We're in our 60's and starting to feel some aches and pains. My wife is tired of climbing up into the bed of our old Lance camper. Not to mention getting down. We've got the dually now so we can start looking for a camper with a slideout. # 1 priority for my wife is a camper that she can easily get into the bed. There isn't much down here in San Diego so I'm sure we'll have to head north to find something. We'll be looking for something used and trying to stay under $25,000. So, any suggestions. Have checked out some pictures of Arctic Foxes and Eagle Caps so far. Your opinions are always appreciated.

Something with a basement or a small 5th wheel.

I would think that something low to the ground and without internal stairs would be best for aging knees. That is just one reason why we love our vintage rig!Lynn

For decades I've noticed when your time is up with a TC, many have gone to something like this;http://www.rvtrader.com/listing/1996-Lazy-Daze-26.5-REAR-BATH-117672047The reason is low entry height and no stairs or steps to get into bed. I think the overhead is a 2nd sleeping area.I googled class C Motorhome and had a good look at the plethora of new (and expensive) models, many now with 4WD. Then I googled Lazy Daze. The few owners I have known are wild about them and were drawn to them because of their personal inability to navigate the stairs and high steps common in a truck camper. Does the blue placard in the glove box mean anything?I'm facing the same, I guess I could call it 'aging' situation with our rig. I'm fine using our 6 speed manual, but Jeanie is willing for me to buy an new truck with an automatic transmission so she could feel more comfortable driving on long trips. Is this the same girl that was a whiz at driving her stick shift, 4 speed, 1961 VW convertible around like a race car?As an aid for getting into the truck which has a 3" lift and taller tires, I installed a stirrup on the pass side as an aid to getting up in the cab. So far we're both fine on getting up the stairs and up the big steps to the bed. So far.jefe

jefe 4x4 wrote:For decades I've noticed when your time is up with a TC, many have gone to something like this;http://www.rvtrader.com/listing/1996-Lazy-Daze-26.5-REAR-BATH-117672047Clicky

In the late 60s we were in a cab over TC in So CA. TCs are nice in CA because of the speed limits on TTs. As we aged it became difficult to get up in the cab over bed. We got into a MH. TCs can go any where. Not no much for TTs, 5vers, and MHs. Getting off the main roads is more difficult. We got back into a small MH without an over head bed so we still had the convenuence of a a lower bed to sleep in. Plus not limited by the lower speed limit towing. Always a trade off.

Best campers for seniors? | Good Sam Community

23 Replies

JimBollman
Explorer
May 01, 2016
Friends have a Class B based on a Dodge Sprinter van. Diesel that gets around 20mpg, 2 steps up from the ground, 20 feet long park anywhere. A used one might fit your budget. I believe there bed has storage under it so you don't have to tear down the bed all the time.
profdant139
Explorer II
Apr 26, 2016
Someone needs to invent a 12 volt micro-mini-escalator to get up those stairs to the bed! Maybe make it out of an old treadmill, like the one gathering dust in my garage . . . .
1handyhubby
Explorer
Apr 25, 2016
We appreciate the opinions. We'll be sticking with a truck camper. We really like all of the conveniences they provide. And I really don't like to tow anything. A basement model is probably what we will go for. We step up into the truck with no issues (4" lift) and the steps into the camper are fine, it's just the climbing into and out of bed that the wife hates. I'm sure we'll find something that works for us.
jimh406
Explorer III
Apr 25, 2016
PatRenee wrote:
Check out Open Range.... very well built....we have the 323 RLS..... great for full time old folks...

That's huge! :)
PatRenee
Explorer
Apr 25, 2016
Check out Open Range.... very well built....we have the 323 RLS..... great for full time old folks...
monkey44
Nomad II
Apr 25, 2016
The very reason we still have a TC is for taking it with us every time we feel like or leaving it at a campsite.

Many times we travel back roads or over some access roads in parks that are not so good for trailers but fine for TC. That trade off is not something we are willing to make. Getting in and out of a bed it not that big a deal, at least not yet, and we're not spring chickens anymore (70's) ...

We don't off road or back road as much as in the past, but we don't like the idea of dropping our house off unless we have to, and most often, we don't. But with a TC we have that choice - with a TT, 5'er, and most MH, you don't. Probably a "B" would be next best...as it goes anywhere a TC can go.

The main difference is the bed - make it up every time, break it down? Nahhh, I don't think so.
bjbear
Explorer
Apr 25, 2016
mkirsch wrote:
My initial thought on this is: Not a truck camper.

Many people cite the ability to go "off road" and "into remote places" as reasons why they'd want to keep the truck camper, but if your creaky old joints are giving you fits climbing in and out of the camper, and in and out of the bed, how far off the road are you really going to want to go?

You're not going to want to have to navigate that rough terrain any more than you want to get in and out of that bed! Do you really want to trudge out to the main road for help if you manage to strand yourself? What about health emergencies?

Just sayin', if the minor act of getting in and out of bed is such a major concern, there are some other bigger picture items to consider as well...

We have a little different view on this........ We went from a 36 foot toy hauler to a 10 - 1/2 foot truck camper and really like it. One of the great things about it is because it is so small, we can fit into just about any campsite. And a big advantage, is that we often don't worry about making reservations even in real popular areas because there always seems to be a small spot in the overflow we can get. Because we are self contained (solar), this has worked well for us.

As far as the bed goes, we found that if you go with a "basement model" the distance from the floor to the bed is much less in other models. The flip side however is that the steps to get into the camper are higher. It is definitely a trade off.
phillyg
Explorer II
Apr 25, 2016
Arent the 60's the new 40s, or something like that? Still, I wouldn't want to climb up to a bed. Any FW is going to have the entry steps plus a couple more steps to the upper area. A Class A and TT will only have entry steps.
Butch50
Explorer
Apr 25, 2016
This is just the reason my wife and I went to a small MH from the TCer. She broke her ankle very badly a few years back and she lost some sense of balance and it bothered her getting into the camper. We had a nice NL 10 2 CDSE with a 2013 Ram dually 4X4 and decided to go back to a MH. I tow a Subaru Cross Trek to go out explore the back roads but have a nice unit to come home to. We are only 25'long and have twin beds in the back so we have the 3 steps to get into the unit and then that is all the steps we have.

We are both into our late 60s so this is the route we took.
Alabama_Jim
Explorer
Apr 25, 2016
There are so many TT's out there it is hard to suggest one. I do believe you should look for an island bed so each person can get into bed without climbing over another. We are in our late 60's and had to replace the thin mattress that came in ours, due to back aches. We ordered an 11 inch Nuform with memory foam on top from Overstock dot com. That did the trick. If you like the 50's and 60's retro look, Take a look at the Whitewater Retro by Riverside mfg. The have 18 ft and a 24 ft model that are very nice. Ours is a 24 ft model 195. Best wishes on your hunt and may you have good safe fun.