We are not talking old history here for me. I have owned 2 TCS and bought the first one in January of 2012. I had a bad experience as a child in a class c type rig. It was hot, the stepdad was drunk and mom and him fought the whole trip. To top it off, I got a major case of food poisoning. Tent camped on motorcycle trips in 80s, rarely camped in 90s and never in 2000s until relocating to Colorado in 09. Camping at a FS campground (tent) near Pikes Peak one weekend, miserably cold and uncomfortable, the owners of a 11 ft. Lance on a F 450, graciously showed DW and I the light. I eventually had every TC site bookmarked on computer and had walked the lot of every TC dealer in Colorado, building the dream of first TC. It came in January of 12 when a neighbor lady put her 91 F250, 84 Lance 300 and horse trailer down at the corner with a for sale sign. The camper had a bashed rear upper corner, diamond plating covering the ceiling, a disconnected and bypassed water heater but a working stove and fridge. The truck was a 351 powered, 5 spd., 3.55 axle survivor that probably did the job in Oklahoma when it was new but could barely crest a hill in Colorado at 40 mph. with the camper onboard. I often wondered how slow it was pulling the horse as well. I didn't buy the trailer. The truck was a testament to reliability as the ladies dozen year ownership included regular maintenance and it was trouble free for my 21 months of driving it.
That TC and truck combo became an escape pod during the Waldo Canyon Fire when we were forced to evacuate for a week and the place we watched the news on my wife's laptop trying to figure out if there was a house to return to. The same place that this man looked at a woman, 3 dogs and a cat and knew he was home with them wherever.
So, I am off topic OP. That was the best truck and camper I ever had. Thanks to you folks and all your experiences, I too love this TC lifestyle.