Recently acquired a F-150 Tremor 5.5ft bed to replace our Bronco + RTT setup (with pull out fridge/kitchen).
Was super happy about this setup, except kid 1 is on the way and this will be too tight. We also did not like having to put the RTT on the roof each time we go camping.
THIS IS OUR ONLY vehicle and DAILY driver.
- Need is 2 to 3 weekend camping trips per month in the SW involving offroad / harder to reach spots, as well as 2 1-week long trip (up to 2 weeks) per year. 90% of those will be outside of winter. We might take 2-3 weekend trips in the desert in winter but never a long one.
- We are pretty minimalists, we like to be outdoor (we are not camping to live inside), and we were very happy with the Bronco setup if it was not for what I said above.
Option 1: a large 3 people RTT on the back of the Tremor. Unlike the Bronco, it can be garaged because of the lower height. Unlike the Bronco the size/weight doesn't matter so we have the room we need. Unlike the bronco we have more space for gear for kid 1.
This is the cheapest solution by far, and it's basically solving all the "real issues" we had (room for 1 more in the tent and the vehicle, and RTT stays on the vehicle).
TOTAL Cost: $2-3K
Option 2: Lone Peak Camper. This is the only wedge I could consider because it's in my opinion much better than any other wedge camper and cheap. At 6'6", I can adjust the bed backward to not touch the lower part of the roof. It has pass through and quick push up of the bed with gas struts.
This means our daily Vehicle is now parked on the street. Hello snow removal in winter. By far this is the biggest cons compared to option 1. However we gain much more cargo volume, and we for the first time ever have the ability to stand up inside.
The bed will be 55in wide so the kid has to sleep downstairs on a platform. The interior being small due to the side doors angled in toward the bed, the interior space is mostly for "weather emergency" and cargo volume. The weather thing is only useful for those 2 long trips a year. Remember all the other trips are weekends and so we choose weather accordingly.
Of course, I would add electricity, solar, 80/20 interior cabinets. etc. So total cost about 10-12K. I would NOT build an interior kitchen but rather cabinets that you can sit on, and drawer/pull out kitchen (to cook outside).
Option 3: Tune M1. Same as Option 2, but with 3 big differences:
- King size bed, so kid can sleep either on the bed or on the lower platforms (more options)
- Wider living area allowing for cabinet (kitchenette) space to extend towards the walls without using much interior space.
- Kid can sleep, play, chill on the upper bed while we hang out down below. But is that necessary if our goal is to spend time outside? We never missed not having an inside on the Bronco except once or twice in bad weather.
Like the Lone Peak I would build lots of stuff, so total cost would be $20K or 10 times the RTT. To benefit from the interior space, I would build an inside kitchen, which is nice in bad weather but now means it's less convenient to cook outside (no pull out fridge,...) 90% of the time.
Option 4 (bonus): go with option 1 for 1 year, see what life is with a kiddo, then decide. It's probably the most reasonable, I just don't like the idea to choose one setup just to change again months later and it's less exciting. Plus, seing what life is with a 3 months old is not seing what life is with a 2Y old etc, so the benefit of this experimentation is limited.
Everyone is welcome to comment but I am mostly looking for feedback from people who have 1 or 2 kids, and have experienced RTT life and moved to a Wedge or pop up, or people who moved from a wedge or pop up. Am I missing anything? For people who mostly camp in good weather (95% of the time), is the interior space really useful for 10 times the cost? Do people actually hangout inside when it's nice and sunny out? Granted, it's amazing when it rains, I am just trying to understand if it's any useful when it does not.
Thank you!
Was super happy about this setup, except kid 1 is on the way and this will be too tight. We also did not like having to put the RTT on the roof each time we go camping.
THIS IS OUR ONLY vehicle and DAILY driver.
- Need is 2 to 3 weekend camping trips per month in the SW involving offroad / harder to reach spots, as well as 2 1-week long trip (up to 2 weeks) per year. 90% of those will be outside of winter. We might take 2-3 weekend trips in the desert in winter but never a long one.
- We are pretty minimalists, we like to be outdoor (we are not camping to live inside), and we were very happy with the Bronco setup if it was not for what I said above.
Option 1: a large 3 people RTT on the back of the Tremor. Unlike the Bronco, it can be garaged because of the lower height. Unlike the Bronco the size/weight doesn't matter so we have the room we need. Unlike the bronco we have more space for gear for kid 1.
This is the cheapest solution by far, and it's basically solving all the "real issues" we had (room for 1 more in the tent and the vehicle, and RTT stays on the vehicle).
TOTAL Cost: $2-3K
Option 2: Lone Peak Camper. This is the only wedge I could consider because it's in my opinion much better than any other wedge camper and cheap. At 6'6", I can adjust the bed backward to not touch the lower part of the roof. It has pass through and quick push up of the bed with gas struts.
This means our daily Vehicle is now parked on the street. Hello snow removal in winter. By far this is the biggest cons compared to option 1. However we gain much more cargo volume, and we for the first time ever have the ability to stand up inside.
The bed will be 55in wide so the kid has to sleep downstairs on a platform. The interior being small due to the side doors angled in toward the bed, the interior space is mostly for "weather emergency" and cargo volume. The weather thing is only useful for those 2 long trips a year. Remember all the other trips are weekends and so we choose weather accordingly.
Of course, I would add electricity, solar, 80/20 interior cabinets. etc. So total cost about 10-12K. I would NOT build an interior kitchen but rather cabinets that you can sit on, and drawer/pull out kitchen (to cook outside).
Option 3: Tune M1. Same as Option 2, but with 3 big differences:
- King size bed, so kid can sleep either on the bed or on the lower platforms (more options)
- Wider living area allowing for cabinet (kitchenette) space to extend towards the walls without using much interior space.
- Kid can sleep, play, chill on the upper bed while we hang out down below. But is that necessary if our goal is to spend time outside? We never missed not having an inside on the Bronco except once or twice in bad weather.
Like the Lone Peak I would build lots of stuff, so total cost would be $20K or 10 times the RTT. To benefit from the interior space, I would build an inside kitchen, which is nice in bad weather but now means it's less convenient to cook outside (no pull out fridge,...) 90% of the time.
Option 4 (bonus): go with option 1 for 1 year, see what life is with a kiddo, then decide. It's probably the most reasonable, I just don't like the idea to choose one setup just to change again months later and it's less exciting. Plus, seing what life is with a 3 months old is not seing what life is with a 2Y old etc, so the benefit of this experimentation is limited.
Everyone is welcome to comment but I am mostly looking for feedback from people who have 1 or 2 kids, and have experienced RTT life and moved to a Wedge or pop up, or people who moved from a wedge or pop up. Am I missing anything? For people who mostly camp in good weather (95% of the time), is the interior space really useful for 10 times the cost? Do people actually hangout inside when it's nice and sunny out? Granted, it's amazing when it rains, I am just trying to understand if it's any useful when it does not.
Thank you!
