Help with a new camper purchase!

[Joshuak172]

Folks,

My wife, our young child, hopefully another child soon, and I are planning on living in a truck camper for about half the week every week for up to the next seven years. It's a long story but I am in the military and we are downsizing as much as possible until I am done with my twenty years.

Having said that, truck campers really appeal to us although we are having trouble finding one that we like. Of course we can find quite a few campers but the interiors are quite different than our taste is. After searching and searching we are about the buy a new lance 1181 and completely overhaul the interior. Our plan is to paint the walls, resurface the cabinets, reupholster the interior, and paint or wrap the exterior. We are a bit frustrated that we couldn't find a manufacturer with more than a few upholstery or exterior paint options and it seems a custom camper manufacturers are non existent.

So, we are looking for a well built and reliable truck camper that is customizable without completely breaking the bank. Our budget is around 50k which is why we have settled on redoing a $30k or so camper to suit or tastes/needs.

I don't want to debate our intention to redo the interior other than we want to live in something that fits or tastes especially if we will be spending so much time in it for the next seven years. Does anyone knw of any manufacturers which are more customizable and who also manufacture a solid shell? Are we picking the best base to start off with, with the lance 1181?

I appreciate the wealth of knowledge on this site and others and we look forward to your responses.

[kohldad]

Another advantage of going with a TT or FW is with a little planning you can go with a 1/2 ton truck. The 1/2 will provide better fuel mileage, lower maintenance cost, lower purchase cost, and much more comfortable ride when empty.

[nodepositnoretu]

There is lots of great advice here,I have been a owner of a slide in Lance camper for many years. I will pipe in with everyone else and say if you were single fine, but a pregnant lady trying to get up in the sleeping bunk over cab ? Nah . Like the others I will say your needs will be met with a 5th wheel or used motor home. Both of which will cost the same if you look as your first idea.
Remember, we have lived in our campers for a long time,it's not a internet guess going on.

[billyg]

Hi My brother in law just bought a 5th wheel to live in full time for two adults. Adding children and space gets tight in any camper. I hope you will give alitle more thought to the tc idea. Thats a long time to be in a box. From what I have read you get more bang for the buck from campers other than a tc. Hope for all the best for you and your family. Bill

[jimh406]

As brholt says, if you absolutely are set on a camper, I'd go with being partially completed with a company like Host that does custom orders.

I can't say I understand the choice of a TC though. There wouldn't even be somewhere to setup a crib. The floors are tiny. Most of us feel like a compromise for even a dog with us. For 50K, you could buy a good used Class A, B, or C that is completely portable by itself and possible to sell. You could also go with a 5th wheel that could have sleeping areas.

One thing for sure, almost all of us trade/change RVs. Doing a really custom modification means that you'll likely have something that nobody else wants, or at least, will not want to pay you what you have it.

When our kids were younger, we traveled for 10 days in a 32' Class A. I couldn't imagine making it with anything smaller unless you were only in it at night to sleep. In that case, extensively modifying it seems like a waste. I expect you'll have a serious problem with storage and could easily have a problem with combined weight.

[usmcshepherd]

I'm career military as well and fast approaching the 24 year mark now. As for your idea, I would also recommend looking at where you plan on being stationed for the next couple of duty stations. Extreme heat and cold could direct you to a particular brand, as well as how you are planning on hooking it up. If you plan on being hooked up to utilities the majority of the time no worries, but if you are going to be boondocking then some manufactures are known to have larger tanks than others. Additionally some campers have larger bunk beds then others...something to comsider with your family and growing children. Lastly, regardless of the modifications you want to make I would consider multiple slides so you and your DW have a place to sit while children are sleeping or playing. This was a huge reason we went with the new 1172!

We did the full time thing with three children for about two years but we did it in a 40ft 5th wheel!!! We originally had a TC and while we loved our 5th wheel we almost instantly missed our TC...however after 2 years my DW was more than ready to get back to a home and enjoy the TC on trips/vacations...she still twitches when I kid about going back to our full-time lifestyle (although a lot of great memories were made that we wouldn't trade for anything).

[brholt]

Best bet in a manufacture that might extensively modify one of their designs would be Host. Check out their website, give them a call and see what they say and report back. I'm curious what their reaction is.

Host truck campers

[I_am_still_wayn]

Bumpyroad wrote:
I think it will be a toss up whether or not your marriage with two kids in a TC will last the 7 years.

X2

[kohldad]

I think I see where/why you are going and desire for a TC, but I do have to question your sanity with the TC choice.

As mentioned, you get a lot more space for a lot less money in TT or FW. A few FW have bunk beds and 1.5 baths which would make things much easier with the kids. If you plan on homeschooling, you will also need room for putting the extra school supplies and books. Though granted, the FW or TT takes up a lot more space to park and harder to move around from place to place, not to mention stealth camping.

In regards to your TC choice, definitely go used since you want to redo the inside. If you went with even a 3 - 5 year old unit, you would save a lot of money without compromising the structure of the unit. Why spend $$$$$ on a new apperance when you plan on redoing anyhow. If you have the truck to carry the 1181 along with all the gear, then it's a personal choice for the layout.

I do question if you would really be happy. Is it truely the interior you don't like, or are you under the misguided notion if you paint and recover to your taste, you can put up with it?

[Bumpyroad]

Bedlam wrote:
Honestly, what you will get out of TC verses a trailer will be much less. Do you already have dual rear wheel truck that handle a large TC? Without knowing more of your situation, a travel trailer would be much comfortable for a family three with one on the way.

If you are set on a TC check out the smaller companies like Chalet, Host or NorthStar which may be willing to customize more than the larger setups.

a very nice TT with half again as much room will cost 1/2 as much as a TC. I think it will be a toss up whether or not your marriage with two kids in a TC will last the 7 years.
bumpy

[Bedlam]

Honestly, what you will get out of TC verses a trailer will be much less. Do you already have dual rear wheel truck that handle a large TC? Without knowing more of your situation, a travel trailer would be much comfortable for a family three with one on the way.

If you are set on a TC check out the smaller companies like Chalet, Host or NorthStar which may be willing to customize more than the larger setups.

[ScottG]

Why not do all this to a used TC? Otherwise your going to destroy the value of the new one. Because while you think you'll have it for the foreseeable future, there will be a day when you want to sell it.

[Gripnriprod]

Interesting plan! This is going to be tough. Is your budget of $50k for the TC and truck or just the TC plus remodel? Anyway, I don't think you're going to find a camper manufacturer that will meet your objectives without paying significantly more than the off-the-line models. And it sounds like your seven year plan will cause you to be looking for a TC with at least one slide out if not more. Slides and solid shells are not common. Not helping you much but I'll be interested to see how this goes so keep posting.
Best wishes!

And there is a custom camper builder here in Alaska but I don't think he builds anything on the scale of an 1181. I suppose you could ask. PM me if you want contact info.