I am currently looking for a diesel and a CTD HO is on the top of my list. I'd love to have a LWB but for what I will be using it for, I have to go with a SWB vehicle with a quad cab. Can anyone recommend a slide in camper that will work for me? All the one's seen have either been on LWB vehicles or have been on Fords and I know their SWB is slightly longer. Normally I'd check with a camper dealer but I don't trust those guys and since I know nothing about slide in camper I could really get screwed.


TIA

 

Crabjoe,
Check out www.rv.com first of all, they can answer many questions you might have. While there, checkout the Lance slide in truck campers...I've seen many of there products and they seem to be build very well. Not sure about other brands as they may be as good or better than the Lance. Hope this info helps...
Big dawg

 

Crabjoe,
Having an '01 Qcab/4x4/short bed/HO/6 speed/trailer tow pkg/camper pkg narrowed the field of slide-in campers from which to choose. I had time and spent a few months searching and looking at possibilities. I settled on a (barely) used ('98) Lance Squire Lite 165s. It's an 8'6" floor length box made for a Q or crew cab short bed. It has everthing except AC/generator. It weighs 1808 lbs, dry. I can extoll its virtues as Jeanie and I made a 9000 mile trip to Alaska and back to LA in June. For two it was a dream, even living in it for more than a month straight. With 112 sq ft. it's for 2. I'm an off-roader, so we had at least 2500 of those 9K miles on dirt or gravel and visited some very remote places, driving down the beach or taking jeep roads down to seductive camping spots along lakes and rivers. I remember the endless days (the sun never set in June) 200 miles above the Arctic Circle with a view of the Brooks Range, Bears, foxes, and Meese. Remote.
One of the reasons I chose the 'Lite' version is for bad roads. The camper is a couple inches narrower and a few inches less tall than the full sized Lance's. The jacks were (a 100 lbs of them) removed and left at home, further narrowing the rig. The camper held up very well until I backed into a tree in Glacier N.P. I just replaced the ladder on the back. Trees have ripped part of the roof rack off and whanged some clearance lights. But, the integrity is good, no rattles, everthing fits/works well and I'm not, as some of my Jeeping buddies are, hauling around 3500 lbs of camper on the back with overloads at the bottom. Would I get one again? Since I like the bad road/remote part of camping, I might try one of the pop-up style campers next time. In closing, I like the Squire Lite as it has all the ammenities, doesn't overload the truck at all, and I don't feel 'on-the-edge' driving on bad roads or over long distances.
regards, as always, jefe

 

Jefe,

Do you have any pics? Thanks for the input!!!

 

I hope this works. This is a pic of us on the 'Lost Coast' of Mendocino County in No. Cal. We camped right on the beach.
regards, as always, jefe

 

O.K. that didn't work. How do I post an e-pic. I tried dragging the icon from my desktop. No go. Someone tell me how to do it. I have an iMAC/OS9, using I.E.
regards, as always, jefe

 

[quote author=jefe link=board=11;threadid=17898;start=0#msg190375 date=1064803496]
O.K. that didn't work. How do I post an e-pic. I tried dragging the icon from my desktop. No go. Someone tell me how to do it. I have an iMAC/OS9, using I.E.
regards, as always, jefe
[/quote]

You will have to upload the pic as an Attachment to you post.
Use the "Attach" box found at the bottom of the screen when you are writing your post.
Rich.

 

Jefe:

Just great. Go ahead and make me feel a little more sorry for myself. I have ALWAYS wanted to take a trip like that. Oh well, maybe next year!

 

Jefe,

Just email me your pic and I'll get it posted for ya.

 

You should be very careful about weight distribution... My son has an o2 swb and he bought an Arctic Fox 8 1/2 " /slide out..very nice BUTTTT! ...... 5000lb for the camper (wet)equates to about 8800 on the rear axle and 4400 on the front.. The short wheel base puts all the weight on the rear. He was worried about tire loading and blowout hazard ... He looked into the 19' wheels and ended up converting to a Dually since it was about the same or less $$. and the safety factor of the extra tire was better. Pluss you have to get all kinds of funky hitch extensions for towing a car trailer or?..
Lar

 

Lar is right. A short WB truck with a heavy camper can be dangerous. I would have gotten a long WB but it would not fit in the Music Center parking stucture (down 7 levels) here in L.A. [I play trombone in the LA Phil]
I flat tow my 4000 lb hard core rock crawler Jeep and use a Reese Class 5 (10,000 lb.) hitch 2.5", with a 20" extension. With or without the Lance Camper on the back you must drive very carefully. I often use my bro's aluminum two axle trailer to tow the Jeep. Even though it adds 1500 lbs. to the CGVW, it's still a lot safer with no swaying and brakes on all 4 wheels.
The answer if you do have a SWB truck is to obtain a rather light camper.
The shortness of our rig came into play when we were travelling through Glacier N.P. in June. The length limit on all vehicles driving through the park is 21 feet. Ours is 21'. The rangers get out and measure your rig with a tape if there is any question in their minds. The road is very narrow with overhanging rocks and limited clearance much of the way. Any longer and we would have to drive way around to get to the other side.
Joe did you get my pic via email?
regards, as always, jefe

 

Jefe,

I sent you a PM and no, I havn't received the pic.

 

Here is a link where you can look at a bunch of them.
When I can afford one, I'll be looking at Northstar, Kodiak, Fourwheel pop up, Starcraft.

http://www.rvtraderonline.com/adbrowseprocess1.html

Mike