Suggestions on buying a camper based on your experiences?

[Carl2500]

Hello all,
I've been searching all the websites I can find on google that deal with truck camper sales, trying to get a feel for what I could get for the money. I don't have a set budget in mind yet, nothing too extravagant.

What I do know is that I want a popup camper, that'll do decent enough down to temps of let's say 20F.

Preferably one that doesn't overhang on the rear (will be using a 10' flatbed) so I can still use my rear receiver hitch.

Do these generally last a long time? Do the improvements in building materials and electronics improve relatively quickly? I know some things I buy don't change for a long time, where as some products, I'm better off getting the latest and greatest because it's the best bang for my buck. Hope that makes sense, I'm just trying to decide how old a camper is too old, given I don't want to put in a ton of work updating it.

Anything you noticed you'd do differently when selecting, inspecting, or finally buying your camper?

Any good resources online for truck camper sales I should check out?

Thanks guys hopefully I'll get on the road shortly here!

 

[topofpalomar]

Hi, Carl2500 (and everyone else on here),

Intro: My name is Cliff, living on Palomar Mountain in San Diego County. I've been watching and observing here for quite sometime and have decided to start joining in on all the fun. There are a lot of really knowledgeable folks on here, and this is the best site for info sharing I've come across. Hopefully others will add to my answer/rant.

Carl2500, Susie and I have owned slide-in popup truck campers for almost 30 years. New and used. IMHO, these campers can last a long time. Even used units if they've been well cared for, stored out of adverse weather, and maintained properly. Look around at what's available in your area and if you find a used unit that seems promising go over it with a fine toothed comb. Try all the appliances, turn on lights, look inside cabinets, etc. How long has the seller owned it? Does it seem that it will fit you and your travelmate? Are you into basic, utilitarian stuff? 4-Wheel Campers, All Terrain Campers, etc are excellent investments. Light weight and rugged. But so can the lesser known and less touted brands. Do you want a more refined unit, with nice curtains and countertops? Hallmark, Alaskan, etc have some very nice, well built units (my wife really leans towards Hallmark. I personally like 4-Wheel Campers but I'm sure I'll be put in my place when decision time rolls around for the next one). I've never owned an Alaskan (I'd be willing to, though, neat units) but generally heavier and they are better for cold climes than canvas sides.

We purchased our current unit, a like-new 1999 Apache, back in 2005 for our long bed single cab HD 4x4 Chevy and have not been easy on it. So far it's holding it's own. Paid four grand for it from a guy that rarely used it. We'll keep it until it finally dies and then go buy something else. I check for leaks alot and patch stuff to keep it tight. It weighs more than I'd prefer (around 1400 lbs) but we've hauled it into some pretty rough areas fully loaded and with a canoe on top and haven't broken anything yet.

As far as building materials go, not much seemed to change over the years. Until lately. Now it seems the industry is getting more recognized and are coming up with new products, new, upgraded materials, and better accoutrements. This is great for everyone. A nice new unit, set up how you want, with all the new available appliances and finishes inside, would be the best bet. Probably lighter weight, too. But you'll pay for it. It sounds like you're just getting into this hobby so maybe a decent used unit, not too old, to start out with would be in order. Run with it for a while and see what you think. Turn around and sell it and move up to something else. We've never had an inside shower or porta-potty but now, over the age of 60, those are starting to sound good, as long as we can still get into those remote desert and mountain areas that we enjoy (wind can be cold showering outside even in the desert).

You can probably pick up something locally that will work for you. Of course your budget will dictate what you get, new or used. As long as your truck can handle the weight, if it has what you think you want, and is in decent shape, go for it. See how it goes. After a couple of years youll be an expert on what works for you and then you can move up.

Hope this helps.

Cliff

 

[Carl2500]

Thanks for the response Cliff, that's exactly the kind of info I was looking for.

I guess one of the biggest factors I can think of would be it's resale value, as chances are I will eventually sell this one for a more custom option, once I see what I need and what I don't. I'm also looking for one that's lightweight, and 'basic' to where I can suit it to what I'm looking for.

I'm going to put 4-Wheel Campers, All Terrain Campers, and XPCampers at the top of my list, but would surely like to know some of the lesser known brands in the same category, so I'm not missing anything.

I'd like to be able to camp in wintertime above the snowbelt, so an indoor shower and porta-potty almost seem like must-haves.

My goal is to have a camper capable of 2 month extended trips (not saying I want to carry all supplies to last two months, but something where I'd be comfortable living in for that amount of time), but in reality most will probably be under a couple weeks, or just weekend long trips.

BTW one thing I hadn't really thought of, do you guys have to carry a separate policy for your campers, or are they covered under your existing auto insurance (given that you add 'aftermarket' coverage)?

Thanks guys I'm sure I'll have a bunch more questions to come!

