Newbie Questions
Background - My GF and I have decided to go Full timing for the next couple of months. In the past I have owned a 40' Fifth wheel and 35' TT. I really want something easy to use, tow, and set up. We have decided to try our hand at a truck camper. I want it to be really simple and have narrowed my choice to a Lance 1130 or 1140. I really like the lay out of the 1140 but they are hard to come by in good shape. So mostly likely will end up with a 1130. I think I have found a 2004 1130 in really good shape with a few upgrades with all the available packages when ordered new. I have two large Thule boxes for the top. We also have a 2005 toyota Rav4 5spd with blueox baseplates/tow bar and a braking buddy. I planned on ordering torklift brackets. Almost forgot -my tow vehicle is 1999.5 F350 crewcab 2wd DRW 7.3 auto Questions- first off - Is the 1130 enough space for two active adults not to kill each other? 2. is there some interior mods for baskets or more space for clothes? I remember seeing one but can't find it anymore. 3. we will be TCing in the mountains and I plan on adding insulations to cabinets and and outside storage areas. Anything else I can do to help? within reasons and not pulling off the underbelly 4. did 2004 include storm/double pane windows in the all weather package? 5. Can I use my OEM class IV to tow the toad with a hitch extension? 6. I have bed liner, What else do I need to put TC in my bed. I have read about a bed liner but wondered if insulating sheets would be better. And do I need 2x4 in front of the bed? 5. Where can I get a pass through window gasket? I think that is all for now.. Thanks!! in advance
Largest Lithium AMP Hour Battery - 2023 Arctic Fox 865
My wife and I are soon picking up a 2023 Arctic Fox 865 to replace our trusty 2005 Lance 845. We almost exclusively boondock so I am gathering all the pieces I need to add ~500 watts of solar on the roof, victron equipment, and now trying to figure out how large of lithium battery I can get into the Arctic Fox battery compartment. I’m fine with removing the Northwood sliding battery tray to accomplish this. Does anyone know the dimensions of a late model Arctic Fox 865 battery compartment? Can I get a 300 amp/hr lithium battery in there? We are buying our camper 3 states away and unfortunately dont have access to an 865 on a lot anywhere near us. Thanks for the help. Update: Going back and adding the oem Arctic Fox 865 battery box measurements for others that may want them. The limiting factor is the battery compartment door which is smaller than the inside of the battery box. Battery Box: Once sliding battery tray is removed, inside dimensions of battery box are: 17” deep by 17” wide by 12.5” tall. Battery compartment door opening: 14.75” wide by 11.375” tall by 1.25” deep.
Photo Thread - Post a Photo of Your Truck Camper Here
Post photos of your truck camper on this thread. Any photo with a truck camper in it is allowable; any brand, any year. If you have a couple of nice truck camper photos from your vacation, feel free to post them here. But, if you have 10, 20, 30 or 130 vacation photos you would like to post, this is not the thread for them. Just start a new thread and post all of them you like there. If you would like to also post a couple of the better TC photos on this thread, that is fine. This thread is for Truck Camper photos only. But feel free to post comments on posted photos. Because this thread is very long, I will occasionally clean it up by removing the older posts that do not have truck camper photos and other off topic material. Also, please limit photo width to 640 pixels. Please do not post thumbnail size photos, they are just too small to see and will be deleted. Please post photos, not just a clickable link to a photo. Please limit the photo file size to reasonable size. preferably less than 100k, but absolutely less than 200k. Large size files just take too long to download. Register at photobucket.com (free), download your pictures (takes a while), hi-lite and copy the URL, then use the "image" icon to paste the photo URL. See the links below for help with posting photos. PhotoBucket.com - Free Photo Hosting Posting Photos Help Thread Posting Photos Brad's Way Another Good Thread With Photo Posting Info Technology Forum Posting Photos on the Forum - Help Thread More help with photos More help with photos (2) Photo Bucket Photo Hosting Site NetBoy's Thread on Compressing Photos Can't See the Photos? Click Here (The Mad Norsky) BradW :) :)California CVRA decal question
This question is primarily for CA registered vehicle owners, and I’m not looking for the weight police to chime in on “what is the safe weight my truck can carry”. Background information: Recently purchased a 2013 F350 CC. With a GVWR of 11500lbs. Rating. Traded in a 2006 F350 CC w/ GVWR of 11400lbs. This new truck puts me in a different (higher) GVW range (10,001-15000), which requires I place CVRA decals on my side doors. Didn’t have to place decals on the ’06 F350. I see a lot of newer trucks/camper combos (2011-2013), specifically F350’s and F450, and I don’t see them with the CVRA decals on. The question is do most people in this category of trucks, just not place the decals on the doors and hope CHP doesn’t stop them? Or what? 2nd question….I know normally pick-up trucks do not need to stop at CHP weight stations, but with the CVRA decal on, does that change things?
