Tear out them seats and table and build yourself something more practical. Be creative, customize. Turn it into an actual living room, throw an actual couch in there and table you can move and you’re good.
Taylor because of you I think I found the perfect truck camper , the arctic fox 865. The slide issue being closed was dead on but also for another very important reason. The 865 bathroom butts up against the bed area. The back of the camper is completely open between the door windows (2), windows on both sides the door, the table window and the sink window. You can back into any spot and have a complete 360 view !!!! Check out the pics on a tour video. I would love your opinion. The only difference is the table is smaller but with two people max, it seems fine. Your thoughts PLEASE !!!! Also I'm taking your advice, 1 ton dually w gas engine. If you baby it, and change oil, I think will last a long time. I do have one question...What do you do if truck camper doesn't come w generator or you want one thats not attached so permanently in the truck to avoid noise and vibration...sorry for long message. Love your site. Bring back more stickers, missed out on those !
I agree with you Taylor, 20 years ago we purchase a Northern lite (the famous 2 piece fiberglass shell) , as a mountain hikers and wilderness explorer it's our best travel companion. Never have intention to replace our camper for anything else. Since we own this camper, single wheels 3/4 ton heavy duty left his place for a new F-350 diezel DRW extended cab 4X4 ,for me dually is also alot more comfortable to ride with the camper on. It's probably not the perfect match for everyone but for wild country travelers like us, it's just perfect. We travel mostly in remote country like New Foundland and Labrador and i think it"s hard to find a better equipment. We never regret our choice of a non slide camper, for us a truck camper is the RV first choice for great outdoor.
Love your Honesty Taylor. You videos give us a lot of information I.e. Slide outs, Rain and Snow weather camping, Towing crew cab super cab partner living ect. Thank you soooooooooo much. PS I have seen every video you put out. Your enthusiasm shines through. Keep living the dream
I stumbled on this video because my husband and I are thinking that we will transition from a small 16 ft. hybrid trailer to a camper in a year, once our kids no longer want to camp with us. I was researching slide vs. no slide... this is great information and I loved how informative this video is. We live in Victoria so I was curious about your other videos... I've just binged a whole bunch and love them all. You've got me excited about all the adventures we will continue to have. Thanks for doing what you do!
Loved your honesty! Thank you Taylor! Nothing is ever perfect, and everyone has different ways they would use a truck camper, so kodos for you for sharing that information with everyone. Keep living the dream!
Taylor after getting me to buy a RV, you say you would not get the slide if you do a lot of Travel, cause you have a narrow space to get through and I saw you do. The RV I bought has 4 slides and one snug spot for me, for you it would be easy. I found in the bigger Motor homes there are many floor plans and different slide configurations so it took me along time to find the one I ended up buying for full time living and traveling. In 2019 soon I plan on moving in permanent. Was setting up internet plan for it today. Thanks for the video Taylor Dzaman Cause we are going to soon be living the Dream!
I know you stopped posting videos but watching the videos you posted was a big part of deciding to buy a truck camper to live in. I spend most my free time at beaches in SoCal and it just makes sense to take my home with me everywhere I go. Hope you're well!
Hey Taylor, Doing some research on this TC, which ill probably be getting one this summer, I learned that behind your headboard there is ZERO insulation. If you feel it on a cold night it will be cold to the touch. I read there are 4 screws to remove it and a few clips for the rope lighting. Remove those and install some good insulation behind that. Theres not much space so you would have to use some good thin insulation. I know you cold camp a lot and Im sure it would help tremendously. Also I can't wait for your next series of videos. Im not sure if you realize, but these videos not only helped me but thousands of others as well. Rock on brother and stay safe out there!
I had a AF with a slide and I loved it, when I was in a tight locations like the ferry or a parking lot I would 1/4 slide or 1/2 slide and get a little extra space.
Thank you sooooo much for this video. Recently purchased Lance 850 Truck Camper (with no slide outs) and have been wondering if I should have purchased slide outs. I am a mobile nomad so it looks like I (luckily) made the correct decision. I do like your answer: if you will be non-mobile for a long time, "slide outs are the way to go." I can see me (10 years from now) still living the TC lifestyle but spending more time in one spot. It is then that I will purchase a TC with slide outs. Thank you.!
I've got a 2017 Ram 3500 Mega cab SRW with a 2018 Northstar Arrow...old school wood frame and no slide that is very well built and comfortable for me and hubby (we like each other😁). Tons of space especially with the Mega cab...solar and 2 big Lifeline AGMs and 2 tanks of propane. I've got a gennie compartment in the camper for my Yamaha 2000 gen but usually don't ever need it. We are maxed out on weight but still legal and safe. Happy not to have duallys but can appreciate why most truck campers choose them. You have to go with a lighter weight hardtop or popup if you go SRW. We love our choices and are pretty nimble for the comfort level.