 

[Pest]

You mentioned you must have an inside shower and toilet. That rules out ATC, and for extended use (as in, too cramped for extended expeditions), FWC, unless you can get a totally custom unit from either of them. XPCamper would be your best bet for extended trips with those options. It carries the most fresh water. The price of the XP is also much higher.

For the lesser known brands, I would suggest taking a look at the Phoenix by Coyote RV. They are all 100% custom made, to exactly your specs and wants. The price is still very competitive, and the turn around times are decent. However, as with almost all custom units, the resale value suffers. This is simply because your rig and wants are most likely not just like someone else's rig and wants.

I have researched and been in Hallmark, FWC, Northstar, and Phoenix campers. I have to say that I far and away prefer the Phoenix campers. We own one, and are very very happy with it. In my opinion, the FWC are just far too small for any extended trip for more than 1 person. The storage space is extremely limited in them. The Northstar's have some nice interiors, and I like the extra tall soft sides, but they are wood framed. The Hallmarks have a strong molded exterior and nice interiors, but I foresee very large repair bills if any damage comes to the exterior.

Our phoenix is aluminum framed, has a unique aerodynamic nose, has exactly the features we want, and is proving to be quite durable. We've smacked a few trees with no damage done.


Final verdict: If we had no budget, and were to do it all over again...I would get an XPCamper, hands down.

PS. Vehicle insurance won't cover a camper on the truck worth more than maybe a thousand dollars, if that. We have a policy for the camper, through the same insurance. It's something like $60 for 6 months or something.

 

[NothingClever]

Huge leap in $ to go from a FWC/ATC/Phoenix to a XPCamper...not disparaging the XP at all, just an observation that there are pop-ups and then there are POP-UPS but they're nowhere close in price range.

Biggest discriminator in the generations of a lot of pop-ups is the interior...FWC recently updated theirs from "Grandpa Oakie Wood" to Baltic Birch (or something like that). So, if your eyes can tolerate the old interior, you can get a FANTASTIC camper at a great price.

FWC, for the record ONCE AGAIN, manufacturers the Keystone model which uses a Thetford C400 fixed toilet with cassette. That's a standard build...nothing custom about it. And if you read the brochure, it has an indoor shower, too (temporary floor tub with a drain & shower curtain fixture on the ceiling).

I think your best bet for searching is using one of the Craig's List helpers (like searchtempest.com I think) and www.usedfourwheelcampers.com. That second one is where I found my loaded Fleet which was only 8 months old and had all of three nights spent in it. Got it for several thousand less than final invoice. Good deals can be had on even brand new campers. Used ones, abundant deals.

HTH! Best of luck with the hunt!

 

[topofpalomar]

Pest and NothingClever make great points. And Phoenix, from what I can tell, looks like an excellent unit, too. I'd certainly put one of those on my short list. XPCampers are really cool. I'd prefer a heavier truck for one of those, though. Maybe an F-450/4500. But that's just me.

NothingClever mentioned the outdated interiors of the older units. How true. My current camper was built in 1999 but the dark wood interior looks just like my first one I purchased back in 1983. Practically Victorian. I sometimes feel I should be wearing a smoking jacket and drinking an Old Fashioned around the campfire. But it works, and that's the important thing, so if you find a used one that looks like the decor was designed before the automobile, take heart; you're generally the only one that has to look at it.

Since you are mounting the future camper on a 10 foot flatbed have you considered whether you're wanting a standard or flatbed designed camper on it? It seems to me that a camper, designed for a flatbed truck, would have less of an appeal to the general public overall that a regular-bed camper when it comes to resale value. Pest's comment about custom design comes into play here. That's not to say that you couldn't resell it. It might be more difficult, though. If I were planning on purchasing a camper, using it for a while, then turning it around to buy another one, I'd probably adapt a regular-bed camper to the flatbed. If I were getting my ultimate, this-is-what-I've-always-wanted camper, I'd buy one, new or used, for the flatbed. Of course I don't know if these are considerations that you've already thought about but I wanted to point them out.

As far as insurance goes, frankly I've never given it much of a thought. Optimist I guess. When I get my final, one-of-a-kind just for me brand new unit I'll go for the insurance.

Let's see... 3/4 ton Dodge with a 10 foot flat-bed. Get an eight foot camper. Got plenty of room for storage boxes/compartments for that long trip. However, 10 foot camper on a 10 foot flatbed works too, being mindful of weight. Decisions, Decisions.

This is fun, ain't it?

Cliff

 

[Carl2500]

Pest, I must say the phoenix ones look pretty good. Aluminum frame is nice too. The XPCampers look sweet and I'd love to have one, just a little above my price range for a new unit though, I'm hoping to come across a used one though.

NothingClever, yeah I've been using SearchTempest.com, handy site. Been checking for campers everyday on there, cause the good deals get snatched up quick, heh.

