Thinking of buying truck and TC
Been reading for a while and thought I would ask for some advice. DW and I have had 2 TT's and one MH. Without right now and thinking of going the TC route. Open to all types of 3/4 and 1 ton pick ups...
Forum Discussion
You will want a long bed 3500 series truck; skip the 3/4 ton. If you want a large, hardside camper with lots of options and slides you will most likely need a dually. Having a smaller truck and a short bed will greatly limit your options and living space.
The hardest part about using a TC is getting used to thinking about the weight. They are heavy! Truck's don't have that much payload in relation to what campers weigh; especially if you're talking about trucks with diesel engines, back seats, and 4wd.
For some of the largest truck campers you would really be better off with a 4500 or 5500 truck but then you need to add your own custom bed.
You will need tie downs and an electrical connection on the truck. You will likely want E rated (or higher) tires, possible air bags, HD shocks, HD anti-sway bars, etc.
My rig weighs in at 13,500 pounds loaded with the camper, family, dog, gear, boat, etc. That puts me about 2,100 pounds over my GVWR. Many people freak out if you dare go 1 pound over. Most people with truck campers are at GVWR to about 10% over. I've carefully weighed, analyzed, and built my truck to handle the weight just fine.
I have a TC so I can pull my boat. It's also very maneuverable to get into tight, out of the way camping spots. I also like that there is no personal property tax, tags, inspections, etc on a TC, it's just cargo. (At least in VA)
TC's are the most expensive type of RV on a square footage/dollar basis. But for me, the advantages outweigh the cost.
The hardest part about using a TC is getting used to thinking about the weight. They are heavy! Truck's don't have that much payload in relation to what campers weigh; especially if you're talking about trucks with diesel engines, back seats, and 4wd.
For some of the largest truck campers you would really be better off with a 4500 or 5500 truck but then you need to add your own custom bed.
You will need tie downs and an electrical connection on the truck. You will likely want E rated (or higher) tires, possible air bags, HD shocks, HD anti-sway bars, etc.
My rig weighs in at 13,500 pounds loaded with the camper, family, dog, gear, boat, etc. That puts me about 2,100 pounds over my GVWR. Many people freak out if you dare go 1 pound over. Most people with truck campers are at GVWR to about 10% over. I've carefully weighed, analyzed, and built my truck to handle the weight just fine.
I have a TC so I can pull my boat. It's also very maneuverable to get into tight, out of the way camping spots. I also like that there is no personal property tax, tags, inspections, etc on a TC, it's just cargo. (At least in VA)
TC's are the most expensive type of RV on a square footage/dollar basis. But for me, the advantages outweigh the cost.
