Why aren't Truck Campers popular in W. Pa.?

[time2retire]

I don't get it. With all the hunters, fisherman and unlimited destinations, why aren't TC's very popular in Western Pa.?

Heck you can't even find a dealer with a decent inventory within 5 hours.

I am going to buy one soon but it has been the hardest $25,000 cash I've ever tried to spend.

Done a ton of research and have zoned in on the Cirrus 820. They're made 2 hours from me but the closest dealer is 5 hours away and are idiots.

Who pulls into a TC dealer with a nice shiny F-250 with no tailgate, $25,000 in cash, and leaves empty handed? ME!

New member here and the info on this site is unmatched that I can find. Keep up the good work TC'rs.

Rant over.

[time2retire]

I would like to change the topic but I'm keeping it on this same thread so anyone reading will know a little of my recent history.

I've done all or most of the upgrades I mentioned earlier to my new Adventurer TC. It didn't come with much of a manual. So I have some lingering questions I hope this community can help me with.

My questions:

-When the camper is being stored, should I leave the 30v hooked up and turned on to the 110 wall plug? Should I leave the master power shutoff on? Is this charging the batteries (I put 2 ganged new ones in)? The Jensen audio unit is lit up but still turned off.

-When the camper is hooked up on the truck, are the batteries charging going down the road or when the truck is running?

-The hot water heater seems to run fine. It has no thermostat. The manual covers many models and mentions that it will max out at 180*. That seems high to me as I know the polystyrene insulation enveloping it can melt at 160*. Should I be watching this? I haven't let it max out yet.

-I'm pretty sure the hot water, furnace, and fridge should be turned off while traveling. What keeps your food from spoiling on a long trip?

I have more but let's start with these. There is a lot of expertise on here so I appreciate any help.

[Mike_and_Terry_]

Congrat on the truck Camper... When your driving start to notice low structures like drive tru . I stopped going thru drive thru because I know at some point I would forget. Safe Travels

[mellow]

If you hadn't in the past you should get your OSV pass and spend a night or two out on the beach now that you have a TC again. Skip the Frontier town craziness.

[time2retire]

mellow wrote:
Congrats on the TC! You will have to come back to Assateague again this summer and give the 4x4 a workout and do some surf fishing, it is pretty much Lance country around here.

Definitely on the list for this year. We really enjoyed Frontier town with our new born at the biker rally in 88. LOL

Assateague is a great place for the whole family. every one gets to do what they want. Swim, boogie, fish, relax and read, explore and battle the horse flies and no seeums.

[mellow]

Congrats on the TC! You will have to come back to Assateague again this summer and give the 4x4 a workout and do some surf fishing, it is pretty much Lance country around here.

[time2retire]

Well here's my update. By the way thanks for the PM's from some members here. Lots of good info.

We picked up the TC in Lynchburg, Va. from Timberlake RV. Kudos to Mike, Roy, Jeffro, and Lamont for the warm reception and attention. They're about to get a good lesson on TC's and accessories when they bring Lance in. The Adventurer is everything we thought it would be. Clean, attractive and well designed.

I had already installed the Torklift Tie Downs before we left. Jeffro the mechanic was happy about that. You haven't done it right unless you install them over a soaking wet freshly undercoated frame! NASTY!!

I'm sending the $330 suspension stabilizers back as the camper fits and rides perfectly.

The plan:

-Ordered Brophy steps today
-familiarize myself with the plumbing (it's winterized but stored inside now for the winter) and electrical. Where is the grey tank?
-2 new batteries to bank together
-order back up camera. Where do I run the power too and through what?
-My original pop up I had 25 years ago had storage under the mattress. It was huge. The size of the bed and 4" high. I'm going to build a box under there this winter
-order a prefabbed square tube about 3' for the hitch extension.

Travels w Yoly had some good mods in his videos. That sucked with the door stop but mine has one and it's in the right place. It also has an LP gauge on the tank.

The TC is about 10'-8" on the 250. My garage door is 10' so I dropped the TC down on a lil utility trailer and it just barely fit in my warehouse. I put wood blocks on the axles under the springs so it wouldn't snap the springs. Just a bit tippy as they say but its in, and protected from the suck ass winters we have here.

All in all, the hardest $20,000 I've ever tried to spend has come together with a lot of planning and advice from here and the internets.

I have some more questions but I'll start another thread for that.

[deltabravo]

Cost to transport them to the from the western states to the east cost makes them unaffordable to many buyers.

The biggest manufacturers are in BC Canada, CA, Oregon and Washington

[billyray50]

jaycocreek wrote:
Congratulations on the Adventurer truck camper,there the most underrated truck camper on the internet...I would by one in a heart beat..Very few complaints....

I agree with you on Adventurer/Eagle cap. I sold my 2014 Adventurer 910db last sept.2018. We thought we going to a class A. That did not work out and I purchased a used one owner 2015 Lance 1050s. After owning for about a year I would have to say the Quality, fit and finish of Lance is not as good as Adventurer IMHO.

[Mike_Tassinari]

Good evening Time2retire.

Mike Tassinari here. I just sent you a pvt email and wanted to make sure you got it.