Taylor, welcome back. A Crew cab truck diesel long bed is the way to go for truck campers. Dually, agree with your comment, but I have an f350 crew cab single rear wheel. The AF is a super product and a slide adds a lot of weight/headaches later. I prefer a non-slide camper which I have a 9 foot one. At some point, the bigger truck camper (weight/etc) becomes a safety factor for driving and braking etc IMHO. While the Host 3 slide camper is amazing, I would not own said camper due to weight and entry limitations with slides in. OR would I own any camper with a slide.
Best things i bought for my truck was a dual path air bags and torklift stable loads !!! I love my 990 it's awesome. It's heavy but those 2 add ons improved the trucks handling 100% and i pull a flat trailer with a fully built jeep Tj wheeler with a 3 foot super hitch 3' extension.
Instead of building a first building, cabin. Could you enclose your Arctic fox in a sturdy enclosure? Would save time. And you've already got a very comfortable living space as you build your home.
We have a Host Tahoe and it has 2 slides; we love it. All of our camping is either in a campground or boondocking so our slides are always out when we camp. Wouldn't have it any other way. Love the space, and I just made sure I bought enough truck to handle the weight. We also pull an 8' off road trailer that holds odds and ends.
I have an arctic fox 811s. Solar and onboard generator. Non dually gmc 2500. Upgraded shocks to 1 ton rated, use torklift stableloads and upgraded springs to 1 ton. I get very little sway because of the suspension upgrades and skipping the airbags. I Dont fill the tank until I get close to my destination, just have a couple gallons for immediate use if needed. I loooove the slide. It allows for a comfortable bathroom. I also have 3 kids and 2 dogs, soo...yeah, slide is where its at. I looked at the 865, but it was just not comfortable. I am either backpacking or comfort boondocking. I would say if single or just a couple, non slide with a decent sized bathroom would be fine, but any more than a couple and the slide makes it way more enjoyable. No airbags and torklift stableloads ftw, although a blowout on a non dually might get interesting at 70mph.
I heard that new RV's specifically the ultra lite travel trailers are made very poorly with flimsy construction material and are constantly falling apart.
Most rvs are that way its single plywood on the sides foam ect. Weight has to be cut out some where look at the fiberglass bolers scamps or escape trailers if you want light small and better built
@Von Ovenator this is a very true statement. Most camper manufacturers are striving to be lighter to attract more users as most people do not own a heavy duty vehicle. Lightweight campers mean lightweight materials. Even if your camper will see light use on paved roads only, the LW campers still have poor quality. Arctic Fox, are not lightweight and are very good quality.
Good video. Thanks. I like the idea of a pop-up or slide out camper. I didn't get one because I live full time in it and I don't want to have to slide out or pop-up the camper every time I want to take a nap, use the can or eat lunch. In and out repeadedly through out the day while I travel. A non slide\pop-up seemed simpler for me. I have single cab duelly as well. I too wish I'd gone with the extra cab. The storage is a problem. I think when I make my next rig, I'm going to a four door flat bed with side boxes. That would solve alot of storage problems.
Great video Taylor ! We pondered for a long time slide or no slide and went with no slide and hope to upgrade truck to a dually when we can ...$$$$ .... looking forward to seeing Rebecca back in the videos soon !!!
Thank you for answering my question. I was not even considering the pitching back and forth. My question was about the space of a 4 door versus a 2 door. I never even considered your point until now. Great information. Can't wait to see the cost breakdown video.
I now have a full 8 foot short bed camper with 18 overhang on an 8 foot box. I built a simple 20 inch 2x8 wooden box to space and hold the camper away from the front of the truck box. Use that space between truc and camper for spare gear extra fuel, tool box, hoses.... Agree for different reasons with the slide you really don't gain any extra space. The cubic feet of space required for the slide out equipment is just about equal to the space gained with the slide out. The first thing you loose is a set of cupboard above your table.... And yes to the extended cab dually more stability in wind and when passing or being passed by 18 wheelers as well as storage and guest seats. Our first camper Northland had a slide out sold it a got a Bigfoot no slides definatley more usable space.
We run in a Bigfoot 3000 without a slide. Empty we are 2800 lbs. Our truck is a f350 dually with a crew cab. We travel in it five months of the year. The rest of the year when we are working it’s a 32 ft fifth wheel. The only rig I envy is the triple slide Eagle Cap. That would take an F550 to carry. Thinking about adding water tanks under the truck.
I agree I had a lance 825 on an F250 and I traveled US Canada Alaska and it was more than enough room. I’ve since sold both and 2 years ago bought another f250 and a 35;foot travel trailer. Yes lots of space but I really miss the truck camper! If and when I do it again I’ll get a truck camper.
phontomz The truck camper can get places trailers can’t. Easier to get gas. Basically wherever your truck can go you camper goes I just find it easier all around. Downfall is less space but it’s worth it in my opinion.
I miss your channel and look forward to when you come back! Dry spells suck but they do pass in the creative world. I care and so do many others! Be safe be well, looking forward to update or new videos my friend!
