The tiny door gives issues of loading and unloading cargo, and if you had used roof racks, lifting or unloading long or heavy gear when the pop top needs to be used is another faction although I purchased a folding ladder for roof access!
Great video! I appreciate your honesty that you life out of the camper rather than in it. My dermatologist told me a few years ago, "No more sunshine!" So I don't think that would work for us. I like early morning and evenings as the times to do things (it doesn't help that I hate the feel of sunscreen on my skin, either...). I had a chunk of my arm, about the size of half a golf ball, removed a couple of years ago because of melanoma, so I take the admonition to avoid the sun rather seriously. Will keep looking for something else; I'm personally leaning toward either a fiberglass towable or a campervan, but we'll rent before we buy, so that we have a good feeling about what we purchase. In the meantime, being 1/4 owners of a park model RV will be good for us.
Thanks for another great video. It’s still winter here in Alberta but we’re really getting excited to get out on the road and camp and travel.we have a Chevy 2500 van and 14.5’ Jayco holiday trailer . Tiny but cozy .till then we will keep enjoying all your adventures 👍❤🇨🇦
That was a nice, balanced assessment of your home. It wouldn’t work for my 78 year old self but it certainly has its appeal for young adventurers like yourselves. We’ll done!
Wow, two years has flown by sooo quickly. Thanks for sharing your insights on this camper. Truly value your thoughts and equipment reviews. Until the next time. Thanks 😊
nice to meet you briefly at the Fl super show industry day. Can't wait to see if you get a new rig! Nice assessment of the camper, overlanders are very tempting. greetings from the Florida Elks Youth Camp and conference ctr!
Thanks for the content on the truck camper! My family of 4 and I are considering a flatbed truck camper for some family adventures in a few years. We would probably be on the road between 3 to 6 months each year. We want something capable, easy to set up and comfortable. A flat bed truck camper seems like a very versatile option! I wish Four Wheel Campers made a rear flip up bunk for the dinette so the kids could have separate beds, but I’ve seen a few other manufacturers have that option. Also a Dometic RTX could be a good option for a 12V AC unit.
@@Weretherussos good idea! Im surprised that more manufacturers don’t do it. We’ll probably get a shell model and build out the interior ourselves using the features we like the most.
Wow 2 years, time flies when your having fun 👍 We just spent the last 4 months living out of our Hymer 1.0 and loving it, wish it was a 4 wheel drive. Thanks and Safe Travels.
I can say that the biggest negative on a big 4 x 4 diesel truck is the ride. We currently own 2 4 x 4 2500 trucks one gas, one diesel. The diesel is a ruff ride. You get beat up riding on long hauls and it’s exhausting. We live in the Sierra Mountains high up in elevation and we need it for winter heavy snow. Other than that they get parked unless we need to haul something. I would NEVER go on a long road trip in the diesel. We’ve had campers on both over the years and short 2-6 hour camping trips is fine. 🌻
Enjoyed, short and succinct! Like many, curious as to your next choice. My spouse thinks a 4WD or AWD B...me, I think you realized 2/3 of the world is water...boat ahoy!
Great recap of your camper! The videos of it don’t prepare you for the actual hugeness of it though! But then again, I’m a city person without a camper of any kind of my own…..that daybed lounge conversion of the dinette area looked really cool!
Nice Camper. I have a Ram duelly 4x4 with 6.7 Cummins. I just bought a Lance 850 slide in truck camper. It's been out to Alstrom point and Whitmore canyon. Although it won't go all the places yours will it will get me out on most forest service rds and many BLM campsites. I use 4 low when the rd gets rough and it will go almost anywhere.
I said it early on when you got this rig setup, this is my dream rig. Been wanting this setup for about 4+ years. Digging all of your videos. Hope Momma Russo is well?!
@@Weretherussos I’m so sorry your mom has been struggling. But if you you guys are taking her on another (short) adventure, she must be doing better. Which is great to hear. On your big adventure last year, your mom responded to every text I sent. She won’t remember me, but send her my best regards. And while I’m sending my regards… you two brighten my day as well, thank you and all my best to you both!
