Good Choice for an Off-Road, Hard-Side Truck Camper?

bikepsych wrote:
Mike,
Take a look at the Adventurer shortbed models. I just picked up the 89RB and it has space for two batteries, 42 gal fresh water tank. Space for a gen if you want it. Good sized overhead area, and the weight on the sticker is 2382 pounds. I plan on taking mine to some distant places that you've already been. ;-)

BG

Thanks, Bruce. Have you taken it to a CAT scale yet? I'm curious to know what it and your truck weighs fully loaded. I'm thinking that camper will weigh around 3,300 lbs fully loaded.

anutami wrote:
Or why not buy a pop up camper and keep the WC as well? I have often thought about having 2 TC's. with the deals you can find on craigslist it can be very affordable.

In my opinion you are not going to find a better all around camper than the WC., but If you are moving to total off road use get the smaller lance. Once the kids graduate to sleeping in a tent I will probably go back to downsizing the rig again :) also, give eagle cap (adventurer) a call and inquire about a smaller non-slide ec. I called them when looking for a new tc and they said they were in the planning stages for a non-slide camper.

Good luck
Nolan

Nolan, you bring up some great points. I have considered keeping the WC and buying a used popup camper. The problem there is storage for another camper. But it is a great option since we do love our WC. About the only thing about the WC we don't like about it, is that we can't take it on extreme 4x4 trails like the White Rim Trail.

Mike,
Take a look at the Adventurer shortbed models. I just picked up the 89RB and it has space for two batteries, 42 gal fresh water tank. Space for a gen if you want it. Good sized overhead area, and the weight on the sticker is 2382 pounds. I plan on taking mine to some distant places that you've already been. ;-)

BG

When Jefe4x4 talks, I listen.


X2

It sounds like you may want to consider an Alaskan. Also, in my opinion the laredo sc short bed would be a bit better for off road use. 7' wide and lower profile. I think you will be able to easily find a second spot for a battery whatever route you go. Or why not buy a pop up camper and keep the WC as well? I have often thought about having 2 TC's. with the deals you can find on craigslist it can be very affordable.

I have slowly crept up in width and height and now basement. I started with the laredo sc and if it was just my wife and I we would probably still have it. The biggest draw back is the cassette toilet. we filled that thing up easily in 1 day and if you are boondocking it is difficult to find a place to dump it. I am really not a fan of digging a hole and dumping it, plus in many areas you are not allowed to do it. I remember returning to one of my favorite campsites to find the hole I dug and dumped excavated by an animal.

The laredo is just too small for a family of 4 ( or at least our family) The eagle cap 800 Lite is 7'6 wide and is a great camper as well, but the cabover bed is impossible to sit up in and the laredo was even worse. With a larger group we needed the cabover to sit up in to hang out and not just used for sleeping. You may want to consider looking for a used ec 800 but I think you have a great camper. I was able to increase the battery box size to be able to fit 2 group 27 agm's on the eagle cap. Look at the battery boxes in the campers, usually the extend into the wet bath counter space and there is plenty of room to mod the battery box. How much shorter in height is the arrow U than the wc? They both appear to be equal in height. Also, is 3" shorter width on both sides enough to justify getting a whole new rig? I carry a battery powered sawzall around and do a lot of trail trimming along the way :)

In my opinion you are not going to find a better all around camper than the WC., but If you are moving to total off road use get the smaller lance. Once the kids graduate to sleeping in a tent I will probably go back to downsizing the rig again :) also, give eagle cap (adventurer) a call and inquire about a smaller non-slide ec. I called them when looking for a new tc and they said they were in the planning stages for a non-slide camper.

There is also a debate that a basement camper actually lowers the center of gravity by putting the tanks as close on the truck bed as possible. Outfitter campers are basement, but hallmark is not right?

Good luck
nolan

Mello Mike wrote:
Do you have a profile pic handy of your combo that you could post? I'm curious about the overhang in the back on the Ram 3500.

Mike - You can check my Flickr site for my truck camper pics, www.flickr.com/photos/gpnusa

The one thing I do not like about the Lance 865 is only being able to have a 3 cf refrigerator/freezer, it is usually the biggest challenge, having enough cold storage.

okan-star wrote:

Mello Mike wrote:

okan-star wrote:
Just my 2 cents ,but if I was going to 4 wheel a truck camper I`d look at a clam shell camper like a Bigfoot or a NL

Why?

More of a shell in strength , like a boat , Of course no hardside camper is going to be impervious to the articulation and frame flex when off roading heavily and still may get damaged by it .
I think first choice for me would be smaller sized clam shell
Second would be a wood framed aluminum sided , because wood flexes better and alum side is looser fit , filon and glue may work loose with extreme flex , and alum frame might break welds
I`d loosen the tie downs and make sure they are all spring loaded, and at a proper angle, the camper wants to stay flat and the bed wants to flex , of course if you have a heavy rear anti sway bar that will help the camper , but not be good for 4x4ing
Best I had for 4x4 was a Northstar TC 800 popup
Had a Outfitter apex 9.5 that flexed in a major way if you just lifted one rear jack off the ground , the cabover would pop out to the opposing side and the jack would stay on the ground , it was a heavy camper
For me if I want to 4x4 the camper comes off
Still just my 2 cents

Thanks, I do like the clamshell campers. I'll have to take a hard look at the Northern Lite's.

cewillis wrote:
You're not really going to get rid of your Wolf Creek after only 3 years, now that it's set up how you want it -- are you?

We won't make the move until early next year. All things will be considered before we make our choice. It has to make sense/cents to justify any change.

GpnAZ wrote:
Mike - I have the Lance 865 and I have one AGM battery with a 100 watt solar panel. I have gone 3-4 days camping without starting my truck and running the furnace at night without a problem. Yes, I would rather have 2 batteries and have considered adding one to a wheel well like on my previous truck, but after using the camper for 6 months with this truck, I'm thinking I might not need to. The storage is lacking, but has worked for us. We elected not to get a microwave to get more storage and use the oven also as storage. The overhead bunk is strictly used as cabinet space so storage space in our 865 has worked for us. The one place I find it lacking is in the overhead bed area, but maybe some day I will have some cabinets made for that area. We are headed on a 3 week camping trip up the coast in August so will really see how the storage space works for us on a long trip. My wet weight loaded with gear is approximately 2,600 lbs and the 865 is 86" wide and 90" high. We have been very pleased with our 865 but everyone has different needs.

Thanks, Mark. When I said the 865 lacked storage I had the cabover area in mind. Our WC850 is loaded with cabover storage. We've gotten quite spoiled by it. I do like what the 865 offers though. Strong build, well insulated, roomy wet bath. Jefe4x4 strongly recommended it in a recent interview I had with him. When Jefe4x4 talks, I listen. We are going to have to take another hard look at one next time we go to Tom's Camperland. Do you have a profile pic handy of your combo that you could post? I'm curious about the overhang in the back on the Ram 3500.

BillL1356 wrote:
I have a Northstar Arrow U with two AGMs in the standard battery box. Camper is rock solid. Give Rex a call and tell him what you want and they will most likely be able to build it.


Bill

Thanks, Bill. Yes, I've talked to them before. They're very accommodating.