Great vid! You Canada trip cost will be interesting. I wonder, if the fuel used to take your camper outweighed the cost of hotel stays. I love our camper and prefer it to hotel rooms.
Excellent info and I totally agree with everything you said A dually is a must IMHO for ANY camper. The stability and confidence that you get is well worth it. I've heard horror stories of blown rear tires causing very serious situations. The only downside is that it's hard to get one that's not a diesel.where I live, so I got a diesel
I had a Lance with slideout (brand new). The dealership badly damaged it during service 3 months after I got it, and so replaced it with a brand new Cirrus 820. I love the Cirrus SO MUCH MORE than the old style of truck campers, and am really glad to have gotten rid of the slideout as well.
@@tomclarke2722 - The air gap is really nice to prevent condensation buildup/mold. Also, the Froli system can be modified for heavier/lighter sleepers as needed with a few extra parts. Just google Froli sleep systems website.
My wife and I travel all over in a Lance 850, so no slides on a long bed truck. The only time we would want a slide is when we have company (friends with tents) and need room for more than 3 people at the table to eat out of the weather. The other big trade off in a truck camper is the dry vs wet bath, that could be a good video.
If you're a handyman, and not timid to do it, I would modify that seat and end of the table next to the door so it held only 1 person, or maybe it could fold in and out someway so that when you use the camper with the slide in, the seat and table end are down, you can get around okay, but when the slide is out you can fold out that seat and end of the table to accommodate two people and its normal. It would help though if you had a friend that could make those kind of modifications. I envision having to make modifications to mine when I get it.
There's advantages to to every RV & there's disadvantages - for Example a Class A. Advantage: more like a home. Disadvantage: can't go into a city and park it so you need to tow a vehicle. If someone is considering full-timing - they need to weigh those options between several types of RV's. Also the style of camping done...off road/off grid vs campgrounds. Good information in the video.
You'd think that a section of the table could fold up or down manually so when you have the slide in you could fold say 4 or so inches of the table down so you can get in and out easier.
If you ever get the chance, I havent looked back to see if you have or not, but go to the Queen Charlotte Islands (Haida Gwai) there is a camp ground thats right on a beech about 10 or 15 minutes passed Masset thats safe from the tide, beautiful island.
Hey Taylor I’ve owned a truck camper since 1988 which is aluminum framed vacationeer brand similar to af 865 today less a generator and microwave which I don’t miss while using. I love my non slide camper an have no intention to switch as every thing still works great. Use only for travel or 2 month long trips to Alaska via bc and Alberta etc. lots of short trips all these years Have Honda generator if I need ac (rarely ) F350 crewcab diesel 7.3 liter srw handles the camper very easy plus all the torque from engine and 16 mpg @60-65 mph for a safe smooth ride Slides are great but I would not buy one for all your reasons
Slides are annoying in wet and cold weather. Wind can come in through the bottom of the slide where the gearing mechanisms is. The roof of the slide gets wet / snowed on if you don't have a slide topper awning, so when you retract the slide, water comes in on the roof of the slide and makes a mess inside the camper. (This has happened to me, because I don't have a slide topper awning on my 811)
Get a bike then park and ride around sometimes instead of fishing sometimes. alternate. that will help you loose some weight . Good Luck. Keep your Head Up!
That does look like a LOT of camper for the truck...To me, But then again the only slide in (truck bed) camper I've owned was on a 78 datsun pickup, so it was basically a table for two/cot/single bunk bed, and a counter top. Yours looks way more livable. Good video, very informative.
Maybe if you are traveling with a lot of people the extra space will make a difference but while they have some cool possible designs, if it's just one or two people then a slide is like a hassle, one more thing to break, and a major driver of price escalater.
I enjoy your videos. Straight to the point with honest answers. Beautiful scenery. I hear the slid outs are also prone to leak. I will check out your water proofing videos. New subscriber, thx, be safe.
It's cool I can watch your vlogs with my daughter and I don't have to worry about a potty mouth. (Making your Mama proud ..) You have the gift of gab and make some ordinary things seem awesome. I would LOVE to do this some with my girl but I worry about safety. Too many horror movies..Don't you ever get scared?
Shoulda got yo-self a Nothstar sTc or a sweet Northern Lite 10-2EX! One of those will be my first TC. I've been shopping for 2 years and watched all your great videos (also fell in love with Rebecca, but who hasn't) and this video helped a lot. So far I've done 2 things right: I just got a DRW (F350), and I got the Crew Cab! I plan to be on the road traveling a LOT, and locally - driving on the beach, so I'm definitely leaning to a large non-slide unit. Probably the sTc, but I'll probably wait till my wife retires next year to pull the trigger. Great video! Thanks for the advice.
Don Meyers get the NL 10.2 with all the bells and whistles if you can. You will be very comfortable. Atleast be sure to get the patio bumper and stairs to stay safe. A fall from those accordion folding stairs could be life altering at our age.
