I need help and advice on finding s camper for my new 1/2ton truck.

[Luckychase5]

Truck will lol be either the new Ram or Silverado with a 3.0 diesel.


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[Luckychase5]

Found this one today...

Palamino Camper

Compact Palamino Camper, 1000 pounds, very good condition. Easy to load and unload, 8 foot,

salem.craigslist.org

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[DCGibbs]

Numerous questions... How many people? Adults, Kids? Is the Camper a 9 month on, 3 months wintered? Or do you want a Winterized 4 season, always on camper? Full Wet Bath, or a split with Composting Cassett? There is no such thing as an "Easy to load and unload" Lots of tools and tricks make it easier, but... Have you considered a Trailer? You don't have to break everything down, to run a trail, go for a hike, flyfish, etc. Just clean-up camp, stash the chairs and go. On the trailer side, All the same questions apply, which will assist you in determining size, features, budget, etc. If it's just you, and your bumming it, Camping with the Bud's - the current issue of Overland Journal has a great article on Wedge Campers... Light, Solid, Compact. There are trade off's. It really depends How, You plan to use this, and how often... Keep It Simple. We are now looking at Two Campers. A Wedge Shell, for my Flyfishing trips without the Mrs., and a Small, Ruggeded, 4 Season, dual axel, trailer to pull on Road trips and serve as Base Camp on regional expo and rally runs. Also, Where you live matters.

 

[Photobug]

Truck will lol be either the new Ram or Silverado with a 3.0 diesel.


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Following as I am considering a Dodge Ecodiesel as the 3rd family "car". My wife can't drive a stick therefore my Cummins Dodge means I get to drive on every road trip.

One thing to consider. Things start adding up quick. My truck has a 2200 lb capacity over base. I don't have a camper rig on it and it already exceeds it's GVWR. Take your intended trucks empty weight, add people, dogs, water, tent camping chairs etc. I think it would be easier to exceed the trucks capacity very quickly. It can be done in a half ton or smaller but you have to leave a lot of stuff at home. I have a 3/4 ton truck but am building a trailer to hold a slide in camper.

 

[Luckychase5]

So a little background...
My wife and I lived in and 18’ Fleetwood Pegasus trailer for over a year traveling and climbing our way around the country. Before having our trailer we lived in the bed of our 1997 Tacoma that had a high rise canopy and a bed system that I built with drawers and a removable shelf. After 4 months in this, we needed an upgrade... I loved our trailer and what it provided. However, now we both have jobs where we are mainly weekend warriors. The camper will be in and off constantly, as I own and operate a metal fabrication business and need the bed of my future truck regularly.
I mainly don’t want a trailer bc the ease of going to the back of trails to where a lot of climbing that we do is also where we end up camping. I towed our trailer to the back of a lot of these, and it got a bit epic more than once... seeing people back there with Palominos, Hallmarks, and Four wheel campers really solidified what I wanted next.

The crew for this rig will be my wife (less than 100lb) me (about 150lbs) our 18 month old daughter (22lb and growing) and out 65lb husky/lab mutt. So I’ll told our pack will be less than 400lb for a while.

We are planning a trip to drive/overland to Alaska next summer so my wife can run the Midnight Sun Marathon, and I can do some fishing, as well as scout a outfitter for a caribou hunt.

So what do you all think? I’m also not completely opposed to having another 3/4ton truck, I just liked the look of 25-30mpg I the new diesel half tins. And that Ram Rebel diesel looks glorious.


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[chet6.7]

At some point in the future your cargo carrying needs will grow, just like the kid.I think a 2500 at a bare minimum,I think a 3500 would give you more room to grow.If you are not going to pull it,you will have to haul it,it adds up quickly.

 

[crazysccrmd]

Truck Campers

Looking for the toughest pop-up slide in truck campers? Our campers are built tough with composite panels and aluminum exoskeleton.

overlandex.com

I’m leaning towards the Camp-X for myself.

