[ 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]

Part 2 of 2

The Propane Generator.

Here we are at the primary sore spot with many first time RV owners. Now! I am most sure if one were to glom on to a 5000 watt wooly bugger of a propane gen set it would gobble the propane as fast as you could pressure it in! Especially at a high demand load! But then small 2500 watt gen sets the Lance factory installs only burn bout a quart or so an hour. I believe that would have to require a rather hefty load power wise as prior to my picking up the small Honda I once used the Onan exclusively even to just recharge my battery.

I would take off on a long ride in the desert leaving it running the whole time. As propane burns so clean, and is pollution free, your oil changes will turn into years in between, not hours as the owners manual states. Same goes for your spark plugs. Clean and purdy looking! This pretty much has proven to me a very LOW maintenance motor and has always started no matter the climate except if your parked off the road leaning over (off camber) too much and your generator refuses to crank-up… oop! Forgot about that. By the way your reefer will kick off as well.

Do keep in mind running propane allows you to avoid the various road tax’s added on to gasoline.


Cargo space.

I purchased a crew cab dually. Not because I had anybody to haul in those back seats, nope! Space! I use every once of it—I be the cargo master! If it were my choice I would yank the back seat out entirely and build me an organizer storage locker in the back. But momma won’t have any of it. The shower can be used to stash (store while travelling) your BBQ without damage, the upper overhead sleeper any soft whatever’s go up there.

All hard semi-heavy goes on the bottom floor area. The space in between the mattress and the pop-up drawer lid is a perfect fit for your choice of defense long-gun. I prefer a Marlin lever action 357 stuffed with silver tips. I figure 9 rds is enough to repel any potential threat… being that of man or beast. Keep in mind the little lever carbine does NOT LOOK intimidating as it is only a “cowboy rifle”. Most adults grew up playing with em or watched them in action thanks to John Wayne. Think about it… which would you rather be ready to defend yourself in court with? A cowboy rifle? Or a Mossberg 580 military (Intimidator) 9 shot extended mag aimpoint equipped… anyway, moving on.

My choice of trailer for the Toy/s.

12 foot Featherlite all aluminum trailer with a built on ramp on the back. Once again most people will take one look at the big ramp on the back and what comes to their mind first? WIND DRAG! A quote from my fellow comrade in arms… “theres no way I want anything to do with that, it’ll rob my fuel mileage!” Phooey!

The day we saw him lose his ramp because the spring loaded keeper somehow disappeared caused our convoy to make a sudden stop off the highway waiting for him to retrieve his precious ramp. Damaged of course. All these years later he now has realized a change of heart. He wished he’d of bought the trailer with the ramp on the back. Very simple, it matters not one iota as it travels “behind” the primary wind block! You’re RV! Weight is/was a very big consideration for many reasons. Here they are.

Maneuverability; since the trailer only weights 450lbs empty I can move it with only two fingers at the coupling. There have been two occasions I have been in such tight situations I have had to remove everything off the trailer, uncouple it, push it off the forest service road so as to be able to turn the main rig around then reload all… try doing that just you and your wife with a Carson 900lb all steel trailer (off-road). As for expense? I know I’ve saved that just in Doctor bills! I have lower back injuries. I appreciate the light trailer, I believe my old 2000 (somewhat) modern mule of a truck appreciates it as well. Incidentally this is also why I do not nor will I ever install a permanent tool box on the tongue of the Featherlite. Added weight, I don’t need it until I load it in an arranged order so as to limit my overall tongue weight.

Remember, “Load Master” Learning to be one will assure many happy traveling hours.

I hope this essay was helpful.

[CamperArt]

Part 2 of 2

The Propane Generator.

Here we are at the primary sore spot with many first time RV owners. Now! I am most sure if one were to glom on to a 5000 watt wooly bugger of a propane gen set it would gobble the propane as fast as you could pressure it in! Especially at a high demand load! But then small 2500 watt gen sets the Lance factory installs only burn bout a quart or so an hour. I believe that would have to require a rather hefty load power wise as prior to my picking up the small Honda I once used the Onan exclusively even to just recharge my battery.

I would take off on a long ride in the desert leaving it running the whole time. As propane burns so clean, and is pollution free, your oil changes will turn into years in between, not hours as the owners manual states. Same goes for your spark plugs. Clean and purdy looking! This pretty much has proven to me a very LOW maintenance motor and has always started no matter the climate except if your parked off the road leaning over (off camber) too much and your generator refuses to crank-up� oop! Forgot about that. By the way your reefer will kick off as well.

Do keep in mind running propane allows you to avoid the various road tax�s added on to gasoline.
Cargo space.

I purchased a crew cab dually. Not because I had anybody to haul in those back seats, nope! Space! I use every once of it�I be the cargo master! If it were my choice I would yank the back seat out entirely and build me an organizer storage locker in the back. But momma won�t have any of it. The shower can be used to stash (store while travelling) your BBQ without damage, the upper overhead sleeper any soft whatever�s go up there.

All hard semi-heavy goes on the bottom floor area. The space in between the mattress and the pop-up drawer lid is a perfect fit for your choice of defense long-gun. I prefer a Marlin lever action 357 stuffed with silver tips. I figure 9 rds is enough to repel any potential threat� being that of man or beast.  Keep in mind the little lever carbine does NOT LOOK intimidating as it is only a �cowboy rifle�. Most adults grew up playing with em or watched them in action thanks to John Wayne. Think about it� which would you rather be ready to defend yourself in court with? A cowboy rifle? Or a Mossberg 580 military (Intimidator) 9 shot extended mag aimpoint equipped�  anyway, moving on.
 
My choice of trailer for the Toy/s.

12 foot Featherlite all aluminum trailer with a built on ramp on the back. Once again most people will take one look at the big ramp on the back and what comes to their mind first? WIND DRAG! A quote from my fellow comrade in arms� �theres no way I want anything to do with that, it�ll rob my fuel mileage!� Phooey!

The day we saw him lose his ramp because the spring loaded keeper somehow disappeared caused our convoy to make a sudden stop off the highway waiting for him to retrieve his precious ramp. Damaged of course. All these years later he now has realized a change of heart. He wished he�d of bought the trailer with the ramp on the back. Very simple, it matters not one iota as it travels �behind� the primary wind block! You�re RV! Weight is/was a very big consideration for many reasons. Here they are.

Maneuverability; since the trailer only weights 450lbs empty I can move it with only two fingers at the coupling. There have been two occasions I have been in such tight situations I have had to remove everything off the trailer, uncouple it, push it off the forest service road so as to be able to turn the main rig around then reload all� try doing that just you and your wife with a Carson 900lb all steel trailer (off-road).  As for expense?  I know I�ve saved that just in Doctor bills! I have lower back injuries. I appreciate the light trailer, I believe my old 2000 (somewhat) modern mule of a truck appreciates it as well. Incidentally this is also why I do not nor will I ever install a permanent tool box on the tongue of the Featherlite.  Added weight, I don�t need it until I load it in an arranged order so as to limit my overall tongue weight.
 
Remember, �Load Master� Learning to be one will assure many happy traveling hours.

I hope this essay was helpful.

Hi!
I agree with you. The slide-in truck camper is the most manouverable type. Also, since I already have a number of trucks, it makes good sense. Why buy, tag and insure yet another vehicle?