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Forum
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RE: Weighing in across the US. Are TC's exempt?
The only true legal limits from State to State is how much weight each tire is exerting on the pavement. I believe in most states that is about 8k to 10k pounds (15k to 20k for a 2 axle vehicle). You won't be there of course, but the GVWR listed for your truck is a very important safety measure and should not be ignored just because there are not any specific laws regarding it (yet anyway).
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wellsdesigned
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10/22/09 04:26pm |
Truck Campers
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RE: Truck camper turned TT
That sure looks like a lot of work for something that has already been invented. Why not buy a used travel trailer built as a travel trailer and put that effort into making a better travel trailer? The camper would have probably sold easier as a camper but not for $500 which seems to be asking too much for something I wouldn't take for free.
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wellsdesigned
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09/30/09 01:58pm |
Truck Campers
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RE: Truck Camping Mileage
----IRS Cut & Paste ---
Qualified Home
For you to take a home mortgage interest deduction, your debt must be secured by a qualified home. This means your main home or your second home. A home includes a house, condominium, cooperative, mobile home, house trailer, boat, or similar property that has sleeping, cooking, and toilet facilities.
Self contained RV's count. The RV Must be used as security for the loan.
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wellsdesigned
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09/01/09 02:58pm |
Truck Campers
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RE: Truck Camping Mileage
I missed the fact that the original post said 35 mpg car, is that the true gas mileage loaded with the family+ suitcases? Isn't that less roomy than driving in a full sized extended cab truck? With the camper on, the ride in my truck is more like the ride in a Cadillac, I'm imagining the ride in a (true) 35mpg family car is like riding in a little family car (I can't think of a comparable uncomfortable vehicle for a 300 mile drive).
35 mpg means 15 gallon on a 500 mile day = $53 for the day instead of the $70 I figured on for a more typical milage car. But Motel 6 is going to cost more like $63/ night vs. the bargain $50/motel I mentioned so you really are just $10 better than the original assumption.
Now don't get me wrong, I like hotel trips with the family, but they are reserved for a trip that goes to one destination (usually flying there) to see a main attraction (Disneyland, Washington D.C. and the like). But if you're truly talking a road trip vacation, again as others point out, getting there is part of the fun and getting there with all the conveniences of home on your back makes the trip more enjoyable for me.
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wellsdesigned
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09/01/09 01:29pm |
Truck Campers
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RE: Truck Camping Mileage
Assuming one day of travel, say 500 miles getting from one place to the next in the west. (usually the daily travel would be less, but for the MPG study, the longer the daily trip might seem to be an advantage to the car, but look at the math:
Car = 25 mpg; driven 500 miles = 20 gallons times $3.50/gal = $70/ day driving.
Truck = 9 mpg; driven 500 miles = 56 gallons times $3.50/gal = $196/day driving.
Car/Motel = $90/night for decent hotel after taxes; $50/night bargain motel after taxes
Truck/Camp = $30/night full hook-ups KOA: $15/night State and National Parks
Car/Meals = $35/meal family of 4 at restaurants: $20/meal family of 4 at fast food.
3 restaurant meals = $105/day 3 fast food meals = $60/day
Camper/meals = Breakfast & dinner in camper $30 total, restaurant at lunch $35 = $65/day
All camper meals, $45/day
Add it up:
Car/Hotel/restaurant meals: $265
Car/Motel/fast food meals: $180
Camper/KOA/one restaurant meal: $291
Camper/SP-NF/cook yourself: $256
So there you have it, if you travel using cheap motels at $50/night and fast food at every meal, you can get off cheaper. If you travel by truck camper and stick to national/state parks and eat your meals in the camper, you will probably save money over driving and staying at decent hotels.
This is assuming for both vacations, car or truck, you are going to the same parks and entertainment venues where entrance fees are equal.
But even considering I typically travel a mix of NP & SP & KOA campgrounds and that the family does eat at restaurants during a 2 week road trip in the camper, at the most expensive $291 day vs. the cheapest car $180 day, I get the following for my $100 “premium”: my own bed, no unpacking, flame broiled burger for dinner, a clean bathroom at every stop, walking distance from my destination, a campfire, a refrigerator in my room (you won’t get it in a $50/night hotel).
Consider this also, I put out the longest distance a daily road trip should typically endure. If you travel a more modest 300 miles per day (which would be a 3700 mile 12 day trip) the difference is now Car/Motel ($152) vs Camper/KOA ($210) down to $60 difference. On my recent 3700 mile 2 week vacation, we did more than half of the nights paying $15 or less for camping ($195 total one day travel cost) which would bring that margin down to $40 vs going cheap in a car.
So again, is going cheap in bargain motels worth it?
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wellsdesigned
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09/01/09 01:08pm |
Truck Campers
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RE: Truck Camper Forum Paranoia
Consider yourself as less paranoid and more like an aircraft pilot. Those that are too confident and cavalier to not plan ahead and do a pre-flight check before every trip are more likely to become the next statistic. You, my friend are, an RV pilot (or captain of a ship if you prefer that analogy) preparing for an expedition into the unknown. Your passengers on the voyage (wife, kids, dogs, birds,,,) are blissfully unaware of the risks because they know you have things handled. So do that checklist, always inspect your ship when you land for refueling, and go out into the great unknown secure in the knowledge that if you do encounter a problem, you will hopefully have prepared and better yet,,,
you will have something interesting to post the next time you have Internet access!
