adamis
Northern California
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Joined: 06/09/2016
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A bit of a hypothetical question here but I got to wondering how many items on a camper could be eliminated while still providing a camping experience with minimal compromise. To that end, I thought it would be an interesting exercise to list the items that could be eliminated or replaced with something else and to list what those weight savings might be. Note that this is an exercise only so cost isn't a factor and some of these suggestions are probably not suitable for all climates.
The items I can think of (not exhaustive, feel free to add to it) that could be eliminated / replaced and the estimated weight (if it say's unknown and you think you have a good estimate feel free to add it in) are:
1. Jack stands
Weight: Unknown
Alternate: None Needed
Alternate Weight: None
Weight Savings: Unknown
Alternate Notes: Can't remove from bed or reposition if needed
2. Lead Acid Batteries
Weight: ~160lbs (6v AGM Lifelines x2)
Alternate: LiFePo4 100AH
Alternate Weight: ~30lbs
Weight Savings: ~150lbs
Alternate Notes: Requires upgrade in other electrical items
3. Genset
Weight: Unknown
Alternate: Possibly add 1 additional 100AH LifePo4
Alternate Weight: 30lbs (1 additional battery)
Weight Savings: Unknown
Alternate Notes: Not ideal in warmer climate areas
4. Furnace / Water Heater
Weight: 30lb furnace, 24lb water heater
Alternate: Combi D 6 Diesel Heater / Water Heater combination unit
Alternate Weight: ~31lbs
Weight Savings: ~23lbs
Alternate Notes:
5. AC Removal
Weight: ~80lbs
Alternate: Fantastic Fan
Alternate Weight: ~10lbs
Weight Savings: ~70lbs
Alternate Notes: Might not be suitable for all climates
6. Oven / Stove Removal
Weight: Unknown
Alternate: Countertop gas or electric burner
Alternate Weight: Unknown
Weight Savings: Unknown
Alternate Notes:
7. Microwave Removal
Weight: 27lbs
Alternate:
Alternate Weight:
Weight Savings: 27lbs
Alternate Notes: Some, not all users don't need a replacement for a microwave
8. Gas Fridge to Compressor Fridge
Weight: Unknown
Alternate: DC Compressor Fridge
Alternate Weight: Unknown
Weight Savings: (might be no weight savings but allows for removal of propane bottles)
Alternate Notes: May not be actual weight savings
9. Eliminate Propane Bottles
Weight: 37lbs each (Typical Camper has qty 2)
Alternate: None
Alternate Weight:
Weight Savings: 74lbs
Alternate Notes: Requires switching to DC Fridge, Diesel Heater / Water Heater and alternate stove top.
That is about what I can think of right now. If you have some information (like Jack Stand weight) please post the information. If you have alternate suggestions or additional items that could be removed / swapped, please add it to the list using the same format.
1999 F350 Dually with 7.3 Diesel
2000 Bigfoot 10.6 Camper
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Kayteg1
California > Nevada
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Joined: 06/18/2015
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Those things are needed or not depends how you camp.
We had generator and AC on our Florida route working every day, unless we had hookup.
Than on Alaskan vacations they were death weight.
I think the only real weight saving you can get is by buying LifePo batteries, but that is pretty expensive option.
When diesel heaters are much smaller, they will create lot of hassle to use.
Bottom line, when you can save 200 lb from 14,000 lb rig, that will have some drawbacks.
My alternative way to save the weight was buying Sprinter van and use my old camper interior to convert it to small RV.
Now I can enjoy 24 mpg, but the comfort level suffer.
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Grit dog
Black Diamond, WA
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10. Eliminate Camper
Weight: 4000lbs
Alternate: Tent
Alternate weight: 20lbs
Weight savings: 3980lbs
Alternate Notes: Solves weight issue completely
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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valhalla360
No paticular place.
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Joined: 08/19/2009
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An aluminimum cover for the back with a 4" air mattress...maybe 100lb total. Make it 150lb if you add a cooler with ready to eat food and a Coleman camp stove.
At one time, we camped that way. The problem is most people buying a full blown RV (including truck campers) have higher expectations in terms of comfort and convivence. While you may not care about some of these items, the manufacturer can't market that RV to most.
