Have You Ever Wished Your TC Was Smaller?
Hi all, another question from a newbie trying to decide on my first TC. I'm looking at an Adventurer 116 DS. The floor length is 11'6", width, 96" and weight with options is about 4600#. I'm getting c...
Forum Discussion
I have had 8-foot, 10-foot and 11.5-foot TCs. I have also had a 32-foot 5th wheel. With each of the TCs, there were times I wish I had a longer or shorter TC. I have never had an interest in a slide-out. I currently have a 11.5 foot, no slide, no basement Bigfoot. It is a 1988, and I have had it since 2004. I semi full timed in my TC for five years.
I think for living comfort, the single most important thing is the floor plan. With the dinning area to the rear and kitchen toward the front, there is no problem with two people standing at the same time. Especially if the bathroom is toward the rear. If the Kitchen is in the rear, and someone is cooking the door is blocked. That makes it an issue for two people standing at the same time. I see it as a small thing, but is can be inconvenient. I do like my oversize U-shape dinning area. It very comfortably sits 4 people and the bed length is the same as my cabover bed.
Storage of stuff depends on your life style. My experience and observation has been that typically if you have an empty space you will find something to fill it with. Do you really need a full set of Pots and Pans? When I discover things in my cabinets I forgot I had, out they go. I now have several empty cabinets.
After all these years, I have adapted to the parking of my 11.5 foot TC. It certainly can be tough on city streets, but doable. Those times I wish I had a shorter TC. Other than city streets, never had a problem.
I have never had an interest in using my TC offroad. Forest roads usually are no problem. Since 2005 I have flat towed a 4x4 Suzuki Samurai for offroading. I also use the Zuke when touring big cities (like San Francisco). There could be times trailering the Zuke could be an advantage over flat towing. I find flat towing more versatile, so TC length is not an issue. If I trailered my Zuke, I would prefer a shorter TC.
I am absolutely okay with my 11.5 foot Bigfoot TC. The floor plan is good, and the wife and I have no issues with standing. If I were to replace my TC, especially with a new one, I would lean toward an 8 or 9.5 foot non-slide molded fiberglass. I would be okay with a basement only because it allows for bigger holding tanks.
Wayne
I think for living comfort, the single most important thing is the floor plan. With the dinning area to the rear and kitchen toward the front, there is no problem with two people standing at the same time. Especially if the bathroom is toward the rear. If the Kitchen is in the rear, and someone is cooking the door is blocked. That makes it an issue for two people standing at the same time. I see it as a small thing, but is can be inconvenient. I do like my oversize U-shape dinning area. It very comfortably sits 4 people and the bed length is the same as my cabover bed.
Storage of stuff depends on your life style. My experience and observation has been that typically if you have an empty space you will find something to fill it with. Do you really need a full set of Pots and Pans? When I discover things in my cabinets I forgot I had, out they go. I now have several empty cabinets.
After all these years, I have adapted to the parking of my 11.5 foot TC. It certainly can be tough on city streets, but doable. Those times I wish I had a shorter TC. Other than city streets, never had a problem.
I have never had an interest in using my TC offroad. Forest roads usually are no problem. Since 2005 I have flat towed a 4x4 Suzuki Samurai for offroading. I also use the Zuke when touring big cities (like San Francisco). There could be times trailering the Zuke could be an advantage over flat towing. I find flat towing more versatile, so TC length is not an issue. If I trailered my Zuke, I would prefer a shorter TC.
I am absolutely okay with my 11.5 foot Bigfoot TC. The floor plan is good, and the wife and I have no issues with standing. If I were to replace my TC, especially with a new one, I would lean toward an 8 or 9.5 foot non-slide molded fiberglass. I would be okay with a basement only because it allows for bigger holding tanks.
Wayne