Topofpalomar, I'd love to find a camper designed for a flatbed, at a reasonable price, but it looks like a custom build is my only option. I was leaning towards just finding a regular popup camper and adding storage boxes on the side. I'm on the fence about it really though..

Thanks, I appreciate your guy's thoughts!

 

[mkish]

Have you considered a hardside? Northstar has some (relatively) narrow flatbed campers. They seem pretty nice and while they aren't exactly small, they aren't huge.

 

[Carl2500]

In my ideal world I'd have a hardsided pop-up, seems best of both worlds to me. But given the selection out there, I'd rather have a regular pop-up style (soft sides) than a fixed roof hardside.
I'm all for the less wind resistance for better fuel economy, and less surface area for the wind to push on the sides on the gusty days.
I also like the fact it'd keep the center of gravity for the vehicle a little lower, which I think would help with how the truck handles, as well as on especially bad roads/trails. Not saying I want to go rock crawling with a camper on the back, but I would like the capability to go down the less traveled paths if I wish.

 

[fisher205]

Carl,
All of the campers mentioned are great rigs but I would check into an Alaskan from what you are saying. They are heavy but my 94 Ram has no problem carrying my 10' Alaskan. See thread http://www.expeditionportal.com/forum/threads/34534-Alaska-2009. Weight doesn't seem to bother the CTD as much as the wind resistance does.

The old Alaskan's are really durable and since they have been built for so long and hold up well you can find one fairly reasonably priced. The other soft sides are great and I still look at them, but the Alaskan also at least gives you the perception of security in bear country and hold up to the wind.

 

[ScottReb]

I gotta vote for the Alaskan as well, but thats because I have one! Nothing against soft sided, just different. Bryan and the crew will do most anything you wish with customizing the inside. Super comfortable great build quality. They are obviously heavier. If you do a flatbed you can build doors to cover the sides giving you full length of the camper for storage as well. I will try and post some pics of mine later. Very simple set up. Not boxes just a frame under the camper and aluminum sided doors. That get rid of the problem of a flatbed only camper if you wish to sell. They will do a flatbed only camper but they try not to for just that reason. I really can't say enough good things about their customer service. They were exceptional.

 

[topofpalomar]

Looks like we're narrowing it down, Carl2500. A couple of guys are recommending Alaskan, which are very well built units. I've always liked the looks of them, plus you get the hard-side advantage with pop-up functionality. Sounds like a plan! Find a regular Alaskan, 8 or 10 feet in length, new or used, that fits a normal truck bed, buy it and load 'er up. Get boxes/doors for the sides and head out camping! Truck will handle it fine. This would be a very nice setup, and would fit your requirements of handling low temps, too. Please keep us informed of your progress.

Cliff

 

[docdave]

There is a very detailed and interesting thread for a custom flatbed Alaskan at http://www.expeditionportal.com/forum/threads/9502-Alaskan-Camper-Build-Up. My inquiry to Alaskan about shower/toilet installations led me to believe that they're not all that well suited to indoor showers. You might want to check that out. I personally like the installations in Hallmark and Outfitter campers (quite similar) although they don't build flatbed campers as far as I know. Phoenix will build you whatever you want .

 

[Carl2500]

This is all great info, thanks for the recommendations guys!

Some very fine campers mentioned here, I think I gotta move Alaskan to the top of my list for what I'm looking for.

Scott, you're right in regards to resale demand for a flatbed camper vs. normal camper. I think considering I'm looking for my first one, I should just get a normal camper, use it, see what I like and what I'd change, then sell it and get my one-of-a-kind camper . I like the idea with the doors on side of the flatbed. I believe I'll do something like that.

Cliff, yes I do think we're narrowing down the list! I will surely let you guys know what I find.

Dave, that is a very good thread with tons of useful info. I will look into the indoor shower concerns as well.

 

[Carl2500]

Well I thought I'd give ya'll a quick update: I put a deposit down on an older ('95) Alaskan 8' popup camper. Let the party begin :wings:

Found it on craigslist a couple hours away. Was garage kept when not in use (out on road now cause he wanted it sold) It raised and lowered smooth. Seals look in good shape. Interior is outdated but in good shape. Has sink, stove, fridge, and furnace. Lights worked. We didn't fire up the furnace but says he uses it in winter up here and it heats the camper no problem. I didn't feel any air leaks around the windows or bed area where the hard panels swing up, and it was windy outside. No toilet or shower but I'll work with what I've got for now.

We agreed on $1800

This gives me something where at least I can get out on the road, and start working on the truck the way I want it. I'll be able to dial in the suspension and engine tuning once I've got the camper on the back.

Thank you everyone, I certainly appreciate your suggestions and believe I'm going to be quite happy with this camper!