RVs for Autumn, part 1: Cooler weather beckons angler, hunter Jimmy Smith in his truck camper

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As summer fades into autumn, chilly mornings are ideal for hunting, fishing, or walking in the woods. Whatever your outdoor passion, a good quality Recreation Vehicle makes any adventure more comfortable at the end of a long day exploring.

JimmySmithNorthernLite_JulianneGCraneFor lifelong angler and hunter Jimmy Smith getting “up close and personal with the great outdoors,” is a top priority.

“Many times I have followed a gravel road that meandered onto a track that soon resembled a foot path. My truck and camper can easily handle narrow forest service roads and access rough areas for remote camping,” said the longtime Oregon RVer.

Smith chose a rugged four-season, light-weight fiberglass 10.2-foot Classic Northern Lite slide-in camper for his 2001 F-350 Ford four-wheel drive truck. “It gets me to where I want to camp—far into the woods, away from the sounds of civilization.”

Avid outdoor enthusiasts have long been fans of slide-in campers because they can go anywhere a truck can and, at the same time, leave the bumper free to tow a boat, ATV or horse trailer. Once at a base camp, the camper can be easily off loaded and the truck used independently.

The Northern Lite’s two-piece, molded clamshell construction is similar to a boat and makes for a sturdy and weather tight set up. By eliminating the multiple seams, along with the wood and aluminum framing found on conventional truck campers,it is lighter by 15-20-percent. It can easily carry everything one needs for comfortable camping including a full kitchen, bathroom with shower, and over-cab north-south queen bed. Smith’s camper’s dry weight is 2,360 pounds.

According to GoRVing.com, a recreation vehicle industry marketing group, sizes of slide-in campers, range from 8 to 20 feet, with selling prices for new units average between $6,000 and $55,000; some models have the capacity to sleep up to six friendly people.

Part 2 of a 5-part series on ‘RVs for Autumn’ will feature Ron and Sharon Vail talking about why they selected their small, towable travel trailer for back country camping.

Julianne G. Crane

Photo: Lifelong angler and hunter Jimmy Smith of Oregon selected a 10.2-foot four-season slide-in truck camper by Northern Lite because it is ideal for negotiating narrow forest service roads and accessing remote camping areas. (Julianne G. Crane)

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