Purchasing a truck camper dilemma

Find the camper you need and go from there?

If you are concerned with payload (a hotly debated topic around here), a popup camper will work on your truck, while you probably won't find a current hardwall significantly lighter than the 650.

Either camper will have limitations on what you can use it for. I think the best approach would be to find out what you are planning to do with the camper, where you will be going for how long, which amenities are important, etc. Then you can (maybe) find out which camper is best for you. And then you can see if and how your truck comes into the picture.

A common saying among TCers is "you can't have too much truck". There is some truth to that, but not everyone can fit a duallie truck into their household plannings. But getting the smallest and lightest compromise of a camper may also turn out to be a costly mistake half way down your first trip.Only you can know what makes you happy.

ajcc wrote:
...as we don't enjoy the TT as much as we thought we were going to.

I am not a psychologist (but I have stayed at a Holiday Inn before:B)..

...but if you did not enjoy the TT as much, do you really feel that a TC will make the RV'ing experience better? Why did you not like the TT? What aspects of the TC do you think will make it better?

I am not trying to talk you out of a TC... heck I feel it is the best type of RV. Just asking in a respectful and serious way to perhaps offset another wrong purchase or maybe determine if another type might suit you better with your already-purchased vehicle.

d3500ram wrote:

ajcc wrote:
...as we don't enjoy the TT as much as we thought we were going to.

I am not a psychologist (but I have stayed at a Holiday Inn before:B)..

...but if you did not enjoy the TT as much, do you really feel that a TC will make the RV'ing experience better? Why did you not like the TT? What aspects of the TC do you think will make it better?

I am not trying to talk you out of a TC... heck I feel it is the best type of RV. Just asking in a respectful and serious way to perhaps offset another wrong purchase or maybe determine if another type might suit you better with your already-purchased vehicle.

There are a few things with the TT I ended up not liking.
- Went too long, 34 Ft (should have probably gone with a 5th wheel at that point)
- I don't enjoy how it feels on the road, was used to our gooseneck horse trailer
- My grandparents are planning on going out west (Montana, Wyoming, etc.) They'll be staying at campsites for only a night as they mostly enjoy sightseeing. I feel like the TT would be a burden compared to a TC.

We also want to explore the US and Canada, and we don't plan at staying at one campsite for an extended period, we'll only stay to rest for a night before continuing on.
We're also considering tent camping either RTT or something like the REI Kingdom.

I don't mind the TT if we're staying at a campsite for an extended period but we're not doing that currently.

For the money that all this might cost, you could also consider one of these. They are light, short, and a big better perhaps than a camper. You can keep your present truck too.

It's easy to hook up, but gives you the freedom to drop and explore easily.

Have a look. Escape fifth wheel

All my truck/camper combos over the last 25 years have been over GVWR but under axle, wheel and tire ratings.

The GVWR is more of as licensing number. I wouldn't fear putting that Lance on your current truck. You may want to add stableloads or equvilant as well as a sway bar if the truck doesn't have one.

ajcc wrote:

d3500ram wrote:

ajcc wrote:
...as we don't enjoy the TT as much as we thought we were going to.

I am not a psychologist (but I have stayed at a Holiday Inn before:B)..

...but if you did not enjoy the TT as much, do you really feel that a TC will make the RV'ing experience better? Why did you not like the TT? What aspects of the TC do you think will make it better?

I am not trying to talk you out of a TC... heck I feel it is the best type of RV. Just asking in a respectful and serious way to perhaps offset another wrong purchase or maybe determine if another type might suit you better with your already-purchased vehicle.

There are a few things with the TT I ended up not liking.
- Went too long, 34 Ft (should have probably gone with a 5th wheel at that point)
- I don't enjoy how it feels on the road, was used to our gooseneck horse trailer
- My grandparents are planning on going out west (Montana, Wyoming, etc.) They'll be staying at campsites for only a night as they mostly enjoy sightseeing. I feel like the TT would be a burden compared to a TC.

We also want to explore the US and Canada, and we don't plan at staying at one campsite for an extended period, we'll only stay to rest for a night before continuing on.
We're also considering tent camping either RTT or something like the REI Kingdom.

