Been researching TCs quite a bit lately and it's awesome to see a breakdown based on real world experience! Leafs, beefier swaybar and better rubber have been the common themes.
@@OurFulltimeAdventure Lance 620 and 825, Cirrus 620 and 820 so far but still looking. Since it would be for trips every few months I'm a little worried about an HD truck with leafs, stuff ride, etc. as the truck would be my main vehicle.
Appreciate your mentions of things that are more of a challenge and that you would still change. Hope you have gone ahead with your DC-DC charger. Having three ways to keep the batteries charged is a big relief. We travel in a TC so space is not that big of a deal, but to full-time, now that is a commitment to having less stuff! Safe and happy travels.
You should look into the new style cigs solar panels. They’re expensive but could be worth it as a deployable unit or a solution for some of the TCs curved surfaces. 12mpg on diesel isn’t very encouraging. I’ve been impatiently looking to buy a new truck for a rear seat and a bit more efficiency with more gears and the switch to diesel.
thank you for the rec! will definitely check those out! Yeah 12mpg hurts a bit but it's our home too so we ditch a mortgage and rent and i guess this is our equivalent
Great vid. Very informative for us as we're getting an 820 in the next couple of years. The flatbed setup would be ideal but we'll see. Right now we're looking at ordering a 3500 gas dually. Love the power system mods you've made. Was wondering if the reflectix in the bed area was for the windows or if it was blankets. Thanks for sharing. - western NY Troy & Aimee
Thank you for the kind words! You’ll love the 820! The reflectix in the cab area we use for keeping heat and cold out on days where there is a high amount of either. It actually works wonders!
Guys, your videos have gotten much better in the last 2 years, keep it up! Love your setup, and wish I could talk my wife into a truck camper. She thinks they're ugly, and will only "settle" on an airstream lol
Thank you SO much! We really appreciate the kind words😊 haha I (Ashleigh) thought the same thing at first and I thought it would be too small but Grayson convinced me and I’m glad he did! Airstreams are awesome though, do you have one already or are you looking into getting one?
I'm thinking about buying the new Cirrus 920 when it hits the market ... Kinda pricey 💰I know, but you only live once 😹 The Alde heating, AC and fridge are all 12v electric. The Alde also has a propane backup for when temps dip below zero. There's also an induction cook-top with a 12v compressor fridge. A ton of solar and battle-born batteries with DC to DC charging 👊🏻 It seems like the best equipped truck camper currently on the market. 🌵 See ya on the road !!
That flatbed is a good idea if you don't use your bed as a truck bed. I need both. Propane VS electric is good to a point. The 12 v fridge is best but electric is way more inefficient for cooking as far fuel usage.
We never use the truck bed! If you have side boxes it almost acts like a truck bed though. We love our fully electric truck camper and it works perfectly for us but we definitely understand the flip side too
I noticed in your videos that you have an auxiliary tank between your camper and truck cab. What is it for? Really enjoyed watching your trip through Alaska and Canada.
Good eye! The tank between the cab and camper is our diesel heater tank. We didn’t go to the fuel tank for the truck because if or when we separate the camper from the truck we stole want to be able to run the heater
@@OurFulltimeAdventure That makes sense. I am still old school and not sold on converting all appliances from propane. I feel like the switch to lithium batteries is pushed somewhat by the need for 120V for computers and internet. That said, my reluctance is probably driven by me being old. One of your videos mentions it, and I agree, you would probably benefit greatly with he ability to charge while driving with DC to DC. Especially since you guys seem to pull up camp and drive to many different trailheads each day. That is all valuable charging time. Great videos!
I want an 820 but everyone seems to suggest a dually is ideal for safety/stability with that much weight. SRW would be ideal just not sure what considerations/mods/tires would make it work best.
While we love our 820 on our SRW we have done plenty of research on proper tires, rims and suspension to keep us upright and safe on the road. Definitely recommend you check out 12ply offroad or all terrain tires to start. For rims I’d say Method HD rims rated to 4500 each. You could also go with 19.5 inch wheels that are rated pretty heavily weight wise but that’ll limit your options for tires since only so many are made for that size.
you dont need a dually. i had an 820 on the back of my 350 CC LWB. In front of the 820 i had a large box for extras - tools, fuel and gear. Looked odd but never an issue. Also added Super springs. The truck was ordered from Ford w the camper package, dual alternators' and batteries. See if you can remove the AC and put in a maxxifan instead. All electric is the way to go. Spent 6 months above the Arctic Circle and propane was a pain to get at times. The shower was for hanging stuff only. i added a smaller swivel table, extra set of roof racks to carry kayaks..etc and added more solar. 1500 + watts and lithiums wouild have been ideal plus the induction cooktop. Nucamp builds great units and the 820 served me well - along with my border collie.
