Truck Campers 10 years from now?
Being close to the new year, was just wondering what kind of camper our children might be driving .... I can see them being much more " Off Grid ", than what we have now. Using newer designed phot...
Forum Discussion
My two centavos on this topic:
I think we will see a "back to basics" return, both due to tight budgets, and pent up Luddite-ism. Even the tablet market is drying up, as people are tired of buying a new thing every so often to replace the perfectly good, but last year's thing.
Here is what I'd expect to see on TCs, now that European companies are actually dipping their toes in the US market:
1: Remote start and using the vehicle's engine as a generator using an alternator. High end class "B"s do this, even with diesels, so for boondocking, the vehicle's engine does all the work of the generator. Of course, why people want a $30,000 engine to do a $2000 generator's job is beyond me, but that is the fad right now.
2: Better communication between the truck and TC. Things like the truck's radio and XM being able to be used in the TC, or the TC's camera be used in the truck without having to patch wires in.
3: Fuel Cells like the Truma VeGA that use propane, but give you 10-20 amp-hours for the batteries. This doesn't sound like much... but it is enough to allow a compressor fridge to work 24/7 without needing solar.
4: In combination with #3 and solar charging systems, the end of the absorption fridge. The result is that even when in the middle of nowhere, parked at a steep angle, your beer will still be cold.
5: Furnaces and water heaters as one unit, powered by propane, electric, or both. Truma has a model which does this. This saves a lot of space and allows for more versatility. With addition #1 above, one could run the truck's engine for electricity and use electric heat.
6: Oddball toilets, be it cassettes or even composting toilets.
7: A move to composite plastics like Azdel for everything inside, similar to Livin Lite. The RV industry cycles between painted wood and woodgrain, and it looks like newer rigs are going back to being completely painted as opposed to woodgrain. So, expect plastic/composite drawers or cabinet doors.
8: Fancier slide-outs as mentioned above. Maybe even drop-down beds.
9: Microwaves that slide out as drawers.
10: Again, European improvements, be it HEHR double-pane windows, Froli bedsprings (to circulate air under the mattress), more sleek appearance, and SMEV flush stove/sinks.
11: Fancier power distribution systems, like the Silverleaf system for lithium-ion batteries. Since "bringing the grid with you" is the norm, not the exception, moving to higher capacity batteries, with charging and energy management systems is a no-brainer. In fact, I wouldn't be surprised to see inverters like Victron's or Magnum Energy's hybrid inverter in common use, isolating the A/C and all internal electrical appliances from shore power.
12: Ways to cut on weight. After looking at TCs, unless one wants a pop-up, for any sort of solid wall model, it requires a one ton for light models, a one ton dually if one actually wants something comfortable. Maybe Ford's push for their branded TCs may be a jolt in the right direction.
I think we will see a "back to basics" return, both due to tight budgets, and pent up Luddite-ism. Even the tablet market is drying up, as people are tired of buying a new thing every so often to replace the perfectly good, but last year's thing.
Here is what I'd expect to see on TCs, now that European companies are actually dipping their toes in the US market:
1: Remote start and using the vehicle's engine as a generator using an alternator. High end class "B"s do this, even with diesels, so for boondocking, the vehicle's engine does all the work of the generator. Of course, why people want a $30,000 engine to do a $2000 generator's job is beyond me, but that is the fad right now.
2: Better communication between the truck and TC. Things like the truck's radio and XM being able to be used in the TC, or the TC's camera be used in the truck without having to patch wires in.
3: Fuel Cells like the Truma VeGA that use propane, but give you 10-20 amp-hours for the batteries. This doesn't sound like much... but it is enough to allow a compressor fridge to work 24/7 without needing solar.
4: In combination with #3 and solar charging systems, the end of the absorption fridge. The result is that even when in the middle of nowhere, parked at a steep angle, your beer will still be cold.
5: Furnaces and water heaters as one unit, powered by propane, electric, or both. Truma has a model which does this. This saves a lot of space and allows for more versatility. With addition #1 above, one could run the truck's engine for electricity and use electric heat.
6: Oddball toilets, be it cassettes or even composting toilets.
7: A move to composite plastics like Azdel for everything inside, similar to Livin Lite. The RV industry cycles between painted wood and woodgrain, and it looks like newer rigs are going back to being completely painted as opposed to woodgrain. So, expect plastic/composite drawers or cabinet doors.
8: Fancier slide-outs as mentioned above. Maybe even drop-down beds.
9: Microwaves that slide out as drawers.
10: Again, European improvements, be it HEHR double-pane windows, Froli bedsprings (to circulate air under the mattress), more sleek appearance, and SMEV flush stove/sinks.
11: Fancier power distribution systems, like the Silverleaf system for lithium-ion batteries. Since "bringing the grid with you" is the norm, not the exception, moving to higher capacity batteries, with charging and energy management systems is a no-brainer. In fact, I wouldn't be surprised to see inverters like Victron's or Magnum Energy's hybrid inverter in common use, isolating the A/C and all internal electrical appliances from shore power.
12: Ways to cut on weight. After looking at TCs, unless one wants a pop-up, for any sort of solid wall model, it requires a one ton for light models, a one ton dually if one actually wants something comfortable. Maybe Ford's push for their branded TCs may be a jolt in the right direction.
