I wanna hear from you! Newbie Needs some Guidance

[matthasnofriend]

Hey everybody - thanks for reading this.

So, planning to hit the road with my lady for hopefully 18-24 months and cruise around the USA and Canada in a heavy duty truck and cabover camper.

My plan is to first by a truck and then a camper later once we are closer to blasting off. What I have in mind would be something like a Lance 8-11 ft camper with facilities onboard (shower/toilet.) So wet weight of probably 3200-3400 lbs.

With that being said, I am at a loss for what route is best on the truck. I've been researching trucks for a long time (even before we got the camper itch), and seems to be tradeoffs everywhere.

The main things I need your help and opinions on are:
1) 3/4 ton or full ton pickup - what is really the best option for hauling a camper?

2) Diesel or Gas?

Thanks in advance! Hope to see you on the road soon -

Matt

[matthasnofriend]

What about a TC on the smaller end of the spectrum I listed in OP. For instance, an 8'6" cabover that has a dry weight of 1795 lbs.

Factor in 1500 additional lbs fully loaded, I'm at 3,295. The F350 gasser I'm eyeing has a payload of 3,748.

quick sanity check... am I thinking about this right?

[Bedlam]

garyemunson wrote:
Going that big you might want to consider a Class A. You will spend less that a truck + camper for the same capabilities.

If you need ground clearance or 4wd, a Class A or Class C motor home will be lacking. I wanted 4wd and high towing capacity which is why I drive a Ram 5500 chassis cab with Host Mammoth camper. I could have gone cheaper with a Class C or spent more for a Class A or Super C, but I would have to compromise my two primary wants.

[matthasnofriend]

Appreciate everyone's responses! You guys are all very helpful. Thanks for asking these:

1) plan to finance truck and purchase used camper outright. budget is approx. 35k and under, 10k and under, respectfully.
2) mix of both. definitely want to hit the backcountry fairly extensively, hence wanting the cabover.
3) used
4) besides camper, no.
5) minimal.

sonuvabug wrote:
Before anyone can really answer your questions ... you need to provide a little more information:

1) What's your budget for the truck & truck camper?
2) Where/how do you plan to travel i.e. mostly superslabs and paved roads or back country boondocking via forest roads etc?
3) Preference for new(ness) vs. used equipment?
4) Will you be towing anything behind you on this trip?
5) What's your level of maintenance/mechanical know-how?

As a guiding principle, you first acquire the truck camper that suits your needs, then match the truck to carry it.

[BradW]

matthasnofriends wrote:
So, planning to hit the road with my lady for hopefully 18-24 months and cruise around the USA and Canada in a heavy duty truck and cabover camper. What I have in mind would be something like a Lance 8-11 ft camper with facilities onboard (shower/toilet.)

Look for a good used Class C.

Brad

[Grit_dog]

The pick the camper first then the truck to match is solid reasoning, but not always practical and IMO limits your range and buying power when you can’t show up with a fist full of benjis and a truck to haul it away.
BUT if you know the size of tc you’re wanting then get the size truck to haul it. FWIW, it’s not magic. Do some reading, talking newer trucks, last 15 years, 3/4 tons and 1 tons are the same save for Springs and number of back tires. (Mostly. I’d not want a coil spring 2500 Ram particularly but everything else is fair game. ). That is unless you get caught up in the yellow sticker game.

Full time hauler, I’d just get a dually and be done with it. Diesel vs gas is hotly debated. Diesel if you have the means, IMO.

[mikakuja]

Sooo many options available, which lead to even more questions...
My advice is the same as others have said already, figure out what camper will do the job for you, and then decide on the truck that will haul it.. Too much truck is better than not enough.
A DRW 1 ton LB diesel crew would be the logical choice with the setup you are considering. That being said, I have had no regrets buying our current 6.2 gas, but it all comes down to personal preference.
Do your research, and lots of it.... Search the web for every specific truck you consider and check for inherent problems relating to it. Every engine/drive train and brand has its specific issues, some worse than others. Make an informed fact based decision and you will be less likely to regret your purchase.

[JD5150]

Like me if you don't want a dually go with the biggest payload you can get for a srw. I got a 2017 F350 srw, gas engine with camper and snow plow packages. Payload is in the 4400 lbs range but I'm only looking at campers without slides. I don't want a slide. Slides add a lot more weight. Probably around 500 lbs or more. If you need a slide you better go with a dually.

[sonuvabug]

Before anyone can really answer your questions ... you need to provide a little more information:

1) What's your budget for the truck & truck camper?
2) Where/how do you plan to travel i.e. mostly superslabs and paved roads or back country boondocking via forest roads etc?
3) Preference for new(ness) vs. used equipment?
4) Will you be towing anything behind you on this trip?
5) What's your level of maintenance/mechanical know-how?

As a guiding principle, you first acquire the truck camper that suits your needs, then match the truck to carry it.

[joerg68]

Thirding the "cannot have too much truck" sentiment.

A 3/4 ton is at its payload / rear axle weight limit with any decent sized camper from the start.

A one ton SRW is well loaded, at least with most slide out campers. And you can not really increase the rear axle weight rating without going to 19.5 wheels in many cases where the tires are already at the load limit.

Both trucks can be just fine for the right camper.

If you do not want to limit your choices, go for a duallie.

A crew cab has a lot of extra storage in the cab, where stuff is more easily accessible.

As for Diesel/Gas... That is an almost religious question for many. But a good Diesel will pull better, that is for sure. Lots of discussions can be found on the web over this issue.

[garyemunson]

Going that big you might want to consider a Class A. You will spend less that a truck + camper for the same capabilities.

[Grit_dog]

Don’t disagree on a dually for full time with a larger camper. That’s ideal and if getting the truck first, most campers won’t be too much for it.
But read up a bit. You need to be more specific. 8-11’ = 3200-6000lbs. Depends what you’re looking at for campers.
Btw I agree with donno above if you’re thinking 11’ double slide 3 ton camper, in theory. But too much of a tank to drive around a 5500 when empty.

[Grit_dog]

donn0128 wrote:
You can never ever have too much truck. That camper could go over 4000 pounds loaded ready to travel easily. Even at that not all duallies will handle the load. You might consider a 4500 or 5500 instead.

Omg. Classic.

[AnEv942]

Didn't say whether looking new or used but the estimated camper (8 to 11 feet?) wet weight seems a tad low (or 811 model).

If doing over I'd definitely would find camper 1st...Might suggest going to a few dealers and looking at campers. Those amenities add up fast. Agree would give you a better range of truck you might need.

[ORbiker]

deltabravo wrote:

matthasnofriends wrote:
I am at a loss for what route is best on the truck.

Diesel Dually. Buy once, and be done.

I have never regretted buying the dually in my signature.

Go big or go home.
2 years on the road, you will want the best you can get.

Out west, the mountains are NOT hills. Having a truck that can go down the mountain as safe as it went up will make you more comfortable and thus you will enjoy the trip that much more.

Be careful going down the steps of the camper. My wife slide down on her back twice over the 10 years we had our 10.8 Citation. They weren't even icy or wet, like they were many times we were out using the camper.

With the camper, you can camp almost anywhere. Get 2 6 volt batteries. The biggest that will fit. Upgrade the converter to a 4 stage charge system.

Enjoy your travels, KEN

[jimh406]

Even if you won’t buy the TC now, go find out the biggest you could possibly buy. Then, buy a truck that will work for that weight.

If you are looking at 8-11, then the low side is probably around 3200-3400 loaded. More realistic with gear for a long trip is probably closer to 5000-5500.