New Member Introduction - First Time TC Buyer
Hello, everyone. I am a soon to be first time truck camper buyer. We live in North Georgia, which unfortunately for visiting dealers, events and clubs to learn about truck camping and our purchasing...
Forum Discussion
Prior to my triple-slide Mammoth with a 8x11.5 floor, I had an Arctic Fox short bed camper with a single full wall slide - This also helped give that 6x9 floor some more room. Obviously, it was not enough for my camping style but did make it livable for 50,000 miles of travel.
Weight and size limited what camper I could choose on which truck. Your style of camping and location will also determine what rig works best for you. I camp regardless of weather which might mean snuggling up in the camper at night to watch a movie instead of sitting out at a campfire.
A hard side with 2' of overhang and not more than one slide would be a good compromise of size and agility for long trips. Look for one with a basement that only goes up to the wheel wells instead of the bed rails like my Mammoth to reduce your height yet still have some storage. Most modern day campers are 4' from the camper bottom to cab over bottom - This height is to clear Ford's tall cab. How tall the manufacturer wants to make the cab over and amount of headroom from the floor is the real differentiation between models. Where the interior camper floor sits will determine how much of a climb you have into bed and much can be tucked under the floor instead of into the sides. Think about what you want to take with you and where will it fit. If you have to add exterior storage to haul your gear, are you better off with a larger camper model that has more built in storage? Do you want amenities like a generator or awning part of your camper or will you pack these individual items? The Super Cab Ford is my favorite cab configuration and I only own a crew cab because Ram did not offer one. It is a little tight for extended trips with an adult in the rear, but I found the suicide doors allow you to stow gear in the back of Ford's flat load floor easier than than a crew.
If you plan on towing something behind your truck/camper combination, your mobility will be reduced, but the your flexibility will be increased. Disregard my advise on a 2' rear overhang and get a camper with a side door instead. The additional overhang will matter less since you are already towing and camper access will be easier than climbing over a trailer tongue. I have toys that allow me to explore off-road areas or towns rather than drive the camper there. My setup is much more of mobile home base than single mode of transportation.
Weight and size limited what camper I could choose on which truck. Your style of camping and location will also determine what rig works best for you. I camp regardless of weather which might mean snuggling up in the camper at night to watch a movie instead of sitting out at a campfire.
A hard side with 2' of overhang and not more than one slide would be a good compromise of size and agility for long trips. Look for one with a basement that only goes up to the wheel wells instead of the bed rails like my Mammoth to reduce your height yet still have some storage. Most modern day campers are 4' from the camper bottom to cab over bottom - This height is to clear Ford's tall cab. How tall the manufacturer wants to make the cab over and amount of headroom from the floor is the real differentiation between models. Where the interior camper floor sits will determine how much of a climb you have into bed and much can be tucked under the floor instead of into the sides. Think about what you want to take with you and where will it fit. If you have to add exterior storage to haul your gear, are you better off with a larger camper model that has more built in storage? Do you want amenities like a generator or awning part of your camper or will you pack these individual items? The Super Cab Ford is my favorite cab configuration and I only own a crew cab because Ram did not offer one. It is a little tight for extended trips with an adult in the rear, but I found the suicide doors allow you to stow gear in the back of Ford's flat load floor easier than than a crew.
If you plan on towing something behind your truck/camper combination, your mobility will be reduced, but the your flexibility will be increased. Disregard my advise on a 2' rear overhang and get a camper with a side door instead. The additional overhang will matter less since you are already towing and camper access will be easier than climbing over a trailer tongue. I have toys that allow me to explore off-road areas or towns rather than drive the camper there. My setup is much more of mobile home base than single mode of transportation.
