Welcome!
$25-30k total for a truck and camper means you’ll have to search more than diligently or be content with very high miles or an old truck.
Couple condensations.
Truck: since 2wd is out of the equation it sounds, you can’t take that price break. 2wd trucks are much cheaper. If you can get by with a reg cab or ext cab that will save $ I’d you find one.
3/4 ton vs 1 ton? If you’re going with a srw truck, don’t be picky. They’re the same truck with less springs in the rear, no matter what the rvnet contingent likes to believe. Your available trucks will be far more as 3/4 tons out number 1 tons considerably and helper springs or airbags are cheap.
Gas vs diesel? Personal choice but you’ll get a lot more/newer truck for your money with a gasser, only at the expense of fuel mileage, for your purposes. Figure 8 mpg vs 12 mpg. I would 100% recommend a gas truck for your use, budget and knowledge.
You live in MA. One of the worst places to find an older truck that isn’t a rust bucket or on its way to being one. I would NOT buy a local truck in your budget range unless it was NOT driven much in winter. If you don’t know the differences between a salt belt vehicle and a clean one, just trust that you’ll be better off in the long run by ensuring you do not buy a future rust bucket.
Specifically you have $15-20k to spend on a truck to leave $10k for a nice camper. Most any TC you’d get for around $5k will either be ancient or have problems. I’d be after a mid 2000s to early 2010s GM with a 6.0. Preferably with 6 speed. Or a Superduty with V10 or 6.2 if you can score one new enough. Pass on any with the 5.4. They are turds. Reliable save for spark coils and spitting spark plugs potentially but gutless in big trucks. That said I wouldn’t turn down the right deal on a Dodge but would prefer the other 2 in the age you’re looking at. (And I’m a Mopar guy...)
Bottom line, lowest miles, most maint records and best care/condition is what you’re after over brand.
Camper? Keep it at 4klbs or less, loaded, for a srw truck for comfortable hauling and minimum truck mods required. Make sure it doesn’t have water damage and that major appliances all work. Anything more than that is creature comforts and icing on the cake.
They’re all just boxes with stuff inside. And older campers, just like trucks, brand is not as important as condition.
I also wouldn’t be afraid to travel for the camper. I believe they’re more limited in number up by you. Out west they’re very plentiful so don’t take a bad one at home.
Helps if you have the truck and have it ready for a camper, then it’s an easy road trip and load up n go.
