Mark, Maya, and I have been back on the road in this new-to-us camper for two months now. It’s time to properly introduce our new set-up. I haven’t done this earlier, because the post would be on the longer side (and require a lot of time to create), we have been contemplating a name for the two components, and I wanted to get a feel for our home on wheels first. Some of you might have been wondering how our changed living quarters are working out, why we swapped modes of transportation/accommodation, or how a truck camper compares to a campervan.
Meet T&T
Picking names is difficult for me – my book title, our dog, our previous sailboats, the marine product we invented and developed. The decision process takes ages and the label has to be fitting. Mark and I really liked the name of our campervan, Zesty, which we sold in April of this year. Once we finally found the right truck (which we bought after the slide-in camper), more naming was in order.
(Hover over or click on photos to read their captions in galleries.)
For reasons you might guess, we have decided to call our black Ford F350 short-bed, extended cab, 4X4 gasoline pickup truck Thirsty. If you’ve followed our current expense reports, you would agree this is a suitable name for a vehicle of this caliber. Of course, our truck – like us – is thirsty for adventure and freedom as well.
Temp disconnected & rebuilding the truck camper frame in Newburyport, MA – take 1
It might come as a surprise that our nuCamp Cirrus 820 is not our ideal camper to take to South America. I’ll elaborate on why later, but we have been on the look-out for another truck camper (a Northstar Arrow U) for seven months. Because our current camper is supposed to be a temporary solution, the in-between version, we are calling it Temp. This particular brand and model – modern, streamlined, and fancy – was very tempting to buy and our #2 on the list. Add to that, that all campers can be temperamental… Since irony plays a big role in my life, I wouldn’t be surprised if we eventually end up keeping Temp, needing to explain its name with sarcasm. There is a lot to love about him.
Rebuilding the truck camper frame at a Home Depot in Albuquerque, NM – take 2
The fact that our camper consists of two separate units, the vehicle and the top part, two names are needed to distinguish them. It is possible to take Temp off the truck (with electric jacks), something we have done often to improve the platform between the two parts and to adjust/change things. We plan on separating them when staying in areas long enough to explore (or run errands) by truck only.
So, how do we call the entire set-up then? I failed coming up with a brilliant “double name” resembling its yin-yang status (by meaning and color scheme), so T&T or TT will do. More often than not, I will probably refer to the combo as Thirsty, since he is the “driving force” behind our camper.
Ready to leave Newburyport, two months ago
Why did we change campers?
I mentioned this briefly in this post I wrote after we sold Zesty. Mark and I adored our Mercedes Sprinter Westfalia campervan. But… it was sixteen years old (yep!), imported from Europe (think metric dimensions and specific parts), complicated to fix, difficult to find replacement items for (expensive or discontinued), and in pristine condition. It was a unique and rare van that sported everything in 19 feet (5.8 meters): separate bed/dinette area, kitchen with two-burner stove, sink, dish drain, and fridge, closed bathroom with sink, toilet, and shower, and lots of storage. Every nook and cranny had a use; the European way. The van was as narrow as a car (but a tad higher) and fit in any parking spot, before we added the bikes.
We sold our van for asking price within 24 hours of posting the ad on a Sprinter forum. This was right before RV prices skyrocketed. On hindsight, we could have driven it back to the East Coast (instead of selling it in Arizona and spending $1,000 to drive across the US in a rental car) and asked a few thousand dollars more. We don’t have regrets, though. But we were surprised at how long it took us to find a pickup truck in the inflated economy. For that reason, we jumped on the Cirrus 820 camper first – we didn’t want to be stranded in Massachusetts without a home by the end of summer. And the price was right.
We opted to “trade” the van for a more robust truck camper, because we are getting serious about international travel again, namely a multiple-year adventure in South America. Even in Baja California, Mexico, T&T will be able to get us places the campervan couldn’t. Because we boondock (camp without facilities) 99% of the time, we often follow less than ideal dirt roads and camp surrounded by nothing but nature.
Thirsty battling rough terrain
Taking Zesty to South America would have destroyed him; not something you want to do with a special, “vintage” vehicle. And, while the Mercedes engine had tens of thousands of miles left, camper parts would start breaking without us being able to replace them, out in the boonies.