I want to say 27ft. Most restrictions are for just having the camper in general and usually apply on the east coast but we didn’t seem to have any issues!
Well that’s good to know cause I am out in those temps and not willing to sacrifice my hot showers haha - currently I have a Bigfoot retrofitted with a diesel heated but I really like those Cirrus campers
It does usually use propane but ours doesn’t. We have a Hydronic diesel heater in the Alde series. It’s simple yet complicated but works wonders for us.
Hey I just found y'all. I'm looking to get a truck camper and love your setup. How tall are you guys? I only ask because it looks like Ashleigh can sit completely upright in the bed. Do you how much head room you have and how thick the bed is?
Hey! Grayson is 6ft 2 and Ashleigh is 5 ft 4. We can both sit up fully in the bed no problem! That was one of the biggest perks to going with the Cirrus 820! I don’t know the exact number on headroom but we have the stock mattress that’s 3-4 inches with a nice memory foam topper that’s 2-3 inches. It’s not the thickest combo but it’s VERY comfy and hard to get out of bed some days hahah. What truck campers are you looking at?
@OurFulltimeAdventure I was looking at the Lance 825 because it has lower weight but love the Nucamp 820. I was kinda worried about the weight tho because the wet weight is at the top end of the payload capacity of my f250 but I saw yall have the same truck. How tall is your rig over all with the camper in the bed? And how much did the suspension, sway bar, etc. truck upgrades cost and do you have some affiliate links I can use?
The 820 is a good companion to the F250. We are overall 11ft 11 to be exact with suspension modifications and bigger wheels and tires. I forget the exact figure but I had the added leaf added at a leaf spring shop. I added a hellwig bigwig sway bay by myself. The lift is optional. I definitely recommend upgrading the wheels and tires to HD tires or forged as they have higher weight ratings. Unfortunately we don’t have any affiliate links. :(
Yoo how do you get your friggin tailgate on your roof?! But also why? My wife and I are getting ready to hit the road on a 6 month trip in a similar 3/4 ton ford + Lance 821 set up and I was planning to leave the tailgate behind. Love your solar mods and that truck is boss 🤘🏻
We slowly lift it up and get it up there. It’s a little bit of a pain but since we are full-time we don’t have a storage unit or any where to put out things to it comes along for the ride. Would definitely love a place to store it though!
Great question. We started and own a business that allows us to be fully remote. Before that we had remote jobs. This lifestyle is also fairly inexpensive if you choose to live that way.
The Hellwig sway bar is a huge difference and with Sumo Springs too. I have a Ram 2500 and this helped tremendously! Did a great job on this build.
They’re awesome! We just have added leafs as you saw so it works pretty well! Thank you for watching!
Been researching TCs quite a bit lately and it's awesome to see a breakdown based on real world experience! Leafs, beefier swaybar and better rubber have been the common themes.
Those are definitely some of the important things to keep in mind! What truck campers have you been looking at?
@@OurFulltimeAdventure Lance 620 and 825, Cirrus 620 and 820 so far but still looking. Since it would be for trips every few months I'm a little worried about an HD truck with leafs, stuff ride, etc. as the truck would be my main vehicle.
Loved the tour!
Thanks! We are glad to hear it :)
Good on ya'll , my 4th yr. F/T , livin my best life ~peace~
Such an epic life right!? Where do you like spending most of your time?
Appreciate your mentions of things that are more of a challenge and that you would still change. Hope you have gone ahead with your DC-DC charger. Having three ways to keep the batteries charged is a big relief. We travel in a TC so space is not that big of a deal, but to full-time, now that is a commitment to having less stuff! Safe and happy travels.
Yes! 3 ways to charge would be nice. We have a dc to dc it’s just not set up. Traveling FT in a TC is a blast but that storage can be a challenge.
I’d look at the EcoFlow setup. Their smart generator is great, they also have their own 800 watt dc to dc charger.