You're not missing anything not owning a house. Biggest mistake I ever made. Now family and kid its like the only way I can change is not. I'd rather live in an RV no rent no mortgage, just a nice truck and trailer and the open road or sweet camp spots. btw, i've got a truck and trailer it's as close as I can get to living the dream..... our trailer does have a slide but mind you, it's a 7footwide trailer so the slide is a must. You're right about the ext cab or crew cab, something i learned early on, packing friends or gear, it's a great place to put stuff.
Man, you've been an inspiration to me. I just got a 2002 F350 and a 2001 Lance slide in camper and I have yet to take it out but I still own a house that the mortgage payments are relatively low. I am going to float the idea of living in it and might sell my home. I can make a substantial capital gain off the home and the camper rig is paid off.
We have the same camera backpack. Woohoo. If that tripod is also from the same company then we have the same tripod too. I don’t have that fancy camper but I’m turning my Tesla Model 3 into a camper. It’s something.
Pretty sure i spotted a phillips screw in your rear passenger tire when u mentioned getting a dually. Love the slide explanation, i’m planning to get a slide, we end up at offroad parks on the weekend and they expect us to be camping there.
you need to get a skinnier 'in and out slide'; then you tell her: "I want you to sit here in the safe seat, by the door. In case there is an emergency, I want you to be the first out the door .... because I love you!"
Taylor : Great vid..... dulley is a must my Adventurer 86SBS is somthing to look at!! On an extended cab4x4They also make Hard sides non slides . My 2nd choice was Bigfoot then your articfox. To travel is to live. Good luck on the cabin &I keep the good content coming Best Jp:)
great tips Taylor only one would know from experience! i got a lot of travel trailer experience and man i had one that had cupboards on both sides for like 25 feet. it was like a hallway in till i got in to the living room. i hated it. i started smashing some out only to end up demoing the whole thing to start to build my Tiny House on wheels. i want a truck camper now so bad only because of you tho lol..
your slide out could work out, just have a half seat next to the back door, trim the table down, or a fold up like a yacht. that why you have the best of both worlds.
I really feel like people overstate the "inconvenience" of slides. I have a Host Tahoe and the slides go out in under a minute. There's no reason to only put them out if I'm staying for a long time, I use them every time I stop, I've had no technical issues with them, no leaking, and no one seems to care.
thanks for your thoughts on truck and camper , something i was thinking about as i live in a small 20' trailer now...i have a decent truck, diesel extended cab 2500 hd which would hold a small camper but just don't know if i want to downsize (tried a 14' trailer at first after living on a 37' boat for 10 years) oh, the choices...
I had a Lance with one slide out wasn’t big enough I went out and got a Lance 1172 two slide outs no regrets love it👍👍
Tear out them seats and table and build yourself something more practical.
Be creative, customize.
Turn it into an actual living room, throw an actual couch in there and table you can move and you’re good.
Taylor because of you I think I found the perfect truck camper , the arctic fox 865. The slide issue being closed was dead on but also for another very important reason. The 865 bathroom butts up against the bed area. The back of the camper is completely open between the door windows (2), windows on both sides the door, the table window and the sink window. You can back into any spot and have a complete 360 view !!!! Check out the pics on a tour video. I would love your opinion. The only difference is the table is smaller but with two people max, it seems fine. Your thoughts PLEASE !!!! Also I'm taking your advice, 1 ton dually w gas engine. If you baby it, and change oil, I think will last a long time.
I do have one question...What do you do if truck camper doesn't come w generator or you want one thats not attached so permanently in the truck to avoid noise and vibration...sorry for long message. Love your site. Bring back more stickers, missed out on those !
I agree with you Taylor, 20 years ago we purchase a Northern lite (the famous 2 piece fiberglass shell) , as a mountain hikers and wilderness explorer it's our best travel companion. Never have intention to replace our camper for anything else. Since we own this camper, single wheels 3/4 ton heavy duty left his place for a new F-350 diezel DRW extended cab 4X4 ,for me dually is also alot more comfortable to ride with the camper on. It's probably not the perfect match for everyone but for wild country travelers like us, it's just perfect. We travel mostly in remote country like New Foundland and Labrador and i think it"s hard to find a better equipment. We never regret our choice of a non slide camper, for us a truck camper is the RV first choice for great outdoor.
Cut the table to fit for entry, and put hinges so you can fold back up table to full size. Also, on door side you can reduce to one chair sitting.
Love your Honesty Taylor. You videos give us a lot of information I.e. Slide outs, Rain and Snow weather camping, Towing crew cab super cab partner living ect. Thank you soooooooooo much. PS I have seen every video you put out. Your enthusiasm shines through. Keep living the dream
I stumbled on this video because my husband and I are thinking that we will transition from a small 16 ft. hybrid trailer to a camper in a year, once our kids no longer want to camp with us. I was researching slide vs. no slide... this is great information and I loved how informative this video is. We live in Victoria so I was curious about your other videos... I've just binged a whole bunch and love them all. You've got me excited about all the adventures we will continue to have. Thanks for doing what you do!