Mark and I had a truck camper before (as did my ex-boyfriend Karl and I), in which we explored North and Central America. It worked really well, the high clearance and 4WD coming in more than handy more than once.
T&T fits in most parking spots as well.
Truck camper versus campervan
This topic could be a blog post in itself…
To be honest, when we first drove our truck camper, we hated the ride. It was very stiff, bumpy, violent. On roads that weren’t totally smooth (which is most of them in this country, even the highways consisting of separate “panels”), the movement was constant. We call it “hobby horsing.” So. Very. Annoying. In the past, I could catch up on emails, blog and book stuff, and social media as a passenger. Now, this is impossible, as my fingers jump all over the keyboard, mistyping constantly, and my eyes can’t focus on the moving screen on my shaky lap on the bouncy seat in the jerky car. We have been trying to improve these motions with mild success. The van was also easier to drive for Mark.
Our gas tank has a huge reserve built in, so we “push it” a bit in order to increase our time and distance between fills.
The worst part about our switch so far is undoubtedly the dismal fuel economy. We bought a Ford with a gas engine, because in South America low-Sulphur fuel is not available and the newer diesel engines don’t handle high-Sulphur diesel without all kinds of extra add-ons and modifications. Our average is 10 miles to the gallon, which is awful! Some of that is due to our westward progress into the dominant west winds, but still. Compare that to the 23 miles a gallon with Zesty and you will understand our pain, environmentally, logistically, and financially. Did you know that after we sold our sailboat Irie (in which we predominantly used wind for propulsion) and returned to the US, we owned a Prius with which we traveled across the country? Ouch.
Obviously, we are not “truck people,” but those vehicles serve a purpose and one of them is hauling heavy cargo, which a 4,000-pound camper is. I have to admit that Thirsty got us out of trouble a few times as well, so far. The 4X4 came in handy to release us from the grip of mucky clay and snowy, icy roads! No way we could have ventured to these places in a campervan!
Positives about the camper? We have a “huge” fridge, a freezer, and a TV for the first time in eighteen years. Radiant heat in a small camper is a luxury, but oh-so nice and quiet. We can sit up in the bed – the main perk of switching modes – and the table can stay in place. Storage is sufficient.
We still miss an oven and a grill, however, and hate that the fridge runs on propane instead of electricity. We go through gallons of propane each week, finding filling stations is often difficult (Tractor Supply and U-Haul seem to have discontinued this service, at least in the states we’ve encountered), cumbersome, and time consuming, and we spent way too much money on yet more fossil fuels. Temp is thirsty as well!
Our propane cabinet in Temp
After two months, we are getting used to this camper and learning (and improving) a lot. The flip-down sink in the bathroom requires some planning and logistics. The tank gauges are incorrect; being unlevel is not good for readings. We need to offset the natural orientation of the truck and camper, to make sure the back is higher in order for water to drain and cooking oil to distribute evenly. The leveler on the dashboard of the truck comes in handy. The solar controller and other parts are of poor quality. We have fixed, replaced, and improved quite a few items already.
Temp has bigger tanks than Zesty, which is welcome, handy, and great! We can now boondock for longer periods of time. Will propane become the limiting factor? The skylight above the bed is similar to its location in our campervan – mighty nice for star-gazing! Everything found its place but things might get relocated over time to be more intuitive. Our biggest dilemma (kind of) is where to put Maya’s water bowl. The floorspace is smaller than in the van and wherever we place her water, it gets filthy with dog hair, dust, lint, debris flying around from clothes, movement, and cooking. We waste so much water, which is precious and limited, discarding the filthy liquid and refilling her bowl.
But Maya loves our new camper and has a handful of places to relax…
This post would be way too long if I concentrate on a detailed comparison between Zesty and T&T, so I’ll keep it at this. The main issue we face now is how much time, money, and effort do we still contribute towards Temp if we are not keeping him? Our ideal camper has a different toilet and fridge, an oven, a bigger kitchen sink, a more efficient stove, and more storage – super expensive modifications that are not all possible with this particular brand.
Mark measures the biggest opening in the camper to see if a fridge would fit on the way out and in – nope!
Do we miss our campervan?
