Hardshell TC with low center of gravity?
I've currently got a pop-up Palamino Bronco, but want to switch over to a hard shell for convenience. Can anyone tell me which manufacturers make a hard shell Truck Camper with a low center of grav...
Forum Discussion
To get back on topic, I would suggest looking at the newest Lance 825. No, I don't own one, but have it's predecessor the Lance Lite 165-s Xcab, which is the wood frame, less insulation, aluminum roof and siding version from 15 yrs. ago. They have essentially lowered the center of gravity and moved heavier components around to place the weight farther forward.
Look at it's:
dry weight: 1725 pounds, stripped. It's about the same as my old 165-s is 'wet'.
overall width.
height inside 6' 5" (if you are taller than about 6'3, all bets are off. Also, if you get ANY claustrophobia, get a big, tall, wide TC)
tank size.
Instead of Luan they use 2 membrane vapor barriers in the walls. This is a good mildew retardant as the moisture doesn't penetrate.
You can order the four season package, which I wish I had, and doesn't add a lot of weight, but adds a lot of comfort whatever the season.
I hard-core a hard-side, and there is a steep learning curve to avoid pulling the box apart.
I just spent the last 4 days on a rock-crawling jeep trip in the High Sierra (Swamp Lake Loop, Ershim, Red Lake, Coyote Lake, all class 5. Here we are just back home:
Only 3 FUBAR'd rigs along the way this trip) and spent the nights "in the box", back at camp. I looked around to ascertain what up-high weighed what. The cab over is mostly air. Glass Windows weigh a lot, but you've got to have windows. I wish I had no windows around the cabover area. To each person it's either cozy or a cave. After reading a nice piece on this forum about trading to Lexan on some windows, I'm going for it starting with that pesky front, useless window. The only weighty item left up-high is the refer.
Your SRW one ton is surely up to the job here. If not, take it an upgrade at a time on the suspension/tires/wheels. You have an opportunity to be in my favorite place: Over-trucked, and under Campered.
A lot of how your hardside works, off-road is tied to where you store your stuff. Always store heavy stuff down low and potato chips up high. Nothing on the roof. Resist the temptation to add air conditioning (not alternating current). Learn to play with the tie downs loosening them on bad roads, and retightening them to snug for the highway.
Other mfgrs. make something similar, but be sure to check the weight. Some are a lot heavier for the same size.
I would check into the Recycler for a used TC. That's were I found our Lance when we lived in greater L.A. in 2001.
regards, as always, jefe
Look at it's:
dry weight: 1725 pounds, stripped. It's about the same as my old 165-s is 'wet'.
overall width.
height inside 6' 5" (if you are taller than about 6'3, all bets are off. Also, if you get ANY claustrophobia, get a big, tall, wide TC)
tank size.
Instead of Luan they use 2 membrane vapor barriers in the walls. This is a good mildew retardant as the moisture doesn't penetrate.
You can order the four season package, which I wish I had, and doesn't add a lot of weight, but adds a lot of comfort whatever the season.
I hard-core a hard-side, and there is a steep learning curve to avoid pulling the box apart.
I just spent the last 4 days on a rock-crawling jeep trip in the High Sierra (Swamp Lake Loop, Ershim, Red Lake, Coyote Lake, all class 5. Here we are just back home:
Only 3 FUBAR'd rigs along the way this trip) and spent the nights "in the box", back at camp. I looked around to ascertain what up-high weighed what. The cab over is mostly air. Glass Windows weigh a lot, but you've got to have windows. I wish I had no windows around the cabover area. To each person it's either cozy or a cave. After reading a nice piece on this forum about trading to Lexan on some windows, I'm going for it starting with that pesky front, useless window. The only weighty item left up-high is the refer.
Your SRW one ton is surely up to the job here. If not, take it an upgrade at a time on the suspension/tires/wheels. You have an opportunity to be in my favorite place: Over-trucked, and under Campered.
A lot of how your hardside works, off-road is tied to where you store your stuff. Always store heavy stuff down low and potato chips up high. Nothing on the roof. Resist the temptation to add air conditioning (not alternating current). Learn to play with the tie downs loosening them on bad roads, and retightening them to snug for the highway.
Other mfgrs. make something similar, but be sure to check the weight. Some are a lot heavier for the same size.
I would check into the Recycler for a used TC. That's were I found our Lance when we lived in greater L.A. in 2001.
regards, as always, jefe
