Coast Resorts Open Roads Forum: Why aren't Truck Campers popular in W. Pa.?

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

Posted By: time2retire on 10/18/19 05:51am

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.

Posted By: ardvark on 10/18/19 06:43am

I don't think truck campers are popular any place until you get into Colorado, at least that is our experience. Until popularity rises, I don't think dealers are going to make the investment and in our experience, even shopping the dealers that do exist is dreadful. Phone calls don't get answered, no response to emails. That's not all dealers of course, but the bottom of the barrel in business sense seems to fall to truck campers.

Then there is the lag between order and delivery. Many TC manufacturers are so small that six month waits are commonplace. I think a good many folks would come into the marketplace if availability was greater, which is what you are saying. Sort of a chicken and egg issue there. People aren't going to buy what they seldom see and until they buy, dealers are not going to carry more models.

In the end, buying new, we drove 300 miles after negotiating online and the only other dealer we considered was over 600 miles away! That came about following a frustrating series of phone calls that were not returned and emails that weren't answered.

That about sums it up. Manufacturers with very limited output and "dealers" that should be dressed in clown suits. If you want a truck camper, you are really going to have to work at it unless you are in the West. [emoticon]

Posted By: time2retire on 10/18/19 07:33am

I will be driving 7 hours to pick up a new camper!

I lived in NJ in the early 80s and they were popular there as beach buggies. I had a Sunlite pop up on a Toyota with the cooler/rod holder on the front. It was a great set up and we did Island Beach, NJ, Assateague/Chincoteague, NE ski resorts and State Parks.

Moved back to Pgh. and it sold in 3 days at asking price.

Went into the boat black hole for the last 20 years and am tired of the work it takes.

The TC makes sense with a little 14' Starcraft to fill the need to fish.

Posted By: BradW on 10/18/19 07:40am

We just back from six weeks in Yellowstone and Moab, Utah. Those places were overrun with truck campers. It was amazing.

Wake Up America
2019 Lance 1062 and 2018 F-350 CC PSD 4X4 DRW
Tembrens, Rear Roadmaster Sway Bar, Torklift 48" Extention and 30K Superhitch
Our New Lance 1062 Truck Camper Unloading at Dealer Photos

Posted By: wanderingaimlessly on 10/18/19 07:47am

Dealers carry what experience has told them they can sell.
But if its any help again about 7 hours from you there is a TC dealer near Raleigh NC that you may want to scope out. D&H
Good luck in your hunt

Posted By: tlowe43q on 10/18/19 08:29am

All of the above is true!!

You will have to travel in the East to acquire a TC.

Truck Camper Warehouse (truckcamperwarehouse.com) is in southwestern NH and has a large inventory (MANY indoors) - very few TTs - and they are VERY busy. They KNOW TCs.

2016 GMC 3500HD Dually Diesel
2017 Host Mammoth

Posted By: BradW on 10/18/19 08:46am

Ditto. TCW has been in the truck camper business for a long time.

Posted By: kohldad on 10/18/19 09:55am

Quote:

But if its any help again about 7 hours from you there is a TC dealer near Raleigh NC that you may want to scope out. D&H
Good luck in your hunt

Agree withe D&H and the do carry the Cirrus. I've heard nothing but good things, owner is actually a truck camper user and has even put on a couple of rallies which were well received by the participants.

Stopped at the dealer over in OH that I think you are talking about and they weren't that sharp despite the quantity of TCs they had on hand.

2015 Ram 3500 4x4 Crew Cab SRW 6.4 Hemi LB 3.73 (12.4 hand calc avg mpg after 92,000 miles with camper)
2004 Lance 815 (prev: 2004 FW 35'; 1994 TT 30'; Tents)

Posted By: Kayteg1 on 10/18/19 10:11am

time2retire wrote:

..

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.

Don't know how to interpret that.
Those days new campers sell in $50-75,000 range.
Talking about TC popularity- not too many of them in Nevada and California, but in Washington you will see them every minute.

Posted By: romore on 10/18/19 10:13am

I don't see many anymore, they used to be extremely popular. There is still the niche market of hunters and fishermen but families (read the wife) want more room and creature comforts.

Posted By: bigfootgrey on 10/18/19 10:50am

Found this camper on rv trader in Souderton, Pa
Dealer name and number on truck door.

2011 Ford F-350 PSD SC DRW
2008 Bigfoot 25C-10.4E
Firestone airbags - torklift stable-loads,fastguns,Talons Rancho rs 9000XL’s.