Certain parts of it, like the fuel economy, the one-unit set-up that allows us to easily hop from cab to living quarters, the larger dinette space and table to work, and the more convenient and efficient bathroom. But the higher clearance, robustness of the truck, and a bed we can sit up in balance this out. As I mentioned before, no regrets! 😊
November 18, 2021 at 18:24
People contemplating a camper for the first time should read this post. Any RV will present its own challenges, however, and one just has to weigh the problems, the benefits and one’s own personality.
November 21, 2021 at 18:19
Wise words! It seems to me like every home on wheels, or on hulls, is a compromise. We said this about sailboats back in the day as well. There are good things and bad things about every design and brand. Even existing houses are probably a compromise when you buy them, although I have no experience with this. It explains why so many people prefer to build their own vans and homes.
November 18, 2021 at 19:58
Really interesting post. My first thought (well second–the first was mpg) was that you had less living space yet you barely mentioned that, certainly not as a problem. Interesting.
November 21, 2021 at 18:22
Hi Jacqui! I didn’t mention the less living space this time around, because I don’t think we have less living space. 🙂 The floor space is less in the truck camper, but the bed area feels like a room in itself. It’s hard to figure out which has more living space, the van or the truck camper. The dinette area was bigger in Zesty, but now we actually spend (comfortable) time on our bed, which is a great place to put Maya “our of the way” too.
November 18, 2021 at 19:58
What great names. I love the sunroof. And Maya seems to enjoying the camper!
November 21, 2021 at 18:23
You know Maya… She gets comfy in many places. The bed area is roomy and bright – our favorite spot in the camper. 🙂
November 18, 2021 at 20:01
“No regrets” says it all. Glad the positives are outweighing the negatives.
November 21, 2021 at 18:24
Hi Pete! We are still trying to figure out the “perfect camper,” but we don’t regret selling Zesty and buying this one. It was time for a change. 🙂
November 18, 2021 at 20:45
Thank you for this informative post, Liesbet. I’ve been wondering how the three of you have been doing. I’m delighted that you have no regrets…and that Maya loves the new camper van (with numerous comfy resting places). I greatly look forward to continuing to follow your adventures!
November 21, 2021 at 18:25
Hi Donna! We hope to continue our adventures soon as well. Not sure when we will be able to head down to South America, based on the pandemic situation. But, it will happen in 2022! For now, we need to make more money and then “sit still” in Baja California, Mexico, where it is much cheaper to live.
November 18, 2021 at 22:05
Your comparison/contrast essay more than answer questions I’ve had about the transition from camper-van to truck van. Thanks for taking us from Zesty to Thirsty to Temp. If you are looking for another name, you could call your new abode “Cirrus.”
Just kidding! 😀
November 21, 2021 at 18:28
Cirrus (or Cloud or something similar) would have been the easiest name, Marian, and I played with that idea. Interestingly, my second choice for the camper part was “Fancy” because it is one slick, modern, and luxurious camper, as far as truck campers go… But, I know someone else who has that word in their blog name, so I passed on it. 🙂
November 18, 2021 at 22:53
Hey Liesbet! Thanks for the tour of your new home. I have no doubt that between you and Mark you will make it special to match all your needs. And I’m guessing that Maya would be happy anywhere the two of you are. Happy travels! ~Kathy
November 21, 2021 at 18:29
You are a true dog and Maya connaisseur, Kathy! Yes, Maya is happy wherever Mark is or we are. And, she doesn’t need much space to be comfy too. Such a happy (and lucky) pup! If we keep Temp, we will surely make him our true home for the next several years. 🙂
November 18, 2021 at 23:56
I enjoyed the tour – thank you! I’m always fascinated by the way so much can fit efficiently in such a small space. I’m commiserating with your wince-worthy fuel consumption, but I’m glad you have no regrets!
November 21, 2021 at 18:32
Hi Diane! Our expenses are catching up with us. We can’t do anything about this trend and inflation, so the only solution is to make more money right now. We are on that next month. It’s amazing that all our belongings (Mark’s, Maya’s, and mine) fit in a 22ft home on wheels. I have to admit that I love organizing and packing – and I am pretty good at it too. 🙂
November 19, 2021 at 02:13
We loved getting an in person tour for real in Chicago but it’s also interesting to read the more detailed information you give here in your post. You always do such a wonderfully thorough job of explaining and detailing everything for us (your readers!) The comparison and explanation of why you sold Zesty totally makes sense and as always there’s the “win some, lose some” situation!
