[ Outline ] · Standard · Linear+ Why A Truck Camper Part 1 of 2, A Closer Look at Why?

[garbinator]

Part 1 of 2

I am probably the only one in the bunch who runs in my travel group who runs a 19 ½ ft. fully self contained camper with all the amenities, including a propane powered gen set. My entire unit is older, but I didn’t wish to mortgage myself to death over the lot.

The reason I always wanted a cabover camper is simple. Portability. It’s also known as the SUV of the RV world. I suppose the primary reason we love it is at this point in our lives we enjoy getting into very tight campgrounds other units just cannot even attempt. Depending on the trip and time of year, desert dirt roads can at times offer-up washed out portions making it necessary to either get the shovel out or navigate your way around or possibly through it. With a 4X4 truck camper oftentimes these obstacles are not an issue.

Pretty much all sewer and drain pipes are not exposed to the various drag points such as rocks, washouts, down branches unimproved roads are generally known for. The four wheel drive pickup sits high enough within reason keeping all under carriage vulnerable areas out of harms way. Having low range capability offers the dry camper yet another important option once they leave the pavement. In the past, I have had my tree pruner sit on top of the camper with pruning shears at the high ready position, together with an FM walkie talkie, working our way into some serious backwoods country were only high ground clearance tent campers usually trod. So…portability, ease of negotiating very tight spots, simple leveling options, able to tow most toys with ease. A very important priority factor… makes for some of the worlds finest camp spots known to modern man.
Maintenance and repair.

With only a pickup acting as the modern day mule, the care and feeding it requires is that of any other daily driver out there. Rv repairs are oftentimes greater than your typical $85 an hour garage rate. Depending on your chosen poison, a Class “A” motor coach running a big diesel pusher can run as high as $150 an hour in repairs. Another truly big consideration is licensing, if you choose, there is none, if you only wish to be an honest Abe then you would register your camper with the DMV paying only a one time charge of $72. That’s it!
Economy of use.

My wife seldom refuses to go dry camping during mid winter. She knows I’ll keep her warm & comfy. Our camper sports only one deep cycle battery at what I believe to be a 94 amp capacity. During our waking hours we are not on the trail, we run our propane generator if we’re on a weekend only trip, if we are camping for weeks, we use a Honda 2000i for even more economy. I will speak of the propane generator later as that subject is probably the most talked about in all of the truck camper forums as a rule, generally, people don’t want anything to do with them because they are dependant on propane. Sad. On every campout we’ve been on with friends during cold snowing nights have us leaving our small 12 volt electric heater running at usually give or take 55 degrees (While Sleeping). As our small heater only manages to spew out just over 8000btu’s it translate into a unit that does not overly tax the battery. Nor does it tax the propane tank. Keep in mind our small area to heat, coupled with its excellent insulation qualities, combined with central heating ducts assures pretty even heat distribution throughout.

Now, how many times have I been in three axel toy haulers freezing my buns off all because they can’t run the 48,000btu heater for very long before the batteries die? All because they don’t wish to make a run down to Kernville for propane, or run their big generators from compartments with little to know sound proofing, all the while, their poor wives freeze! That translates to no heat at all during the coldest time at night. 5 to 6000 watt generators eat fuel at a pretty good clip per hour. Dry camping for weeks will soon prove the need for more fuel. Of course, the more people housed, showered and cooked must also prove an important factor. Then there is always the black tank to take into consideration. My point being, bigger equals larger area, greater comfort, enough room for an actual Lazy Boy rocker recliner, but requires quite a bit of fuel to maintain operationally.

Whereas the Lance camper, with only one battery, will only use just under half of a seven gallon propane tank in a 10 day period of daily use. Two people. That is with the alternating between Honda generator (battery recharging mainly) and AM propane generator use from using the microwave so much. In all actuality, I have only had to resort to my backup 7 gallon propane tank a few times. Each one was because we used the generator and the A/C dang near 12 hours a day and much of the night while camping in mid summer’s heat. When I say continuous I mean just that.

[garbinator]

To update this thread I started sometime ago, I recently upgraded my modern mule of a truck from a 2000 Chevy gasoline 454 big block to a 2006 GMC 4X4 DuraMax Dually fully loaded including all electric captains chairs! In a nutshell!

I LOVE THIS TRUCK! I absolutely dig everything about this unit! My wife has serious issues with her sciatica nerve in her back, NOT anymore! Not sitting in this rig! As she has the ability to adjust her seat exactly as she pleases along with her being able to adjust her side of the climate control system…

The amount of torque produced with camper on has me out pulling many import cars from a dead stop at the traffic light! You should see the look on these kids faces when ol’ baldy here leaves em in his wake! I rarely do it anymore, but to know you can is, well fricking amazing!. Travelling over the Siskiyou mountains in Oregon, an 18% grade on a very hot day had me in the fast lane holding 70 without a problem except it got a wee hairy passing so many vehicles I slowed way down for safety reasons, such as possibly having to stop with enough safe distance so as not to roll over the idiot who would eventually lane change just in front of me.

The Garbinator’s rule of thumb: Always drive with tow/haul mode ON when hauling camper. You will experience one of the most amazing functions of the Allison transmission as it begins to since your slowing down and begins its down-shifting action. Oftentimes totally eliminating your need to brake at all.

With the Lance extended overhead cab, it blocked the XM factory antenna; so I went to my local stereo shop and had then install a mag mount antenna on my hood with a special factory antenna plug right behind the glove box. Best $45 bucks I ever spent! The ONLY bad thing I can report is the fact going from a lower to the ground 2 wheel drive dually versus the higher riding four-wheel drive is cornering! My first time scart the doggy-pooh outta-me! But? I had to know, and inquiring minds soon learnt a serious lesson. SLOW DOWN! Even when the air bags air up to 70lbs the sway remained the same. Soooo… there ya go friends.

Traveling over the entire forest service Siskiyou mountain had me utilizing the manual mode of the tranny. There were only four or five occasions I was forced to use my brakes as the downhill was so steep first gear could not hold the 21 miles per hour cornering speed. When the electric fans kick on in the front they scare the bejesus outta you! They are powerful, they do a marvelous job at bringing down not only the heated radiator, but your transmission as well.

I could go on and on, but it is getting late and I have to hit the rack. Another very important fact my friends is this? It is the last year where smog equipment is NOT required. If you happen to be in the market for one fully equipped can be had for around $26,000 to depending on mileage options etc. $30,000.

Thank You General Motors… I am so sorry the Government had to buy you. You are not under appreciated by me.
Cheers!