Old RV's

[Bluedog]

I have a 1985 truck camper in excellent condition. I have since changed RV mode to a travel trailer and contemplating what to do with the camper.
It will not fit any newer model pickups since they have raised the rail heights so blocking would be needed on the bed to clear the side rails.This would probably make it top-heavy.

I have seen some mounted on a trailer and this may be the only option.

Suggestions?

[mkirsch]

zb39 wrote:
Funny, my 2000 arctic fox fit all my newer trucks. It was a great camper and it's still on the road. Love my Host.

HUGE difference between 1985 and 2000.

The 1985 model is still made to fit in the old "square body" style trucks.

[specta]

zb39 wrote:
Funny, my 2000 arctic fox fit all my newer trucks. It was a great camper and it's still on the road. Love my Host.

My 9' 1996 Skyline TC will not set on the bed floor of a 2017 Ford F-250 due to the bedrail height.

My 1995 Lance, pictured above would not set on the bed floor of my 2011 Chevy 2500HD if the previous owner had not added the extra wood to the bottom of the camper.

I'm sure there is a year of camper and truck when all that changed.

[specta]

The previous owner added this to the bottom of my camper.
I'm sure it was for bedrail clearance.

[zb39]

Funny, my 2000 arctic fox fit all my newer trucks. It was a great camper and it's still on the road. Love my Host.

[mkirsch]

Unless you lay planks across the tops of the bed rails, stand 55 gallon drums on top of that, and set the camper on top of the barrels, "top heavy" is not even a mild concern.

Like others have said, if you are considering selling it, it's not your problem. Of course people show up with no clue, but it's easier and more responsible to turn them away than try to shoehorn things just to get your money. The guy I bought my TC from turned away several that showed up with F150 shortbeds. While my Palomino B1500 is light enough for an F150 if you use a little creative bookkeeping it would snap in half on a short bed truck. Come to find out years later my TC is slightly banana-shaped as it is.

[Tvov]

So you are planning on keeping the TC? Or are you trying to setup the TC to sell it?

[valhalla360]

Simply sell it...then it's not your problem.

Obviously, don't tell them it will fit on a 2022 just don't bring up the issue. If they are buying a 35yr old unit, it's readily obvious that it's not to current standards.

Of course, it's probably smaller and lighter than the modern multi-slide units so probably not a big deal to block it up a couple inches.

[BurbMan]

ajriding wrote:
No, there is no issues with "top heavy". Just put something there to raise up the camper. I had an 04 TC that would hit the rails of a 99 truck, but just put the board pieces that I used to support the TC when off the truck and put those in the bed to raise up the TC.
IF selling then just tell the buyer the height of the wings so they can have something in their bed, or you can provide that something for them.
TCs make the truck top heavy, there is no escaping this.

That's what I did...the 2x10s were given to me with the camper, I laid them on cement blox to support the camper when off the truck, put them in the truck to raise the camper, then I gave them to the guy who bought the camper.

[towpro]

post it for sale and someone else will enjoy figuring it out.

[dedmiston]

I'm moving this from General to TCs for better expertise.

[ajriding]

No, there is no issues with "top heavy". Just put something there to raise up the camper. I had an 04 TC that would hit the rails of a 99 truck, but just put the board pieces that I used to support the TC when off the truck and put those in the bed to raise up the TC.
IF selling then just tell the buyer the height of the wings so they can have something in their bed, or you can provide that something for them.
TCs make the truck top heavy, there is no escaping this.

Some people love the TC. I was glad to go back to a trailer as soon as I no longer needed to tow a trailer with it. Hook up is easy with a trailer and does not add all that wear onto the truck....

[Grit_dog]

Build a platform to set it on, or sell it?
What type of suggestions were you envisioning?
Doubt it could possibly be more top heavy than many of the white whales produced since your vintage camper’s born on date.

[BurbMan]

We had an 02 Lance and I used a pair of 2x10s in the bed to raise the camper and the 1-1/2" was all I needed to clear the box sides and shark fin antenna on the cab.