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]

The cost of RV living can start at 25 to 50 dollars a night for RV parks or the equivalent with hook ups. Many State parks are now charging over $30 per night.

Then there is the cost of insurance, fuel, maintenance and depreciation. Depreciation costs are huge on a new camper. At a minimum, I would guess we are looking at RV costs of at least $5000 per year. With all the costs factored in I would guess it would motels even at $200 a night would be a lot cheaper for even a month or two of use per year.

I am freshly reminded of the cost of tires. In 7 years and 70K miles, I have had to tires with road damage. That required replacement of 4 tires. This week I had to replace two tires that are 5 years old. That is the maximum life I would consider for most truck camper or trailer tires.

[SidecarFlip]

mkirsch wrote:
A person should be able to say, "You're nuts" and list some valid reasons why they personally would not want to fulltime in a TC, without being called a naysayer and/or derided for offering their opinion.

Should we all just link arms and parrot, "You'll be fiiiine! Go for it!"

Then in 6 months your wife is filing for divorce after 44 years. Oops.

Maybe differing opinions will give you something to think about that you hadn't? We all tend to run headlong into things with rose-colored glasses on.

I know our 5 months of 'matrimonial bliss' in our Lance was quite enough for us and we get along like 2 peas in a pod. Being in a confined space (and the Host will still be confined) brings out some interesting traits, some good, some not so good.

It's like being a submariner. You have to adapt and some people cannot.

I think, if it was me, I'd take a 'trial run' for a couple weeks before making the plunge. Least you'll know if it's doable.

I'm 67 and my wife is 66 btw.

[mkirsch]

A person should be able to say, "You're nuts" and list some valid reasons why they personally would not want to fulltime in a TC, without being called a naysayer and/or derided for offering their opinion.

Should we all just link arms and parrot, "You'll be fiiiine! Go for it!"

Then in 6 months your wife is filing for divorce after 44 years. Oops.

Maybe differing opinions will give you something to think about that you hadn't? We all tend to run headlong into things with rose-colored glasses on.

[billyray50]

JimK-NY wrote:
Clearly preferences in RVs reflect preferences related to camping and outdoor living. My wife and I enjoy traveling, see the scenic wonders, enjoying remote locations. In 7 years of RVing we have never even tried to see if the TV works. We have only stayed in RV parks a handful of times. We rarely have hookups. Others want to travel with the comforts of home. They want lots of space, endless running water, 120 volt electric service, and even their own clothes washers and dryers. They don't seem to mind paying 25 to 50 dollars a night to camp in a crowded RV park and listen to the neighbor's outdoor speakers. Personally as an alternative to that sort of "camping" I would just stick with motels.

Agree with everything but the motels. That's the big reason I went with a TC is because of the cleanliness of decent motels now a days that charge a heck of a lot more than 25 to 50 bucks a night.

[Kayteg1]

Comparing to ClassC build on Toyota I used to have 20+ years ago, my camper is way more comfortable.
Fact is that with Toyota 4-cylinders I was tailgating semitrailers for better speed.
With new Ford I can accelerate any time anywhere.

[Superwrench]

To answer a few replies: known the wife for 58 years, been married 44 years. We have spent two weeks in a 3 man tent for two weeks in the rain. Mostly plan on sitting outside at night and sleeping in the TC during the day. I can't be in the sun. We used to camp off the back of two BMW motorcycles and plan on packing that way. My 3500 Ram dually is an 04 with only 60K miles. I bought it new and maintain it myself. It is a regular cab not a crew cab so I have a greater load capacity. Dodge does not make a pickup in the 4500/5500 class only cab chassis. Besides my truck is paid for. GM and Ford are not an option. In 12 years my wife has not become comfortable hitching or driving our rig. We plan on staying in campgrounds, mostly state parks and federal. We prefer full hook-up but can tolerate water and electric. So we won't be hauling a lot of water. I also plan on skipping most options and some standard like the ladder. After my liver transplant I fell and messed up my back. I can't handle another fall.

[jimh406]

If you are worried about weight, you could also consider one of the other "smaller" Hosts. They still have most of the functionality of the Mammoth only shorter/lighter.

As someone noted, I also don't think there are any small class Cs at a reasonable price that can compete with livable space of some of the newer TCs. There is one advantage though. You can go from front to back without going outside. Still, I'd prefer a short (25 foot) Class A in that case. That could actually be about the same overall length as the TC.

