In March 2005 we wrote a product review ("Report Card") on a 10 1/2' double slide Host camper unit. That article describes the camper's features, and our initial impressions of using it for approximately three months. While we discussed both what we liked and what we might have changed on this camper, on balance we gave it very high marks. However, we also noted that we would update that review after we'd owned the camper for a full year. Since we contemplated using the unit extensively during the balance of the year, we assumed we would have a much better assessment of how the camper would hold up to extensive use. That year has now passed, and we'd now like to provide our updates and final impressions of our Host camper.

Ten Years' Use in First Year

When we purchased the camper in November 2004, we were about to sell our residence in the San Juan Islands. We had a townhome under construction near Bend Oregon, and we anticipated we might be using the camper extensively until the scheduled completion in about March. However unforeseen events caused a significant delay in completing the new townhome, and we didn't move in until October. Being homeless for a much longer period than we bargained for, we essentially became "full timers" in a 10 1/2 foot camper for the better part of a year. If one assumes a camper might ordinarily get used, on average, about a month annually, we've put the equivalent of more than 10 years living into this particular one. And since we logged over 20,000 miles during the same period, we weren't exactly "staying put". A good percentage of those miles were from frequent trips with the camper we had to make from wherever we were back to Bend, OR, in connection with our new constructions. In our travels our average stay at any one location was less than three days. So the slides, awnings, hookups, doors, windows, drawers, etc. all got a very thorough workout. We were in temperatures that varied, during the year, from the teens in the winter months to over 100 in the summer. The camper was, for almost a year, "home".

Full Timing -- in a Camper?

RVers we met along the way marveled at the fact that we were "full timing in a camper". At first we did too. But the longer we were in it, the more comfortable it became. We've had campers in the past, but not a camper with even one slide, let alone two. Our recollections were of a floor space so narrow that two adults couldn't pass without practically embracing; and of an entrance to the sleeping area that was narrow, steep, and a bit of a challenge to get in and out of. Not so in the double slide Host camper. With both slides extended, the floor plan is much more akin to a Class C arrangement than a traditional (no-slide) camper unit. We couldn't begin to count the number of curious RVer neighbors we had along our travels who wanted to come inside and see what this new design was like. Many of those visitors were parked next door in large motorhomes -- and were either considering downsizing or adding a second RV so they could go all the places they were missing in their big rigs. Most found the very thought of "living" in a "camper" a bit of an oxymoran -- until they came inside and saw the space and features. Most were surprised to see the interior features such as residential grade faucets, the swing-out satellite LCD TV, and the spacious kitchen with pull-out pantry and convenction microwave. Most smaller units would find dry camping limited by water and tank capacities. But with 60 gallons of fresh water, 45 gray, and 35 black, that's just not the case. Moreover with an onboard generator, solar, and an inverter, there's plenty of comfort for boondocking too. Most were surprised to learn our unit was factory-equipped with AGM house batteries, though they remain an "unpublished" factory option.

What a Difference a Toad Makes!

At the time we wrote our initial "Report Card" on our Host camper, we did not have the capability of bringing along a tow car. That all changed dramatically when we visited the Torklift factory in Kent, WA. There we purchased and had installed a "Super Hitch". This incredibly sturdy device extends the receiver, and makes it possible to attach a tow car. We'd already been using the Torklift "Fast Gun" tie down system -- a huge improvement over the old style tiedowns. But the Super Hitch was an absolutely outstanding addition for us. Suddenly our camper unit could be used much more like a motorhome. It no longer had to go to the grocery store, the post office, and the hardward store. We could find the perfect place to park the camper, hook it up, and not have to detach everything if we had to run to the grocery store. On the road the handling was excellent. No doubt a supplemental braking system is especially important with a truck towing a tow car, and we've had the added piece of mind a supplemental brake and brakeway system provides. We've not had any "panic stops", but if we did we're ready for it. We did find a decrease in fuel economy of approximately one mile per gallon, but that's a price we'd willingly pay to have the convenience of our little Jeep with us.

Smaller, Simpler, and More Reliable

Perhaps the most remarkable aspect of our full timing experience in a camper was the amount of time we did NOT spend in service facilities waiting for repairs. No doubt this was due in part to the fact a camper is inherently less complex than a large motorhome. But it speaks well too of the quality control in manufacturing this unit. Whatever the cause, the "freedom from time in the shop" factor is something we really appreciated. We did have occasion to have minor repairs done at both the dealer's and manufacturer's facilites. However, when you're in for a repair with a camper, typically you're quickly in-and-out the same day. With a larger, more complex RV, as we've learned from experience, it's not uncommon to be "in the shop" for days at at time. We also found that while "smaller" clearly provides both less storage and a more confined living area, there are advantages as well. Primary among these is the ability to take this type of unit just about anywhere. We enjoy "going north" in the summer -- to British Columbia and Alaska. With a smaller unit the option of taking parts of this trip via ferry is a great deal more attractive. Some "out of the way" camping areas, such as the many Forest Service campgrounds throughout the West, are simply not designed for larger rigs. With the camper, they're all viable destinations.

You Mean Nothing Went Wrong?

Of course not! We did have minor fixes on the unit during the year. Among them: The gas furnace quit and required a new board; the A/C required a new switch to prevent it from frosting up; the main slide required an adjustment after we'd lived in the camper for almost a year; the main table leg eventually required heavier anchor screws (now standard in new models); and a couple of drawers needed to be adjusted. And there are a few things that we think could have made an excellent unit even better. At the top of our list would be an inverter system that would power all of the outlets in the camper (except microwave and fridge), rather than the 700 watt inverter that only powers the entertainment center. Having to physically unplug the TV and satellite receiver from the "regular" AC outlets and plug them into the separate "inverter powered" outlets was an inconvenience. (New units provide more inverter options.) And we found the omni-directional TV antenna was not nearly as efficient in picking up over-the-air local TV stations as the directional type we've had on other RVs (new units now have the standard directional ones). As we observed in the first article the bedside reading lights could not be directed downward -- a design feature has since been corrected.

The Verdict

After nearly a year of full timing in our Host camper, during which time we logged more than 20,000 miles, we think we're fully qualified to evaluate this unit. The bottom line is that this camper is, in our opinion, an outstanding choice for us. Had someone forecasted that we'd be living in a camper for nearly a year we would not have believed that we'd both do so and have an excellent RVing experience in the process. Its two slides provide the added margin of space that makes it entirely "liveable". The comparative absence of nagging service problems that often plague RV owners was throughly appreciated -- we stayed "on the road" and "out of the shop". And the ability to easily take our Wrangler along as a tow car provided a welcome measure of flexibility in our travels. We thoroughly enjoyed the advantages of our extended camper travels. And while there are several good choices among camper brands, based on our experience we can certainly recommend the double slide Host unit.

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