Asks as always, with any home, there are always the pros and cons! We are very aware of this with changing homes each month as we are doing now. Love the names you selected, Thierry certainly sounds fitting for that high consumption (argh) and it will be interesting to see how things work out as you start to venture South!
Love the photo of Mayas head resting on the table. What a sweetie!
Peta
November 21, 2021 at 18:36
Hi Peta! You are the only blog reader so far that has gotten a personal tour of Temp! And as you could read, we still haven’t found a solution for Maya’s water bowl. Something so small and simple in any other circumstance! This is my thought: if we keep this camper, I want to replace the wooden door of the bathroom with an accordeon one that stays open to the side most of the time and put her bowl on the bathroom floor, where she can access it easily, except when we shower. 🙂
November 19, 2021 at 05:37
I enjoyed this virtual tour of your new home. There are always compromises, but sounds like you got Maya’s approval. The most important thing is that you are living life to the full and there are no regrets.
November 21, 2021 at 18:37
Good points, Gilda! We are (mostly) doing what we want to be doing right now, even though the circumstances aren’t ideal. And Maya has the most amazing life. One day, I hope,to shoot a video of our setup and post it on the blog.
November 19, 2021 at 07:42
Like making any change in life, there are pluses and minuses. The gas mileage does sound the most painful, especially now. Maya does look like she settled right in!
November 22, 2021 at 11:27
Maya is one happy girl, Alex. That dog is spoiled with company, love, attention, hikes, treats, and food. Including vegetables. 🙂 And you’re right. About every decision in life has its pros and cons.
November 19, 2021 at 08:33
Thank you for the informational and name-calling post. I understand it all much better now, and over all, NO REGRETS is the best way forward. With Thirsty Temp – TT – who will take you to many wonderful destinations. And we all love following along.
November 22, 2021 at 11:30
I’m happy to have you come along on the TT adventure, Pam. Right now, we are enjoying the Arizona desert again with temperatures in the upper seventies/lower eighties during the day. Perfect! 🙂 At night, it’s not too bad either. No heater needed. Yet.
November 23, 2021 at 15:13
That’s what I call … PERFECT temps! I won’t tell you what the temps are here. I’m going to run/walk the “Turkey Trot” on Thanksgiving morning. Supposed to be in the lower 40s. Gulp. I still haven’t bought my long underwear!! ;-0
November 24, 2021 at 12:34
Happy turkey trotting! Another reason to name our camper Temp – we are pursuing the perfect temp! 🙂
November 26, 2021 at 14:00
Haha. For sure! 🙂
November 19, 2021 at 09:52
Liesbet, as always, you present an honest and very realistic side to RV living. At least you and Mark have the knowledge and skills to deal with a lot of, it not most of the issues, modifications, etc. that the ‘casual’ traveler would have no clue about. Very enlightening post. I will read this every time I even ‘think’ that buying an RV is a good idea for us. It may not be what you want or need in the future, (trust me, I know that feeling) but for now it’s home. Enjoy!
November 22, 2021 at 11:35
Thank you for your uplifting comment, Suzanne! In general, we are pretty happy with our current set-up. We’ve gotten used to constantly needing to fix and improve things, just like on a boat. Right now, in the US, we are able to find parts and get them shipped to us (somehow), but once we leave the country, this will be a different story!
And, yes, we are fortunate to have the attitude and desire (and financial encouragement) to fix everything ourselves. Mark is a handy guy but he learns most of it from YouTube videos and is keen on trying to make everything work himself. I’m his assistant. Also, apart from the crazy costs of RV “professionals,” we don’t trust many of them to know what they are doing… Unfortunately.
