Hello all!I've been researching trailers and campers for several years now and think I've zeroed in on a truck camper as the one that will do what I need with the most versatility.I'm looking to be able to go anywhere including off road, 3 1/2 seasons, and dry camp two people for up to one week at a time, and four people for a long weekend. It needs to be good for mild winter use (weekends skiing), but most often will be used for hiking trips and to support some tent campers.I need both a tow vehicle and a camper. I'd rather buy the right one, and a good quality one, the first time.Biggest question on the tow vehicle is whether I really need to go up to a full ton pickup with or without dually? I need a super cab so I can seat six and this starts to get to be an enormous vehicle (and expensive), but like I said I only want to do this once. The new F150s seem to have high payloads available given the aluminum body and heavy duty options, but what do you think?Biggest question on the camper is how to narrow down the options? There seem to be many reputable brands out there. Durability and reliability are critical, considering the possibility of off roading; and the ability to dry camp as described above (so adequate water, propane, and black/grey tank capacity).What do you think? Am I on the right track? Any tips appreciated. I've been a lurker on this forum and others for a long time.THANKS IN ADVANCE.

First find the camper you want. Once you do that you can figure out how heavy of a truck you need. I would rule out the f150/1500 trucks right away.

Regardless of what type of rig of you end up with ... um ... a truck camper .... and 6 people! Please, when you get the vehicle and camper, post photos! My 2,800 square foot house is too small for 6 people!

Rob,You can make anything work, depending on your tolerance to pain, suffering and over loading. Just look at the wide splay of opinions on here. Most civilians have a hard time accepting the truck's door jam numbers and don't believe those numbers apply to them. After being on here for 10 years, I have seen a lot, but not all, people decide, from bitter experience, that 1 and 2 series trucks are, in the long run, not up to the task. Which brings me to my only advice: Buy more truck than you think you will need. I have never, ever seen anyone on here that thought they bought too much truck. If there is someone, speak up and let us know how it worked out for you. Off roading places unique stresses on the camper box because of the twisting of the frame underneath. Know how to deal with those stresses. Some truck brands twist more than others. A long bed twists more than a short bed.Since you are a longtime lurker, you have read plenty of stories about what works and what doensn't. Sooner or later you just have to make that leap of faith and that you are pursuing the right equipment for the job.jefe Ours is on the left. Good for two. A BC-er is on the right. Good for 3 or 4 people, depending. Notice how we both took up two parking spaces. Hmmm?

Tow Vehicle: Go straight to the 1 ton. If you don't want a dually, then 19.5 wheels and tires on a SRW will provide the wheel/tire load capacity. IMO, the SRW is the better option for offroad driving. Just as an example for truck camper/tow vehicles: my first TC was a pop-up and I know of at least 2 other pop-up owners with similar campers. We all had 2500 series trucks and we ALL put on suspension upgrades...with a pop-up.Truck Camper: Visit as many different brands yourself. Since you live in the Beautiful Pacific Northwest, I recommend you look at the Adventurer/Eagle Cap line. But look at as many different brands yourself and I think you'll quickly find out which one is right for you. I don't think one brand is that much superior to the other. Once you visited and started to narrow down what you think you want for your camper start doing the math. Camper weight + options + water + gear + people = trucks payload. Then you'll know what truck you need!

Welcome to the truck camper forum. We see a posting like this every month and the same best advice, find the camper you want to use/purchase first.If you are dead set on a 1500/F150, stop here and close this posting. You are not going to meet the goals of long term, more than a weekend, with limited carrying capacity of your truck. Sure, you can do it. But can you do it safely for yourself and others you encounter on the road. As for extended time off the grid and away from it all, you need to plan backwards. Determine what you want and what to have on your truck and camper, then start going backwards on what is available in a camper and truck.As an example, a thing I call the TP Factor. When conservative with water use, a person is going to use 17-22 gallons of water a week. So if you times that by 6 people, you have; 132 gallons of needed potable water. At 8.3 lbs per gallons, the weight becomes an important factor as well as where are you going to put that many gallons in a truck camper with only a 35-45 gallon tank. Oh, yeah. The water would weigh; 1,095 lbs, exceeding just the payload capacity of a F150, plus passengers, groceries and gear. Then you add the weight of a Camper; 2,000 to 4,500lb. You will now need to rethink your idea of not considering a 1 ton. Oh, yeah, don't forget 4X4 equipment weight on a vehicle, which is what most desire when considering going off for extended periods of time and boondocking.b

