Help me choose a used truck and camper

[blueridge]

I tend to keep my vehicles long term, my last truck - 250k. For value, I'd rather purchase the truck used. For selection, I'll probably buy the camper new.

Will full-time in the camper six months of the year, traveling for work, 5-7 days each location, will avoid parks and mostly dry camp.

Will experience hot desert temperatures and east coast winters in the camper. Need well insulated camper for hot and cold (strategy for winter condensation?).

Will purchase a trailerable powerboat and will cruise the Pacific Northwest and Sea of Cortez in Mexico, the other six months of the year.

Have not chosen the boat, but have narrowed it to two designs. One is 5,000 lbs. total towing weight, including trailer, and the other is 8,500 lbs.

At least 5,000 miles per year towing the boat. And another 12,000 miles per year using just the camper.

If I choose the 8,500lb. boat I imagine I'll need a 1 ton truck to have enough capacity to carry the camper and tow the larger boat ... and diesel power.

If I end up choosing the 5,000lb. boat and camper, is the 1 ton / diesel overkill and unnecessarily expensive to purchase and maintain?

Can the camper extend beyond the bed of the truck and still allow me to tow the boat trailer? If so, how far beyond?

What used truck (good value) and camper should I buy for my use?

Thanks for your insights and advise.

 

[bob91yj]

If you go with a Duramax get an 06 or 07 CLASSIC. They have the 6 speed Allison transmission and the preferred version of the Dmax. Here's mine.

Pop up camper is a compromise. It meets our needs, roof air makes it 4 season capable for our area.

 

[Buliwyf]

I know Fords, so I recommend a 2001'ish CC dually 7.3 diesel. Or similar newer truck with a 6.8L v10.
-
We used a hitch extension with our 10-11' camper to tow a 18' 1983 Fourwinns boat. Never had a problem with that, but hitch extensions make me nervous. Even though little boats have little tongue weight

 

[redthies]

Ok, we got GM, Ford, so here's a Dodge perspective. I would go with the newest 5.9 3500 you can find ('06 or '07), and add airbags for stability with the camper and trailer. You might not NEED a 3500 with the smaller boat, but there is very little difference between 2500 and 3500 as far as price or maintenance go. Newer diesels require ULSD fuel, and can potentially be an issue in Mexico.

For your camper, you should seriously consider "Northern Light". They are made by the people who used to be "Bigfoot", and are incredibly well built, as well as super comfy! http://www.northern-lite.com/truck_camper_special_96.html

 

[Rovertrader]

I second the Ford vote, and something to consider- petrol engines are considerably cheaper to keep, but lack the longevity typically of the diesel. So, consider same as you will be having it serviced I assume, not doing it yourself. Another thing, is the 6.8 has the torque and longevity- know of several with 200k+ miles. Lastly, for Mexico, the diesel is subsidized by the government, so is very cheap to buy- petrol, not so much.
Bottom line, arguments for both will prevail as well as brand. I have tried both, and love the diesels, but also love the 6.8 in my Excursion... The 6.8 will allow you about a $10k advantage buying in as well- buys lots of fuel!

 

[blueridge]

routine maintenance costs for diesels

I haven't owned a diesel. My last two trucks were gasoline and I put over 200k on both of them, but even light towing resulted in poor gas mileage.

My desire for diesel is based on keeping the vehicle long term 200-300k, better gas mileage while towing (I'll have the camper all the time, and will be towing a boat in addition to the camper).

But is all of this offset by the routine maintenance costs of the diesel over 200-300k? What does it cost, annually, to service a diesel for 25k miles per year?

Thanks ...

 

[bob91yj]

Duramax needs a fuel filter every 15,000 miles and oil changes. I change my oil every 5k, probably overkill, but oil is cheap insurance. Allison transmission should be serviced every 30k.

As far as ULSD fuel and Mexico, I haven't heard from anybody that has had an issue with it regardless of brand. For the Baja races there is a huge contingent of diesel chase trucks. There was a lot of concern early on when the US trucks went to ULSD, doesn't seem to be a problem. If the fuel was really an issue I'm sure I'd have heard about it by now. Some reports say that Mex diesel is ULSD. It doesn't affect my truck one way or the other.

 

[redthies]

Good to hear about the Mexican fuel thing. I haven't been down with anything newer than my '05.

I don't think the cost of maintenance is substantially higher for a diesel. Sure, they hold more oil, but unless you get into big failures I think they are not out of line cost wise. If you are planning to keep the truck for 2-300k, the fuel savings, especially with a camper on full time, should be substantial with a diesel.

 

[Chili]

I have no recommendation for the camper, but as for the truck, based on the conditions you placed.. I'd go with a diesel, crew cab, F350 long bed dually. Especially if it were a 99 or so with the 7.3 Diesel. Dually only because of the camper weight then the tongue weight of a boat on top of that. Long bed so you can fit the largest camper possible, easily, since you will be spending so much time in it.

Find one with low mileage (relatively speaking = 100k or less) and that will serve you well for years.. Parts are cheap and easy to find. Just a tip BTW, that vintage engines were made by International Trucks (they used them in some of their medium duty trucks), so you can often get engine parts for much cheaper though an International dealer parts department over a Ford parts department. LMC Trucks or Jeff's Bronco Graveyard will get you any other parts for low prices.

