So my wife and I plan to do a rather large amount of travel in the next few years, and instead of paying an outrageous $75 for a quick 8 hours sleep, we've decided it's more beneficial to remove the toolbox, put it on a receiver hitch deck and purchase a Camper Shell........and when looking at the prices, I'm simply aghast, $400-$600-$800 and MORE for these things, I don't need a Camper Shell with a rise on it, full of windows with a light on the inside, I just need something with space and shelter, windows on the side that would allow for ventilation would be cool, but the prices are just......WOW.

Sorry for my vent, anyone not too far from Cheyenne, WY have one that would fit my 1995 F150 Ext. Cab Short box laying around? for free? for sale? any on craigslist near you that would fit for a reasonable price?

 

You can get a truck tent for 229.

The Adventure Truck Tent? by ENEL Co. LLC since 1992

 

We would rather have a full camper shell, but your suggestion will be passed onto the decision maker in this matter (My Wife).

Thank you

 

Craigslist, they can be found CHEAP. Could really go all out and buy a nice camper slide in too, can usually be found on craigslist for cheap too.

 

I found one for FREE, but the people on the other end, are getting all sketchy about giving me the address where I can pick it up, it's the size I need, and it's even similar in color to my truck.......most of the time I see people asking almost $800-$1000 for them man, most of which look like they have been beat.

 

I just picked my cab level , short bed one off craigs list for $50

 

Craigslist prices must vary with region. Although you might find a bargain from time to time, they are quite expensive around here. Even if you actually find one that fits your truck.
You will find a cheap of free unit, but it will most likely be junk. I don't know about anybody else, but I like to keep my truck looking decent. I am not putting some raggedy, moldy POS on the bed of my truck.

I've been looking at slide in campers too, and it's the same story. With very rare exceptions, here in GA in the greater Atlanta area, even a piece of junk truck camper will set you back over $1K

 

+2
You can even get them for less than $200, brand new from Ebay. Also, the tent looks to be much more comfortable to sleep in than almost any camper shell. I had one of those in my old S10, and it pretty much made the truck useless to haul many things and it was super uncomfortable to crawl inside of it.

Sure, the F150 is bigger, but still, think about crawling in here to sleep....

 

I'm not down playing an f150 here but I would be very careful about the slide inn's weight, I think it maybe too much for a 150 , but I could be wrong. I have a fiberglass topper for my 97 f350 and love it. I also have a "tent" for the back and of the two the topper offers more security and doesn't have to be set up and taken down (think rain...) That said you should be able to find a fiberglass or metal topper for under two hundred bucks mine was $50 and it had a light in it... Have you tried using "search tempest" to make the craigslist searches easier?

 

yea you need to buy a used slide in or just build you a bunkhouse on the truck you will get real tired of crawling in the bed in no time at all keep us informed and put up pics no matter what you decide

 

this is kind of expensive,but you still have the function of a truck when you are done with the camper shell. Softopper - Pickup Truck Toppers, Camper Shells & Caps - Ford, Chevy, Toyota, Dodge & More