It's been some interesting conversations on other RV forums with people who DO NOT think people in truck campers are also full timers in the RV world. Now I know 2-3 people who full time in a truck camper but they are all single. I'm just curious who out here fit into this group as I have plans to hopefully become a semi-full timer to start in about 2-3 years. I am currently looking at campers right now and my one MAIN requirement is that it needs to be a side entry camper. Next it needs to have extra room in the bathroom. Or I should say for the commode. I do not care if it is a dry or wet bathroom (I don't think) since I've never had a wet bath that I've used. A little back history. I am a disabled veteran and a lower right leg amputee. I lost my leg due to injuries I received in Iraq in 2004. So my getting around can be a challenge somedays but I don't let that stop me. But because of this I need a camper that has a taller floor so that the height into the cabover bunk area isn't a high as it was in older campers. The side entry is becasue I will be towing about 90% of the time while the camper is on my truck. My other BIG requirement is that I have room to put in a recliner/couch setup. Becasue of this I am looking at something like the Chalet TS116 or other used campers with a minimum of 2 slides. I need to have a true recliner so that I can elevate my leg some of the time. I'm sure as I gather experiance I will find other features that are important to me but these are the things I know of now. I've owned 2 TC's be for this. One was a S&S short bed unit and the other was a late 1990's Adventurer single slide dry bath unit. Ex talked me into getting a motorhome instead and IMHO it was my worst mistake of my RV life. I'll never own another MH in my foreseeable future. But I learned to never say never.

First, Thank you for your service! I've never owned a truck camper but I have followed a couple people on Youtube in the past and they seem to do fine with them. Especially those that like to camp at State Parks or boondock. I believe anything can be accomplished when we put our mind to it. I'm sure you have looked into this already but have you considered a Class C? All have side entry, many have large bathrooms, many have recliners as well. Some come with a cabover, some have other attractive floorplans. Many aren't much bigger than truck campers. My wife and I went to an RV show in Tampa last January and saw several beauties that wouldn't break the bank either. We have a fifth wheel but if we were in the market, we would have given Class C's serious consideration.

RobWNY wrote:First, Thank you for your service! I've never owned a truck camper but I have followed a couple people on Youtube in the past and they seem to do fine with them. Especially those that like to camp at State Parks or boondock. I believe anything can be accomplished when we put our mind to it. I'm sure you have looked into this already but have you considered a Class C? All have side entry, many have large bathrooms, many have recliners as well. Some come with a cabover, some have other attractive floorplans. Many aren't much bigger than truck campers. My wife and I went to an RV show in Tampa last January and saw several beauties that wouldn't break the bank either. We have a fifth wheel but if we were in the market, we would have given Class C's serious consideration.Yes I have looked at Class C's but really do not want another MH. My plans are to tow my toys with me which is a built Jeep and a Harley. My plans are to boondock most of the time so having a 4x4 truck seems to be a better idea. Also when needed I can unload my camper and use my truck for other things. This is why I would rather have a camper. A lot of my time will be spent going to Jeepin trails and camping near those locations. I've looked at my options and just feel a MH isn't a good choice.

I wish you good luck. What you want to do sounds like a lot of fun!

Pulling Jeep and Harley will make serious restrictions what camper size you can get, while side entry is quite rare. At least I hope you have dually truck to deal with it?Not sure if my memory is correct, but I think Host make 10' TC with side entrance, but you can forget about choices in bathroom size. We did kind of full-time in our 12' TC with single slide, when we sold house in CA and were house shopping in Las Vegas. It was only 3 months and I remember that as fun, regardless the wettest CA winter in 2017Good luck figuring out all the details.

I would note that the fox landing option on Arctic Fox campers makes towing and getting into the camper easy for a rear entry camper. As for wet vs dry baths we prefer the wet bath as you have more room to shower and use the bathroom than most dry baths.We do extensive camping trips right now and plan on going full time in our truck camper in less than a year.