Sounds like a good alternative. We have a DC to DC it’s just not set up anymore :(
You should look into the new style cigs solar panels. They’re expensive but could be worth it as a deployable unit or a solution for some of the TCs curved surfaces. 12mpg on diesel isn’t very encouraging. I’ve been impatiently looking to buy a new truck for a rear seat and a bit more efficiency with more gears and the switch to diesel.
thank you for the rec! will definitely check those out!
Yeah 12mpg hurts a bit but it's our home too so we ditch a mortgage and rent and i guess this is our equivalent
How old are the Batlle Born lithium batteries now, and how do they behave. Are they reliable? Nice video. Keep going and enjoy live.
The battle born batteries are over 2 years old and they’re great! They charge up well and work just as well as when we first got them!
Definitely get the dc to DC charge with cut off when ingtion is turned off . I got it in truck camper best investment
hi! We actually have a dc to dc, I just need to get it hooked up!
Great vid. Very informative for us as we're getting an 820 in the next couple of years. The flatbed setup would be ideal but we'll see. Right now we're looking at ordering a 3500 gas dually. Love the power system mods you've made. Was wondering if the reflectix in the bed area was for the windows or if it was blankets. Thanks for sharing.
- western NY Troy & Aimee
Thank you for the kind words! You’ll love the 820! The reflectix in the cab area we use for keeping heat and cold out on days where there is a high amount of either. It actually works wonders!
Guys, your videos have gotten much better in the last 2 years, keep it up! Love your setup, and wish I could talk my wife into a truck camper. She thinks they're ugly, and will only "settle" on an airstream lol
Thank you SO much! We really appreciate the kind words😊 haha I (Ashleigh) thought the same thing at first and I thought it would be too small but Grayson convinced me and I’m glad he did! Airstreams are awesome though, do you have one already or are you looking into getting one?
I'm thinking about buying the new Cirrus 920 when it hits the market ... Kinda pricey 💰I know, but you only live once 😹 The Alde heating, AC and fridge are all 12v electric. The Alde also has a propane backup for when temps dip below zero. There's also an induction cook-top with a 12v compressor fridge. A ton of solar and battle-born batteries with DC to DC charging 👊🏻 It seems like the best equipped truck camper currently on the market. 🌵 See ya on the road !!
It’s definitely epic! It’s the big brother to our 820 setup!
That flatbed is a good idea if you don't use your bed as a truck bed. I need both. Propane VS electric is good to a point. The 12 v fridge is best but electric is way more inefficient for cooking as far fuel usage.
We never use the truck bed! If you have side boxes it almost acts like a truck bed though. We love our fully electric truck camper and it works perfectly for us but we definitely understand the flip side too
Induction is far more energy efficient for cooking than gas
I noticed in your videos that you have an auxiliary tank between your camper and truck cab. What is it for? Really enjoyed watching your trip through Alaska and Canada.
Good eye! The tank between the cab and camper is our diesel heater tank. We didn’t go to the fuel tank for the truck because if or when we separate the camper from the truck we stole want to be able to run the heater
@@OurFulltimeAdventure That makes sense. I am still old school and not sold on converting all appliances from propane. I feel like the switch to lithium batteries is pushed somewhat by the need for 120V for computers and internet. That said, my reluctance is probably driven by me being old. One of your videos mentions it, and I agree, you would probably benefit greatly with he ability to charge while driving with DC to DC. Especially since you guys seem to pull up camp and drive to many different trailheads each day. That is all valuable charging time. Great videos!
Wow, watched a few older videos and now see why you don't have propane. Glad you came out ok.
Yes definitely had to ditch propane for peace of mind. Thank you so much we are very thankful that it wasn’t worse.
Awesome setup you guys! If we downsize we would def get a truck camper.
Thank you! We definitely love it! ❤️
I want an 820 but everyone seems to suggest a dually is ideal for safety/stability with that much weight. SRW would be ideal just not sure what considerations/mods/tires would make it work best.
While we love our 820 on our SRW we have done plenty of research on proper tires, rims and suspension to keep us upright and safe on the road.
Definitely recommend you check out 12ply offroad or all terrain tires to start. For rims I’d say Method HD rims rated to 4500 each.
