Coming over from the dark side... maybe. (long, need input!)

Excellent info. Currently dragging a tt, but lady I camp with wondered if we could go back to a camper like we had years ago, Beaver cabover/hangover on a Powerwagon.

OK. Lesson learned. We put the deal together with the Silverado 2500, based on the camper dealer's recommendation and my failure to do proper due diligence. Sue.t and Mooney, you were absolutely right. It was the wrong pickup. (Newbies to the TC and pickup world, you know.) We did go camping a couple of times, but I was not comfortable being overweight. (The rig, I mean. My own personal (over)weight is none of your business!)

Fortunately for us, we have a friend who is an auto broker. (Should have gone there first.) He found us an amazing deal on a 2001 F350 SuperDuty Off Road. Between the great price we got on the F350 and what we lost on the Silverado, we are about where we would have been if we had bought an F350 from a dealer in the first place. Live and learn.

The worst thing about this blunder of mine is that I have been skulking around the forum, afraid to show my face, because I knew the weight police were lurking out there. We get the F350 tomorrow, so I will now be able to hold my head up again. Thanks for the advice, y'all.

BTW, we had a ball on those couple of camping trips. DW is happy with the camper, and we don't miss the MoHo at all. We HAVE agreed that the bathroom in the camper is the best motivation we have found to become smaller persons! :-)

punomatic wrote:
Update: The deal on the F250 fizzled. Turns out another party had made an offer. We were told their financing probably wouldn't be approved; it was. So, today we found and purchased a 2000 Chevy Silverado 2500. The deal on the camper was contingent on our finding a proper pickup. So now it's full speed ahead. We need to have the necessary hardware (BTW, what do they call that?) installed on the truck for securing the camper , a PDI and a lesson on loading and unloading the camper. By Wednesday, we should be ready to go camping.

Make sure you're comfortable with the size camper you'll be able to utilize with this truck!

Hmmm ... we have an 8' Adventurer on our F-250. Dry weight on the camper is 1,800 lbs and that puts the truck a bit over its GVWR. The rear-end squats just a tad ... the 7.3L engine counterbalances it nicely.

Can't imagine a 10' Adventurer on the same truck.
Are you sure this is the "proper pickup" for that camper?

Update: The deal on the F250 fizzled. Turns out another party had made an offer. We were told their financing probably wouldn't be approved; it was. So, today we found and purchased a 2000 Chevy Silverado 2500. The deal on the camper was contingent on our finding a proper pickup. So now it's full speed ahead. We need to have the necessary hardware (BTW, what do they call that?) installed on the truck for securing the camper , a PDI and a lesson on loading and unloading the camper. By Wednesday, we should be ready to go camping.

Well, as the owner of a 1995 Weekender 910, and previous owner of a NEW 1996 Weekender 1010 back in 1996, I'll say this. I love mine and looked for this specific model for over a year. They are a bit rare as the company has been out of business for a number of years, and as most campers of an age, prone to leaks and rot. It is heavy for a smaller camper (3,090lbs with full propane and 30 gallons of water, 15gal empty grey and black tanks) It was made for all weather, comfort camping. Enclosed, insulated and heated holding tanks and water tank from the ducted furnace (including a duct to the bathroom)I've camped in mine in subzero temps and was quite comfortable, relatively. Full 7' ceiling inside, which was a HUGE draw for me (my camping partner is 6'7" tall) LOTS of storage, standard roof rack and ladder, bumper sewer hose drawer, sliding storage drawer (for Fords only,GM trucks are too narrow) and just about every other convenience you might want back in 1995. One thing I really like about it, and was very important to me was the construction. They used 2 metal straps from the truck area pass through window under, up and over the bedroom area to the back of the camper to eliminate sagging of the cabover (bedroom) section. I did my research at the time of the new 1996, so I knew what I was getting into when I purchased the used 910 2 years ago. Here is the link to the photos of mine.

Good luck in whatever you purchase, just be careful to really, really inspect it for damage prior to purchase. $2,200 is actually what I paid for mine 2 years ago (asking price was $2,500,) knowing there were a few issues I had to deal with, such as replacing the rubber roof ($1,300, through Stardeck RV in CA) and a bit of water damage under the front window. I've done a bit of work on mine, such as updating the electrical/charging system, plastic parts, etc, but I still feel I have a camper I would spend many thousands of dollars more to replace at this point

Here is the link to pics of mine.

1995 Weekender 910

Dak

Thank you all for your input. You can't know how valuable it has been. We are in the process of negotiating a deal for a 2001 Adventurer 100 WSB camper and a 2001 F250 with 7.3L diesel. I'll keep you posted on the progress of the negotiations and post photos if it all comes together as planned.

If you don't need to tow heavy or are willing to maintain another vehicle, a small Class C or B will cost you less than a truck/TC combination. I carry various toys with me and already had a truck that could be modified to the task. If I didn't, I would be looking at a Super C for my towing. The flexibility of a TC is nice, but you do give up easy access, capacity and space in order to have something fit in the back of a pickup.

Have a frank discussion with your spouse about the available space and access in and out of the TC and bed. We were spoiled with a toy hauler prior to our switch and even though we are in good health and love each others company, we camp year round in an area with 300 days of rain that sometimes makes you head inside for popcorn and a movie after identifying all the moss and slug species around you outdoors.

Some of the real light weight campers aren't structurally suited for camping in off the truck. So, if camping in it off the truck is important to you, make sure it has a strucural floor.

While there are as many variations as people, the fact is your age and physical condition are big factors. The folks who come from a much more roomy MoHo, 5-er, or TT are struck by three things.
1. You must climb a set of rather narrow steps without handrails to enter the TC, especially on a 4WD Dodge with the highest bed level. This gets more difficult as you put on the years. My brother (@46 yrs old) broke his leg when he missed the top step on his brand new OUTFITTER!.
2. You must get used to a very small bathroom in which you need to be a contorsionist to do all your duties. I take a shower sitting on the pot with the wand, and my feet in a tub to save gray water from going in the black tank. I then dump the tub outside. Not my first choice but we're used to it.
2. You must further climb another set of very tall steps to get up into that luxurious queen size bed...and back down the steps in the middle of the night if need be (that pesky prostate?).
I turn 70 next week, and I can still climb the obstacles with gusto. So far- so good. Of course, we're hikers and do a lot of walking. YMMV.
These have been the defining obstacles which make many old-time TC-er's decide it's time for a low slung class C with no steps. Depending on how old you and your spouse are and your condition, THERE STILL MAY BE TIME! 8<)
I'm not trying to dissuade you, but only to give some options. One is to get a smaller class C with an actual towing rating (most can tow nothing) and buy a 6x8 utility trailer for your hauling needs. The woe here is most C's are gas, so good mpg's are out, compared to a diesel. Lot's of ways to go here.
regards, as always, jefe