Newbie Qs about Trucks, Campers and Wives

[bravelion]

Hello! Aspiring future TCer here.

After all my research, reading, dreaming , wonderlust and hand wringing, I'm completely sold on the Pros of a TC, and adequately accepting of the Cons. Or so I think. This compared to all the other options available and based on the kind of urban/city AND nature adventure exploring of the U.S. my wife and I would like to experience. We love exploring downtowns and cities as much as we do nature hikes and beautiful scenery, so we want something that works well for both.

Some basics:
My wife and I will be cashing out of our business and hitting the road. Not retiring forever, but taking a major 1-2 year sabbatical followed by working again at some point in the future. Neither of us can envision 40 years of true "retirement". (We're in early/mid 50s).

We will start not as full timers, but with a lot of "out and back" trips to break ourselves in slowly, work out the kinks, etc., Going further and longer each time, but still keeping our home as a home base for the holidays.

Qs:
1) Does the "out and back" break in period of shorter test trips sound like a good plan for newbies, or is it better to jump in the proverbial deep end and just head out for 1 or 2 months, and return wiser, for better or worse? Neither of us have any experience other than weekend tent camping when the kids were little.

2) I own a 2008 Silverado 1500 CC, SB, 2WD with a 5.3L V8 .
This severely limits our candidate campers. But we already own this truck and it looks like a Lance 825 would fit, and we think we can handle that after crawling in and out of one at the dealer.

On the other hand, we can afford a better truck. I've budgeted $70K for a camper/truck combo, used if needed on one or both. We are willing to spend more on a setup that will provide additional comfort, to a point. It's just hard to know where that point is with no context and nothing to compare it to. And I don't want to let perfect be the enemy of good enough.
What questions should we ask ourselves about that?

3) More of a relationship question, and perhaps related to #2 indirectly, but has anyone had full buy-in from your old lady/man before taking the plunge, then when the reality of the cramped quarters sets in, the "WTH were we thinking?" conversation gets started and it goes downhill from there? My wife claims 100% "I'm in" but asks questions that make me wonder.
What sort of "I wish I had known ..." causes buyer's remorse with the first TC?

I know I can read up and research on these kind of questions, but I'd like to hear current thoughts from a real live community out doing it.

Thanks!

[TangoFox]

I am still working full time, so I cannot take the 3-4 week trips like some people do (and I would love to!). But I take alot of the out and back trips, and I'm relatively new at this.

I started looking for a unit in June 15' and started my research. I called dealers, but no one really wanted to talk to me, so I went to a RV Show, and another, and then drug my wife to one. I wanted her to see what I had, and to tell me what she liked and didn't like in these units. My wife wouldn't accept anything smaller than one of the Lance Mid-Bath Dry Bath models (which of course, is the largest one). So I had basically two choices. I settled on the 1172. I showed her this unit at a dealer, and we were pretty much set. Then I played the waiting game trying to find one used for a good price and taken care of. That came to fruition in November this year.

Keeping that in mind, my truck & my 1172 were under $70k. So you can get ALOT of truck and ALOT of camper for the buck, as long as you don't buy new on both.

As part of our research, we also rented a 25 foot trailer to see if we liked it, and we did a 8 day trip through the BRP and some of the mountains of NC, VA. My wife liked it, but was worried a TC would be too small. We felt a little confined by a trailer because you couldn't necessarily park it easily in a parking lot without drawing a lot of attention.

My wife didn't have complete buy in for the TC until we took our first trip. Now she really likes it. Before, she didn't think we'd really use it that much.

My TC has two slides, a full bath, and full kitchen. It's a little smaller than the trailer (by only about 5 feet) but the space is much better organized, and we feel that it's even more open than the trailer was.