I’d also recommend a 2500, the 1500 diesels only have about 1500lb payloads which you’re going to be exceeding with a camper, gear and people. My Ram 2500 will get 23mpg driving back and forth over the colorado rockies at freeway speeds. If you want a 1500 size truck the F150 heavy duty payload package is what you’ll want to get, 4x4 with a 3.5EB actually has a higher rated payload than my 2500 6.7CTD at about 2600lbs.

 

[calicamper]

My neighbor went heavy package 8ft bed on the F150 for his FWC. His whole deal was both cost and mileage. I just talked to him this morning back from a 2400 mile trip yesterday. 18-21mpg trip average. His truck was last of the pre 10spds he said another buddy same setup only 10spd was posting solid 22-23mpg.
They weren’t breaking any land speed records btw. I’m sure if they did 80+ across NV and MO they would be in the 15-16mpg range.
Check the heavy package on the 150. I know he said it was hard to find he had to order his and waited 3 months. But you get considerable load rating the most of the lighter trucks.

 

[Photobug]

So what do you all think? I’m also not completely opposed to having another 3/4ton truck, I just liked the look of 25-30mpg I the new diesel half tins. And that Ram Rebel diesel looks glorious.

Although your load seems light except for your dog. It still adds up to 350 lbs. add the basic weight of the camper, add water batteries etc, no way you are going to carry a Haulmark. I like the Hallmarks also. But they weight near 2,000 lbs, they are designed for full ton trucks.

Going to Alaska means extra weight in emergency gear, parts, recovery, etc. It could still be done on a 1500 but you would have to look at a Four wheel camper or other very light popup and then keep your packing simple.

 

[Sparse Gray Hackle]

Found this one today...

Palamino Camper

Compact Palamino Camper, 1000 pounds, very good condition. Easy to load and unload, 8 foot,

salem.craigslist.org

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Check the interior construction. Years ago they didn’t impress me. Things may have changed, but IDK.

 

[crazysccrmd]

Going to Alaska means extra weight in emergency gear, parts, recovery, etc. It could still be done on a 1500 but you would have to look at a Four wheel camper or other very light popup and then keep your packing simple.

This is a common misconception. The roads to Alaska and in Alaska are not difficult or dangerous. The biggest problems likely to be encountered are a flat tire or running out of gas due to poor planning.

 

[Regcabguy]

Truck Campers

Looking for the toughest pop-up slide in truck campers? Our campers are built tough with composite panels and aluminum exoskeleton.

overlandex.com

I’m leaning towards the Camp-X for myself.

I’d also recommend a 2500, the 1500 diesels only have about 1500lb payloads which you’re going to be exceeding with a camper, gear and people. My Ram 2500 will get 23mpg driving back and forth over the colorado rockies at freeway speeds. If you want a 1500 size truck the F150 heavy duty payload package is what you’ll want to get, 4x4 with a 3.5EB actually has a higher rated payload than my 2500 6.7CTD at about 2600lbs.

23mpg driving over the Rockies at freeway speeds? Keep it as you're getting easily five more mpg than I've read with those parameters.

 

[crazysccrmd]

23mpg driving over the Rockies at freeway speeds? Keep it as you're getting easily five more mpg than I've read with those parameters.

I figure coming back down the other side using very little pedal makes up for the climb up. Definitely keeping it, I love going up the passes at 1500rpm maintaining speed instead of my old Tacoma screaming along at 4500rpm.

 

[Luckychase5]

This is a common misconception. The roads to Alaska and in Alaska are not difficult or dangerous. The biggest problems likely to be encountered are a flat tire or running out of gas due to poor planning.

Ya, back road or highways the whole way for us. I’m not trying to go wheeling, alone, in my brand new truck, with my 2 year old...


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[mkish]

("Easy to load or unload" is actually quite achievable with electric jacks. Get those if you'll be loading/unloading often. They aren't pretty and they aren't light but they do make it easy.)