Hi guys! I like your popup camper, but I LOVE your Ford-350. Has a high hardside camper on a Mercedes X-Class 350 V6 and sees the advantage of lower center of gravity and driving characteristics. Here in Norway, it's okay with Alde heating and heated floors. I see a number of pop-up campers being sold in Germany, but not in Norway. But car roof tents for ordinary car and 4X4 sell well.
@@Weretherussos Hi! We have American pickup. But due to hard taxes and fees on large engines with a lot of horsepower, it is perhaps 95% F-150. The F250 and F350 are often registered as light trucks (over 3500kg total load) and are very expensive. So the F-250/350 that are for sale are from 2006 and older.
So what happened to the new vehicle you were supposedly getting? Couple of months ago you told us the camper was for sale but you were keeping the pick up. So did you sell it? What have you replaced it with?
Hello, I have questions about your solar setup. You say 320 is all you have for solar ? We were planning to run 3x 330 panels so this would be overkill? We only need power for a medium fridge, coffee maker, air fryer, lights, waterheater ?, water pump, charging gadgets. What do you think?
Yeah that’s way overkill for what you will be running (assuming you have a small fridge like ours and not a residential fridge). 320 with our 300ah lithiums would run indefinitely with decent sun.
as We are looking to start travelling on longer trips I was wondering how you have managed health insurance as it is only by state unless ER visit and travel insurance in not valid if traveling in the the US if you live in the US? Do you just pay out of pocket for any non emergency treatment while on the road? or is there something else out there that we haven't found? No vanlifers seem to cover this topic.
This truck camper isnt the best one for me and the wife. You have to be in the best shape of ur life. Also my wife doesnt like camping I just found out. She doesn't mind glamping
Had a rear door entry Palomino, with wind up pop portion, made it bit dated, but worked well....loved it, and it had the back wall... the tip up/down wall which gave it a full door in/out. Just over 1200 lbs. The low profile just gives so much room to wonder. Have just purchased an older Northern lite, 9.0..not as tall as the big heavy units...under 1200 lbs...with bathroom/shower etc...a bit cramped, but functional, a pinch for most adult males like me...6'0'.. Your camper has that side door entry, a great concept....really makes for so much more room, but flat bed based, and the cost of converting must have been pricey. Much as I really like your set up..going in and out of that half door is the issue that would exclude it for me personally, but you both seem to do that lean/duck thing without thinking....Glad this idea has worked out for you both.....Happy trails, always good content.
WTR,,, Hello,JIM & KATE, gee this is an original idea, if there is anything you might REALLY MISS at times was an a/c unit,, BTW how did you both meet ? Recently someone hot and set up a HYMER 1.0, and the said thanks to YOU BOTH, he took some of your ideas to his , own. . How is your mom JIM? Stay well, , BTW, a mini split unit, with mounting the condenser at back above the bike, & indoor unit on the rear wall, effecient , quiet, , set up like the guy in AUSTRALIA, small earth crusier, stay well ,satay safe, 🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸
Have really enjoyed your travels in this unit, not that fussy on anything fabric, am a hard side guy! Love the Storyteller Overland, and the vid series with Mom!!!!! Look forward to what is next, my wife and I would like a B Class, but then we would not be able to full time here in the Great White North...
@@Weretherussos I'm a fan of the 7.3 and the popup camper since I have that setup myself. Kudos to you two for living in yours full time for two years 🙌
I’ve been researching van life for about 10 years or more, I’m 47 years old and I’m about to purchase my first rv, my plan is to live in it full time. I’m looking at a 2015 roadtrek 170 versatile, I do have a 11 year old son that will stay with me a few nights a week. I would be grateful if there is any advice or guidance you could provide. Thank you
Hi Damon - I can’t help much through a comment on UA-cam but we have a LOT of info on our website to help. Go to weretherussos.com/ and in the main menu select “Start Here”. That should put you on the right path. Good luck!
@@Weretherussos Christine smiled at your reply. She said you were using past tense when you were reviewing the camper; therefore, she figured you guys are probably getting ready to get something different.
