When shopping for the new truck I'd be looking for a 3500 instead of a 2500. I don't know how available they are with a short box however. If it were me, I'd be getting a long bed as well. If your talking about parking it with the camper on the overhand of an 8' camper negates the "shortness" of the shortbed. I've been driving a long bed dually for 11 years and always seem to get it parked. I even park in "regular" parking spaces with my 11' camper on. I typically back into a spot around the edge of the parking lot. This let's the camper's rear overhang and the truck bed rearward of the back wheels all hang past the pavement into the grass. This way the truck fits fine.
A long bed will make it much easier to find a used camper since they are much more abundant than campers for a short bed.
I don't know either where people put everything. My 11' camper is filled with things in every possible space. But, we are a family of 4 so that makes a difference.
