Truck Campers - need advice please

[JJEH]

Fellas,

you have helped me learning about RV trailers and boats. I haven't bought either one due to your advice and the size of my wallet.

But I'm still looking for a nice solution that makes it more enjoyable to spend a day or two at the lake, fishing, shooting, relaxing. Would also make a good add on for a bug out vehicle, right?

I know we had a thread about truck campers here a long time ago but I couldn't find it.

In the current issue of American Hunter Magazine is a camper featured that cost new ~$14k. I know they can get higher, but I'd like to look for an used one.

Now the one I like is the Camplite 6.8 Ultra Lightweight Aluminum Truck Camper

Camplite 6.8 Ulta Lightweight Aluminum Truck Camper Overview | Livin' Lite RV

Still too expensive new, but the size/features are nice.

What are good brands to look at?
And what do I have to look for when buying used?
Is it just a hassle as with the trailers?

Thanks for all your advice, I appreciate it

 

[OFT II]

That's a good looking camper. I don't like overhead campers on a pickup. I had one several years ago and it didn't have the room of a trailer. If you're camping and want to go into town you have to disconnect it. Another problem was driving in high winds, especially a strong cross wind. But then the wind never blows in Oklahoma.

 

[307-Niner]

If a slide-in camper had enough room for me (need more space for the kids & dogs for a few more years), I'd be after a pop-up camper. Less top heavy, less wind resistance, same interior space. Some day it will just be me & the wife, and that will be perfect.

 

[EugeneNine]

I prefer the truck camper over a trailer, much easier to maneuver in the woods.
I bought an old popup truck camper, its only a few inches above the cab when down then you crank the roof up a couple feet when you stop.
Mine was well used but I lucked into at a cheap price because the guy that was selling it tried to put it on a Tundra and had to sell it.

 

[JJEH]

After re-thinking it for a long time we decided not to buy a trailer. We are not gonna stop at a big RV park and stay there for several days/weeks. We'd just like to have a getaway at a local lake. So we can manage less space, even though we are a family of five.

And one day - just like 307-Niner said - one day it will only be my wife and I...

@EugeneNine, would you mind sharing a picture of your camper? What brand is it?

Is saw campers online, made by Westways. They might be old and extinct but they look very cool.

 

[jarhead1178]

Capri truck campers in Texas makes a good basic camper at reasonable prices. A lot of the rodeo cowboys use them when competing in rodeos.

 

[TXSWFAN]

My wife and I have enjoyed our Lance 1181. It's been perfect for us and the dogs. I can get into some deep woods spots and then drop it off in less than three minutes. It's meant to stay in on or off the truck. Now you have a vehicle to drive around. It doesn't need to be registered. You use the license plate off your truck, so no yearly fees.

The 1181 I use weighs 5000 pounds loaded, so you have to use a dually. It's a one bedroom apartment. Queen bed, full head, galley, slideout, fridge/freezer, A/C, heater, solar powered, propane powered and A/C powered if you're at a full hook-up campground.

We've had some great times in ours. The handling isn't bad even it high winds. It was worth it.

 

[Farmer17]

Truck campers are not near as popular as they used to be and a friend who worked RV Sales told me their resale is very low. He said pop-up camping trailers also have pretty low resale and the canvas tends to stink. If you pull a boat then a camper is about your only option, but if not towing I would much rather have a hard side trailer. Personally, I like to keep things as simple as possible so I would get a pretty plain one that is roomier, cheaper, and easier to maintain, and after all, your just camping in it, if you want a 5 star hotel then STAY in a five star hotel.

 

[EugeneNine]

Mine is an old Palomino.



I've had to rebuild most of it though, that brand doesn't hold up as well as most others. It just levels out my 1/2 ton truck.

 

[JJEH]

Thanks TXSWFAN for sharing. We only have a 1/2 to truck, so we need to get a bit of a smaller size. I plan on installing these suspension helper springs

http://www.summitracing.com/parts/hel-61901/overview/year/2003/make/dodge/model/ram-1500

but still cant exceed a payload of 1587 lbs.

A pop-up might be the way to go.

