Hardside Camper Selection - How to?

[stever1000]

I’m looking for my first (used) truck camper (hard side, no pop up, no slide) and am stuck between the decision of something compact like a Northstar (no basement, 7’ high and narrow 7’ width) that would be nimble in the city, on narrow streets, as well as offroad on overgrown roads or off camber situations, versus something bigger like the Adventurer 86fb that I absolutely love the layout (rear kitchen and booth dinette) but its wider at 8’ and taller due to the basement. I understand the difference between storage tank and storage cabinet capacities so that is also a factor, but I could use external tanks for water, and I have an extended cab (no kids or dog) I could use for overflow storage.

I plan to use it for weekend trips on forest roads, as well as longer trips while working remotely for a few days in between. The eventual goal would be to spend a month down south or in Mexico. I live in Vancouver BC, so the forest service roads aren't always maintained or well traveled, or if they are deactivated they have cross ditches to go through. For Mexico I would plan to boondock as long as possible, so I appreciate the option for larger storage tanks and living space, but not sure if this is the largest driving factor. I will also winter camp in the PNW and possibly as cold as the Canadian Rockies, so the heated basement is attractive.

The options I am looking at are all within the payload with the wet weight (3800lbs) of my SRW F350, and at first glance the basement models look so big compared to the non-basement… I understand it is a tradeoff for cabover bedroom space as well as storage and tanks.

How did you decide on your camper?

 

[TonyCatmandu]

I have a Bundutec hardside that is 7' wide just over 8' long. It is has worked well. Has a cassette toilet with wet bath. I live in MT and most of my ventures are on the weekends. I can dump the cassette in forest service outhouses before heading home. I also tow a raft or small boat so the length was a concern. I can use the hitch on my flatbed without a hitch extension and the narrow width allows me to see behind the truck as I back up on often challenging launches. Most of our camping is from May - October so the small camper has worked well as we spend most of our time hanging outside at camp or doing an activity. Only two of us and small dog. If we were bound inside due to weather it would be tight.

Full disclosure: we went a little larger with a Northern Lite. It is an older 8'11" so has the smaller basement and is lighter than the current versions. I am in the midst of rennovating it but prior to tearing it appart we did like that it was a little wider and we are going to try a few days working remotely from the camper this summer so the added space will be nice. Still have the Bundutec and will be selling it but I learned not to sell something you like until the replacement item is ready to go and I am a couple months away from that.

With respect to winter use. IMO - no standard manufactured camper really performs well in the cold without modification if you want to have water and all the amenities. If you use them dry they will work fine. The good news is used truck camper prices are coming down and you should be able to find something that will work. Use it for a while and then see what other things you may want in a camper.

 

[TonyCatmandu]

deleted second post as it was supposed to be in another thread

 

[stever1000]

Thanks for the info, the Bundutec looks nice too, narrow at 7' like the Northstar

I haven't seen any Bundutec for sale near me though

 

[stever1000]

I ended up getting a Northstar camper (Adventurer 8.5) and I am happy with my choice based on width alone! Easily to navigate my narrow residential streets, and will be good offroad too.

 

[Sparse Gray Hackle]

I ended up getting a Northstar camper (Adventurer 8.5) and I am happy with my choice based on width alone! Easily to navigate my narrow residential streets, and will be good offroad too.

Congrats, have fun!