Replacing Our Tiny Camper, A Big Step

Replacing our tiny camper was difficult for me.  I had bonded with it and it was my baby!  It was everything we expected it to be and served us well for two years and over 10,000 miles.  We bought it at a time when we did not know if we would even like camping and it enabled us to travel for very little money to exciting,  far away places.  Teardrop Camping, The Decision to Buy a Teardrop.

Why Make a Change

While there are so many reasons to love the nüCamp T@G, it does have some limitations.  I originally thought that the biggest challenges would be the lack of a bathroom and that it would be uncomfortable for my tall husband.  We adapted pretty well without the bathroom and my husband was good with the camper most of the time because the bed was easy to access and quite comfortable.  He was too tall to stand comfortably in the galley though.  It would be a bigger issue, but he doesn’t do a lot of cooking.

The major reason we opted for a larger camper was to have a place to be comfortable when the weather was not good for being outside.  We have camped in the rain and in extreme heat and cold.   Our solution to this has always been to leave and go do something where we can be inside. Camping and Execution of the Rainy Day Plan.  It beats staying in bed all day or freezing/roasting outside, but we were at a place where we would like to have more options.

Lastly, my husband has been considering replacing our tiny camper for awhile.  He has enjoyed our trips, but has been lobbying for something bigger for many months.

The Replacement Camper

We thoroughly researched similar campers that were approximately twenty feet long.   A quality camper with a place to be comfortable inside that also had a bathroom was the overall goal.  We required at least a queen-sized bed and a separate area to relax.  The brands we considered were:  nüCamp, Little Guy, Alto, Airstream, Oliver,  Lance, Forest River, Jayco, and Lil Snoozy.   Weight, space utilization, nearness of a service location, perceived value and quality, known quality issues, comfort, value, and eye appeal were all factors in our decision.

I have to admit we were biased in favor of nüCamp.  Our T@G was an incredible camper and nüCamp did a great job of customer service for us.  Replacing our tiny camper with another nüCamp product seemed a safer decision.  Also, we attended a rally at their Sugarcreek facility this year and were very impressed with the company and its operations.

However, if we had found another camper that met out criteria that was better suited our needs, we would have bought it instead.  Some of the camper brands we have seen in person and all were researched to some extent online.   My husband and I spent many hours considering specifications, options, and how we would expect to use this larger camper.  In the end, we came back to the nüCamp 400.

The Search for a 400

Our desire was to buy in our home state of Alabama if possible.  We were already aware of Bankston Motor Homes from its servicing of our T@G and were impressed by their performance.  Bankston has multiple nearby locations and we were happy to see they had several 400s, including one Boondock Lite (BL).  https://www.bankstonmotorhomes.com/

We also looked for 400s within a five hundred mile radius of our home because we had color and option preferences.   It was surprising to learn that of the more than ten dealers, only a few 400s were in stock and only one of the other dealers had a Boondock Lite.

The 400s come very well-equipped with only a few options and Bankston’s 400 BL colors and options were acceptable to us, so we began the purchase process right away.  David Tyler was our salesperson and we really liked working with him.  He transferred the unit to the Albertville location the next day and we went to check  it out.   It was lovely and we told him we would take it.

There were three superficial issues that we asked them to correct prior to purchase.  There was a tiny crack in the casing for the porch light, a small scratch on the lower molding of one side, and a small section of the Formica has become unglued.  David assured us they would correct those items.

Upgrade Considerations

We always stored our T@G in our garage and it weighs in at just over 1,000 pounds.  No electric brakes were needed and we had surplus towing capacity in our Acura MDX.   However, the much larger nüCamp 400 weighs 2,690 and its GVWR is 3,500 pounds.  Most noteworthy, it would not fit in our garage.  Replacing our tiny camper would not be easy and we would not be able to camp so inexpensively in the new one.

Towing Capacity

Our Acura’s towing capacity had  been increased to 5,000 pounds with the installation of a transmission cooling unit.  The Acura’s tongue weight capacity of 500 pounds is within the 400’s tongue weight of 460 pounds, but it did not leave much surplus.  We hoped it would be adequate for the new camper.