Loved your honesty! Thank you Taylor! Nothing is ever perfect, and everyone has different ways they would use a truck camper, so kodos for you for sharing that information with everyone. Keep living the dream!
Sir,
Thanks for taking the time to do this. I was wondering about the slide thing. Thanks again.
me knowing I have no interest in buying a truck camper and never will: *hm, he may have convinced me*
Taylor after getting me to buy a RV, you say you would not get the slide if you do a lot of Travel, cause you have a narrow space to get through and I saw you do. The RV I bought has 4 slides and one snug spot for me, for you it would be easy. I found in the bigger Motor homes there are many floor plans and different slide configurations so it took me along time to find the one I ended up buying for full time living and traveling. In 2019 soon I plan on moving in permanent. Was setting up internet plan for it today. Thanks for the video Taylor Dzaman Cause we are going to soon be living the Dream!
I know you stopped posting videos but watching the videos you posted was a big part of deciding to buy a truck camper to live in. I spend most my free time at beaches in SoCal and it just makes sense to take my home with me everywhere I go. Hope you're well!
Great info on truck campers. Pretty much answered all my questions.
Plus you have alittle bit more traction traction starting off in a slick area with duel tires
Hey Taylor, Doing some research on this TC, which ill probably be getting one this summer, I learned that behind your headboard there is ZERO insulation. If you feel it on a cold night it will be cold to the touch. I read there are 4 screws to remove it and a few clips for the rope lighting. Remove those and install some good insulation behind that. Theres not much space so you would have to use some good thin insulation.
I know you cold camp a lot and Im sure it would help tremendously.
Also I can't wait for your next series of videos. Im not sure if you realize, but these videos not only helped me but thousands of others as well.
Rock on brother and stay safe out there!
I had a AF with a slide and I loved it, when I was in a tight locations like the ferry or a parking lot I would 1/4 slide or 1/2 slide and get a little extra space.
Thank you sooooo much for this video. Recently purchased Lance 850 Truck Camper (with no slide outs) and have been wondering if I should have purchased slide outs. I am a mobile nomad so it looks like I (luckily) made the correct decision. I do like your answer: if you will be non-mobile for a long time, "slide outs are the way to go." I can see me (10 years from now) still living the TC lifestyle but spending more time in one spot. It is then that I will purchase a TC with slide outs. Thank you.!
I've got a 2017 Ram 3500 Mega cab SRW with a 2018 Northstar Arrow...old school wood frame and no slide that is very well built and comfortable for me and hubby (we like each other😁). Tons of space especially with the Mega cab...solar and 2 big Lifeline AGMs and 2 tanks of propane. I've got a gennie compartment in the camper for my Yamaha 2000 gen but usually don't ever need it. We are maxed out on weight but still legal and safe. Happy not to have duallys but can appreciate why most truck campers choose them. You have to go with a lighter weight hardtop or popup if you go SRW. We love our choices and are pretty nimble for the comfort level.
That was Awesome, and thank you for all the upcoming information, should be a lot of Fun!!!
Taylor, welcome back. A Crew cab truck diesel long bed is the way to go for truck campers. Dually, agree with your comment, but I have an f350 crew cab single rear wheel. The AF is a super product and a slide adds a lot of weight/headaches later. I prefer a non-slide camper which I have a 9 foot one. At some point, the bigger truck camper (weight/etc) becomes a safety factor for driving and braking etc IMHO. While the Host 3 slide camper is amazing, I would not own said camper due to weight and entry limitations with slides in. OR would I own any camper with a slide.
Best things i bought for my truck was a dual path air bags and torklift stable loads !!! I love my 990 it's awesome. It's heavy but those 2 add ons improved the trucks handling 100% and i pull a flat trailer with a fully built jeep Tj wheeler with a 3 foot super hitch 3' extension.
Great to know thank you jimmy !
Instead of building a first building, cabin. Could you enclose your Arctic fox in a sturdy enclosure? Would save time. And you've already got a very comfortable living space as you build your home.
Taylor, you just answered all of my questions about equipment. Thanks
My Eagle Cap allows movement with the Slide in. Very usable with Slide in
We have a Host Tahoe and it has 2 slides; we love it. All of our camping is either in a campground or boondocking so our slides are always out when we camp. Wouldn't have it any other way. Love the space, and I just made sure I bought enough truck to handle the weight. We also pull an 8' off road trailer that holds odds and ends.
I have an arctic fox 811s. Solar and onboard generator. Non dually gmc 2500. Upgraded shocks to 1 ton rated, use torklift stableloads and upgraded springs to 1 ton. I get very little sway because of the suspension upgrades and skipping the airbags. I Dont fill the tank until I get close to my destination, just have a couple gallons for immediate use if needed. I loooove the slide. It allows for a comfortable bathroom. I also have 3 kids and 2 dogs, soo...yeah, slide is where its at. I looked at the 865, but it was just not comfortable. I am either backpacking or comfort boondocking. I would say if single or just a couple, non slide with a decent sized bathroom would be fine, but any more than a couple and the slide makes it way more enjoyable. No airbags and torklift stableloads ftw, although a blowout on a non dually might get interesting at 70mph.
