She's Home - 1st TC "Adventurer 116DS"
As many of you know from my many posts seeking TC info (Thank you for many helpful responses) I've been shopping for my 1st TC. After RVing in 5th wheels, currently a 36' HitchHiker, for many years I decided on the Adventurer 116DS.
Here are a few initial thoughts:
Why did I wait so long to get a TC? My first night camping I backed (one set of tires) into the campsite, plugged in the power cord and I was done. Wow, how easy is that. Yeah, I know when boon docking and other CGs I'll need to spend a little time leveling the truck.
The 116DS is roomy for a TC. It's large enough I don't feel too confined when inside for hours at the time. And the recliners, they are GREAT. I sat in one for a few hours the first night reading all the literature that came with it and it was as comfortable as any residential recliner I have owned. They are very close together so it's helpful if you like the person sitting in the other chair.
My biggest challenge will be reducing the amount of stuff I'm used to carrying. I know all TCs are limited and this one has good basement storage but nothing like I'm used to. So I'm going to carefully review the tools, chairs, lights, hoses, etc. I'm used to carrying. Inside are lots of cabinets and drawers but no food pantry. Which means I have to develop a new system for inside storage of food, clothes and bathroom stuff since this one is a wet bath.
After deciding on the camper and having my fiver specialty truck bed adapted my biggest concern was how the truck would handle the weight. It did great on the 400 mile return trip from Ohio. I felt it for sure pulling grades and bumpy places in the road particularly but no side to side sway or loose control feeling. Riding over bumps at speed reminded of the feeling you get on a boat when going over a small wave quickly. Solo my truck get about 14.5 MPG at highway speeds, about 9 MPG with Fiver and I got 10.5 with the TC at 65 MPH.
As you can see from the pic below my truck has 13" rails which allows the basement to show. I was considering having two storage boxes made to fit but I don't think it looks bad so I'm not planning on the extra weight. I can use that space for waterproof objects like boards, chairs, etc. The disadvantage to my truck is the height. Being a cab/chassis 450 my bed higher than a regular PU add the height of the basement camper and I'm nearly as tall as my fiver. Since I don't plan on off road camping I don't see a problem with that other than the rear steps are too high off the ground. I need to get an additional entry step.
I weighed the truck solo with me and full fuel at 9680#. Weighed with the TC wet and a few personal items at 14,380. According to ALP's build your own my TC wet weight was 4600#. My weight difference above was 4700# which includes my personal stuff. So their posted weights are indeed accurate.
The only items left for me now is to decide on the solar install and ... Go Camping
Thanks again to everyone for helping learn about TCs!
Here are a few initial thoughts:
Why did I wait so long to get a TC? My first night camping I backed (one set of tires) into the campsite, plugged in the power cord and I was done. Wow, how easy is that. Yeah, I know when boon docking and other CGs I'll need to spend a little time leveling the truck.
The 116DS is roomy for a TC. It's large enough I don't feel too confined when inside for hours at the time. And the recliners, they are GREAT. I sat in one for a few hours the first night reading all the literature that came with it and it was as comfortable as any residential recliner I have owned. They are very close together so it's helpful if you like the person sitting in the other chair.
My biggest challenge will be reducing the amount of stuff I'm used to carrying. I know all TCs are limited and this one has good basement storage but nothing like I'm used to. So I'm going to carefully review the tools, chairs, lights, hoses, etc. I'm used to carrying. Inside are lots of cabinets and drawers but no food pantry. Which means I have to develop a new system for inside storage of food, clothes and bathroom stuff since this one is a wet bath.
After deciding on the camper and having my fiver specialty truck bed adapted my biggest concern was how the truck would handle the weight. It did great on the 400 mile return trip from Ohio. I felt it for sure pulling grades and bumpy places in the road particularly but no side to side sway or loose control feeling. Riding over bumps at speed reminded of the feeling you get on a boat when going over a small wave quickly. Solo my truck get about 14.5 MPG at highway speeds, about 9 MPG with Fiver and I got 10.5 with the TC at 65 MPH.
As you can see from the pic below my truck has 13" rails which allows the basement to show. I was considering having two storage boxes made to fit but I don't think it looks bad so I'm not planning on the extra weight. I can use that space for waterproof objects like boards, chairs, etc. The disadvantage to my truck is the height. Being a cab/chassis 450 my bed higher than a regular PU add the height of the basement camper and I'm nearly as tall as my fiver. Since I don't plan on off road camping I don't see a problem with that other than the rear steps are too high off the ground. I need to get an additional entry step.
I weighed the truck solo with me and full fuel at 9680#. Weighed with the TC wet and a few personal items at 14,380. According to ALP's build your own my TC wet weight was 4600#. My weight difference above was 4700# which includes my personal stuff. So their posted weights are indeed accurate.
The only items left for me now is to decide on the solar install and ... Go Camping
Thanks again to everyone for helping learn about TCs!
