Truck Campers 10 years from now?

[Jeepers92]

Being close to the new year, was just wondering what kind of camper our children might be driving ....

I can see them being much more " Off Grid ", than what we have now. Using newer designed photo cells to charge nickle metal battery packs controlled by an on board central computer system. Think of a battery system 1/2 the size, and 4 times the capacity of our current best spiral batteries.
How about smaller generators running on a fuel cell, also tied to the central computer system. It would automatically sense all power use and charge, making the best choices for you. It would also sense propane usage, auto tune your TV, be your radio, weather station, Co2 monitor,etc...and provide this info to a small touch pad monitor.

Flexible plastic outer bodies with an integrated aluminum frame, 2 or 3 slides, using a hydraulic system. The slides would sealed with accordion silicone seals to reduce leaks. How about the opposing slides to one track for counter balance.

All the outside to inside outlets ( AC, vents, etc.), would be sealed with ridge type aluminum seals requiring no sealant and all accessable from the outside.
The black water system would contain a compaction system, and dry disposal to reduce requirements on the black tank. How about a system to take the gray water and use it to supply the commode?

A water system that would collect rain, dew, exc.

Oh well, enough musing. My spring project is rebuilding the nose on my Fox.

[billtex]

Great topic.
I see more composites being used in the future. As more players get in to the raw materials game, the price of composites is coming down; Long fiber TPC's, Graphene, etc will all be more widely available at reduced costs.
As a result RV's will be lighter, more weather resistant.

As there is also a trend in down sizing, I wouldn't be surprised if we see more non-slide TC's. I think Folks are trying to simplify more, and the latest gen of TC's is getting huge/complicated!
(That's just my guess...)

I think we'll see solar being used more-probably become standard on many campers. And maybe even power cells (hydrogen?).

Maybe a return to truck/TC packages (the "new" Ford TC recently announced!). This could catch on w/consumers. Really reduces the learning curve of setting up a TC and offers one stop shopping for the Customer! It worked in the 60's-could work again!

That's my daydream for today.

Bill

[dave17352]

My present TC is a 1998 and I really cant see that much of a advantage to the brand new ones for me. Except a big price tag. I have been very very happy with the lay out and capacities of my old beast. The quality seems to be excellent.

[mkirsch]

Nickle metal batteries??? That's 15 year old technology now. Any future batteries will be Lithium based.

Beyond that I doubt we'll see much change in how RVs are designed and built.

The RV manufacturers have the attitude of "Why mess with a good thing?" There is such a thing as an acceptable rate of failure, an acceptable rate of loss, an acceptable rate of customer dissatisfaction.

You're always going to have a few customers that walk away dissatisfied, so why cry over spilled milk? Most of the customers that have problems can be made happy again with a half-arsed fix and a token apology; they don't know any better.

Not enough people are fussy enough or vocal enough about their problems to cost the RV manufacturers any real money. So, no real change is going to come about.

[portscanner]

What if your camper gets the BSOD or a virus when you are out in the boondocks?

I will be right back with an answer for that. I have to go upgrade the O/S on my TC and put in more memory so I can store more in the black tank.

[trail-explorer]

Jack_Diane_Freedom wrote:
Other than slide outs and a few more comforts my 2012 trailer is not much more advanced than my old 1972 Golden Falcon. Still had fridge, stove, hot water, toilet etc.

I do not see much change coming other than electronics and better batteries.

Ditto.

Gadgetry like fuel cells, computer controlled "systems" will not make it to mass produced RVs, because of cost. Consumers won't pay the price for it.

[Bedlam]

finaddict wrote:

Bedlam wrote:
BTW: 25 years ago I had one of those eggs and a small diesel -

I may be mistaken here , but that looks like the Whistler parking lot before the big build-up.........

This was at Squaw Valley in California. The last time I have been at
Whistler was before Olympics that were held there (probably 10 years or more). It's a place we will revisit, but other destinations have pushed it down the list.

This was a normally aspirated diesel with 59 hp and it could keep 45 mph on I-80 or Hwy50.

[dadwolf2]

I don't think your 10 year time line is far enough to see the advances you are hoping for. I do like your thinking though.
The RV industry is very slow to change. Take away slides, LED lighting and solar systems and what has really changed in decades? And even solar was a slow process waiting for the cost to come down.

[Naio]

Well, the trucks will be electric, that's for sure! No more gas or diesel, and charging available even in remote areas.

[finaddict]

Bedlam wrote:
BTW: 25 years ago I had one of those eggs and a small diesel -

I may be mistaken here , but that looks like the Whistler parking lot before the big build-up.........

[Reddog1]

Jack_Diane_Freedom wrote:
Other than slide outs and a few more comforts my 2012 trailer is not much more advanced than my old 1972 Golden Falcon. Still had fridge, stove, hot water, toilet etc.

I do not see much change coming other than electronics and better batteries.

This is what I'm thinking. After all these years, they have made little progress in preventing water leaks. I am sure they will make the various components more prone to failures and throw away instead of repair.

Wayne

[finaddict]

kerry4951 wrote:
The only new changes will come after the Japanese and Germans start making RVs. Then we will finally have Lexus and BMW quality in our TCs.

Until then, we will pay BMW prices for KIA quality......... $70,000 for a TC.........

[finaddict]

Bought my used Alpenlite 2 years ago and the only `new`technology it had was electric jacks. Since then I have changed the converter to a newer charge -sensing unit, added a 12v tv-dvd, 100 watt solar cell (also on a charge sensing system), several 12 v outlets, a newer stereo with USB connection, and a catalytic furnace that uses no battery power. Off the grid designs for sure. The funny thing is that 30 years ago,I was always off the grid and did not need anything more than a single 12 v battery as that camper did not have the power draw requirements that my`new`Alpenlite does.

All of my new power requirements are all things I did not have or need 30 years ago. I think it is much less about computer controlled power systems and much about what we think we `need` when traveling these days............;)

[kerry4951]

The only new changes will come after the Japanese and Germans start making RVs. Then we will finally have Lexus and BMW quality in our TCs.

[Jack_Diane_Free]

Other than slide outs and a few more comforts my 2012 trailer is not much more advanced than my old 1972 Golden Falcon. Still had fridge, stove, hot water, toilet etc.

I do not see much change coming other than electronics and better batteries.

[kohldad]

I sure hope not as you keep using the term "computer systems". Hope my camper never gets so sophisticated I have to worry about it breaking down without me being able to fix it.

In 10 years from now, I sure hope to be camping in the same used camper I buy this year making it about 20 years old.