Importance of accessing TC without opening a slide.
I have seen a few comments on TC forums and other RV forums regarding the benefit of entering without having to open a slide. I was just wondering what the thought process is.
Forum Discussion
Crashing for a few hours at a rest stop, etc., isn't really "stealth camping" - that's what the rest stop is for (although many don't allow overnight stays, they do allow a few hours to take a nap). Pulling out your slide at a rest stop is OK because you're allowed to "rest" there.
With stealth camping, you are pretending that the RV belongs to a resident (or visitor of a resident) of the street on which you're parked. The RV should appear to be unoccupied, hence no slides. Often, there are regulations against sleeping in vehicles (RVs included) on the street. This usually is done in urban areas. Stealth camping is illegal and that is why it's "stealthy".
Boondocking is legal camping just not at a campground. Slides are OK for this.
The OP really needs to consider how they will use the TC:
If they are going to be doing stealth camping, then full access without slides IS important.
If they are going to be boondocking in heavily forested/treed areas, then full access without slides MAY BE important (you may not always have room where you camp to extend the slide(s)).
If you want to be able to pull over on the side of the road for lunch or a nap during a long day of driving, then full access without slides MAY BE important.
If you don't do any of those things, then full access MAY NOT BE important. In that case, just go with what you're comfortable with - do you want to take the 30 seconds to extend the slide in order to use the restroom, get into the fridge, etc.? Pick a TC with a slide that gives you the level of access you need.
With stealth camping, you are pretending that the RV belongs to a resident (or visitor of a resident) of the street on which you're parked. The RV should appear to be unoccupied, hence no slides. Often, there are regulations against sleeping in vehicles (RVs included) on the street. This usually is done in urban areas. Stealth camping is illegal and that is why it's "stealthy".
Boondocking is legal camping just not at a campground. Slides are OK for this.
The OP really needs to consider how they will use the TC:
If they are going to be doing stealth camping, then full access without slides IS important.
If they are going to be boondocking in heavily forested/treed areas, then full access without slides MAY BE important (you may not always have room where you camp to extend the slide(s)).
If you want to be able to pull over on the side of the road for lunch or a nap during a long day of driving, then full access without slides MAY BE important.
If you don't do any of those things, then full access MAY NOT BE important. In that case, just go with what you're comfortable with - do you want to take the 30 seconds to extend the slide in order to use the restroom, get into the fridge, etc.? Pick a TC with a slide that gives you the level of access you need.
