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The second annual Truck Camper Magazine Calendar is finally done and it totally rocks! Today the calendars are available online for $14.98 plus shipping. Here are the links to purchase the 2009 Truck Camper Magazine Calendar.
US Version: http://www.lulu.com/content/4891150
Canada Version: http://www.lulu.com/content/4891703
But wait, there’s more! Below we have compiled the stories the winners sent in about their winning photos. Order a calendar today and enjoy the read!
COVER: Anne & Joe Brown from Freeport, Maine
Location: Capital Reef National Park, Utah
Truck: 2005 Ford F350, DRW
Camper: 2008 Host Rainier
This was taken at the entry to the Grand Wash, Capital Reef National Park, in Torrey, Utah on June 14th, 2008. It is a really magical place.
JANUARY: Dave Rogers from Scottsdale, Arizona
Location: Top of the World Trail, Moab, Utah
Truck: 2007 GMC 2500HD
Camper: 2007 Outfitter Apex 8
Accessories: A three-inch lift, Rancho 9000XL shocks, and Firestone airbags, Happijac tie-down system with spring loaded turnbuckles, and a nut loose behind the steering wheel.
The photograph was taken on March 13th, 2008 at the Top of the World four-wheel Jeep trail in Utah, about forty miles from Moab. It was a great four wheel trip with the camper on a trail we’ve done before in a Jeep CJ.
It snowed the next morning and made for more great pictures. So far, this was the best four-wheel trip in the camper and we felt extremely fortunate to be there when it snowed then cleared. Some of the most scenic pictures I've taken. Trip report is on RV.net under "extreme trip reports”.
FEBRUARY: Ed Krech from Brentwood, Tennessee
Location: Old Bridge between Tampa and St. Petersburg, FL
Truck: 2003 Ford F450
Camper: 2001 Alpenlite Sante Fe 1150
Accessories: Torklift Fast Guns, SuperHitch, Firestone airbags, solar, generator, LED lighting, and a front wind deflector compliments of Chet from Oak Ridge.
The photograph was taken on the old bridge between Tampa and St. Petersburg, Florida. We spent three days on the bridge where you can relax and fish all day and night. From there we went to the Everglades and spent a few weeks.
MARCH: Jerry Caldwell from Church Hill, Tennesee
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Location: Grand Teton National Park
Truck: 2003 Dodge 3500, DRW, Cummins Diesel
Camper: 2005 Lance 1181
Accessories: Happijac tie-downs, SuperSprings, Airlift air bags
On this trip we visited Badlands National Park, Mount Rushmore National Memorial, Minuteman Missile National Historic Site, Wind Cave National Park, Wind River Canyon, Boysen State Park (WY), Hot Springs State Park (WY), Yellowstone National Park, Grand Teton National Park, Dinosaur National Monument, Colorado National Monument, Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park, Cumbres & Toltec Narrow Gauge Railroad (Chama, NM) and the Oklahoma City National Memorial. Total mileage for trip 5,389 miles. Average mpg for entire trip 14.336.
APRIL: Ian Swallow from Emu Plains, Australia
Location: Blue Mountains of New South Wales
Truck: 2008 Toyota Landcruiser, V8 Diesel, 4WD
Camper: 2008 Northstar EscapePod
Accessories: Torklift tie-downs and Firestone Airbags.
The photo was taken in August this year in the Blue Mountains of New South Wales , Australia. It was a short weekend trip down a seriously bad track to a lookout point at the end. In many places, low range first gear had to be used. The narrow entry way between the two large rocks made a perfect photo opportunity.
MAY: Art & Mabel Davidson from N. White Plains, New York
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Location: TransCanada Highway 1, Alberta, Canada
Truck: 2007 Chevrolet 2500, DRW, Crew Cab
Camper: 2003 Bigfoot 30C10.11SL
Photograph was taken on TransCanada Highway 1 Alberta Canada, June 25th 2008, Camera, Nikon D80, 16-85mm lens, set at 25mm Lens.
On June 16th, 2008, we began our once in a lifetime trip to Alaska. Our travels took us up through New York, then across the upper peninsular of Michigan, and on up to Winnipeg, Canada.
From there we traveled across Trans Canada Highway 1 through Calgary, spending several days in Banff, Lake Louise, and Jasper. Our trip continued on to Dawson Creek and the Alaskan Highway up to White Horse where we took the Top of The World Highway through Dawson City and Chicken Alaska.