Posted By: time2retire on 10/18/19 11:19am

Kayteg1 wrote:

time2retire wrote:

The light weight campers for short beds (6') can be got for less than 30,000.

There are definitely huge differences in technology and build.

I visited one dealer who had the Cirrus line and had 2 720's. I didn't want the 720 but I drove there (we were half way there from looking at a used one "yuk") just to see the build and technology Cirrus is using. They were right next to 2 new Travelites. The difference was astounding. Those new campers were falling apart in the lot.

Cirrus I think missed the mark on the 720 but they were still heads above the other as far as quality.

Anybody have any feedback on an 820?

Posted By: GAR2 on 10/18/19 11:33am

Nothing much in Central / Southern Illinois- more than likely I’ll be driving up to Northern Iowa to buy one.

In the market to buy a T/C
2002 F350 4wd CC DRW 8’ box
Load Lifter 5000 rear air bags, front Timbrens
Rancho 9000 shocks
Brighton, Illinois

Posted By: jaycocreek on 10/18/19 11:35am

bigfootgrey wrote:

Found this camper on rv trader in Souderton, Pa
Dealer name and number on truck door.

Is that delamination on a Bigfoot?

Didn't think they could delaminate..

Lance 9.6
400 watts solar mounted/200 watts portable
500ah Lifep04

Posted By: Lwiddis on 10/18/19 04:54pm

“I don't think truck campers are popular any place until you get into Colorado,..”

Not popular in California IMO.

Winnebago 2101DS TT & 2022 Chevy Silverado 1500 LTZ Z71, WindyNation 300 watt solar-Lossigy 200 AH Lithium battery. Prefer boondocking, USFS, COE, BLM, NPS, TVA, state camps. Bicyclist. 14 yr. Army -11B40 then 11A - (MOS 1542 & 1560) IOBC & IOAC grad

Posted By: bigfootgrey on 10/18/19 05:39pm

Looks like a bulge above the propane compartment. Could be de- bonding of the fiberglass to the insulation. Stress point for the cab over. Good eye! I didn’t notice it when I posted.

Posted By: travelnutz on 10/19/19 10:21am

time2retire,

Truck campers are very popular in Michigan and there's a lot of dealers with adequate inventory at their dealerships. See lots of TC's on the road, CG's and at homes.

Both Lance TC's and Northwoods TC's (Arctic Fox etc) are made way over on the West Coast but only Lance is popular and sells well in the Midwest or east of the Mississippi.

A superb CC LB 4X4, GM HD Diesel, airbags, Rancho's, lots more
Lance Legend TC 11' 4", loaded including 3400 PP generator and my deluxe 2' X 7' rear porch
29 ft Carriage Carri-lite 5'er - a specially built gem
A like new '07 Sunline Solaris 26' TT

Posted By: Z-Peller on 10/19/19 11:36am

Quote:

Looks like a bulge above the propane compartment. Could be de- bonding of the fiberglass to the insulation. Stress point for the cab over. Good eye! I didn’t notice it when I posted.

That is a reflection or photo aberition....enlarge and look closely, the apparent distortion runs right down thru the aluminum propane door....I have owned three dfferent Bigfoots' since 2002 and never a problem with molded fiberglass shell.

Bill..
2017 Bigfoot 10.4 camper...2016 GMC 3500 4x4 Xcab Duramax Dually...

Posted By: DWeikert on 10/19/19 11:47am

If you think they're rare in western PA, come to eastern PA. I ended up driving to the Northstar factory in Iowa to pick mine up. Of course, I continued on from there to Yellowstone so it was on my way. [emoticon]

Along these lines, when I was shopping for my truck I told one salesman I was planning to use it for a TC. He said "People don't use those anymore. Everybody uses a travel trailer of 5th wheel." I didn't bother going back to him.

Dan
2008 Chevy D/A 2500HD ECSB
2010 Northstar 8.5 Adventurer

Posted By: ajriding on 10/19/19 11:47am

Bigfoot campers are fiberglass, but it is not a lamination. Think of a surf board construction. Delam from the foam core would not result in wrinkles, nothing would be the result visually.

Posted By: bigfootgrey on 10/19/19 12:09pm

Here’s another view. I definitely can see it in the aluminum door and above it. It does line up like a reflection. Also another area above right side of kitchen window?