Who is a Full Timer with a Camper? | Good Sam Community

RobWNY
Explorer
Aug 17, 2020
First, Thank you for your service! I've never owned a truck camper but I have followed a couple people on Youtube in the past and they seem to do fine with them. Especially those that like to camp at State Parks or boondock. I believe anything can be accomplished when we put our mind to it. I'm sure you have looked into this already but have you considered a Class C? All have side entry, many have large bathrooms, many have recliners as well. Some come with a cabover, some have other attractive floorplans. Many aren't much bigger than truck campers. My wife and I went to an RV show in Tampa last January and saw several beauties that wouldn't break the bank either. We have a fifth wheel but if we were in the market, we would have given Class C's serious consideration.
wildman4x4
Explorer
Aug 17, 2020
RobWNY wrote:
First, Thank you for your service! I've never owned a truck camper but I have followed a couple people on Youtube in the past and they seem to do fine with them. Especially those that like to camp at State Parks or boondock. I believe anything can be accomplished when we put our mind to it. I'm sure you have looked into this already but have you considered a Class C? All have side entry, many have large bathrooms, many have recliners as well. Some come with a cabover, some have other attractive floorplans. Many aren't much bigger than truck campers. My wife and I went to an RV show in Tampa last January and saw several beauties that wouldn't break the bank either. We have a fifth wheel but if we were in the market, we would have given Class C's serious consideration.

Yes I have looked at Class C's but really do not want another MH. My plans are to tow my toys with me which is a built Jeep and a Harley. My plans are to boondock most of the time so having a 4x4 truck seems to be a better idea. Also when needed I can unload my camper and use my truck for other things. This is why I would rather have a camper. A lot of my time will be spent going to Jeepin trails and camping near those locations. I've looked at my options and just feel a MH isn't a good choice.
RobWNY
Explorer
Aug 17, 2020
I wish you good luck. What you want to do sounds like a lot of fun!
Kayteg1
Explorer II
Aug 17, 2020
Pulling Jeep and Harley will make serious restrictions what camper size you can get, while side entry is quite rare.
At least I hope you have dually truck to deal with it?
Not sure if my memory is correct, but I think Host make 10' TC with side entrance, but you can forget about choices in bathroom size.
We did kind of full-time in our 12' TC with single slide, when we sold house in CA and were house shopping in Las Vegas. It was only 3 months and I remember that as fun, regardless the wettest CA winter in 2017
Good luck figuring out all the details.
brholt
Explorer II
Aug 17, 2020
I would note that the fox landing option on Arctic Fox campers makes towing and getting into the camper easy for a rear entry camper. As for wet vs dry baths we prefer the wet bath as you have more room to shower and use the bathroom than most dry baths.

We do extensive camping trips right now and plan on going full time in our truck camper in less than a year.
LadyRVer
Explorer II
Aug 18, 2020
I bought a brand new Palomino truck camper, no slide and left for a cross country trip. I have been full-timing since 2004. I found that I used the bedroom area for all my stuff and made the u-shaped dinette into a full time bed. But, that presented an eating problem. Either stood up or tried to balance food on my lap.

I had scissor steps on the back (I know you mentioned side entrance and I have seen Lance campers with side entrances, but I had to watch weight on truck camper to match my 2500 truck). I broke my leg in TX and tried to manage the scissor steps with that and that was a real challenge.

For traveling, the TC was the greatest. Just not enough room for me and my cocker spaniel. I traded the TC in OR for a 23' travel trailer and towed it back to FL. I miss the TC, but trying to access my things up in the bedroom area were a real challenge for me. Full-timing is possible in one.

Met a couple who went from a 37' fifth-wheel to a TC with 2 slides and 2 German Shepherds. They were doing great with it, full time. Good luck. Make it work if that is what you want.
free_radical
Explorer
Aug 18, 2020
Fwiw
I have never seen side entry TC.

Only side entry are those built on a chasis truck or flat deck or class B or C.

As far as interior design goes maybe you need to build your own the way you want
Good luck
Hemi_Joel
Explorer
Aug 18, 2020
The Eagle Cap 1165 would meet your stated requirements very well. Large dry bath, nice recliners in the rear slide. You need a lot of truck to haul the heavy thing and tow.
wildman4x4
Explorer
Aug 18, 2020
I understand what the truck requirements are for hauling a triple slide camper and then trying to tow 6K+ lbs.

I'm just interested in hearing from folks who have been full timing in a camper.

My list of campers are:

1) Host- Either the new Yukon or the Mammoth model
2) Chalet- TS116- I know it is no longer made but it's a nice camper
3) Eagle Cap- Either 1165 or 1200
4) Lance- Only a double slide

Yes all these campers take a minimum of a 1 ton DRW truck.
Bert_the_Welder
Explorer II
Aug 18, 2020
The ones you listed are all really big units and seem like lots of room for two, if there's two of you. Even with a dog or two. I would think entry stair use could be an issue regardless of side or rear entry. Just as a thought for an option should it be a problem, maybe look into an Al. ramp or a portable deck for more room to maneuver when enter/exiting. It's amazing how much room there is in those big Host triples. Blew my mind when I saw one. I'd think, and this is just me wondering, how those slide hold up off road traveling.
Best wishes in the hunt.