Sold the Truck Campers, bought a Class B

[jdlough]

I just couldn't get comfortable in the truck campers.

After 15 minutes in the square backed bench/table arrangements, my back would just kill me. I tried goofy-shaped cushions, bean bags, video game seats. Nothing helped much. Just sitting in the TC at the end of the day felt tedious. My next plan was to buy a 10' or 11' TC and just tear out the toilet or closet area, and fit a small Lazy-Boy in it's place.

My wife found out about Class B's, so we sold the two truck campers and got one (1999 Roadtrek Versatile). I miss the TCs, but the class B doesn't suck as much as I thought it would.

What I miss about the TC was being able to drop it off the truck at the campground, leave it with all it's mess, and drive my truck around like a normal person.

Now I have to unhook all the hook-ups, and stow away all the junk that would otherwise crash to the floor.

I used to be able to make a quick run the bait shop in the truck, leaving the wife at the campground in the TC.

The main advantage of the Class B is that it is much more comfortable. The driver and passenger seat rotate 180 degrees and recline. That's the main reason we bought the thing.

Some nice surprises are how useful it is to have access to the rear and refrigerator and being able to start the generator and reheat coffee while driving.

It's also come in handy to realize that you have everything with you all the time, and nothing is left back at the campsite.

Still, If I could have found a comfortable seating position, I would have stayed with a TC. My wife loves the Class B more.

So, I now have no TC, but my trucks have really great overbuilt suspension systems!

[Bumpyroad]

HMS Beagle wrote:
My main complaint (like you) about truck campers is the horrible seating in the dinette. Nearly every one suffers from this. Why don't the manufacturers get a clue? Oh, I forgot, its the RV industry....

The reason they make them this way is so the bolt upright and too low back cushions can be knocked down in between the too flat seat cushions on top of the flimsy dropped down table to make a too small bed for anyone but kids and midgets. I'm sure there is a segment of the buying demographic that needs that too small bed for some kids or midgets they have brought along. That is a lot of compromise for a fraction of the customer base. What about an option with higher, sloped backs and contoured seats like the rest of the civilized world uses????

I am about to tear the dinette out of my Bigfoot and replace it all with two comfortable seats. The bed that it makes is only large enough for a medium sized dog, and the seating position amounts to criminal abuse - what were they thinking? Is it that important to be able to say on the brochure "Sleeps 4 (as long as 2 are small children or dwarfs)"? I'd like to have a few RV execs sit in one of those for six hours on a rainy day (at gunpoint, if necessary) and then have them smile into the camera and say "that was comfortable..." if they could still stand up.

they are not midgets. they are "little people".
bumpy

[work2much]

Thinking about a dinette conversion myself. Looking to remove one bench, reduce table size with a fold out leaf and add a rocking, swivel recliner.

We just got back from a rv show and I spent some time at the Roadtrek dealer. The units are nice but way too small inside for me, wife and 2 dogs. Couldn't even stand up fully at 6'-3".

Not to mention 100k+ for a new unit.

The small class c campers based on the sprinter platform looked better with a slide or 2, dedicated queen bed, decent dry shower and comfy chairs but again the price.... I could buy a new diesel truck and a hell of a nice 5th wheel trailer for less than some of these models...

[HMS_Beagle]

My main complaint (like you) about truck campers is the horrible seating in the dinette. Nearly every one suffers from this. Why don't the manufacturers get a clue? Oh, I forgot, its the RV industry....

The reason they make them this way is so the bolt upright and too low back cushions can be knocked down in between the too flat seat cushions on top of the flimsy dropped down table to make a too small bed for anyone but kids and midgets. I'm sure there is a segment of the buying demographic that needs that too small bed for some kids or midgets they have brought along. That is a lot of compromise for a fraction of the customer base. What about an option with higher, sloped backs and contoured seats like the rest of the civilized world uses????

I am about to tear the dinette out of my Bigfoot and replace it all with two comfortable seats. The bed that it makes is only large enough for a medium sized dog, and the seating position amounts to criminal abuse - what were they thinking? Is it that important to be able to say on the brochure "Sleeps 4 (as long as 2 are small children or dwarfs)"? I'd like to have a few RV execs sit in one of those for six hours on a rainy day (at gunpoint, if necessary) and then have them smile into the camera and say "that was comfortable..." if they could still stand up.

[Fisher_Bill]

I've come back from fishing to find the wife in a lawn chair reading in the middle of the TC, she don't like them dinettes either.

[zb39]

This is one of the reasons I am getting a new Host. One 6 foot couch and a 4 foot love seat to sit on. Neither of us like the dinette to sit at for long periods of time.

[jimh406]

Bumpyroad wrote:
don't some campgrounds restrict dropping truck campers off?
bumpy

Yes, some also restrict truck campers. My thought is that most places where dropping a truck camper would be advantageous won't care.

[Bumpyroad]

don't some campgrounds restrict dropping truck campers off?
bumpy

[Tvov]

jdlough wrote:
I just couldn't get comfortable in the truck campers.

After 15 minutes in the square backed bench/table arrangements, my back would just kill me. I tried goofy-shaped cushions, bean bags, video game seats. Nothing helped much. Just sitting in the TC at the end of the day felt tedious.

...

I understand about the seating! In our TT, the dinette cushions and straight backs are just not comfortable for more than 15 minutes.

In our next camper, I am definitely getting better seating of some type - and make sure my knees aren't cramped when sitting on the toilet, lol.

[RoyB]

I have always wanted to have the Truck Camper mostly because of its off-road capabilities but realized along time back the pros and cons of having the truck camper... If it was just me I would definitely be in the Truck camper world... I would be pulling my Jeep or an utility trailer depending on what the camping trip outing was going to be...

We never got into the RV TRAVELING world per say and do most of our RV Camping within a few hundred miles of home base here in Virginia.

Occasionally will make a run to the Smoky Mountains 6-8 hours away do get our Gatlinburg fill or run down to the Beaches of Myrtle Beach South Carolina to visit family... The return trip always comes back through the Smoky mountains... It is sort of on the way back home...

For some reason we have not gone very far North of here into MD or PA... We have visited the PAX River area visiting our military friends... Always wanted to camp around Camp David... Being close to the Westmoreland State Park here in VA we use that as our home camp ground and love to test out new things at that location. Then when the lights go away we are not too far from home to figure out the causes...

I was always hoping I would have both worlds but money dictates what you can do.

I camp totally different when I am out there by myself...

I was just going over all of this a couple of days ago when someone on here started a tread about little campers...

I would be right at home in one of these tear drop style off-road campers. Sleeping in the roof mounted tent... These are called TERA DROPs hehe...



Google images

Roy Ken

[shellbackcva59]

I camp to fish, and therefore need to tow my boat. Started with a truck camper, and went to a class B. Just didn't work out with disconnecting everything to launch my boat or go to the store. Back in a truck camper now. We just relax outside at the campground, or sit in the truck. We can recline the seats and enjoy the radio or a video on the computer. Hope the B works out for you. It didn't for me.

[bighatnohorse]

dual recliners, Eagle Cap 1165 truck camper:

[jimh406]

I'm glad you are happy with your B. That's all that matters!