter with a longer set-up.

Can you elaborate a bit more on this. I am trying to figure out where a 10ft longer rig can make a substantial difference. Dirt roads I understand and the ingress/egress of some gas stations, shopping centers, camp grounds would be an issue but im trying to figure out other places. I take a motorcycle with me so if I want to go down that small trail I will but not with the RV.

I am getting to the realization maybe a smaller camper for the shorter/offroad trips and a bigger MH for the longer ones.

You pretty much nailed it for us. Gas stations or shopping centers really wouldn't be an issue for us if we were longer, but we like to camp off the grid which includes dirt roads.We have spent some nights in campgrounds that only had "tent sites" open we were allowed to stay as we only take up a normal parking spot. We have been Boon docking we have squeezed into some fairly small spots.

The TC and 4x4 truck has decent ground clearance compared to say a 30 foot class C letting us get into and out of secondary roads and drive down dirt roads with less stress as to turn around.

No perfect answer for any RV. If you want more interior space you typically give up capabilities to drive places. And that may be fine depending on what type of experience you want. Just as someone with a small pop-up and and short wheel based truck will go places we can't.

If you wonder about regretting a TC you may want to buy a used one and travel in it for a while. That way you won't lose too much when you go to sell it to replace it with something else.

cartmancartman wrote:

Can you elaborate a bit more on this. I am trying to figure out where a 10ft longer rig can make a substantial difference. Dirt roads I understand and the ingress/egress of some gas stations, shopping centers, camp grounds would be an issue but im trying to figure out other places. I take a motorcycle with me so if I want to go down that small trail I will but not with the RV.

I am getting to the realization maybe a smaller camper for the shorter/offroad trips and a bigger MH for the longer ones.

Make a wrong turn to a dead end street? Have to turn around in someone's driveway? Lots of opportunity for fun or stress.

Aguirre Spring Campground is one. It's paved and there are probably TWO campsites that can accommodate a 30 to 38 foot camper max.

Even a truck camper will find limited good sites.
Henry Coe State Park in California is another one that comes to mind. OLD campsites, sloped, small and un-even. Even with a truck camper its a push to find a level spot.

For that matter, many of the older campgrounds were developed more for tents than RV's. There is a lack of large level spots.

If you stick to the pavement, a larger rig can be okay. But even pavement isn't a guarantee of a good level site.

whizbang, I haven't seen a 24 1/2 class C I liked. What do you have?

work2much wrote:
We have been pondering a new camper for a while. There have been quite a few places we have stayed that we would have been restricted to enter with a longer set-up.

Can you elaborate a bit more on this. I am trying to figure out where a 10ft longer rig can make a substantial difference. Dirt roads I understand and the ingress/egress of some gas stations, shopping centers, camp grounds would be an issue but im trying to figure out other places. I take a motorcycle with me so if I want to go down that small trail I will but not with the RV.

I am getting to the realization maybe a smaller camper for the shorter/offroad trips and a bigger MH for the longer ones.

We have been pondering a new camper for a while. I thought for sure we would go with a shorter 5th wheel trailer for "more space"

We have always had truck campers . Camper in my sig is our 3rd.

After living now full time for almost a year we have decided to stick with another T/C as our new home on wheels. There have been quite a few places we have stayed that we would have been restricted to enter with a longer set-up.

After looking at triple slide campers we feel that we have enough room to live comfortably. Enough tank storage and cargo storage that we can both be more mobile and be comfortable.

I know that this doesn't answer your question regarding downsizing from a larger camper, but it is my perspective on size with 2 adults and 2 medium sized dogs.

whizbang wrote:
The DP and toad was a battleship..

My Battle ship doesn't go really remote, because the camping we did way back then is now a major attraction and not really remote any more.
During the 70s and 80s when we went remote we were on the tree growers property (state owned) but leased by tree farmers. but now most every tree farm is gated due to the messy campers that did not pick up after them selves and the fires they started.

Bye bye the good old days of open land. So if we are locked out, might as well go to improved camp sites and do it in comfort.

We would've regretted, but we kept the RV for our kids to use with their families and SO glad we did because downsizing would've been too much for us. We love the convenience and extra mobility of the Camper, but LOVE the size of the RV. I couldn't just get by with Camper only.

Bill