Sold the Travel Trailer today and picked myself up a 2015 Ram 2500 SB 6.4 Hemi Mega Cab 4x4. I'm pretty much sold on the Lance 855. I want a non-slide, 4 season, large tank capacity, 2 propane bottles, oven, shortest overhang possible. Is there anything I should consider before I get to work on pricing?Wold Creek 850 nice camper but the tanks are considerably smaller.Adventurer 86FB seems to fit the bill but the quality of the interior finishes don't seem as nice. I prefer the Lance wrap around dinette. Also I would prefer aluminum or wood but I know how much that matters. Also Should I take into consideration the Lance 1 piece front cap.Quality is probably most important. I just want to make sure I'm considering everything important.

Sounds like you picked out the truck before the camper. It can work, but harder. Most brands will be fine, but you need to inspect the individual TC. They are made one at a time.What's the payload for your truck?

I think potential truck camper RVers focus too much on waste tank capacities. I have been out 13 times this year in my Wolf Creek and have never had to dump my tanks because they were full. The fact of the matter is a high percentage of your camping will not be in the in the back country without dump facilities. You may want to think they will be but I can assure you that they won.t be. Many of you live in areas where that is not possible. I live in an area where boondocking is a reality and I am always able to get to a dump facility if I need one.The moral of the story is "be realistic in your demands". What you dream about doing and what you are actually able to do are entirely different.

Have you looked into Northstar?You mentioned quality- that would be Northstar. Family owned and operated. Call them for support and you will probably end up talking to one of the owners.http://www.northstarcampers.com/Particularly their 8.5 Arrow U. It hits most of your wants. Plus a cassette toilet which is really convenient.

1mtnman wrote:I think potential truck camper RVers focus too much on waste tank capacities. I have been out 13 times this year in my Wolf Creek and have never had to dump my tanks because they were full. The fact of the matter is a high percentage of your camping will not be in the in the back country without dump facilities. You may want to think they will be but I can assure you that they won.t be. Many of you live in areas where that is not possible. I live in an area where boondocking is a reality and I am always able to get to a dump facility if I need one.The moral of the story is "be realistic in your demands". What you dream about doing and what you are actually able to do are entirely different.That depends how you live and who you live with. I have no problem filling up the gray tank after two or three nights.

Bedlam wrote:1mtnman wrote:I think potential truck camper RVers focus too much on waste tank capacities. I have been out 13 times this year in my Wolf Creek and have never had to dump my tanks because they were full. The fact of the matter is a high percentage of your camping will not be in the in the back country without dump facilities. You may want to think they will be but I can assure you that they won.t be. Many of you live in areas where that is not possible. I live in an area where boondocking is a reality and I am always able to get to a dump facility if I need one.The moral of the story is "be realistic in your demands". What you dream about doing and what you are actually able to do are entirely different.That depends how you live and who you live with. I have no problem filling up the gray tank after two or three nights.I agree. At home we live with a drilled well and a septic system. We have also done many bareboat sailing charters.We are automatically very good with fresh/grey/black tank usage. We have gone an entire week on our Lance's 20 gallon grey tank- including several showers (get wet, shut it off, soap, rinse off).City living with water mains and sewer systems have some people spoiled with unlimited usage. On one of our charters we invited two other couples- our best friends- who live in the NYC area. We ran out of fresh water (180 gallons) in 2 days!

Time to get serious. Sold TT and got a new RAM.

jimh406
Explorer III
Oct 30, 2014
Sounds like you picked out the truck before the camper. It can work, but harder. Most brands will be fine, but you need to inspect the individual TC. They are made one at a time.