* This post was edited 10/19/19 12:34pm by bigfootgrey *

Posted By: jimh406 on 10/19/19 12:16pm

DWeikert wrote:

He said "People don't use those anymore. Everybody uses a travel trailer of 5th wheel”.

I think he meant they have better markup and less informed shoppers for TTs and 5th wheels. [emoticon]

BTW, a dealer in the NW said a similar thing to me, and I was going to buy one on his lot. All he had to do was take my check and fill out the paperwork, but couldn’t be bothered after a trailer shopper came in. [emoticon]

No worries though since I got a better deal from the next dealer.

In any case, they aren’t popular in Western PA compared to some areas because dealers don’t stock them. In their defense, there are many more customers for TTs and 5th wheels.

However, if you look at total sales for TCs nationwide, they are really low compared to other types.

'10 Ford F-450, 6.4, 4.30, 4x4, 14,500 GVWR, '06 Host Rainer 950 DS, Torklift Talon tiedowns, Glow Steps, and Fastguns. Bilstein 4600s, Firestone Bags, Toyo M655 Gs, Curt front hitch, Energy Suspension bump stops.

NRA Life Member, CCA Life Member

Posted By: tcguy on 10/19/19 01:20pm

Check out Mike Jones Motors\RV in Hamersville, Ohio. They have a good selection of truck campers. I have purchased 2 TC from them over the years and highly recommend them.

Posted By: DWeikert on 10/19/19 06:49pm

jimh425 wrote:

DWeikert wrote:

He said "People don't use those anymore. Everybody uses a travel trailer of 5th wheel”.

I think he meant they have better markup and less informed shoppers for TTs and 5th wheels. [emoticon]

Just for clarification, this was the truck salesman. Not RV.

I think one big reason TC's are more popular out west is there's a lot more places to boondock. Back east people use TT's and 5th wheels because when they go "camping" they go to a campground. If that's your camping then why limit yourself to a TC when for the same price you can get a 30'+ TT?

Posted By: Travels with Yoly on 10/19/19 09:24pm

As others have mentioned and recommended D&H RV, you can add our name to that list. We were so happy with our experience I made a video to remember it by. We actually purchased 2 TCs from them in later times because we had such confidence in them. At the time they had a good selection with at least 4 different brands that I can remember.

D&H RV

Posted By: time2retire on 10/21/19 04:57am

DWeikert wrote:

So Northstar let you pick up a camper at there factory? This is the bone I have to pick with Cirrus. They will not let you pick up. Has to go through a dealer.

Almost made a deal (still thinking about it) with a dealer who is 8-9 hours away. That TC will pass right by me in 2 hours from the factory to this dealer. Ridiculous! They claim they have to prep it. Basically installing 2 batteries.

Really thinking about bailing on the Cirrus. Wife says screw em.

What I'm coming to find out is that most East/mid Atlantic RV dealers that have a used camper took it in trade. They don't stock any but Cirrus says ther're a authorized dealer. Some commitment huh? I've seen this in my business when a second tier manufacturer can't find quality committed dealers they just name one in case a sale comes up. That one dealer I visited, 5 hours away that actually had a couple TC's, I wouldn't let load my flashlight.

Anybody have any input on Adventurer?

Being new here I'm not sure we're allowed to compare brands?

Posted By: DWeikert on 10/21/19 06:36am

time2retire wrote:

DWeikert wrote:

Technically, the purchase was done through Truck Camper Warehouse in NH. That's who I made the check out to. But it was a custom/build to order camper and from the beginning I communicated with Rex at Northstar.

Not only did they let me pick it up at the factory, Rex installed the Torklifts and they even let me spend the first night in the factory parking lot to check for problems.

Posted By: jimh406 on 10/21/19 07:34am

time2retire wrote:

Being new here I'm not sure we're allowed to compare brands?

Brands are compared here all of the time. Host for instance has no issues with people going to their factory and has even sold direct. I’m not sure if they do now, but the TCs that they are making now are much larger/heavier than a Cirrus.

I think other manufacturers have no issues with factory delivery either.

Posted By: mkirsch on 10/21/19 09:16am

Manufacturers of ANYTHING typically have similar build quality across the board...

So, if you weren't impressed with the 720, what makes you think you're going to be any more impressed with an 820???

Food for thought as you consider bailing on the Cirrus.

