Fulltiming in a TC?

We are planning to full time in our truck camper. It doesn't even have slides!

At the Overland rally we met a couple who have been full timing in a small van for around 15 years? I guess it is just different strokes for different folks.

My Fletwood camper with slide is bigger than ClassC I had years ago without slide.
The 90 HP with Toyota engine in class C v/s 320 HP in my Powerstroke ?
Khmmm

At first I couldn't understand going from a 40 foot trailer to a truck camper. But after reading JimK's comments it does sound like a good setup if you're going to be travelling full-time. It would be nice to not have to hitch/unhitch and take your home with you everywhere you go. You could also do that with Class A or Class C, but at a higher MPG cost and more difficulty parking.

Not yet, but the house is on the market and as soon as I sell it we are hitting the America in our Fleetwood camper.
I still do own 40' bus conversion, but we are just fine with camper and 5 of us fit just fine in extended cab.
Make it me, DW and 3 of Jack Russel Terriers.
Fleetwood is big basement camper with slide, what offers quite a bit of storage and my pickup is one with long wheelbase. I put the camper with abut 16" space left on the bed behind the cabin. That space is used for solar panel, fuel can, 2nd (very small) generator and whatever else we need on the road .
When going camping for long weekend last year, I also put front platform for Honda quiet generator, but don't plan to do it going full time.
I think the biggest problem we will face going FT is small refrigerator.
We like to do big shopping once a month at Costco, so will have to learn how to buy smaller amount of food every couple of days.
Dry and canned food is good option.

You probably would be a LOT more comfortable in a small class C. Or even a slightly larger classC or small class A.

They have much larger fuel, water and grey tanks. All of this is a requirement when you try dry camping for a long time.

I had always wanted to travel in a fifth wheel while full timing in retirement, but the more that I think about it, and the large trailer to try to park it, I am glad that I have a 30' long Bounder and a gas engine. Something about $45 oil changes are nice every 6 months. Fuel filter every 8 - 10 years. So much less expensive maintenance than the diesel engines take.

I am really happy that I do not need to back in a large trailer. I can park my motorhome in really small campsites, where they might be to skinny to back a fifth wheel into it.

And while traveling from one place to another, I can park at night near a city park, or church, and put down the jacks. Go to bed. I do not disturb anyone, and can leave quietly in the morning.

Good luck with your decision!

Fred.

One issue to consider is that if you want to use the truck by itself you will need to unload the camper, otherwise you will be driving with that huge camper on your back all the time. If you are not comfortable unloading then this could be an issue.

Thank you all, great advice. I'm reading the albinorhino journal now.....outstanding, and thank you.

We downsized from a 2700 sqft home in 2010 to a 1300 sqft town home to a 400 sqft fifth wheel last year. Our sons moved out in 2010, and downsizing has been the norm since. We are ready to keep it going until we have what we use.....what a concept, right?

The Mammoth is an amazing rig; even though I've only viewed it online. We are driving in a fe weeks to a dealer in NC to see it and check out all the nooks and crannies.....so excited to do that.

Again, thank you to all of you for the great replies.

Steve

This might be the site that Kerry mentioned - http://www.mytripjournal.com/albinorhino

The Mammoth is huge! I think that you'd be fine. We fulltime in a little class C. We have about 2 more feet of floor length but no slides so you'll have move room than we do. You'll also have larger fresh water and holding tanks. The only concern that I'd have is stability because it seems like it might be top heavy.

slborba wrote:
Kerry, can you ask your wife for the blog web address she is followin; we would like to read it.
Thanks,
Steve

She got the blog off of : www.mytripjournal.com
Shes reading about Dave and Cindy full timing in a truck camper.
Hopefully you can find it

We did it for a while. Storage was not a problem. the biggest problem was during the winter months when it gets dark early and you head indoors. Comfortable seating is the problem that we encountered. We made some adjustments but it was still uncomfortable. We put in a couple of lazyboys but there was no where to go except in the chair. During the summer there is always outside.