Then we traveled to Tok, Alaska. While in Alaska we visited Fairbanks, Denali, Anchorage, Homer, Seward, Valdez, and many great places in-between. After leaving Alaska, we traveled down the Cassiar Highway #37, stopping in Stewart, British Columbia and Hyder, Alaska. From here we traveled down TC16 (The Yellowhead Highway), then on to the Bigfoot factory. Unfortunately they had just come back from vacation and did not have any tours available.
We continued on to Montana and spent several days in Glacier National Park. On our way home we stopped at the RV Hall of Fame, where we had a discussion with them about truck campers not being a dying industry.
Our trip took us 12,300 miles in nine weeks. Our biggest expense being diesel fuel. The 2,500 digital and film pictures we took will always remind us of the many beautiful and awe-inspiring sites we were fortunate to see. We have been camping for almost fifty years and owned truck campers for the past twenty-five years. Truck campers have given us the opportunity to see much of the United States and Canada. Our truck campers have made it possible to save money on meals and lodging and allowed us into many areas larger rigs can’t go. We have been blessed.
JUNE: Frank Ross from Moss Beach, California
Location: Hot Creek Range, Humboldt-Toiyabe NF, NV
Truck: 2006 Dodge Power Wagon
Camper: 2005 Hallmark Milner LX
Truck Details: The Dodge Power Wagon comes stock with everything you need for serious off road driving including locking front and rear axles, electric disconnecting front sway bar, and a factory installed 12,000 lb. warn winch. The only thing I've added are Firestone air bags and better rear shocks.
The camper is a 2005 Hallmark Milner LX with dual batteries, hot water heater, and electric top.
The photograph was taken in the Hot Creek Range, Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest, Nevada in August of 2008. My wife and I and our Basset Hound "Scout" love to explore the Nevada desert. That day we were headed to Charcoal Kilns in South Sixmile Canyon.
JULY: Mike Layton from Salisbury, Maryland
Location: Assateague Island National Seashore, MD
Truck: 2005 Ford F350, 6.0 Diesel
Camper: 2004 Arctic Fox 1150
Accessories: 110 HP Juice With Attitude, 4'' polished stainless steel exhaust, 6" Pro Comp Lift, 12.50 x 35" E rated Nitto Mud Grappler tires, automatic Air Ride with 5,000 lb. airbags, self-made stainless steel tie-downs, polished aluminum cooler rack and polished aluminum back deck
This photo was taken on August 8th, 2008 at the A.M.S.A. Camporee on Assateague Island Nation Seashore in Maryland. There were about 250 to 300 campers at this event.
AUGUST: Ron Phillips from Centennial, Colorado
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Location: Bear Glacier, British Columbia, Canada
Truck: 2008 Ford F450, 6.4 Diesel, 4WD
Camper: 2008 Snowriver 10’ 8” Super Slide
Truck Details: The GVWR is 14,500 lbs. The rear axle is a Dana110 (11,000 lbs.) Ford rates the rear at 9500 with OEM springs and tires. The steer axle is a Dana Super 60 rated at 7000 lbs. The front axle is about 6 inches wider than the F-350 standard axle, which allows for more wheel angle so it has a shorter turning radius. The wheels are 19.5 ten bolt with G rated tires. My truck has the snow plow package with HD front springs and a 200 amp alternator. On a CAT scale the truck empty weighs 9,100 lbs. An additional two leaves have been added to the rear spring packs. On the road ready for a trip last winter the rig weighed 14,400 lbs. with three people and lots of “stuff”. The camper mounts are Torklifts with SS Fast Guns.
The photo was taken on June 1, 2008 at the Bear Glacier on the Glacier Highway, which is on the west side of British Columbia. It is Highway 37A that goes to Stewart and Hyder from Meziadin Jct. on the Cassiar Highway (37). The camera was a Nikon D200. The image was 16 mb before cropping. The lens was a Nikon18/200 zoom.
Our route was from Denver, Colorado to Spokane, Washington to Penticton, British Columbia, and then up the west side of British Columbia to the Alaska Highway. From Whitehorse we turned at Haines Junction and visited Haines, Alaska. From Tok, Alaska, we took the Tok-Cut-Off to the Glenn Highway. From there we went to Palmer and then to the Kenai Peninsula.
Next we went to Talkeetna and Fairbanks and then to Tok. From Tok we took the Taylor and Top-of- the-World to Dawson City, Yukon Territory. Returning to Whitehorse, Yukon Territory, we followed the east route through British Columbia and back to Spokane.
From Denver and back it was 8,550 miles and six weeks. This was our second trip to Alaska. The first trip was in 2002. We took the ferry back on that trip, but I would not do it again.
