Get your bucket list out and and prepare to be inspired by fellow readers and their bold truck camping resolutions for 2019. Here are a couple dozen trip ideas to launch your camping plans for the new year.
“After reading about trucks and campers on Truck Camper Magazine for nearly five years, 2019 will be the year in which we make the truck camper move. Not only do we resolve to purchase a truck and camper this year, but we are both retiring! Here we come National Parks! (please re-open soon)” – David Gibbs, Coming soon! This is the year!
“This winter we’re roaming the South from Northern Michigan to the Florida Panhandle. From there, we will be roaming west to California, Nevada and – depending on weather – to Utah and home.
In the fall, our plan is take two months to visit the New England states, and then take the Blue Ridge Parkway to the Smokies and return home for the holidays.” – Ken Pastorius, 2015 GMC 3500, 2012 Arctic Fox 1150
“Our plan is to put our house in northern Utah on the market in May. We live in a neighborhood with a hot real estate market, so we expect it to move quickly.
We’re then planning on spending the next two years traveling in our camper in search of the next place to land. Montana and Idaho are high on our list, but who knows.
This summer we plan to head back up to Alaska for an extend visit with stops along the way in British Columbia, Yukon, and Alberta. As the temperatures turn cooler, we’ll wind our down south with a winter visit to Mexico. Baja for starters.
We may go further south into Central America if we feel like it. Some of the travel stories we’ve read are inspiring.” – Tom MacCallum and Pam King, 2015 Ford F-350, 2013 Adventurer 910 FBS
“We’re keen to visit Montana, Colorado, Idaho, Wyoming, Arizona. We will do some fly fishing and see some canyons, especially the Grand Canyon. We’d also like to see the Baja Peninsula.” – Ken Woodward, 2016 Ford F-350, 2019 Northern Lite 9-6Q SE
“This year we are going to explore more National Forest and BLM boondock sites near our home in central Colorado. We will take along our side-by-side to access some out-of-the-way trout fishing spots.
Note to Gordon for your planned trip to Maine; Check out the many small coastal towns in the Knox County area. Many people miss this beautiful area taking route the 90 bypass from Warren to Rockport and miss some very pretty coastal areas. Visit Marshall Point Light in Port Clyde from the Forest Gump movie.
I recommended spending a night at, “Saltwater Farm Campground” off the River Road in Cushing, Maine. If you like free boondocking as much as us, check out the many, many miles of dirt roads of northern Maine. We spent two weeks in October of 2018 near Patten, based out of Shin Pond Village Campground. What beautiful fall colors!” – Michael and Barbara Henderson, 2000 Dodge Ram 2500, 2004 Alaskan 10-foot cabover
“Our 2019 New Year’s resolution is shorter trips to new places.” – Janet and Jim Manis, 2014 Ram 2500, 2015 Travel Lite 960R
“We just picked up our camper in November of last year. So far we have spent five nights in it. In 2019 we plan to camp at least one weekend every month and reap all of the benefits of our new camper.
We converted from a bumper pull trailer. We wanted to downsize and get back to the roots of camping. Your magazine has been an inspiration!” – David McKee, 2016 Ford F350, 2018 Northern Lite 10-2
“1. Find a camper. 2. Do some shake down short trips, get it set up and equipped. 3. Go to Maine, including Portland, Acadia, and Eastport.” – Skip and Nanc Dickson, 2017 Ford F350, Looking for camper
“We are going to a friend’s wedding in Knoxville, Tennessee. Then we will rent a big cabin in the mountains near the Great Smoky Mountain National Park for a week and have all of my family there.
Next we will get on the Blue Ridge Parkway and head North to Skyline Drive. At the end of Skyline Drive we will head up to Highway 50 and head west. I will start trout fishing in Colorado and hope to finish up somewhere around Montana.
