Truck Camper

[DRONE]

We have a F-250 4WD crew cab short bed and have been looking at a couple of cab over style campers.
Couple of questions to those that have now or have had,
1) just the 2 of us is there enough room for us for weekend/ week long camping.
2) Pulses or miniuses over a trailer type?
3) would you recomend
Thanks

[URY914]

I've always wanted one.
Here are a few sites I follow with loads of information:

https://www.truckcamperadventure.com/


https://www.truckcampermagazine.com/

[vash]

4 wheel campers are a dream of mine.

I drove a friends huge Lange topped 3/4 ton diesel and it felt huge with the wind resistance. The pop up ones would appear more aerodynamic at the least.

It would be perfect if you had to tow a bass boat or something. But I’m not sure how it would feel if you had to go to the store while camping and have to kinda pack it up to move the home.

[URY914]

Vash,

I agree with the pop-ups I'm looking at them also.

4 Wheel Campers are very high quality compared to others from what I read.

[Arizona_928]

My thought on them. If you're going to be roughing/site seeing it across the county/canada. Do you really need a tiolet, sink, shower in your truck bed camper? Honestly a bed, and storage for supplies, and of course the planned out stops... Like the point is not to live in full time?
Get out catch covid/get fresh air, or get a pull camper...

Maybe a fancier version of this:

[nvr2mny]

We had an F350 CC 4x4 w/long bed. Bought a new Lance cab over. This was back in ‘92. We had 2 kids and 2 dogs at the time. Worked great. Lance (then) made a very nice camper. With only 2 people I think it’d work really well. The only thing I’d do differently today if I were in the market would be to buy a used one.

[RWebb]

Originally Posted by DRONE

We have a F-250 4WD crew cab short bed and have been looking at a couple of cab over style campers.
Couple of questions to those that have now or have had,
1) just the 2 of us is there enough room for us for weekend/ week long camping.
2) Pulses or miniuses over a trailer type?
3) would you recomend
Thanks

If you have a trailer instead, you may have parking issues, turning issues, etc.

But you can leave it at the campsite to "hold" it - unless somebody steals it.

And you'll always think: maybe a bed mounted camper would be better...

If you have a bed mounted camper, you'll always think: maybe a trailer would be better.

[Dantilla]

Camper is far superior if ever on Forest Service roads, or any other off-pavement areas.

[look 171]

Originally Posted by vash

4 wheel campers are a dream of mine.

I drove a friends huge Lange topped 3/4 ton diesel and it felt huge with the wind resistance. The pop up ones would appear more aerodynamic at the least.

It would be perfect if you had to tow a bass boat or something. But I’m not sure how it would feel if you had to go to the store while camping and have to kinda pack it up to move the home.

Damn, you are my twin living in the north part of the state. I have a crewcab 8' bed duramax, 4 WD. My poor kids don't really know it yet, but I want to drive to Alaska take some of the beaten path trails and do some back country camping. I have been watching lots of Utube on campers. These guys out of Montana do this back overland explorer with their Toyota 4 runners and trucks. looks like fun. my wife made lots of noise about not going with us.

[aigel]

I have a 2003 Four Wheel Camper "Hawk", which is their full size 6.5" long model. It sits in my 2015 Ram 1500 Ecodiesel 4x4 crew cab. It is a pretty basic equipped camper with an ice box fridge, 2 burner propane stove, 20 gallon fresh water tank and manual pump faucet into a sink. It has the couch type seating that pulls into a bed and the queen size cab over. I have the cold weather extra insulator and also had them install a one piece roof and roof lift assist a couple years ago. What it is missing is a heater and a john. Both things that can easily be substituted (warm sleeping bags and the great outdoors).

>>> 1) just the 2 of us is there enough room for us for weekend/ week long camping.
Yes, absolutely. I have had up to 4 people in mine. Usually two sleep on the cab over bed and two sleep in the seats on the lower deck that can be pulled out. If you are only two people you will be able to leave the seating alone and use some of the floor for extra storage.