Curious to see what you'll be getting for your next rig. This is a wonderful vehicle, although I think I'd like am enclosed toilet space and hard side. I think the condensation issues would drive me nuts. Also I've been through some of those campgrounds around Yellowstone and not being able to stay in them because of the soft sides would be a let down. Have you ever seen the hard-sided pop-up truck camper by Rossmonster? I'm sure they're incredibly expensive, but it's a great idea.
There are definitely benefits to a hard side but the downsides of a hard side sold us on the pop-top. Hard sides are heavier and much taller so your center of gravity is higher which makes driving much less pleasant and we’ve been places we never could have taken a hard side. We also didn’t see any that were flatbed models.
The one I'm talking about is a pop- up hard-side, more in line with an Alaskan truck camper. Low profile, light weight (relatively) and built for off road. I think they built it directly on a chassis frame (no box or flatbed) I'll see if I can copy and paste a link for you.
This was it for the type of traveling we were doing...A/C would have been a nice to have but it would have taken up a lot of room or made the camper much taller.
For more videos of our truck camper, check out this playlist ua-cam.com/play/PLpqJFyT0tg-K2W8cbJE-CHzfnvJFsCNFA.html
Wow, 2 years in such a small space like this is challenging I think. I bet you two have some incredible memories though.
Not at all, we enjoyed the space. Bigger than most vans and we could take it anywhere.
The tiny door gives issues of loading and unloading cargo, and if you had used roof racks, lifting or unloading long or heavy gear when the pop top needs to be used is another faction although I purchased a folding ladder for roof access!
Great video! I appreciate your honesty that you life out of the camper rather than in it. My dermatologist told me a few years ago, "No more sunshine!" So I don't think that would work for us. I like early morning and evenings as the times to do things (it doesn't help that I hate the feel of sunscreen on my skin, either...). I had a chunk of my arm, about the size of half a golf ball, removed a couple of years ago because of melanoma, so I take the admonition to avoid the sun rather seriously. Will keep looking for something else; I'm personally leaning toward either a fiberglass towable or a campervan, but we'll rent before we buy, so that we have a good feeling about what we purchase. In the meantime, being 1/4 owners of a park model RV will be good for us.
Howdee! I added the Dometic rtx2000 Air conditioning. It popped right in through the rear Fan opening. DC unit that sips power.
Thanks for another great video. It’s still winter here in Alberta but we’re really getting excited to get out on the road and camp and travel.we have a Chevy 2500 van and 14.5’ Jayco holiday trailer . Tiny but cozy .till then we will keep enjoying all your adventures 👍❤🇨🇦
Thank you and so happy you’re enjoying them!
especially during winter lol.we’ve been watching watching for years since u started your adventures 👏👍
That was a nice, balanced assessment of your home. It wouldn’t work for my 78 year old self but it certainly has its appeal for young adventurers like yourselves. We’ll done!
Thank Bill. The slide in model with the rear door is more accessible for some. This definitely requires some agility to get in/out of.
Mr. And Mrs Russo. I. Really like your videos. I'm. Looking forward to more trips!!! Safe travels!!!
Thank you very much!
Glad it worked for you. I'd prefer a 4 x 4 class B van any day with a full bathroom and minimal setup and still be able to offroad.
Wow, two years has flown by sooo quickly. Thanks for sharing your insights on this camper. Truly value your thoughts and equipment reviews. Until the next time. Thanks 😊
Thank you!
Honesty is a virtue great video thanks c u down the road. Greetings from NC
Thank you Candy!
nice to meet you briefly at the Fl super show industry day. Can't wait to see if you get a new rig! Nice assessment of the camper, overlanders are very tempting. greetings from the Florida Elks Youth Camp and conference ctr!
I think we saw you guys driving by in Chattanooga, TN.
Thanks for the content on the truck camper! My family of 4 and I are considering a flatbed truck camper for some family adventures in a few years. We would probably be on the road between 3 to 6 months each year. We want something capable, easy to set up and comfortable. A flat bed truck camper seems like a very versatile option! I wish Four Wheel Campers made a rear flip up bunk for the dinette so the kids could have separate beds, but I’ve seen a few other manufacturers have that option.
Also a Dometic RTX could be a good option for a 12V AC unit.