What's the payload for your truck?
1mtnman
Explorer II
Oct 30, 2014
I think potential truck camper RVers focus too much on waste tank capacities. I have been out 13 times this year in my Wolf Creek and have never had to dump my tanks because they were full. The fact of the matter is a high percentage of your camping will not be in the in the back country without dump facilities. You may want to think they will be but I can assure you that they won.t be. Many of you live in areas where that is not possible. I live in an area where boondocking is a reality and I am always able to get to a dump facility if I need one.
The moral of the story is "be realistic in your demands". What you dream about doing and what you are actually able to do are entirely different.
SugarHillCTD
Explorer
Oct 30, 2014
Have you looked into Northstar?

You mentioned quality- that would be Northstar. Family owned and operated. Call them for support and you will probably end up talking to one of the owners.

http://www.northstarcampers.com/

Particularly their 8.5 Arrow U. It hits most of your wants. Plus a cassette toilet which is really convenient.
Bedlam
Moderator
Oct 30, 2014
1mtnman wrote:
I think potential truck camper RVers focus too much on waste tank capacities. I have been out 13 times this year in my Wolf Creek and have never had to dump my tanks because they were full. The fact of the matter is a high percentage of your camping will not be in the in the back country without dump facilities. You may want to think they will be but I can assure you that they won.t be. Many of you live in areas where that is not possible. I live in an area where boondocking is a reality and I am always able to get to a dump facility if I need one.
The moral of the story is "be realistic in your demands". What you dream about doing and what you are actually able to do are entirely different.

That depends how you live and who you live with. I have no problem filling up the gray tank after two or three nights.
SugarHillCTD
Explorer
Oct 30, 2014
Bedlam wrote:
1mtnman wrote:
I think potential truck camper RVers focus too much on waste tank capacities. I have been out 13 times this year in my Wolf Creek and have never had to dump my tanks because they were full. The fact of the matter is a high percentage of your camping will not be in the in the back country without dump facilities. You may want to think they will be but I can assure you that they won.t be. Many of you live in areas where that is not possible. I live in an area where boondocking is a reality and I am always able to get to a dump facility if I need one.
The moral of the story is "be realistic in your demands". What you dream about doing and what you are actually able to do are entirely different.

That depends how you live and who you live with. I have no problem filling up the gray tank after two or three nights.

I agree. At home we live with a drilled well and a septic system. We have also done many bareboat sailing charters.
We are automatically very good with fresh/grey/black tank usage. We have gone an entire week on our Lance's 20 gallon grey tank- including several showers (get wet, shut it off, soap, rinse off).

City living with water mains and sewer systems have some people spoiled with unlimited usage. On one of our charters we invited two other couples- our best friends- who live in the NYC area. We ran out of fresh water (180 gallons) in 2 days!
Jfresh
Explorer
Oct 30, 2014
jimh425 wrote:

What's the payload for your truck?

2845 lbs
SugarHillCTD
Explorer
Oct 30, 2014
Jfresh wrote:
jimh425 wrote:

What's the payload for your truck?

2845 lbs

Ah....welcome to the world of being over GVWR- to be expected. Just keep an eye on RAWR (rear axle weight rating) which is probably dictated by the weight rating of your tires.
805gregg
Explorer
Oct 30, 2014
Too bad you didn't get a long bed, many more and larger campers to choose from. I don't understand every ones fear of an extra 1.5' of truck bed
billtex
Explorer II
Oct 31, 2014
Welcome.
I agree about tank size...can NEVER have too much.

I will also offer some advice/caution. Don't drink the kool-aid too fast, some of the other brands are a much better value than lantz...just proceed slowly and take a lot of notes.

One other thing, I am not intimate with Ram...but isn't that the model with the extra large cab? If so, you will really need to watch COG and payload....IIRC they are not recommended for TC's. But check the bed lg and COG...I don't know for sure.

Good luck, have fun.

Bill
Bedlam
Moderator
Oct 31, 2014
The short bed campers will work on that truck, but I see 19.5" wheels needed since all the weight will be on the rear axle.

Does this truck have coil spring rear? Do you have the supplemental air bag system? I'm not sure how you will compensate for rear sag.