Hi ThereNew member here although have been lurking for quite a while.Soon looking at becoming a solo full timer.I'm newly retired this year and my plan is to go the truck camper route for the flexibility in getting in places easier then a motorhome As stated in the subject line I'm going to try to stay around 60k for the truck and camper.Both used of course.So that I don't look back later and wish I'd chosen differently my thoughts are to go with a 1 ton duallyI'm thinking 35-40 for the truck and the balance for the camper.Does that sound reasonable for a package that could give me comfort and reliability for some years of service.Need good four seasons capability in the camper.West coast guy here and plan on going southerly at times but also have lots of connections in coastal Alaska so could see myself traveling that way as well.Anyway I know it's a broad asked before question but looking for input on truck and camper choices in the used market based on above.Thanks!

FWIW I just special ordered a brand new F-350 DRW and went with the 6.2L gas engine as I don't tow anything, so figured the 6.2 would be plenty of motor for our usage, and after $3500 of rebates the truck cost barely over $40K. If you insist on diesel that's different, but if you're willing to consider gas you may be able to get new, depending on what your camper wants and needs are. Enjoy the hunt and good luck with whatever you decide on.

$40k will get you a low mile dually gasser no problem and $20k buys a very nice used camper with slide out. With a dually you'll have minimal $ in upgrades to hold the camper. Tie downs and maybe something for the rear suspension depending how big a camper you get.

I was in the same shoes a year ago and after seeing several years old trucks with 40k miles selling for $45,000 I decided to order the truck I like straight from the factory for $60k. Thanks to avoiding options like CC, 4WD, or sunroof, that I have no need for, it did not come too expensive afterall. I am handy, so I can restore $7000 camper to full potential, but there is no way I can make 360 degree cameras on the truck. ... or voice recognition GPS.Or make the older truck/6000 lb camper making 13 mpg with power to spare.

You certainly could could get a new nicely equipped gas truck and a really nice used TC for 60K. If not planning on towing and just the camper the gas would be fine. I bought my used TC for 5500 and it is as big as they get without a slide. It was in excellent condition and is a four season. As Kayteg says you can do a lot to a Truck Camper for relatively cheap. With my solar and my 12 volt danfoss fridge which you should check into if full timing I probably have about 8500 in my TC and I would be very comfortable full timing by myself in it. I do think you would like having the 5 year power train warranty when heading off into the wilderness. For 10k you can get some really nice TC's if you shop around. Unless of course you want multiple slides and in great shape. JMHO

60k Budget truck and camper | Good Sam Community

Grit_dog
Navigator
Sep 08, 2017
OP, was that 04 a short bed or long bed?
If short bed, I haul essentially the same camper on the same truck. Long bed would put some of the weight on the front with a 811 and be better, but you're smart in figuring your tolerance for sway.
FWIW the setup in my sig on OE alloy wheels and 3700-3900lb rated tires has hauled the camper many miles on and off road, dirt, rocks, gravel bars in a river, cross winds in the prairies pretty admirably. (For me. Yes a dually 3500 or larger would get rid of more sway and have more factor or safety in the wheels and tires, admittedly.)
And YES if I was full timing or used the camper a lot I'd have a camper that size on a dually. But I've got only maybe 10,000miles of hauling the camper since 2013 and the camper only leaves the shop once or twice a year. The other 50 weeks a year a dually is totally overkill for me.
burningman
Explorer II
Sep 09, 2017
Actually you can put huge discs on earlier model trucks, you're not limited to drums.
You just have to run 19.5 wheels. You can even run 22.5 semi truck wheels if you want, the hub adapters are about $1000. But the original brakes on even an earlier one-ton are perfectly fine. You shouldn't go down mountain passes riding the brakes anyway.

The problem with that truck/camper combo you drove was being single-rear-wheel.
I've owned several different single rear wheel trucks and several duallies. It doesn't matter what you do to a single-rear truck, it's never going to have the confident, stable handling with a camper that a dually has.
Skip the expensive learning curve others have done, get a dually. It's the only right way to haul a big camper.
Single rear wheel trucks can haul big campers "adequately". But not as well as duallies. If camper carrying is the truck's main purpose, why would you even look at singles? That makes no sense at all.
Powerdude
Explorer
Sep 09, 2017
You should be a able to get a long-bed extended cab gas truck new, for the low $40k-ish.

Easily doable.
Oldtart
Explorer
Sep 09, 2017
burningman wrote:
If camper carrying is the truck's main purpose, why would you even look at singles? That makes no sense at all.

I guess because I'm still learning.
But I get it
burningman
Explorer II
Sep 09, 2017
Oldtart wrote:
burningman wrote:
If camper carrying is the truck's main purpose, why would you even look at singles? That makes no sense at all.

I guess because I'm still learning.
But I get it

We all learn... I'm hoping to save you the expensive learning curve!

The single-wheel/dual-wheel debate is an old, hashed and re-hashed debate.
It's good that you drove that single wheel rig that even already had stability upgrades, because the first time you drive a dually with a camper you'll immediately feel the difference.

I get it, some people don't want a dually for their daily-driver pickup (although my last four have been) but if it's primarily a camper hauler, wider is better.
NGaMountains
Explorer
Sep 10, 2017
Powerdude wrote:
You should be a able to get a long-bed extended cab gas truck new, for the low $40k-ish.

Easily doable.

My 2017 F-350 DRW Super Cab 4x4 6.2L gas V8 was under $41K. Just brought a 3650 pound Bigfoot home from Dallas to Atlanta and the truck handled the camper great.

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