So we've met someone who actually made the rear dinette into bunks for his kids. If you're handy, it's fairly easy to do.
@@Weretherussos good idea! Im surprised that more manufacturers don’t do it. We’ll probably get a shell model and build out the interior ourselves using the features we like the most.
Love this review, love your channel, love your camper and truck. I thought you had put it up for sale, glad you still have it.
So when you're standing on the corner in Winslow Arizona, is Kait the girl in a flatbed Ford slowin down to take a look at Joe?
Seems like you two will be onto a new rig soon:) how exciting!
That's the plan Jennifer!
Wow 2 years, time flies when your having fun 👍 We just spent the last 4 months living out of our Hymer 1.0 and loving it, wish it was a 4 wheel drive. Thanks and Safe Travels.
Hey - there's a LOT to see with 2WD. Gives you something to look forward to once you're ready for something else.
What brand is that front winch bumper? Great content and looking forward to see your next setup. 👍
Its the Warn 16.5k winch with synthetic line.
Always enjoy your videos :)
Glad you like them Gordon!
Thanks for the honest assessment. - M
You’re welcome Marc
Awesome
I can say that the biggest negative on a big 4 x 4 diesel truck is the ride. We currently own 2 4 x 4 2500 trucks one gas, one diesel. The diesel is a ruff ride. You get beat up riding on long hauls and it’s exhausting. We live in the Sierra Mountains high up in elevation and we need it for winter heavy snow. Other than that they get parked unless we need to haul something. I would NEVER go on a long road trip in the diesel. We’ve had campers on both over the years and short 2-6 hour camping trips is fine. 🌻
Oh? We don't mind it. Plus we have the truck loaded to the max so the ride isn't all that bad.
If you were going to do a slide in camper would you choose another fwc or would you consider something like a scout camper?
Enjoyed, short and succinct! Like many, curious as to your next choice. My spouse thinks a 4WD or AWD B...me, I think you realized 2/3 of the world is water...boat ahoy!
Great recap of your camper! The videos of it don’t prepare you for the actual hugeness of it though! But then again, I’m a city person without a camper of any kind of my own…..that daybed lounge conversion of the dinette area looked really cool!
Thank you Suzanne!
Nice Camper. I have a Ram duelly 4x4 with 6.7 Cummins. I just bought a Lance 850 slide in truck camper. It's been out to Alstrom point and Whitmore canyon. Although it won't go all the places yours will it will get me out on most forest service rds and many BLM campsites. I use 4 low when the rd gets rough and it will go almost anywhere.
How many total miles on your rig? Looking at buying a 7.3 and heard they last pretty long
Over 260k and going strong
Good review
Glad you enjoyed it
Great video info
Glad it was helpful!
I said it early on when you got this rig setup, this is my dream rig. Been wanting this setup for about 4+ years. Digging all of your videos. Hope Momma Russo is well?!
Thanks Micky - she's had a rough patch but we're taking her on another (short) adventure here soon and will share it with y'all.
@@Weretherussos I’m so sorry your mom has been struggling. But if you you guys are taking her on another (short) adventure, she must be doing better. Which is great to hear. On your big adventure last year, your mom responded to every text I sent. She won’t remember me, but send her my best regards. And while I’m sending my regards… you two brighten my day as well, thank you and all my best to you both!
Hi guys! I like your popup camper, but I LOVE your Ford-350. Has a high hardside camper on a Mercedes X-Class 350 V6 and sees the advantage of lower center of gravity and driving characteristics. Here in Norway, it's okay with Alde heating and heated floors. I see a number of pop-up campers being sold in Germany, but not in Norway. But car roof tents for ordinary car and 4X4 sell well.
Thanks Morten - we love the Ford too. Do y'all have any F350s in Norway or the surrounding countries?
@@Weretherussos Hi! We have American pickup. But due to hard taxes and fees on large engines with a lot of horsepower, it is perhaps 95% F-150. The F250 and F350 are often registered as light trucks (over 3500kg total load) and are very expensive. So the F-250/350 that are for sale are from 2006 and older.
So what happened to the new vehicle you were supposedly getting? Couple of months ago you told us the camper was for sale but you were keeping the pick up. So did you sell it? What have you replaced it with?
