What percent of the time do you leave your TC on your truck?

[jimh406]

A few people have said they only ever need 2WD trucks. So, quick survey.

What percent of the time do you leave your TC (truck camper) on your truck?

I’m probably 10%. I went camping for a few days, and did a few week trips. Would have done more, but had other things that interfered this year. At the most, I’d say 20% in any year.

[bwc]

Camper has been on the truck 100% of the time going back to when the camper was bought in 2010. It has never been off. I have other vehicles to use and another truck. Everything I own is parked in a garage ready to go and out of the weather. I hated loading and unloading when I only had the one truck. Works for us.

[kohldad]

On the truck is only about 25% of the time. But if you want to say miles, over the last 5 years I have had the camper on the truck for 57% the 18k annual miles. Since July when my daughter gave me back the car I gave her 6 years ago, I've haven't been driving the truck as my daily driver so have been averaging about 98% of the miles with the camper on.

While I've only used 4wd with the camper on board a dozen times, I use it almost every time I go camping on a long trip. There is no way I could get the front of the truck up on my 10" block with only a 16" long board if I didn't have 4wd to let the front wheels pull themselves up. At some campsites I've had to stack lego blocks on top of the boards sitting on top of the 10" blocks for a total gain of 16" which would be impossible without 4lo. Without 4wd the boards/blocks would just be pushed out from under the tires.

When I bought my first truck 25 years ago, I knew the advantage of 4wd as I had grown up on a farm. However, I wasn't looking for a truck but came across when the suburban wouldn't tow my 7k trailer just happen to have 4wd. Convinced the wife it would do the job well and had the crew cab for the kids (not very common back in the early 90s). On our first long trip with the rig, we left about 5am in the pouring down rain so the kids would sleep, I missed the turn and found a nice paved parking lot to turn around in. Only problem was it was red clay and slick as get out. Almost made it in 2wd until the front dropped in a 6" ditch. Fortunately, 4wd allowed me to back out of the ditch, finish turning around and be on my way without even getting soaked by getting out. A few miles down the road after my nerves calmed down I looked at my wife and said the 4wd was already paid off to which she agreed. Since then, I've bought two new trucks. On the first one I was trying to get the price down so offered to drop the 4wd to which my wife responded that I shouldn't even worry about buying the truck if I don't get 4wd.

[Camper_Jeff___K]

The last couple years I've done a fair amount of travel and work camping. I figure close to half the year it was on the truck

[TCBob]

Up until this year TC was loaded just during summer months ready to go. When the rains start in OR (approx Oct) - TC use to go in a barn. Barn entrance would not tall enough....so we built a trailer for the TC. I lost access to that barn this spring...so TC lives on Truck under a cover in a storage yard for now. I prefer to store the TC undercover when possible.

BTW - I love drive our DRW F350, however, when in most parking lots in Eugene - I need to put a tire on each parking lot strip to park. - classic liberal town!

[MORSNOW]

Camper loaded 100% of the time May-Sep, 0% Oct-Apr.

[Bedlam]

My 5500 is about $950/year for insurance and $200/year for registration at 18k lbs. We camp year round and put about 10k miles a year on the truck.

[mbloof]

Kayteg1 wrote:
Side question for those who use truck for camping only, how you deal with registration and insurance?
Even with my good records and liability only, keeping truck registered in Las Vegas cost about $1400 annually.
Good part, Clark County allows for plate surrender and they give me credit for unused fee. Still if I don't use credit in about 6 months, I am at lost, but at least insurance is not playing games with me.

In Oregon its rather inexpensive. Full coverage on the truck costs me $706 a year. (I'm still paying on it) Licensing and tags were purchased when I bought the truck and cover me for 5yrs. In Oregon my truck costs me the same to license as any regular car. (no special fees) We do have to run all cars and trucks through DEQ. Normally its every 2yrs for tags and DEQ.

My insurance takes into account that the truck gets very low mileage. (the car does to but that is beside the point)

- Mark0.

[jaycocreek]

Kayteg1 wrote:
I bet insurance is more than $73?

It' less than that per month for full coverage on the truck/Lance and our car..LOL

My Yamaha Rhino is $75 a year though...Laffin

[Kayteg1]

I bet insurance is more than $73?

[jaycocreek]

Kayteg1 wrote:
Side question for those who use truck for camping only, how you deal with registration and insurance?
Even with my good records and liability only, keeping truck registered in Las Vegas cost about $1400 annually.
Good part, Clark County allows for plate surrender and they give me credit for unused fee. Still if I don't use credit in about 6 months, I am at lost, but at least insurance is not playing games with me.

Idaho is Trucks and SUVs — and their loads or trailers — with a combined weight of more than 8,000 pounds require a special noncommercial truck plate under Idaho law. The plate number ends in “T” and also has the county designator code, like “2C” or “1A,

If i didn't carry a truck camper, I could get by with regular plates at like $37 vs $73 for the truck plates..8-16,000 pounds is $73 per year.

Only because my DRW is light by about 2,000# compared to the newer ones.

[Kayteg1]

Side question for those who use truck for camping only, how you deal with registration and insurance?
Even with my good records and liability only, keeping truck registered in Las Vegas cost about $1400 annually.
Good part, Clark County allows for plate surrender and they give me credit for unused fee. Still if I don't use credit in about 6 months, I am at lost, but at least insurance is not playing games with me.

[TxGearhead]

Put it on a few days before a trip and take it off when I get home.
I live in a small town full of oilfield trash and cowboys so most folks are familiar with duallies. But I usually park away from the business doors anyway. I drive it everywhere including downtown Houston.
Wife has never sat in the drivers seat.

[mbloof]

The only reason I own a truck is to haul around a truck camper. While I have a small SUV for everyday affairs, the camper stays on the truck 100% of the time.

[twodownzero]

gbopp wrote:

jaycocreek wrote:

A SRW is a far better choice for a pickup to be just a pickup but a better choice for large truck campers...

I don't own a TC so I can't comment. But, I thought a DRW was the best choice for large truck campers?

After owning a TC, a DRW is ideal for all kinds of campers. The new SRWs have good payload but all but the lightest pop up truck campers are still heavy.

[brholt]

95% of the time.