Can't speak of experince with Super Tramp but they check a lot of the boxes on campers if you know what you want and they meet your wants/needs.
I fall in the "get a flatbed" camp. If you don't need it as a work truck and/or to haul a 5th wheel trailer then I also agree with rruff to do a small, low platform and build boxes from there. I put a standard skirted flatbed on my truck and it is nice but it is higher than I want and pretty heavy. I sold my factroy bed to a collision shop and was trying to buy back the damaged bed they had so I could cut it appart and use the base as the platform for build out. It did not work out so will probably build one this coming winter.
I think you should back up a bit first. I don't know your ultimate goals or budget but a supertramp is and expesive entry point into truck camping. I also don't know your camping background (any camping? limited tent camping? minimlalist backpacking and sleeping on the open ground?). Point being there is a wide range of backgrounds. In my experience, the folks that are happiest with smaller campers are those that have been perfectly happy tent camping for years or truck topper camping but life changes and an increase in financial resources allows them venture into truck camping at a higher level. If finanical resources are not a constraint, I would broom the truck first and get a crew cab with eight foot bed and then put a $7k camper on it. Use the heck out of it and in a year you will know 1) if you even have time to use it 2) how you like to use it 3) what you can do without and what you absolutely need 4) if you need the unbelievalbe amount of additional storage and plain functionality a flatbed provides in conjunction with a truck camper. You can sell the camper for $5K and then go get the next one. Losing $2K is cheap compared to having a $30K camper and then find out it does not meet your needs.
This is not a knock on ST but trying to save money by running what you brung with the current truck and then buying what I consider a high end camper to make the old truck work would be a mistake. I know, the old megacab with diesel is kind of unreplaceable and if you are really lucky it is a manual. That would probably have me trying to hold onto it as well.
Thanks for the response.
Weve done quite a bit of camping, but no slide in truck camping. Like most on here I’ve camped and slept in anything from tents to truck cabs to box trailers…. Basically any shelter available while hunting. Nothing like those nights that are so cold your propane heaters won’t light….
Now that I have little ones I’d like something that is safe to leave them in while I sneak out early to hunt, has climate control and isn’t so big and comfortable they never want to leave…. I’ve told my wife one benefit of the truck camper is eventually when the kids get old they will want to get out and tent camp. Those days spent tent camping are priceless so I don’t want them to miss out on that. Meanwhile mom and dad will be comfortable lol
Another reason I’m stuck on truck campers is because I have a jeep I’ll be flat towing…. We want to be able to take some quick weekend warrior trips, get out late, pass out, wake up and have fun.
As far as my truck goes its a 2020 ram 2500 not the old classic but fully deleted so its runs like it should.
Money isn’t unlimited but a supertramp is in the budget. It’s just difficult to wrap my mind around the price. The only thing I’ve been able to do to help make sense of it is compare it to deep sea boats…. Higher quality and higher price. I don’t know supertramp but their process and materials are enough to know you are buying a shell that could last 50+ years just like the old boats you see still runnin strong.
My thought process has always been to save up until I can afford what I want rather than buy, sell, upgrade…. Just seems like you end up spending more in the long run that way. But that’s just me.
Anyways I’ve been racking my brain for over a month and doing as much research as possible on all type of truck campers under 2,000lbs…
I’m pretty set on hardside over pop up for all the benefits, but this greatly reduces my options so I’m not 100% commited to the hard side decision
Glad I found these forums because there is so much good people to learn from and just bounce ideas around.
Appreciate any thoughts….
