Hey everyone,We started with an older 45' class A diesel pusher many years ago but decided to move to a 40' 5th wheel simply because we did very little traveling in it. But the 40' trailer is also hard to go places in so we are considering getting a truck camper for traveling in and not so much staying in...(been looking at some of the approx. 12' floor units/approx 20' total length)My thoughts were since we have the dually truck already to move the 5th wheel trailer as needed a TC would make good sense. But as I have started looking at units (used) and trying to learn them it seems to me that they are pretty expensive for the space you get. I am wondering if I would be better off going with a small travel trailer (maybe 20'-22')?I can see some of the draw backs to pulling the trailer as opposed to the TC...and the convenience to just having the TC on the truck. I understand this "hobby" comes with many options/choices and each person has to pick according to their own lifestyle and goals. Any thoughts from those who have had both the smaller TT and the TC?Thanks,Phil

Yep, TC is more costly per sq ft, but they call it 'versatile'for a reason.Genie and I have camped in ours for five or six months at a time with no issues. We have 8'6" Lance on a SB truck. With a long-bed, you have more options for the length. Altho' I'm not sure an extra thirty inches means much for the privacy/activity part, but does allow more storage.We can go anywhere our truck can go, we don't have to "go back and get it" after some exploring.

A TC is probably the most expensive RV around on a dollar/ square foot basis. Then, you have to factory in a really heavy duty truck to tote around what amounts to not very much living space.I have one because I pull a boat, and some times other things, behind it. VA doesn't allow two trailers so my options are MH or TC. Since I already have the dually truck for work it makes sense to use it for a TC. Plus, it gets me 4wd.If I didn't already own the truck or need to pull a boat there's no way I'd have one. I'd have a FW or TT instead.

Truck campers do tend to be more costly than many other types of rvs but the convienence and versatility is hard to beat, although you do sacrifice living space substantially. We had a truck camper in 05 and ended up selling it for a new 2010 32' 5th wheel, as much as I liked the living space once setup at a campground with the 5th, I hated the overall inconvience of not being able to stop in small places easily while traveling through. We ended up trading it in at a considerable loss on an 05 Lance truck camper to regain our freedom back. We tend to "travel camp" rather than just picking one area and staying long term so it made more sense to have the flexibility to stop on the fly and have quick and easy camp setup/breakdown times. With the trailer we always had to find a campground first to drop it at before we can stop and enjoy some areas. Now we flat tow a jeep behind us with the truck camper most of the time, so even though we are towing something again it's much smaller than a trailer and can be detached in less than 5 minutes for use. We can take the jeep and park the truck camper anywhere legally because it's a motor vehicle, unlike a trailer that your stuck with until you reach the campground. Also, gives you extra places to store stuff and you got a spare vehicle in the event the truck breaks down LOL! It's basically like a small motorhome/toad arrangement. When we don't take the jeep I've towed a job trailer to work sites, our boat when we had it and sometimes nothing and just take the camper off the truck at the campsite and use the truck. Plus with 4wd we beach camp every year. Gotta figure out how you like to camp/travel to know what's best for you and those are always subject to change over time. Just try not to make the costly mistake did!Sticky

Your decision depends on what you want and need to do. If you don't need to pull a boat or toys, I'd go with a small TT. I went from a small TC 8' to under 20' TT. The TC took an hour to set up or take down (off oe on truck with manual jacks & a drill), the TT takes 10 min.

Beware that truck campers have extremely rapid depreciation, even more than TT or 5th wheel Rv's. I've owned 4 truck campers and dealers in my area do not like to take them on trade because the demand for them is so low. They are hard to sell on your own especially if you are trying to sell a large heavy one. Most people don't have dual wheel trucks!! If you do purchase a truck camper get a small soft side or light 8' model that can be carried on a short bed truck. Here you would have more opportunity for resale because so many people have short bed trucks! Nothing beats the utility or ease of travel like a truck camper. We were NEVER turned down at a campground, they can always find a place to put you. Once we pulled up beside the office and were told we could plug into the side of the building.However, once you put the wife into a 5th wheel or large TT it's over. They won't consider moving back to a truck camper.

