After carefully deciding, I flipped a coin and just reserved the Cruise America truck camper for a 2 week 2nd half September trip to ... well I'll start out in Plumas National Forest and see what happens from there. Rented a "C" last year and was thinking about doing that, but then again a truck camper rental should be a better test of what living with a truck camper is like than the "C" (25' C is lower in height and less wide than the triple slide campers I'm thinking about buying though!). And of course if anyone knows a reason I shouldn't do this (besides it being Cruise America!), please let me know! I'll let the list know how things go in 6.5 months with the truck camper rental! cheers,Dave

How does the CA TC's work? Do they provide the truck or do you supply your own?Regardless, it will give you a better taste of what a TC is like compared to a class C. Spoiler alert: TC's are much smaller.

Sounds like fun. The Cruise America TC is here.Here's a pic of it. It's pretty basic, but it will work!Truck Ford F150 XLT SuperCab 5.0L V8 Engine Automatic Transmission 2-Wheel Drive Power Brakes Power Steering Air Conditioning Cruise Control Rear View Camera AM / FM / CD / USB / Bluetooth / Aux Sound System 23-Gallon Fuel TankFeatures Sleeps 3 Energy Efficient LED Lighting Shower Fresh Water Toilet 2 Burner Propane Gas Cooktop 110-Volt Microwave Oven Propane/12-Volt Furnace 110-Volt Roof Air Conditioner 5-Gallon Propane Gas Tank 22-Gallon Fresh Water Tank 16-Gallon Sewage Water Tank 15-Gallon Grey Water Tank 3-Cubic Feet Propane/AC/DC Refrigerator 6-Gallon Propane Water Heater 110-Volt Roof Air Conditioner

What a strange combo, a small fridg in the bunk. Might work. But boy it looks small.

So they rent it out as a combo. Interesting.

Here is the camper that CA orders, with modifications:www.truckcampermagazine.com/news/tcm-exclusive-2016-lance-650/or for the rental side of the story: http://www.truckcampermagazine.com/news/lance-announces-rental-partnership-cruise-america/CA uses a regular 6 gallon hot water heater instead of the tankless (I'd rather try tankless in this small camper!) And no jacks, perhaps so a newbie like me doesn't get tempted to unload the camper. Smart move! 3cu ft fridge, well it's just me and the dog but I will bring a small cooler/ice. I can't live without broccoli for too long ... Supposedly Lance put the fridge in the overcab to increase seating/sleeping in the dinette ... how many people would you want crammed in here anyway and what are they going to eat?? Note locations: The Cruise Truck Camper is only available at our Los Angeles (Carson), San Francisco (Newark), Vancouver (Delta) and Calgary rental centers.Cheers,Dave

Cruise America truck camper ... | Good Sam Community

jimh406
Explorer III
Mar 26, 2016
RobertRyan wrote:
Looks very univiting. No thanks a small Class C would be better

I'm not sure why you quoted my post which was essentially just the specs, but any way ... a small class C would be better for what? This truck/camper combo is a tiny offering with a bed and a place to get out of the weather.
RobertRyan
Explorer
Mar 26, 2016
jimh425 wrote:
Sounds like fun. The Cruise America TC is here.

Here's a pic of it. It's pretty basic, but it will work!

Truck

Ford F150 XLT SuperCab
5.0L V8 Engine
Automatic Transmission
2-Wheel Drive
Power Brakes
Power Steering
Air Conditioning
Cruise Control
Rear View Camera
AM / FM / CD / USB / Bluetooth / Aux Sound System
23-Gallon Fuel Tank

Features

Sleeps 3
Energy Efficient LED Lighting
Shower
Fresh Water Toilet
2 Burner Propane Gas Cooktop
110-Volt Microwave Oven
Propane/12-Volt Furnace
110-Volt Roof Air Conditioner
5-Gallon Propane Gas Tank
22-Gallon Fresh Water Tank
16-Gallon Sewage Water Tank
15-Gallon Grey Water Tank
3-Cubic Feet Propane/AC/DC Refrigerator
6-Gallon Propane Water Heater
110-Volt Roof Air Conditioner

Looks very univiting. No thanks a small Class C would be better
Camp_woof
Explorer
Mar 23, 2016
Thanks so much everyone.

