Forum Discussion

Explorer

Jul 10, 2014

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 close to making a decision but one remaining concern I have is After a few trips will I wish I had gotten something smaller. I have plenty of truck (F450) but I'm thinking more about ease of use, drive ability, handling and things like that.

As an example, years ago I bought the Fiver in my sig with the idea when my wife and I retired we would spend a few months each year in it work camping or traveling. For various reasons that never happened. One thing I've learned from experience is for many of the short camping trips and places I go today I would be better off with something smaller and lighter. Don't get me wrong I like it and it's very nice and comfy but I might would use it more if it were shorter, lighter and easier to maneuver.

I plan to use the TC mostly for solo trips pulling a trailer with a motorcycle. I'm thinking one 6-8'week trip a year out west or to Alaska with most other trips being from a few days to a couple of weeks camping closer to home.

So my question is have any of you purchased a TC and later wished you had gotten something smaller for any reason?

Is hauling a larger, heavier TC more work or more stressful than the same trip with something smaller?

Truck Campers

43 Replies

Fastbrit
Explorer
Jul 10, 2014
Like you we sold our fifth wheel to get a camper. So far,after 4 weekends of camping and 6 of boondocking we never wish we had a smaller camper.
rickeoni
Explorer
Jul 10, 2014
I am from the opposite side if the equation. We have a 8.5 foot non slide camper and have often thought of getting a bigger camper but after every trip on FSRs we always come to the same conclusion...glad we don't have to maneuver a unit with bigger overhang. We are now looking at a fifth wheel for those trips when we don't worry about size, and keeping the camper for use in our favorite remote locations where a larger unit just won't work.
soos
Explorer II
Jul 10, 2014
we full time in a mobile suites and bought a Lance truck camper for summer use. We also have an F450, so could "go big".
After looking at a bunch of Truck campers, we decided that for our use- living in it for months at a time, bigger is better. We originally thought we'd use it for our Great Alaska Trip this year, then sell it, but decided that if it was big enough and comfortable enough, we would keep it and use it each summer, which made it more worth the investment.
So far we've been in it for 6 weeks and its so comfortable, we are making plans for next summer already. So, for us, no, we have no regrets about going big. We did, however, have to invest more in it than we thought, with sway bars and stable loads etc.

Sue