Will check Capri as well, thanks jarhead1178.

 

[gregintenn]

You can rent a LOT of hotel rooms for the price of buying and upkeep on a camper.

I had a pop up, and every time I got it out, mice had been in it. Last time, they totally destroyed it. I sure was glad to see it going out the driveway behind someone else's truck!

 

[Doug M.]

If you are using a half-ton P/U (it is not a truck - trucks have 3 axles, 400+ HP, 1650+ ft/lbs of torque, and at least 10 and preferably 18 gears and probably pull a 48' trailer ), you have nowhere near the capacity you need. Getting the load moving is only a tiny part of the issue. Suspension capacity, tires, steering, and brakes are all less capable. I would not even consider a camper, trailer, or any other style of RV with less than the biggest P/U you can buy. I've seen too many wrecks.

 

[307-Niner]

You can rent a LOT of hotel rooms for the price of buying and upkeep on a camper.

I had a pop up, and every time I got it out, mice had been in it. Last time, they totally destroyed it. I sure was glad to see it going out the driveway behind someone else's truck!

But you can't take that hotel room and park it next to the fishing hole at the lake. Or the river. I could go on....

I guess my thinking only applies if you are the more "outdoorsy" type. When I want to get away, I try to get out to the woods, away from people.

 

[307-Niner]

Thanks TXSWFAN for sharing. We only have a 1/2 to truck, so we need to get a bit of a smaller size. I plan on installing these suspension helper springs

http://www.summitracing.com/parts/hel-61901/overview/year/2003/make/dodge/model/ram-1500

but still cant exceed a payload of 1587 lbs.

A pop-up might be the way to go.

Will check Capri as well, thanks jarhead1178.

Those look decent! I like the cushions under the preload adjusters, would keep em quiet. No clanging & banging.

Edit: I just saw the price on those. For a few dollars more, you could have air bags. Far more adjustability, better ride when empty, and more capacity too. The new kits are very easy to install.

Just thought I'd throw that out there.

 

[JJEH]

I would not even consider a camper, trailer, or any other style of RV with less than the biggest P/U you can buy. I've seen too many wrecks.

I respectfully disagree. A 1/2 to P/U is perfectly fine for a small RV trailer or camper. It's limited, yes.

I guess my thinking only applies if you are the more "outdoorsy" type. When I want to get away, I try to get out to the woods, away from people.

I so agree with you.

 

[jinx]

This has nothing to do with campers. EugeneNine: Can you tell us about that crazy telephone pole in the back ground of your top photo.

 

[JJEH]

Those look decent! I like the cushions under the preload adjusters, would keep em quiet. No clanging & banging.

Edit: I just saw the price on those. For a few dollars more, you could have air bags. Far more adjustability, better ride when empty, and more capacity too. The new kits are very easy to install.

Just thought I'd throw that out there.

Yeah, I'm looking at the ride control kits as well.

http://www.summitracing.com/parts/fip-2286/overview/year/2003

Not sure yet what way to go.

 

[EugeneNine]

The phone pole was just me trying to figure out photobucket's blur tool.
I went with the popup partly because of the lower weight and CG. The truck handles it fine, its not overloaded, braking is fine and I can handle WV mountains. Any real '1/2 ton' truck can handle those little ones.
I'm not looking to sit in some RV park next to a bunch of other people sitting in RVs with generators running so they can play their xbox. Mine is so I can park on the farm or someplace and have a base camp while we go outdoors.

 

[307-Niner]

If you are on the fence, go with the air bags. Hands down, they are better in every way. And later on, you can add a compressor, gauge, in cab switches, whatever you desire. They even have wireless remote controls for inflation-deflation, if you wish.

Here's my gauge with built-in switches, made my Air-Lift.

 

[gregintenn]

But you can't take that hotel room and park it next to the fishing hole at the lake. Or the river. I could go on....

I guess my thinking only applies if you are the more "outdoorsy" type. When I want to get away, I try to get out to the woods, away from people.

Oh, I'm with you. My wife and kids, however, think camping is staying at the campground at the nearest lake. We know just about everyone there. To me, it is a trailer park at the lake.