Where to start? I need a truck!
I know it's a contentious issue, but I'm feeling overwhelmed with how to select a truck. I know I need at least a 3-series to haul a TC at around 5000lb (AF990 loaded/wet should be around 5000lb) ...
Forum Discussion
Buy the looks of the O.P's lack of any truck or camper at all in his particulars, I'll stay clear of the brand loyalty bandwagon drumbeating and simply ask the obvious question of the O.P.
Why not choose a camper first and then find THE truck that has the load rating with the power and stopping power to comfortably haul it? This may take a while. Write down all the features you can do with, and do without. Find the specimen that fits the features you REALLY need. It just takes one. It's out there. This takes a lot of leg work on your account, especially when chasing after a used TC. No amount of friendly advice is worth the price you paid for it, because they are using their bias not yours.
I for one just got lucky with little knowledge of the interaction between truck payload and camper weight and fit. Many others failed to change their paradigm from tow to haul mode and way under rated the load rating of the truck and wound up with way too much camper for said conveyance.
The other not so obvious starting place is: How and under what conditions are you going to use the truck camper? Always on pavement and plying organized campgrounds? 19.5 tires sound like a good bet to me. High, wide and handsome sounds good also. Going on poor dirt roads or worse? This becomes a whole 'nother animal. Lighter; narrower; not so tall; maybe pop up; 4WD; good ramp approach/breakover/and departure. How much are you going to use said rig? Lots of miles or full time= as many creature comforts as you can carry. There is so much to know you just need to jump in, make your mistakes and move on. When I was a hard core jeeper we used to say," Jeeps are built not bought". I use a lot of that same 'ongoing project' attitude on my XTC, to the eternal consternation of my wife.
jefe
this is my 15 year project truck with new steel Stockton wheels and 35" tires sans camper:
and a pic of my 8 leaf, 3 phase rear suspension
Why not choose a camper first and then find THE truck that has the load rating with the power and stopping power to comfortably haul it? This may take a while. Write down all the features you can do with, and do without. Find the specimen that fits the features you REALLY need. It just takes one. It's out there. This takes a lot of leg work on your account, especially when chasing after a used TC. No amount of friendly advice is worth the price you paid for it, because they are using their bias not yours.
I for one just got lucky with little knowledge of the interaction between truck payload and camper weight and fit. Many others failed to change their paradigm from tow to haul mode and way under rated the load rating of the truck and wound up with way too much camper for said conveyance.
The other not so obvious starting place is: How and under what conditions are you going to use the truck camper? Always on pavement and plying organized campgrounds? 19.5 tires sound like a good bet to me. High, wide and handsome sounds good also. Going on poor dirt roads or worse? This becomes a whole 'nother animal. Lighter; narrower; not so tall; maybe pop up; 4WD; good ramp approach/breakover/and departure. How much are you going to use said rig? Lots of miles or full time= as many creature comforts as you can carry. There is so much to know you just need to jump in, make your mistakes and move on. When I was a hard core jeeper we used to say," Jeeps are built not bought". I use a lot of that same 'ongoing project' attitude on my XTC, to the eternal consternation of my wife.
jefe
this is my 15 year project truck with new steel Stockton wheels and 35" tires sans camper:
and a pic of my 8 leaf, 3 phase rear suspension
