New to truck campers. Need both Truck and camper recs!

I am going to make the assumption your family have all been out camping together and all members enjoy camping and want to get into camping in a bigger way. Right? I say this because if you've never really tried it, you should before investing a lot of time and money into this past time ... because it's not for everybody.

Back to your initial question, conventional wisdom dictates finding the RV first which 1) meets your family's camping needs and; 2) identifying what you like in terms of floor plan and amenities.

Then, once you know the weight numbers of that unit (whether it be carrying or towing the RV), go find and match the right tow vehicle to do the job safely and with the appropriate power and set up (i.e. camper and/or tow package, upgraded suspension & tires etc.)

Similar to comments above, with two adults and three kids I question whether a truck camper (TC) is the right kind of RV for your family's camping needs. We downsized from a Class C that would sleep 6 comfortably including 4 kids inside and 4 outside in tents (when we used to have lots of kids come camping with us) to a truck camper after they all got older and moved on and we wanted to limit our camping experiences to just the two of us. The TC does all of that for us and people know it really only accommodates two people comfortably ... 3 total in a pinch.

Also, you'll need a minimum 3/4 ton truck for a TC whereas a well equipped and powered 1/2 ton can do a lot of pulling (i.e. travel trailer or hybrid). If you've not RV camped before, get to the RV shows or at least some dealers with all of your crew and try things out like beds, sitting in the dining area etc. ... also think about what you'll be doing if stuck inside during bad weather.

You might also want to try renting an RV for an outing or two to see what works and what doesn't for your needs. A more typical approach with a 5 person, young family is to start with a good, used tent trailer, figure out your routines and then step up into something else once you know what you want and need.

Good Luck and keep us posted.

The only hope you have of carrying any sort of camper comfortably in an F150 is with the "HD Payload" option. This gives you up to 3000lbs of payload, which would be passable for smaller campers like the 825 if you pack light.

The monkey wrench in the works here are the three kids. An 825 is nice for a couple, but to sleep 5, you'd need to stuff one kid in the bathroom, and duct tape the second kid to the ceiling! Stacking them like cordwood in the dinette might work when they're small but unless you've got a strange family they will want their own beds as they grow up. Camping weekends will be a nonstop fistfight of, "He's touchinggggg meeeeeee!" ALL... NIGHT... LONG...

I recommend you GO SHOPPING. Get in the campers. Look at a few makes and models.

Half tons are not camper haulers. That will be an expensive mistake you’ll regret.
It really does sound like a trailer is what you want.
You want too light of a truck and you want to put too many people in the camper for the truck-camper plan.

I agree with Fishorgolf.
A pickup camper is for a couple. It's tight quarters. Only 1 person can move at a time. Go to a dealership that has some camper and get everyone inside. Stay it there for a half hour or so. Try moving around to look at the bathroom, etc.

A trailer with a slide or 2 would be a better idea. KEN

Sounds to me a pull trailer would better fit your needs. My camper is on the bigger side and I wouldn't want 5 of us, even if 3 were kids in it at one time except maybe once a year. Pull trailer will let you get away with a smaller PU, have fun shopping, Grant.

I started with a pop-up camper on a 1/2 ton. It was over loaded with no body in the truck. I went to an 11' non-slide camper on a 3500 SRW it was over GVWR but not tires or axles. I then put that camper on a 3500 dually, still over the GVWR but not tires or axles. The point it, forget the little 1/2 ton trucks for a TC. Really, a 3500 SRW is the minimum I would consider. With that family you will need a crew cab which makes the truck even heavier and thus less payload. I think if you add up the weight of the camper WITH ALL THE FACTORY OPTIONS, add the weight of water, propane, batteries, and gear, and then add the weight of your family you will be pushing on the GVWR of a 3500 truck.
Most TC owners go by the axle and tire ratings of the truck, not the GVWR. If you try to stay under the GVWR you really will end up with a big truck.

Thanks! Yes 3 are kids!

Concur with SideCar !

Buy a screen room tent for outside space.

I hope 3 of those people are little kids ! By the time the oldest is a teenager you will be shopping for something bigger.

Forget a 150 anything. That is a soccer mom's grocery getter truck. Get a 3/4 ton or a 1 ton truck and then go camper shopping. Preferrably a 1 ton in the 4x4 flavor.

Buy or select the camper first. Then match a truck to it. Generally a half ton isn’t a truck camper friendly vehicle.