Hello All,

Some time in the future I would like to pick up a pre-owned camper, 2or3yrs old. I don't know exaclty when, but I enjoy the search also. I've read a little about airbags, mounting systems and center-o-gravity concerns but you can include anything important on these subjects too.

Are there any brands to stay away from?
Are there any brands to really look at?
Any 'got to have' features that may not be obvious?
Anything else?

My truck is listed below, it is myself, my wife, and young son. I want a camper so that I can tow our 20ft, fish/ski boat...and maybe for wilderness hunts with they guys.

Ron

 

Check my gallery for pics. I picked up this 1994 Lance for $3500 a few months ago. It's fully self contained and was surprisingly clean. This model is made for extended cab trucks.
I priced air bags, but decided it was not worth the money for using them four or five times a year. I have not loaded the camper since I installed my RS9000's, but I'm sure they will make a difference. My truck is equipped with the factory "camper pkg", but you can definitely tell it's on there. The unit weighs something like 2500#'s when loaded.
Previously, I had a Sunlite pop-up truck camper, and was looking for another one when I found the Lance. The Sunlite I had was very basic, but was also very light weight and was easy to carry. I like the Lance, but if I run across another Sunlite with more options, I would probably buy it.

 

I Had a '94 Lance camper for 6 years and its top of the line. I had air bags on my old chevy and they work GREAT, but my CTD didnt need air bags .My CTD has the heavy tow package with the factory double over load springs and sway bar in the back.

I here the fiberglass sided capovers might crack as they dont flex like the aluminum sideing.

My older lance camper had more features than the brand new ones like dual 5 gal propane tanks, large slideing cab window. I sold mine for more money than I payed for it. I got it as a repo and the new ones cost so much. I got $6500 for my 94 squire 3000 ,it was imaculate though.

Id stay away of fleetwood products , they are just made cheaper.

Best thing is just go look at a bunch of different campers and compare them , then make your own dicision.

I just bought a 25' 5th wheel used. Dont settle for one that isnt takin care of or has dents ,smoker(inside will be brown),sun damage ,bad paint stickers etc. Keep looking who will find one that someone realy took care of.

 

I tend to dissagree with crobtex and GSP on the airbags
My truck has the camper package overloads and swaybar but the Firestone airbags I put in made a HUGE difference with a 3000# slide-in. Sure the truck hauled the camper before but once I put the bags in it was a night and day difference. Very little leen in corners and no squat in the back. As far as price goes around here they run around $350cdn (should be about $10us LOL)and since I haul my camper around 5 times a year and it was money well spent IMHO.

 

Better get a very light weight pop up camper or you will be overloaded.

 

Capri Campers is the brand I'll be getting. Not too sure which model yet, though.
Alright, I decided on the Rodeo.

 

I have an artic fox and in my opinion they are the top of the line. They r heavy though. Anyway you go you should use airbags. Eagle cap is another good brand.

 

Thanks for the thoughts guys...and keep it comming.

In September, we made a trip to Cali and back. On the way back I towed a uhaul car trailer with a PT cruiser. The trailer&car and all the luggage, toys, 4 tires&rims (cruiser extra) and 'stuff' in the bed really leveled the truck and maybe squated it a little. (17-19mpg going 14-15mpg comming back ) I'd probably like the option of the airbags for stability as well as ride height when using camper and boat.

Those Capri's are cool, but the misses is going to want some frills in her camper. I'd make due with a good wall tent, but thats only good for us guy's. I'll have to check out the other mfg's listed.

Ron

 

I also have an Arctic Fox and couldn't be happier. My only suggestion is DO NOT cheap out on the tie downs. Spend the money on tork lifts and forget about it. If someone suggests anchoring the camper to box of your truck with some type of bracket, run away, same with hooks into the side of your rear bumper for the rear tie downs. Set it up properly and you'll get years of trouble free use out of the camper, and have less headaches at the same time. Good luck with your search.

 

Be very careful about how much a camper weighs, most of the new campers weigh so much that you will have your tires overloaded very easily! The weights listed on the campers are dry weight with no options, such as air cond, generator, etc. and those add a lot of weight. A rear anti-sway bar and overloads are a must for stability and less stress. Considering a dually for hauling a heavy camper is a good idea, getting a flat tire with a camper on is

 

tweeter,
What's the problem with a camper tied to the bed of the truck? I'm on my 2nd truck and third camper and have had no problems with them. Granted, I have never used the toke lifts, but I don't have a problem with my setup.

Wildbill,
I agree....keep a close watch on your tires.

 

I shopped campers pretty hard until I decided a 5th wheel was probably a better match for me...

A. Fox does indeed make some nice, well insulated ones, and the Eagle Cap looked pretty good to me, but the one that really impressed me was the BigFoot...

A couple of theirs are built like two boat hulls joined in the middle. No rubber roof to snag on anything, no seam at the corner of the roof, no arguments about metal frames sweat and wood could rot... Interior is top notch (plywood inside cabinets).

The one I liked best is the 10.6 because it comes with a dry bath, but is short enough to still pull a trailer. It would overload a 2500 though (and would overload my 3500 SRW once it was fully loaded with goodies and had a trailer's hitch weight).

I also agree on the torque lifts... Many people have had no problems with the bolt to the front of the box, and the end of the bumper kind, but if I were hauling that much weight with that kind of height, I'd sleep better knowing it was chained to the frame... Plus there would be no holes in the sheet metal when you sell the truck.

Anyhow, happy shopping.

P.S. when shopping at used ones, snoop everywhere for signs of water damage, and also pay special attention to the fridge, as they are very expensive to repair or replace if the cooling unit is shot.

 

Thanks, Thanks, Thanks.

I've ran across most of the mfgs you guys are talking about while searching the web. I can see right now, there is a RV show in my future.

I kind of like the idea of a pop-up, but I'm concerned with their actual performance. Plus, I can see the wife and kid riding in the camper on a long trip and that can't happen with a popup.

It looks like I can get the features I (read my wife) need in most any brand. Shower, toilet, bed...OH, Air conditioning is a must for me too! And get a size to fit in my shortbed. Sounds like the rest will be just preference and quality.

Oh, another question, with 4 jacks can you use the camper while it is off the truck? Maybe leave the camper at a local rental campsite/lake for easy getaways.

 

I leave mine off alll the time on the four jacks never have had a problem. I know a lot of people who do the same as me and no problems.

My Dad has a 10.5 foot bigfoot It is nice but has had more problems than my Artic Fox Pluss no slide with the bigfoot unless you go to the 11 footers. And he hauls it with a 97 2500 CTD no problems.

With the Short box your preety much stuck with an 8.5 footer anyway.

 

Most states don't allow riding in the camper, it's not safe!!!