?Short bed camper...Newbie

[Dr__Feelgood]

After 38 years as ER Doc, I am approaching retirement,new to truck campers. I just bought 2015 Dodge 3500 crew cab with short bed(6'4'' ?)I'm starting to shop used campers. I understand a bit about COG issues.Will the COG be part of the specs of a camper? When a seller says it's OK for a short bed ,how can I determine if that's right. Are there specs etc I can check to determine if it's compatable with my truck? How does one determine if you'll need airbags,leveling kit, and what are fast guns?. I'm obviously a bit slow on the draw.Thanks for any help

[Dr__Feelgood]

work2fish wrote:
Congrats on the retirement! I have 34 years at my employer and can see the light at the end of the tunnel.

I think you've chosen a good truck and now have to make a few decisions about the type of camping you want to do. I went through the same process a while back and you can read my post here.

I ended up choosing a popup which I hardly know is back there except for the occasional squeeking :). In my case I wanted to be able to hit four wheel drive trails, keep the camper light, pull a boat and make only minor mods to the truck. I bought the Torklift frame-mounted tiedowns which I would recommend and agree with most folks on CG not being too much of an issue if you get a SB camper. I also prefer the cassette toilet as I can dump most anywhere in a pinch and it helps me keep to my nomadic self.

Good luck and, again, congrats on your retirement.

Mike

Thanks

[work2fish]

Congrats on the retirement! I have 34 years at my employer and can see the light at the end of the tunnel.

I think you've chosen a good truck and now have to make a few decisions about the type of camping you want to do. I went through the same process a while back and you can read my post here.

I ended up choosing a popup which I hardly know is back there except for the occasional squeeking :). In my case I wanted to be able to hit four wheel drive trails, keep the camper light, pull a boat and make only minor mods to the truck. I bought the Torklift frame-mounted tiedowns which I would recommend and agree with most folks on CG not being too much of an issue if you get a SB camper. I also prefer the cassette toilet as I can dump most anywhere in a pinch and it helps me keep to my nomadic self.

Good luck and, again, congrats on your retirement.

Mike

[Dr__Feelgood]

Bedlam wrote:
Or just go to the source of these products:

[url]http://www.torklift.com/

Thanks for that

[Bedlam]

Or just go to the source of these products:

http://www.torklift.com/

[mkirsch]

Just a suggestion, but throwing some of these terms into Google Images will give you visual aids to help in your understanding.

Search smartly, though. "Fastguns" by itself will probably result in pictures of firearms, or cowboy action shooting. With "truck camper fastguns" you will get what you're looking for. Same goes for "Supertruss." Try "truck camper supertruss" and you will get what you're looking for.

[Grit_dog]

Ya, you can have a plug for the camper lights wired in towards the front of the bed or just build or buy an extension cord that plugs into the OE trailer plug on the truck.

[Dr__Feelgood]

nomadictxn wrote:
Congrats on the new truck Doc, and welcome to the forum. Airbags are not a requirement, just one of the ways you can deal with certain issues. As recommended earlier, try the camper out first and see how it handles and then start addressing any problems from there. You could bring them up on the forum and get steered in the right direction. I think most folks would recommend torklift products for your tie down system as well as a thick rubber bed mat. Also a way to plug into the trucks electric connector and you can go from there.
Happy camper hunting!

Will do, Thanks

[Dr__Feelgood]

WVbassmistress wrote:
The Super-Truss extension is a hitch extension in case you want to tow something. With a camper that is longer than the truck bed, you will need a hitch that sticks out beyond that point. ie - we have 8 1/2 foot camper on 6 1/2 foot bed, so we have a 2ft (24inch) hitch extension so we can tow. Less overhang - shorter extension. The Super-Truss is kind of a double hitch, one on top of the other and chains that fasten to each side to limit side to side movement.

I hope this made sense.

It sure does,Thanks

[WVbassmistress]

The Super-Truss extension is a hitch extension in case you want to tow something. With a camper that is longer than the truck bed, you will need a hitch that sticks out beyond that point. ie - we have 8 1/2 foot camper on 6 1/2 foot bed, so we have a 2ft (24inch) hitch extension so we can tow. Less overhang - shorter extension. The Super-Truss is kind of a double hitch, one on top of the other and chains that fasten to each side to limit side to side movement.

I hope this made sense.

[Johnny_G1]

8'2 Bigfoot on a 98 2500 GMC 6.5 diesel short box and the camper is heavy when fully loaded, almost 3000 lbs. Total weight is 9300 lbs, a little over weight but the truck handle's it good.

[woodhog]

The two pictures of the Arrow models shown here clearly show the difference in most short and long box models.

Short/long

Note the skirts wrapping down over the rear of the truck(extra storage) and the best feature the rear bumper and lower step to gain entrance.

This model type is a good fit, weight and bed utilization for your truck
without all sorts of mods.

[nomadictxn]

Congrats on the new truck Doc, and welcome to the forum. Airbags are not a requirement, just one of the ways you can deal with certain issues. As recommended earlier, try the camper out first and see how it handles and then start addressing any problems from there. You could bring them up on the forum and get steered in the right direction. I think most folks would recommend torklift products for your tie down system as well as a thick rubber bed mat. Also a way to plug into the trucks electric connector and you can go from there.
Happy camper hunting!

[Dr__Feelgood]

WOW.. You guys are quick on the draw. Thanks for the input. I envision wing boxes are the storage areas in the back which would keep it from sliding forward in a short bed. I'll be looking for something 8-9 feet so it shouldn't matter. What are supertruss extensions? Should I plan on "airbags" regardless of the weight of the TC.
Thanks

[Super_Dave]

Grit dog wrote:
I believe the long/short bed comment was for shirt campers that fit a SB truck but may not slide into a LB due to rear ovehang.

Exactly, 8.5' short bed camper and 8.5" long bed camper both fit a short bed truck just fine, weight limits not withstanding.