The communication thing is not limited to TC dealers. There are still a LOT of "old school" dealers out there, just hole in the wall mom & pop shops with an employee or two. Either one of their kids/grandkids or a young employee said they *HAD* to have a website and email address, so they got one. Then it was like a house cat catching a chipmunk; they had no idea what to do with it! You get short on help, short on time, and the inbox is flooded with spam and stupid questions from "tire kickers" that will never result in a sale... and you absolutely *CAN* tell when you've got a time waster/tire kicker. You just get frustrated, throw up your hands, abandon it, and go back to dealing face to face with walk-in customers.

Putting 10-ply tires on half ton trucks since aught-four.

Posted By: jimh406 on 10/21/19 10:09am

mkirsch wrote:

Manufacturers of ANYTHING typically have similar build quality across the board...

I don’t think RVs count. There are still made one at a time and vary a lot from build to build except in the very best ones since RVs are handmade and not much different than a house in that regard.

Posted By: DWeikert on 10/22/19 07:52am

jimh425 wrote:

mkirsch wrote:

Manufacturers of ANYTHING typically have similar build quality across the board...

Not so sure about that "one at a time" thing. TC's are built on an assembly line just like anything else these days. (Youtube Northstar factory tour) That doesn't mean there aren't still variations in build quality, but for the most part if the manufacturer allowed shoddy work in the camper you're looking at don't be surprised to see it in their other models as well.

Posted By: ardvark on 10/22/19 08:00am

That tour doesn't looks like an assembly line to me.

Posted By: Bedlam on 10/22/19 09:13am

Northwood builds 4-5 truck campers a day on its line while Host builds less than that in week on their line. Both are still assembly lines, but the length of the line and the number of people on it really determines the throughput.

Chevy Sonic 1.8-Honda Passport C70B-Host Mammoth 11.5-Interstate Car Carrier 20-Joyner SandViper 250-Kawasaki Concours ZG1000-Paros 8' flatbed-Pelican Decker DLX 8.75-Ram 5500 HD

Posted By: ardvark on 10/22/19 09:34am

My point being some manufacturers do have assembly lines in whihc a unit moves through a series of stations in which workers perform a given task. Others have units setting on the floor and a worker may move around them in a less organized manner.

Def from the Internet: an arrangement of machines, tools, and workers in which a product is assembled by having each perform a specific, successive operation on an incomplete unit as it passes by in a series of stages organized in a direct line.

Posted By: mkirsch on 10/22/19 09:35am

When you get into the large RV manufacturers, it most certainly *IS* an assembly line, in the traditional Ford Model T sense even.

Posted By: ardvark on 10/22/19 09:54am

mkirsch wrote:

When you get into the large RV manufacturers, it most certainly *IS* an assembly line, in the traditional Ford Model T sense even.

Not arguing that point. Simply noting not all RVs are built on assembly lines. In the thread linked above, those truck campers are not being built on an assembly line, nor are some from other manufacturers. Quality control is more variable when workers move between units rather than units moving through a series of work stations where assembly is routinized. That is my only point.

Steve

Posted By: DWeikert on 10/22/19 08:35pm

ardvark wrote:

mkirsch wrote:

When you get into the large RV manufacturers, it most certainly *IS* an assembly line, in the traditional Ford Model T sense even.

Assuming you're referring to my post, look again. They start with the most complete camper and travel down the "line" to campers in earlier stages of production. I.e. the campers are "moving through a series of work stations where assembly is routinized."

If you weren't referring to my post, nevermind.

Posted By: time2retire on 10/28/19 07:17am

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.

Posted By: jaycocreek on 10/28/19 07:34am

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....

Posted By: ardvark on 10/28/19 07:35am

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

Posted By: time2retire on 10/28/19 07:53am

ardvark wrote:

Posted By: ardvark on 10/28/19 07:57am

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

Posted By: time2retire on 10/28/19 08:02am

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!

Posted By: ardvark on 10/28/19 01:16pm

time2retire wrote:

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.

Posted By: NatParkJunkie on 10/28/19 08:49pm

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.

Posted By: Mike Tassinari on 11/07/19 06:33pm

Good evening Time2retire.

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

Mikeeeeeeeeeeeeeee

2002 Ford-4x4-Extended Cab-Dually-Lariet-Powerstroke Diesel--4.10 gears--Ranchero Adjustable Shocks-55 Gallon Extended Fuel Tank--4 Extra Main Leaf Springs-1 Extra Helper Spring..Independant Second Altinator(100AMP)to Charge MY Twin 275 AH. Deep Cycle Battery Bank tucked under the truck bed....

