Hi Folks,You have a great forum here. I am a middle-aged geezer who, at 51 and still camping in tents, has decided I need to be a bit more comfortable for these old bones and back.I've been spending the past few weeks reading as much as I can and have learned a lot. Last summer, I traded in my F-150 and bought a new to me one ton truck in preparation for a truck camper at some point.I found one for sale, a 2013 Palomino Bronco B-1251 SB that has never been used, and from what I can determine it looks like a pretty good deal. However, I know nothing about what to look for. I've read enough to know that Palomino may not be the best brand in terms of fit and finish/quality, but I just don't have $20K lying around to invest in something that I'm not even sure I will have the time to use very often.The camper appears to have the main features I am looking for: inside wet bath, popup, lightweight, etc. I am planning to take a look at the camper on Saturday morning and am wondering what I should be looking for? What would you say are the limitations of the Palomino Bronco versus the other popup camper lines? Since it looks like this model does not have a grey water tank, does that mean the 7 gal black water tank holds both? How well does that work and does it severely limit the length of time spent camping before needing to visit the dump station?Thanks in advance for any help or advice you can provide,

I had an 8' Palamino camper a few years ago. It was old, probably from the '80s but I wasn't impressed with the materials used in the construction. It had OSB (particle board) used in a lot of places that probably should have had something stronger. The entry door never did latch quite right because it was too flimsy to stay in alignment.However, it was very inexpensive and I had a lot of enjoyable camping trips in it.The most important thing to look for is signs of leaks and water damage. That will ruin even a high end camper very quickly.As for no gray tank, I hope that doesn't mean it just drains on the ground. That's the way mine was. I normally camped out in the woods so nobody really cared. If you intend to camp in campgrounds they will frown on gray water going directly on the ground.If it were me, I'd be looking at an older higher end camper for the same price. I don't know how much you're looking to spend.In 2009 I bought a 2003 11' hardside camper with lots of options including AC and generator for $9,500. I don't have $20K lying around either.

Since you live in the pop-up capital have you asked Hallmark or Outfitter is they have any used campers for sale?

I own a Palomino real lite 1603 that we bought last fall and have used a couple times before winter set in. I would look at the corners of the canvas to make sure it has no holes and you want the outside crank to raise the roof. Also check the molding corners by the roof it might need to be re-caulked. This is a very good Forum with a lot of smart people they have helped me a lot. PS I love Colorado.

Thanks for these replies. I have since learned that a person can buy water tanks to collect the grey water in order to dump it later.Leaks are probably the biggest thing I will look for and I waited until the day after we had a snowstorm for that very reason. Thanks for those specific tips.Finally, I wondered how somebody deals with a loading a camper on a truck for the very first time. I do not have any of the hardware to secure the camper and I am imagining that it must be tailored to the camper itself. Will an outfit take measurements of both the truck and the camper and then install something that works? Since I would be buying the camper from a private party and not a dealer, are dealers still the best place to have these modifications done? Thanks,Oh, and I love Colorado too! Wisconsin ain't so bad, either though! GO BRONCOS!!!! :)

My oldest son lives west of Denver so we travel to Colorado twice a year. As far as tie downs go on the torklift web site and find the right number for your truck than go to Amazon and check price. They are easy to install yourself. Turnbuckles maybe look on Craigslist or shop Amazon you need spring loaded ones. For install you tube is great. A dealer would be a lot more money.

First TC purchase, please advise | Good Sam Community

Old_Days
Explorer II
Feb 01, 2014
My oldest son lives west of Denver so we travel to Colorado twice a year. As far as tie downs go on the torklift web site and find the right number for your truck than go to Amazon and check price. They are easy to install yourself. Turnbuckles maybe look on Craigslist or shop Amazon you need spring loaded ones. For install you tube is great. A dealer would be a lot more money.
work2fish
Explorer
Feb 01, 2014
Thanks for these replies. I have since learned that a person can buy water tanks to collect the grey water in order to dump it later.

Leaks are probably the biggest thing I will look for and I waited until the day after we had a snowstorm for that very reason. Thanks for those specific tips.

Finally, I wondered how somebody deals with a loading a camper on a truck for the very first time. I do not have any of the hardware to secure the camper and I am imagining that it must be tailored to the camper itself. Will an outfit take measurements of both the truck and the camper and then install something that works? Since I would be buying the camper from a private party and not a dealer, are dealers still the best place to have these modifications done?

Thanks,

Oh, and I love Colorado too! Wisconsin ain't so bad, either though! GO BRONCOS!!!! :)
Old_Days
Explorer II
Jan 31, 2014
I own a Palomino real lite 1603 that we bought last fall and have used a couple times before winter set in. I would look at the corners of the canvas to make sure it has no holes and you want the outside crank to raise the roof. Also check the molding corners by the roof it might need to be re-caulked. This is a very good Forum with a lot of smart people they have helped me a lot. PS I love Colorado.
dadwolf2
Explorer
Jan 31, 2014
Since you live in the pop-up capital have you asked Hallmark or Outfitter is they have any used campers for sale?
KD4UPL
Explorer
Jan 31, 2014
I had an 8' Palamino camper a few years ago. It was old, probably from the '80s but I wasn't impressed with the materials used in the construction. It had OSB (particle board) used in a lot of places that probably should have had something stronger. The entry door never did latch quite right because it was too flimsy to stay in alignment.
However, it was very inexpensive and I had a lot of enjoyable camping trips in it.
The most important thing to look for is signs of leaks and water damage. That will ruin even a high end camper very quickly.
As for no gray tank, I hope that doesn't mean it just drains on the ground. That's the way mine was. I normally camped out in the woods so nobody really cared. If you intend to camp in campgrounds they will frown on gray water going directly on the ground.
If it were me, I'd be looking at an older higher end camper for the same price. I don't know how much you're looking to spend.
In 2009 I bought a 2003 11' hardside camper with lots of options including AC and generator for $9,500. I don't have $20K lying around either.

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