Newbie Looking for Advice

I am researching buying a truck camper myself and from what I can tell Hallmark seems to be the most popular pop up camper. Outfitters, Northstar, Phoenix and Palomino also get good reviews.

Check your truck to see what the payload is. If it's under 2000 pounds you will probably have to get a 3/4 ton truck unless you get one of the smaller pop ups.

A 2003 Chevy S10...15 years old. Mileage and payload are? Age and weight limit of tires? Engine and transmission?

The list above is missing Fourwheel Campers. Lightweight, rugged, expensive.
Really if you need/want to buy used, I think the better camper (as in: better shape) is the better deal regardless of the brand.

Used campers often come with existing (water-)damage, repair is more work than you anticipate.

The interwebs tell me the payload of your truck is around 1200-1500 lbs. That ... is not much. Also, I am not sure which campers will physically fit between the rear wheel wells. Never trust the weight stated for any given camper, and calculate realistically what additional weights need to be added.

Many popup campers can be safely loaded on many 1/2ton / 1500 series pickup trucks.
The 3/4ton idea is not bad. If in doubt, it is better to have more truck than you need.

being the owner of a 2001 Chevy S10, you would really be pushing that truck carrying a pickup camper. I would recommend looking at a full size truck. But before you buy a truck, figure out which camper you want. This part is important, because many buy the truck, than the camper, then realize the truck is too light.

a good place to start is 4 hours SE of you at Truck Camper Warehouse
they are Saturday and Sundays weekend.

If you've got designs of being completely self-contained, with kitchen, bathroom, shower, etc., I am not aware of any campers for compact trucks that include those features.

Most compact truck campers are pretty much just camper-shaped bedrooms, and cramped ones at that. You need to have external facilities for bathing and doing your business.

Remember you want to live like this for SIX MONTHS and travel LONG DISTANCES with this setup. Driving an overloaded truck all over the country and living in an almost primitive setting for long stretches isn't for everyone.

Check out TCM. Truck Camper Magizine. They have a newbie section with lots of good info. More truck is in your future if you plan on living in it for six months. Good luck.

Yes, you will need a full size truck, 1 ton or 3/4 ton (F350 or F250 or equal).

The most important thing in a used camper is the condition... NO LEAKS!!! Inspect very well in good light.

Consider Hallmark, Outfitter, Northstar, Sunlite, and Jayco.

Avoid Four Wheel Camper and Palomino, especially Palomino.

whizbang wrote:
Yes, you will need a full size truck, 1 ton or 3/4 ton (F350 or F250 or equal).

The most important thing in a used camper is the condition... NO LEAKS!!! Inspect very well in good light.

Consider Hallmark, Outfitter, Northstar, Sunlite, and Jayco.

Avoid Four Wheel Camper and Palomino, especially Palomino.

Why avoid Four Wheeler camper?

whizbang wrote:
Yes, you will need a full size truck, 1 ton or 3/4 ton (F350 or F250 or equal).

The most important thing in a used camper is the condition... NO LEAKS!!! Inspect very well in good light.

Consider Hallmark, Outfitter, Northstar, Sunlite, and Jayco.

Avoid Four Wheel Camper and Palomino, especially Palomino.

I could take that as an insult. The new ones are a lot better than the older ones. No 2 piece door and no crank up lift.

Curious as to why you say to avoid Four Wheel Campers other than price and not many available used.

Ah! You've been bitten by the truck camper bug! There's no cure for that but then most TCers I know don't want to be cured ;)

1) Where do I start? - Are there particular brands/models that are better than others, pros/cons of each?

Since you're looking at used, finding a brand with good customer support is worth considering. If you find a unit you're interested in, you should consider calling the manufacturer to ask some questions and see how you're treated. I've heard many praises for Hallmark and Outfitter, even from folks who bought their unit used, but there may be others that provide good support too.

2) I own a 2003 Chevy S10, 6' bed. - Is this enough truck for a pop-up camper or would I need a full size?

You might be able to find one that will fit but, as others have said, it won't be much. Remember when you're matching camper to truck that, in addition to the camper itself, you have to allow for the weight of the stuff you'll be putting into it. This can easily add up to 500 to 1000 lbs. And don't forget to allow for your own weight and that of any pets and/or passengers. I suggest you look online at the new units first just to get an idea of what amenities you can't do without and get a feel for what the weights are on different size units. Be aware that the weights given are typically base weights which don't include the weight of options.

3) Shopping for a used camper(doubt I could afford new). - What are some things to look for? What are some things to avoid? Are there things on a camper that can't be fixed/replaced?

As stated, previous leaks with its resultant rot damage are the biggest worry. It's always more extensive than it first appears and more costly and time consuming to fix than originally thought. Look at the sealant on the seams and around any door or fixture through the wall or roof. You want to see that it is neat, with no cracks or gaps. Feel the walls, roof, floor, etc. to see if it's solid and look to see if there are any bows or ripples that could indicate rot or delamination. Open all the cabinets and drawers and look at the inside of the outer shell to check for any sign of water intrusion ... dark streaks, mold, etc. Avoid listening when a seller tells you he hauled the camper on such-and-such a truck for years with no problems ... do you're own research! Anything on any camper can be fixed or replaced but with a used camper you can quickly spend enough on repairs to negate the savings of buying used. Structural deficiencies are the hardest to fix; compartment doors, windows, appliances, and fixtures are easily replaced assuming the unit isn't so old that its hard or impossible to find the parts.

4) Reliability/longevity - Are truck campers good for a while? As stated in the previous question, I will need to buy used so I want to make sure whatever I buy will still meet my needs.

If taken care of, truck campers (like any other RV) can last for decades. Again, rot is their biggest enemy. Even campers with an aluminum frame usually have wood inside the framing tubes and, other than CampLite who don't make a popup, wood is used on the walls, ceiling, cabinets, floor, etc. Being stored under a roof when not used helps. Make sure the unit has been properly winterized as needed to maintaining the plumbing and prevent leaks.

5) Anything else? Are there things you wish you knew when you started into the truck camper world that you know now? Any experience or suggestions about anything truck camper related would be really helpful and appreciated. I have very little experience with campers in general so I apologize for my ignorance here.

Note that since you're buying used, as long as you don't overpay for a unit you can always sell it with little or no loss and find another. Go to as many dealers with truck campers as you can and look at both their new and used units. Even if you're going to go used you can get an idea of floorplans, build quality, etc, of a particular manufacturer, all of which is usually pretty consistent over the years. Another great way to see a lot of units and, even better, talk to the folks who have used them, is to attend a truck camper rally (Truck Camper Magazine has a list of upcoming rallies and there's a forum here for rallies too). Most truck camper owners are quite happy to talk about and show off their rig. You can even note the location and the truck camper brand and type of posters here in the Truck Camper forum and send those with a popup a Private Message to see if you can meet with them if you're in their area ... assuming they're not on the road enjoying their rig :B

Good luck on your search!