Just getting started... Tips | Good Sam Community

schlep1967
Nomad
Jan 25, 2015
First find the camper you want. Once you do that you can figure out how heavy of a truck you need. I would rule out the f150/1500 trucks right away.
DutchmenSport
Explorer
Jan 25, 2015
Regardless of what type of rig of you end up with ... um ... a truck camper .... and 6 people! Please, when you get the vehicle and camper, post photos! My 2,800 square foot house is too small for 6 people!
jefe_4x4
Explorer
Jan 25, 2015
Rob,
You can make anything work, depending on your tolerance to pain, suffering and over loading. Just look at the wide splay of opinions on here. Most civilians have a hard time accepting the truck's door jam numbers and don't believe those numbers apply to them. After being on here for 10 years, I have seen a lot, but not all, people decide, from bitter experience, that 1 and 2 series trucks are, in the long run, not up to the task. Which brings me to my only advice: Buy more truck than you think you will need. I have never, ever seen anyone on here that thought they bought too much truck. If there is someone, speak up and let us know how it worked out for you.
Off roading places unique stresses on the camper box because of the twisting of the frame underneath. Know how to deal with those stresses. Some truck brands twist more than others. A long bed twists more than a short bed.
Since you are a longtime lurker, you have read plenty of stories about what works and what doensn't. Sooner or later you just have to make that leap of faith and that you are pursuing the right equipment for the job.
jefe
Ours is on the left. Good for two. A BC-er is on the right. Good for 3 or 4 people, depending. Notice how we both took up two parking spaces. Hmmm?
dadwolf2
Explorer
Jan 25, 2015
Tow Vehicle: Go straight to the 1 ton. If you don't want a dually, then 19.5 wheels and tires on a SRW will provide the wheel/tire load capacity. IMO, the SRW is the better option for offroad driving. Just as an example for truck camper/tow vehicles: my first TC was a pop-up and I know of at least 2 other pop-up owners with similar campers. We all had 2500 series trucks and we ALL put on suspension upgrades...with a pop-up.

Truck Camper: Visit as many different brands yourself. Since you live in the Beautiful Pacific Northwest, I recommend you look at the Adventurer/Eagle Cap line. But look at as many different brands yourself and I think you'll quickly find out which one is right for you. I don't think one brand is that much superior to the other. Once you visited and started to narrow down what you think you want for your camper start doing the math. Camper weight + options + water + gear + people = trucks payload. Then you'll know what truck you need!
bka0721
Explorer II
Jan 25, 2015
Welcome to the truck camper forum.

We see a posting like this every month and the same best advice, find the camper you want to use/purchase first.

If you are dead set on a 1500/F150, stop here and close this posting. You are not going to meet the goals of long term, more than a weekend, with limited carrying capacity of your truck. Sure, you can do it. But can you do it safely for yourself and others you encounter on the road.

As for extended time off the grid and away from it all, you need to plan backwards. Determine what you want and what to have on your truck and camper, then start going backwards on what is available in a camper and truck.

As an example, a thing I call the TP Factor. When conservative with water use, a person is going to use 17-22 gallons of water a week. So if you times that by 6 people, you have; 132 gallons of needed potable water. At 8.3 lbs per gallons, the weight becomes an important factor as well as where are you going to put that many gallons in a truck camper with only a 35-45 gallon tank. Oh, yeah. The water would weigh; 1,095 lbs, exceeding just the payload capacity of a F150, plus passengers, groceries and gear. Then you add the weight of a Camper; 2,000 to 4,500lb. You will now need to rethink your idea of not considering a 1 ton. Oh, yeah, don't forget 4X4 equipment weight on a vehicle, which is what most desire when considering going off for extended periods of time and boondocking.

b
MKish
Explorer II
Jan 25, 2015
Camping for 4, seating for 6 for other occasions, right? So the truck can be a minivan at home when needed, kinda. Nobody wants to ride in the middle front seat very far. :)

Get a crew cab, not just the extended if you're going to make humans (even kids) sit back there for more than an hour. It's gonna be a huge truck. It's just the way it is.
rvshrinker
Explorer III
Jan 25, 2015
You all are right on and I appreciate the direct and quick responses.

Just to clear one thing up, I don't plan to sleep 6 people in this vehicle. That would be for other uses, like day use for a hike, not for camping in. 4 would be the max we'd expect to support in the field, though of course we might drive 6 people to a campground with hookups and then sleep 2 in a tent.

Because of the potential for off-roading, I'd like to avoid the dually. Is that feasible? I can do one ton. Would do the right tires and suspension for both off-roading and the weight.

So looking for one ton, super cab, modifiable for off-road, possibly with a short bed, as long as the camper I want can fit? If not then a long bed? Right idea?
dadwolf2
Explorer
Jan 25, 2015
rvshrinker wrote:

Because of the potential for off-roading, I'd like to avoid the dually. Is that feasible? I can do one ton. Would do the right tires and suspension for both off-roading and the weight.

So looking for one ton, super cab, modifiable for off-road, possibly with a short bed, as long as the camper I want can fit? If not then a long bed? Right idea?

My 19.5" tire load range G has a 4545 lb load capacity per tire. You can get different tread designs to handle street to offroad conditions. The BIGGEST limitation of the 19.5" tire is it's inability to be aired down for conditions like sand.
dave17352
Explorer
Jan 25, 2015
With the truck and TC in my profile I am at my trucks limit. It rides and handles well with stock everything. But it is at its limit. My TC dry is about 2800 pounds. I have 46 fresh water and the same in holding tanks. Anything larger and I would need a drw or upgrading tires and wheels which I think would run between 3 or 4k. Thats with 2 adults. Throw in a couple more full size adults and supplies I would be in trouble without upgrades. When I tow my boat fishing I run with empty tanks to off set the tongue weight. JMHO
rvshrinker
Explorer III
Sep 07, 2015
bump

What about a lightweight pop up truck camper such as:

http://www.fourwh.com/product/hawk-short-bed-popup-truck-camper-regular-size/

It says dry weight of 900 pounds. Add 800 pounds for 4 adults with stuff for the day (clothes, snacks, etc). The rest is water, fuel, food, supplies for camping. That has to be less than the truck's payload capacity, right?