I'm very new to the truck camping scene, but I've been heavily researching the past 3 days. My desire is to buy a new very compatible truck camper and buy used 1 ton pickup trucks for full time living. I prefer only pouring money to one thing: the living situation or the vehicle and while I do drive on snow and do light off-roading, I can get by with an older pickup. For example a 2006 Chevy Silverado 3500 with a 2019 Cirrus 820 or Lance 850. I plan on driving a lot so there is a chance my car will break down in the middle of nowhere (there's a chance for newer cars too) and so I'd like to be able to park my camper in a storage space and be able to find a used 1 ton pickup easily and move on. I know for compatibility, I should aim for a 3/4 ton camper so that I won't need to worry about weight when buying an older 1 ton truck. I know that some of the really old 1 ton trucks cannot even support new 3/4 ton campers but in general, a 3/4 camper on a 1 ton truck will be safe I am hoping. I also plan on carrying kayaks, surfboards, etc. so 3/4 ton on a 1 ton makes sense. In terms of the two campers I mentioned above, I like those two the most so far. The Lance 850 is cool because it can fit both short bed and long bed trucks. The Cirrus brand in general has really nice design and functionality and the 820 is their 3/4 ton option. However, it can ONLY fit on short beds apparently. I wouldn't even be able to just put it at the edge of a long bed :( So in general, besides the Lance 850, do you guys know of and like any other "all-bed" campers? What do you guys think of my plan in general of getting a very compatible newer truck camper and pairing it with cheap used 1 ton trucks to balance my budget and give me piece of mind? Thanks! And I'm looking forward to join the TC community!

I’d be more likely to buy an older camper and older truck. Truck campers are the highest cost per sq ft of any RV.You definitely can put a short bed camper on a long bed truck. Some think that is advantageous for storage up front. I find it weird. If you open up to look at older models, you’ll have more to look at. Also, if you are looking at Truck Camper Magazine as a “guide” keep in mind that they only list manufacturers that advertise with them. There are several manufacturers that don’t exist any more and quite a number of models that are no longer in production. Host had lightweight no slide campers a few years ago, for example.

Good point. My concern is that if I want to do this full-time, I need to live in some comfort. I am already sacrificing by going short bed and 3/4 ton on the camper. I may just buy a year model older for a slight discount. I notice that a lot of campers just look like they are from the 80s even if they are new. Hopefully, the industry as a whole will change from this and start to accomodate younger off-grid folks.

One more thing, warranties are generally very short on RVs. In addition, buying new doesn’t mean trouble free it could mean, take to the dealer to be fixed. There are horror stories of people buying RVs and keeping them at dealers much of the first year. Appliance warranties are also generally really short.

It's true. Of all the van life/RV life options though, truck campers just seem to me my best bet and if I'm willing to lose 25k on a used truck, I should also be willing to lose 25k-30k on a camper. Hopefully, none of them break or at least just one. But I'm going to look at Host. I saw Venture America came out with a carbon fiber travel trailer. I don't want a travel trailer but Im hoping we get lighter and lighter materials in the next 10-15 years.

You can buy good camper below $10k if you are willing to travel and don't mind some fixing. Good part is that campers "don't age". Meaning unless you know specific models, you won't be able to tell by looks 20 yo camper from 3 yo. (assuming both are taken care about). Don't count on new materials. They already exist and I happen to own 1st aluminium frame Fleetwood put in TC. Combining aluminium with wood make whole new engineering and from the troubles I had, when you can teach minimum wager how to put a staple - teaching him aluminium welding is not going to happen.

Choosing a camper for compatibility (short and long bed)

jimh406
Explorer III
Apr 23, 2020
I’d be more likely to buy an older camper and older truck. Truck campers are the highest cost per sq ft of any RV.

You definitely can put a short bed camper on a long bed truck. Some think that is advantageous for storage up front. I find it weird.

If you open up to look at older models, you’ll have more to look at. Also, if you are looking at Truck Camper Magazine as a “guide” keep in mind that they only list manufacturers that advertise with them. There are several manufacturers that don’t exist any more and quite a number of models that are no longer in production. Host had lightweight no slide campers a few years ago, for example.
iwanttoretireea
Explorer
Apr 23, 2020
Good point. My concern is that if I want to do this full-time, I need to live in some comfort. I am already sacrificing by going short bed and 3/4 ton on the camper. I may just buy a year model older for a slight discount. I notice that a lot of campers just look like they are from the 80s even if they are new. Hopefully, the industry as a whole will change from this and start to accomodate younger off-grid folks.
jimh406
Explorer III
Apr 23, 2020
One more thing, warranties are generally very short on RVs. In addition, buying new doesn’t mean trouble free it could mean, take to the dealer to be fixed. There are horror stories of people buying RVs and keeping them at dealers much of the first year. Appliance warranties are also generally really short.
iwanttoretireea
Explorer
Apr 23, 2020
It's true. Of all the van life/RV life options though, truck campers just seem to me my best bet and if I'm willing to lose 25k on a used truck, I should also be willing to lose 25k-30k on a camper. Hopefully, none of them break or at least just one. But I'm going to look at Host. I saw Venture America came out with a carbon fiber travel trailer. I don't want a travel trailer but Im hoping we get lighter and lighter materials in the next 10-15 years.
Kayteg1
Explorer II
Apr 23, 2020
You can buy good camper below $10k if you are willing to travel and don't mind some fixing.
Good part is that campers "don't age".
Meaning unless you know specific models, you won't be able to tell by looks 20 yo camper from 3 yo. (assuming both are taken care about).
Don't count on new materials. They already exist and I happen to own 1st aluminium frame Fleetwood put in TC.
Combining aluminium with wood make whole new engineering and from the troubles I had, when you can teach minimum wager how to put a staple - teaching him aluminium welding is not going to happen.
Lwiddis
Explorer II
Apr 23, 2020
Full time living in a TC? Try it first for a week in a rental.
iwanttoretireea
Explorer
Apr 23, 2020
Interesting... ok so if I'm leaning towards the used travel camper market, where is a good place to look? RVtrader? Dealers?
Kayteg1
Explorer II
Apr 23, 2020
Auto tempest covers all advertising
jimh406
Explorer III
Apr 23, 2020
Never heard of auto tempest. Any way, RVTrader, eBay, and craigslist for Truck Campers.
KD4UPL
Explorer
Apr 24, 2020
I highly recommend a long bed truck. It will give you probably 4 times more choices of campers. Also, if you want an inexpensive truck, most of the no frills work truck type trucks are long beds because that's what people who actually use trucks for truck things want. I too would also recommend a used camper unless you have plenty of money to pay cash for a new one. When I sold my 2003 camper in 2018 it went for under $10,000. This was an 11' model with a dry back, generator, remote jacks, 2 awnings, solar panel, etc.
Campers are heavy. A 3500 SRW is a minimum. If you intend to have a 4wd diesel crew cab truck with lots of options, haul lots of gear, and have a nice big camper you really should be looking for a dually.

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Choosing a camper for compatibility (short and long bed)

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