hard side camper like to drive? (cross winds, handling)
#1
Posted 28 March 2019 - 05:58 PM
#2
Posted 28 March 2019 - 06:03 PM
p.p.s whatever we get (even a pop up) it'll be too tall to garage.... and it will be in midwest (!) so the strongest roof possible is key. and yes i'll have to manage the snow load on the roof. Ug.
#3
Posted 28 March 2019 - 06:13 PM
As far as a Truma or other complex system goes, good luck finding knowledgeable service/repair/parts in rural areas.
Regardless of weight, a hard side will make for more costly fuel bills and will be less nimble on mountain switchback roads.
#4
Posted 28 March 2019 - 06:42 PM
Can't say what they are like to drive, but I gave my brother-in-law and his wife a ride to a trailhead in Capitol Reef NP, and they both commented on how nimble/agile our rig felt in comparison to their 1 ton & Lance camper.
2012 ATC Puma Shell build - https://www.wanderth...012-puma-build/
Power considerations thread - https://www.wanderth...e-power-scotty/
Building out an electrical system - So, you want to setup a good electrical system in your camper? - Electrical, Charging, Solar, Batteries and Generators - Wander the West
#5
Posted 28 March 2019 - 07:10 PM
I had an 8 ft Alaskan NCO on my F-150 and aside from the weight, never really had noticeable crosswind issues.
Next was a Lance CO that hung a good two feet past the truck bed on my F-250 and that's when I experienced swaying ang pulling caused by crosswinds and trucks going the other way.
My 8 ft CO Alaskan I replaced the Lance with (hit-and-run in front of my house dislodged the LF jack and tore open the front and side seam) on the F-250 is just about like the old rig. Crosswinds are barely noticeable but a semi going the other way on a two-lane road pushes a pretty big "bow wave" of air!
However, the high winds we have been experiencing lately will even cause cars to weave a bit!
1988 Ford F-250 HD Lariat 4x4 8 Ft. bed
1976 Alaskan 8 Ft. CO camper
#6
Posted 28 March 2019 - 09:10 PM
I'm sure this topic will generate a lot of interesting discussion.
For starters, what are you actually going to do with your camper? If you intend to spend a lot of time away from the maddening crowds I think a pop-up wins hands down (my opinion). We are in the process of prepping our Hallmark Ute to sell and have a new Northstar Laredo SC sitting on our spare lot. We made the switch because in the end we really were not offroading enough to justify the downside to popups. For us the biggy was having to raising and lower the top. Yes it is simple, but on a Hallmark getting it ready to drop the top was a pain and underbed storage, right, except when the top is down and you need something. We don't stay put so we were upping and downing a lot.Then when we were outside of Cody in bear territory and were not allowed to even raise the top in one campground and in Glacier hard sides could keep food inside, but popups not. Not deal breakers, but the nuisance factor kept creeping in.
So did we have fun with it, heck yeah and in the Wyoming winds you could hardly tell they were blowing. and yes, the Northstar is taller, but is is a small bodied light weight hard body camper and only about 12" taller than our Hallmark was with the top down. And one thing we discovered is the CG of the Hallmark was about 5" further back than our Northstar and the CG further ahead of the axle seems to make the truck ride better. Not had it out West yet. In the Tennessee wind, I can feel it more, but not scarier more or swaying. Just more aware of it. But again, if we were going to spend more time off road, this is not the direction we would have gone.
The Truma? Someone also mentioned service and boy was that right on. I just retired as a tech last year and every time the industry ups the ante with complexity, it just adds a ton of headaches to those of us who turn the wrenches. It's not that just the field techs can't fix em, heck, the manufacturers are seldom any help at all. Not for me, that's for sure. Maybe after it has been around another five years or so. Again my two cents.
So think long and hard on the usage issue would be my advice and make sure to get your partner involved in the process if you have one. My wife liked the Hallmark, but she is head over heels with the Northstar and that is never a bad thing.
Good hunting,
Steve
Edited by ardvark, 28 March 2019 - 09:12 PM.
#7
Posted 01 April 2019 - 04:42 PM
Only you and yours can decide what’s best for you. Good luck!
Edited by smlobx, 01 April 2019 - 04:42 PM.
Eddie
KO4CPL
Travel light. Travel far. Travel safe.
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