To me it is about picking the floor plan, length and something that fits into the budget. As any experienced full timer can tell you, that all rigs have issues. Maybe it’s the name, maybe it was the day it was made on? There are so many variables that go into that. I read that Teatons were a VERY well built rig. It does not seem to matter as they are out of business. So there is a see saw between price and quality. Sometimes that means nothing as I said above. Every manufacture makes a good rig, the question is, is it the one you bought?

We have a 2016 Arctic Fox 25Y which is about 30 feet long. We have owned about 5 or 6 other RVs over the years including popups, hybrids (Trailmanor) and last a fiver (Titanium 34 ft) but with the kids mostly gone we decided to drop down to the AF. Plus I always wanted an AF but they are very rare down here in FL.

It has features that match our camping style, we plan to go mostly fulltime this coming summer when my wife can retire. We like boondocking out in the back country. Which means driving down gravel roads. And the AF can do that.

People say that AF quality has degraded recently but in my opinion this unit beats all the others we have owned. That's not to say that hasn't had problems. Mainly water leaks due to stupid construction decisions--using band clamps instead of PEX in some places. And nagging electrical issues that I'm tracking down right now. May be a bad converter. And a bad power tongue jack that I replaced with an excellent one.

After that gets down I need to complete the solar installation that is about 75% done.

  On 12/17/2019 at 5:47 AM, Kirk W said:

It isn't? I have no idea why you might choose to make such a statement..... 

If you don't mind my asking, for what are you campaigning? You must use spell-check.  ?

‘cause there is no sub forum on Escapees forum for truck campers, so they aren’t real RV’s ?

Lawrence, you just ain't right. But you make us smile.....?

This is a fun topic, it’s interesting to read what others have and what their needs and thought process has been.

I’m solo so my needs are different than couples. 

I’m on my first RV, bought new in Dec 2015. My first thought was that regardless of what type of RV I bought, I would end up towing something. At the time I was working so didn’t want to have to maintain a motor that got limited use, which meant I was down to 5ers, truck campers and travel trailers.

While I was vaguely thinking about an RV, someone made me an offer I couldn’t refuse on my Wrangler. I wasn’t sure about the whole RV thing, so bought a vehicle I thought I could live with, regardless of whether I got an RV or not, which ended up being a Grand Cherokee. That meant I was limited to a small trailer.

I hadn’t realized just how few well-built small trailers there were at that time, because I hadn’t researched RVs before buying the JGC. There are a few more now, but still not that many.

I bought a Lance 1685. The trailer works perfectly for me, I lived in it during the week my last 4 months of work, then left for a 2-1/2 month trip to northern BC and the Black Hills, returning by way of Moab, the first of several multi-month trips.

After 2 years of towing with the JGC, I got tired of the limitations and compromises I had to make to keep everything under weight ratings. So last year I bought an F150, and for the trailer a second house battery, solar on the roof, a generator, etc. 

I sold the S&B house the end of September and am now full-time. While I’ve had my fair share of minor issues (mostly minor plumbing or cosmetic), the trailer hasn’t had any real major problems (rubbing against a tree I was trying to avoid wasn’t cheap, but that wasn’t the trailer’s fault).

There are some features in newer Lance trailers I would like, but it has all the necessities (dry bath, well equipped galley and permanent regular sized queen bed), tons of storage space and has a couple of minor things they have changed on the new trailers that I like on mine. Maybe I’ll buy a newer 1685 some day (no RV will last forever: I assume it will be like an old car - start to nickel and dime you to death or require an overhaul) or maybe I’ll get something bigger (and a larger pickup). Or maybe not. I have RVing friends who think I’m nuts to full-time in a small trailer, but I’m comfortable and it has been more my home than the house was for over a year.

I think I need 6 months as a full-timer to tell if this size will continue to work for me - that will be longer than my longest trip. So far it seems like I’m just on another one of my trips, happily traveling with everything I need to enjoy myself. My trailer is easy to tow, and can get into many places larger rigs can’t. I only have 1 engine to maintain. The F150 is easier to drive than I had anticipated 4 years ago, very comfortable and with enough cargo capacity for me at the moment (though I am at GVWR for both truck and trailer - nowhere near the combined weight rating due to the small trailer).

Laundromats are fine with me - less time required to do laundry. Hookups are optional, I don’t mind visiting a dump station and potable water source every so often, nice change of scenery. If it’s raining, I can watch TV, get on the computer, read a book, etc.

The main issue I’ve occasionally run into is with some commercial campgrounds. If I tell them my trailer is 21 feet long (its length from coupler to bumper), they will put me in a narrow spot big enough for a pop up. My trailer has a 3 foot (literally 36”) slide and I’ve occasionally had problems fitting in. I now tell them its 25’ and am more likely to get a wide enough site.

  On 12/18/2019 at 5:09 AM, rickeieio said:

Lawrence, you just ain't right. But you make us smile.....?

I also dint want to give the grad of The School if Arguing Semantics on the Interweb a reason to point out a truck camper is not a vehicle, the vehicle is the vehicle, and quite likely not their preferred brand ?

  On 12/18/2019 at 7:03 AM, noteven said:

I also dint want to give the grad of The School if Arguing Semantics on the Interweb a reason to point out a truck camper is not a vehicle, the vehicle is the vehicle, and quite likely not their preferred brand ?

Why don't you join in and let everyone know what you like about your RV and why you chose it, since that is the only point of the thread? 

Edited Wednesday at 07:16 AM by Kirk W

We are full time for 6.5 years now and have a 2013 HitcHiker Champagne ,,,one of the last ones built.  We bought it from Kansas RV Center, owned by NuWa in Chanute, KS.  They are no longer manufacturer, but have a sales for other brands and a great service center.

The delivery and sale of the unit was great.  I sure hated to see them stop manufacturing.  We have had very few issues with the trailer.  We lover the build quality and comfort.  The Splindide washer-dries, convection microwave, dishwasher and satellite antenna are wonderful.  It is a heavy tri-axle with Mor/Ryde IS suspension.

Looks like the last RV we will have to buy.

Ken

  On 12/17/2019 at 5:35 AM, noteven said:

I’m campaigning a Cirrus truck camper right now but that’s not a “real RV” right?

An RV is a recreational vehicle, technically if you enjoy driving a dirt bike through the woods, that is a recreational vehicle. Get my drift_.

This is our first RV.  When we started shopping, we thought about how we wanted to use the unit.  We both like outdoor activities, and solitary/peaceful surroundings.  This meant something that could handle forest service roads, and being able to stay for 7-10 days in the backcountry.  Before we bought, we rented a 30' class C.  Liked the layout, did not like the lack of power in the mountains, or being pushed around by semis on the freeway.   

After researching units, I was down to the Super C category, either Dynamax or Renegade.  After I saw the prices of the new units, I started looking for used ones.  Both have good bones, and I like working on mechanical units, so we went in expecting to do some work.  I knew the length I wanted, < 35', and watched the selling sites for almost 18 months.  Ended up with a 2007 Dynamax Dynaquest 340 XL.  

The unit has served us well.  We are not full timers, but take 3-4 month trips twice a year.  We have replaced most systems in the unit - only the furnace and generator are still original.  But that is what I was planning on doing when I got the RV.  We ended up with the unit outfitted as we wanted to use it.    We had a fan clutch go out this past fall, but because Freightliner dealers are everywhere, not a big deal.  That is the only issue we have had in 55,000 miles.  It does handle backroads reasonably well, highway driving is easy, and power for the mountains is OK.