theboondork's RV blog

Thanks to Larry for the comment just when I needed something to write about

12/30/2021

The back door pics need some clicks.... Boring times make for boring pics.

All of today's pictures have something in common, I took them all while sticking my camera out the door so I didn't have to get out into the cold. Nowadays 60° is cold to me, especially since the clouds bring in higher humidity.

Thanks to Larry for asking some questions that can be used as a blog post while I'm sitting in the bronco with nothing to do on a cold rainy day. Because of the weather here in Tucson, I haven't been doing too much of late, so there's not much to write about. And occasionally, it's been so cold I don't even go outside; I just stick my camera out the door and take a picture of whatever's there.

My next steps, much like my life, are unplanned and serendipitous. I never seem to have plans; I have ideas, thoughts, and concepts, but I rarely have a plan. But I do have a relative interested in buying the Arctic Fox, and as you mentioned, RVs are in demand nowadays, so I think selling it wouldn't be a problem.

The Arctic Fox would make a great home base, but it's sitting in my daughter's driveway, taking up space that they could use for something else, and I could use the money to help defray the cost of whatever camper I end up with.

I've mostly been looking at used truck campers on the Internet; of course, the RV dealers do most of the advertising on the Internet, so I get exposed to a lot of information about new campers, whether I like it or not.

New truck campers seem to come in two varieties. Four thousand pound outrageously expensive monsters. And relatively inexpensive cheap junk that may fall apart before getting it home. I can neither afford nor do I have the ability to tote around the monsters, but I do have some skills in repairing things, so amongst the new truck campers, I tend to gravitate towards the cheap junk.

Used truck campers are around, but they tend to be very expensive for what you're getting. And the monsters tend to be the most prevalent on the used market because people that bought them usually had 1-ton trucks and the ability to carry them around. But because of my three-quarter-ton truck, I'm mostly looking at smaller, lighter-weight models.

The brand that I end up looking at the most is Lance. Because they are probably the largest manufacturer of truck campers, they have smaller and lighter models.

Since I'm looking at smaller, lighter-weight truck campers, I'm hoping I won't have to do any upgrades to my truck. It has Timbrens on the rear axle, which helps support the weight a little, and keeps the rear end from sagging.... That's the truck's rear end, not mine, I haven't found anything yet that will keep my rear end from sagging, I'm just hoping the Timbrens are all it will need because further suspension upgrades can get pretty expensive.

So thank you for the questions Larry,

Theboondork

Camping at the Pima County Fairgrounds Picture

Apocalypse

6 Comments

Judith

12/30/2021 08:19:05 pm

So I just looked at the Lance site, and the 850 model for all bed trucks. Sheesh! Truck camper porn for sure.
Good grief. Did not look at price for this creation anywhere.
I guess I'm just a curious person as I'm not likely to be doing anything involving a camper of any sort, but it is interesting to me. And it's kind of fun to think about.
You on the other hand, have a very practical interest. Good luck!

Tom

12/30/2021 08:49:17 pm

Yeah most manufacturers now make their different models in short bed and long bed versions, but they're all expensive. The Lance 850 that you were looking at, after taxes will cost about $60,000 which is one of the things that bothers me about slide-in truck campers, they're outrageously priced for such a small RV.

You never can tell, you might end up in a camper one day. In fact I think females are one of the fastest-growing consumers of RVs. Used to I would hardly ever see a female out camping alone, now their everywhere. I guess the economy has been tough on some folks and if done properly an RV is a relatively inexpensive way to live. But to me it has nothing to do with money, it's all about the freedom.

But the fastest-growing RV population is young people. There usually camping in something small like a van, and boondocking is very popular with the younger folks. Most of the people I see when I'm out boondocking are young. And most of the people I see in RV parks are geezerly. For the young folks I would say it's the economy, the extremely expensive housing market, and the ability to make a living doing something on the Internet that's appealing to a lot of the young couples I see.

And yes when you decide that an RV is going to be your home until you're to decrepit to drive anymore, the RV itself becomes pretty important. And for me it's the freedom that it brings. And at this point in my full-timing life I feel that smaller and more mobile is better, and offers me far more freedom and lack of stress than a trailer ever did.

Tom

Larry Worsham

12/31/2021 05:57:59 am

Out of curiosity I did a search on RV trader for used Lance Campers and it came up with 127 across country. Of course most would not meet your specs as to size and equipment. Folks are mighty proud of them mostly in the $35 to $50k range. Wow. Lance probably has the best reputation as to quality of workmanship and based upon a lot of the junk out there the premium price may be worth it. There was a used 2017 850 for sale for $36k but new ones are list for around $50k. Of course new Arctic Fox 27-5L are listed for above $80K and they can't build them fast enough. Hopefully this market will cool down some by the time that you have to make a decision.

12/31/2021 07:59:46 am

Yeah Larry there's a lot of Lance campers out there, I think they make more Lance campers than anything else. What bothers me the most about truck campers, is not the price itself, it's what you're getting for the price. They cost more than most trailers of the same size, and yet trailers have the exact same stuff in them that a truck camper has.... AND, axles, tires, and brakes, yet the truck camper costs about the same... That's always bothered me.

Since water intrusion is quite often the slow death of an RV, I've always felt that the best truck campers were the Bigfoot's and Northern Lites since their built like a boat out of two large fiberglass moldings screwed together. That way there's not much of anything to rot in the structure of the camper. And the only way for water to get in is where the factory cut holes for the windows, vents, and door. But their problem is their generally pretty heavy, and very expensive.

Tom

OFM

12/31/2021 06:08:49 am

I ran across this site last night https://roadslesstraveled.us/ and they have a hardside truck mount camper. Apparently they are fairly new in using it. It might have some value to you but I did not read very far into the blog. Have fun, I roll in about 24 hours.

12/31/2021 08:38:56 am

Thank you for that link Barney. I looked at it briefly and will look a little more in depth when I get a chance. But they certainly have a nice website, with excellent pictures, and apparently an awful lot of disposable income.

It does make me feel good to see others downsizing their lives. I know it must be difficult for a couple living in a small space, but the lack of stress it offers I feel would be worth it.

And that goes double for the boat. As a past owner of numerous boats, none anywhere near as big as that 44 footer, I can attest to sailboats being the most stressful way of traveling I can imagine.

They go extremely slow, so any situation you're in, whether good or bad, is going to last a long time. They're incredibly easy to capsize. The maintenance is endless. And when they spent days and days running between hurricanes, not knowing if they were going to make it, made for a whole lot of life and death kind of of stress, the kind of which I can do without.

But I feel there on the right track now. Living and traveling in a truck camper creates about the least amount of stress I can imagine.

I know you must be beside yourself with joy just thinking of getting on the road again. And sticking to a State Park sounds a lot safer that close to the border than out boondocking, but stay safe.

I lived in Miami Florida for over 30 years when it was the murder capital of the United States and I never got murdered. But hanging around a sketchy place sooner or later the odds can catch up with you.

Tom... Having toooo much fun seeing the rain coming to an end tomorrow. And enough warm sunny weather to have me boondocking by early next week.

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Thanks to Larry for the comment just when I needed something to write about

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