Switching from a TT to a TC

Thanks everyone for your replies. I don't mind if you keep them coming. Pretty much what I was expecting but I consider that a good thing. Palomino Maverick is definitely out. However another contender is Adventurer. Any thoughts?

Whatever I get I'll be hauling it with a 2011 Silverado 3500, DRW, LB.

I'm getting excited and will keep you posted.

I've flip flopped several times.
TC
5er
TC
TC
TT
TC

Get rid of junk, carry less, have fun.
I vote for AF. I have a Host now, but the AF was more solid and higher quality. However, it was way heavier.

Buzzcut1 wrote:
I think it helps to have a backpackers mentality. Load up only what you really think you will use on that trip and forego the rest of the junk. When we first got our Lance we had a 6 day horse show to go to. My Wife and her mother loaded the housewares, they stuffed it with we might wants, wet swiffers with a quart refil, 409, fantastic, large size dish soap, 100 paper plates, 30 rolls of tp, you name it it was there. I spent a day emptying the cabinets so we would have room for things like FOOD, BEER, Snacks, Clothing. Three years later I am still finding never used stuff in hidden nooks.

Man I can relate!
I once found TWO CROCK POTS in our camper-for a ten day trip !
Can't complain too much though,at least the dear wife was helping get ready AND thinking ahead ...:)

One of the things not mentioned is holding tanks. I have an old 11.5 foot non-slide 1988 Bigfoot TC. It has only about a 8 gallon black tank, 20 gallon gray tank and 20 gallons of water. With two people that are frugal with water and take quick showers every other day, three to four days off the grid is no problem. You can extend that by carrying a couple of five gallon water cans, if you can dump your gray on the ground.

We could tow a trailer with additional water, holding tank, and stuff. We prefer not, although we do frequently tow our Samurai. We do have empty storage spaces in our TC.

From what I understand, most newer TCs, especially those with a basement, have much larger tanks. But the price you pay is more weight (approx. 8.3 lbs/gal) and a TC 1 to 1-1/2 feet taller than a non basement TC. My truck is 2WD, with 19.5s. The TC is non-basement, but with an A/C and east/west bed. This puts my TC at 10'3". This can make a difference depending where you camp, and will effect side sway in gusty wind conditions.

From what I have seen, north/south cab overs with slide are about 12 to 18 inches taller than the east/west bed. The basement can easily add another 12 inches of height.

Regardless of what TC you get, there will be tradeoffs. From TT to TC will definitely change your driving habits as well as your camping style.

Wayne

Having had a Lance TC and then 2 TT's before purchasing our new to us 05 Eagle Cap 850 I can only echo what has already been said about the transition from a TT to a TC.

Either the AF or EC would be a great unit and much better built then the Palamino. In TC's I've found that the better units do cost more. I especially like the 4 season capability of the EC's.

SugarHillCTD wrote:
We have had both also.

Going from TT to a TC- you will lose storage space but gain mobility.

When we sold our TT, I couldn't believe the pile of stuff I had squirreled away in all the compartments. Cut that WAY down for the TC.

But if we are away for 2-3 days and spend nights in a CG, we don't unload the TC- It goes with us during the day so we have food and a bathroom. Try that with a long TT.

OP; welcome to the TC forum. What sugar says is so true. We still have both TC and TT...I much prefer the TC. The freedom, ease of maintainance, etc far outweigh having a little extra space. The TC is "big enough" and that's all that matters to us.
Scaling back on all the******you take along is quite liberating also...pull in, put the steps down, open the door...all set!
We can carry bikes on a front hitch, have a rack on our ladder for chairs, a cargo rack in the back hitch for firewood/grill. Everything fits nice and compact. We even carry kayaks on the roof if we want to take them along.
You find yourself using a TC in ways you would not/could not use a TT or other RV; day at the beach, ball game,concert, home base for day hike...we use our TC a lot!

What do you have for a truck?


Good luck, Bill

We have had both also.

Going from TT to a TC- you will lose storage space but gain mobility.

When we sold our TT, I couldn't believe the pile of stuff I had squirreled away in all the compartments. Cut that WAY down for the TC.

But if we are away for 2-3 days and spend nights in a CG, we don't unload the TC- It goes with us during the day so we have food and a bathroom. Try that with a long TT.

After having a 30' TT and 33' BH FW for the kids, I now have the TC for DW and myself. Kids and DW use to laugh when I pointed out TCs, but having camped in one growing up, knew the advantages. After a year of TC camping, my wife has fallen in love of the TC lifestyle - stopping anywhere, go down any road, turn around for the things we didn't see until we passed it - making the entire trip the journey, not just the destination. She even mentioned on the last trip, after a week of camping, she wanted a unit a little bigger with a shower she could actually use it.

The trick is to carry only what you need to and use the back seat for a few items. If you are the type that needs a lot of toys or just in case junk, you won't be able to make the TC work or you will end up with a trailer anyhow. '

Even if the small 815 I have, everything I need fits. I carry the leveling boards, grill, and chairs in the back seat. Everything else goes inside the camper in a closet or cabinet. I make sure that I have complete use of everything without moving anything. Nothing is in my when I stop, either for the lunch or the night.

But I am a very light packer yet have almost never needed anything not packed. Only exception was when I broke down once and needed to buy a $20 socket set for repair. Now there are times when it would have been somewhat nice to have something, but made do without it.

The life-style changes will encompass living out of the camper instead of in it. Plus, you'll be doing more climbing and muttering "excuse me(s)" as you negotiate around one or more persons occupying the camper with you. Sometimes, you'll have to go outside just to change your mind. However, under the right circumstances, the pros can outweigh those cons. Good luck.

Comparing AF and Eagle Cap to Palamino is like comparing BMW and Cadillac to Yugo.
There simply in a totally different class and market.
Loosing the truck bed is probably the biggest downside to a TC. I haul the lawn chairs and grill in the camper. I don't both with firewood because you can find that. I'm not a big fan of a smokey, hot campfire anyway.
If you have a camper with a ladder on the back you can get brackets to hold chair or bikes on the ladder.