Forum Discussion

cartmancartman's avatar
Apr 28, 2016

Feedback appreciated for truck question

I currently own a 2013 3500 Megacab Dually 4x4 Diesel, it has big wheels on it (not the best MPG) and I primarily use it to tow my toy hauler. I am seriously considering buying a truck camper and realized with a short bed, options are limited.

I like to buy things right the first time, so if I buy a camper I want to make sure I keep it for a long time without second guessing my purchase or kicking myself in a** every time I see a long bed camper. I am a bigger guy btw and do plan on buying a new camper, maybe with a slide out or two.

My options are the following:
1) Buy a short bed camper and use my current truck.
2) Extend the Megacab to a long bed, costs around 8k (prefer not to do this)
3) Buy an older truck (maybe 15-20k ish?) and buy my dream camper and use this solely for the camper.

I guess a few advantages to the last option would be:

1)If I go to a city far away and do not feel like traveling anymore, I can leave the truck and camper at the airport or rv parking and pick it up a few months later.
2)I have my dream camper.
3)When at home. I leave my RV in a RV storage lot, I guess it would be harder to steal when it is hooked up to my truck.
4) One paticular RV storage I use is very high security and wont let me use store there unless it is on a trailer or if they have a way to move it around. So basically I will have to buy a small trailer for that.
5) It will have stock tires so better MPG than my current truck.


Cons:

1)Cost of the truck, insurance, registration etc
2) Reliability of buying an older truck (maybe or maybe not an issue).


I never had a camper before so I am not sure how often I will use it but I am assuming it will be every couple months, definitely less than 10k miles a year. The older truck would be quad cab,long bed, 4x4 still debating on gas/diesel or dually/SRW. Most likely it will be another diesel dually.


Feedback would be appreciated.
Thanks.
  • cartmancartman wrote:
    I currently own a 2013 3500 Megacab Dually 4x4 Diesel, it has big wheels on it (not the best MPG) and I primarily use it to tow my toy hauler. I am seriously considering buying a truck camper and realized with a short bed, options are limited.

    I like to buy things right the first time, so if I buy a camper I want to make sure I keep it for a long time without second guessing my purchase or kicking myself in a** every time I see a long bed camper. I am a bigger guy btw and do plan on buying a new camper, maybe with a slide out or two.

    My options are the following:
    1) Buy a short bed camper and use my current truck.
    2) Extend the Megacab to a long bed, costs around 8k (prefer not to do this)
    3) Buy an older truck (maybe 15-20k ish?) and buy my dream camper and use this solely for the camper.

    I guess a few advantages to the last option would be:

    1)If I go to a city far away and do not feel like traveling anymore, I can leave the truck and camper at the airport or rv parking and pick it up a few months later.
    2)I have my dream camper.
    3)When at home. I leave my RV in a RV storage lot, I guess it would be harder to steal when it is hooked up to my truck.
    4) One paticular RV storage I use is very high security and wont let me use store there unless it is on a trailer or if they have a way to move it around. So basically I will have to buy a small trailer for that.
    5) It will have stock tires so better MPG than my current truck.


    Cons:

    1)Cost of the truck, insurance, registration etc
    2) Reliability of buying an older truck (maybe or maybe not an issue).


    I never had a camper before so I am not sure how often I will use it but I am assuming it will be every couple months, definitely less than 10k miles a year. The older truck would be quad cab,long bed, 4x4 still debating on gas/diesel or dually/SRW. Most likely it will be another diesel dually.


    Feedback would be appreciated.
    Thanks.


    You say you've never had a camper before but you use your current truck to tow your toy hauler?
  • Actually I did a bit more research tonight and came across the Host Aspen 9.5 which fits a short bed. I did see campers a while back and the ones I really liked were the triple pop out on long beds, I need to take a look at this Host model.
  • If you use your current set up, short box dually, look into the campers with a slide out.
    I like the fact of only maintaining one engine.
    Have you been out looking at campers? Most will tell you to buy the camper first, then find the truck that will haul it.