Hello! I have been away for a long time. You helped my family find and use a popup camper. We loved that 2003 Cheyenne for a decade -- still love it! We took a break from family camping while my oldest son was finishing high school and going to college and my youngster was earning his Eagle Scout rank (our troop was out most weeks in the summer). Now we are going to try something new. You guessed it -- a truck camper. Right now, we have the popup but no tow vehicle. My objective is to choose a TV that will eventually carry a truck camper -- choose a truck camper, pick an appropriate TV, buy the TV, camp with my popup with a for sale sign in the window, then buy the truck camper.Generally, we will be sleeping three adults in the camper but I would like to be able to accommodate a fourth in a pinch. I would prefer an F150 as a TV. Prefer no slides. Prefer wet bath. Hard side is a must in a popup. We plan to do alaska via canada and the grand canyon. We are in New Hampshire, so no need to discuss RVs only available in the pacific northwest.We have looked at Lance campers. I have been inside an 865. It looks like the overhead bed could be replaced with a king size mattress to accommodate a third body. Maybe the dinette could accommodate two. Maybe a modified dinette could accommodate two. Perhaps the bunk could be modified/replaced to accommodate an adult? So this is a brainstorming thread where I am asking people to recommend (and link to) slide in campers that can accommodate four people and be carried by a ford f150. No need to debate or defend -- just brainstorming. Thank you!

You are asking a lot from a F150! First look at payload, very small on a truck that can carry 4.You will be cramped in to a TC with 4 or 5 people in it.IMO

The F150 isn't going to carry the weight of the TC along with 3 and 4 adults.I would suggest you look at a used Lance 1010. It has the largest dinette at 6'3" which the adult sleeping on it will appreciate. Lot's of folks carry it on a 1-ton SRW but I think the numbers are too close so recommend a DRW, especially with the extra weight of the 4 adults.An option to consider is letting one of the adults sleep on the back seat of the truck when the weather is cool.

Max payload of the new f150's seems to vary by more than 1000lbs. Exactly which f150 are you getting? Example, if your payload is ~2200lbs: "Claimed" dry weight of 865 you're considering (with no AC, zero options)- 2011Propane, battery, gear, food and water for 3 people - 1000lbsThree people = 450lbs?You'll more than likely be at least 3500 lbs loaded. I've got zero problems pushing my payload but exceeding your payload by 65% is excessive. To get the highest payload (which you'll still exceed) in a 150 you wont' be able to get the ecoboost engine which negates the (arguably) biggest reason to get a half in the first place. I would be considering 3/4-1 ton trucks. Driving a 350 at 75% of it's max payload is a much better experience than driving a 150 that's maxed out. Also, what type of camping do you do? If you hang outside all the time no matter the conditions and just come inside at night to sleep then sure an 865 would work for 3 people (4 in a pinch) but if you plan on spending much time inside (rain, mosquitos, whatever) it'll be VERY tight. Getting a long bed 3/4-1 ton would give you a lot more camper. I say all this because your title is "help me do this right". Can you drive a severely overloaded f150 and cram 4 people in an 865, sure, but I wouldn't say that's "doing it right".

For what you're asking about for a camper, think first BIGGER truck. Then take a ride over to Bill Penny's place, Truck Camper Warehouse in West Chesterfield right there in NH. Bill's got a fantastic selection of all types and models. Take a look at all of them and give yourself some better ideas on what you may want.

You beat me to it recomending a visit to Truck Camper Warehouse. Bill and Ryan will point you in the right directionIn fact I am there right now ??

Help me do this right! | Good Sam Community

40 Replies

wizwor
Explorer
Oct 23, 2016
Thanks for all the information. I'm sufficiently schooled and have abandoned this option. I'm not willing to buy a truck that will carry the kind of camper I want to carry. Time to investigate Plan B.
GeoBoy
Explorer
Oct 08, 2016
http://www.rv.net/forum/index.cfm/fuseaction/thread/tid/29064051.cfm
Here is your answer.
Reddog1
Explorer II
Oct 04, 2016
I considered deleting or editing this post, but decided to respond to it instead. Occasional I encounter someone that disagrees with my post. I think that is fair and why we have discussions. When it is almost every post I make, it appears to be stalking. If most of someones posts are in disagreement to others posts and use very strong words to express it, that tends to be a Troll. For several years we had several Trolls. Fortunately we only have a few left. I too occasionally have to take a day off from posting. I think we can all have a bad day.

Grit dog wrote:
Reddog1 wrote:
mkirsch, maybe you should take a day off. It appears you have the need to argue, not discuss at every thing you post on.

Wayne
Moderator

He's correct Wayne. Not apples to apples.
I disagree. The link I provided has to do with 1/2-ton trucks and TCs. It is posted by people that do have 1/2-ton trucks and TCs.

