RV Net Forums & Other Forums

Nothing much unique about truck campers that I have seen. I also have a 5th wheel in addition to our TC. Both have the same brand of furnaces, fridges, water pumps, converters (the 5th wheel's is larger), the same general propane setups and the list goes on. Most motorhomes or TTs are in the same situation until you get to the high end ones with hot water heat.

Recently I was having a problem with my water heater, an Attwood, not shutting off soon enough. I found the answer to my problem, not on the TC section of this forum, but in a comment made in one of the motorhome threads from someone that fixed the same problem with their Attwood.

Not having it's own running gear is about all I have noticed that would qualify the TC as being unique. We are on our 5th truck camper at the present time and normally will spend 90 to 100 nights a year on the road with it. While we have more "self appointed experts" than do most of the sections, we also have the best trip reports on the forum, in the TC section.

I Originally was looking into Fifth Wheels with IRV2 forum, but soon relized it was more for Class A ers. I checked into the truck camper thread form time-to-time, but not too many new threads. I found that there where limits where you could go in a Fifth Wheel. I just didn't like the idea of sitting at a camp ground paying $30.00 a night. Soon after i joined RV.NET Forun. I have always liked truck campers. The more i researched Truck Campers the more i liked. Off grid camping will be more enjoyable to me, as well as peaceful. I now frequent RV.NET TC forum the most because of that vast knowledge that is being past on weather it is campers any name brand, to stable loads, torklift tie downs, ect.ect. I recieve Truck Camper Magazine twice a week. I read RV parks thread for information. Always check in on the Truck section of RV.net,and the Tech thread side.
I have Narrowed my camper list to five different Manufacturers. So thanks for all great feedback i have recieved so far, and in the future questions i am sure i will come up with.
Scott

I usually stay on the TC forums, but do venture to the "General RVing" section now and then for various posts on other things. today I went to the "RV Parks, National Parks, State Parks, etc." section for info on Zion. I do searches and check out the tech section too. I really do like this website. I like a variety of information so I do the research in areas that I'm interested in at the time. If I don't find it here I research the internet as a whole..

But this is still my favorite. :)

Dak

I'm quite new to the forums, but have been lurking here for several months and have been a TC'er for years. My wife and I just bought an Arctic Fox 1140 Dry Bath as an upgrade to our 2000 Lance 1140 and during the research and purchase process, I found the TC forum to be the single most valuable resource for everything from the camper options (pretty much everything) to the mods to our truck (stable loads, torklift tie downs, etc).

We've never owned anything but a TC, but have looked at other options including tagalongs, class C's, and 5th wheels. In the end we decided that a TC is the most flexible of all the options and best suits our needs.

We're taking our maiden voyage in our new camper this weekend to Ocean Shores, WA with our two girls and dog (the main reason we upgraded to a slide out camper). I've already got a few mods planned for the new camper and looking forward to identifying more (I'm somewhat of a perfectionist and love doing that stuff). First two things on the list are to install a catalytic heater (for elk hunting), and replace the slide out pantry (which is borderline useless) with more functional shelves - I've seen both mods on this forum.

Anyways, I really enjoy the helpful posts and reading about everyone's trips, tips, and even the failures (so I can avoid them). I visit the TC forum almost daily and rarely visit the other forums. I occasionally visit the cooking forum because somehow, I've ended up being the cook for elk camp and I'm always looking for new, adventurous ways to create hearty meals. I hope that some day I can contribute as much as I've learned and look forward to posting a couple trip reports soon!

Thanks for being an awesome resource!

Hi everyone!

Sheriffdoug, what a great and timely topic. With forums, I tend to move to the ones that most interest me at the time or topic I am needing some assistance from. There are two forums, within RV.net, that I visit regularly, approximately at about 60/40%, which would be the Truck Camper Forum and Tech Forum. I have never used the New Topics tab and might look into that. Being able to connect to the internet is sometimes a challenge, due to the very remote locations I tend to frequent, so I tend to come and go from the forums.

Many years ago, I was active on the Escapees forum, due to HDT I use to travel in to support my racing. But when that ended I somehow learned about RV.net, and came here. I have never been to the NATCOA site or look for other TC forums. I signed up to the LOA forum, when I bought my LANCE but found that the forum was too specific and slow. I do frequent a couple of other forums, that mirror my interests in motorcycles and racing, but not part of the RV.net group.

