languiduck wrote:
After my Travel Lite fiasco I had decided I was done with truck campers, and most likely RVs in general...at least until I retired and could use a Class A more often. I found this little Bronco 800 and for the price I couldn't pass it up. Knowing it isn't the best quality unit doesn't bother me because I'll get my money's worth for a couple thousand vs 15k for a Travel Lite that was disintegrating before my eyes.
This one has a brand new top, used very little, no a/c or shower/bath which is perfect for me. I may add an outdoor shower wand though. Short enough I don't need an expensive torklift truss to pull my Jeep and trailer, and light enough for my SRW truck.
Time to dig out the cassette potty I guess, although it would only get used in an emergency. I'm actually glad there's no black water tank on this camper...frankly it was one of the parts of an RV that I despised and it took all the fun out of camping. It never seemed to work for me, and I felt like Robin Williams' character in the movie. There was always some kind of smell, leak, drip, or spray and I never want to deal with a black water tank again.
I also used Happijac tie downs this time and I must say that this system has an undeserved reputation in my opinion. It may not be as strong as Torklift but it is strong enough as it's only allowing controlled chaos. I bent some Torklift arms before, and I don't like bending down to my knees to install and remove the arms. Happijac is different and a bit easier. That is all...
I went from a full size hard side Lance to the Palomino, though mine is newer (last year) and I could not be happier. I actually paid less new for the Palomino than I did for my Lance and I bought the Lance 12 years prior.
because of my wife going along once in a while, I had to get a toilet / shower combo which I would have not gotten if it was just for me, I can shower outside (has an outside shower) and poo in the woods or at a campground toilet.
I haul mine on a 1 ton SRW ford so it's plenty light and yes, much less wind resistance, in fact, I don't know it's in the bed unless I look in the mirrors. I average 21 with nothing in the bed, getting 19 with the camper on. Big thing I notice is cross wind at speed. There is no cross wind issues at all.
Not sure about yours but the overall fit and finish in mine is at least as good if not better than my old Lance. Everything is square, lines up and works as it's supposed to. Mine came with LED lights inside and I added total LED's outside as well.
I wanted a side awning so I added a Carefree Bag awning to the side (for my wife to sit under and read...)
I did not get AC and I have not had the need as the whole canvas upper opens up, like sleeping in a tent with no rain fly on.
I did have an issue with the 3 way fridge last summer holding it's temperature so I took the access panels off (upper and lower) and added 2 computer muffin 12 volt ball bearing muffin fans and made an upper baffle from aluminum sheet to channel the airflow across the evaporator. When I had it apart, I discovered that Palomino really skimped on the insulation between the fridge and the cabinet so I went to Lowes and bought a roll of unfaced R13 insulation and proceeded to add half the roll to the space. It's a little tough getting it in but I used a wooden stick and some patience.
Now, between the fans (which are wired to the control board so when the fridge reaches it's set temperature and shuts down, the fans shut off too), the fridge holds an inside temp of 34 degrees no matter if the sun is on that side or not. Big improvement. After I made the modification, it cooled to less than 40 degrees in 3 hours from a hot start. before it took at least a day to cool down.
Overall, I'm very happy with mine and being as low as it is Off the truck), I can store it in the garage in the winter. Bought an old single axle boat trailer to move it in and out of the garage with using my quad.
Sure, I could have spent another 10 grand and bought a Hallmark or a 4 Wheel Camper or an Alaskan but this one fits my personality and wallet just fine.
I think, after your not so 'Lite' experience, you will be fine.
Additionally, Palomino is very good with replacement parts and advice. I'm pretty close to Colon, Michigan (less than 100 miles) so I've gotten to know them fairly well. Brian is the parts and service manager and I need some extras for mine so I called him up and swung by the factory and picked up what I needed. Everyone is very friendly there.
Palomino just about went belly up before FR (Buffett) bought them. Now, evrything is humming along.
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When I was there last fall, they had a couple older Palomino's in the shop. replacing the upper soft sides so people do wear them out. The soft sides are sewn locally btw.
I think you'll be happy with it. Just keep after the roof seam caulk and watch the fit of the 2 piece back door. They did away with the 2 piece door in 2015 and went to a solid door 55" tall. Kind of a PITA until you get used to it but once you get acclimated to it, it's not an issue.
Unlike my Lance, it son't have an oven or microwave but I added a small micro and I never used the oven in the Lance anyway.
Finally, the mattress in mine is actually comfortable, unlike the lumpy thing that came with the Lance that I had to change. I was quite pleasantly surprised.
