Good dealers; and Torklift

[casey]

I'm planning on ordering an 8.6 for use next summer. I know that the "dealer is everything" and have been happy with the attempts of the dealer I bought my 16DB from to fix problems, but they are in Amarillo and I am in southern AZ. I don't believe there is such a thing as a good dealer in southern AZ for any vehicle (they are all scoundrels) and would like reports of any dealers people have been extremely happy with. I plan to drive to wherever such dealer is that I have ordered the TC from, sans tailgate, and start from there.

I have an F150 with heavy duty payload package which should be able to carry the 8.6 ok. But I am also looking for a Torklift dealer because upon reading, that seems the best option for mounting the camper.

It seems that it would be wise to have a means of carrying a folding electric bicycle; what do people do for close-by transport when they forgot to buy the garlic and are already hooked up? (I won't be doing boonie camping as far as I know.)

Toilets? Because a lot of what I want to do is visit friends and park in their driveway, I'm wondering about toilet options for middle-of-the-night; I was originally attracted to the cassette option but don't think I would want to be carrying that into people's houses and dumping it in their toilet. So...was thinking of removing toilet altogether and using my camping system of a bucket-with-bag for solid waste (close the bag and put in garbage) and just a bottle for liquid waste. Very much in the beginning stages of thinking about what system to use. I've lived in my 16DB for three years and only moved it twice a year with the seasons, and have a Sewer Solution that I'm very happy with. I have never used a conventional slinky or a dump station, since I have always had a hookup.

So you can see I have many questions and things I'm mulling over. Input is welcome; I'm not young any more, am not strong, and gorilla-strength-required solutions simply will not work for me. Am I insane to be trying to do this by myself at 66 years old, 100# of not much muscle, and less than average mechanical ability?

[dh50]

Honestly know of no others with truck campers, but if they're out there, hopefully we'll hear from them soon to help you out with answers.  

Did I read correctly that you've been living for 3 years in your 16DB?  Could you share a little about this and why you're moving out of it?   Thank you, and I hope this proboard or the LivinLiteForum.com can help you with answers.  

[daplumbr]

I have no experience with TC's, so feel free to ignore this post.  A couple of thoughts of encouragement however-----I'm sure you don't need to be young, strong, and mechanically inclined to have a great time in a truck camper, particularly if you've been using a 16DB. You're not insane on that account, though some other lines of evidence would be useful for a final determination.   With regard to the toilet question; why not just order the 8.6 (not the 8.6c) with the regular toilet and black tank? If you like the Sewer Solution, you could just continue to use it with the TC. With regard to dealers, you are absolutely correct that a good dealer makes all the difference. Others on this forum will be able to chime in with suggestions. I'll have to be silent on that. Torklift makes good stuff; their hitch on my car is very well made. Perhaps some on-line dealer reviews will help you find a Torklift dealer. One possible solution for that is to see if the LL dealer you purchase the TC from could order and install the mounting system of your choice?

[casey]

The reason why I've been living in the 16DB for three years is that I became sensitized to the types of molds that grow in water damaged buildings, to the point where I must live in open air in order to be functional. This is accomplished windows-open year round in the 16DB, which is, for me, much preferable to a tent. Many in my situation live out of their cars, and many are highly educated and accomplished. Medical science typically cannot diagnose this disorder, and the vast majority never know what is wrong with them and stay getting sicker and sicker living inside water damaged buildings, very often ending up bedridden with a diagnosis such as CFS. I was very lucky to find the Camplite, with its lack of wood (mold food,) and I bought mine before it sat on the lot very long. I took out all the cushions and the couch (porous things are not good) and have never used the AC (possibility of mold, again.) I am delighted to have adjusted to this very small space, and that it has all the comforts of home. I have not been able to travel for the last many years because of the dangers of being exposed to mold wherever I go; RV parks are risky because so many RVs are moldy, and if you can smell cooking odors you are inhaling everything the vehicle is "exhaling," including any mold it has. Airports and motels are off limits, as are a very high percentage of houses.

However, I really want to travel; my retirement plans were to buy a sleep-in van and travel the US for a while visiting friends I accumulated over the years. But you can't park a TT in people's driveways; you can, however, probably park a TC.