You can see my truck, and my 1172, here: Marathon Trip
My Lance 1172

[jefe_4x4]

For a thread that the OP has called a 'bust' because of changing circumstances, there was an amazing amount of good info for newbies. The only part not addressed was the OP's hinting at the wanting to use the 'stealth' mode in cities and towns not addressed in the above posts. We've done this a lot and find it a rarified atmosphere on finding and commandeering appropriate locations. Also, a TC or very small C; a self-contained rig that can fit in a regular parking place or along the curb, are good choices for cities. The main thing is to go through all the intermediate steps to make sure one is convinced a TC or small C is the way to go, and also to see what you can live with, and more importantly live without in such a small mobile footprint. Our ancient Lance 165-s is only 86 inches wide and the rig is 20 feet long, fitting in a regular parking place. It's been beefed up and accessorized. We are happy with it. We've gotten used to it. Two consenting adults, conjoined by default of the space, enjoying the trip.
regards, as always, jefe

[NEOK]

If you're buying a used TC I would suggest a short trip of a week or two close to home or with a good RV dealer in the vicinity. That way you can get used to the camper and close to RV repair if there are any unexpected problems.

We have a camper that was designed for a 1500 series truck. We carry it on a 2500hd and I would not want to carry it on a 1500.

My wife and I thoroughly enjoy our TC and the freedom it gives us to get in smaller places and tow a boat. We watch some of our friends with large fifth wheel trailer s and motor homes and it really makes us appreciate how much simpler a TC is. Just prepared to scale down what you take. You will probably shed more stuff that you thought you need ed at the end of each trip.

[billsnp5]

My wife and I were in the same boat as you 6 years ago so we bought a Lance 825 to put on my work truck which was a 2500 ram. We thought that it was something we would enjoy but didn't want to spend a lot of money and the camper just sit and not get used. We found out that is was something we really enjoyed so we sold the Lance and bought a new Ram 3500 Dually and a larger new Artic fox 990 to have more room. The cost of both was right at 70K new. The main reason we like our Truck camper is we almost always take a boat with us, other wise we might want a trailer instead. If you plan on pulling anything the truck camper is the only way to go.
Also after hauling a Lance 825 on a 2500 I would not want to use a half ton truck for one. The 2500 hauled it great but fully loaded along with a boat it was pretty much maxed out.

[trailgranny50]

Good that you're getting to "try on" camping. If the wife doesn't like the restricted space in the TT, you'd best scrap the TC idea. I'm a wife, DO enjoy camping, fishing, hunting, sightseeing and travel in our 9.5' TC. However, if we were to stay more than a few days in one spot and bad weather, more move around space would be a literal life saver for my husband. I'd have to hurt him if confined for too long in the small space, even with satellite TV and lots of naps. We spend most of our time outside and only eat an occasional meal inside and watch TV a bit in the evenings. If your wife ends up not caring to participate in camping and you really get into it, seperate mini getaway vacations/trips for each of you through the year may be better than her enduring something she doesn't enjoy for you and you going on adventures to places you really don't have any interest in for her. There can be compromise and sometimes us old gals will surprise you. Build that retirement as much as you can, SS and too little savings sucks. We'll work till we die to be able to afford to travel anywhere father than the city limits but at least we can and do take lengthy breaks. Hope your travel plans work out well and you both really enjoy the experience.

[bravelion]

UPDATE: Thanks again for all the good info.

We did drive to Eureka to the TC rally, rented a cabin there and was going to walk around the next day and try to chat people up and look at rigs, but at 2AM that morning got called home on a family emergency so the entire trip was a bust. 😞

Went to sell the business and interest was so high I got seller's remorse and thought maybe I better hang on a few more years and bank some more retirement money while we do some out and back test trips. Plus wife was not "all in" after all on making such a big transition so fast.

So, now finally getting around to our first dry run in a rental. I went to rent a small MH rig for a weekend trip and the guy at the rental place talked me into a trailer instead of a MH, since I already have a truck that will pull a lightweight trailer, and that way we'll have transportation if needed during the stay. Getting a Jayco Skylark 21ft and taking it to Inks Lake, about 1.5 hours from Austin, for 3 days and two nights. Heading out this afternoon.

This trailer will be way bigger than a TC and we know that, but really we're just testing the camping experience itself more than the creature comforts and space, though I am mindful to imagine it being a much smaller interior. We have no idea what we're doing so it should be a fun low risk, low cost learning adventure.

My biggest fear is shear boredom, but we'll see. Taking lots of magazines and a couple of books. Onward through the fog ...