Mikeeeeeeeeeeeeeee

[NatParkJunkie]

time2retire
What part of western PA? I'm in the Pittsburgh suburbs.
No there's not a lot of truck campers around this area, but there are some. People very frequently stop me to ask questions about my TC when they see me out or camping in one because people don't see them very frequently. I think part of it too is that the appeal of truck campers is getting off the beaten path, BLM land, forest roads, etc. Those are a lot more far an inbetween on the east coast.
But the TC matches my travel style for portability much better than other types of RVs.

There's a couple dealers in the larger region around Pittsburgh.

OERV in West Virginia
clickyclicky

Kamper City in Akron
clickyclicky

And Mike Jones Motors near Cincinatti.
clickyclicky

I bought my used TC from Mike Jones, and have been very happy with it and my experience with them.

[ardvark]

time2retire wrote:
Well my plot thickens. I just pulled the trigger on a barely used 2018 Adventurer 80RB. Yeas I'll have to drive 8 hours to pick it up. Never spent $18,000 on anything without seeing it first hand. So goes the TC business in my area. There are none unless home made or junk. NuCamp wore me out and I accepted I would not see the camper before I bought it. Unfortunately for them it is not a Cirrus. I'm putting my trust in Timberlake RV in Lynchburg, Va. They are not currently a TC dealer, it was taken in trade (see previous post about my theory). They are however becoming a Lance dealer in the near future.

While researching the tie downs I got under my truck to see how this is going to work. Based on what I've read here and other places I went with the Torklifts with the spring loaded turnbuckles.

Well guess what? My 2008 F250 has extensive rust on some of the bed cross members. All those years launching boats in saltwater and driving on the beach took its toll. The body and frame are in great condition with only 44,000 miles. It is currently being repaired (replaced and thoroughly undercoated at a rust repair specialist shop).

Here's some things I plan on doing next:

Install Torklift tie downs.

Install Torklift Suspension upgrade for upper overload springs. I'm not sure
I need these but can always send them back. Feedback appreciated.

Purchase a hitch extender for my lil boat. I'll do this when I see the camper on my truck to determine the length.

Purchase 2 new batteries that I'll gang together. The 80RB has room in the battery compartment to do this. I'll use the "old" battery as a back up for my trolling motor.

Not sure if I'll need a splitter for the rear connector. We'll see.

Buy a remote back up camera. This the only option I can think of not on the unit. Feedback appreciated.

Am I missing anything? 4 months dragged through the TC market, I can't wait to finally get one.

Just a note on the purchase. I bought my last two used trucks and our current NorthStar online without seeing them first hand. No problem at all. I just work out a price and then provide a deposit with the guarantee that when I arrive I will receive a full refund if I am not satisfied. Dealer would be crazy not to do it as they all know when someone drives a few hours the chances are awfully good they are going to buy (which we did and what was advertised was exactly what we found when we arrived). I do this only with a dealer though and have everything in writing before we leave the house.

[time2retire]

Karma is a great thing. Just learned my 24' Walk Around, twin 150's just sold this weekend. It was fun while it lasted but I'm getting to old to work that boat anymore. Deep Sea fishing bucket list, check. Next?

Weekend lake trips for Stripers, nature walks and bikes with the admiral, visits with family etc. New chapter coming!

[ardvark]

I just ordered them from someone on Amazon. Got them in one day as I recall. I have used etrailer often and they are fine as long as they have them in stock.

Steve

[time2retire]

ardvark wrote:
The Torklift uppers are an easy install, however, I found on my 2012 F350 that even if I cut then down the allowable maximum, my overloads would still be engaged with an empty bed so after discussing my situation with Torklift, I returned them. The return was pretty simple, however they put my return back in inventory without tracking it, so I had to call. Once I did, they found them and refunded my purchase price on the spot. Just make sure you keep your purchase receipt or print one off in the event you have to return them. Don't forget, you have only 30 days to return them for full purchase price.

To install the uppers, you have to remove the OEM pads. The simplest way to do this I found was to use so dish detergent as a lubricant and use a clamp and they pop right out. I found the use of screwdrivers, etc. to pry them out wasted time and effort.

Who did you buy them from? Torklift from what I could tell sells them through a distributor network. They listed a few places here in Pittsburgh, Truck N' Stuff etc. These people had no idea what they were. Again I figured I'm on my own again and bought them from E.Trailer. The next adventure (no pun intended) awaits me.

Thanks for the tips.

Good luck with the camper,

Steve

[ardvark]

The Torklift uppers are an easy install, however, I found on my 2012 F350 that even if I cut then down the allowable maximum, my overloads would still be engaged with an empty bed so after discussing my situation with Torklift, I returned them. The return was pretty simple, however they put my return back in inventory without tracking it, so I had to call. Once I did, they found them and refunded my purchase price on the spot. Just make sure you keep your purchase receipt or print one off in the event you have to return them. Don't forget, you have only 30 days to return them for full purchase price.

To install the uppers, you have to remove the OEM pads. The simplest way to do this I found was to use so dish detergent as a lubricant and use a clamp and they pop right out. I found the use of screwdrivers, etc. to pry them out wasted time and effort.

Good luck with the camper,

Steve