TCs with slide(s)?

Sleepy,

Back on page 4 Kohldad said he's decided TCs with slide(s), particularly if you can't use them without deploying the slide, do not fit his current style of travel. I say travel, not camping, because that's the way he and I use our TCs at this time in our life as you pointed out. Like he said, after retirement our style may change to where a TC with slide(s) or even another style of RV is a better fit. Sometime we're both in the area and not bogged down with helping the DN get her previously foreclosed and abused home in shape I'll introduce you.
Phyllis

kohldad wrote:
DW and I are looking at upgrading our truck and taking advantage to also upgrade the TC. Been looking at all sorts of different TCs, usually those without slides as we are pretty happy with our small 815 except for no oven, manual jacks, and extra cramped bathroom.

As a joke today, I sent her a link of a Host Cascade double slide. Turns out the joke was on me as she instantly fell in love with it. Having room my DD and SIL to sit and visit with us really appealed to her.

Only concern is being able to use the camper without opening the slides. We make several stops a day and don't want to loose quick and easy access to the TC. Don't think opening/closing the slide is practical as it could mean 10+ cycles per day adding up to 500 cycles per year.

So the question is, for TCs with slides, especially the Host Cascade, can they be used without opening the slide(s)?

P.S.
DS, you can starting having your laughs.

Koldad

After all of the various answers and statements have you been convinced you don't need or even want full access to your next camper even though that was your only stated concern?

And... did you find an answer to your question? And, an answer about the Host Cascxade?

I know that some of the people have themselves convinced that they don't mind squeezing in or having no access at all without opening 3 slides a little bit.

Having full use of my camper is important to me... with the slide completely in and that is what I interprit you asking...

Opening a Slide a little bit is like being a little bit pregnant... when you don't want that to be in the plan.

Being a little bit pregnant with tripletts... OMG!

Sleepy

I don't worry about opening my slide. It takes seconds. Do you worry how many times you open your power windows on your truck?

If you don't want a slide, fine, but not getting one cause you are worried about opening it makes no sense.

ZRX-Steve wrote:

sleepy wrote:

On a brighter note... you are going to love the Platcat Vented Cataletic heater... we set it's wall mounted thermostat and the furnace thermostat... the Platcat holds us most of the night unless it gets really cold... then the furnace might kick on for a cycle (this is a good thing, the forced air furnace distributes the warm air all through the Truck Camper just when you need the boost) The Platcat sips propane and eletricity. Be sure and cover any cat heaters when not in use... dust is a cat killer.

I didn't know that about dust being the Cat Killer. We live in Arizona and dust finds a way to work it's way into everything. Good to know. I'm looking forward to the Platinum Cat. You had a post that perfectly describes my winter camping experiences with the low battery alarm:

From sleepy - I'd wake up when the refrigerator started beeping... low power alarm... The batteries were down enough to starve the control.

I'd start the generator to charge the battery and run the furnace... the were sucking propane... and the idiot lights would finally show 3/4 charge... I'd shut down the generator... to conserve propane... and cut the furnace back further.

We were freezing, the alarm was beeping... and the generator wouldn't start....

So I followed your lead. The new camper has 4 x Group 27 batteries with a total of 420ah, 2 x 160 AM Solar panels on my roof rack + 100 watts stock panel for a total of 420 watts. Next step is the Plat Cat, and if I still need it Battery Warmers. I also followed your lead and bolted the panels together as well as the AM solar Refrigerator C box. I'm guessing that you've generated a good amount of business for AM Solar from people like me following your lead and excellent documentation.

Thanks for blazing the trail!

Steve

I believe that this is one of the nicest thank you notes that I've ever had... even references.

Thank you, thank you, thank you

It makes the documenting and posting of projects well worth while.

Sleepy

sleepy wrote:

On a brighter note... you are going to love the Platcat Vented Cataletic heater... we set it's wall mounted thermostat and the furnace thermostat... the Platcat holds us most of the night unless it gets really cold... then the furnace might kick on for a cycle (this is a good thing, the forced air furnace distributes the warm air all through the Truck Camper just when you need the boost) The Platcat sips propane and eletricity. Be sure and cover any cat heaters when not in use... dust is a cat killer.

I didn't know that about dust being the Cat Killer. We live in Arizona and dust finds a way to work it's way into everything. Good to know. I'm looking forward to the Platinum Cat. You had a post that perfectly describes my winter camping experiences with the low battery alarm:

From sleepy - I'd wake up when the refrigerator started beeping... low power alarm... The batteries were down enough to starve the control.

I'd start the generator to charge the battery and run the furnace... the were sucking propane... and the idiot lights would finally show 3/4 charge... I'd shut down the generator... to conserve propane... and cut the furnace back further.

We were freezing, the alarm was beeping... and the generator wouldn't start....