2001 Lance-11&1/2 Ft.-Model 1121/slide/out with all the Toys&2000 Watt Inverter

Posted By: billyray50 on 11/08/19 06:01am

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.

Posted By: deltabravo on 11/09/19 07:08am

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

2009 Silverado 3500HD Dually, D/A, CCLB 4x4 (bought new 8/30/09)
2018 Arctic Fox 992 with an Onan 2500i "quiet" model generator

Posted By: time2retire on 11/11/19 10:07am

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.

Posted By: mellow on 11/11/19 10:46am

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.

2002 F-350 7.3 Lariat 4x4 DRW ZF6
2008 Lance 1191 - 220w of solar - Bring on the sun!

Posted By: time2retire on 11/11/19 11:38am

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.

Posted By: mellow on 11/11/19 03:18pm

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.

Posted By: Mike and Terry Ann on 11/12/19 08:08am

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

Posted By: time2retire on 12/10/19 05:33am

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.

Posted By: Buzzcut1 on 12/10/19 06:26am

I leave my lance plugged in while not in use that way the batteries are always charged and the fridge is always cold ( I store extra beer in there).

Yes the batteries should charge while driving if the wiring is hooked up correctly. Make sure you have an automatic interrupt in the circuit so that when the truck is turned off the camper cannot draw down the truck batteries

My lance has no thermostat on the hot water heater. I have never worried about it in ten years,

traveling. Fridge runs on propane, I only turn it off at gas staions before pulling in unless I am filling in the truck area at a truck stop ( only diesel at the pumps so no fire danger from the flame) In very cold temps I will drive with the furnace on to keep the camper water pipes from freezing otherwise its off.

2011 F350 6.7L Diesel 4x4 CrewCab longbed Dually, 2019 Lance 1062, Torqlift Talons, Fast Guns, upper and lower Stable Loads, Super Hitch, 48" Super Truss, Airlift loadlifter 5000 extreme airbags

Posted By: jimh406 on 12/10/19 06:33am

time2retire, you should generally create a new topic, so people can find the new questions. That’s just the way forums work.

Any way, you don’t need 30A to keep your batteries topped off. You can just plug in for a day or so every month or so. I keep my power shutoff because there is parasitic drain from propane detector. It takes a while, but eventually will run your battery down.

You have to check your plug to see if their is current to charge going down the road. Some trucks do it automatically while some need a relay//fuse added.

There are methods to add a thermostat to your water heater, but it should automatically cut off. 180 seems awfully hot. I heat water on the stove if needed for coffee etc. It’s fast.

People debate whether appliances should be on/off when traveling. I leave my refrigerator on when traveling. Others say it isn’t safe.

You can search the archives to find answers to your questions, but if not, please start a new topic when you have more questions. It makes it easier for others to realize it’s “new”.

Posted By: time2retire on 12/10/19 07:06am

Thanks, jimh425, based on the amount of traffic on this site I didn't think a new thread was necessary as most people would go to the last posted response anyway. There was some history here that I thought relevant.

How do I check "to see if their is a current to charge going down the road"? The camper running lights are on. I would think a 2018 loaded TC would have that relay. No?

Buzzcut, I do have a battery to camper shut off. It looks like a headlight switch on an old car. Should it be off or on while traveling? If it's off then the batteries could not be charging while underway. Right?

While camping, should I disconnect the camper wire from the truck to avoid an unnecessary draw down?

great info. thanks.

Posted By: Lantley on 12/10/19 07:45am

based on the amount of traffic on this site I didn't think a new thread was necessary as most people would go to the last posted response anyway. There was some history here that I thought relevant.
For future reference you would get a better response by starting a new thread. There are lots of people on this forum but very few of the overall membership responded to:
Why aren't Truck Campers popular in W. Pa.? Your initial/opening question has nothing to do with your current plugging in question. By asking the question within your initial thread you are leaving out a lot of participants/members that could possibly give insight into your new question.
Back on topic.
For the record I keep my RV plugged in 24/7 365. Keeps everything charged and ready to go. Been doing it that way for years

19'Duramax w/hips,12'Open Range,Titan Disc Brake
BD3,RV safepower,22" Blackstone
Ox Bedsaver,RV760 w/BC20,Glow Steps, Enduraplas25,Pedego
BakFlip,RVLock,5500 Onan LP,Prog.50A surge,Hughes autoformer
Porta Bote 8.0 Nissan,Sailun S637
Correct Trax,Splendide

Posted By: otrfun on 12/10/19 08:18am

time2retire wrote:

. . . -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 . . .

