How heavy?

On the face of it, I can see where you're coming from. Buy a 1 series truck that you can drive all year with that famous flexibility truck campers are known for; load up the box for a couple weeks in the summer and then remove it for the duration until next summer. The only flaw is getting there.
I'm with Kohldad on this one. As always, form follows function.
If you are only to use an RV for a few weeks in the summer, consider a TT and a 1 series, 4 door, short bed (easier to park) gas truck. That way, you get the most comfort, utility and mpg when not towing, and if the truck is set up well (HD, LS diff., HD springs/shocks, HD brakes/tires, anti sway bar, class 5 tow pkg, with extra trans cooling) have just enough capability to bumper pull a TT for that short time. In my mind, this is the best compromise you can make, all things considered.
If you are still set on a TC, just know that in the well over 200 nights we have stayed in 'the box' we've gotten used to, and it is just right for two consenting adults. When we had our granddaughter or G-son sleep on the converted dinette for a week along the OR. coast, just that one more small person added measurably to the "this place is too small" index. (ours is on the left; kids rented Class C/26' on R; kids/G-kids all around)

Again, we have one of the narrowest, least tall, lightest, fully self-contained hard side TC's made so YMMV with a large TC. Then, you need a much bigger long bed, 3 to 5 series truck to carry it safely. Then you have to drive said HD truck around all year and try to park it in those tinky, too-small parking lanes or try to turn it in less than a football field, and pay the exorbitant tax for driving that behemoth around. Oh, life is full of compromises. Choose yours well, my friend. Take heed of your RV elders, they have BTand DT.
regards, jefe

We enjoy our 3500 quad cab long bed truck in camper-hauler mode.

A crew cab is handy.

DVerhaaff wrote:
I know I should buy the truck to fit the camper that I want, but since a I can't ever find the weights posted while a camper is not the main reason, I'd like to consider things like fuel economy when using it for other things.

Fuel economy is not something that goes along with heavy duty trucks. My F250 (gas) averages between 9 and 12 MPH, doesn't matter if I'm hauling the TC, towing the TT, or empty.

Thank you all for your input.
The reason I want to go for a slide in camper is because I would at some point also like to tow either a small (light) trailer or a small boat.
After your advice I'm inclined to go with a 350/3500 with crew cab and short bed (easier to park too!).
My kids are going to sleep in a tent, so the camper is for me and the wife :)
I'm not sure yet about gasoline or diesel though.

DVerhaaff wrote:
Are there many short bed campers out there?

Yes, several manufacturers build truck camper for short bed and long bed trucks. For example, Lance makes the 825, 855 and 855S for short beds (there are probably others too ... like their former 820 and 845 models.)

We are a family of four and get along fine with an 855S. We previously had the non-slide 820, but it was a little tight with 2 children.

Also, I agree with the comments on considering crew cab. The space would be worth it with 3 children.

Usually you can find weight of the camper by searching for the model and "weight", i.e. "Lance 915 weight".

For a lot of campers, especially Lance, the manufacturer has old brochures available for download which will still have the specs. Just remember weights in brochures are without any options so can be 500# off.

On the camper there is a tag which will list the wet weight. Sometimes they are hard to read, but most times they can be read enough to get a could ball park.

Quick rule of thumb I use is 8'-9' should be about 2,000#, 9'-10' should be 3,000# and 10'-11' should be 4,000#. However, there are some brands that are very heavy where a 9' camper could be pushing 3,500#.

I agree, with above, if you have kids, plan on at least a SRW 4 door truck. The fuel mileage lost for the extra space won't even be noticed.

Unless you are really needing to tow something, for better all around fuel mileage along with more space, you may really want to consider a travel trailer. With an F150/1500 you can tow up to about a 30' TT yet get decent mileage when empty. This also works better if your camping method is go someplace and sit for a few days before heading home. The TC advantage is towing or moving about a lot.

1. Consider a crew cab so your kids don't outgrow the extended cab truck.
2. Start with a 3500/F350 unless you budget extra for a wheel upgrade on a 2500/F250.
3. There are more long bed camper options than short bed.
4. Expect a minimum of 3000 lbs for a loaded truck camper but closer 4000 lbs.
5. If you plan to tow more 5000 lbs behind your truck while hauling the camper consider a diesel.
6. If you stay with a 8-9' camper, you will not need an upgraded receiver and extension to tow.

Somewhere I found a buying guide that said I had to have a long bed truck because that's what slide in campers are build for.
I'm guessing that this is not at all necessary?
Are there many short bed campers out there?

Having owned two truck campers, I would blow right past the 3/4-ton (250/2500) and only consider 1-ton trucks (350/3500.) Without slides, you're probably ok with a srw long bed, but if you get up to the 11-footers, many folks would likely suggest a dually, because of the stability. In short beds (which is what we own), srw works fine, even with a slide. Our camper is around 4k-lbs loaded and our truck handles great! Others will have to chime in on the weight of long-bed campers without slides. My guess is they will be at least 4k-lbs too.

Although short bed trucks limit the selection of floor plans, they make for a easy to manuever truck and a decent daily driver.

There's a lot of truck campers out there that are too heavy for a 2500 truck especially when considering that you need room for the three kids too.

I'd go to an RV sales place that sells new TCs, find one the size that you like and then find out what it weighs. And when figuring the total weight that the truck will have to carry, add in a full load of fuel, propane, batteries, water, food, clothes, all passengers, lawn chairs, etc, etc, etc.

Bill