rtt vs slide in camper

[Trikebubble]

Our previous set-up was an Xterra and rooftop tent. We put thousands of miles on it, including a 3-week 6500km trip to Colorado and back (I only mention as a reference point).
for the past (almost) 4 years, we have had a Hawk and Tundra. and have and do travel extensively. Our longest trip was a 3 1/2 week 8500km trip to Tuktoyaktuk and back in the summer of 2018.
I can tell you their is absolutely no comparison between the two. None whatsoever. I find I can still access a good 85% of the off-road areas with the Tundra and Hawk that I used to in the smaller Xterra. Those that I cannot, well the trade-off is well worth it. I found that in inclement weather, you hide out in the rooftop tent, where we can and do live in the Four Wheel Camper. Rain, snow, it doesn't matter, we are snug as bugs in a rug inside with all the amenities required. If required, I can be set-up and sitting inside in less than 5 minutes.
Yes, the Tundra fuel tank is small (if you have the 26 gallon one), and I do take an extra 5-gallon fuel can along for the ride. Having said that, on our trip North to Tuk I never once needed that extra fuel.

I am 100% satisfied with our decision to "upgrade" and haven't found really any issues over the past 4 years that would make me re-consider this decision.

 

[jgallo1]

I am 100% going slide in camper.
The only issue I am having is I found an immaculate 2003 7.3 F250 . I can not make up mind if I should snatch it up or go tundra

 

[jgallo1]

Our previous set-up was an Xterra and rooftop tent. We put thousands of miles on it, including a 3-week 6500km trip to Colorado and back (I only mention as a reference point).
for the past (almost) 4 years, we have had a Hawk and Tundra. and have and do travel extensively. Our longest trip was a 3 1/2 week 8500km trip to Tuktoyaktuk and back in the summer of 2018.
I can tell you their is absolutely no comparison between the two. None whatsoever. I find I can still access a good 85% of the off-road areas with the Tundra and Hawk that I used to in the smaller Xterra. Those that I cannot, well the trade-off is well worth it. I found that in inclement weather, you hide out in the rooftop tent, where we can and do live in the Four Wheel Camper. Rain, snow, it doesn't matter, we are snug as bugs in a rug inside with all the amenities required. If required, I can be set-up and sitting inside in less than 5 minutes.
Yes, the Tundra fuel tank is small (if you have the 26 gallon one), and I do take an extra 5-gallon fuel can along for the ride. Having said that, on our trip North to Tuk I never once needed that extra fuel.

I am 100% satisfied with our decision to "upgrade" and haven't found really any issues over the past 4 years that would make me re-consider this decision.

View attachment 606738

Thank you for great write up

 

[beef tits]

I am 100% going slide in camper.
The only issue I am having is I found an immaculate 2003 7.3 F250 . I can not make up mind if I should snatch it up or go tundra

What was it used for? Work truck? Run away.

Leaf springs up front or coils? Both have their advantages.

Probably does not have the forged rods like the earlier 7.3s - are you tuning it up? The later 7.3s aren't as sturdy after 400 HP or so.

Would seeing all my Ford repair receipts help your decision? LOL I spent a good $20k+ on maintenance and repairs over 3 years and 30k miles of ownership. Could have paid for my Tundra twice over. No joke. Look that thing over THOROUGHLY, drive-line, starting system, all fluids... no matter how clean it is. It's easy to hide expensive issues on those trucks, partly because they are so damn loud half the truck could be rattling apart and you'd never know.

 

[jgallo1]

ha ha , the repairs are real, I remember.
This thing is so cherry, I promise you, That's why it's such a hard decision.
The truck has been a one-owner CA truck. It's an older guy, who owned it. He added the 50 gal tank. It has 106k on it. He just replaced the tie rods, oil pan, shocks, and few other things.

 

[jgallo1]

Thank you for great write up

Our previous set-up was an Xterra and rooftop tent. We put thousands of miles on it, including a 3-week 6500km trip to Colorado and back (I only mention as a reference point).
for the past (almost) 4 years, we have had a Hawk and Tundra. and have and do travel extensively. Our longest trip was a 3 1/2 week 8500km trip to Tuktoyaktuk and back in the summer of 2018.
I can tell you their is absolutely no comparison between the two. None whatsoever. I find I can still access a good 85% of the off-road areas with the Tundra and Hawk that I used to in the smaller Xterra. Those that I cannot, well the trade-off is well worth it. I found that in inclement weather, you hide out in the rooftop tent, where we can and do live in the Four Wheel Camper. Rain, snow, it doesn't matter, we are snug as bugs in a rug inside with all the amenities required. If required, I can be set-up and sitting inside in less than 5 minutes.
Yes, the Tundra fuel tank is small (if you have the 26 gallon one), and I do take an extra 5-gallon fuel can along for the ride. Having said that, on our trip North to Tuk I never once needed that extra fuel.