November 19, 2021 at 17:17
Thirsty and Temp, aptly named, Liesbet! An enlightening post indeed. RV life is both tricky and adventurous, and you are both thoughtful and frugal and always seem to make it work out for yourselves. A 4WD truck is ideal for the roads in Latin America, as Hans would tell you. Both his Ford trucks were and are not 4WDs. Only his fluency in Spanish got him out of travel predicaments in Baja. When we bought the new F-150 in 2018, we didn’t want to spend the extra several thousand dollars for 4wd if we were just moving the trailer and taking road trips. Little did we know we would be moving to northeastern Washington. But he’s not selling and if so, would have encountered the same difficulties you did. Today we both drove on the snowy streets in our respective 4wd vehicles (Toyota Rav4 and my new-to-me Ford Flex). Alles gute! Thanks for sharing this engaging update and I hope you are enjoying life on the road again. Maya looks wonderfully content and as someone already mentioned, her home is with you and Mark, wherever that is 🙂
November 22, 2021 at 11:42
This Maya of ours is so cute! When we wake up in the morning, she’s allowed to join us in the bed (which is now possible in this camper). You should see her contentment as she lies here, wagging her tail, and turning on her back, legs stretched out, ready for some belly scratches. 🙂
Thanks for sharing your truck experiences, Terri. I bet in Washington state those 4WDs will come in handy in the snow. I wish I was fluent in Spanish, like Hans. Whenever I have extra time, I’d love to learn that language. Until then, I’ll have to wing it in Mexico.
November 22, 2021 at 12:27
Aww, Maya loves snuggling with you! Brodie does the same thing! Hans has already driven the Toyota Rav4 with its 4wd to work on icy and slushy roads. Works like a champ! I think you can pick up Spanish fairly easily, at least conversations!
November 23, 2021 at 12:50
Hurray for snuggling dogs, 4WD vehicles, and picking up languages easily. 🙂
November 19, 2021 at 22:30
If there’s one thing we’ve definitely found to be true, it’s that everything in RV life is a trade off. It sounds like, overall, you got what you needed for your future travel plans and you’re happy with your choice. Still, you have to get used to the frustrations and changes and that can be tough. Either way, the MOST important thing is that Maya is happy, and she seems quite content with her new home!!
(PS: This is Laura from Chapter 3 Travels. For some reason, wordpress is fighting me and refusing to let me leave a comment with my account, so I am trying this from my other email account. If you end up with 800 comments from me, apologies in advance. Blame wordpress!) 🙂
November 22, 2021 at 11:48
Hello Laura. Hello Laura. Hello Laura.
Just kidding. I only received one comment from you. Sorry about the WordPress glitches. We all seem to suffer from those once in a while, unfortunately.
You are so true about everything being a trade-off. We’ve noticed that in sailboats as well as in campers. It’s probably true for houses as well, but I have no experience with that. Perfect doesn’t exist. Anywhere. Anytime. As long as Maya is happy – and she sure is – the world is a good place. Haha.
Seriously, though, that dog is so loved and receives 24/7 attention and company that she is surely spoiled. And, this doesn’t help her separation anxiety. We need to do a bit more effort leaving her alone for extended periods of time, so she is okay with it. Sigh.
By the way, we took your previous advice to heart and will be working fulltime in Phoenix during the month of December. It took us over a week to figure everything out, but we’re all set now. More about that later. 🙂
November 20, 2021 at 21:01
Thank you Liesbet for this informative post. Great to hear you have no regrets and Maya loves your new camper. There are pros and cons to every lifestyle decision. You and Mark have lots of experience to know when to continue and when to pause being nomadic. Wishing you safe travels and more fun adventures.
November 22, 2021 at 11:52
Thanks, Natalie. You are a wise woman! 🙂
We do feel like we have a lot of experience with this nomadic lifestyle, whether it is sailing or camping. So when we make rookie mistakes (like forgetting to lock a cabinet and having all its contents spill on the floor with broken bowls as a result), we are flabbergasted and super mad at ourselves. Haha. We all learn by doing and by making mistakes I always say. 🙂
And because RVing is our lifestyle, we do have to stop once in a while to top off the wallet or to take it easy and charge our batteries.
November 22, 2021 at 13:29
I had no idea there were so many decisions and things to consider when buying a vehicle to suit your needs. Really interesting, Liesbet! The fuel costs would make me cringe, and I think you’ve chosen a great name for your camper! Happy travels.
November 23, 2021 at 12:54
Hi Debra! I guess you can compare buying a camper to buying a house. In our case anyway, since we live fulltime in any vehicle we ever buy/bought together. 🙂 Thanks for the travel wishes. We will take a short break to solely focus on work and earning money (and hope the fuel prices drop by January), before we head to Mexico.
