Short bed truck camper

Check out the Lance 861 or 881.
A roomy camper with large tanks, gen and storage. Perfect for a DRW.
Lance 855 is a newer lighter weight version.
Arctic Fox 811 is also very nice.
A LB definitely gives you more options but if you like your truck I would keep it as payload isn’t an issue with the dually.

If you can find a Lance 830 they had a side entry and a rear tent option. They only made them for a few years so might be kind of rare.

Eagle cap 850
Lance 855s
Arctic fox 811
Adventurer 86sbs

Northern Lite 811

Northstar 8.5 Arrow U (no slide)

I second the vote for the lance 830. Pros-tent room in the back so kids can have their own cabin, read this as giving the parents some space up forward-great window design, lots of airflow- more floor space for people not stepping on each other. Cons- last year was 2012 so none new-tents do wear out and I don't think in production anymore so custom build on tent-dinette not well designed, we cut ours down-no built in genset but Honda 2000 runs ac-hard to find for reasonable price. There are more pros and cons but subjective to individual preferences. Good luck

I have to agree with the Lance 830. I used to own one but it was a little heavy for my truck. I would still have it otherwise. I still regret selling it. I should have changed trucks.

We’ve enjoyed our Arctic Fox 811S
two of us with 80# lab

Arctic Fox 811 is my vote

Once we added a second child, our non-slide Lance 820 felt a little cramped. When looking to upgrade, we evaluated all the shortbed campers to find one that best fit the needs of a family of four. The Lance 830 was a strong contender, but it was discontinued during our shopping process and we were also a little concerned of how the tent would hold-up in the Arizona heat.

So, 5-1/2-years ago, we bought the Lance 855S and have been very happy with it. Our son sleeps on the bunk bed and daughter sleeps on the dinette bed. It's easy to transition the beds back and forth and makes an efficient use of the available space. The bunk's child restraint system prevents our son from rolling out of the bunk during the night - which gave us peace of mind when he younger.

Let me know if I can answer any questions about the camper and traveling with the family.