Thinking of buying truck and TC
Been reading for a while and thought I would ask for some advice. DW and I have had 2 TT's and one MH. Without right now and thinking of going the TC route. Open to all types of 3/4 and 1 ton pick ups...
Forum Discussion
You are starting to narrow it down, which is good. You've mentioned needing a truck for business, having had 3 Cummins and wanting another diesel, so you are talking about a Dodge Ram then.
I'd look straight at the 3500 since coming from a TT or MH anything less is likely to carry too small a camper given what you are used to.
Given you have mentioned having a 4x4, getting into smaller and remote area, etc, it sounds like you need a 4x4 truck, and if you are talking about remote areas then SRW instead of DRW. That also most likely means a hardside camper WITHOUT slides or big basement - i.e. a camper which will weight less, and sit lower - i.e. more of a traditional truck camper.
You'll probably want a long bed since the short bed will limit your camper options. Options like 8ft bed and double cab are nice, but both increase the wheelbase of the truck. I suspect this won't be a problem unless you desire to do serious offroad travel like Jefe4x4, and I suspect that isn't your intention.
Next you can find out the payload weight available on that spec of truck and start working out which non-slide campers will be suitable for that payload. Bear in mind you need to add a lot of weight onto the manufacturer's 'dry weight' to get to the weight you will be carrying. Some people find they have 1000 lbs of additional weight, and if you are going to be driving offroad you probably don't want to be too much over your maximum weight limit (and certainly not over your individual axle weight limits). So don't just think "hey, I've got a 3000 lb payload, there's a camper with a 3000 lb dry weight - job done".
Then you can go and see some of the campers that will work with that weight restriction, and this is the real test - see if your wife is happy with their size, climbing up into the bed, storage, bathroom, etc. If she isn't after you have looked at a few then you need to start looking at the bigger campers, but then you will be talking about DRW and starting to limit where you can take the camper.
Good luck with your choice.
Steve.
I'd look straight at the 3500 since coming from a TT or MH anything less is likely to carry too small a camper given what you are used to.
Given you have mentioned having a 4x4, getting into smaller and remote area, etc, it sounds like you need a 4x4 truck, and if you are talking about remote areas then SRW instead of DRW. That also most likely means a hardside camper WITHOUT slides or big basement - i.e. a camper which will weight less, and sit lower - i.e. more of a traditional truck camper.
You'll probably want a long bed since the short bed will limit your camper options. Options like 8ft bed and double cab are nice, but both increase the wheelbase of the truck. I suspect this won't be a problem unless you desire to do serious offroad travel like Jefe4x4, and I suspect that isn't your intention.
Next you can find out the payload weight available on that spec of truck and start working out which non-slide campers will be suitable for that payload. Bear in mind you need to add a lot of weight onto the manufacturer's 'dry weight' to get to the weight you will be carrying. Some people find they have 1000 lbs of additional weight, and if you are going to be driving offroad you probably don't want to be too much over your maximum weight limit (and certainly not over your individual axle weight limits). So don't just think "hey, I've got a 3000 lb payload, there's a camper with a 3000 lb dry weight - job done".
Then you can go and see some of the campers that will work with that weight restriction, and this is the real test - see if your wife is happy with their size, climbing up into the bed, storage, bathroom, etc. If she isn't after you have looked at a few then you need to start looking at the bigger campers, but then you will be talking about DRW and starting to limit where you can take the camper.
Good luck with your choice.
Steve.