Grit dog wrote:
Wizwor just wants to hear someone validate his idea that he already knows is not very realistic. That's why he keeps asking the same silly question repeatedly.
I must be missing something here, I do not see where "he keeps asking the same silly question repeatedly." If this were true, why would you or anyone else keep answering the questions?

Grit dog wrote:
And you have to admit, the title of his thread asks for advice on how to do it right which is what the vast majority of replies have been.
The issue is not with the vast majority of replies. Just those that are Flaming or Trolls.

Grit dog wrote:
I'll be helpful.
Wizwor, get the highest payload spec long bed 2 wd, deepest gears, biggest engine reg cab half ton you can find.
Replace the tires and upgrade the suspension as needed for load carrying and handling and then find the lightest hard side full bath sleeps 3-4 adults camper you can find and let er rip.
I think it is this kind of information the OP is looking for.

We can carry the Off Topic part of this discussion further in PMs if you wish, but not here.

Wayne
Moderator
Woodlanders
Explorer
Oct 04, 2016
The "right way" to do this is to not do it.
That said, ALL of the advice you have received so far is right on.
Not mentioned is the safety or rather the absence of safety if you have a blow-out or rear-axle-bearing fail on a rig so terribly over loaded.
On a half ton, if the rear bearing fails, you will have your axle exit the housing along with the wheel. When that happens, you will lose control and likely flip. On a three-quarter on up, the wheel stays on the truck.

JM2C
whizbang
Explorer II
Oct 04, 2016
Personally, I find my Jayco camper rather comfortable. However, I think one could accurately classify it as a "spartan pop-up that won't sleep three adults".

The point is, my "spartan pop-up" is the maximum one can carry on a half ton.

Larger campers, no way.
Eric_Lisa
Explorer II
Oct 04, 2016
wizwor wrote:
....which will sleep four in a pinch.....This is my starting point -- a slide in that can be carried on an f150 which will sleep 4 adults....

Sure, that works! I own the camper, so DW & I get the prime spot. I sure wouldn't want to be person 3, 4, or 5 though!!! Those would be some cramped quarters. Maybe for a weekend get-a-way, but a cross country / cross continent multi-week trip - that would really SUCK for a few of the people.

The dinette sleeping in a camper is tight. Double bed sized at best. My "third" bunk is the storage area over the dinette. Yeah, they say someone could sleep there, but I wouldn't try it with a full sized adult! Not to mention everything in that space has to come out first (storage in a TC is a premium).

And being realistic... A F150 will have an extended cab at best. I have heard of F150 king cabs with full size truck beds, but I have no idea what reserve capacity that leaves on the half-ton chassis for a camper. That means an extended cab. Yeah, its got back seats, but I sure wouldn't want to be the adult that ends up stuck there for a drive cross country.

My suggestion... Ride 500 miles in the back of an extended cab. After dinner, lay the dining room table down and sleep on the bench cushions. After that experience, you might re-think how adults three through five will enjoy this long trip you have planned.

Just one guy's $.02
-Eric
bcbouy
Explorer
Oct 03, 2016
and pick up a used utility trailer to carry as much of your stuff that you can pack into it.convert as much of your weight to towable as possible.i used my boat to carry all my extra stuff when i had my f 150 and sunlite camper.a ton in the trailer is still only a couple hundred pounds towards your gvwr.
Grit_dog
Navigator
Oct 03, 2016
Reddog1 wrote:
mkirsch, maybe you should take a day off. It appears you have the need to argue, not discuss at every thing you post on.

Wayne
Moderator

He's correct Wayne. Not apples to apples.
Wizwor just wants to hear someone validate his idea that he already knows is not very realistic. That's why he keeps asking the same silly question repeatedly. And you have to admit, the title of his thread asks for advice on how to do it right which is what the vast majority of replies have been.
I'll be helpful.
Wizwor, get the highest payload spec long bed 2 wd, deepest gears, biggest engine reg cab half ton you can find.
Replace the tires and upgrade the suspension as needed for load carrying and handling and then find the lightest hard side full bath sleeps 3-4 adults camper you can find and let er rip.
Viken
Explorer
Oct 03, 2016
Well as a guy who only uses 1/2 ton trucks for my truck camper. I say yes a hard side can be used on an f150 but I don't think the campers you are looking at will do. I would love that lance on my new f150 but it could be bad. I keep my wet weight around 1800 lbs and I'm over with out the trailer in the back. I start out with a 1300 lb unloaded weight. So with that in mind the hard side campers at that weight will not sleep 4. Look at livin lite. The make one that will do 3 people nicely and will site nice on the 1/2 ton.
Reddog1
Explorer II
Oct 03, 2016
mkirsch, maybe you should take a day off. It appears you have the need to argue, not discuss at every thing you post on.

Wayne
Moderator