Hello. Looking at switching from a large fifth wheel TH to a motorhome or truck camper. Some nice features of a motorhome is that we could stealth camp (keep slides in and not have to go outside) during some of our longer drives. Or in slow driving situations, like stuck in traffic crossing the border to Canada, kids can grab a snack from fridge or go to restroom. The truck campers that we would consider are the Lance TCs with the tent option (models 830, 1131, 1040 and 1191). Maybe there are other models? We would not extend the tent during "stealth" camping times.Two questions:1. Is it possible to crawl through the rear truck window into the camper to access the bathroom and beds? 2. Is the camper door still accessible from the inside with the slides closed? As in, we would not have to crawl back through the truck window come morning time.

I guess alot of folks like us spends the night at a WALMART parking lot or sitting for a few hours at a rest stop when on long trips.When the word STEALTH CAMPING gets used here always scares the "H..." our of me haha...I can envision the police showing up and hauling all of the family off to jail or the property owner showing up carrying a shotgun banging on the camper door...Whenever we show up at a WALMART parking we always go inside and get permission to park there over night...This GOOGLE SEARCH article says it is a "AN ART" however... Definitely not for me and my family on the road... We will ask for permission first...STEALTH CAMPINGRoy Ken

Some campers are usable with the slides in, many are not. You need to go look at the camper in question to see if it is workable for you.As far as crawling through the window, you'd have to be pretty small. The sliding rear windows on late-model trucks don't leave you much room to wiggle through.You didn't specify whether or not people would ride in the camper while underway, but between you and me it just isn't a good idea in this day and age. There are a lot of people who will say that they rode in the camper through the '60s and '70s and everything worked out just fine. Of course it was a different time then. There wasn't nearly as much traffic, or nearly as many distractions, or nearly as many unskilled drivers. Back in the '60s and '70s there wasn't much difference between riding in the camper and riding in the truck because seatbelts weren't mandatory, airbags had not been invented yet, there were no side impact beams in the doors, or rollover protection in the roof, or crumple zones. You were pretty much boned in an accident no matter where you rode. Trucks made in the last 15 years or so have all sorts of safety systems to protect you in a crash, but campers have not advanced in that respect.

Thanks folks. To help clarify. No riding in the TC while underway. As far as stealth, nothing too dramatic, I was thinking of rest areas along the highway where it is not practical or courteous to extend the slides.

Doesn't "stealth camping" exclude a camper in the first place? :@Ever since slide-outs became available on campers, we've known camping while hitched and slides in as - "turtled". :CI learn something new every day!

We've never been asked to leave a rest stop with our 5th wheel. If the parking area is large and I can find a spot where the slides don't block another parking spot or walk way(like an end spot)we put the slides out. Otherwise we leave the slides in for the hours we are there.While traveling we always have snacks and drinks inside the truck and I like to stop every 200 to 300 miles to stretch or get fuel. Always been willing to pull off at the next wide spot in the road or exit to use the "facilities" if needed.Sure like having 400 square feet of room to be in when the weather turns nasty and we are stuck somewhere for several days. Hated it when we only had a 10ft TC to stay in with bad weather for days. Cabin fever kicks in quick.

Stealth camping with a Lance TC w/ Tent Option | Good Sam Community

26 Replies

RedJeep
Explorer
Jan 12, 2015
geotex1 wrote:
Doesn't "stealth camping" exclude a camper in the first place? :@

Ever since slide-outs became available on campers, we've known camping while hitched and slides in as - "turtled". :C

I learn something new every day!

"Turtled" :) LOL. Never heard that before. Ok, I guess I am talking about "turtling."
the_bear_II
Explorer
Jan 12, 2015
We've never been asked to leave a rest stop with our 5th wheel. If the parking area is large and I can find a spot where the slides don't block another parking spot or walk way(like an end spot)we put the slides out. Otherwise we leave the slides in for the hours we are there.

While traveling we always have snacks and drinks inside the truck and I like to stop every 200 to 300 miles to stretch or get fuel. Always been willing to pull off at the next wide spot in the road or exit to use the "facilities" if needed.

Sure like having 400 square feet of room to be in when the weather turns nasty and we are stuck somewhere for several days.

Hated it when we only had a 10ft TC to stay in with bad weather for days. Cabin fever kicks in quick.
geotex1
Explorer
Jan 12, 2015
Doesn't "stealth camping" exclude a camper in the first place? :@

Ever since slide-outs became available on campers, we've known camping while hitched and slides in as - "turtled". :C

I learn something new every day!
RedJeep
Explorer
Jan 12, 2015
Thanks folks. To help clarify. No riding in the TC while underway. As far as stealth, nothing too dramatic, I was thinking of rest areas along the highway where it is not practical or courteous to extend the slides.
mkirsch
Nomad II
Jan 12, 2015
Some campers are usable with the slides in, many are not. You need to go look at the camper in question to see if it is workable for you.

As far as crawling through the window, you'd have to be pretty small. The sliding rear windows on late-model trucks don't leave you much room to wiggle through.

You didn't specify whether or not people would ride in the camper while underway, but between you and me it just isn't a good idea in this day and age. There are a lot of people who will say that they rode in the camper through the '60s and '70s and everything worked out just fine. Of course it was a different time then. There wasn't nearly as much traffic, or nearly as many distractions, or nearly as many unskilled drivers.

Back in the '60s and '70s there wasn't much difference between riding in the camper and riding in the truck because seatbelts weren't mandatory, airbags had not been invented yet, there were no side impact beams in the doors, or rollover protection in the roof, or crumple zones. You were pretty much boned in an accident no matter where you rode. Trucks made in the last 15 years or so have all sorts of safety systems to protect you in a crash, but campers have not advanced in that respect.
RoyB
Explorer II
Jan 12, 2015
I guess alot of folks like us spends the night at a WALMART parking lot or sitting for a few hours at a rest stop when on long trips.

When the word STEALTH CAMPING gets used here always scares the "H..." our of me haha...

I can envision the police showing up and hauling all of the family off to jail or the property owner showing up carrying a shotgun banging on the camper door...

Whenever we show up at a WALMART parking we always go inside and get permission to park there over night...

This GOOGLE SEARCH article says it is a "AN ART" however... Definitely not for me and my family on the road... We will ask for permission first...

STEALTH CAMPING

Roy Ken

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Stealth camping with a Lance TC w/ Tent Option

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