Best camper

The Fords by the time they used a heavier duty frame, they ended up at the same point. The beer can bodies make great sense on a grocery getter 1/2 ton.

From the factory stickers , I think it's 3500# vs 4500#. The '74 was a tin can on some rails, not too posh, empty 3500# GVW of 8000#, the '08 CTD 1ton has a GVW 10,100#

Even with out checking from where you're from, the bush looked like Aus. The second time we travelled there, we "hired" a Drive Beyond 'ute with a couple of roof top tents.

Most builders list the absolute lightest weight without ANY options. Capris weight didn't include the cabover as I recall. When we had our half ton I looked into Capri as the initial weights posted were in the ballpark. But then I started adding the necessary equipment and not only the weight became a problem but the associated cost as well. Just be sure to do any research with care and diligence. The only realistic hard sided option I came up with (weight wise) was the Eureka but unfortunately, they are no longer an option.

Capri campers out of texas I think

Or their cowboy version would work

Downwindtracker2 wrote:
When it comes to campers, even your 3/4t are challenged. The trucks are nice ,but all that nice comes with a weight price. My '08 1ton's payload is less than the payload of the '74 3/4t I used to have.

I've used campers, travel trailer, and tent trailers on logging roads. Both the campers and the travel trailer have problems with trees, or to the point their lower branches. Tent trailers worked fine and could be parked on some pretty rough ground. They make some off roaddy looking ones, they aren't really off road, but should work OK for that.

Lightweight like this Pop Up weigh 1200lbs
w

I think it's time to explore the possibility of a RTT (roof top tent) on a nice low rack for the 1/2 ton's bed.
jefe

Downwindtracker2 wrote:
,,, My '08 1ton's payload is less than the payload of the '74 3/4t I used to have......

I think we have different understanding of "Pay" when it comes to truck.
New trucks are heavier than the old ones (Ford aluminium is just an exception)
So when you are willing to pay for 9900 lb registration, with new truck the cargo calculation will come less than on the older one, but this is all paper or taxable weight and have very loose connection to truck psychical capabilities

When it comes to campers, even your 3/4t are challenged. The trucks are nice ,but all that nice comes with a weight price. My '08 1ton's payload is less than the payload of the '74 3/4t I used to have.

I've used campers, travel trailer, and tent trailers on logging roads. Both the campers and the travel trailer have problems with trees, or to the point their lower branches. Tent trailers worked fine and could be parked on some pretty rough ground. They make some off roaddy looking ones, they aren't really off road, but should work OK for that.

mbloof wrote:

yr2017 wrote:
Thanks for the replies. Buying another truck is not an option. The Dodge is his daily driver and I don't want him to add to his debt.

A small used travel trailer would be the best option then.

A used TT is not necessarily the best option. Maybe the OP’s grandson doesn’t want a travel trailer. And maybe it has nothing to do with going into the back country. We’ve been camping in truck campers for the past 14 years and never in the back country. We like the agility of a TC and have never wanted a TT.

Why discourage the OP’s grandson from getting a TC if that’s what he wants? He must be willing to scale back his options to something that will not significantly overload his truck. The options are quite limited. But they’re out there.

Optimistic Paranoid wrote:

FireGuard wrote:

mbloof wrote:

yr2017 wrote:
Thanks for the replies. Buying another truck is not an option. The Dodge is his daily driver and I don't want him to add to his debt.

A small used travel trailer would be the best option then.

X2

Been my impression that people who want truck campers - by and large - want them because they're planning to go into the back country where they don't think they can pull a travel trailer.

(Whether that's a realistic belief or not could be the subject of another thread.)

In any event, if that's the case, they probably wouldn't be happy with a travel trailer.

We believe you are correct about TC people - we want to take our TC everywhere and anywhere our 4x4 can go. And the fact we can go anytime, and never have to return to pick it up if we go off on a new adventure when we find it ... It's not for everyone, but right for us - on the road in TC since 2002 ...

FireGuard wrote:

mbloof wrote:

yr2017 wrote:
Thanks for the replies. Buying another truck is not an option. The Dodge is his daily driver and I don't want him to add to his debt.

A small used travel trailer would be the best option then.

X2

Been my impression that people who want truck campers - by and large - want them because they're planning to go into the back country where they don't think they can pull a travel trailer.

(Whether that's a realistic belief or not could be the subject of another thread.)

In any event, if that's the case, they probably wouldn't be happy with a travel trailer.