[Grit_dog]

TCs are pretty cramped so it depends what type of camping your wife is used to and how hi maint she is lol!
All types of campers have their advantages and downfalls.
If going for long trips like you're planning, I'd get a nice one with a slide for more room.
And if it was only 2 people I'd rip out the table and bench seats for a reclining couch or love seat with a removeable table in front of it. Or buy one in that configuration but they're rare and typically only in the big 11' models.
And if you can budget that kind of $ for a setup then trade up to a HD pickup for sure. Won't cost too much if you find used same vintage as your current rig.

[WVbassmistress]

GoinThisAway had great advice. The Rally would be a great place to see what is out there and what people are doing with them.
She put together one last fall in Gatlinburg and it was a blast!

We did just that with the "Open House". We went as a group from one to another, but since this is probably a large Rally it may be handled differently.

Good luck!!!

[bravelion]

GoinThisAway wrote:
If you have time before you take the leap, try to go to the Midwest TC Rally in Eureka Springs, AR, July 13-17. You'll have the chance to see a lot of different campers and talk to their owners. This might help answer some of your questions. And you're asking some of the right ones. Unfortunately the answer to all of them is just as much "it depends" as anything. You might also ask yourselves what style of camping you plan to do ... stay in one place a long spell or move every day or two. The more you stay in one place, the more you'd probably appreciate a larger camper ... one that can be used off the truck so you can unload it and tour in the truck.

Thanks, I think I'll just do that, and make a little vacation of it while up there.

On the rally agenda it says "Open House' Tuesday morning. Is that something where people just walk around and look at each other's rigs and ask questions about their setups, what they like/don't like, etc? That would be perfect.

[GoinThisAway]

If you have time before you take the leap, try to go to the Midwest TC Rally in Eureka Springs, AR, July 13-17. You'll have the chance to see a lot of different campers and talk to their owners. This might help answer some of your questions. And you're asking some of the right ones. Unfortunately the answer to all of them is just as much "it depends" as anything. You might also ask yourselves what style of camping you plan to do ... stay in one place a long spell or move every day or two. The more you stay in one place, the more you'd probably appreciate a larger camper ... one that can be used off the truck so you can unload it and tour in the truck.

[GeoBoy]

Our first RV was a TC and we were more spontaneous about just taking off for the mountains. Then DW wanted a couch, so we bought a 25' TT with a slide, she never sat on the couch, so we bought a 22' TT without a slide and now she wants a TC so we can be more spontaneous again. If you are going to use your present truck I would buy a lightweight pop up, like a 4 wheel truck camper. If you want a hard side then up grade to a 1 ton truck, life will be more enjoyable.

[sky_free]

egarant wrote:
What you have to avoid is having a small truck and a small camper without a slide that might sour you and your wife on the whole TC idea. If you really want to give the TC life a go, and from what you describe, it is "most" acceptable fit for your travel plans, then get a used set up.

One that includes a minimum of one slide, and a dually truck to haul it on, gas or diesel whatever you can get your hands on. If you or the wife feel the non-slide is too small then you risk giving up the TC life for good and going another direction. Get as large and comfortable as you can the first time around.

^^^^^ Yes!

That is great advice. After reading this forum for a couple of years we did exactly that and I doubt we will need to buy a new TC until this one wears out.

Renting is a great idea, but it's hard to find south of the Canadian border and I never saw rentals for large TC's with slides anywhere. The CanaDream place in Calgary rents Northern Lites, which I would strongly recommend looking at and renting if you can. If you are comfortable with the smaller size (non-slide) these are some of the best quality TC's available.

[hedgehopper]

Several have speculated that you can't rent a TC. But you can! Please see my response just prior to this one.

[hedgehopper]

Last year at about this time, my wife and I rented a Northern Lite TC on a brand-new Ford F350 SRW diesel from CanaDream in Calgary AB. After a few days in the Canadian Rockies, we knew what we liked about the rig and what we didn't.

After we returned home, now knowing what we wanted, I found a 2002 Dodge dually diesel with 18,000 miles and a 2002 Northern Lite 10-2 CD on craigslist. We flew from Denver to Spokane and drove back in our "new" rig. We are happy with the purchase. In fact, we like a number of features of our Northern Lite better than the new ones we have looked at.

If the OP would like to try out a TC (and pickup) as we did, I think it would answer a lot of his (and his wife's) questions. Bravelion, if you want to PM me, I'd be happy to answer questions about our rental experience.