My first cab over camper

[vcb49]

Quick question, I’m getting my husbands 350 dully ready to put a cab over camper in it when I find the right one, and was told I should put a liner in the bed first. This will be my first camper for a truck. Suggestions please…..

[vcb49]

Thanks I'll check it out. 🙂

[scottz]

You could optionally go with Hurculiner. This is a do it yourself solution that is high-grip and light. Much cheaper than many other options.

[vcb49]

Tonymull:
I would give the portable generator some strong consecration if it wasn’t for my bad back. The less I have to lug around or move the better off I am. I know how noise they are, we had them in our 5thers. I have been given thought to extra batteries and a solar charger however. I am strongly leaning with you on a camper that ends at the bed of the truck. Simple, easy and not knowing the camper is there is what I am after. :B


Dakonthemountain:
I do hope you are out of the sick house again and enjoying your TC soon. Hope to see you out there. 🙂

Farmerjon:
Replacing your old truck for a new one simply because you want to is the best. Good to know my “little beastie” is in good company. Hope to see you on the road also. :C

[Farmerjon]

I think you have the perfect truck for it as that is the same truck that we have used for our camper up till this year.
Ours has 133,000 miles and doing a terrific job.
The camper lives in the hay barn during the winter.The camper is still on the old truck so we can move it in and out of the barn when we need to get some hay out of the barn. We won't load it on new truck until springtime.
We aren't replacing the truck because of any problems or inadequacy. We are replacing it because I am 69 years old and I want a new truck.
We are keeping the older truck for all of our other trucking needs while the camper is loaded.
Our truck and camper loaded weigh right at 11,800lbs. The truck alone weighs 8,200 . Our truck is rated at 11,200. It carry's the camper just fine. The only change to the suspension we have is adding Stable Loads. They definitely help the swaying.
You should have them check the condition of the Shock absorbers, they can really make a difference if they are worn out.

[dakonthemountai]

Welcome to the website! You'll find a lot of good information on here from folks that know!

I don't have a lot to add, but in the past I've also used a rubber mat. In my current truck I have a Linex spray in liner that is rough, like sand paper. I know some folks disagree with this method, but I've never had a problem with movement in my last camper; a 4,000lb Weekender. I have no airbags, but I do have Rancho 9000 adjustable shocks.

When I was solo I too lived in a fiver (9 years full time.) I rented out my house and had a great time traveling with it and then purchased a new camper to add to the fleet at the time. I found I used it a LOT!... Now in a stick house again I will ALWAYS have a truck camper. That is as long as I can drive!

Good luck in your search and see ya down the road! 🙂

Dak

[tonymull]

Don't be so set on fiberglass. Aluminum works just fine. Having had both I don't see much advantage of one over the other. Also IMHO you are better off with a portable generator, and honda or yamaha for the quiet. When it comes to towing you are so much better off with a camper that ends where the bed does...no extension. 8' is really enough once you get used to it. You can still get a wet bath, big enough kitchen, enough seating, etc. I'd never go back to a bigger camper, things are just so much simpler. And on my 3500 I can barely tell the camper is back there.

[vcb49]

You're going to love the maneuverability of the TC after pulling a 5er. If you'll tell us more about your truck and the type TC you're interested in the folks here will be better able to help you out with some advice.

That’s the whole idea about the TC.
I have a 2000 F350 1ton dully king cab, 7.2 power stroke, standard shift, long bed with 125thousands easy miles on it. It has towed all three of our different 5th wheel over the years. Very dependable truck, I’m having it wired up for the camper now and beefing up the anti-sway bars that came with it. Not sure if I’ll need air bags or not, I don’t want a huge camper. Looking at the Lance 850 or may be a 900 series I think, not quit sure yet. Used, in good shape/clean, preferably fiber glass, with a generator, a slid would be nice but it might kick me out of my price range. I may want to tow a cargo trailer at some point. (My youngest son goes out to the desert with his family and I’m hoping to tag along.) I would prefer to buy from a privet party, one time owner, but not excluding dealers.
I did come across an Arctic Fox that had two reclining chairs instead of a dinette set in the slid out. Totally to die for, but I wasn’t ready yet plus it was way out of my price range, I’m trying to stay around 10 thousand.

[GoinThisAway]

vcb49 wrote:
I live in our 5th wheel at a super nice RV resort/park that you can be at as a long time resident, (its better than it sounds believe me).

Doesn't sound bad to me at all ... especially if its parked near San Diego. Much warmer than it is here!

You're going to love the maneuverability of the TC after pulling a 5er. If you'll tell us more about your truck and the type TC you're interested in the folks here will be better able to help you out with some advice.

[wintersun]

Add tie-downs (Torklift or Happijac) in advance and buy a set of turnbuckles like the Fastguns. Then all you will need is the wiring for the camper.

Important also to have tow mirrors on the truck so they can extend and you can see on both sides of the camper.

[vcb49]

bobndot wrote:
you want to minimize the camper from siding.
http://www.amazon.com/Dee-Zee-DZ86928-Heavyweight-Bed/dp/B000VU91SG

Look here for all kinds of related camper stuff :
Sometimes (depending on the model truck or camper) you might have to use something in the bed to raise the camper a little taller in order to give clearance between the truck cab roof and the cabover of the camper. see "camper loading,hauling,tie-downs"
'camper centering guides 1' (spott)
if you need to do that.
http://www.rv.net/forum/index.cfm/fuseaction/thread/tid/25966285.cfm

Thanks for the links, more leads for me to check on.:C

[vcb49]

Thanks for all the info and other things to check out. I’m not planning on removing the camper once it’s on the truck so I think I’ll have the rails for the 5th wheel hitch removed also. I live in our 5th wheel at a super nice RV resort/park that you can be at as a long time resident, (its better than it sounds believe me). Once I’m set up I plan on hitting the road, checking out some groups and rallies, kind of my last hurrah until they lock me up if they can catch me. lol

Thanks again and who knows may be I’ll bump into some of you out there. (Not literally though!)
Any other suggestion will be welcome. 🙂 :h :C 😉

[stufarmer]

I found heavy 4'x4' rubber mats that are used in Horse stalls at the local Farm & Ranch store. Two of them were perfect to cover the bed floor. The best part was they're more than twice the thickness of the standard bed mat at half the price.

[bobndot]

you want to minimize the camper from siding.
http://www.amazon.com/Dee-Zee-DZ86928-Heavyweight-Bed/dp/B000VU91SG

Look here for all kinds of related camper stuff :
Sometimes (depending on the model truck or camper) you might have to use something in the bed to raise the camper a little taller in order to give clearance between the truck cab roof and the cabover of the camper. see "camper loading,hauling,tie-downs"
'camper centering guides 1' (spott)
if you need to do that.
http://www.rv.net/forum/index.cfm/fuseaction/thread/tid/25966285.cfm

[Photomike]

I have a plastic bed liner in mine but I cute out the part that is under the camper (my camper stays in the truck). If I do it again I would get the spray in kind.