Our truck camper is a 2008 Snowriver 10-8, which we absolutely love. This is our first camper with a slide, which makes quite a difference in room. This is our 7th truck camper beginning in 1966. We are very glad we bought it before Bob Mehrer had to shut down. My wife, Margot, is super impressed with the Snowriver. We must have traveled over 500,000 miles in truck cameprs so we have some well formed opinions about them. I am 75 and Margot is 74. We haven’t tired of travel yet.
SEPTEMBER: Sean Dempsey from Eagle, Wisconsin
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Location: Upper Pahsimeroi Valley, Idaho
Truck: 2005 Dodge 2500 Cummins Diesel
Camper: 2007 Four Wheel Granby
The trucks pictured are traveling partners. The top camper belongs to Chris Todd. It is a 2005 Dodge 2500 Cummins powered with Kore suspension and 35" Toyos. Todd’s camper is a 2007 Four Wheel Grandby model with factory eyebolts and turnbuckles.
The bottom truck is owned by Kurt and Jeannie Flora. It is a 2006 Chevy Silverado half-ton with stock suspension and tires. The camper is a 1985 Four Wheel Hawk model. The camper was bought by Kurt for $200 and fully restored to pristine condition. Tie-downs are also factory eyebolts and turnbuckles.
The photograph was taken climbing out of our mahogany creek campsite on September 5th, 2008. We were on an exploration trip of the Upper Pahsimeroi Valley, also known as the Alps of Idaho. Our campsite was in the shadows of Mt. Borah, the tallest mountain in Idaho. This was during the first week of a twenty-four day trip exploring the Northwest USA.
OCTOBER: Gary Love from Riverside, California
Location: Kebler Pass near Crested Butte, CO
Truck: 2007 Ford F550, 6.0L Diesel, 4WD, Crew Cab
Camper: 2007 Okanagan 116ULT
Accessories: Firestone airbags, Supersprings, custom utility bed, four AM100 Solar panels with HPV-22B controller, four GPL-6C AGM batteries for 600amps, 48 inch SuperHitch
We spent several days exploring the Kebler Pass during the Aspen’s peak fall color. This was one of many nights we spent among the Aspens. The image was taken on September 28th, 2008 about thirty minutes before sunset.
NOVEMBER: Frank Lecrone from Spruce Creek, Pennsylvania
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Location: Kuskulana River Gorge, Alaska
Truck: 2007 GMC 3500 Classic, SRW, Duramax Diesel, Allison Transmission
Camper: 2007 Bigfoot 3000, 30C1002
Accessories: AM Solar 100 watt panel with Heliotrope HPV-22B Controller, Optima AGM yellow top D31T, 75 AH battery, LaCrosse Technology wireless indoor/outdoor temperature station, Happijac camper tie-downs, Bilstein shocks all around, SuperSprings on rear, Torklift SuperHitch and SuperTruss extension receiver, Rickson 19.5” Wheels with load range G tires, Banks Power Pack system, Ottomind 6 Diesel Tuner, Ram Air Intake, 4” SS exhaust, Garmin Nuvi 670 GPS system
When my son invited me to join him on an Alaskan grizzly and moose hunt, I accepted immediately and started planning the truck camper driving experience of a lifetime!
We spent nearly a month driving 10,000 miles up and down the Alaska Highway. What a tremendous adventure!
The truck and camper performed flawlessly. The Bigfoot/GMC combination is a comfortable, convenient, efficient and secure system for long distance travel. A self-contained truck camper makes it easy to prepare meals or rest along the trail. Just pull into a local rest stop to relax, refuel, and re-energize.
The fuel economy average was 13.6 mpg with the loaded camper and the Banks Tuner set to Economy Mode. The Bigfoot 3000 is not a light camper.
Eleven words of caution; carry an extra fuel filter and know how to change it! Pulling diesel fuel from out of the way, low volume fuel tanks will probably introduce dirt into your fuel system. Sooner or later your fuel filter will plug and engine performance will suffer. A filter change makes a tremendous difference.
DECEMBER: Bruce, Kim, & Spot Scott from Ypsilanti, Michigan
Location: Tahquamenon Falls, Paradise, MI
Truck: 2006 Ford F350, V10, 4WD
Camper: 2005 Northern Lite 10-2000CD
Accessories: Torklift SuperHitch, 32” SuperTruss, Happijac in the front and Torklift in the back with a set of both Happijac Qwik Loads and Torklift Fastguns
We stayed at the Tahquamenon Falls State Park and campground, near Paradise Michigan. The photo was taken on our way from the lower falls to the upper falls about four miles away.
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