Need truck camper recommendations

[Blackrock]

Now you done gone and got me looking at truck campers. My local dodge dealer has a gasser 3/4 ton 8 foot bed with a 3468# payload that I like. It should haul a pretty good size Lance camper.

[aircommuter]

Originally Posted by Blackrock

Now you done gone and got me looking at truck campers. My local dodge dealer has a gasser 3/4 ton 8 foot bed with a 3468# payload that I like. It should haul a pretty good size Lance camper.

I like my Eagle Cap. On my pre smog Dodge, with too many upgrades to mention. Including 2016 seats, heated and cooled…

[mnoland30]

I had an old Skamper pop-up camper with a shower and toilet on my 1995 F-250. It was marginal. If you're serious, you might want to be looking at a 1 ton dually. I can tell you I am much more comfortable pulling my trailer than driving with that camper on. I can't imagine what the heavier ones are like.

[MR.M]

Originally Posted by mnoland30

I had an old Skamper pop-up camper with a shower and toilet on my 1995 F-250. It was marginal. If you're serious, you might want to be looking at a 1 ton dually. I can tell you I am much more comfortable pulling my trailer than driving with that camper on. I can't imagine what the heavier ones are like.

1500 to 2000 lb slide in campers are available northstar pop-up slide in camper is around 1500 lbs easy for a 2500 . the hard sided full size truck campers start getting in the 3500 range but forget a dually most slide in campers are not wide enough for a dually . Won't be long i'll be back to the pop-up slide in camper with all the bells and whistles well under 2000 lbs loaded and much easier at the pump and driving

[HistoricMustang]

Our family had a slide in camper back in the mid 1960's. It was "loaded" onto a 1965 Chevy "20" with 283 cu. in V-8 and double low transmission.

I got my *** chewed out numerous times for forgetting to unplug electrical before offloading the camper.

Had good times in that camper. Will try to locate a photo and share.

[SS Sixteen O four]

If you are stuck with the idea of a camper on a 1500 you should know that 2 door cabs and 8' boxes give you the best truck camper carrying capacity. The more doors and shorter the boxes take away from your ability to haul with respect to your GVW or individual axles loading. Our 1500, Silverado, 2 door, 8' box, 2wd has 1980 lbs of cargo capacity and a truck camper glove box TC sticker of 1200 lbs. The Chev 2500 4 door with a short box I drive at work has a glove box truck camper rating of 1100 lbs, thats 100 lbs less than than our 1500. Crazy eh? So the moral of the story is to do your research carefully as not all trucks are created equally.


We have a small Real-Lite 1604 pop-up with no bathroom (except aftermarket cassette toilet) and an outside shower. Loaded up the camper weighs 1850 pounds plus myself and my wife and a full tank of gas, which puts us between the GVW and the axle weights. So technically we are overweight but within the capacities of both front and rear axles. We added an extra set of springs, heavy duty shocks, power stop brakes and LT tires. We boondock alot and travel dirt roads but don't do any off-roading persay.

[CaptnJohn]

Originally Posted by MR.M

1500 to 2000 lb slide in campers are available northstar pop-up slide in camper is around 1500 lbs easy for a 2500 . the hard sided full size truck campers start getting in the 3500 range but forget a dually most slide in campers are not wide enough for a dually . Won't be long i'll be back to the pop-up slide in camper with all the bells and whistles well under 2000 lbs loaded and much easier at the pump and driving

No idea what you mean by they are not wide enough for a dually. Every dually I’ve owned the 8’ box was exactly the same as a srw box. Only heavier axels and suspension. Nearly ever truck camper I’ve seen is on a dually as most don’t want bare bone campers.

[Jboshell1]

Originally Posted by jchiar

Selling my Class C and switching to a Truck camper.
I am also purchasing a pickup.

Id like to stick with a 1500 series truck gas.

Is there a lightweight Truck camper with a wet bath that can be size appropriately?

No 1500 can handle a slide in camper.

[ER17453361]

Only buy once and get nothing less then a 3/4 or one ton diesel dully. All brands are good. The others may work, but this is the way to safely go. You'll thank me later.

[ohcamper]

I seriously consider adding an additional leaf spring. I did this years ago to my first truck camper. If you are going 4 season camper like aLancen150 not going to cut it.

[aircommuter]

Originally Posted by CaptnJohn

No idea what you mean by they are not wide enough for a dually. Every dually I’ve owned the 8’ box was exactly the same as a srw box. Only heavier axels and suspension. Nearly ever truck camper I’ve seen is on a dually as most don’t want bare bone campers.

I think he means the jacks aren’t wide enough, that’s why they’re swing out jacks for Dually trucks.

[bbells]

The outfitter is probably the lightest and best truck camper. But, they are relatively expensive used.

[DavidWJ]

Why are you limiting yourself to a 1/2 ton? Get a 3/4 ton and enjoy its utility.

I had a GMC K1500 shortbed that was great for putting around in, but useless for carrying anything substantial.

I now have GMC K2500HD, which is essentially a 1 ton truck that rides well and has single rear wheels.

[BBogey]

We had a Lance 825 on our Toyota Tundra and it worked out very well

[Ken J]

My 2014 F150XLT, V8,3.73 gears, Ext. cab with 8 ft. box shows a capacity of 2200lbs., ordered it with the Heavy duty payload pkg. I camped for years with a 1995 Sunlite popup with a loaded weight of about 1200lbs,battery, water and propane.. Pulled a boat with a load in it, must have been 2000lbs. The truck handled it easily, put timbrem?, the hard rubber stops, on the rear to help with the weight after I started camping with 2 adult labs and all their gear, mostly food. I boondocked camped with no desire to run the 30- 50 miles to town for supplies, thats why all the weight in the boat on the trailer. The F150 actually pulled it better, much better engine, handled the weight and stopped as good as the 2006 F250 5.4.gas V8 that I had before the 2014. I would guess that the newer f150 with HD payload pkg. would have an even higher payload because of less vehicle weight? That said, its not enough for the type of slide in your thinking of purchasing. Bought a 2017 Sunseeker 2860 and have not used the popup since. Giving it to some relatives that live in Canada, but with the border closed it will be in my yard for awhile yet. I should sell the truck as I drive it just to give it some use, it has under 13000 miles on it and would not have have enough capacity for the slide in camper I would want to replace the Sunseeker if I decide to go back to a slide in.

[TowPro]

I agree on Truck Camper Mag. I have found the weight they list is very accurate.
note, I had a 2018 Ram 3500 dually, 14,000 lbs GVWR. with an Arctic Fox 990 I was pushing this number with a little water on board.