Truck Campers 10 years from now?

69 Avion wrote:
Since I still use a 1969 Avion camper that has been in the family since new, I'm not looking for many changes in the next couple of decades.
When I rebuilt the Avion a couple of years ago, I went with LED lights, a CO monitor, Solar with MPPT controller, better TV/Video and radio. Other than that, the technology isn't much different.
I think the next generation of refrigerators will have high efficiency compressors that run off of batteries that are charged by solar.
I doubt if the campers that are built 10-20 years from now will be any better than the then close to 70 year old Avion.
It is coming up on 50 years old and it is better than when it was new. I think the fourth generation of the family will get to use it.

I agree that there will not be 'huge' changes in camper design.

Yet look what has happened in the past 50 years. Trucks have gone from a 10,000 GVWR in the 1973 F-350 Super Camper Special SRW pickup with 7" longer than normal wheelbase to help with center of gravity (bringing it forward of the rear axle) to now having F-450 and F-550 with 16,000 GVWR and 19,500 GVWR respectively!

Trucks can carry even heavier campers, and some manufactures like Host now have 3 slides, built in 4 KW generator, dual propane tanks come in many camper floorplans! And they are much larger. 4,000 pound campers are not unheard of.

Yet still the heaviest campers might include the "Travel Queen" with it's own tag axle, it looks like someone put a tow dolly on the camper frame, supporting about 2,000 pounds of the overall weight behind the truck rear bumper!

I still like the layout in my 1972 Coachman camper, and have not found a better one. Some with slide outs come close, and have almost as large a bathroom as the 1972 Coachman.

It had a front wet bath, with the forward 3'. On the passenger side was a water heater, sink and shower wand. In the lower section, toilet was curbside, hall was streetside, with raised up section and closet in there, converter and water pump in the bottom. Tank underneath the 8" raised floor (First basement?!) Open the 3' wide closet door, and the hallway to the kitchen was closed. Close the 3 plexiglass orange (not see through) windows, and this gives privacy in the bathroom and cabover queen bed up front.

AS you enter the drivers side (rear wall) door, the dinette (passenger side) is also raised 8" with the black tank under the dinette. No grey water tank. Drivers side raised area (well above the drivers side truck fenders) is weight forward - Refrigerator next to closet, then stove, then sink, and counter by the back door. Propane tank under the counter (access from outside of course). No battery in the camper, so it stayed hooked up to the truck when camping.

Electric jacks (around 1990?) made it simple to unload the camper at a campsite, to give you a off road vehicle, or sightseeing!

So I suspect there will be a lot of changes in both motorhomes and campers, but nothing to drastic.

It was about 5 years ago when they started installing outside kitchens in trailers. A large fold up cover - about 60" wide and 48" tall, to cover the kitchen area, providing rain protection and shade. Usually a small 120 volt bar refrigerator, and sometimes a microwave or small TV set. . .

Many toy haulers have standard or optional water proof speakers mounted outside, so you can tune in outside! In addition to landing lights, and other outside lights.

Good luck!

Fred.