Need advice on used truck campers

[NWinnie]

Hi folks. I'm soon to be in the market for a used truck camper. I'm bugeting myself around $7000. I'm trying to get my girlfriend (eventually wife:{ ) introduced to the outdoors... . gently. I'm a pretty avid outdoorsman myself. I'm new to the RV thing, and would like to know:

What's the biggest camper I can safely haul with my '93 W250 Club Cab(firestone airbags, skyjacker 2. 5" lift, velvet ride shackles)?

What options are a "must have"?

Do I need an anti-sway bar on the rear?

How's about that tie-down thing that runs under the frame behind the cab?

What items wear out the quickest?

I live in Mass.

Anything else I have to think about?



Much appreciated,

-Nat

 

[Deezul1]

I had a 11. 5 Dreamer slide in that weighed 3000 empty on a 1975 F250 Ford 4x4 with airbags and used it for a lot of years. Stock suspension other than airbags. The older Lance campers and some others have had some problems with pin holes in the aluminum skin so watch real careful for leak signs. Look in cabinets and all corners for warpage or anything that doesnt look right, its prolly from a leak. Thats the biggest problem with any older rig. Anything else isnt a major fix. Also look under every window for leak signs and under the mattress in the cabover.

 

[NWinnie]

Deezul1, that seems like a big unit to drop on a srw truck. Any sway problems? -Nat

 

[Deezul1]

No, sway wasnt a problem with the airbags and I had E rated tires and those F250 4x4s were pretty high from the factory too. I spent a lot of time in desert where it got windy and it was ok unless it was real bad.

 

[NWinnie]

Thanks!

There was a used 11. 5 at a dealer not long ago. I'm not sure of the make, but it was in good shape. I passed it up b/c I thought it was too big. I'll see if they still have it. It has the door on the side instead of the back. GVW on the builder's plate said 5000 lbs. Thanks for the input!



-Nat

 

[BBarry]

My parents had a 11. 5 on a 87 W250. Loaded up it probably tipped the scales at close to 4000 lbs. The truck had beefed up rear springs about what you see in a one ton dump and 33" tires and no sway bar. I drove it many miles and never had a problem. Your airbags should do the same as the heavier springs. I live in Whitman if you want a look at the truck.

 

[wsurf]

Must have category: if you plan on "gently" introducing your lady to the great outdoors, make sure it has a nice bathroom. Luckily I realized this early and my wife still goes with me.

 

[NWinnie]

BBarry, I pm'd you. I'm still curious 'bout the 3042lbs rating of my load range E tires. That's 6084 on two. With a camper that has a GVW of 5000..... What's the curb weight of my truck anyway?

Loaded camper + Weight of truck + innsufficient tires = pucker factor 9. Am I over-thinking?



Wsurf, the one I looked at has a real nice throne. Shower and all.

 

[JTroiano]

I have a 9. 5 or 10' camper. It weights about 3,300 pounds and when I weigh the rear axle on the scale I am about 6,300 pounds. The tires are rated at 2995 and each rim is rated at 3,000 pounds. It is a little scarry but it rides so nice. I have air bags and Rancho 9000's which help with most for sway. I also tow a 3,000 pound boat and it goes like a bat out of he!!. It will be for sale this spring for about 6,500. I'm going to get a motor home.



Jon T

 

[NWinnie]

I've been worried about the whole load range issue on my tire/wheel combo. All it takes is money! I guess I'll save my pennies for some Alcoas and Goodyear G133's. The Alcoas are good for 110 psi. And the G133 tire is good for over 4000 lbs @ 110 psi. Just keep thinking..... its only money.....

Nat

 

[jandtjil]

wsurf is right on the money, some gals aren't ready to give up a shower/blow-dryer outlet. Before buying, try renting...

Could be that her comfort level is a travel trailer/5th wheel.



JJ

 

[jwinnie]

Nwinnie,

I'm no expert but, I would stay as close as possible to the GVWR or at least the GAWR of the rear axle. Just remember, if you mow down a soccer mom with that overloaded beast, you'll be up the creek. And I'm not flying all the way up there to bail your dumb a$$ out!!



