Wich camper for 1/2 ton truck?

[vik1]

Hi.

I would like to know wich camper do you recomand me for my 1500 Sierra?
May be only pop up camper, what do you think about this?

[brholt]

vik1 wrote:

brholt wrote:

vik1 wrote:
Hi.

I would like to know wich camper do you recomand me for my 1500 Sierra?
May be only pop up camper, what do you think about this?

What is the payload capacity rating of your truck?
Report back. With that information we can be much more helpful.

Oups sorry I forgot.

The payload is 1510 lbs
My truck is an extended cab with a short bed 6,6 ft

If you want to be under the rated capacity you are going to have a fairly minimal camper and event then it is going to be a challenge. Remember, everything is included in the payload including you, any passengers, and all the stuff you bring. In addition, things like 10 gallons of water (83 pounds), a camper battery (65 pounds), propane - you get the idea. I think you are probably looking at a camper with a dry weight under 1000 pounds.

Some possibilities:

Capri Campers (as others have mentioned)

Some models of Panther campers

You can see more information and get a feel for weights looking at the Truck Camper Magazine buyers guide;

Truck Camper Magazine Buyers Guide

[DWeikert]

vik1 wrote:
Great guys.
I didn't knew all these bands exept Palomino of course.

Just an FYI, at the Truck Camper forum list there's a sticky "More Truck Camper Info!!!!" and in there is a link Truck Camper Manufacturers - North America. Work your way through the list to see what else is available out there.

[vik1]

Great guys.
I didn't knew all these bands exept Palomino of course.

[billyray50]

Capri rodeo makes lightweight hard side TC. The deluxe has a stand up shower too. No bathroom though. Been around for years.

[vik1]

brholt wrote:

vik1 wrote:
Hi.

I would like to know wich camper do you recomand me for my 1500 Sierra?
May be only pop up camper, what do you think about this?

What is the payload capacity rating of your truck? You should find it on the drivers side door pillar, a white and yellow sticker like this:



Report back. With that information we can be much more helpful.

Oups sorry I forgot.

The payload is 1510 lbs
My truck is an extended cab with a short bed 6,6 ft

[vik1]

In fact actually I have a Sun Valley Sun Lite 955 SD on my 1500.
I Changed my Tire For Toyo, I have air bags on rear axle.
But I know it's too heavy eaven in France.
You know for us in France a Nissan Frontier is a big truck for work, so a GMC Sierra 1500 is verry big and a 2500 or 3500 is just impossible.
That's why I think the better is to shipping back the Sun Valley in USA and try to find a pop up.
In France I can load 2116 lb

[Bumpyroad]

I see palomino has a hard side HS 800 with a dry weight of 1675 lbs. and a HS 6601 dw 1771 lbs. designed for 1/2 ton trucks. the lance 825 lance is 1726 dry weight and 2044 wet.
bumpy

[DWeikert]

First, forget about anything with a bath. If you have a short bed, look at something like the Four Wheel Campers Hawk, or for a long bed the Granby.

I'd suggest a dry weight of no more than 1000 lbs to allow for you to actually carry camping supplies.

My $0.02

[RWDIII]

I like my Bronco 800 just fine
🙂

[mkirsch]

Really, doing a 1/2 ton and not being overloaded is nigh on impossible. Even with the lightest, most basic, popup camper.

Most 1/2 tons only have a 1200-1500lb payload capacity, for camper, supplies, AND passengers. If you start out with a 1000lb camper, you don't have much left to work with before you're exceeding factory ratings. Food clothes water wife kids and dog will eat up several hundred pounds very quickly, and you're overloaded.

People have been known to run up to 2000lb and even heavier campers in their 1/2 ton trucks, however. You can purchase higher-rated tires and wheels, and any number of suspension add-ons that will keep the truck from squatting under the heavy load.

It's all going to be a matter of what you feel comfortable with, but there is no guarantee you will EVER be comfortable with it, and there lies the rub. Are you willing to spend thousands upon thousands of dollars on equipment only to find out that you HATE driving it, and have to spend MORE money, sell at a loss, or leave it to rot away in the driveway?

[BMW442]

We have an old 80s pop-up Palomino "mini L" Bronco on our F-150

They stopped making them in the early 90s but they were originally for smaller trucks and the dry weight is just under 800#

[twodownzero]

I would probably not be willing to put any camper on a 1/2 ton, and if I did, it would be the lightest pop up truck camper I could find.

The semi-floating rear axle and tires that come on most 1/2 tons are going to be a serious problem.

If you do it, you're probably going to want air bags in the rear and E rated tires (which probably come in your rim size, just cost a little more).

[dave17352]

I personally feel a pop up is really the only option for a 1500. Back in 1998 I bought a hard side lance that was meant for a 1500 and was overloaded from the get go. I put it on a 1996 1500 chevy. I am assume you are talking TC.
JMHO

[rainy029]

we had a 1500 Silverado 4.3L..we pulled a 1997 Palomino PUP with it no problem...then we bought a 25ft TT dry weight 4200lbs...we traded in the Silverado for something bigger cuz pushing max payload weight