So the plan to not use the black water tank is that I want to be able to drain the gray water into peoples' gardens, and if there has ever been black water, that would be a no-no. My health collapse came very near my retirement age, so I am lucky to be somewhat financed. However, I'm still not getting any younger and really, really want to make this retirement sojourn before another year passes by. I have less than normal physical strength and stamina, and that is the reason for the worries about being able to do it at all.

Thanks for asking, and I'll bet at least a quarter this is far from the answer you expected

[peislander]

Hi Ma -- Sorry to read of your struggles with mold sensitivity. I'm happy for you that you have found some solutions. 

Even though I don't have a truck camper, I follow a blog of a guy from Mesa, Arizona, who is a true expert on all things 'truck camper'. Although his truck camper is not a Livin' Lite he is familiar with them and has written favorably about them. I'm thinking he could be a great help to you as he's an exceptionally helpful person who loves all things truck camper. He would certainly be able to help you with your questions about Torklift systems and the issues like would the idea of a truck trailer be right for you.

He calls himself Mello Mike and his blog with contact info can be found at >> [a href="http://mellomikeswolfcreekcamper.blogspot.ca/"]Mello Mike's Overland Adventures[/a] << Best wishes for you in finding the answers you need.

[casey]

Thanks. His blog has a huge amount of info. I'm not near where he is but there is always the internet.

[whoofit]

I have read a blog in the past of folks who suffer from your affliction. It was written specifically about the Livin Lite line.

You already have advanced knowledge of managing your vehicle and solid/liquid waste. Ways that will work for you and the means to accomplish this. Your experience with living in the 16DB makes you more of an expert than most on this forum. I applaud you for taking control of your surroundings and health issues. It is neat to hear of a fulltimer in a 16DB.

I am somewhat confused about why, so far, you are using a Sewer Solution in Parks with full hookups? Is this required where you are at? I have always understood the Sewer Solution to be a homeowner solution.

On the subject of electric bikes are you aware that these are near 50#? For someone of your stature and strength restrictions a tiny lightweight with adequate cruising range seems to be the obvious choice. I have a family friend that uses the GoCycle. It weighs 35#. She loves it and relies on it daily. They are very popular where she is in Florida. It is most likely the perfect choice for you as it breaks down in minutes into small manageable pieces making an ultralight option.

Anyways, there are better forums for bike talk. Good luck!

[casey]

The reason I have the sewer solution is that I have two seasonal hookups; one is at the house I can't live in, and the other is 45 minutes away up a mountain. Five months at the summer one and seven months at the winter one. I have never taken the 16DB "on the road," just between my two sites, and I have never towed it myself. So....not the expert you thought I was. I'm not strong enough physically do do a lot of what needs to be done, although I can back up a trailer adequately. Hence the TC; once it's on the truck, hopefully the gorilla strength stuff is not necessary until my trip is over.

I have a friend who made his own very functional electric bicycle out of a folding bike, it fits in a suitcase, and I can lift it fairly easily. He has promised to make me one when the time comes. Not cheap, but he rides his everywhere and it plugs in to recharge. However I will look into the GoCycle, and thanks for the reference.

Edit: while the gocycle is really cool, it is about four times more expensive than the bike my friend would make for me. So...no-brainer! My friend should market his.

This disorder is becoming more and more known because of the increasing number of physicians who are getting trained to diagnose it. No one learned about it in medical school, and the more stubborn ones still deny it even exists, despite the very solid science behind it.

[crsshan]

[p]Hello, I'm new to the site as of today. I do have the same camper 6.8 with tork lift binders. I also have air bags to manage the sway. I live in W.V. with lots of hills and valleys, and it does great. As for the cassette toilet I'm glad I went with the tank instead. I think is has a 32 gal. holding tank? Mine is more than enough for a few days with my wife and I. If you are traveling, most rest areas have dump stations you can use. You could always drain your grey water in a bucket to pour out? I bought mine from D&H rv in NC. and was very happy sale. they installed the air bags and got every thing set up for us...as for hauling a bike, you can buy a rack that goes in your hitch....I use a 5'x2' rack that slides in my hitch to carry a cooler, generator and grill. I have a small trailer for longer trips that I load the bikes and kayaks on. I hope this helps some. Let me know if I can help you.[/p]