The Truck Camper Shakedown: Our Journey with Little Mae
Meet Little Mae:
Our 2024 Palomino Truck Camper 8801
Before there was a plan, there was a feeling—we wanted something nimble. Something compact enough for beach drives, easy detours, and spur-of-the-moment backroads. We ordered a Palomino 8801 truck camper straight from the factory. We named her Little Mae, and this post is the start of her story.
Little Mae (2025)
Our 2024 Palomino 8801 Truck Camper
We’ll break down what we ordered, what we modified (immediately and after living in it), and what we’ve learned from our travels so far. From parking lot questions to campsite upgrades—this rig has already given us a new perspective on tidy, flexible RVing.
On the road again,
goin' places that I've never been, seein' things that I may never see again, and I can't wait to get on the road again. —Willie Nelson, “On the Road Again”, (1980)
What We Ordered from the Factory (and Why)
Before Little Mae even left the factory lot, we added a few key upgrades—chosen for how we actually travel: compact, tidy, and ready for beach boondocking (with the occasional music festival in mind).
Palomino Roof Rack — ready for a cargo carrier or beach-day gear
Torklift Trinity Bumper — hello, built-in storage compartments and a sturdy fold-down step
Rear Thule Awning — sister to the side awning and shade where we want it
Second lithium battery — so we’re not running on empty (cue Jackson Browne)
Factory-installed solar — just enough to support a low-key boondock setup
We’re not off-grid pros (yet), but we do like the option to pull into a beach spot, pop the awning, and settle in with some good tunes and a breeze.
The Shakedown: Testing Little Mae on the Road
We picked Little Mae up from Parkview RV Center and took her straight on a four-week shakedown trip down the East Coast, ending in Southern Florida. Stops included Pine Island KOA, Naples/Marco Island KOA, and Sugarloaf KOA. This is how we made the 8801 our own.
From first mods to mid-trip gear swaps, we learned a lot in a short stretch. Here’s how the setup evolved—and what surprised us most along the way.
T & C's Take: What We Changed, What We Learned
Q: What did you modify right away?
C: For me, inside came first. The dinette table had to go. I wanted flow—zones that made sense, storage that worked, and a setup we could actually live in. We turned that space into a lounge and storage zone for dry goods and the tech gear we use daily. Removing the dinette table opened up the floor space, allowing us to create a more functional storage area and better flow. Louie took the folding sofa bed. It stays down. We all agreed not to fight it. Then came the hooks, the bins, the systems that keep it all from turning into chaos.
T: Roof rack—had to happen. We added a Thule Force 3 XL cargo carrier on top for extra gear. The next mods were all about making sure the truck could handle the load and keep us rolling smooth.
Hellwig 7320 Big Wig Rear Sway Bar, the biggest, baddest 1-5/16" heat-treated Chromoly steel bar. It keeps us steady when rolling with the big trucks on the highway.
Timbren SES suspension setup which is perfect for Ford trucks, no drilling through the leaf spring, and it reduces sag like you wouldn’t believe. We had them on our Coachmen Truck Camper after we popped a set of airbags, and they lasted the whole time we owned Goldie—a 2001 Ford F-250 for 23 years.
Torklift TRUE Frame Mounted Tie Downs—sized for the truck you own, with Torklift Fast Gun Turnbuckles and locks. Worth every cent spent to keep this rig steady.
✨Jump to our full set up list here.
Q: What do people ask at gas stations and campgrounds?
T: Always something like:
“Is it top-heavy?”
“How much does it weigh?”
Truck campers have come a long way since our Coachmen days. We’re now nearly 1,000 lbs under weight and it rides like a dream on the Ford F350.
C: People are curious about what’s inside—yes, it’s got a bed, bath, kitchen, and a spoiled dog (and it’s tidy). That’s why we created this site—to share our personal space here, with no surprises and no one unexpectedly walking in, poking around, or coming in uninvited.
✨We have the full setup under The Lists.
Q: What were the first items added to help keep things tidy inside?