I do not post often, as I don’t have a lot of knowledge about many things, but try to share my experiences. I do enjoy learning more about my own camper, and others from the people that post here. There are prejudices here and other sub forums, within RV.net. I just use my own values, and tolerances, to work through them. It is very rare that I meet someone that is familiar with RV.net, which reminds me not to think RV.net is the center of the RV Forum Universe. Two years ago, I met a couple that does frequent RV.net and I now follow them. I mentioned, to them, that I often post in the TC Forum and he answered back; “Oh, I never go there and would never go there either. I only post in the Coach forums.” I took his comment as he meant it, but the same prejudices work in reverse too; “Oh, I never go to any other forums, other than the TC Forum.” Prejudices can be found everywhere.

Subscribing to many of the TC member’s posts, that I find mirror my interests and quality of their experiences, is how I find the best topics to follow, for me. This often leads me to “Around the Campfires” and many, many others. I don’t PM often, as I find this creates a “boy’s club” affect in that other posters miss the back and forth discussions. These discussions have proven to me, many times, others are reading/lurking and can gain from these auxiliary discussions. I have been following another TC oriented site, non forum, but have found it has grown to be mostly a playground of a very small group of people, that does not encourage participation of others, outside that small group. One of the discussions was about a truck rally and another person asked about the location in the posted pictures and the main contributor thread poster answered that; “the information is posted in the events area.” It seems it would have been easier to have just answered the person’s question. I went to the events sections, but the information was “aged” and had dropped off the events page. It just seems some people just don’t wish to be helpful for others, no matter how experienced or long they have been on the list.

For me, the RV.net forum fits my needs and my interests, when I have the time and interest to visit. I like everyone I have met here, even the ones that don’t think much of me and have stated as much. No matter what the situation, I feel I can learn from anyone.

b

rockhillmanor wrote:

sleepy wrote:

Truth is... why would I need anything but the TC forum?

The day you break down with maybe an electrical or water problem and none of your TC friends have had that problem and a person with a "different but most definitely does have the same guts" type of RV or 'snobs' as you call them 'has' had that problem and could of helped you. :R

After building a full sized cabover TC, and owning TCs since 1970 I've aquired enough experience to be able to add, repair, or replace anything in a truck camper. As I mentioned in my earlier post... I also know who the experts are... and within the TC forum I know who knows and who is guessing.... I can take their advice without sorting out the bad or unqualified advice. (I really don't want to sort the "answers" from the 100's of thousands of possible answers looking for a correct one.) I feel safe with those and what I already know.

I don't need to have someone it a 5th wheel or MH ask me, "How can you stand to live in that little thing?" And We've actually been asked. We've had MH people tell us, "We never see canpers like your's in our Resort Parks." If that doesn't seem snobbish to you then you and I definately think differently.

I don't need to know how to cook in our TC... our refridgerator has icecrean, wine, and Lean Cusine... and milk for cereal... just like at home. If I should need to know how to prepare a dish... I have the internet and my iPhone 5... I don't need to read a forum every day to eat.

I don't need awning lights or flagpoles... I'm trying to blend in... which should probably be the first rule of boondocking. I don't want to read about them either.

In the TC forum I learn where to travel in my camper... places to go.
... in other forums I can learn where to park my camper for weeks or months... about doggie row, or how to walk round and round the campground roads checking out the neighbors. Thats not for me, I want to go - go -go there are new places to see.... As Mark Twain might have commented, "Company, fish, or staying in one place for more that 3 days stinks!"

So, as you can see... I think that I have some things in common with the truck camper owners forum... and not much in common with the other forums.

Trucks with TC's are the true recreation vehicles... totally self contained... no need to plug in, park in one spot for weeks or months, no need for reservations... no schedule... no noisy neighbors...

Most TC owners return you wave when you meet on the road.....

by the way rock hill manor... I looked at your profile. What kind of RV do you have? Are you contimplating a TC?

I regularly vist RV NET Forums and read posts on the various categories. TC, Travel Trailer and Class C Motorhome interest me the most. I also post on the Caravanners Forum(more towable focused fairly heavily visited.)
Caravanners Forum, similar range of RV's covered like RV NET

I like the TC Forum and check it daily for trip reports and usually find other topics of interest. If I think I can contribute something helpful to a topic, I will. I'll check NATCOA and Expedition Portal too. Truck Camper Magazine has some good articles in it and RVLIFE digital magazine has good articles too but also lists events for cities in several western states and has been a good source for new things to see and do.

sleepy wrote:

Truth is... why would I need anything but the TC forum?

The day you break down with maybe an electrical or water problem and none of your TC friends have had that problem and a person with a "different but most definitely does have the same guts" type of RV or 'snobs' as you call them 'has' had that problem and could of helped you. :R

TC forum, sometimes, but not often the tech resources forum, use to frequent natcoa but havent in ages.
I have hard enough time remembering pass words let alone who I am..