I heard that new RV's specifically the ultra lite travel trailers are made very poorly with flimsy construction material and are constantly falling apart.
Ultra light campers are !
Most rvs are that way its single plywood on the sides foam ect. Weight has to be cut out some where look at the fiberglass bolers scamps or escape trailers if you want light small and better built
@Von Ovenator this is a very true statement. Most camper manufacturers are striving to be lighter to attract more users as most people do not own a heavy duty vehicle. Lightweight campers mean lightweight materials. Even if your camper will see light use on paved roads only, the LW campers still have poor quality.
Arctic Fox, are not lightweight and are very good quality.
Or Gulfsteam RV. Very good quality.
I wouldn't buy anything coming out of Elkhart IN.
This what I thought when I bought my camper. Glad you have confirmed my decision. Mine doesn't have slides......
You have a screw in your right rear tire. Visible at 8:02. Cheers!
Good video. Thanks. I like the idea of a pop-up or slide out camper. I didn't get one because I live full time in it and I don't want to have to slide out or pop-up the camper every time I want to take a nap, use the can or eat lunch. In and out repeadedly through out the day while I travel. A non slide\pop-up seemed simpler for me. I have single cab duelly as well. I too wish I'd gone with the extra cab. The storage is a problem. I think when I make my next rig, I'm going to a four door flat bed with side boxes. That would solve alot of storage problems.
Great video Taylor ! We pondered for a long time slide or no slide and went with no slide and hope to upgrade truck to a dually when we can ...$$$$ .... looking forward to seeing Rebecca back in the videos soon !!!
Thank you for answering my question. I was not even considering the pitching back and forth. My question was about the space of a 4 door versus a 2 door. I never even considered your point until now. Great information. Can't wait to see the cost breakdown video.
Hi, Taylor, did you see you have a nail on that tire, frame #11:23 I think, good video , frank
Compared to a typical big rig sleeper berth, it's a nice cozy appartment.
I now have a full 8 foot short bed camper with 18 overhang on an 8 foot box. I built a simple 20 inch 2x8 wooden box to space and hold the camper away from the front of the truck box. Use that space between truc and camper for spare gear extra fuel, tool box, hoses....
Agree for different reasons with the slide you really don't gain any extra space. The cubic feet of space required for the slide out equipment is just about equal to the space gained with the slide out. The first thing you loose is a set of cupboard above your table....
And yes to the extended cab dually more stability in wind and when passing or being passed by 18 wheelers as well as storage and guest seats.
Our first camper Northland had a slide out sold it a got a Bigfoot no slides definatley more usable space.
looking fwd to the sealing portion, especially ... thank you for what you do. Blessings
We run in a Bigfoot 3000 without a slide. Empty we are 2800 lbs. Our truck is a f350 dually with a crew cab. We travel in it five months of the year. The rest of the year when we are working it’s a 32 ft fifth wheel. The only rig I envy is the triple slide Eagle Cap. That would take an F550 to carry. Thinking about adding water tanks under the truck.
I agree I had a lance 825 on an F250 and I traveled US Canada Alaska and it was more than enough room. I’ve since sold both and 2 years ago bought another f250 and a 35;foot travel trailer. Yes lots of space but I really miss the truck camper! If and when I do it again I’ll get a truck camper.
J297WFD what makes you miss the truck camper over the trailer?
phontomz The truck camper can get places trailers can’t. Easier to get gas. Basically wherever your truck can go you camper goes I just find it easier all around. Downfall is less space but it’s worth it in my opinion.
Looks like the seats and table take up the slide area. Cut both down narrower. That way you have the room to walk through, slide in or out.
Excelent tips. Honest and direct to the point...
Cut the bench seat and make the table have hinges a d fold down
Another great video with beautiful drone footage. Btw looks like a screw head or nail on that dually shot at 8:02. Keep living the dream !!!
I miss your channel and look forward to when you come back! Dry spells suck but they do pass in the creative world. I care and so do many others! Be safe be well, looking forward to update or new videos my friend!
Great vid! You Canada trip cost will be interesting. I wonder, if the fuel used to take your camper outweighed the cost of hotel stays. I love our camper and prefer it to hotel rooms.
Average hotel costs $100 per night. Average costs of a truck camper fuel cost is $60 per day.
Excellent info and I totally agree with everything you said A dually is a must IMHO for ANY camper. The stability and confidence that you get is well worth it. I've heard horror stories of blown rear tires causing very serious situations. The only downside is that it's hard to get one that's not a diesel.where I live, so I got a diesel
Could always get a 350 or 3500 with the single rear and do a dually Conversion kit. Adds a little cost though
Some air bags on the rear axle could help the teetering.
Next purchase !
Some great pointers and recommendations, Taylor. Another great video!
