TC Boom

[Bubtoofat]

We went to Wyoming this month for vacation. On a typical trip to Wyoming we would see maybe 5 truck campers the entire trip. This has been the case for the last 20 years. This year we lost count. A rough estimate would be 80 truck campers, with pop-ups and hardsides being equally split. Campers from old to brand new.

I think people are starting to see how awesome we truck camper owners have had it. I see the envy in the eyes of the dude lugging the triple axle toy hauler into a tiny gas station. The haggard face of a man battling traffic with a 30 foot TT whipping around behind him, looking longingly at my rig. The guy in the parking lot asking a myriad of questions about my camper then ending the conversation with his head hanging down saying, "I'll never get my wife into one of those things", then walking back to his class A.

On that note I would like to just say THANK YOU THANK YOU to my wife for being such an awesome travel partner who has stated many time that we made the right choice.

Mike

[jefe_4x4]

It has been my experience that you are inclined to spot the style of RV you actually drive/tow in greater numbers than the ones you don't. That following we have seen a greater number of truck campers on the west slope Northern Sierra Nevada than ever. In talking to a bumper pull guy here in Reno, who is out on a 2 month solo voyage around the west, he too mentioned the abundance, more than ever of travel trailers.
jefe

[jimh406]

I haven't noticed a recent change in the number of TCs. I wonder if we could find sales stats.

[TxGearhead]

Y'all nailed it. We started in the early 1980's with a cabover. Went all over Texas, Arkansas, and to Yellowstone. Kids got big and we did a class C. Kids got bigger and had school stuff and athletics every weekend and all summer. Sold the C. Retired. Bought a 5th, bought another 5th. Bought a used 1 time 2008 Bigfoot last year. Wife is scared of the stairs. OK...we'll just call it "my" camper.
I hate the hassle of the 5th...where to get fuel, RV site not long enough, where to stop to eat, is this a dead end street, 13'6" height. yadda yadda yadda.

[cewillis]

Bubtoofat wrote:

On that note I would like to just say THANK YOU THANK YOU to my wife for being such an awesome travel partner who has stated many time that we made the right choice.

Mike

You are a lucky man!

[bzgenius]

We saw 1 truck camper on our way out west between kentucky and Iowa. As soon as we were a few miles in to south dakota they were everywhere and the closer to Glacier NP and in upper Idaho I think they out numbered the TT. Maybe it was because we are so mobile that we don't have to sit in one campground and the TT park in one spot and drive the other vehicles so it just seemed like we had more numbers during the week.

[SideHillSoup]

Funny you don't see many truck campers in the USA, as we have looked while traveling south of the 49th. Up here on Canada on our little street with only 14 house there are four truck campers. Driving down the Hwy into town, every second truck has a camper on it.
Truck campers are very common up here " I think" because of the amount of people that go up in the bush hunting fishing etc...
We just bought a new Northern Lite 8-11 so that we can use it snowmobiling in the winter ATVing fishing and traveling in the warmer months. We used our first Camper to do the same before we had kids. Then as kids started showing up at the front door, we had to sell the fist camper for a trailer, then a number of 5th wheels.
Now that all them little brats have left home and taken 1/2 my money we are going back to our roots.... can't wait till it arrives in September.

Soup.

[NGaMountains]

As a soon to be first-time TC owner, I think you summed up our going in thoughts well in your post. Good stuff!

[kohldad]

Hope not too much or all of my small camping spots will start to fill up.

I grew up with two sisters camping in an 11' Franklin so knew all about the thrills of TCing and camping. Wasn't long after our second child we purchased a 30' TT because I knew with kids in diapers I wasn't going to get my wife in a TC. We sold it after 8 years plus the truck. Within a year, we had a new truck as I couldn't live without one. Then came a 35' FW with bunk room for the kids. After a couple years, I got tired enough of setting up a tent while four wheeling that I purchased a used TC "against" my wife's wish. After owning the FW and TC for a few months, I managed to get the teenage kids to convince the wife to take a weekend trip in the TC because the kids wanted to stay by themselves in a tent. A few weeks later, it was another trip pulling a utility trailer with the kayaks. Convinced the wife that the TC was better and we sold the FW with her blessing. That was 8 years ago and we are still using the same TC but on the second truck.

Longest trip so far was 4 weeks to Maine, but it was enough to convince both of us that even after retirement in 150 weeks 4 days, a TC will be the way to go for at least the first several years while we zip around the country.