After saying all of that, being 76 years old, my Lord might have other plans for me.” – Ed Krech, 2006 Dodge 3500, 2011 Northern Lite 8-11
“We have covered a lot of black top over the years and I must say we enjoyed all the trips we took. As soon as the northern campgrounds open this spring we’ ll travel Route 61 north to south. Having gathered a bushel basket full of maps, pamphlets and guidebooks, we will bury our dining room table in must-see and must-do lists as we scrutinize our trip.” – Shawn Bates, 2007 Toyota Tacoma, Homemade
“This year’s resolution is to camp at least 60 or more days in the camper. Last year we did 60, so we’re hoping for at least a few days more than last year.” – Dave Riddle, 2015 Chevrolet, 3500 HD Silverado LTZ, 2017 Host Mammoth
“We plan on heading to all points in Florida in the coming weeks. This summer may finally be the long dreamed for trip to Alaska.” – Barry Schoenwetter, 2006 GMC Sierra 2500HD, 2005 Lance 1030
“Our goal is to camp more than we did last year and to go to different places that we haven’t been to before.” – David Puskar, 2010 Ford F-350, 2017 Northern Lite 8-11
“After looking long and hard, it’s time to sell my Lance 1030. We may go over to the dark side and buy a Class C, unless I spend big dollars and get a dually. Then I can put a $60,000 truck camper on the back with slide-outs. With a Class C, the unit can be used with the slides in and it’s all under $80,000 – what that the truck will cost. Thanks for letting me ramble.” – William Palleschi, 2010 Ford F-350, 2005 Lance 1030
Editor’s Note: At $80,000, you are describing a top-the-line diesel truck. In contrast, that Class C at $80,000 will have a gas engine. Since you’re already considering a gas Class C, why not consider at a gas truck? For example, a fully tricked-out 2019 Ram 3500 dually with the 6.4L HEMI will be in the low $50,000s. You will miss the torque of a diesel, but it’ll be a world better than the gas Class C. And you’ll have $30,000 to put towards a camper of your choosing. It’s worth a test drive.
“Currently I’ve made no plans, although I want to make a couple of trips. My wife was diagnosed with a very serious condition which will require a lot of medical treatment, so the treatments come first. Hopefully, by June we will be able to make a few trips.
I would like to visit the Black Canyon of the Gunnison since it has been almost 50 years since I lived in that area. Another trip is to Montrose and Ouray, Colorado for some Jeeping.” – Harry Palmer, 2008 Dodge 2500, 2008 Lance 915
“I have planned trips routed to Vancouver Island over to Jasper and Banff, Alaska, traveling the TransCanada Highway, and the Newfoundland-Labrador Highway to St. John’s lighthouse and then knock off the lower Eastern side of the Ole Mississippi.
However, my real focus is on getting another RZR buggy. When that happens, I’ll hit all the riding areas and rallies that I can. The only things that are holding me back are what I call the FFBs (Fuel, Food and Beer). So, we’ll see how it all turns out.” – Frank Poole, 2016 Ram 5500, 2016 Arctic Fox 990
“We live on the central coast of California, which makes getting to the far corners of New England quite a trip. Our goal is to see the fall colors there.
We have been there three Octobers and struck out all three. Everything was always green no matter which part of October we were there. It’s always a crap shoot and Mother Nature rolls the dice.
So our 2019 resolution is to try again. This time we’ll go with our Bigfoot. It has taken us successfully to three-quarters of the Lower 48, so maybe our luck will change. We’ve already tried the other three approaches; cruise ship, airline and rental car.” – Joe Sesto, 2015 Silverado 3500, 2015 Bigfoot 10.6E
“My plans are to go back up the San Josef Bay, on the northern part of Vancouver Island, British Columbia, Canada. The campsites in the park are rustic. The operator is a friendly guy who has lived out in the middle of no where for many years. There is a well maintained walking trail to the most beautiful beach I’ve been on. The scenery is amazing.
The drive into the bay is on a logging road. Use caution on the way in. Just past Holberg is a great spot to visit. It’s called Ronnie’s Garden. In the early 1900s a fellow homesteaded there. He planted an amazing collection of trees. It has one of the biggest monkey trees I’ve ever seen.
Hopefully I see you there on my travels. It is well worth the trip.” – Jeff Mawbey, 2010 GMC 3500, 2010 Northern Lite
“I plan on attending Bonneville Speed Week for a few days.” – Bob Klope, 2009 GMC 2500HD, 2018 Arctic Fox 811
“We are trying to work out the details for a two month trip to Alaska. We may have to settle for two weeks in Colorado and Utah.” – Don Bell, 2017 GMC 3500, 2012 Arctic Fox 1150
“We are driving to Seattle, parking at the pier, and taking an Alaskan cruise. After returning from the cruise, we are visiting Olympic National Park, Northern Cascades National Park, Mount Rainier National Park and Crater Lake National Park. Upon returning home, we are turning around and caravanning with truck camper friends to Kentucky and Tennessee.” – Jim and Janet Kaley, 2018 GMC Sierra 3500HD, 2018 Northern Lite 8-11 EX Dry Bath
“We are going to take our oldest son and daughter-in-law on their first truck camping off-road trip. We will do the Alpine Loop as well as exploring the Four Corners area. Alaska is happening in 2020!” – Eddie Fort, 2016 Ford F-350, 2016 Hallmark Everest
“To hopefully finally buy a camper.” – Mary Eshenaur, 2007 Dodge Dakota
“Madeline and I are planning a trip from Prince Edward Island to upstate New York to meet our son and his family who are planning a road trip from Utah to that area. We hope to spend time camping in the Finger Lakes area, which we have always wanted to visit.” – Jamie Rea, 2012 Ford F-350, 2012 Lance 855S