More info in next week’s video
@@Weretherussos Sure, torture us some more! This is the biggest cliffhanger EVER😀😁😁
@@Weretherussos We’re not gonna watch next weeks video so you need to just go ahead and tell us know
@@bonniepwtf funny. addictive waiting for the next video. Thus, learned that binging all at once keeps the blood pressure down
Nice! Keep up the videos, love them
Thanks!
I wondered what you thought after so long. Good info Thanks.
Glad it was helpful!
What is the weight of the entire package...camper and flatbed
Hello, I have questions about your solar setup.
You say 320 is all you have for solar ?
We were planning to run 3x 330 panels so this would be overkill?
We only need power for a medium fridge, coffee maker, air fryer, lights, waterheater ?, water pump, charging gadgets.
What do you think?
Yeah that’s way overkill for what you will be running (assuming you have a small fridge like ours and not a residential fridge). 320 with our 300ah lithiums would run indefinitely with decent sun.
Great video. Do you know what kind of camper you are getting to replace this one?
We do - we'll follow up next week with more info about what's next.
as We are looking to start travelling on longer trips I was wondering how you have managed health insurance as it is only by state unless ER visit and travel insurance in not valid if traveling in the the US if you live in the US? Do you just pay out of pocket for any non emergency treatment while on the road? or is there something else out there that we haven't found? No vanlifers seem to cover this topic.
This article should help answer a lot of questions: weretherussos.com/rv-health-insurance/
I'm gonna guess.
You're leaving this "closet" for a "living room"?
Maybe a good mpg rig, with a small trailer?
You previously had a "studio".
HAHAHA!
This truck camper isnt the best one for me and the wife. You have to be in the best shape of ur life. Also my wife doesnt like camping I just found out. She doesn't mind glamping
I can't believe it has been 2 years since you moved into the camper. WOW.
Yeah time flies
Big big like. Absolutely love the camper and we will see you next time.
Thank you!
What happened to your cool van???
Well hello Russo's.New subber here I really did that rig.Keep inspiring people
If you like it so much, why are you selling it? (Not being smart...serious question... Thanks, love you guys. Jane
Making some changes in our lifestyle and getting something that fits it better...updates next week.
Great video, looking forward to hearing what's next...
Had a rear door entry Palomino, with wind up pop portion, made it bit dated, but worked well....loved it, and it had the back wall... the tip up/down wall which gave it a full door in/out. Just over 1200 lbs. The low profile just gives so much room to wonder. Have just purchased an older Northern lite, 9.0..not as tall as the big heavy units...under 1200 lbs...with bathroom/shower etc...a bit cramped, but functional, a pinch for most adult males like me...6'0'.. Your camper has that side door entry, a great concept....really makes for so much more room, but flat bed based, and the cost of converting must have been pricey. Much as I really like your set up..going in and out of that half door is the issue that would exclude it for me personally, but you both seem to do that lean/duck thing without thinking....Glad this idea has worked out for you both.....Happy trails, always good content.
Thank you!
Thanks for sharing this informative information on this camper.
Our pleasure!
WTR,,, Hello,JIM & KATE, gee this is an original idea, if there is anything you might REALLY MISS at times was an a/c unit,, BTW how did you both meet ? Recently someone hot and set up a HYMER 1.0, and the said thanks to YOU BOTH, he took some of your ideas to his , own. . How is your mom JIM? Stay well, , BTW, a mini split unit, with mounting the condenser at back above the bike, & indoor unit on the rear wall, effecient , quiet, , set up like the guy in AUSTRALIA, small earth crusier, stay well ,satay safe, 🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸
Yes, A/C would have been a nice to have but would have taken up a lot of room, even the split system. Thanks!
Does this have a air conditioning unit?
No it doesn’t
Good overview- but I heard a lot of verbs in the past tense. Are you planning on selling?
New rig on it's way - this one's been sold. Details next week.
Have really enjoyed your travels in this unit, not that fussy on anything fabric, am a hard side guy! Love the Storyteller Overland, and the vid series with Mom!!!!! Look forward to what is next, my wife and I would like a B Class, but then we would not be able to full time here in the Great White North...