Also: If it's "true" love she will stay with you even if your shower is a bar of soap when it's raining.



Just my $. 02 bro



John

 

[rrl989]

Nat, Your truck is definately not set up for a heavy slide-on and most are 3000+ lbs. I recently sold my big Lance after 5 years of RVing, and even with all the right stuff, airbags, RS9000's, cabover stabilizers, sway bars, overloads, AND DRW's, I felt that camper was way to large to safely navigate down the interstate.



Good Luck,



Ron

 

[NWinnie]

FF1063

How big can I go without being dangerous? Of course loading your vehicle to the max GVW will require altering your driving style accordingly; lower speeds, greater following distances, less aggressive over-all driving attitude , etc.



It may also be noteworthy that the big three auto manuf. design pick-ups knowing full well that they will be overloaded during their lifetime, and engineer accordingly.



How big is too big? Should I go back to searching for a 9. 5 or a 10?



JWinnie, I'll look at the GAWR and let you know. Until then... -bro

 

[DPelletier]

Nat,

I had a 2714 lb (loaded w/o water) camper on my 01. 5 2500. With Ranchos and custom springs and 3415lb load range E's at 80 psi, it handled the load OK, but I sure wouldn't go much more. If you're not overly worried about staying within GVWR (if you are, you're screwed!), then I would suggest a slide-in at a max of 2500lb to 2700 lbs loaded. This means an 8' to 9 1/2' max length, usually. 4000 - 5000 lbs 10. 5 and 11 foot campers are WAY too big for a SRW truck IMO, at least with stock size load range E's. If you do get the 19. 5's and stay within rear GAWR you could go bigger.



Dave

 

[NWinnie]

Thanks for the input, Dave. Your post is much more thoughtful and informative than say the one from that JWinnie character . I think I'll try to stick with 9. 5 and shorter rigs. I'll be doing some heavy milage (hopefully) with this thing, so perhaps a lighter, more managable load on my truck is in order; given all the unforseen hazards on the roads.

My question now is, how much do I give up in the comfort catagory (see my first post). Do I still get a shower and a nice bathroom?

-Nat

 

[DPelletier]

Well,

I find my camper very comfortable for the wife and I. Queen North/South bed, wet bath, decent kitchen. good storage (for a camper) with the basement. The one thing I like better with the Bigfoot 25C10. 5's is the dry bathroom because it is heated. The wet bath can get cold when its below freezing at night. We leave the bathroom door open when we go to sleep to keep it somewhat heated. I like the dry bath, but not enough to have another foot of camper. Depends what you do.

Happy shopping,

Dave.



Oh, I forgot. With a SRW, I would really avoid the temptation of a slide-out. They generally add alot of weight.

 

[PKleine]

As you are looking at the used campers, watch out for things like dry rot. I ran across a camper that I was all set to buy. I told the seller, "If it fits on my truck I'll buy it... " When we jacked it up off the trailer it was stored on, about 1/3rd of the floor stayed on the trailer. I could reach in through the hole in the floor. Needless to say, I left with my money still in my wallet.

 

[NWinnie]

Dave,

Good info! I didn't know that you needed more room for a dry bathroom. And I'll stay away from slide-outs on my SRW.



PKleine,

I'll try to keep my rose colored glasses in my pocket, although I admit sometimes it's tough when you see what looks like a sweet rig. I'll try to spot potential problems before the wallet sees sunshine.

Thanks, -Nat

 

[jponder]

Originally posted by jandtjil

wsurf is right on the money, some gals aren't ready to give up a shower/blow-dryer outlet. Before buying, try renting...

Could be that her comfort level is a travel trailer/5th wheel.



JJ

that would be cool to rent, but I have never heard of renting a truck camper. Man I would pay for that just a chance to load one and check it out, on that note if anyone would let me load one and go 10 miles around town to feel the way it loads the truck, They could ride with me and I'd but lunch/dinner!