8 ft Pop Up Camper Options?

[370HSSV]

Hello, I am new to truck camping in general, used to have a SUV and can sleep with back seat down.
Recently got a 2nd gen Ram 2500 with 8ft long bed.
I want a pop up camper that is tall enough for me (6 ft) to stand up and walk around in it. Quick and easy to setup and camp. Basically like what it used to be with a SUV but a lot more room.
GFC seems to be a good option, but they don't make anything for 8ft. Water and wind proof is a must as well.
I also considered the flat bed and FWC style camper, but my bank statement says otherwise.

8ft campers are pretty limited from what I read, any other good options out there that I missed that is in my budget range of 5000-7000?

 

[Tex68w]

Long box/8ft options are extremely slim. I would love for RSi SmartCap to make an 8ft topper but they said it would be way down the line if at all. RLD Design which is very similar to the Smart Cap offers an 8ft topper but it's not the most attractive option out there. You can find lightly used fiberglass toppers from all of the major makes on CL all day long but it's rare that a modern 8ft topper comes available. You might want reach out to AT and see if they would make you a Habitat for your truck otherwise you're left ordering a glass topper new and even then you're looking at $4-5K.

 

[Mickey Bitsko]

Op, start with payload of your truck.

 

[phsycle]

Hello, I am new to truck camping in general, used to have a SUV and can sleep with back seat down.
Recently got a 2nd gen Ram 2500 with 8ft long bed.
I want a pop up camper that is tall enough for me (6 ft) to stand up and walk around in it. Quick and easy to setup and camp. Basically like what it used to be with a SUV but a lot more room.
GFC seems to be a good option, but they don't make anything for 8ft. Water and wind proof is a must as well.
I also considered the flat bed and FWC style camper, but my bank statement says otherwise.

8ft campers are pretty limited from what I read, any other good options out there that I missed that is in my budget range of 5000-7000?

Budget of 5-7k? Best bet is to just look at getting used and hopefully you’ll be lucky something that will fit and in decent shape will come up.

Me, personally, I’d just get a high rise topper and if you have money left, get a 270deg awning. That will at least give you a place to walk around in, out of the weather. Doesn’t get much easier and simple than that.

 

[Superduty]

An option is to get a pop up for a short bed. If you are looking for style points you won't get many this way, but it should be functional.

Other option is to get a short bed truck.

Another option is to build it yourself, not necessarily cheap and not so easy for most folks.

Grandby is the FWC long bed version, but they don't come cheap.

Sent from my SM-G973U using Tapatalk

 

[eyemgh]

There are two very good options at 8 feet, FWC Grandby and Hallmark Guanella. You won’t come close to touching either new, but they both pop up used under $10K if you’re willing to get an old enough used one. Join their respective FB groups if you’re interested.

You can go new for a little over your budget with a FWC Project M. It’s austere, essentially a topper with a pop up and a big bed, but that may be what you’re looking for anyway. they are light.

good luck on the quest.

Project M Topper

The Project M is the newest camper from Four Wheel Campers is the perfect pop up truck topper for the minimalist adventurer.

fourwheelcampers.com

 

[Zuber]

Also, don't forget the All Terrain Campers - Cougar/Puma. Both FWC and ATC have shell models that are bare(ish) inside for the lowest cost. They are out there used. Look on Wander the West website and others.

 

[ramblinChet]

Here is my FWC Grandby in my long bed RAM Prospector. Interior floor to ceiling is 6.5' and they hold wonderful resale value should you change your mind someday.

 

[JaSAn]

Campers for 8 ft truck beds are out there in all price ranges. I have a 1977 FWC Grandby that is still in good shape. I paid $500 for it 8 years ago. It took me 9 months to find one near me that I could afford. I have gotten 8 years of use out of it for ~$3000. As mentioned above, look at WTW website:

Used Pop Up Truck Camper Alert Thread - Page 447 - Gear Exchange

Page 447 of 480 - Used Pop Up Truck Camper Alert Thread - posted in Gear Exchange: 2011 FWC Fleet, $17,000, Fruita, CO https://westslope.cr...7413765239.html

www.wanderthewest.com

It all depends on how fast you need to get it, your price range, how much time and skill you have to repair and build it to meet your needs. If you want to see mine:

Renovating Sköldpaddan – 1977 Grandby Interior Build

Renovating Sköldpaddan – 1977 Grandby Interior Build After spending the last 50 years camping out of a backpack, I finally decided that I had enough of sleeping on the ground. My research last winter zeroed in on pop-up pickup campers, and especially the FWC/ATC design. I had despaired of...

www.wanderthewest.com

 

[Regcabguy]

Find a used Northstar TC800 longbed model. Mine was born on a 2nd gen and has resided on my present truck since '06.
It's been very reliable and sturdy. Next a manual Happijac tiedown system.

 

[Mickey Bitsko]

I don't think the op is paying attention ?

 

[phsycle]

Here is my FWC Grandby in my long bed RAM Prospector. Interior floor to ceiling is 6.5' and they hold wonderful resale value should you change your mind someday.

View attachment 696770

Are those 37’s? Looks about perfect.

I imagine my retirement rig to look like that.

 

[370HSSV]

Oh wow, there are tons of information I need to look into! Thank you guys so much pointing me to the right track and share the possible options for me.

Pay load is around 1300 lbs.

FWC is definitely the nicest option out there so far in my opinion. But I seriously doubt I will use it to all of it can offer. I still want to semi use the bed from the truck, and be as simple / light weight as possible. I think that's why GFC style's concept is attractive to me. Also the AT Atlas, Project M in similar range. I guess I might just need to save up, and at the same time browse the used market if possible.

I found some wildernest campers near me, went to look at them, both are just too beat up and used in my opinion.

I actually had a aluminum camper shell on the truck for a trip out on a windy day, not being able to stand up in the camper was really frustrating to me.

Thanks again for the great suggestions, I really appericate everyone chime in and helping me out.

 

[ramblinChet]

Are those 37’s? Looks about perfect.

I imagine my retirement rig to look like that.

Yes, the AEV Prospector package has 37s while the Prospector XL runs 40s or 41s. For my plans I had no need for the additional 1.5-2.0" of clearance so the 37s were optimum for my purposes.

 

[montechie]

GFC would be close to your budget, but I think the largest they go to is 6'5" on full-size trucks. Ovrlnd Campers would certainly make a pop-up for an 8', but would be above your budget ($9400+). Those are ideal for lots of standing room and the ability to use the truck bed as a truck bed still.