Storage Requirements

The requirement for storage was perhaps the main reason we have held back on replacing our tiny camper.  It was always in our basement with easy access and no extra cost.   We really hated to give up storing our camper on our property, but the 400 would not fit into our garage and we could not store it outside.

So, we began searching for storage options.  We were lucky to find an indoor storage unit near our home.  It is just under 20 feet deep and the door is just under 10 feet tall.  Our T@B 400 BL is 18 feet long and just under 9 feet tall, so it is a fit for the unit—but just barely.   It is very tricky backing it into the space, but my husband did a great job in our trial run.

Additionally, the space does not have climate control and we will have to winterize the camper.   Another thing we will have to learn how to do.

The space brings with it a monthly cost of $150 and an annual cost of $1,800.

Electric Brakes

Unlike out T@G, the new 400 has electric brakes, which is a legal retirement for trailers of its weight.  This required us to get a brake controller for our car.  We did not want to have to modify our dash and impact the wiring on our vehicle, so we opted for the Tekonsha 90250 Prodigy RF Electronic Brake Controller.

Sway and Weight Distribution

Because we do not have a lot of surplus tow capacity in our tow vehicle, we wanted something to address sway and weight distribution.  We opted for the Blue Ox Sway Pro 750.  It is a weight distributing hitch that  provides sway control and one other nice feature.  It allows backing up without adjustment, which is not available with many other manufacturers.

Insurance

We were careful to add the 400 to our insurance before we took it on the road because it was a sizable purchase.   State Farm insures our camper and because of the higher cost of the camper, our camper insurance cost moved from $200 to $417 (with a $ 1,000 deductible).

Decreased Gas Mileage

We were able to tow our T@G and get an average of 18 miles per gallon.  There has not been a chance to check the gas mileage on the new unit, but we expect it to be around 12-13 miles per gallon.  If this is the case, we will have to spend approximately 50% more for gasoline.    This increase can be pretty significant on long trips.

Fixed Annual Cost Summary

Accountant that I am, it was necessary for me to consider all the financial ramifications of replacing our tiny camper.   Beyond the purchase, we will incur approximately $2,000 per year in storage and additional insurance, plus 50% higher gasoline costs.  Is it worth it?  At this point in our life, we think it is.

Replacing Our Tiny Camper

It all happened rather quickly and we were ready to pick up our new baby.  David Tyler and Bankston RV were amazing and we are very happy with our new camper.  Some of the service team even came in on a Saturday for us.  I can’t say enough nice things about them.

With the T@B 400, we are gaining the sitting/eating/sleeping area below. This space, plus the indoor kitchen for when the weather is bad, was our main motivation for replacing our tiny camper.  The area has three setup options .  Below it is set as a seating area, but rearrangement of the pillows allows it be used as an extra bed.  Lastly, if the center cushion is removed, the table can be lifted to create a table with seating on two sides.

This lovely indoor kitchen is a definite perk.  It will be wonderful on those cold mornings.

There is also the benefit of having this tiny bathroom.  No more middle of the night hikes to campground bathhouses.  We expect this to be a convenience we will really appreciate.

However, the new bed is slightly smaller than a queen and only accessible from one side.  The T@G has a king-sized bed with a door on each side.   I am afraid we are going to sorely miss our old bed.  Also, for the record, the bed is a bear to make!

We are happy overall with the T@B 400 amenities.  Replacing our tiny camper is completed and we are excited about taking this new teardrop to far away places!

A Final Change

On our ride home with the new camper, all went well, but my husband said that the front end of the car felt light to him and the steering wheel was too easy to turn.  This concerned us!  We should have been under the 500 lb tongue weight, but the new weight distribution sway bar hitch was quite heavy.  It turns out that it weighed 47 pounds, which was 7 lbs over our car’s tongue weight limit.  I worried that this would damage the car over time.

We were prepared to replace our tow vehicle if needed and that is what we did.  So, we now have a giant SUV that can pull 9,000 pounds with lots of tongue weight to spare.  It should be great for camping, but sure will be big for me to park.  Intimidating!

So, replacing our tiny camper led to replacing our tow vehicle as well and we have much to learn about both with a camping trip fast approaching.

Let the New Camping Adventures Begin!