Hmm, that's a supercab CA is showing, the smaller cab. Okay, I'll see what fits. On the plus side, I don't have much of a dog! He's an 11 lb miniature pinscher and likes to sit on top of the center console if the truck has one!

Plastic storage bags, thanks again, good idea in small fridge!

Renting in Canada would be fun, but I can ride my bike to the CA SF/Union city location to pick up the RV!

cheers,
Dave
kohldad
Explorer III
Mar 19, 2016
If you want to try something larger, DW and I rented a Northern Lite Sportsman on an F350 from CanaDream in Calgary.

Camp Wolf - isn't that going to be a lot closer to the right size of what you would be looking for in the future?

Doubt two bikes will fit in a supercab as Cruise America is showing. Two bikes will fit in a crew cab if the seat folds up or flat. However, doubt there will be enough space for a dog along with them. I've done it a few times in my truck. Otherwise, you will need to put them either in the camper by folding down the dinette. Or on the F350, you would probably be able to add a bike rack on the rear hitch. Doubt they will allow that on the f150 unit.

The refrig will work okay. We have the Norcold N300 which is a 2.7 cu ft fridge. It has more than enough capacity for a few days worth of food. Will only accept half gallon containers at best. Sandwich or Freezer bags work well for left overs and saving space.
hedgehopper
Explorer
Mar 19, 2016
Camp woof wrote:

That 3cu ft fridge sucks . . .

might just be stubborn and say to myself there's a lot more room than in a backpack!
jimh406
Explorer III
Mar 19, 2016
Camp woof, I think you'll be fine. Unless the local TC is exactly the same floor plan, I don't think it's going to be comparable. The floor plan in the Cruise America model is pretty open.

It's not going to be luxury, but you can survive a couple of weeks. Keep in mind that TCs are better if you plan to spend most of your time outside and plan activities, so you aren't going to be inside all of the time. You can easily stop along the way to pickup more perishables because you'll be traveling.

Of course, if you plan to stay in one place, I probably wouldn't do the TC.
Camp_woof
Explorer
Mar 19, 2016
Thanks Kohldad.

I'm going to keep thinking for the next week, and maybe go back to local camper dealer and sit in one of his short bed campers again to check for size. ( not quite 5' 7" on a good day I do fit in small spaces! ) I've been a backpacker for years, so might just be stubborn and say to myself there's a lot more room than in a backpack!

There are some factors for the camper, like how does storing the two bikes I plan to bring along work in the crew cab, is the ride quieter for the dog than the banging around that goes on in an RV, etc.

That 3cu ft fridge sucks though!!!
hedgehopper
Explorer
Mar 19, 2016
mkirsch wrote:
Dave Pete wrote:
Wow! Didn't look for holding tank sizes, but sure looks like it checks all the boxes for a "first time" couple, or with one, maybe two small kids. An interesting introduction to a small RV package for those who know they can drive a half ton, but are uncertain about a Class C rental.

Regardless of whether these F150s have the HD payload package, or suspension mods, or if the campers are a specially constructed version that's 500lbs lighter than what normal people can buy off the lot, it's going to give people the idea that they can put just any camper on any pickup truck.

It'll give them a taste, then leave them sorely disappointed when they try to do the same thing with their own truck.

I really think they would serve the community and industry much better had they used F250's even if not necessary.
If you want to try something larger, DW and I rented a Northern Lite Sportsman on an F350 from CanaDream in Calgary.
kohldad
Explorer III
Mar 18, 2016
I have a Lance 815 which has what looks to be the same size bathroom. It is okay for using as a potti, but a real pain to try and take a shower. Except for the spot next to the bed, there isn't any cabinet for clothes or coats so you will be throwing them on the bed and then back on the dinette to sleep. So expect to be moving a lot of stuff around.

Since you are talking about a large and heavy TC, this will not give the same feeling.

About the only thing I think this will give you a feel for is how it is to climb into the bed at night. And even that will be off due to the small bed. I don't think using this as a "feel good" about what TCing is like will be a good example.

I think a better feeling would be the CA standard 25' camper. The vehicle will be about the same size as a full size dual wheel truck and 11' camper. The handling will be similar also, a big lumbering beast. The TS you mention will have more room.
Kayteg1
Explorer II
Mar 18, 2016
I think the High Boy is carrying converted 5th wheel?
Than I wonder if we can consider this baby as extended camper?
Sure looks like slide-in