Buzzcut1 wrote:

. . . My lance has no thermostat on the hot water heater. I have never worried about it in ten years . . .

They might not have a typical thermostat like the one on the wall for your propane heater, but they do have a preset thermostat attached to the hot water tank itself. Most RV HW heater thermostats shut things down around 140 degrees. If the thermostat malfunctions (doesn't shut off the propane/electric), the pressure relief valve will/should activate.

Posted By: Eugarps on 12/10/19 06:52pm

All,

Even though truck campers are superior in all kinds of ways, many in the crowded East have turned to vans. They can be had in automotive looking configurations that do offend HOAs and fit even more comfortably into the more compact parking spaces now allowed by some jurisdictions. Thus, even one ton trucks are viewed askance by HOAs and they are horrified by dual rear wheels!

So, you almost have to go at least west of the Appalachians to find truck campers. The southeast has so dealers, I think, because they are close to beaches that allow camping on the beach.

All that said, truck campers are “Van Life” done right.

My $0.02 and worth it!

Bill

Posted By: time2retire on 01/20/20 06:29am

Well I'll be! We went to the RV show in Pgh. this weekend and guess what? For the first time since I've been going there (20 yrs.) they have a truck camper on display. And guess what else? It's a Northern Light for $45,000. I forget the model but the weight is 3800 lbs. It had a nice layout for an 8' bed. It seamed that it got a lot of attention.

The RV dealer from Central Pa. had just signed on to NL. He really didn't know a lot about it.

He claimed it was good for a 3/4 ton sw truck. I was skeptical. Am I wrong?

Anyhow it was good to see one at the W. Pa. RV show for the first time.

Like I said before, if you don't have em you won't sell em.

Posted By: Kayteg1 on 01/20/20 08:34am

3800 lb empty, will make close to 5000 lb loaded.
Average 3/4 tons truck has close to 3000 lb on rear axle, so that makes total zooming at 7500- 8000 lb.
Find me 3/4 truck who has rear axle rated for it?

* This post was edited 01/20/20 08:47am by Kayteg1 *

Posted By: time2retire on 01/20/20 08:58am

Kayteg1 wrote:

That's exactly what I was thinking. His justification was that NL delivered the unit on a 3/4 ton and he brought it to the show on one.

As much as I'd like to see more RV dealers sell them here, they have a lot to learn.

Posted By: stumper92 on 01/20/20 10:57am

time2retire wrote:

Kayteg1 wrote:

Also the camper would have been dry and without all the stuff you typically load in a camper after you buy it.

Posted By: markchengr on 01/20/20 11:59am

I have a Northern Lite 10-2 on a GMC 3500. When I weighed it ready to camp, the stock rear wheels and tires were right at the limit. I had to go to 19.5's to feel safe. It handles well now, no more sway. Most truck sway is in the sidewalls of the tires. No way would I use a 3/4 ton to carry most of the campers out there. In fact, I don't know why they even make 3/4 ton trucks. Either get a real truck or a little grocery-getter 1/2 ton. Sorry, but I'm rather highly opinionated. I guess that's an understatement. Only my opinion, didn't mean to offend anyone.

Posted By: mellow on 01/20/20 02:17pm

time2retire wrote:

He claimed it was good for a 3/4 ton sw truck. I was skeptical. Am I wrong?

Come down to the beach, SRW's galore carrying more weight than that while out on soft sand in 4x4. Now should it be done that is the question, I answered it for myself by upgrading to a DRW.

Posted By: time2retire on 01/22/20 05:54am

First trip with the new Adventurer. We had temps in the 60's two weeks ago so we did a weekend practice run at Quinemahoning state Park, Pa. Everything went well as we learned some things about our new toy.

[image]

Edit: Ok, how do I get the pic up?

Moderator edit: only one set of image tags

* This post was edited 01/22/20 06:33am by an administrator/moderator *

Posted By: Grit dog on 01/22/20 07:33am

markchengr wrote:

Do you realize that most 3/4T and 1T srw trucks are essentially the same truck?

2016 Ram 2500, MotorOps.ca EFIlive tuned, 5” turbo back, 6" lift on 37s
2017 Heartland Torque T29 - Sold.
Couple of Arctic Fox TCs - Sold

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