Make me Smart about Truck Campers Please

jmtandem wrote:

In what world do you live? Not even 1% of the campers on the road are sitting on a F-450 class of truck. Guess the other 99% don't know that they need a F-45.

Some people just don't get it! Coming from a 32 foot fifth wheel to a short bed truck camper is like going from the ocean liner to the lifeboat. Maybe the OP can find a short bed camper that he and his wife like and maybe it will fit on a single rear wheel truck without lots of modifications that in the end cost way more than the dually option from the factory; and if that is the case then I am happy for them. But for most folks coming from a large RV to a smaller one the size matters and the F450/550 and 4500/5500 trucks can carry the largest heaviest campers.

I hope the OP finds what works for them as truck campers can be very versatile and fun. But, size matters both in the camper and in the truck that hauls it. That is the real world!

Don't worry. A spirited discussion is all good. We are all just sharing our opinions so you get something that works for you.

Just wanted to say that my wife and I came from a 30 ft 5th wheel to a pop-up truck camper. We knew the size differences going in where quite large. Frankly it works for us and only you can answer that question for yourself. We wouldn't want the largest camper on a F450/550...that's why we downsized. We love the increased mobility and the package drives just like my truck. Almost don't know the camper is there. So spend some time in the truck campers that currently fit your truck and decide for yourself.

Most of the short bed campers will be in the 8' to 8'11" floor lengths and will work with your current truck. Long bed campers will have floor lengths in the 9' to 11'6" range. When you get to the BIG campers then you need 1 ton duallys up the F450/550 group. But they make campers to fit all of us.

I agree with Hedge. If I could go back and do it again I would bypass the 2500 and go straight to the 3500. Why even bother with a diesel 2500 truck for one extra leaf spring?? But when I bought the truck I was getting a travel trailer and didn't think we would ever need the higher payload. What was I thinking!! :S

I'm a little confused by the heat of some of the opinions. In my "world", lighter and classic is better. In some other folk's "world" its power and heft or so it appears. Actually those of us in TCs are in a very small world that treasures independence, agility and individuality - at least that's my impression. I would urge the OP to take a look at the Livin Lite, Camplite all aluminum truck campers that would fit nicely on his truck. Its well built and minimizes leakage and delamination issues. That's important in my world, but your mileage may vary.

I didn't mean to start a pissing contest here!

Not a pissing contest, just everybody providing to you their sense of what will work for you. It is all good!

Good to hear from the OP. You might want to define your goals a little bit better. Some on here are suggesting that you spend more on a new truck and camper than you did for your fifth wheel trailer. My guess is that you want a light, easy to haul, truck camper with all the basics for that long trip to Alaska. I like your idea of two distinct RV's rather than one size for everything. I have met people that went from a fifth wheel to a TC and love it. Others find the largest fifth wheels too small.

I didn't mean to start a pissing contest here!

I want to be the first to go on record to thank the OP for posting this question. Best entertainment I've had in days! ;)

I would love to see the door sticker of any 250/2500 that can carry 4000 lbs. I mean legally. I have a 350 diesel and the door sticker is 3400. Nothing you do to the truck aftermarket will change that sticker and that's what the DOT looks at up here. Less of an issue in Alberta but they definately stop people in BC.

I have no idea why they even make a 250/2500 truck, it is so close to a 350/3500 that I don't see the point... all you get is less capacity. I think I read once that it has something to do with licensing in some of the states. Around here you hardly see a 250.

In what world do you live? Not even 1% of the campers on the road are sitting on a F-450 class of truck. Guess the other 99% don't know that they need a F-45.

