Hey, I'm new to this site and Joining the RV world :) So I've got a 2020 Ram 3500 6.7 cummins SRW 6"4" box and ordered the 2021 Northern Lite 8-11 EXLE. There're 2 things that I'm kinda hung up on and can't decide. (1) Should I really get the A/C? I live in lower BC and the summers don't get to hot here. We might get 2-3 weeks of +30C (86f) but other than that it's bearable. So I was thinking of saving the weight and eventually more sealant and getting the A/C deleted. I'm just not familiar with a TC and don't know if it gets hotter than usual in a small rig like that. (2) Do I need some kind of suspension upgrade? I should mention that the TC I'm getting has a dry weight of around 2800lb. So I was thinking of getting the torklift lower stableload as a start and then go from there. Or is that a waste of time and money? Any advice will be greatly appreciated!

Mammoth that sounds like sound thinking. I too am new. I was looking at the 8-11 also but went with the Wolf Creek 890, which is 500? lbs lighter so I don't plan on doing any up grades. I already have the helper springs. You will know straight off if you do need/want to upgrade. That is a top of the line camper have fun with it!

You will be spending a lot of money. I expect that there will still be hole for a vent if you delele the AC. You probably don’t know if you’ll end up hanging out at Okanogan, etc or not when the weather turns unnormally hot. I’d get the AC, but do get the low profile model which is quite a lot shorter in height.We don’t use our AC a lot, but I do remember stoppping near Yellowstone and on one of those hot nights it was 95 F at dark. Obviously, just a fan would have never cooled off for sleep.Fyi, I got my first TC, but not first RV almost 15 years ago. A lot has changed including the truck, but I still have the same TC. So, I’d say buy an AC to future proof the rig.

Mammoth501 wrote: So I was thinking of saving the weight and eventually more sealant and getting the A/C deleted. Never owned a truck camper, but suspect the AC to be the same as other RVs. Most ACs have a dependable roof gasket, that requires no additional sealant. The weight savings is not much either, so I would recommend getting the AC. Just needing it once in a while, you will be glad you have it.Jerry

We live in New England and ordered our current Eagle Cap sans AC. Don’t need it here and the weight up high won’t help handling.We do have a fantastic fan that is great. If it does get hot turn fan on exhaust and crack the small slider window, or bedroom windows at night, you’d be surprised how well that works.We boondock a lot also, so AC won’t really help us. The ceiling fan runs on 12V.As far us suspension, NL (nice camper BTW) aren’t all that heavy. You’ll probably be fine with the one ton. You can always add Stableloads later if you think you need them.Congrats!

I’ve had 5 truck campers over the years. 8ft no cab over, Kodiak, Snowbird with slide, Alaskan, Cirrus.Try without A/C because in BC there are lots of trees in the way of the scenery but the positive is you can get in the shade. Order A/c pre wire from the factory in case you want to install a roof one in the future. You will want an efficient 2way fan mounted somewhere.Use the camper with the truck before you spend $1 on “upgrades”. Today’s trucks are pretty capable. Use the $$ and time for travellin’ and truck campin in places and elevations where it cools off at night...PS - if you like to camp in the trees I would be tempted to get a quote on a pair of “branch rails” like expedition trucks have along the edge of the roof to help keep tree branches off the body work of the camper.

Buying a new TC | Good Sam Community

Lwiddis
Explorer II
Mar 29, 2021
I vote for getting the A/C prewire. You can easily add the A/C later if desired.

And I vote for getting the TC first and then determining what you need to add to the truck to carry it.
JimK-NY
Explorer II
Mar 29, 2021
I would get the AC even though I don't use mine very often. A TC can get pretty hot baking in the sun on even a moderately warm day. The fanastic fan and portable fan I have do little to help cool the TC. A few minutes with the AC can make a big difference in comfort. It might also help with resale if that is a concern. As to weight savings, the AC unit is going to weigh about 90#. The loaded TC is likely to weigh over 4000# so your weight savings would be about 2% of the TC weight and way less than 1% of the weight of the truck and TC.
specta
Explorer
Mar 29, 2021
Better to have it and not need it than to need it and not have it.
noteven
Explorer III
Mar 29, 2021
I’ve had 5 truck campers over the years. 8ft no cab over, Kodiak, Snowbird with slide, Alaskan, Cirrus.

Try without A/C because in BC there are lots of trees in the way of the scenery but the positive is you can get in the shade.

Order A/c pre wire from the factory in case you want to install a roof one in the future.

You will want an efficient 2way fan mounted somewhere.

Use the camper with the truck before you spend $1 on “upgrades”. Today’s trucks are pretty capable. Use the $$ and time for travellin’ and truck campin in places and elevations where it cools off at night...

PS - if you like to camp in the trees I would be tempted to get a quote on a pair of “branch rails” like expedition trucks have along the edge of the roof to help keep tree branches off the body work of the camper.
billtex
Explorer II
Mar 29, 2021
We live in New England and ordered our current Eagle Cap sans AC. Don’t need it here and the weight up high won’t help handling.
We do have a fantastic fan that is great. If it does get hot turn fan on exhaust and crack the small slider window, or bedroom windows at night, you’d be surprised how well that works.

We boondock a lot also, so AC won’t really help us. The ceiling fan runs on 12V.

As far us suspension, NL (nice camper BTW) aren’t all that heavy. You’ll probably be fine with the one ton. You can always add Stableloads later if you think you need them.

Congrats!
MFL
Nomad II
Mar 29, 2021
Mammoth501 wrote:
So I was thinking of saving the weight and eventually more sealant and getting the A/C deleted.

Never owned a truck camper, but suspect the AC to be the same as other RVs. Most ACs have a dependable roof gasket, that requires no additional sealant. The weight savings is not much either, so I would recommend getting the AC. Just needing it once in a while, you will be glad you have it.

Jerry
jimh406
Explorer III
Mar 29, 2021
You will be spending a lot of money. I expect that there will still be hole for a vent if you delele the AC. You probably don’t know if you’ll end up hanging out at Okanogan, etc or not when the weather turns unnormally hot. I’d get the AC, but do get the low profile model which is quite a lot shorter in height.

We don’t use our AC a lot, but I do remember stoppping near Yellowstone and on one of those hot nights it was 95 F at dark. Obviously, just a fan would have never cooled off for sleep.

Fyi, I got my first TC, but not first RV almost 15 years ago. A lot has changed including the truck, but I still have the same TC. So, I’d say buy an AC to future proof the rig.
Longshore
Explorer
Mar 29, 2021
Mammoth that sounds like sound thinking. I too am new. I was looking at the 8-11 also but went with the Wolf Creek 890, which is 500? lbs lighter so I don't plan on doing any up grades. I already have the helper springs. You will know straight off if you do need/want to upgrade.

That is a top of the line camper have fun with it!

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