I totally agree with wetspirit about being stuck in camp without a rig when the truck camper is set up. A trailer definitely alleviates that problem. That is the direction I am going.

 

If you plan to do a lot of backroads or travel Alaska a lot a truck/camper is the way to go. Trailer axles and tires don't survive long up there. It is a hassle to move the whole rig when you want to go to town and sight see but on our trip we were never in the same sight more than 2 days. If you are in a sight more than 4-5 days you could dump the camper...... It is a hassle though. I normally haved an offroad jeep on a trailer behind my rig or I probably would go with a travel trailer.

 

It only takes me about 15 minutes to drop the camper off, and I don't even have electric jacks.
If you want to pull a boat or anything else you need a cabover camper.
You don't need a 4x4 unless you plan on going off road either.
But I'm very biased, I only go to major lakes with well built camping spaces and no dirt roads...
It's all about what YOU are going to do.

 

"Lance Squire lite, fully contained"

I have a '94 Lance I carry on my truck. I'll post a pic of it on the truck as soon as it gets approved.

 

A lot depends on what you like to do. For travel on relatively good roads truck size, camper size is not a problem so go big. On the other hand if you like to get back in the sticks on bad / rough dirt roads go with the smallest package you can be comfortable with. A reg cab long bed if you value creature comforts more than getting to the end of the road. You can use a much bigger camper with the long bed. A quad cab short bed if you are like me and like the room behind the seat. The short bed option IMHO pretty much limits you to a max of probably 2400 lbs for good handling. Just decide what you want it for. The trailor option is nice but you can't explore much on the really back roads, trails. It's no fun trying to back a trailor uphill on a dirt road because you can't turn around and if it's the sort of place I find myself in you might end up looking for a farmer with a cat and empty wallet that is willing to drag you back to the top of the ridge!

 

This is a really good thread, so much real experience, with all of the known ways to get away. I like these kinds of threads where you can say this is what I do and how I do it, with out being executed. All you people that have posted to this thread kudos to you.

 

I run an 03 2500 quad cab, long box with hellwig rear swaybar,and a lance 9.6 camper(2500lbs)and no problem at all.




03, 305, h.o., 4x4, qc, lb, dark slate met, 6sp, 3:73
superlift 2",dual steer. stab., banks 6gun-speedloader-pyro-boost-big head waste gate, 4"magnaflow, k-n fipk, 33"toyo, hellwig rear swaybar,pml diff. cover,amsoiled,power slot rotor,hawks pads, reccaro seat, suncoast creation ram air hood (srt-10 style)modified to be fonct. with diesel, fx trail nerfbar,heberram shift ****.

 

Here is a pic before I put the air bags on. The camper weighs about 2500 wet and loaded. With the factory Camper Pkg and the RS900's the truck had no problem with the load. In fact, it only dropped the rear end 2" with the camper on. I didn't "have to have" the air bags, but put them on to help with the "roll" on dips and strong side winds.

 

Hi all,
I was out of town for a few days and am just getting back to my original post here. Indeed, great to see all the responses and the knowledge sharing. I always find this is one of the best aspects of the internet, these virtual communities of people who openly share ideas in a positive, constructive manner. Anyway, you've all given me a LOT of food for thought re: the potential purchase of my travel rig.

I particularly wanted to thank Hankpac for the lengthy and detailed post! Although I don't see myself going for the 30foot trailer solution (I suppose I'm more of a minimalist when it comes to things like that), I can certainly see the value in your point of view. There's so many solutions in the RV universe, and each has to find the one most suited to him/her. A lot of that is by experience, so as Hankpac says, no point in my waiting for my retirement date in 4 years to start experimenting with different solutions (ie. renting rigs and trying them out). I bought a small 13ft fiberglass Trillium trailer last fall (Like a Boler) to have something to pull behind my car while I ponder on the longer-term solution. If my girlfriend and I can stand each other in that small space, we should be ok in a truck camper!!

I appreciate all the insights and recommendations on truck configurations. That allows me to check out local trucks for sale, and pick one out in an optimal configuration, based on my intended usage (for which you've all given me great advice). I'm definitely leaning on Dodge/Cummins, particularly for the engine. Probably 2nd generation, 12 valve, mechanical injector pump (from what I've been told, the most bullet-proof version). Not sure about manual vs auto tranny yet, manual is reputedly more solid, but auto is much easier to drive.

Thanks again, and cheers to all of you!!
--Robert

 

I bought my truck second hand so how do i find out if i have the "factory camper package" ?

My truck is a 2001 2500 quad 4x4 6 spd

 

Do you have helper springs on the back? If so, you have the "camper" package.

 

Also includes a sway bar