Tammy & Mike
Ford F250 V10
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Deb and Ed M
SW MI & Space Coast, FL USA
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LOL! You just described our first pop-up camper!! I bought it used for $1000. The lady who owned it ahead of me had no clue what worked/didn't work, so I assumed nothing worked. The gas line had already been cut, so I yanked anything using propane, (including the fridge which didn't appear to work on electric, either). I pulled the disgusting freshwater tank; and the dead battery. Amazingly, yanking a lot of the stuff that didn't work gave me freed-up storage areas! Since we normally camp where we have an electric hookup, I cooked with an electric hotplate and if we needed heat, we had an electric heater. Water was supplied from a 2.5 gal jug. If we had planned to keep it longer, I would have added a Fantastic Fan; but if you point a tabletop fan upward at an opened vent, it works quite well, too. It really worked just fine!
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Grit dog
Black Diamond, WA
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Or in other words, remove all the items in the first post and now you have a camper with no legs so it can’t be removed. No AC, which is fine because you have no way to run it anyways. No way to cook since your $2000 worth of lightweight batteries would be dead after 6 slices of toast through the inverter and you removed the simplest most reliable means of cooking in a camper (gas stove).
No fridge after a couple days once the batteries are dead, but that’s ok because you’ll be eating out. And don’t pack a bbq, that adds weight, lol.
And a messy stinky diesel heater so you can take a hot shower and not freeze to death. Even though you’re hungry.
Why not eliminate the kitchen table, benchs, cushions, and mattress? Couple camper chairs and mattress pads in stead would save another however many lbs.
Cabinets are heavy too. Gut all that stuff out and just toss everything into a few plastic totes. You won’t need near as much stuff since you can’t cook, your food is spoiled and the wife just left and took a bus back home where she can live with the amenities that you just tossed out the back door of the camper to save weight!
Lol
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Grit dog
Black Diamond, WA
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I’ve not really understood the weight savings thing when it comes to RVs, in general.
Sure maybe an off road overland setup, that is more camping than RVing, but otherwise, where is the savings? Like I’m certain that my truck gets just as bad of fuel mileage if the camper is full for 2 weeks of fun or essentially empty. Heck it gets about the same mileage towing a 6klb trailer behind the camper as it does with no trailer.
I can circumvent pretty much ALL the cost and limitations of an expensive battery, inverter, solar etc setup with the $500 used Honda generator that I bought 7 years ago. With the exception of having to start the generator a couple times a day. And it burns a few gal of gas a week keeping batteries topped off or running it for the microwave or AC. And the propane lasts forever running everything but the furnace. I don’t even carry the 2nd bottle unless it’s going to be cold out. 1 bottle has lasted a month on the road with some to spare. (not for weight savings but for the room to pack other stuff in an otherwise cramped TC).
I can circumvent the weight issue with 10more psi in the airbags.
I guess it’s simple and practical vs expensive and complicated to achieve the same end goal at the expense of 10psi in my airbags!
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JIMNLIN
Oklahoma
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Joined: 09/14/2003
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I'm guilty.
We carried truck campers in the late '60s till early '80s. Back then little to non rv/truck stuff was available.....anywhere. My wife teased me about all the necessary "junk" in the truck and camper.
The last 20-25 years or so most of what I carried can be found in most Walmarts or Lowes or a farm and ranch store and of course auto supply stores in every small town. SO some years back I dumped a lot of necessary junk. How much I don't know but I sure feel lighter.
"good judgment comes from experience, and a lot of that comes from bad judgment" ............ Will Rogers
'03 2500 QC Dodge/Cummins HO 3.73 6 speed manual Jacobs Westach
'97 Park Avanue 28' 5er 11200 two slides
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KD4UPL
Swoope, VA
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If I eliminated half of what you suggest I can guarantee my wife would no longer go camping with me. That would have a weight savings of . . .
I'd better not say.
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specta
utah
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Joined: 06/18/2001
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Eliminating the ex helped me a lot. ![[emoticon]](http://www.coastresorts.com/sharedcontent/cfb/images/biggrin.gif "biggrin")
Kenny
1996 Jayco 376FB Eagle Series TT
1997 Jayco 246FB Eagle Series TT
1976 Ford F-250 4wd Mercury Marauder 410 - 4V
Regular cabs. The best looking trucks.
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