Thanks so much!
Wonder if you heard bigfoot?
U guys in Boise?
Past tense?
New rig on it's way - this one's been sold. Details next week.
@@Weretherussos I'm a fan of the 7.3 and the popup camper since I have that setup myself. Kudos to you two for living in yours full time for two years 🙌
Im from indonesia im like you vidios youtube
Would love a similar video on the 7.3
hi guys
I’ve been researching van life for about 10 years or more, I’m 47 years old and I’m about to purchase my first rv, my plan is to live in it full time. I’m looking at a 2015 roadtrek 170 versatile, I do have a 11 year old son that will stay with me a few nights a week. I would be grateful if there is any advice or guidance you could provide.
Thank you
Hi Damon - I can’t help much through a comment on UA-cam but we have a LOT of info on our website to help. Go to weretherussos.com/ and in the main menu select “Start Here”. That should put you on the right path. Good luck!
@@Weretherussos thank you very much.
Awesome video Russos
Watched your review. Christine thinks you guys are getting something different. She said maybe a Storyteller van. 🤷🏻♂️
Maybe. We’ll reveal all next week
@@Weretherussos Christine smiled at your reply. She said you were using past tense when you were reviewing the camper; therefore, she figured you guys are probably getting ready to get something different.
The best part about this camper is that the toilet is not too close to the kitchen.
True - its about a far from it as possible in such a small space
From your review, sounds like you are on to something new! Look forward to your adventures...
That we are - video next week
When you getting your Wingamm lol.
❤️
Im recomendasi create vidios car camping
No A/C is a major drawback if you are camping in a hot and humid climate!
That it is...so we would either get a hotel room or drive to cooler temps
Your video begs the question.. whats the next step for the Russos?
All will be answered in next week's video 😎
Curious to see what you'll be getting for your next rig. This is a wonderful vehicle, although I think I'd like am enclosed toilet space and hard side. I think the condensation issues would drive me nuts. Also I've been through some of those campgrounds around Yellowstone and not being able to stay in them because of the soft sides would be a let down. Have you ever seen the hard-sided pop-up truck camper by Rossmonster? I'm sure they're incredibly expensive, but it's a great idea.
There are definitely benefits to a hard side but the downsides of a hard side sold us on the pop-top. Hard sides are heavier and much taller so your center of gravity is higher which makes driving much less pleasant and we’ve been places we never could have taken a hard side. We also didn’t see any that were flatbed models.
The one I'm talking about is a pop- up hard-side, more in line with an Alaskan truck camper. Low profile, light weight (relatively) and built for off road. I think they built it directly on a chassis frame (no box or flatbed) I'll see if I can copy and paste a link for you.
ua-cam.com/video/iCMVHztRn_Q/v-deo.html
What’s your dream setup?
This was it for the type of traveling we were doing...A/C would have been a nice to have but it would have taken up a lot of room or made the camper much taller.
@@Weretherussos I enjoy the content. I’m happy for you two.
All good things must end.
EXCELLENT Video! 🙂
Weren’t you trying to sell this?
New rig on it's way - this one's been sold. Details next week.
As always , i love the content ! I am curious why this information shared seems to be spoken in past tense ?
New rig on it's way - this one's been sold. Details next week.
@@Weretherussos Congrats man ! , very cool .... can't wait ! ~peace~
*Excellent Video! I sure like the updates!*
Awesome, thank you!
Very informative! How many mpg do you get with this beast?
14 - 12 depending on the terrain
@@Weretherussos That's not so bad. Must be that Diesel engine!
Nice video 👏🏼👍🏼🍻
Pop top maybe try a hard top next but you guys rock
Thanks JP
💛💛💛
naize
👍👍
👍🇺🇸👍
Do you guys really live full time in this?
Yep for two years. Been living full time out of various RVs for 6 years.
@We're the Russos Right on! I aspire to your tidiness!
Well done guys !
Thanks!
Has it been 2 years!?
That it has Wayne
👍
Pop Ups suck big time.
I hsve been missing your videos
We've been putting out new ones for a bit now.