Spinoff: Riding while driving

Provided the camper stays connected to the truck, there really is no difference between riding in a truck camper, or riding in a class A, B+, B, or C motorhome, or fancy van conversion, without properly secured forward-facing seats with headrests and properly secured seat belts.

I agree that riding a bicycle, motorcycle, scooter, atv, skateboard or rollerskates/rollerblades, are all more dangerous than riding in a truck camper.

It really baffles me that AZ has a mandatory seatbelt law, but no mandatory motorcycle/atv helmet law. A simple 'fender bender' on a motorcycle can often result in death, whereas in a car there is rarely any injury at all, even without a seatbelt.

Obviously, government mandated 'safety' statutes make very little sense....

Reddog1 wrote:

For those that insist on seat belts, I have to ask have you ridden on a bus lately?

Wayne

Nope. I keep my seat belt on because I like staying in my seat, and if you ride in my car, you will too, or you won't ride. I don't need you turning into a projectile, thankyouverymuch, in the event of a collision. One only needs to see it happen once, to another vehicle, to know that this is not the way to end one's life when in an otherwise survivable accident. It was pretty graphic and awful.

On the other hand, I don't need my government telling me that I need to wear one.

Edited to add that there are enough dangers out there regarding things that one can't control or that one doesn't have any input in. I like to risk manage where I can.

skipbee wrote:
You can't give him a BB rifle, he'll put somebodies eye out! That's the same logic used in banning the riding in the TC. I've heard that the lack of seat belts is the reason. Folks with big rigs, class A's etc. are all around in their rigs. Riding in the back of a pickup is illegal in many States, I spent more time in the pickup bed that in the cab when I was a kid. "To each his own", my Mother always said. To me the danger is relevant, because its everywhere. Some manage with out a problem, others crash and burn. It all depends on karma!

In my opinion, this is probably the most logical post on this subject so far. Each of us will decide what is or is not safe. As Skipbee stated, danger is everywhere. Think about motorcycles, bicycles, are they safe? I have ridden on both. I am trying to imagine how safe a Smart car is on the freeway.

I have ridden in a TC on a couple of occasions. My children have ridden in the TC. I will say, it is not my preference today, but only due to the swaying and bumping of the TC. Other than that, I see it no different than a Class A or Class C.

The last time I checked, in California, with an intercom or window open between the Cab and TC it is legal to have passengers in the TC. I do not recall if seat belts are required.

For those that insist on seat belts, I have to ask have you ridden on a bus lately?

Wayne

You can't give him a BB rifle, he'll put somebodies eye out! That's the same logic used in banning the riding in the TC. I've heard that the lack of seat belts is the reason. Folks with big rigs, class A's etc. are all around in their rigs. Riding in the back of a pickup is illegal in many States, I spent more time in the pickup bed that in the cab when I was a kid. "To each his own", my Mother always said. To me the danger is relevant, because its everywhere. Some manage with out a problem, others crash and burn. It all depends on karma!

When I was young, I saw a TC come off a moving truck, fly about 60 feet into the air, and smash into pieces when it landed in the highway. Pieces of wood, aluminum, appliance parts, clothes, and a hissing propane tank spread out along the highway. My father's driving skills kept it from landing on us.

Make sure those things are really tied down.

Matt B

Camper Passengers


This bunch are riding in the back...

I had no intentions of hauling anyone in the camper...ever. The pass thru was for when parked. In fact, I carry as much in the cab as I can to prevent excess weight at a higher level. And just as an FYI, this was not meant to be a stick in the mud, grumpy grandpa, chest thumping question on whether or not it was a smart idea, more of a curiosity who's done it type thing.

IFFY ? Ask yourself, do I want this responsibility ? Have you ever seen the crash test dummies bounce around inside a vehicle ?

I don't know, maybe this is your plan but I would think along the lines of a divorce lawyer and a pet hotel being a better solution.

I think most states have a law that requires either pass-thru windows between camper and cab, or intercom, for communication with passengers, in order to ride in the camper.

My wife's family owned a TC and the kids rode in the camper. She tells me about the time they went to Michigan and they crossed the Mackinaw bridge. She still laughs and cringes at the same time when she talks about the bridge swaying sideways and they were in the cab over swaying back and forth. That was 40 years ago! Sounds like a lot of fun to me!

RoyB:
"I think different states have different laws about this... I remember reading about one state that required a live intercom to make it legal."

Indiana has that law.