TC Newbie with ?'s

[Prevost97]

Hello all,

I am an experienced, long term class A owner. I would like to get myself a truck camper for occasional use, probably never more than a week at a time, and by myself 99% of the time...the wife only travels in the class A! I am imagining a pop-up type camper, for easier access to off-road locations, old-time/bluegrass music festivals, and etc. We live in southern Arkansas, and I can't ever imagine wanting to use the little camper for cold weather camping (below 32F is very cold for us southerners!).

I have a paid for 2016 Ram crew cab 2500HD 4X4 with the 6.4L gas Hemi, but it has the shorter 6' 4" bed. Payload is 3300lbs. Since we have a 45' class A, I have no desire to get a larger truck or a very big/heavy TC. I pull this Ram 2500 behind our class A, as well. I had a little 23 ft. Jayco that I pulled several times last year, but I sold it last week, because I didn't like pulling it, and there were many places that I would like to have gone, but the Jayco couldn't.

From my research so far, I understand that I need to purchase and install some frame mount tie downs, and a set of turnbuckles, along with a rubber bed mat to protect my spray in bedliner. I won't need to remove the plastic rail protectors will I? I do know that if I go to pick up a camper, that I will need to leave the tailgate at home. I haven't researched how to remove my tailgate, but it shouldn't be too difficult...famous last words.

I think that I might like an indoor wet bath, but that markedly limits my possibilities, so I am undecided. The only campers that I can see within 250-400 miles of my home are some new Palomino and Northstar SC popups, but I would much rather buy used, to avoid the depreciation and sales tax double whammy.

Any suggestions, advice, etc? I browsed and scanned through 12 months worth of posts here today! :B

Thanks in advance!!

[ardvark]

If you are going used, Northstars can be very difficult to find and usually have to be purchased quickly if you do find one. A fair number of truck camper shoppers have to be willing to drive a pretty fair ways to find what they want. We drove over 600 miles from East Tennessee. TCs in our area and maybe yours are fair less common than there are in the West.

As Kayteg1 said, if you are concerned about weight, I think when you go to a CAT scale you will find you are over your sticker weights with almost any non-popup (rule of thumb is to add 800 to a 1000 pounds to the manufacturer's dry weight).

You probably already have discovered tankage on TCs is nothing like you are used to having in your class A. You learn to shower without using a lot of water. 🙂

[Prevost97]

Kayteg1 wrote:
Any camper with shower will stretch your 2500 truck, so you have to be very careful.
Either seek very light models, or be ready to update your tires and suspension.
I bought TC still having my vintage Prevost, but the boys left the nest, so 2 of us + 3 dogs fit in camper with slide just fine.
Good luck on your search. Sounds like you do your homework, what is rare.

Thanks for the advice! The wife is still too attached to the Prevost to even mention letting it go right now, but we are empty nesters, too.

Update my suspension and tires? What might that entail and cost? ??

[Kayteg1]

Any camper with shower will stretch your 2500 truck, so you have to be very careful.
Either seek very light models, or be ready to update your tires and suspension.
I bought TC still having my vintage Prevost, but the boys left the nest, so 2 of us + 3 dogs fit in camper with slide just fine.
Good luck on your search. Sounds like you do your homework, what is rare.

[Prevost97]

Thanks for the quick replies!

The wife of 36 years decided to “help” me shop online tonight, and she is against me getting a pop up TC or a TC without a wet bath. Says she will go with me sometimes if I get a hard side with wet bath....so much for all my research!

So, it looks like my choices are: nothing larger than a Palomino 8801HS, a Lance 865, or a Northstar Laredo SC. Any huge pros, cons, other than what I presume is better build quality in the Lance and Northstar? Other comparable campers that I should consider?

Thanks again!

[3_tons]

The plastic rail protectors will not interfere in any way. Ram tailgate come off easily (tilt to 45deg, disconnect cable stops, lift up at right side, pull towards curb) but if you have the OEM camera, you’ll first have to disconnect it from the harness...

3 tons

[ardvark]

Use SearchTempest for your search as it covers all of Craigslist by either state or region. We have owned over a dozen different RVs including the diesel pusher venue twice. Still have our last fifth wheel for wintering in Florida, but I think we enjoy our Hallmark UTE Xl as much or more than any RV we have owned and use it often. Bought it used and would suggest new only if there is something you can't live without.

Sounds like you have the basics of TC down. Asking specific questions aids responses.