I don't mind the TT if we're staying at a campsite for an extended period but we're not doing that currently.

We just downsized from a 33 ft. TT to a camper (had a 33 ft. 5th wheel before the TT). We absolutely love the mobility we've gained with the camper. We can stop, park, fuel up, and make u-turns just about anywhere we please. Our camper provides for our basic needs: full-size queen bed, shower/toilet, face-to-face dinette, and full-featured kitchen (frig/stove/oven/micro). However, it's not all roses . . . storage and living space is dramatically less than a TT. If you're traveling with someone, it's going to take some practice to not get in each other's way. One thing's for sure, if stretching out in a nice recliner was a daily ritual in your TT, you may want to rethink a camper purchase--lol!

We had everything from a tent up to a 31'"C", bought a used (super clean) TC to see if it would work once we became empty nesters,(best RV'in way by far) and being a mason I've always had some sort of truck, but didn't want to drive a truck everyday after retirement(which I do) so I settled on a 1 ton SRW ( w/ luxuries) as my daily driver. Like your G.P's we like to roam also. We (DW) decided on a hard side non slide for a T.C.(see Sig.) I researched and trolled the net for 5 yrs. before purchasing our forever T.C. We can camp 12 months a year and just about stop anywhere you want for the night without looking out of place. A one ton will open up your choices immensely w/out feeling like a lot of truck,(my personal opinion). Some TC's will be too much for a 3/4 or 1 ton also, no MATTER what the salesman TELLS you. Lots of choices to be had. Pop-ups are a great choice for 3/4 ton also. Check out Northstar, and Outfitter, (just a few) if you like 4 wheeling. TC's also give you the option to (trail) your toys around with you. Truck Camper Magazine has a great "newbie" section you should investigate. Mods (suspension) also come into play, I'm happy w/ just 2, Torklift stableloads, and 19.5" wheels and tires. Good luck with your search,and "ASK" lots of questions, only the dumb ones weren't asked. K-Mac.

From my experience, I would not be comfortable in any camper that could go on SRW truck.
We spend 5 months in our 12-footer in year 2017, when we sold the house and now we left 3 weeks ago for 3 months trip to Alaska.
Our Fleetwood is wide, basement model with plenty of storage, so we are carrying hammocks with steel frame, 3 cases of beer, 3 cases of bottled water, summer and winter clothing, dog food and dog supplies, still having lot of storage left.
In the past we used 12-foot Lance and I could not figure out why Lance is less comfortable beside not being basement model.
Finally compared that Lance is 3-4" narrower than Fleetwood. That 3" converted shower from one where I constantly had curtain on my back (regardless modifying the rail) to one where I can turn comfortably.

Many, many trucks are "overloaded" according to the gross weight limits.

A few hundred pounds is not too much to worry about, but be careful how much stuff you pack as that weight adds up quick, to hundreds of lbs.

What is the limiter for the truck? The truck frame? No. The tires, the wheels, the axles, the springs???? Some of these can easily be over-come like wheels and tires. Rear springs can be helped with air bags, or helper springs or other devices (front springs are usually not the issue).
Consider that a 1 ton and a 3/4 ton truck usually are identical except for the springs, then many times it is the springs that are lacking.

If your truck can handle a 2,000 lb payload and you are looking at a TC that, loaded, will be 2,500lbs, then you can fix the truck. However, I would not get a 5,000lb TC and expect much safety out of the truck unless you do heavy modifications.
Actually, if your truck says it is good for 2,000lbs payload then you will have lots of company with others who over-load their truck by 500 lbs with thousands of miles of no issues.

Rent a truck with truck camper and see how you like it!

For years we thought we wanted a Northern Lite. So we rented one on a new Ford SRW. Within a day or so our minds were made up:

We still wanted a Northern Lite but a different model than what we had thought we wanted. And the SRW did not have the stability we wanted. So we wanted a DRW.

A new Northern Lite was way out of our price range. And used ones sell quickly. But within weeks we found exactly the NL we wanted. And it was on a DRW truck!

The rig was 12 years old but had only 18k miles. The only hitch was that it was several states away. So we flew from Denver to Spokane and drove home in our “new” rig. And it suits us quite well.