I had a Lance with slideout (brand new). The dealership badly damaged it during service 3 months after I got it, and so replaced it with a brand new Cirrus 820. I love the Cirrus SO MUCH MORE than the old style of truck campers, and am really glad to have gotten rid of the slideout as well.
Hey Bret. How do you like the bed platform in your Cirrus? I have a Lance 825 and may try to duplicate to elevate mattress for cold weather airflow.
@@tomclarke2722 - The air gap is really nice to prevent condensation buildup/mold. Also, the Froli system can be modified for heavier/lighter sleepers as needed with a few extra parts. Just google Froli sleep systems website.
Awesome video! looking forward to the next ones!
remove the bench seats and table...get two regular chairs and a smaller table
My wife and I travel all over in a Lance 850, so no slides on a long bed truck. The only time we would want a slide is when we have company (friends with tents) and need room for more than 3 people at the table to eat out of the weather. The other big trade off in a truck camper is the dry vs wet bath, that could be a good video.
If you're a handyman, and not timid to do it, I would modify that seat and end of the table next to the door so it held only 1 person, or maybe it could fold in and out someway so that when you use the camper with the slide in, the seat and table end are down, you can get around okay, but when the slide is out you can fold out that seat and end of the table to accommodate two people and its normal. It would help though if you had a friend that could make those kind of modifications. I envision having to make modifications to mine when I get it.
as I watch these videos,,, I always come up with ideas I wonder why the RV manufacturers haven't thought of yet. LOL.
Good advise from an experienced RV'r.
Lots of fun watching the vids Taylor puts out .
You could put the slide out about 6 in without any problem on a side street and you would gain the room you need inside
There's advantages to to every RV & there's disadvantages - for Example a Class A. Advantage: more like a home. Disadvantage: can't go into a city and park it so you need to tow a vehicle. If someone is considering full-timing - they need to weigh those options between several types of RV's. Also the style of camping done...off road/off grid vs campgrounds. Good information in the video.
You'd think that a section of the table could fold up or down manually so when you have the slide in you could fold say 4 or so inches of the table down so you can get in and out easier.
If you ever get the chance, I havent looked back to see if you have or not, but go to the Queen Charlotte Islands (Haida Gwai) there is a camp ground thats right on a beech about 10 or 15 minutes passed Masset thats safe from the tide, beautiful island.
Hey Taylor I’ve owned a truck camper since 1988 which is aluminum framed vacationeer brand similar to af 865 today less a generator and microwave which I don’t miss while using. I love my non slide camper an have no intention to switch as every thing still works great. Use only for travel or 2 month long trips to Alaska via bc and Alberta etc. lots of short trips all these years
Have Honda generator if I need ac (rarely )
F350 crewcab diesel 7.3 liter srw handles the camper very easy plus all the torque from engine and 16 mpg @60-65 mph for a safe smooth ride
Slides are great but I would not buy one for all your reasons
Slides are annoying in wet and cold weather. Wind can come in through the bottom of the slide where the gearing mechanisms is.
The roof of the slide gets wet / snowed on if you don't have a slide topper awning, so when you retract the slide, water comes in on the roof of the slide and makes a mess inside the camper. (This has happened to me, because I don't have a slide topper awning on my 811)
Get a bike then park and ride around sometimes instead of fishing sometimes. alternate. that will help you loose some weight . Good Luck. Keep your Head Up!
I like the way host is laid out but you have to have a big truck f350 or f450 is heavy
That does look like a LOT of camper for the truck...To me,
But then again the only slide in (truck bed) camper I've owned was on a 78 datsun pickup,
so it was basically a table for two/cot/single bunk bed, and a counter top.
Yours looks way more livable.
Good video, very informative.
Maybe if you are traveling with a lot of people the extra space will make a difference but while they have some cool possible designs, if it's just one or two people then a slide is like a hassle, one more thing to break, and a major driver of price escalater.
Could you rip out the table and benches and replace with a countertop with portable chairs? It would free up a ton of room when you have the slide in.
I do love your setup though !!! A longer wheelbase would have made your ride better . Skål !!!
A Diesel engine would also add more stability since it weighs quite a bit more than the gasser. Evens out the weight front to rear.
I enjoy your videos. Straight to the point with honest answers. Beautiful scenery.
I hear the slid outs are also prone to leak. I will check out your water proofing videos. New subscriber, thx, be safe.
It's cool I can watch your vlogs with my daughter and I don't have to worry about a potty mouth. (Making your Mama proud ..) You have the gift of gab and make some ordinary things seem awesome. I would LOVE to do this some with my girl but I worry about safety. Too many horror movies..Don't you ever get scared?
Good info want to get truck camper summer in timmins till november winter in arizona until april.
