Full timing in a truck camper.

[Superwrench]

The wife retires in 18 months and we are planning on getting a truck camper and living in it full time. Were wondering if others are doing this. we are in the process of clearing out our house and making decisions. We plan on selling our TT a Thor Citation 30T and going to a TC so if something happens to me my wife can drive the truck home. She has trouble hitching the TT (Reese dual cam) and backing. We have been camping since we were children 60 years. We started with tents then ultra light off the back of our BMW motorcycles. We are considering taking my Triumph Truxton with us. I currently have an 04 Ram 3500 Dually regular cab CTD Getrag 6 speed 4x4. We are planning on getting a new Host Mammoth. We can survive with out all the junk one normally has to have. We are open to suggestions.

[JimK-NY]

RamblinAnne, it only gets better. It took me about 3 months to adapt to full time living in a truck camper.

[RamblinAnne]

Despite being new to the TC world, I will put my 2 cents in. I have been fulltiming in my TC for a whopping 1 month. It definitely took some adjusting to but there hasn't been a single moment of regret. Just for reference, I am a 29 year old female who isn't crazy high maintenance but I'm not exactly a minimalist either. This was a big risk on my part but if I can do it, I'm totally convinced anyone can. I'm on my own right now but I did just have my boyfriend out for a week to visit. He'll move in with me full time in a few months. He's a large human and the space is tight with two people, there is no doubt. But it's not tight to the point of being uncomfortable. I think having a bed that runs "north and south" makes a big difference when two people are living in there. Crawling over each other to get in and out of bed would not be fun. Like I said, no regrets on the TC. I was considering every option: a fifth wheel, a converted van, even a school bus. I decided on a TC for a variety of reasons. 4wd capability and high clearance allows me to go just about anywhere. Being able to separate the truck from camper is a big perk in case I ever want to upgrade one of them down the road OR if ever one of them needs to be serviced (I won't be homeless if the truck has to go in or I won't be carless if the camper has to go in). Also being able to park anywhere a truck can park is a huge perk. As is being able to tow or hitch something should I need to (I see a motorcycle in my future).

[hotrodfords]

Freep wrote:
Superwrench, that sounds like a great reason to full time. Hit the road, Jack.

+1

[jefe_4x4]

burning man,
I think he meant the Mercedes Benz G-56, 6 speed manual trans. The Getrag 238 is a lightweight. Mopar tried Getrags in their diesel pickups in the 1990's and they were invariably too weak to hold up to that neck snapping 460 pound feet of torque. Same can be said of the Dana 70's of that era.
jefe

[HadEnough]

Been in my truck camper over a year now and couldn't be happier.

I've spent a month here and there traveling with various girls and nobody really complained.

As long as the comforts of home are in place (all your systems work), I think most people will find it enjoyable and fun. After all, it's about where you are going and what you see more than anything else.

Most of the girls didn't enjoy the short showers available due to fresh water only being 50 gallons, but that's what truck stops are for. 😉

Lastly, a lot of women appreciate a nice day in the city. I got my TC into the Mission District in San Francisco and parked in a paid lot overnight truly enjoying the city. I doubt many of the other suggestions here could pull that off.

The smallest traveling machine you can stand to be in is always the best one.

I wouldn't trade my TC for anything. Sooooo convenient.

[burningman]

Isn't the 6-speed Getrag (the Getrag 238) the small trans that was only in the half-tons?
Don't you have an NV5600?
People are saying don't bother upgrading your suspension until you drive with the camper on... that may be OK advice for the usual 4000-pound camper, but you're gonna be packing - by the time its loaded up - probably 6000. You WILL need to beef that thing up, more leafs are in your future. You might even need to step up to 19.5s. Most on here will tell you you need a 4-series truck, I think with the right springs in it, your Ram can do it and I wouldn't trade a low mile earlier one for a new one either. Too many issues and hassles and things to go wrong.

[Reality_Check]

Superwrench wrote:


ROTFLMAO, letting a grown child live in my home? that is the very reason we are considering full timing. I have had a 42yo parasite and his girlfriend in my house for over 2 years. Lazy doesn't work, hasn't in 6 years, GF buys his beer and cigarettes. Except for my wife I have grown to hate everyone. I have seen the nightmares others have had renting. I can't believe the self control I have.

LMAO and shake my head... I had an inlaw that moved because she didn't/couldn't/wouldn't tell the kids to move. I guess that's one way to address a problem.

Self control in my world means taking care of my business. I'd ask them to leave; and that would be the end of it. Probably, from the way you spelled it out, about 6 hours after they moved in. Then I'd go take a trip.

[mkirsch]

Hermes1 wrote:

JimK-NY wrote:
You might want to consider added springs, or airbags or upgraded shocks.