C: I’m all about creating a tidy space where everything has a place. Right away, I added:
15 Command hooks, sleek black metal in various sizes, to keep everything from towels to jackets off the floor.
7 Command caddies, white and clear, to corral smaller items and keep them within easy reach. I don’t like visual clutter, so these are hung behind the cabinet doors—keeping everything accessible but out of sight.
2 folding ottomans for extra storage.
Q: What did you add after the first 4-week trip?
T: Outdoor setup came quick—shelter, rugs, cooking gear. Turns out, cooking while getting dive-bombed by bugs wasn’t exactly the vibe. Florida no-see-ums don’t mess around.
I fished out a rogue mini bottle of Captain Ron’s Bug Spray from the truck—last drops. That stuff really works, but we couldn’t find it locally. The label had a number, so I called it. Captain Ron answered. On a boat. Mid-charter. I told him the bugs were winning and we needed more supply. He overnighted two big bottles the next day. That totally saved the trip.
C: Once we had the bugs handled, we could finally settle in. And yes, more Cliq chairs—because Louie claimed one and wasn’t about to give it back.
T: We could hang out, talk with folks, and not get eaten alive.
“Southern skies, Have you ever noticed Southern skies? (In southern sky),
Oh its precious beauty lies just beyond the eye, It goes running through your soul, Like the stories told of old.” —Glen Campbell and Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, “Southern Skies”, (1977)
The Great Stuff Shuffle:
Lessons Learned Along the Way
Packing light is always the goal. But after a few stops, we realized that it was more of a shuffle than a smooth system. Every stop felt like a mini dance—getting everything out, then figuring out how to make it fit again.
T: Same thing every stop.
Gear out. Chairs shift. Stuff gets moved around.
Got so fed up, I thought about just leaving half of it behind and rolling out.
C: Some of it was left behind—somewhere between Pine Island and Sugarloaf. Louie had too much stuff for a 10-pound dog.
T: It wasn’t Louie’s stuff that was left behind. New owners saw the free sign and picked our goods in minutes.
“Sometimes the light's all shinin' on me, Other times I can barely see, Lately it occurs to me, What a long, strange trip it's been.”
— The Grateful Dead, “Truckin”, (1970)
What We’ll Do Differently Next Time: The Truck Camper Reset
After the shakedown, we realized there’s always room for improvement—especially when it comes to packing and setup. We’re even making some updates to Big Blue, our 2024 Ford F-350, as an extension of Little Mae to help streamline the whole setup.
C: The crew cab’s getting a reset. If we didn’t use it, it’s out.
T: Saw another rig with a Torklift generator tray—ordered it right away.
C: We’re dialing in the balance between prepared and overpacked. Between being ready for the day… and stepping over three things to get to a towel.
T: “Take what you need and leave the rest.” — The Band, “The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down”, (1969)
Little Mae, Tidy Journey:
Looking Back, Moving Forward
By the time we pulled into Sugarloaf Key, Little Mae had proven herself. She handled the miles, the long stretches of road, the sand, the tight campground loops—and even a few unexpected detours—with ease.
We’ve traveled in bigger rigs, but this one changed how we pack, how we park, and how we plan. The ability to tuck into tighter spots, whether on the road or at a cozy campsite, and navigate narrow roads with ease is pure gold. Less stress and smooth rolling wherever we go.
C: This trip reminded us that a tidy rig isn’t about perfection—it’s about ease. Systems that work. Items that earn their place. Making our rig tidy is a constant action that helps us pack up, roll out, and enjoy the ride.
The journey’s just beginning, and we hope you’re stepping into this season with a little more space, a little more clarity, and a lot more adventure. Enjoy the ride—one stop at a time. Tidy Up. Roll Out.
Catch you at the next tidy stop,
— T, C & Louie 🐾
✨ Traveling with a pup? Take a look at The Pup Kit for Louie’s tidy-tested travel essentials.
🔗 Some links in this post are affiliate links, which means we may earn from qualifying purchases—at no extra cost to you. 👍 Just places we’ve visited and products we’ve actually used. Not sponsored, but all part of our story.