It won't be easy to find one, but I bet with a good persistent search you could find one reasonably priced within the next 6 months. And for the use you describe, being picky is going to be important for your needs.

 

[Chili]

BTW.. Whatever brand / vintage you end up choosing, for a large camper and towing a boat, even if only the smaller 5,000lb boat, you really need a diesel. Cost of maintenance balances out over long term, at a minimum. Potential for failure is much reduced; and IMO, even the fuel cost differential would be an advantage long term with the diesel.

 

[Buliwyf]

I'm not so sure diesels get to carry the reliability flag anymore. Our fleet diesels, old and new, are nowhere near as reliable as the gassers. Turbo's, EGR's, wet stacking, Dodge ECM's hating city life, fuel system problems, etc etc. We avoid them except for the heaviest trucks now. All our SRW trucks will be gas, all our DRW's diesel.

 

[surlydiesel]

I have the gas vs. diesel talk in my head daily. If I were to get an older ford 95-2003, I would get the 7.3. They are getting rarer and more pricey by the moment as the ones with less than 100k are few and far between. Anything newer, I would get a gas. The cost of upkeep, filter changes, just one set of injectors would buy me a heck of a lot of gas. I love ability to tow and hear the turbo wind up...but a V10 will do the job and at this point cost less while doing it. If we would embrace diesels in the US, maybe it would make more sense to me to own a modern diesel.

Oh and my vote would be for a 8.1 gas if you get a GM or a V10 Ford, if you're going to buy newer. If you're willing to buy older, you've had a few votes for a CrewCab Dually ford. If you don't need the cab space, get a Reg Cab Dually and increase the available payload for the camper. I think for the weights you are considering, I would stick with a solid front axle. I know the GM's are known to be strong and reliable but I just like the comfort of less moving parts.

On the Camper side, I would say a used Bigfoot would be a nice solid setup. Seem to be well built/insulated very good for 4 season use. I prefer a Hard side Camper vs. a Pop Up for the simplicity of less moving parts and the insulation factor. The lower center of gravity and more stealth abilities make the pop up appealing but not as appealing as the hard side. If I'm using a full sized truck, I'd get a hard side. In my 1/4 ton yota, pop up.

Good Luck,
jorge

 

[Chili]

You make good points.. One thing to mention about a V10 with big camper and towing a heavy boat, you're looking at like 5mpg highway and 45 mph up steep grades.

 

[Flys Lo]

I know Ford's, so here are my suggestions.
Find a long bed SRW Crew Cab F350, and fit airbags under the rear. I personally don't like dually's (offroad performance, parking, lower mpg's and increased tire costs). That is as long as you can stick within the GVWR of the truck.

I like the 7.3 (owned one), but for what they are I think they are overpriced - the auto trans behind them cab be sketchy, unless it has been rebuilt by John Woods or BTS (then it will be bulletproof). Finding a good one with a manual trans is difficult, and probably expensive to buy too (again, owned one).
I personally would find a 05+ truck. These had coil front ends (better ride, much better turning circle), larger brakes, for the 6.0l diesel most of the reliability issues were worked out, and for the V10 they got 3V's (more power with no loss in mpg's), the really strong 5 speed auto and deeper gears.
I actually like the 6.0l diesel, once you have thrown about 2k at it to "bulletproof it" (essentially head studs, egr delete), it is a very reliable and strong engine, and because their "reliability issues" are well known, you can often pick up a 6 year old 6.0l with reasonably miles cheaper than you can a 12 year old 7.3l with lots of miles, and you will have a nicer truck around it with an engine that performs better, better trans and is quieter.
I could not consciously recommend a 6.4l Ford unless you are comfortable investing 3-4k into the truck "bulletproof it", and even then it may have other expensive issues (leaking radiators etc.)
The 2011+ 6.7l has proven to be exceptionally reliable, if you can afford a used one, and the truck around it is even nicer.

The V10 is a very strong motor, and easily will last your expected milage (again, I would look for an 05+ for the better truck around it). They typically can be found even cheaper than a 6.0l - yes the milage won't be as good, and given how long you are keeping it, and what you are using it for, it may pay off getting the diesel - some of those mpgs will be offset by more expensive oil/fuel filter changes on the diesel - but a gas engine 3/4 or 1ton truck with 250k miles on it has to be almost given away, where a diesel will hold onto its value a lot better, and will be easier to sell in a used market. The lighter engine will give you ~400lbs additional GVW to play with in like for like trucks.
Then there is the driving preference, given the planned load you will have, a number of truck owners will chose a diesel because of the torque lower in the rpm range, it gives them a better feeling of confidence under load, less shifting up hills etc. but if you are familiar with gas engined trucks this may not be a concern (and a V10 with 4:30 gears will actually out pull all but the newest of diesels, stock for stock)


Hope that helps

 

[rxinhed]

...and a V10 with 4:30 gears will actually out pull all...

I have nothing to contribute to the discussion except a tidbit of fun. I had an assigned work vehicle, a really nice 2006 F350 Supercab shortbed 4x4 with the V10 and 4.30 gears. What fun we had! The truck was faster than the muscle cars I had in the 80s, returned the same fuel mileage or better, and I could use it for work. Long gone to auction, that truck would leave four rubber streaks when it was power braked, all the while throwing you back into the seats!

I've driven a few diesel FS trucks and this V10 definitely had the light to light advantage.