Help needed: deciding between 2 Travel Lite Campers

[ajablaja]

Good afternoon! I am new to this community, and my husband and I are deciding between two types of truck campers, but we are torn due to payload capacity on our truck. Please give me some feedback if you could. I might be a bit paranoid about going over payload capacity. Thanks for reading!

Truck: Chevy Silverado 2010 1500 (truck dealer calculated payload to be about 1654 lbs).

Truck campers we are looking at:
- Travel Lite Air (weighs around 1100 lbs) Really cool camper, but has much very little to no storage, and no shower area for storage or portapotty).

- Travel Lite 770R Super Lite (weighs around 1300 lbs). Has a small shower for storage and porta potty and more storage for us. This is the one I really like.

Both campers are nice and suitable for us, but the 770R is a bit more lux since we'd have more space for storage and a porta potty.

The 770R + human weight + gear would probably equal around 1800 lbs, and the Air would probably be 1600 (just about payload capacity). Is going 150 lbs over payload capacity going to be a huge deal? We are planning on getting air bags either way of course. Any recommendations and advice would be greatly appreciated, as we want our truck to be in good shape after a ton of road trips. Thanks!

[Wardster]

SidecarFlip wrote:
You get what you pay for like anything.

Understood, and I definitely agree with this statement.

[languiduck]

ajablaja wrote:

GeoBoy wrote:
They should seriously consider the Northstar Vista before they get stuck with a bad TC.

Would a Northstar weigh less than 1500 lbs? Our payload capacity is 1650 lbs...that is why we were looking at travel lite. We would prefer a Four Wheel camper...but their price tag is a bit steep.

If anyone has any suggestions for lightweight (less than 1500 lbs) campers, I'm all ears...but unfortunately, Travel Lite makes a camper that weighs less than a popup. Suggestions appreciated. Thanks!

They aren't the only ones who make a camper in your price point and weight. I can confirm that their sticker weight on my old TL was not real world. I know I'm harping on them, I just can't stress enough how quickly and far away you should run from that brand.

[SidecarFlip]

Wardster wrote:

SidecarFlip wrote:
Actually, any camper with 'Lite' in it's name scares me. 'Lite' in the RV world seems to allude heavy and poor build. When I think of 'Lite' I think of beer and yogurt, not campers.....lol

As a Northern-Lite owner, I have to disagree.

Some are better built than others. What I'm alluding to is the term 'lite' There is nothing 'Lite' about TC's in general. It's a buzzword and nothing more.

You get what you pay for like anything.

Get into a Hallmark or a 4 wheel camper or Northern 'Lite', the build quality will be on par with the price.

From what I've read online, Travel Lite is a sub par build. Whether it is or not, I don't know as I don't have one and from what I've read, I would not consider owning one.

[ajablaja]

FlyfisherBob wrote:
FYI;
Do not believe the Travel Lite sticker on the back of camper. Mine was off by 200lbs.

Great camper if built right.

That is one strange business with all the issues they had in the past. Hope things are better now.
Bob

Do you have a travel lite?

[ajablaja]

Now also looking at the Four Wheel Hawk (although not as comfy on the inside, its probably more durable).The Hallmark expedition would be great as well, but a little more on the pricy side.

[Wardster]

SidecarFlip wrote:
Actually, any camper with 'Lite' in it's name scares me. 'Lite' in the RV world seems to allude heavy and poor build. When I think of 'Lite' I think of beer and yogurt, not campers.....lol

As a Northern-Lite owner, I have to disagree.

[ajablaja]

GeoBoy wrote:
They should seriously consider the Northstar Vista before they get stuck with a bad TC.

Would a Northstar weigh less than 1500 lbs? Our payload capacity is 1650 lbs...that is why we were looking at travel lite. We would prefer a Four Wheel camper...but their price tag is a bit steep.

If anyone has any suggestions for lightweight (less than 1500 lbs) campers, I'm all ears...but unfortunately, Travel Lite makes a camper that weighs less than a popup. Suggestions appreciated. Thanks!

[GeoBoy]

They should seriously consider the Northstar Vista before they get stuck with a bad TC.

[SidecarFlip]

Just spent the last 45 minutes surfing the web looking at Travel Lite comments. Seems most are negative and some are downright nasty.

Travel Lite obviously had or have build issues. Don't believe (after reading comments) I'd want to take a chance on one. One negative commenter said he had a brand new unit and the table was warped and the lights fell out of the ceiling because the holes were too big... Scary stuff. he went on to say the cushions lost all their loft right away and the door hinges fell off... All on the first trip out.

Actually, any camper with 'Lite' in it's name scares me. 'Lite' in the RV world seems to allude heavy and poor build. When I think of 'Lite' I think of beer and yogurt, not campers.....lol

[burningman]

I'm so glad I don't suffer from ratingphobia.

[FlyfisherBob]

FYI;
Do not believe the Travel Lite sticker on the back of camper. Mine was off by 200lbs.

Great camper if built right.

That is one strange business with all the issues they had in the past. Hope things are better now.
Bob

[SidecarFlip]

I don't get concerned with the overall weight (camper and truck) but I do get concerned with stopping it.

[languiduck]

Get the one you like, 200# really isn't worth worrying about. Lots of people here really start twitching and are on the brink of heart failure when talking about weights. No one is suggesting you ignore weights, but don't sweat 200#.

Only thing I can add is do some research on Travel Lite. Search and read. My recommendation is you find a very different brand because they are simply awful. I had one, and after a year of constant problems I unloaded it for the first offer I received. Worst purchase I ever made.

[SidecarFlip]

Ranger Tim wrote:
Don't trust what anyone says. Take the truck to a truck stop and weigh it without the tailgate and a full tank of fuel. You will then have numbers to use for calculating your payload. Figure out the wet weight of the camper using Travel-lite's dry weight plus the water, propane, batteries and gear that you will include. Figure on a weight of gear in the truck too. Then compare with the actual truck payload, wheel and axle ratings for your model/year.

You will then have data upon which to base your decision. Guessing is a gamble that may result in happiness or heartache. Be armed with facts and you will probably be happy! Surprises are not welcome when it comes to spending thousands.

Exactly plus never use any manufacturers estimate of unit weight, they all have deflated figures. Good rule of thumb is the light weight of the truck, then with the camper loaded +700 pounds of stuff (you included to get a weight figure.

Manufacturers calling a unit 'Lite' means as much as 'lite' beer...nothing.