November 22, 2021 at 18:33
I enjoyed reading your lowdown and differences to your two vehicles. I’d have to say that road tripping these days must be expensive. Also, the weight of carrying Temp must eat more gas. Maybe you should just buy a new vehicle in South America? Have you checked? <3
November 23, 2021 at 12:58
Hi Debby! I’m glad you liked this little peek into our lives.
Yes, with the camper in the back, which adds 4,000 pounds, the fuel mileage is substantially lower than without it. Soon, Mark will drive to work with only the truck and we will find out what the difference is!
And, yes, we have considered buying a camper in South America, but the logistics and our pickiness ruled out that option. We’d have to buy it “sight unseen” and then figure out how (and what) to bring all our belongings (and Maya) down there somehow. Also, nothing that suits our fancy is available in SA and there are import/registration headaches too, depending on which vehicle (and its nationality) you buy.
November 23, 2021 at 19:02
Oye! So much to think about. 🙂
November 24, 2021 at 12:39
Always a lot to think about. Especially for us, over-thinkers. 🙂
November 25, 2021 at 10:41
You said it! 🙂
November 27, 2021 at 13:09
You and I both. 🙂
November 23, 2021 at 15:31
I’ve been eager to see the new camper as I have always wanted one (but know that is VERY unlikely if I stay married to the same husband! 🙂 ) Like your other readers, I’m glad you have no regrets and are happily (except for gas mileage) settling into your new space.
November 24, 2021 at 12:38
I hope I can give you a tour (albeit a very small one) of Temp in person one day, Lexie. Every camper – like every sailboat – is a trade-off. I’ve always liked the set-up of a truck camper in the past. The difference this time is that we can now compare to a campervan, while before I’d only lived in truck campers for a couple of years and once in a travel trailer for a few months. Perfect doesn’t exist…
November 26, 2021 at 07:40
No regrets! That’s what I like to hear. Like anything new, it’s all about getting use to something, isn’t it, LIesbet? I do like the layout of Temp, especially where you guys sleep. Opening your eyes and looking out of that window from high up must be amazing. Ouch, about the fuel economy, especially in these times of high fuel prices.
I must have missed that you have solar panels, but it must help to save you some money? And I was impressed with how clean the inside of the fridge was. Glad you’ve also got a TV. Do you watch it much, as I would image you guys are always outside exploring, and sleep really well what with all the walking and fresh-air.
I hope you can find a solution for Maya’s water bowl. She does look like to have settled in nicely, though.
Happy travelling.
November 27, 2021 at 13:39
You are 100% correct, Hugh! Every time we try something new or make a change (which we do all the time), we have to get used to it. We’ve lived in many different vehicles and they all have their pros and cons – on the water and on the road. But, these new challenges make us stronger, wiser, and more handy as well. 🙂
The bed area is the biggest plus in Temp, if you ask me. I spend a lot of time here. And Maya too! She’s now gotten in the habit of jumping inside the camper and running straight away up onto the bed. Maybe we should break this habit as being on the bed used to be a very special treat for her in the past!
We’ve had solar panels on our boat and on every camper we’ve owned. This helps us to be self-sufficient and to let us boondock (camp or anchor without facilities). We are not fans of crowded and expensive places, which RV parks, marinas, and most campgrounds are. So, yes, it saves us money from that perspective. We are looking to expand our solar bank at the moment. More about that another time.
I’ve actually never written about what our campers hold, their layout, or their systems. It all comes natural to me and sounds boring, but I should elaborate on some of these things once in a while as our living quarters are so very different from most people.
Haha, the fridge was clean because I probably took that photo when we first viewed or bought the camper. Not so clean anymore right now and a mess because we stocked up for my birthday and Thanksgiving weekend. Lots of special, home cooked meals! 🙂
We use the TV the same way we used to use our tablet/laptop, to watch the occasional movie or TV show on Netflix. You are correct that we are often too tired to do anything at night. It’s usually when I catch up on blog reading and commenting and writing my diary. So, when we watch a show, I get behind with all that.
Thank you for the lovely comment, Hugh!