Do I need a DRW truck?
I know this is probably a real basic question, but for a decent, self-contained TC that is going to be used for heavy boondocking (preferably with an inbuilt LP generator and other four season support...
Forum Discussion
mlts22 wrote:
What I'm looking at for a camper is probably a Lance 855S. It is short enough to fit on a 6 foot bed, but long enough to have the basics available (including the must have propane genset.) Dry, it is 2650 pounds, so even with 1000 pounds (full tanks), I'm well within the GVWR of a one ton vehicle.
As for towing, it won't be much, if anything. I might have a small enclosed cargo trailer for boondocking or a hitch mounted cargo rack as a way to store additional propane bottles.
The good thing is that I see a lot of 3/4 to one ton pickups where I work, so other than tucking the vehicle in the back 40, there shouldn't be any real parking issues.
That 2650# dry is without AC, generator and any other options that you add. So figure the dry weight of the camper just went up 200# for those 2 items. Builders are notorious for under estimating the campers dry weight. Are you going to install an awing? If so you have that weight also. I think you would be ok with a 350/3500 series trucks but make sure they have the camper package and have the highest GVWR that you can find. I had a 2011 F350 4X4 gasser CC LB with camper package and a GVWR of 11,200#. Per Ford the truck was rated for a 3500# camper.
Good luck with your choice and enjoy what you get.
