CampLite TC 10.0
Howdy, Folks,
To be clear, the following is in no way to diminish anyone's view of the company or their campers. I am simply venting because I have felt so alone all this time.
About three and a half years ago (2016 Jan) I drove two states away to look at CampLite's quality at the dealership, and ultimately place an order.
Originally, I wanted the TC 8.6. I had a 1-ton truck on order, and didn't want any overhang to interfere with hitching up my trailer carrying my ATV and dirtbikes. However, the length of the "L" shaped dinette would not allow a full-size adult to stretch out and sleep.
I had only heard good and great things about the CampLite brand, so I was excited to pick up the camper.
I had to wait a number of months in order to pick it up, as there was nothing in stock apparently. I got the call that the camper was at the dealership, so drove my spiffy new 1-ton to pick it up. It was a beautiful camper, but immediately there were problems: the floor plan was not what I had ordered. It was an absolute mess. I needed sleeping room for three adults, and since my new camper had no "L" shaped dinette, there was no second adult-sized sleeping bunk.
I told the dealer rep that this was a no-go. It was not what I ordered and I was not going to consider the contract filled with the delivery of this camper. They talked to the folks at the factory, said they'd hold over the deposit and have the camper that we ordered built.
I drove back home and returned when I got the call to pick up the camper. The floor plan looked right, so I accepted it and got ready to load up. First thing I noticed was that the jacks would not raise the camper high enough to back the truck under. It required using cinderblocks to raise the camper enough. I was so tired I didn't really consider what that would mean at the campsites when I wanted to unload my camper and reload it, but I sure recognize it now.
Upon arriving at home, I started unpacking the camper and getting it ready to go out on the road. I immediately found that the TV had no working power cord and the video line was smashed/broken. Then I found that the table had a huge portion of the formica peeled away. Later I discovered in the shower that the water line in the wall was not caulked in, it was just pushed in up to the caulk, and the caulk/seal had been broken away from the wall so that it could move pretty freely.
Later I discovered all of the inconvenience of the interior. I am a 5'8" tall woman. However, I cannot see or reach very far into any of the upper cupboards above the sink and dinette. In my old camper, everything was within sight and reach.
I have never used the microwave. I didn't want the microwave. All it does is take up space and add weight to my rig. My camping style is campfire or campstove meals and I rarely have something around that could even power the microwave. I wanted a real propane oven like in my old camper, but it wasn't an option.
The refrigerator was originally an nightmare to use. One night in the dark two buttons got pushed at the same time in some freak accident. It shut down the refrigerator which caused the food inside to spoil, as it was the next morning before I realized the refrigerator was off, then another few hours to figure out how the shut down occurred. Also, the refrigerator has always been very reluctant to switch to propane, even after purging the system. It is always a few minutes of pushing the button, waiting, getting a refusal, pushing the button again, waiting, etc.
The overcab bed is way too high to get into easily without a step stool. I have to buck myself up to get in and then do the "worm" dance move until I get my legs on enough to crawl in. The floor of the overcab is well above my waist.
The L-shaped dinette is not at all wide enough to be comfortable to sit on, either to read or eat or work on the laptop.
The table provided is rickety and unbalanced. It is inevitable that I will hurt my hands every time I try to set it up because the legs do not run smoothly to the open position. For awhile, I got by using TV trays in place of the table. Now, I just snagged the table and flange mounts from my old camper to replace the CampLite table ultimately.
All of the useful cabinetry is at the rear of the camper rather than over the rear axle. If I load out for several weeks, that will put my stores way back in the overhang area, potentially causing C.O.G. issues with the rig. I have since remedied this, but the remedy makes the nice cabinetry largely useless.
Now for the biggest problem I have with my CampLite TC 10.0: The weight.
When I specced the camper at the dealership, I brought all the info about my truck, what I was going to be doing with my rig, what trailer I was going to be towing, etc. I was assured that the TC 10.0 topped out at 2200 lb, as that was how CampLite could get away with selling these units for SRW 1-ton trucks. I was extremely excited and pleased.
However, I believe the camper is well over 3000 lb dry.
I didn't know that there was so much upheaval going on in that company until recently, but still, I am left feeling pretty bad about what looks like a very nice camper.