If you aren't going to tow, or take off the TC for rougher terrain, the short class A could be a good choice. I find Class Cs the worst RV possible for me.

[Grit_dog]

Again, the consensus is.....we don't have a consensus!
That's because there is no perfect camper for everyone or every situation.
You have gotten enough good opinions on the pros and cons though.

Me/us love TC. Different scenario though. Full time? As in FULL time. No way. Extended trips, yes. But then again, we're weekend warriors at best and even later once the kids and job are gone I don't see us full timing. For sure we will up our days on the road about 1000 percent, but have too much stuff and other interests.....at least for now. JMO

[Hermes1]

We are also planning to fulltime in a truck camper and have just put a deposit on an Eagle Cap 1165. To those who say truck campers are too small to full time in, I understand and said the same thing until we saw the double & triple slide units, which have approximately as much floor space as a small motorhome. We looked at the Eagle Cap 1165, Host Mammoth & Everest. Decided on the 1165 because of a superior floor plan, at least for us, build quality seemed a tad better and because we plan to install a compost toilet which is essentially not possible in the Host as they put the tanks in the slide with the bath. Because of this they set the toilet (a low seat height) on a raised platform to accommodate the tanks. This would make a composting toilet to high for practical and comfortable use. To the OP, I wish you the best of luck and will be interested to know what you end up with.

[JimK-NY]

Clearly preferences in RVs reflect preferences related to camping and outdoor living. My wife and I enjoy traveling, see the scenic wonders, enjoying remote locations. In 7 years of RVing we have never even tried to see if the TV works. We have only stayed in RV parks a handful of times. We rarely have hookups. Others want to travel with the comforts of home. They want lots of space, endless running water, 120 volt electric service, and even their own clothes washers and dryers. They don't seem to mind paying 25 to 50 dollars a night to camp in a crowded RV park and listen to the neighbor's outdoor speakers. Personally as an alternative to that sort of "camping" I would just stick with motels.

[Devocamper]

we are making the move to a TC from 35 foot fifth wheel because we want to be more mobile and no longer want to deal with trailer tires, wheel bearings ,brakes and hitches also in our state there will be no property taxes on a TC and no registration fees with currently apply to the trailer and no sales tax on the TC purchase. Have a host on order which will be a bit heavy for our current truck but the plan is to replace the truck when we sell the trailer with something in the 14K gvwr range. We have pulled our current fifth wheel for 9 years now and it is nice for long stays but we want to do more traveling and less time in one spot, Also with a TC rather than a C or A you don't have another vehicle to maintain as a toad. good luck to the OP, live the dream .
Mike

[billyray50]

Full timing in a TC. I have to say no. Maybe a Mammoth but the DW not so much. We stayed in Our 11.5 Lance for 5 weeks with our dog and it was closing in on us fast and we were outside a lot. Our solution for our 5 month seasonal stay is a 37 foot TT and our TC.

[SidecarFlip]

I like it...Coach to Couch. I would have changed it from Coach to Roach but thats just me (child of the 60's)....

We have some friends with a barge, Never impressed me. Never bothered me being a dirtbagger.

[NRALIFR]

:B Wrench, don't listen to the trailer dragers, or anyone who calls their RV a "Coach"! They just want to drag you into their black-hole of misery where you can no longer go where you want, park where you want, blow through toll booths for the same price as cars, and you're always praying that the next campground has a pull through available.

Did you know that you only have to change one letter in the word "coach" and it becomes "couch"??? Is that what you want to spend your retirement years on? A couch on wheels?

And finally, if the cost per square foot of living area in an RV is important to you, you just might not be a truck camper enthusiast. Real TC lovers don't worry about that nonsense!!! :B

If the boss is open to idea of full-timing in a TC, I say go for it!

(Everything between the smileys is just joking!)

:):)

[bighatnohorse]

There's no reason to have a pickup truck if you don't need one.
Ditch the truck and get a class A or C with a Jeep or Honda CRV as a tow vehicle.
Your tow will be your daily driver. Your RV for your home.

If you're married to a pickup truck, you'll want to upgrade to a newer truck with a minimum GVWR of 14,000 pounds and a payload of 5K to 6000 pounds.