check Sherp Tek out, I was gonna go with F550 and Sherp Tek modular utility bed but I wasn't able to $$$wing it......someday maybe IF I win the Lottery
Advice on Camper
- Thread starter Buzz
- Start date
check Sherp Tek out, I was gonna go with F550 and Sherp Tek modular utility bed but I wasn't able to $$$wing it......someday maybe IF I win the Lottery
Fast14riot
Gold $$ Contributor
What my dad has done has the camper on his Chevy 1500, and flat tows a Suzuki Samurai behind it, park the truck camper at the trail head and have another vehicle to run trails. Can also tow the boat behind it.
nmkid
Gold $$ Contributor
Many years ago my first real camper was a slide-in. The biggest mistake I ever made, (in that department). In those days I used my 4WD truck as a real truck. Right away I found out that it was a real bi*** to take the thing off by myself. I went hunting, real 4 wheeling or wood cutting and I would have to remove the camper. So, you go up in the mountains and find a nice spot. Then you decide to ride around the area. The camper has to go with you and you might just lose your camping spot. It happened to me!
Did you go to a trailer? If so, were you still able to get back to the same spots?
Your experience mirrors mine it sounds like. I tent camped my entire life for probably 40+ years. Even staying in a canvas outfitter rent the last two weeks of November in Michigan Upper Peninsula. Loved it and still do. One year while taking down deer camp in about 2 foot of snow, I decided that another option had to be a little less work. I had an enclosed cargo trailer (8.5x23) built with insulation, lights, windows with 30 amp generator hook up rigged. Worked good but still not perfect as corners of the inside frosted up and dropped when melting causing wet carpet. Next step was a fifth wheel. Problem with that was had to tow a trailer behind it with quads, fuel, etc. Alot of weight and like a train going thru the woods. Not to mention tough getting out in deep snow. Then the pick up camper idea popped and my search for it began. Wound up finding a 1995 StarCraft 951 in like new condition. 9.5' long base length. Fits in my 2014 F250 SD short box. Put air bags in it and it carries the 2400 lbs fine. Also had a hybrid trailer built to haul my hunting gear (ATV, fuel, propane, water, coolers, generator etc). Not much room for gear with a camper in the bed. It's the best mobile camp I've ever used. I'd post pics but all is still stored from winter. You won't regret the pick up camper.
We use to have a Fleetwood Elkhorn 10.5' slide in camper. No slides. Truly enjoyed that rig. We rarely reserved camp sites, which for RV's is essential along the West Coast. If you didn't get in before 2PM without a reservation, you probably would be out of luck. At least that is the case for Class A down to Trailers. But with a camper, most camp grounds, as long as you are less than 24' long, will let a Truck Camper use a tent site. A big advantage.
One problem with the camper is it is a bit of a choir to get the camper on and off the truck and can be exaggerated by the topography. If you leave the camper on, that means that you have to pack everything up every time you want to go exploring with the truck.
We have talked about buying another camper. You want to be careful about buying used. These units flex, as do all RV's. This has a tendency to open seems up and cause inner wall leaks. Too often these leaks are not found until it has caused severe damage. So have the camper checked out by people that know where and what to look for.
Good luck in your search.
One problem with the camper is it is a bit of a choir to get the camper on and off the truck and can be exaggerated by the topography. If you leave the camper on, that means that you have to pack everything up every time you want to go exploring with the truck.
We have talked about buying another camper. You want to be careful about buying used. These units flex, as do all RV's. This has a tendency to open seems up and cause inner wall leaks. Too often these leaks are not found until it has caused severe damage. So have the camper checked out by people that know where and what to look for.
Good luck in your search.
nmkid
Gold $$ Contributor
I did go with a 16' trailer. I wasn't able to get to all my spots but, I got close enough without tearing up the trailer.
ryanjay11
Gold $$ Contributor
Since you mentioned the Lotto, this has been #1 on my Lotto list for as long as I've had one: https://earthroamer.com
Back to reality. I've considered one of these for my Tacoma, but with a family, it may not work: https://fourwheelcampers.com/model/project-m/
We tow a boat most times we are on a trip, so a pull behind doesn't really work for us. Otherwise, I'd purchase this:https://www.weeroll.com/gladiator
Good point. My advice also is NEVER buy one with water stains on ceilings or walls. They may tell you the leak is fixed but never trust that the leak is fixed. When you do buy one, try to buy one that looks pristine from leaks and immediately clean and seal all seams, trim and around any openings on both roof and sides. This may need to be done every few years depending on if it's stored inside or outside.
They all leak eventually of they aren't maintained. Everything is junk if it's not maintained. Just how it is. Don't be a afraid to do a little work and things stay nice. I never had a leak or mouse in any RV I've owned. They make products to take care of all those issues. Be Proactive not reactive and your stuff will stay nice
There's a certain amount of give and take in pop up vs hard top PU campers. You'll save weight and have better clearance with the pop up. If you have a garage/barn door that's 8-10' tall, you can probably get a pop up camper in it while on your truck. I need a 12' door for mine. You'll lose R value if you use it in cold climates. I'd have a pop up PU camper if I lived in the south and only used it in mild weather. Mine is heavy but it holds heat well. I only used two 20lb propane tanks last November in 2 weeks in sub freezing temps most days and nights. I had 8 tanks so imagine my surprise.
muleman69
USMC -1st marine Div. RVN
I have three ,one 24' travel trailer that expands, one Very nice Eagle cap camper that expands and an older Starcraft pop up. The pop up stays on the dually year round and used every trip ,wife uses it for her mountain trail trials and I use it for a base camp while packing in the mountains. It has everything but a shower and what I like is to be able to close tail gate for towing horses or boat. The other two campers have not been out in years ,all are kept undercover year around(very important). When we were looking to up grade our pop up we looked at Palamino's and came home with our old one ,found the Palamino to be very poor made and not well thought out. The four wheel campers as mentioned are expensive but very nice, my son has one he uses year around in Idaho and it never gets put in side. Very well built according to him.
memphistransplant
Gold $$ Contributor
Northstar 650SC fits the bill for me. It has everything I need, shower, heat, AC, sink, cassette toilet, queen size bed. Weight with AC is just under 2,000 lbs. It's all about fitting the camper to the truck. I'm limited by the heavy weight of the diesel truck, which limits load to just over 2,100 lbs. After a year, I love this thing, and I can tow my boat.
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I have a Tacoma also, someday I'll get a camper shell on it. That will be like camping in a luxury resort for me when I do, haha.
Beautiful that you can have your camp in your bed and fishing rig in tow behind. I love slide in campers just for that reason.
They make some pretty slick fold down/up side bunks for those camper tops. They clamp on the bed under rails and fold down. They are around 32" wide so limiting use of only 1 in the bed unfortunately. Nice part is they fold up and out of the way for storage when traveling.
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