Forum Discussion

slborba's avatar
slborba
Explorer
Aug 01, 2015

Fulltiming in a TC?

My wife and I are fulltimers and have a 40' Heartland Landmark with a Chev 3500HD DRW 4x4 LTZ...and we want to downsize to a TC. I really like the Host Mammoth.....and yes, I'm doing my research on GVWR issues, etc (that will be a different post).

I'm wondering who is currently full timing with their life partner in a TC. I'm all ears for the great, good, and bad....

Thanks in advance for your comments,
Steve
  • Kerry, can you ask your wife for the blog web address she is followin; we would like to read it.
    Thanks,
    Steve
  • Why not.
    We met a couple (and dog) that were full timing in a pop up/tent trailer. When we met them they were hosting at a state park. They had been full timing for the past 10 months.

    They said something about, "compromises."
  • My wife is currently reading a detailed trip report on a couple and a cat that have been full timing in a TC for several years, and loving every minute of it. The Mammoth is very spacious for a TC. I would think if you are considering this, getting something like the Mammoth might be smart. Three years ago we ran into a couple out west that had been full timing in a Lance 1191 for the past year and they also were loving it. You could always tow a small enclosed trailer to help with the storage issues, just make sure your truck can handle the load.
  • Jim, Outstanding reply and exactly the feedback I'm looking for -Thank you. My wife and I are avid outdoors lovers and our hobbies (other than each other) are all outdoors sports;kayaking, hiking, biking, snowshoeing, etc. We have inflateable SeaEagle kayaks and we have all our gear on a Thule bikerack/cargo carrier combo that I'll hitch to the front.

    Again, very much appreciate your comments.

    Steve
  • RoyB's avatar
    RoyB
    Explorer II
    We are all for the smaller footprint. Takes too much money to keep ahead of the super large RV units...

    If I was setup out West it would make a big difference going smaller. Calling full timing here on the East Side would definitely require more living space...

    I just don't think you can get away from it all here on the East side...

    Roy Ken
  • That Host Mammoth is a real beast and more than I would want to deal with. My wife and I and the 2 cats fulltimed in a 9.5' Northstar Igloo. We went about a year and then my wife returned to NY to help the older daughter with a one year old and a newborn. I fulltimed for another year and my wife visited when she could get away. Looking back, we had way more clothing and gear than we needed. We are no longer fulltiming but still travel for several months a year.

    The "bad" aspects of fulltiming in a TC are the limited amount of space for storage. We did just fine on clothing, cooking, food. We took a lot of camera gear and I brought archery equipment. Otherwise there was little room for additional toys and hobby stuff. Next we did not have big, comfortable indoor seating. Just a dinette and zero gravity chairs for outside.

    The good part is mobility and ease of travel. We could camp in regular forest service and BLM campgrounds without needing a big parking site. Our house was always with us not back at the campground. When driving through a national park we could pull over have coffee, a regular meal, and a nap. Even more important, our restroom was with us. No more outhouses that you can smell from 50 yards.

    If you want the comforts of home, 110 electric appliances, and endless water, you probably want something bigger than a TC. If you want to visit remote areas, then consider a TC. Be sure to add solar panels and some good batteries.