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.

[Hermes1]

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.

[bka0721]

Kayteg1 wrote:
When renters is one option, we are planning to go for 6 months.
The house will get locked, water and gas off, alarm set, big mail box installed and friendly neighbor will check it every couple of weeks.
Property values go up, so the house will make money when I go camping.

Sorry. But there is a difference in driving away and turning the corner knowing you will never be back. I believe they call it a "Parachute" or "safety net," or just an extended vacation when you lock the home/apartment and drive away with intentions of returning. If you have done it, you would know, just as when someone lives together and one gets married. It is a commitment. Just like many call it Boondocking when they are dry camping in a Forest Service and or BLM Campground. There is a difference.

While I agree doing some test trips to verify this is the right decision and I have suggested this many times. In fact I have suggested one to try different seasons too, as it takes different skills, planning and preparation for different seasons and weather conditions.

Again, this is why I suggested to the OP to weigh the comments for what best fits his goals and that includes input from both long trippers and full timers.

b

[SidecarFlip]

Only thing I do 'out west' in the winter is hunt. This winter (late fall) will be NW New Mexico for elk.

[JimK-NY]

I also spent a winter (2011-2012) in the same locations: Death Valley, Mojave, and Joshua Tree. I am hoping to go back again. Death Valley is on of my all time favorites.

[work2much]

Jfet wrote:

work2much wrote:
End of June will mark 8 months for us minus a couple weeks at home in March/April. to buy new truck and Taxes... We are in Fairbanks Alaska right now with our 2 60 pond dogs.

We will be on the road for at least 4 more months before returning to Bay Area to see family around the holidays briefly before heading south for the winter to states we have never been.

Yes, it can be done. It's actually pretty awesome.

Did you winter in Fairbanks???

No, we spent winter in Arizona, Nevada and California. Mostly in AZ, Death Valley, Mojave and around Joshua Tree.

The weather today in Fairbanks is superb.

[JimK-NY]

Six months is just an extended travel vacation. I have done that plenty of times and certainly handle that much differently than full timing with no end in sight.

[Kayteg1]

When renters is one option, we are planning to go for 6 months.
The house will get locked, water and gas off, alarm set, big mail box installed and friendly neighbor will check it every couple of weeks.
Property values go up, so the house will make money when I go camping.

[JimK-NY]

I certainly am glad I sold my house before setting out on full time RV living. The house was on the east coast and I traveled mainly in the western US and Canada. Dealing with renters and house repairs can be a nightmare. I just left behind a storage locker with the monthly payment coming out of a credit card on auto pay.

The two years of RV living cost me very little. I averaged about $1000 per month for fuel and several hundred for medical coverage. Otherwise my expenses were minimal. Camping cost me an average of $7 per night. A $15 propane refill was good for close to two months. At most I used $5 in gas for the generator. Even food seemed to cost of less. We ate simpler and had fewer choices.

When we decided to stop full timing, we rented for a year. We could have taken the equity from our previous home and bought a new one. Instead we took advantage of the low mortgage rates when we bought another house.

[Photomike]

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.

[JimK-NY]

Bryan, I see. You are pulling a trailer because you have a motorcycle and a boat.

You don't need to explain full timing to me. My wife and I and two cats full timed for two years in a 9.5 foot camper without slides and without a trailer. Most of the time was spent boondocking or in national park or national forest campgrounds. We had plenty of space for four seasons of clothing, hobby gear, etc. I still have most of the clothing I started with as I had enough shirts, socks and underwear to go 30 days if needed. You mentioned TP. I start to worry when I am down to the last four rolls.

I was happy not to have to deal with a trailer or slides. A motorcycle would have opened up some possibilities for travel where the camper cannot go.

[bka0721]

JimK-NY wrote:
bja, I see you are also hauling a trailer full of stuff. Personally I downsized to get rid of that need. Unless you are in need of motorized bikes, I am not sure why you would need a trailer. Can you explain what you carrying that requires a trailer? It would not change my approach but might help someone new.

Hi Jim.
Not sure if you were referring to my comment, above. But if you are I will just share that I did share what I am doing in the article/s I wrote and linked in the above comment. The big difference is that with Fulltiming there is no going home . . . no chance of changing out from the winter gear to the summer gear. That is what Fulltiming is. The wealthy just jettison one season and just buy new things. For me, I just minimize and carry what I enjoy doing, while out on the road. While these articles are now 3 years ago, they are still pretty relevant. So I would encourage you and others, that are interested, check out the two links below for your answer and towards your suggestion.

Full Time travel in a Truck Camper Part I Clicky

Full Time travel in a Truck Camper Part II Clicky

b

[Eugarps]

SuperWrench,

There are a couple of families fulltiming in truck campers on YouTube. It's worth a search there. They range all the way from a single guy with the handle of West Coast Roller to a pretty large family in a FourWheel Camper. I just searched "Full Timing in a Truck Camper" and turned up a bunch of hits.

My $0.02 and worth the price,

Bill

[SidecarFlip]

Something I've pondered at times, but really cannot do. Being a farmer is instilled in my makeup. Guess my wife and I will remain just recreational campers. Fun, enlightening and interesting to read though.

Thanks.

[JimK-NY]

bja, I see you are also hauling a trailer full of stuff. Personally I downsized to get rid of that need. Unless you are in need of motorized bikes, I am not sure why you would need a trailer. Can you explain what you carrying that requires a trailer? It would not change my approach but might help someone new.

[jefe_4x4]

Any questions?
I didn't think so.
jefe