Truck Campers Ain't For Everyone
I was in a large truck camper dealer last week and noticed a brand new (looking) 11' 6" TC on their lot marked "Used". He told me someone had bought it two weeks before, keep it 9 days and returned i...
Forum Discussion
My basement is bigger than the cabovers of some of the older campers, the camper has more amenities than my home and I have stayed in smaller hotel rooms. I knew the weight I was going to carry was going to be significant which is why I bought my chassis cab. There was no way I was going to replace my existing truck for a truck that was borderline or overweight for its intended purpose.
When I bought my F250, I planned on towing a bumper toy hauler that might have up to a 2000 lb tongue weight. I was not considering buying a truck camper or fifth wheel, so I configured the the truck for maximum payload and towing in its class knowing I had reserve if I wanted a bigger toy hauler. At the time, I was constrained to a 20' length SRW truck due to parking which also factored in to my choice. Upgrading from the toy hauler, I knew I was going to be using the truck at its limits and researched the truck from top to bottom to find out what my real limits were and what was causing those limits - I don't think many people do this prior to their purchase which causes the remorse. The previous camper was heavier than published and I was closer to my limits, so it did require $3k in upgraded components to give me sufficient capacity reserve. I never regretted my purchase and was happy with the result because I was prepared for these changes.
It's easy with hindsight to know where you should made different decisions and much harder to have foresight on where you have not yet been. I try to prepare for I know and be flexible enough to change course when those prior preparations are not enough.
When I bought my F250, I planned on towing a bumper toy hauler that might have up to a 2000 lb tongue weight. I was not considering buying a truck camper or fifth wheel, so I configured the the truck for maximum payload and towing in its class knowing I had reserve if I wanted a bigger toy hauler. At the time, I was constrained to a 20' length SRW truck due to parking which also factored in to my choice. Upgrading from the toy hauler, I knew I was going to be using the truck at its limits and researched the truck from top to bottom to find out what my real limits were and what was causing those limits - I don't think many people do this prior to their purchase which causes the remorse. The previous camper was heavier than published and I was closer to my limits, so it did require $3k in upgraded components to give me sufficient capacity reserve. I never regretted my purchase and was happy with the result because I was prepared for these changes.
It's easy with hindsight to know where you should made different decisions and much harder to have foresight on where you have not yet been. I try to prepare for I know and be flexible enough to change course when those prior preparations are not enough.
