My wife and I are considering purchasing a truck camper but we do not know where to find info on how to decide what size is best for us. Can any of you put us onto that info, please?

WOW! That's a big question! Lots of things figure into the size of TC you'll be comfortable with. Kids, pets, how many days you plan to use it, your physical sizes, will you tow, what size truck are you comfortable driving? what are your "must have items? bathroom? AC? slide-out? generator?

Can you give us some more info?

We are an older couple who spend a couple of weeks to several months aboard an RV. A porta-potti is needed but while a bathroom is nice, it is unnecessary. For longer trips, storage is important. A propane generator would be handy, if it is quiet and if it can be repaired without too much expense, but we have never had one. We are both under 6' tall and we would purchase a truck to fit the unit. I do want it stable on the road and easy to load and unload going down from the pickup. We would tow our sailboat. We avoid pets because they are so much trouble when traveling and we visit our grandkids but they do not visit us. Right now we use a 1 ton truck van with an extended body for an overall length of 20' plus our trailer of another 19'. I was thinking there might be a sight that would guide us toward the right size unit. We have tent and van camped for the past 45 years. We are totally newbies to truck campers, however.

A couple week to several months! I'm jealous!!!

With that length of stay, room in your TC will be appreciated. Look for something in the 9-10" range with a slide-out. This will require a 1-ton truck, preferrably a duelly. A wet bath would be good too since (I'm thinking you'll occasionally boondock since you mention a generator would be nice), not sure where you are located, but an AC is nice if you camp in warmer climes. Where are you located? That would determine a manufacturer. It is nice to be close in case you need work done. In the meantime, check websites for lance, Arctic Fox and Adventurer. All are nice and have offerings that meet your needs. Storage is going to be your rub, I think. There just is not too many places on any TC that do not get used. Models with basement storage will help.

Hope this helps!

We live in Kentucky. We definitely do want A/C but a furnace is not essential since a propane generator could power a small electric heater plus other equipment if we are not staying in a park. Normally we camp in national and state parks and use the showers/restrooms/laundries there. It has never made much sense to me to spend the kind of money these things cost to purchase a "bathroom" that gets a few minutes use daily. We always used the area for storage and took a portable potty instead. They are cheaper, easily replaced if broken, and we wash our hands in the galley sink. I have not found one good manufacturer yet who builds without a bathroom.

You mentioned the limits of space on truck campers. Eliminate the bathroom and a lot of "stuff" can be put in there on adjustable shelves with the portable pot in its own compartment underneath them. Also, we have a 4' X 6' x 4' trailer that is enclosed that holds a huge amount. When we do not take it, we tow our enclosed 15' sailboat which becomes the "junk" hauler. Like I said earlier, our biggest camper is our present elongated van, class B, which is smaller than the units your described.

Thanks for the names of companies you mentioned. I found Lance. I will check out the others tonight.

The dual wheeled pickup sounds good to me since that stabilizes the unit so much, especially in cross winds.

I use my TC for hunting here in Wisconsin so a toilet and shower are nice but I too use park facilities when available. I see some manufacturers are eliminating the bathroom sink which I agree with. I also could do away with a 3 burner stove and replace it with a 2 burner model. The extra counter space would be nice!

I like your idea about a 2 burner stove rather than a 3. I have considered leaving one out entirely. Then I would purchase a Coleman two burner which I could set up inside or move to a picnic table, or even to a picnic on the beach. They are relatively cheap to replace if they go out and it gives so much more cabinet space. Ours is covered when not in use, but still . . . .

As I said, I would like to see manufacturers omit a bathroom entirely and make it an option for those who want it. It requires so much space, especially when its tankage is included. I prefer to use that tankage for other purposes or for additional storage.

When a person pays this much for a unit, he should be able to get a few things customed out. Prefab storage cabinets install easier than a bathroom, and are so much less expensive. Manufacturers, are you listening? Hope so.

Thanks for all your help. I did check out the companies you suggested. All of them look like reputable builders with intriguing floor plans.