I am 100% satisfied with our decision to "upgrade" and haven't found really any issues over the past 4 years that would make me re-consider this decision.

View attachment 606738

Forgot to ask,
Are you running 35's and airbags? I should just ask what suspension setup are you running?

 

[Trikebubble]

Forgot to ask,
Are you running 35's and airbags? I should just ask what suspension setup are you running?

I am now running 35" Toyo AT2 Extreme's. I have 295 Ridge Grapplers in that photo from 2018, but decided to go up to the true 35". I am running full ADS Racing shocks tuned to my weight needs with external resi's triple bypass on the rear, and HD coils on the front. I have OME Dakar leafpacks w/an additional leaf, and I do have airbags on Daystar cradles (though I don't really inflate them too much, just to assist a bit in carrying loads). I guess my setup may be a little overkill, but I can hammer higher speed logging and forestry roads for hours on end without losing the shocks ability to work. The ADS stuff is pretty fantastic.

 

[jgallo1]

I am now running 35" Toyo AT2 Extreme's. I have 295 Ridge Grapplers in that photo from 2018, but decided to go up to the true 35". I am running full ADS Racing shocks tuned to my weight needs with external resi's triple bypass on the rear, and HD coils on the front. I have OME Dakar leafpacks w/an additional leaf, and I do have airbags on Daystar cradles (though I don't really inflate them too much, just to assist a bit in carrying loads). I guess my setup may be a little overkill, but I can hammer higher speed logging and forestry roads for hours on end without losing the shocks ability to work. The ADS stuff is pretty fantastic.

I was thinking of just going full OME kit with airbags to start, arb bumper, and 295 tires.
My slide in is a FWC Hawk

 

[phsycle]

I am 100% going slide in camper.
The only issue I am having is I found an immaculate 2003 7.3 F250 . I can not make up mind if I should snatch it up or go tundra

Why even go diesel? Look for an F250 w 6.2 gas. Don’t let one dude on the internet scare you about domestics. As long as they were maintained well, they work.

Tundra is a non-starter. 1,200lb payload kills it for slide in campers.

 

[jgallo1]

still torn on the truck. One of my problems is I keep looking at this build:

Gramp Camp: Jon Burtt's 7.3L Overland Truck Camper - Expedition Portal

We take a look at an amazing overland truck camper built by Jon Burtt. Packing a 7.3L diesel, Four-Wheel Camper, and 40" tires it's ready for any adventure.

expeditionportal.com

 

[Deleted member 9101]

Why even go diesel? Look for an F250 w 6.2 gas. Don’t let one dude on the internet scare you about domestics. As long as they were maintained well, they work.

Tundra is a non-starter. 1,200lb payload kills it for slide in campers.

I'd take a 6.2 gas over a 7.3 diesel any day of the week and twice while on vacation.

The newer 6.2s make more HP and TQ than the 7.3 and do so on cheaper fuel with out the issues of a two decades old diesel.

 

[IdaSHO]

That and the trucks are more than 2x's the truck of a 7.3

Brakes, suspension, axles, etc... etc...

 

[Deleted member 9101]

That and the trucks are more than 2x's the truck of a 7.3

Brakes, suspension, axles, etc... etc...

Fosho!

That generation of F250 was rated to tow and haul what the new F150 is rated to tow and haul...haha.

 

[beef tits]

When I weigh the truck and do the math... my current 2010 Tundra has more ‘legal’ payload than my 2000 F250 did. By 400 lbs. The Ford would haul way over GVWR and noT complain though.. just broke down often.

 

[phsycle]

When I weigh the truck and do the math... my current 2010 Tundra has more ‘legal’ payload than my 2000 F250 did. By 400 lbs. The Ford would haul way over GVWR and noT complain though.. just broke down often.

Didn’t the 2000 F250 have 2,500+ lb payload? What’s your Tundra at?