>>> 2) Pulses or miniuses over a trailer type?
Plus:
a) You can travel much faster. A pop up camper like mine can go 90 mph safely albeit not legally in most places. I just got back from a trip through NV that has 80 mph speed limits and I went 85 mph most the way. Even heavy winds don't matter much. Note that I said "pop up", if you have one of those rigid campers, it is a horrible sail in the wind and I would not recommend it. In CA it is even more pronounced of an advantage as trailer speed limit is 55 mph and the cops are pretty strict about it. If I can go 75 (speed limit on interstate is 70) vs 60 mph, that is an HOUR savings for a typical 300 mile trip.
b) Like others mentioned, with a camper built for 4 wheeling (needs to be welded aluminum frame construction, a lance will be rattled to pieces after the first outing) you can go places a trailer will never go. This means camping ALONE and not next to someone with a 30 foot trailer and two generators. This means camping right next to the 4x4 accessible fishing hole where others have to go take a day trip.
c) Pop up campers will use less fuel than towing a trailer. I get 20+ mpg (Ecodiesel) doing 70, at 85 it is more like 18.
d) You can tow a boat, toy trailer with dirt bikes etc.
e) A good 4x4 camper will hold its value unlike most RVs.

Cons:
a) It is cumbersome and not standard practice to unload a truck camper when using it for camping. My camper can actually be unloaded pretty easily when I travel with the lift legs attached. Main challenge is that you can't lower it all the way to the ground. People carry a couple boards you can stand up on their side in an "X" shape to lower it on or you can just bring your chainsaw and cut a few logs instead. This would only be something if you set up camp for a week and needed the truck daily, like a hunting camp.
So, if you don't unload and need to drive, it means stowing everything where it doesn't bounce around and pulling the roof down. Roof up / down is only a matter of a minute, literally, but stowing things can be annoying.
b) You can't get a decent bathroom in any 4x4 capable camper. All you will get is a camping porta potty which I find gross to have to clean up. A trailer will likely have a real toilet that you can empty and flush in a waste station. Same with a shower. The camper may have hot water but you will shower on the outside with a curtain etc.
c) A trailer is easily stored / unhooked. A camper takes more time to unload. I can do it in 15 minutes but it still is annoying.

>>> 3) would you recomend
For my uses a trailer is not good. I am working full time and like to get there and back quick, I hunt and fish and want to get away from other campers, I like to camp "dispersed" away from people even when on a road trip, just find public land and spend the night. Nobody in my family, including women need a bathroom or a shower. We have done 2 week trips and just hit a developed campground every few days when we need to freshen up. I would absolutely recommend if you have similar needs and likes. For me camping is about going with less but I don't want to sleep on the ground either.

I also looked at the Sportsmobile type van setups. Those are a LOT more expensive and now your vehicle is purpose built. With a truck camper you can have a truck in 15 minutes and can replace the truck or camper when needed.

When I do this again - retirement - I will get a 1 ton truck and an Alaskan brand camper with the hard sides that has more amenities, specifically heat, as I expect to do more exploring in colder climates with that.

Couple links from threads I started:
Any truck camper guys on the board?
EcoDiesel 3.0 V6 / RAM

Great forum for 4x4 campers:
https://www.wanderthewest.com/forum/

My setup in the wild:



Have fun looking and let us know what you decide.

G

[rfuerst911sc]

For two people I think a well equipped over the cab truck camper is ideal . It gives you all the creature comforts needed while still being able to " rough it " to areas a pull type trailer can't access . Obviously parking is much easier as you are basically at the same length as the truck but taller . I agree that buying used is much better than new , the depreciation is horrible on a new one .

Or you can go old school like I did . While I haven't done anything to mine since I gutted it she's in queue for restoration . I have a soft spot for these old Avions . When looking at a used camper regardless of truck camper/travel trailer/motorhome you want to inspect for leaks ........... then leaks ............ and finally leaks . All of these rigs are prone to roof/sidewall leaks so a good inspection is needed . Just like cars for sale that state " ran when parked " the equivalent in the RV world is " roof leaked but been fixed " .

Here is the thread I started on mine . I hope to get back to her next year .

hello my name is Rick and I'm addicted to projects- truck camper

[Seahawk]

I knew I shouldn't have opened this threat, I knew I shouldn't have opened this thread, I knew...

[URY914]

BTW Lance does build aluminum framed truck campers now.

You have to be real lucky to find a decent used truck camper. Most of those for sale seem to have been sitting outside for years and are now for sale to get them out of the yard. Rick is right about the leaks. Also bugs, roaches, ants, etc. Truck campers are much more popular out West so the used market may be better for them.