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wellsdesigned
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09/01/09 07:03am |
Truck Campers
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RE: Financing
My dealer had arranged financing through Bank of America, but that was six years ago under a vastly different credit market.
Does anyone who does finance their RV do like me an take advantage of the Federal Tax deduction for interest on a second home? RV's qualify if they are self contained. That means that I'm getting a tax break on the interest paid so the pain is less. Paying cash would be ideal, but paying less in the end if you are financing is only logical.
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wellsdesigned
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09/01/09 06:50am |
Truck Campers
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RE: Sliding Rear Window
I replaced the stock rear window with a sliding unit when I bought the camper, but I've never found a boot that works well.
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wellsdesigned
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08/25/09 01:37pm |
Truck Campers
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RE: Place to Park the Camper
That is very nice set up. At some point, I will at least have a carport. Maybe I can enclose it someday? ;)
You have done the hard work getting ready. I'm sure being in WA state you will want to get the camper out of the constant rain as soon as you can. Enjoy the new parking spot!!
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wellsdesigned
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08/25/09 01:32pm |
Truck Campers
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RE: Place to Park the Camper
I built my camper storage with a cover. Full hook-ups are available in the building.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v491/wellsdesigned/finished-small.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v491/wellsdesigned/From-inside01.jpg
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wellsdesigned
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08/24/09 10:30am |
Truck Campers
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RE: New Camper is a SWINGER, Help
I drove my camper home with the stock shocks when I bought it. It swayed back an forth like you described. I installed heavier duty KYB shocks that increase the shock resistance the harder they are pushed. The improvement in ride was huge.
If you go shopping for shocks, do not confuse air shocks with adjustable shocks. Air shocks are a poor attempt to do what air springs do, only they adjust the load height on the small shock support studs, where the air springs are connected between the axle and the frame. Adjustable shocks (like Ranchos) do not adjust the height of the camper as they are adjusted. Changing the setting only effects how hard the shocks resist compression. You want the adjustable type.
Others like Bilstiens or KYB shocks are built to be more resistive the harder they are pushed without adjusting.
Both adjustable and resistive shocks have their pluses and minuses, but air shocks only have minuses.
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wellsdesigned
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08/03/09 06:48am |
Truck Campers
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RE: How tricky is it to disconnect the camper on the road?
You will be able to take a camper in as many places as you do the 14 foot trailer. You could get into more places in some cases. Get a camper with electric, remote controlled jacks and you can unload it anywhere you park that trailer also.
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wellsdesigned
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07/30/09 07:01am |
Truck Campers
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RE: Need some help,with what to look for in used truck camper
To your topic, the things I would look for are:
Look at the four corner jacks. Are all of the bolts there? Have any bolt heads broken off? Are they all the same bolts or have some been replace? Look at the roof. Is it all in tact? Are there a lot of patches? Are there gaps? Look at the siding. Is it in tact. Are there inconsistencies? Are all of the fasteners in place? Look for leaks. If some are evident, then I would double the area of what you can see as inside damage.
The unit you describe sounds like its a can of worms. If you are handy and willing to spend a lot of time repairing it, then it may be had for deal. Personally, I wouldn't take on such a project.
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wellsdesigned
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07/23/09 11:49am |
Truck Campers
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RE: New to me Eagle Cap 800
As an owner of an Eagle Cap since 2003, welcome to the owners club. Nice set-up. Looks like you were at Wal Mart to stock up.
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wellsdesigned
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07/23/09 06:42am |
Truck Campers
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RE: What is the largest TC caravan you have been a part of?
I was with Budster for part of the North American Truck Camper Caravan organized here at RV.net in 2007. There's talk of another truck group from time to time on this forum, it was an outgrowth of this event that was a lot of fun for everyone who participated.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v491/wellsdesigned/NATCOA_at_EC01.jpg
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wellsdesigned
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07/11/09 11:06am |
Truck Campers
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RE: Question
8 pages of this?
Really?
I think a camping trip is in order here.
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wellsdesigned
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07/09/09 12:42pm |
Truck Campers
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RE: Backroads Colorado
We were in souther CO a few weeks ago. We went to Mesa Verde. Drove up in the Continental Divide. We avoided freeways as much as we could. Have a great time!
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wellsdesigned
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06/28/09 10:11am |
Truck Campers
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RE: i got it on the truck today...with pics!
Those drawers are brilliant.
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wellsdesigned
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06/26/09 02:55pm |
Truck Campers
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RE: truck license plates
Fortunately, my TC does not hang low beyond the bed of the truck. Any car following a normal safe distance or even 1/2 a car length can see the plate mounted on my truck. I have traveled in all of the western states for thousands of miles without switching my rear plate to the camper. I have been followed by many state patrols, but have been pulled over only once for SPEEDING. Even being pulled over that one time, no mention of my plates was made.
Duplication of plates is illegal. I'm not sure of the logic that says if my plate is obscured, which would be illegal, then I should make an illegal duplicate.
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wellsdesigned
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06/25/09 07:00am |
Truck Campers
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RE: Overweight Issues-Highway Patrol
I've been pulled over for speeding once with the camper, and never for weight. This comes up from time to time and no one has to date produced a US State law that applies to overweight pick-up trucks being used for non-commercial purposes. Many have tried, but the fine print always makes the law apply to commercial vehicles only.
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wellsdesigned
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06/24/09 07:06am |
Truck Campers
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