You could also go with 19.5 inch wheels that are rated pretty heavily weight wise but that’ll limit your options for tires since only so many are made for that size.
you dont need a dually. i had an 820 on the back of my 350 CC LWB. In front of the 820 i had a large box for extras - tools, fuel and gear. Looked odd but never an issue. Also added Super springs. The truck was ordered from Ford w the camper package, dual alternators' and batteries. See if you can remove the AC and put in a maxxifan instead. All electric is the way to go. Spent 6 months above the Arctic Circle and propane was a pain to get at times. The shower was for hanging stuff only. i added a smaller swivel table, extra set of roof racks to carry kayaks..etc and added more solar. 1500 + watts and lithiums wouild have been ideal plus the induction cooktop. Nucamp builds great units and the 820 served me well - along with my border collie.
Great tips and new subscribers here!! Thanks for sharing❤Zack & Linda
Thank you! And welcome! We are so happy to have you here 🫶🏻
U guys are awesome
You guys are awesome
Thank you so much! We appreciate the kind words :)
Can you leave the Alde system running on diesel when you are traveling. So the camper and water stays warm all the time?
We have definitely run the diesel heater while driving around to keep it warm all day long!
Hi, enjoyed ur video. Jusy curious, do u use the toilet in ur bathroom?
Thank you! Yes we use the toilet :)
What is your average monthly cost of living, and I assume both of you work remotely full-time? What do you two do for work?
How long are you - truck and camper? Any issues with national/state park length restrictions?
I want to say 27ft. Most restrictions are for just having the camper in general and usually apply on the east coast but we didn’t seem to have any issues!
can you not do alternator charging?
We can! We just don’t have the largest alternator on the F250 from factory.
@@OurFulltimeAdventure oh I see. Probably need to install a second one.
Whats the coldest the Alde system can keep the camper warm ? Do you run water year round ?
We have been in -30°f and it has worked perfectly! As long as the heat is on we use the water.
Well that’s good to know cause I am out in those temps and not willing to sacrifice my hot showers haha - currently I have a Bigfoot retrofitted with a diesel heated but I really like those Cirrus campers
I'm curious about removing the propane aspect, doesn't the Alde system use the propane?
It does usually use propane but ours doesn’t. We have a Hydronic diesel heater in the Alde series. It’s simple yet complicated but works wonders for us.
What size truck is that 3/4 or 1 ton?? Is that a 820 camper?
3/4 ton! And yes :)
Hey I just found y'all. I'm looking to get a truck camper and love your setup. How tall are you guys? I only ask because it looks like Ashleigh can sit completely upright in the bed. Do you how much head room you have and how thick the bed is?
Hey!
Grayson is 6ft 2 and Ashleigh is 5 ft 4. We can both sit up fully in the bed no problem! That was one of the biggest perks to going with the Cirrus 820!
I don’t know the exact number on headroom but we have the stock mattress that’s 3-4 inches with a nice memory foam topper that’s 2-3 inches.
It’s not the thickest combo but it’s VERY comfy and hard to get out of bed some days hahah.
What truck campers are you looking at?
@OurFulltimeAdventure I was looking at the Lance 825 because it has lower weight but love the Nucamp 820. I was kinda worried about the weight tho because the wet weight is at the top end of the payload capacity of my f250 but I saw yall have the same truck. How tall is your rig over all with the camper in the bed? And how much did the suspension, sway bar, etc. truck upgrades cost and do you have some affiliate links I can use?
The 820 is a good companion to the F250. We are overall 11ft 11 to be exact with suspension modifications and bigger wheels and tires.
I forget the exact figure but I had the added leaf added at a leaf spring shop. I added a hellwig bigwig sway bay by myself. The lift is optional. I definitely recommend upgrading the wheels and tires to HD tires or forged as they have higher weight ratings. Unfortunately we don’t have any affiliate links. :(
I don't know if I heard it right, but did she just say come inside me? 😅
Definitely not.
Yoo how do you get your friggin tailgate on your roof?! But also why? My wife and I are getting ready to hit the road on a 6 month trip in a similar 3/4 ton ford + Lance 821 set up and I was planning to leave the tailgate behind. Love your solar mods and that truck is boss 🤘🏻
We slowly lift it up and get it up there. It’s a little bit of a pain but since we are full-time we don’t have a storage unit or any where to put out things to it comes along for the ride.
Would definitely love a place to store it though!
What do yall do for work
inherit.
nice vid.
Thank you!
How can you stay on the road full time?……… don’t you guys have to work or are you independently wealthy?
Great question. We started and own a business that allows us to be fully remote. Before that we had remote jobs. This lifestyle is also fairly inexpensive if you choose to live that way.