I spoke to an Alaskan owner once and he loved it. He told me customer service is very good.They have been building them the same basic way since the beginning. If they only had an aluminum frame they'd last forever.

There was a company called Livin Lite that built 100% aluminum campers. I believe they no longer build campers and only build trailers now. If you could find a used camper it would be be a gem.

I have a canvas tent truck camper I use at Daytona a few times a year. I'll post a picture of it tonight. It knocks down and stores in a duffel bag when not in use. Not for everyone but it's OK for a weekend.

[billybek]

Weight. Be very careful about how much the camper weighs and how much gear you will carry with you. This puts you into 1 ton dually territory very quickly.

I have a camper now. An Adventurer 80W that I picked up a few years back. It fills the 8 foot box and a queen bed over the cab and at about 1800 lbs wet which is pretty light for a full size.
The guy I bought it from was carrying it on a 1/2 ton with airbags. It is a pretty good workout for my 2500hd GMC with the 6.0 gas in the mountains. You need to pay attention to keep up.

The Adventurer is pretty good for me but when my son is with me space gets a bit tight and he claims that I snore. I am not sure about the last part.

Pluses:
You can get into some pretty tight spots with it as long as you have enough room overhead.
You can tow a boat with a truck and camper as long as you don't exceed the vehicles rating.
You can stop pretty much anywhere that is relatively level and grab a quick nap and no one knows (unless you snore) that anyone is inside.
If you are going to be in one place for a while it can be unloaded and used as long as you have a solid base. You can't leave them hanging by the camper jacks.

Negatives:
Heavy in the truck.
Bit of a handful in the wind.
Seems like I am always taking something out and putting it away.
Space is tight inside in the smaller campers.
You have to really pack up everytime you want to move or get groceries.
Leveling up can be problematic if you ( or the refrigerator ) is fussy about such things.
Relatively small grey and black water tanks that require more frequent trips to the sani station. The charge is the same for a little camper as it is for a large 5th wheel to dump.

My old camper was a Starcraft popup. Loved that little camper and wish I had never sold it.
I had it all over Alberta, BC, down the west coast in the states and down into Mexico to Cabo San Lucas.

Advantages of the popup were numerous. Lower centre of gravity, less wind resistance and my old Starcraft was very light compared to my current camper at around 800 lbs. It was actually built for mid size trucks and I have some photos of it on my old Jeep Comanche.
I had my kayak racks on the pop up camper. Easy on and off for the boat. No weight on for taking the top up. Most lift systems cannot accommodate more weight on the roof.

Disadvantages to the pop up was storage space.

I am honestly looking at going to a bumper pull trailer. I am a mountain biker and I would really like to be able to move about a little easier once set up. Will see.

It is a good time to buy with campgrounds closed due to covid. Have seen some deals out there.

[DRONE]

Hmmmm hadn't considered a pop up type, I'll have to look at them, the solid ones do look like sails.
I did look at a Lance 855S because it had a side pop out but that adds an extra 600 Lbs. I don't think the added 20 inches would be worth it, the owner told me he would try and offset the camper in the truck bed to help even out the weight as much as possible

[Rusty Heap]

here is ours.


Artic Fox 990. High end quality.

It's like a fancy Condo on wheels. the full slide out is a must have.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8dpvImMzwrs

[DRONE]

Rusty, how much does it weigh? did you have air bags installed? with the pop out stowed can you still get inside and use everything? asking because we only have 136 inches between our fence and the house so when off the truck we would still like to get in and clean or whatever.

[vash]

we opted for a pop up trailer.

this parking spot looks innocuous but we had to drag it up a very rough trail and across a huge meadow. this was elk hunting.

we had to pack everything up in a fire-drill like exercise because the sky opened up and dumped epic rain, western style. that meadow became a mud slick. we would have been screwed. we got the trailer on terra-firma which was great, but it added 2 miles to our hike in. it was a slick mess.

the pop up has been every where. it is jacked up and has decent clearances for most hunting dirt roads.

[HardDrive]

My dad has had a Lance on the back of his F-350 for years. We have gotten tons of use out it.

My only thing is that I would recommend getting a diesel.

[GH85Carrera]