To be clear, the following is in no way to diminish anyone's view of the company or their campers. I am simply venting because I have felt so alone all this time.
About three and a half years ago (2016 Jan) I drove two states away to look at CampLite's quality at the dealership, and ultimately place an order.
Originally, I wanted the TC 8.6. I had a 1-ton truck on order, and didn't want any overhang to interfere with hitching up my trailer carrying my ATV and dirtbikes. However, the length of the "L" shaped dinette would not allow a full-size adult to stretch out and sleep.
I had only heard good and great things about the CampLite brand, so I was excited to pick up the camper.
I had to wait a number of months in order to pick it up, as there was nothing in stock apparently. I got the call that the camper was at the dealership, so drove my spiffy new 1-ton to pick it up. It was a beautiful camper, but immediately there were problems: the floor plan was not what I had ordered. It was an absolute mess. I needed sleeping room for three adults, and since my new camper had no "L" shaped dinette, there was no second adult-sized sleeping bunk.
I told the dealer rep that this was a no-go. It was not what I ordered and I was not going to consider the contract filled with the delivery of this camper. They talked to the folks at the factory, said they'd hold over the deposit and have the camper that we ordered built.
I drove back home and returned when I got the call to pick up the camper. The floor plan looked right, so I accepted it and got ready to load up. First thing I noticed was that the jacks would not raise the camper high enough to back the truck under. It required using cinderblocks to raise the camper enough. I was so tired I didn't really consider what that would mean at the campsites when I wanted to unload my camper and reload it, but I sure recognize it now.
Upon arriving at home, I started unpacking the camper and getting it ready to go out on the road. I immediately found that the TV had no working power cord and the video line was smashed/broken. Then I found that the table had a huge portion of the formica peeled away. Later I discovered in the shower that the water line in the wall was not caulked in, it was just pushed in up to the caulk, and the caulk/seal had been broken away from the wall so that it could move pretty freely.
Later I discovered all of the inconvenience of the interior. I am a 5'8" tall woman. However, I cannot see or reach very far into any of the upper cupboards above the sink and dinette. In my old camper, everything was within sight and reach.
I have never used the microwave. I didn't want the microwave. All it does is take up space and add weight to my rig. My camping style is campfire or campstove meals and I rarely have something around that could even power the microwave. I wanted a real propane oven like in my old camper, but it wasn't an option.
The refrigerator was originally an nightmare to use. One night in the dark two buttons got pushed at the same time in some freak accident. It shut down the refrigerator which caused the food inside to spoil, as it was the next morning before I realized the refrigerator was off, then another few hours to figure out how the shut down occurred. Also, the refrigerator has always been very reluctant to switch to propane, even after purging the system. It is always a few minutes of pushing the button, waiting, getting a refusal, pushing the button again, waiting, etc.
The overcab bed is way too high to get into easily without a step stool. I have to buck myself up to get in and then do the "worm" dance move until I get my legs on enough to crawl in. The floor of the overcab is well above my waist.
The L-shaped dinette is not at all wide enough to be comfortable to sit on, either to read or eat or work on the laptop.
The table provided is rickety and unbalanced. It is inevitable that I will hurt my hands every time I try to set it up because the legs do not run smoothly to the open position. For awhile, I got by using TV trays in place of the table. Now, I just snagged the table and flange mounts from my old camper to replace the CampLite table ultimately.
All of the useful cabinetry is at the rear of the camper rather than over the rear axle. If I load out for several weeks, that will put my stores way back in the overhang area, potentially causing C.O.G. issues with the rig. I have since remedied this, but the remedy makes the nice cabinetry largely useless.
Now for the biggest problem I have with my CampLite TC 10.0: The weight.
When I specced the camper at the dealership, I brought all the info about my truck, what I was going to be doing with my rig, what trailer I was going to be towing, etc. I was assured that the TC 10.0 topped out at 2200 lb, as that was how CampLite could get away with selling these units for SRW 1-ton trucks. I was extremely excited and pleased.
However, I believe the camper is well over 3000 lb dry.
I didn't know that there was so much upheaval going on in that company until recently, but still, I am left feeling pretty bad about what looks like a very nice camper.