I will share some sage advice from a long time and experienced truck camper, this is the approach I am taking on the TC we just bought and picking up this weekend. His advice is, not to add any upgrades until first driving the truck with the camper, to determine if any issues present themselves requiring a mod, then address them as needed. He points out far too often folks add suspension mods based on what others may have or say and may spend more money than needed or get the wrong suspension mod. Makes sense to me.

I agree with that, but most people don't. It's a common sense approach.

If the rig is so bad bone stock that you turn around and head right back home within 1 mile, then at least you haven't wasted any money on mods, and can go truck shopping.

The truck bone stock should not be scary or difficult to handle with the camper loaded. It should just need some tweaking to get the truck stance right, or eliminate some minor handling annoyance(s).

[Freep]

Superwrench, that sounds like a great reason to full time. Hit the road, Jack.

[Superwrench]

Photomike wrote:
I don't agree that you need to sell your house to full time. I know a number of people that live full time someplace but still own a home that they rent out.

Why I think this is so important is that to sell a house and hit the road is setting yourself up for potential trouble. I also know people who have done that (sell the house) and found after a couple months due to unforeseen circumstances they were forced to move to a stick house and found themselves in financial trouble as they could not afford to buy because with retirement, sickness or other reasons the banks were not willing to finance.

I strongly suggest that if you are looking at doing this you work out a back up plan in case..... Letting a grown child move into the home, renting it to a friend or family or doing something for fall back. I would even say if possible that you rent out the upstairs of a house and move your stuff into the basement or apartment in the house so you have a storage place. Yes you may not be severing all ties but at least you have a back up plan. Many will try full timing but sometimes it takes some work.

ROTFLMAO, letting a grown child live in my home? that is the very reason we are considering full timing. I have had a 42yo parasite and his girlfriend in my house for over 2 years. Lazy doesn't work, hasn't in 6 years, GF buys his beer and cigarettes. Except for my wife I have grown to hate everyone. I have seen the nightmares others have had renting. I can't believe the self control I have.

[Superwrench]

71stpsde wrote:

Superwrench wrote:

GeoBoy wrote:
Super,
You can get a Ram 5500 with a pickup bed. You should also take a look at an AF 1100 series TC with a dry bath., nice camper with fewer slides.

Dodge only shows the 5500 as a cab chassis. Are you putting a bed on it? Also it only is listed with an automatic. I owned a transmission shop and prefer manuals. I used to build 2 transmissions a day. The wife wants slides so she will get them. AF was my choice till I saw the Host.

There is a company in Ft. Worth, TX that makes a custom 9ft bed for the Ram cab and chassis trucks. It's about $10k. http://www.genesistruckandtrailer.com/home.html

I really have no desire to spend $70K+$10 for a bed,then $63K for a camper, for a total of $143K. I would wind up with an automatic transmission which I don't want. Then what would I do with my 3500 with only 63K miles? Give it away? that's what a dealer would expect me to do. The truck is worth a lot more to me than I can get out of it. Find a regular cab 3500 with CTD, Getrag 6 spd, 4X4, and only 63K miles. Why would I want fewer slides? My wife is in love with 3 slides and the room makes the unit more liveable.
It seems folks are big into compromise. I can get a Kenworth with a fresh Engine, brakes, clutch, for $3500 put my 30' TT on the frame and have plenty of room.

[ppine]

I had a nice truck camper for a few years. Toward the end of a 2 1/2 week trip, my long time girl friend turns to me and says-

"Its too small for a long trip, and too much trouble to put on and off for a short trip."

I sold the camper, but understand the attraction. It helps if you are really in love with the person you are traveling with because it is tight quarters.

[ticki2]

Photomike wrote:

Hermes1 wrote:

JimK-NY wrote:
You might want to consider added springs, or airbags or upgraded shocks.

I will share some sage advice from a long time and experienced truck camper, this is the approach I am taking on the TC we just bought and picking up this weekend. His advice is, not to add any upgrades until first driving the truck with the camper, to determine if any issues present themselves requiring a mod, then address them as needed. He points out far too often folks add suspension mods based on what others may have or say and may spend more money than needed or get the wrong suspension mod. Makes sense to me.

X2

X3

[Photomike]

Hermes1 wrote:

JimK-NY wrote:
You might want to consider added springs, or airbags or upgraded shocks.

I will share some sage advice from a long time and experienced truck camper, this is the approach I am taking on the TC we just bought and picking up this weekend. His advice is, not to add any upgrades until first driving the truck with the camper, to determine if any issues present themselves requiring a mod, then address them as needed. He points out far too often folks add suspension mods based on what others may have or say and may spend more money than needed or get the wrong suspension mod. Makes sense to me.

X2