Can you have your cake and eat it too?
Hi everyone New forum member here with a odd ball can you have your cake and eat it too question? I'm about 3 years out from retirement and in the planning stages of putting together a rig that can meet all my needs. Some background on me I have owned a couple Class A RV's over the years for both full time and part time use as well as tent camping in my younger years. My next camping adventures will combine ATV's on a occasional basis and several trips to the South/Mid West. I'm drawn to TC's for their simplicity and compactness but the truck payload weight limits gets eaten up quickly going up in size than adding cargo. I'm not looking to drag 30' plus foot of equipment behind my truck so trailers, 5'ers and Toy Haulers are a non starter with me. Everything seems to start in the 27' range for entry level RV's that seem to me anyway to be cheaply built. So I said if you can't find it just build it. How about a custom built 22' (floor length) trailer with a 5th wheel hookup. I can place a 10-11' TC on the front and have 11' left on the back for a ATV or Side by Side or Golf Cart. I know the Rock Crawler guys do this with 40' equipment trailers so it should be doable. I'm not talking something thrown together but a well thought out project that is custom built around a TC I choose. The smaller footprint trailer still gives me access to a lot of campgrounds and I have more flexibility for dry camping. My tow vehicle is a 2019 Silverado Dully Duramax. What are your thought on that setup? Thanks Dennis
1978 Fliteway Truck Camper
My DW and I bought a 1978 Fliteway last year. When the camper isn't on the truck, we've been working long and hard at refurbishing and updating it. Other than locating a company (Fliteway Co., Inc. in Manawa, WI) that existed in the late '70's I have not been successful at finding any information, including pictures on this camper. Anyone out there have any knowledge, pictures of, or experience with this one? We're almost done with the interior, and previous owners repainted the exterior - left one logo and the serial number plate untouched. We'd like to find more information on the company and camper - how many were built, if the company still exists & under which name (if it does) and where we can get pieces and parts to finish the refurbishment. Thanks for any information you can supply.
Laminated Fiberglass Walls
Looking at purchasing a new camper. Looking for experiences with the Adventurer 901SB / Arctic Fox 865 I like the 2" R13 insulation of the Adventurer, I dislike the layout and storage. I like the layout and storage of the Arctic Fox but would like there to be something more than the R7? insulation.... (actually, they don't specify what the wall insulation is. Just that it is 5" thick at the crown) What has been everyone's experiences with the laminated aluminum framed walls with either of these campers? How has the build quality been? Have they solved the problem of laminated wall campers coming apart like a cheap watch at the slightest hint of moisture?
Battery charging concerns.
New to RVing. I have purchased a AGM battery to replace the old one. I have read all over the Internet that the RV charger controller may compromise the new battery. 1-Is this true only when connected to 110 V or also while driving and the battery is receiving 12 v from the truck alternator.. 2- For AGM batteries they recommend to charge it after reaching under %50. Do you have a solution?