So I followed your lead. The new camper has 4 x Group 27 batteries with a total of 420ah, 2 x 160 AM Solar panels on my roof rack + 100 watts stock panel for a total of 420 watts. Next step is the Plat Cat, and if I still need it Battery Warmers. I also followed your lead and bolted the panels together as well as the AM solar Refrigerator C box. I'm guessing that you've generated a good amount of business for AM Solar from people like me following your lead and excellent documentation.

Thanks for blazing the trail!

Steve

Thank you Steve for your kind words... and for your detailed description of the latest Lance iteration.

The detailed descriptiom of your nrw camper makes me want to cry. It sounds like this camper should have a different model number.

The 1161 and the 1191, were very successful and over the years they had better materials and constructiond techniques and some unwelcom modifications... like losing windows.

Lance is telling us what we want instead of listening to us when we talk with the $$$$$

I guess my age is really showing... on this one... I just don't want change... and when I gotta go... PSA of 10+ would have me p'ing on the tires.

On a brighter note... you are going to love the Platcat Vented Cataletic heater... we set it's wall mounted thermostat and the furnace thermostat... the Platcat holds us most of the night unless it gets really cold... then the furnace might kick on for a cycle (this is a good thing, the forced air furnace distributes the warm air all through the Truck Camper just when you need the boost) The Platcat sips propane and eletricity. Be sure and cover any cat heaters when not in use... dust is a cat killer.

What are the extra 18 or 20 inches between the dinette and the fridge/kitchen counter used for?
Sleepy

Hi Sleepy:

I always enjoy your posts and your quick wit, and dry sense of humor. I've followed in your footsteps on some of your mods as well including bracing the 1161 slide, and your AM Solar install on my new camper luggage rack. My next project this fall will be the Platinum Cat.

Regarding the 18-20 inches of space, the new slide and dinette is much deeper / bigger than the old one. Big Slide = Big Dinette = Big Bed = loss of use while the slide is in. I believe the dinette makes into a 58x78 inch bed, so close to queen. For us, that's a blessing and a curse. We have an 11 year old daughter and she had outgrown the dinette as a bed, let alone being able to take a friend along. That's the only reason we traded the 2004 1161 in for the 2014 1191. We got the rear tent option as well. On the blessing side, the floorspace is huge, and the dinette is huge. Including the tent, it has 3 queen beds plus the drop down bunk over the dinette. We've had it out 14 times since January including 10 days in the Ouray Colorado area, and this past weekend in Flagstaff AZ.

On the downside, it can't be used with the slide in, and even more important to me is all the storage that has been lost. The two cabinets in the nose are gone. The cabinet by the bed next to the dinette is gone. The big cabinet and small cubby between the bathroom and the dinette is gone (hence the bigger slide / dinette). With the tent option, all the drawers and cabinets across the back are gone. There is some additional netted storage above and below the tent entrance, but nowhere close to break-even. Also, we lost the two side windows on the dinette, though I just read that we could have ordered it with them, and Lance will retro-fit them if I bring it to the factory. Hmmm.

So it's a blessing / curse, though we really do like the camper for my daughter and her friends. If my daughter was grown and it were just my wife and I the 1161 was a much better fit.

Steve

ZRX-Steve wrote:

DoneItAll wrote:
As Sleepy mentioned, the Lance 1191 is fully accessible with slide in; commode, dinette, fridge.
John

My 1st camper was a 2004 1161 (same model as sleepy), and I could use the whole camper with slide in. My new camper is a 2014 1191 with tent and I can use the bathroom, but not the rest of the camper. The new 'super slide' is much deeper, and when it retracts it's pretty close to the fridge. I can barely squeeze by and open the fridge to get a bottle of water from the door, but that's about it. The bed is out of the question.

/s

Then, the least that Lance could do is make the "super slide" an option. Most of us that have experienced 1161/1191 series for the first 12 or 13 years would opt for the standard slie.

Mt first thought when I read your post was... I'd modify it.

Would that be possibe?

What are the extra 18 or 20 inches between the dinette and the fridge/kitchen counter used for?

To say the least... lance has disapointed me.

A used late model/pre 2014 Lance 1191 has more value than before, there will definately be a demand.

Sleepy

DoneItAll wrote:
As Sleepy mentioned, the Lance 1191 is fully accessible with slide in; commode, dinette, fridge.
John

My 1st camper was a 2004 1161 (same model as sleepy), and I could use the whole camper with slide in. My new camper is a 2014 1191 with tent and I can use the bathroom, but not the rest of the camper. The new 'super slide' is much deeper, and when it retracts it's pretty close to the fridge. I can barely squeeze by and open the fridge to get a bottle of water from the door, but that's about it. The bed is out of the question.

/s

Here is another vote for a Lance 1191. Fully usable with the slide in.