Thinking about getting a TC, but seems to be more costly???

GeoBoy
Explorer
Apr 04, 2016
burningman wrote:
For me it comes down to towing ability. I use a truck camper because I want to be able to to a pretty heavy trailer, so a TT or 5th wheel is out of the question.

However, "Likes to tow" is correct about the wife; I took mine to some RV dealers and looked at some 5th wheels just for fun one day... she went right for the 40-footers! I've been trying to get her to understand that the ones that are huge on the inside are also huge on the OUTSIDE!! Tow it? I don't even want to think about washing it!
I may be doomed.

My wife did just the opposite. First RV was a 8.5' TC, I loved it, she thought a couch would be nice so a 25' TT was purchased. We then retired and decided that the couch and slide weren't necessary for our travels out west so a 22' TT was easier to pull in the mountains. Then one day she looked out the window at the TT and said "you know we were more spontaneous when we had the TC", hence the TC and truck in my signature.
No argument from me, no more extra tires, bearings, brakes and hitches to think about. Enjoy your TC.
HMS_Beagle
Explorer
Apr 04, 2016
I question whether TCs depreciate faster than other RVs. They all depreciate like a falling stone. It depends more on the brand maybe, also a little on the state of the economy. I bought a Bigfoot TC new for $18K, sold it 14 years later for $10K (4 percent depreciation/yr compounded). I bought an Airstream trailer used for $38K, sold it a little over a year later for $32K (15 percent/yr). I bought a class A new for $96K, sold it 7 years later for $42K (12 percent/yr).

In my case, the TC was the star of the bunch.
joeshmoe
Explorer
Apr 04, 2016
Likes to tow wrote:

However, once you put the wife into a 5th wheel or large TT it's over. They won't consider moving back to a truck camper.

I shudder to think when that day May Come. Precisely why I have not taken her to look at trailers or fifth wheels we've only looked at truck campers
kohldad
Explorer III
Apr 04, 2016
However, once you put the wife into a 5th wheel or large TT it's over. They won't consider moving back to a truck camper.

We had a 35' FW when I bought our 8'-6" TC in 2009. Took some convincing to get her to go on the first trip or two but she quickly realized the TC travel style was worth giving up the space. We took our longest trip in the TC last year, a 4,200 mile 4 week trip to Niagara Falls and Acadia. The TC is definitely staying around for a good while longer.
hedgehopper
Explorer
Apr 04, 2016
Likes to tow wrote:
However, once you put the wife into a 5th wheel or large TT it's over. They won't consider moving back to a truck camper.
Not all wives are the same, you know. When we go to RV shows, my wife has no interest in large rigs. If fact she doesn't even want to consider a TC with a slide. Fortunately, we're on the same page. Maybe that's one reason we've been married for 46 years.
jimh406
Explorer III
Apr 04, 2016
I have way more usable space in my TC than I had in my 24 Terry trailer. It comes down to what you want to do. Not everyone likes climbing up into the bed at night.

Since you have a motorcycle, I'd also consider a fifth wheel toy hauler or short toy hauler TT.
profdant139
Explorer II
Apr 04, 2016
I have a very small TT but have been sorely tempted by a TC. We do a lot of off-road boondocking -- but even with a specially-modified trailer, there are lots of places we can't go with the trailer. There is almost nowhere that a well-equipped TC can't go.

But we like the ability to quickly drop the trailer in an isolated "base camp" and then use our truck, unencumbered, to explore the remotest areas (with lots of overhead clearance and a low center of gravity) . So far, that has worked well for us. With a TC, you can in theory drop the camper and keep on truckin', but it seems somewhat more time-consuming to take the camper on and off the truck.

We have slightly more room in our trailer (especially for storage) than you would find in a TC without a slide.

Life is a series of compromises.

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Thinking about getting a TC, but seems to be more costly???

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