That slide makes a big difference in room. Shouldn't break. I'd take the slide out tc. More room.
it amazes me that the more "stuff" you get rid of. then less stuff you actually need
Taylor, how about a video where you show your ideal floor plan for the cabin
Shoulda got yo-self a Nothstar sTc or a sweet Northern Lite 10-2EX! One of those will be my first TC. I've been shopping for 2 years and watched all your great videos (also fell in love with Rebecca, but who hasn't) and this video helped a lot. So far I've done 2 things right: I just got a DRW (F350), and I got the Crew Cab! I plan to be on the road traveling a LOT, and locally - driving on the beach, so I'm definitely leaning to a large non-slide unit. Probably the sTc, but I'll probably wait till my wife retires next year to pull the trigger. Great video! Thanks for the advice.
Don Meyers get the NL 10.2 with all the bells and whistles if you can. You will be very comfortable. Atleast be sure to get the patio bumper and stairs to stay safe. A fall from those accordion folding stairs could be life altering at our age.
Six one way, half dozen the other eh?! Oh ya, 8:01, you have a screw in your tire. Cheers 🇨🇦
I noticed that too. I suspect maybe it's the footage from when he had the flat tire in Canada.
You're not missing anything not owning a house. Biggest mistake I ever made. Now family and kid its like the only way I can change is not. I'd rather live in an RV no rent no mortgage, just a nice truck and trailer and the open road or sweet camp spots. btw, i've got a truck and trailer it's as close as I can get to living the dream..... our trailer does have a slide but mind you, it's a 7footwide trailer so the slide is a must. You're right about the ext cab or crew cab, something i learned early on, packing friends or gear, it's a great place to put stuff.
Thanks for the pointers , I’ve been contemplating which way I’m gonna go and I this was helpful.🙌🏻
i am in a skoolie 25 ft long - not having walls in any vehicle is a mistake unless you are 30 ft long
Great video and much needed info. Thanks.👍
Man, you've been an inspiration to me. I just got a 2002 F350 and a 2001 Lance slide in camper and I have yet to take it out but I still own a house that the mortgage payments are relatively low. I am going to float the idea of living in it and might sell my home. I can make a substantial capital gain off the home and the camper rig is paid off.
Oh also I was tied between a slide out or not and my camper doesn't have a slide out and weight was a big consideration as I weigh about 250 lbs.
We have the same camera backpack. Woohoo. If that tripod is also from the same company then we have the same tripod too. I don’t have that fancy camper but I’m turning my Tesla Model 3 into a camper. It’s something.
PUT UP A VIDEO id love to see that in a model 3!
best youtube channel on this life style love the way you break it money wise and everything in between get vids of christmas haha
8:01 Taylor is that a screw in your tire??? looks like a screw... go check!
Excellent and timely video Taylor!
Pretty sure i spotted a phillips screw in your rear passenger tire when u mentioned getting a dually. Love the slide explanation, i’m planning to get a slide, we end up at offroad parks on the weekend and they expect us to be camping there.
try owning a 76 coachmen knight slide in truck camper. your talking about 3,000 lbs?
my camper was 2x4 and alum.
I’m gonna get a host mammoth or Everest
I like the layout of the mammoth better, it's awesome!
I really like all of the information that you give about rv life..
Great tip, I started watching your videos, because I am thinking to buy a truck camper. Keep living the dream and take care.
Brings up an interesting question. If you could only upgrade one element of your camper, what would it be? Power lifts, batteries, etc.
you need to get a skinnier 'in and out slide'; then you tell her: "I want you to sit here in the safe seat, by the door. In case there is an emergency, I want you to be the first out the door .... because I love you!"
Taylor :
Great vid..... dulley is a must my Adventurer 86SBS is somthing to look at!! On an extended cab4x4They also make
Hard sides non slides . My 2nd choice was Bigfoot then your articfox. To travel is to live. Good luck on the cabin &I keep the good content coming Best Jp:)
It's one more thing to break or fail, that's all you have to remember. If you have the means and money to handle it, do it.
Is it necessary to support slide out?
I'm about to buy one of these and park in in my mother's lawn hahahaha
great tips Taylor only one would know from experience! i got a lot of travel trailer experience and man i had one that had cupboards on both sides for like 25 feet. it was like a hallway in till i got in to the living room. i hated it. i started smashing some out only to end up demoing the whole thing to start to build my Tiny House on wheels. i want a truck camper now so bad only because of you tho lol..
It's a simple thing to put the slide in and out. I'm surprised you don't do it out of habit.
your slide out could work out, just have a half seat next to the back door, trim the table down, or a fold up like a yacht. that why you have the best of both worlds.
I really feel like people overstate the "inconvenience" of slides. I have a Host Tahoe and the slides go out in under a minute. There's no reason to only put them out if I'm staying for a long time, I use them every time I stop, I've had no technical issues with them, no leaking, and no one seems to care.
thanks for your thoughts on truck and camper , something i was thinking about as i live in a small 20' trailer now...i have a decent truck, diesel extended cab 2500 hd which would hold a small camper but just don't know if i want to downsize (tried a 14' trailer at first after living on a 37' boat for 10 years) oh, the choices...
Screw in your tire at 8:01
Yup :(