Some people just don't get it! Coming from a 32 foot fifth wheel to a short bed truck camper is like going from the ocean liner to the lifeboat. Maybe the OP can find a short bed camper that he and his wife like and maybe it will fit on a single rear wheel truck without lots of modifications that in the end cost way more than the dually option from the factory; and if that is the case then I am happy for them. But for most folks coming from a large RV to a smaller one the size matters and the F450/550 and 4500/5500 trucks can carry the largest heaviest campers that are available. Most one ton duallys can carry big campers as well. Lance recommends a one ton dual rear wheel truck as the minimum size for the 1181, 1191 etc. series. Minimum size or larger; it is their recommendation in their brochure. That is the Lance world, what world are you living in? Going to less truck than a dually starts the compromise game on what size camper that will work, not necessarily what size camper they might want. Not everybody lives in the "we can modify our truck to the hilt to carry anything we want" world. Unless you change the axle, add two more skins down, and upgrade all the rest of the stuff you mentioned you are still just a 250/2500 truck, only modified. Mods changed nothing relating to the GVWR. And the world in Canada looks at GVWR differently than the world in the US. And a trip to Alaska not using the ferry usually means traveling through their world.

I hope the OP finds what works for them as truck campers can be very versatile and fun. But, size matters both in the camper and in the truck that hauls it. That is the real world!

There is a lot of good information in Truck Camper Magazine and one thing that is discussed is matching the camper to the truck's GVWR and payload numbers. Might be a good read for the OP. The rule of thumb in RV purchases is to get the RV you want first, then get the truck to haul or tow it. Not the other way around. But, I guess that is not your world! Just most everybody elses.

jmtandem wrote:

2011 3500 D/A, SRW

If you are willing to purchase a long bed dually the camper options are considerably more favorable for weight and size considerations. In fact, a 450/4500 is not overkill in the truck camper world. Truck campers are all about maneuverability.

In what world do you live? Not even 1% of the campers on the road are sitting on a F-450 class of truck. Guess the other 99% don't know that they need a F-45.

A 2500 truck will safely handle 4000 lbs. in the bed with the right tires and helper springs. The frame and drivetrain and front and rear axles and transmission are identical with the 2011 2500 and 3500 diesel powered trucks. Only difference is the number of leaf springs and this is easily changed to support more weight.

Nitto Terra Grappler and Toyo tires can support 3750 lbs. so the pair at the rear can support 7500 lbs. and less the weight of the truck that still leaves a payload of 4000 lbs. that can be carried. Go to 19.5 rims and tires and the rear tires can handle 8800 lbs. and the payload can be up 5500 lbs. for the same truck with SRW.

Both Northwood and Lance make excellent campers for short bed campers and they are likely to remain in business. There are more used Lance campers available than any other make and you can download brochures from the Lance website for prior years which helps when evaluating a used camper. I bought a 2008 Lance camper in 2011 that originally sold for $1800 and I paid $12,000. The new version of the camper sells in 2014 for over $25,000.

Easiest if you select the camper model(s) you want and then start watching on Craiglist (or using searchtempest.com) and then get your truck ready for adding a camper. For this you would install 4 tie-downs (Torklift or Happijac) and if a Lance, have the local Lance dealer install the receptacle for the Lance plugin for the camper in the forward section of the truck. The plugin provides power to the camper and enables the truck to activate the break, running, and backup lights as well as the turn signal lights in the camper.

That will get you started. Once you have the camper in the truck and had a chance to drive it you can evaluate whether to add more support for the leaf springs, upgrade the tires, upgrade the shocks, add a bed mat, and other items you will find discussed ad naseeum on the various forums. There is also a forum dedicated to Lance camper owners where you can post Lance specific questions.

The manufacturer's camper weight shown on a sticker on the camper is a starting point and best to add 800 lbs. to that weight to have a starting point for the actual load your truck will be carrying.

There is a lot of ignorance as to the "payload" that a pickup truck can safely carry. The manufacturers all calculate a value based on the truck's configuration when it left the factory and the key limitation is the tires and these can be easily change. They also subtract 150 lbs. from the payload value for every passenger seat in the cab so you see a much higher rating for a truck with a regular cab than for the otherwise identical truck with a crew cab.

Quite a few people who venture up to Alaska with campers on pickup trucks do so having replaced the factory rims with 19.5 ones and going to the 19.5 tires which provide more durability on the bad roads on the way to Alaska. This is also where DRW is a disadvantage as tire changes become more of a chore with a DRW truck.

You beat me to it.... I was going to suggest the same.

I have the 811 long bed version and LOVE IT.

Mello Mike wrote:


Northwood Manufacturing's Arctic Fox 811 is a short-bed, full wall slideout.