Too much work for short trips, too small for long ones

[tealboy]

Saw this quote from a forum member and thought it was interesting. Is it really that much work to load these things up? Any truth to the quote in the subject line? Friend bought a camper, peaked my interest so have been digging around here.

[Camper_Jeff___K]

Must have missed this post. Been out working, traveling, living in the Truck Camper for nearly 3 months.
Yeah, It's been worth it.

[Buzzcut1]

we just found out that we both have a 3 day weekend for presidents day. The TC is already on the truck, The bed stays made, cookware and silverware is always there. all we need to do is add food and clothes and we are out of here Friday night after work.

[tattoobob]

I use mine on the Beach for fishing/camping the closest beach is 40 miles takes about an hour to get therein moderate traffic, the second beach is 90 miles could take up to 2 hours to get there,

That said I go get every thing I need Thursday night, (food mainly) then pack a bag, I get home from work on Friday I shower jump in the camper throw my bag & pillows in the camper and drive

When I get home on Sunday afternoon I unload the dirty clothes and trash empty the tanks into a 5 gallon bucket a few time and unload it into the downstairs toilet some light clean up and done

Everything condiments dry food gets loaded in in the spring and replaced when needed
I keep a list and on Thursday I just pick up what I need simple

In my mind it's all worth it, it's a little slice of heaven and it's what makes me happy so it's what I do. Most of the time I'm alone and doesn't bother me one bit

[devildog1971]

I had a reallite it had the queen cabover a jackknife couch, which was great, used it for 8 years 5 minutes to load and tie down sold it the new owner uses it constantly (WISH I HAD IT BACK) had a winter creek with a slide it was a tad heavy went to a class C 23 foot it was to small far worse than either truck camper wife wanted a A diesel Pusher got stuck because of the rain in my driveway it is heavy wish I had the truck camper back you can go places do things you can never do in a C or A guess I am stuck in a class A for now

[clikrf8]

We take short local trips of 2 or 3 days and longer regional ones for 3-5 weeks. We have duplicates of household items like pots and pans, silverware, utensils (mini sized), towels, spices, dried fruit and other long keepers, flashlights, lanterns, compass, etc. We also have several items of clothing packed like pjs, underwear, sox, tees, hats, gloves, etc Plus, we have our walking sticks, rockhound bags and scoops, hori hori knives, dog poopy bags, extra leashes, Camelbacks, toiletries, extra shoes, duplicates of many items.

A few days before we leave, we add maps, off road guide books, dried foods like nuts, cereals, soups, fresh water, etc. The day before, actually, afternoon, we add electronics like iPad, camera gear, then dog food/treats, homemade soups, cheese, soy/nut milk, lunch meats, bread, condiments, fruits and veggies. The morning of, early, we bring purse/wallet, iphone, water bottle, load the dogs and go.

It helps to have the prepacking done ahead. I also have an electronic list and paper list that i refer to. As a last resort, we either didn't need it ir can buy along the trip. Truck has been fueled up, vitals checked, clean air filter, oil changed (these are 3000 mile trips).

[lakeside013104]

Planning, preparation, and follow the system that works best for you.

I always found I could find an excuse NOT to go camping, but once I was on the road, very happy I choice to go camping.

Any day camping is better than a day working for someone else. Life is too short not to enjoy quality time whenever you can.

Lakeside

[mikakuja]

I also load the camper with non perishables at the start of the season and top them up as necessary. The day before we are leaving I load up the beverages, fridge and perishable food. When we are using the camper regularly we often plug it in and leave the fridge running most of the summer. All of our gear lives in the camper year round, including spare dog bowls, extra propane, generator, etc. The only pain in the $$$ with our camper is the manual jacks, I need to change those out for electric one of these days.....
I load the camper on the truck at least a day prior to the trip, and way I see it I have at least a week to unload clean and reload bedding, clothing and give it a quick clean.

[emcvay]

I used to load and offload my Angler 9D (manual jacks) quite often. It's a PITA sure, but with modern electric jacks I'm thinking WHOOHOO! I leave it on the truck a lot anyway, and like others kept it packed and ready. Just fill the fridge/freezer, ad booze :D, clothes and away we go! I would pack Thursday with the fridge on AC power and cold, then unplug on Friday, run the fridge on LP and head out on the road 🙂 Get home Sunday night, plug in camper, put fridge on AC and grab only what I had to grab and go into the house. Unload the rest after work Monday....

Now look what you'd done! I am chomping at the bit to go camping but have no camper now!!! ACK! Can't wait to get the new one! 😄

[mbloof]

I have a dedicated truck so the camper remains loaded year around (gets unloaded once a year for a oil change at Ford). I suppose that if I were having to load it every time it would be a bit of a PITA. I'd rate "loading" as Motorhome, travel trailer and then TC.

Much like others I leave mine partially 'packed', I only have the fridge/freezer to load along with a day bag of items that I don't leave in the TC. On the way back I'll empty the tanks, fill propane, fuel and water and park leveled out in the drive way. I'll turn on the fridge/freezer the day before any trip.

With the TC 'stuck' to the truck it might as well be a motor home, sans the climbing of the stairs to go in/out of it.

Mark0.

[toedtoes]

I think that's a good point. I have a class C and a TT before that, but grew up with a TC. I find the differences in "getting ready to go" not that much different between them. The c (no toad) is the fastest, but the others weren't that extreme.

Most of the prep is the same regardless of the type - and that can be minimized with planning. The hitching/loading is the only difference and even that can be minimized to an extent.

[HMS_Beagle]

Many of the posts here mention loading clothes, provisions, water, and emptying the holding tanks and unloading at the end. This is the same in any RV. The only real difference between a camper and trailer is a camper has to be loaded, a trailer has to be hitched. If you are in a hurry that's the difference between 20 minutes and 10 minutes. A motorhome is a little quicker, twist the key and go. Except that a motorhome has to be maintained as a motor vehicle (tires, oil changes, smog checks, etc.) so much of the savings in time are lost over a year.

I would not consider the time required to go as a big consideration. Much bigger issues are: is it big enough to keep you comfortable, and will it go where you want to go? A camper sometimes looses the former, but is unbeatable on the latter.

I've had two van conversions, a 5th wheel, a large trailer, a class A motorhome, and 2 truck campers. Every one of them had pros and cons.

[Americamper]

Short or long , it don't matter to me. Loading and unloading, not that hard but you do need to have a little mechanical inclination.

[discovery4us]

"Too much work for short trips, too small for long ones"

For me it takes the same time and effort to prepare and pack regardless of the length of the trip. Longer trips require more grocery stops, laundry stops, fuel stops, basically stops to replenish supplies , and obviously give me more good days away and having fun. That being said sometimes a short weekend can be just what the doctor ordered and totally justify the time loading.

Too small is a personal preference and how you use your rig. My wife would say too small due to the fact that she spends many hours in the rig. I would say just right as I spend many hours outside the rig.

Best solution is to have a dedicated rig that is ready to go and take advantage of every chance we get:):):)

[Kayteg1]

Is that yellow grass?
When everything in life is a compromise, TC take it to extreme. Each inch of space has its designation and when you add that inch here, you have to subtract it there.
You want easy to load camper, where it takes 3 steps to load your undies, you will not have big screen in it.
You want big basement storage, not only you will have to pay more for fuel, but you will have to avoid some bridges and drive slower due to stability issues.
Than you have manufacturers doing more or less practical units, so yes, you can find a TC that fits the title description, but most of us have found what fits our needs.