TC with Aux fuel tank

$4,000 is a tough budget for a truck camper worth owning. But, it should work if you can find the right short bed camper.

The difference between a short bed and long bed truck is 18" so if the tank takes up less about 18" of bed, then a short bed camper will work out well.

Even with the tank full of fuel, with a DRW you would still have a lot of payload capacity. However, you may want to weigh the truck with both tanks full of fuel to get a better idea of the payload capacity you have left. And remember, advertised dry weight is without options or fluids, sometimes being 1,000# below actual.

If you are really only looking for a place to sit and sleep, consider a Palomino pop-up as they should be within your budget. If you want hard side, you will be in the pre-2000 area like a 8' squire lite series. Both can be had under $5k if you have patience.

If your budget is $4k, go with the trailer.

If it's a short squareish tank, like 2' wide front to rear, I'd say it's too big. Short bed camper would be around 30" back from the front of the bed.
Narrower tank would work. Can get well under 12" with 38-40 gal tanks and I have a 90 gal tank that is only 13" front to rear. Would be about right to set back a short camper behind something like that.

Have you considered taking the tank out and replacing the factory tank with a Titan tank? I know for my truck they make a 68gallon tank.
Amazon has the one that fits mine for $1200 w/free shpg. Would free up your bed space for more than just a TC too... I know that 68 gallons of fuel will go farther than my bladder or butt will go.

As previously said it all depends on the tank measurements, especially the front to back distance, as this will determine how far back the camper will set in the bed. This may set the COG of the camper out of the range listed for the truck. Also it will put more of the load on the rear suspension.

With the TC and truck that is listed in my signature, I had an 30 gallon aux diesel tank that took up 10 inches of bed space. No problems with COG location and with the dually and light camper there was no weight problem.

Just be sure that you have a steel frame built and installed in the bed that is sufficient enough to prevent damage to the tank.

ryoung

I no longer own the TC and truck in my signature.

Get a camper built for short bed trucks. Your tank can fit in the empty space in the front of the bed that is created when using a short bed camper in a long bed truck.

Yes, it's been done with a tank, or storage box built for generator and chairs in front of a short bed camper on a long bed truck. I'd take your truck with the tank and go visit some RV dealers that have short bed campers and take some measurements.

Depending on the tank capacity, you may not want to fill it full depending on the TC weights with water and propane. My tank holds about 134 gallons I believe so that puts it over 1,000# between the tank, fuel and pump.

Bill

Halmfamily wrote:
I would like to ad a smaller RV to our current fifth wheel setup so when I want to head out by myself in the National Forest I don't have to haul our 42' fifth wheel.
My main question is. Can I use a TC with my 08 GMC,in sig, that has a 100 gallon aux diesel tank mounted in the bed? Or do I just need to keep looking for a small 12-16' trailer. Oh, and my budget is $4000.

Thanks for the input and hopefully a new mobile man cave soon.

Camp on.

It all depends on how much bed space that tank takes up. I have a shortbed camper on a longbed truck and would have enough room for the right aux diesel tank between the camper and the bulkhead of the truck bed.