I suspect I may get some strong opinions, but I am looking to learn, so let me have it. I'm looking for truck recommendations for a possible camper project. My wife and I are contemplating a truck camper. Specifically we are looking at a Jayco Jay Hunter 1150 Eco, which we like. However, we're not really truck people, so I'm trying to learn as much as I can to see if we can make this work. To give a little background, we currently travel all around the northeast US and Canada in either a Subaru Forrester or our Honda Odyssey camper conversion. We usually travel with canoes/kayaks and mountain bikes half of the year, and cross country skis the other half. Even with our current vehicles, anything resembling a road on the map is generally fair game. We've certainly pushed the limits of each vehicle. Here are some features I think we want based on what I already know:-capable of reliably carrying specified truck camper in a variety of road conditions, probably looking at a 1 ton pickup with appropriate bed-4x4-comfortable for at least three passengers over long distance;something like a true crew cab would be nice; tiny doors and seats are not going to cut it-cost is a consideration, so walking down to the dealer and picking up a brand new, all the bells and whistles, super duper "perfect" platform is unlikely. Think budget and value.-reliability is important. With some luck we might be driving this cross country summer 2019, but I at least want something I can reasonably count on when I'm a few hours drive off the pavement in remote northern Maine.That's what I have to start with. I'm interested in any thoughts.

Old camper, not much for specs around, I'm sure. Assuming loaded camper is under say 4500lbs, any good condition of the last 15 years, long bed HD srw truck with the right upgrades will haul it fine. Any dually will haul it with even greater stability and less mods needed or if the camper is even heavier.We can save the brand wars for another thread...

One ton gassers are available and a heck of a lot cheaper. With a camper and possibly a trailer for the tows you really dont need a diesel. Depends on the weight of the camper consider a dually for the extra stability.BTW there is no need to spend 75K on a truck. A well equipped crew cab dually 4x4 gas motor should be able to be had for under 50K.

It’s kind of a no-brainer, a 4x4 crew cab dually of whatever brand you like or get a deal on. If I were after a new one today I think I’d get the gas engine. Mileage is almost as good nowadays, they have plenty of power and cost a LOT less. And are quite reliable.

You can usually find good deals on big trucks as people buy them then find out what it costs to run them. I am not a fan on diesels as the cost of tune-ups, oil changes etc are a lot more and if they sit for long periods of time you can get issues with the injectors.Make sure the camper will fit the truck (bed size and tailgate opening).

FwiwIve been driving Chevys for over 40 years and never had any problems with either engine or trannys..but then I always buy new and dont race or abuse it.Stay away from trucks modified in any way,guys that put big wheels on and chip the computer to go faster will cause premature wear of many components and you may have do some repairs soon no doubt.

Truck Recommendations | Good Sam Community

ppine
Explorer II
Dec 20, 2018
You can "tune-up" a diesel by changing the fuel filter, cleaning the air filter and adding some anti-gelling additive.
burningman
Explorer II
Dec 20, 2018
The cost of glow plugs? Cummins don’t even have them.
Most additives don’t hold up under scientific scrutiny.

The only real-world extra cost of having a diesel is the buy-in.
And it’s a lot. It mostly depends whether all the extra torque is worth it to you.

Depending where you live, you can delete all the emissions junk and DEF tank and all of a sudden you have a truck that runs great, gets good mileage and doesn’t suffer most of the problems the new ones generally have. Save all that junk in the garage and put it back when you sell it, IF the next owner even wants it.
ppine
Explorer II
Dec 20, 2018
Americamper,
I had one about 9 feet long. Too cramped for a longer trip with 2 people and some dogs.
Americamper
Explorer
Dec 20, 2018
ppine, how large of a camper do you have?
Grit_dog
Navigator
Dec 18, 2018
noteven wrote:
I’m thinking about a gasohol engine. I run stuff a long time. What is the recommended interval and current cost of a spark plug change on a Ram 6.4 V8?

Not really a factor in cost of ownership. I believe the interval is still 100k mi. But even if it's less, the plugs are cheap and stupid easy to replace.
I don't remember exactly, but around $50 when I did a tune up on the old SRT a couple years ago. Plugs are $2-10 a piece x 16ea depending how fancy you want to get.
markowwes
Explorer
Dec 18, 2018
Had one a while back… I think it was a 92, pretty well build with good workmanship on the cabinets.
Didn’t know Jayco made truck campers any more.
If it is a older one take a close look at where the side walls meet the floor, if I remember correctly the one side started to drop.
Had it on a 92 GMC 3500 crew cab dully 454, then a 95 GMC 3500 crew cab dully 6.4, then a 99 Ford superduty 350 crew cab dully 7.3, all of them handled it well
noteven
Explorer III
Dec 18, 2018
I’m thinking about a gasohol engine. I run stuff a long time. What is the recommended interval and current cost of a spark plug change on a Ram 6.4 V8?
ppine
Explorer II
Dec 18, 2018
This is a good example of a discussion about diesels by people that have no experience with them.

It is like hearing people talk about "going to Burning Man." "Have you ever been?" I ask them. "No but I have thought about it."

I bought a one ton truck to haul a camper with. Too small for a long trip and too much trouble for a short trip.
Grit_dog
Navigator
Dec 18, 2018
No worries. Just in fun....
I have to say though with all the niggling about this cost that cost, diesels need their nose wiped and new diaper changed just to make it from A to B....., in 300k miles on 2 differnet personal trucks, aside from 1 - $2k set of injectors (that I might have saved if I added the right filtration early on), the Diesel engine portion of both trucks has cost nothing but oil and fuel filters.
And fwiw, both trucks were/are tuned pretty much from day 1.
So I can say owning a diesel has costed me $2000 more than a gasser. But both trucks were purchased for similar $ as a comparable gasser (economy and right place right time I suppose) and between both trucks , the salvage value past and present is somewhere above $15k more than the gasser counterparts.

Yes the what if’s can get pricey and the what if’s generally cost more than a gas engine, but the likelihood is still low and at some point, having 2-1/2 times the torque costs a little money...
Photomike
Explorer III
Dec 18, 2018
trail-explorer wrote:
Photomike wrote:
I am not a fan on diesels as the cost of tune-ups,

Not sure what kind of a "tune-up" a diesel needs.

Sorry was typing when a customer walked in and hit post, should have said "glow plugs and all the additives is a lot more than a tune up"

Problem with typing at work is I rush to type :B back to work now.