1988 is the year most makers narrowed that clearance. Thatโs the year Chevy narrowed their tailgate opening. (Dodge did it in โ94 and Ford in โ98.)
The clearance issue is usually only on one side, where thereโs a little bump out in the area inside the bed behind the wheel well, for the camper bathroom.
You can modify an earlier camper to fit. That bump-out just needs to be trimmed down two or three inches. Often thereโs enough space to do that without much effort.
On my โ87 Vacationeer, the fiberglass wet-bath shell was right up against the inside of that bump-out section. I sliced the fiberglass and sectioned a couple inches out, then โglassed it back together.
If you fund a killer deal on a well-preserved older camper you really want, the tailgate clearance issue isnโt a deal-breaker, and you can get it home in your newer truck, youโll just have to load it a little crooked and look like a dummy on the way home lol.
2017 Northern Lite 10-2 EX CD SE
99 Ram 4x4 Dually Cummins
A whole lot more fuel, a whole lot more boost.
4.10 gears, Gear Vendors overdrive, exhaust brake
Built auto, triple disc, billet shafts.
Kelderman Air Ride, Helwig sway bar.