Guidance. Tips for beginner.
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New User
Joined: Apr 2018
Posts: 13
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Guidance. Tips for beginner.
Hello all.
Hope to get some help from this forum.
I do not have a truck. I do not have a TC.
I plan on buying both within a year.
The decision to get a camper would be to live in it full time while I finish school.
I live in Denver, CO. I may stay in Colorado, but could move to essentially any state depending on acceptance to graduate school.
Ive been told Ford has the best payload. Period.
That being said- can I get away with a F150 or do I make the decision for F250?
Plan on having the truck for years.
Living full time- do I need an 8 ft bed?
Ive ruled out a Diesel engine- not driving far and not doing hard work. I’d love to have one. If only for nostalgia sake. Dad had diesels.
So on an older year that I can afford- under 10k- which gas engines are out there to look for and which ones to avoid?
As far as the camper goes, I know nothing.
Hard top or pop up? Security concerns? Mistakes to avoid when buying? Making sure I don’t over spend on what will be another older, cheaper camper for my budget.
its a lot. Thanks for your time.
Hope to get some help from this forum.
I do not have a truck. I do not have a TC.
I plan on buying both within a year.
The decision to get a camper would be to live in it full time while I finish school.
I live in Denver, CO. I may stay in Colorado, but could move to essentially any state depending on acceptance to graduate school.
Ive been told Ford has the best payload. Period.
That being said- can I get away with a F150 or do I make the decision for F250?
Plan on having the truck for years.
Living full time- do I need an 8 ft bed?
Ive ruled out a Diesel engine- not driving far and not doing hard work. I’d love to have one. If only for nostalgia sake. Dad had diesels.
So on an older year that I can afford- under 10k- which gas engines are out there to look for and which ones to avoid?
As far as the camper goes, I know nothing.
Hard top or pop up? Security concerns? Mistakes to avoid when buying? Making sure I don’t over spend on what will be another older, cheaper camper for my budget.
its a lot. Thanks for your time.
Laughing Gas
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 906
Likes: 107
From: Seattle area
Welcome to the forum!
First recommendation - read through this TC forum. Lots of good info here.
My recommendations for your starting point:
First, go walk through some truck campers at a dealer. Look at the smallest pop-ups and up to a 811/865 size. DON'T walk into an 1165/1200 size. Ever. EVER!!! Or you'll want one.
Figure out what size camper you think you can live in. That will drive what size truck you'll need. Living year round, a hard side/hard side slide will be more comfortable than a pop-up. (not knocking the pop-ups!)
Don't even look at F150s for a TC (from that time frame/budget, anyways), unless you only want a very lightweight popup. An F250 is OK, though I'd focus on an F350. (Both will need airbags and sway bars if you want a hard side TC).
A 2000-2006 series F350 gas motor with under 100kmi can be found for <$10,000. Is the pop-up enough for you? A SRW truck should be fine. Is the 811/865 hard side size needed to keep you comfy? You need a dually (in those years of truck). Did you not listen to me and walk through a 1165/1200? You're screwed. Newer dually required.
Then, go look through a ~25 foot travel trailer (TT) advertised for the same money as the TC you like. And buy one of those. For living in an RV year round, you will have to pay for the spot. Might as well be slightly more comfortable. A toilet that isn't also a shower is pretty nice, and cant really be had in a small TC. A TT is cheaper/similar price to a TC and way more comfortable for long term. You can still travel with it too.
Yes, there are plenty of full timers in TCs. Because they want to, they are retired, and love to travel. Not trying to finish school in the middle of winter in Denver in an old-*** rag top pop-up TC.
I love my TC, and though I don't full time in it, I have lived from it for up to a few months straight. Not bad, definitely doable. With it just sitting on the jacks for months, though, a TT would have been way more comfortable!
Either way, read through these forums. Also, go find a local RV park on a busy weekend and walk around in the late afternoon. Talk to people about their experiences. Don't ask to see inside their campers (rude), but talk to people in the smaller campers and see what they say.
Have fun!
First recommendation - read through this TC forum. Lots of good info here.
My recommendations for your starting point:
First, go walk through some truck campers at a dealer. Look at the smallest pop-ups and up to a 811/865 size. DON'T walk into an 1165/1200 size. Ever. EVER!!! Or you'll want one.
Figure out what size camper you think you can live in. That will drive what size truck you'll need. Living year round, a hard side/hard side slide will be more comfortable than a pop-up. (not knocking the pop-ups!)
Don't even look at F150s for a TC (from that time frame/budget, anyways), unless you only want a very lightweight popup. An F250 is OK, though I'd focus on an F350. (Both will need airbags and sway bars if you want a hard side TC).
A 2000-2006 series F350 gas motor with under 100kmi can be found for <$10,000. Is the pop-up enough for you? A SRW truck should be fine. Is the 811/865 hard side size needed to keep you comfy? You need a dually (in those years of truck). Did you not listen to me and walk through a 1165/1200? You're screwed. Newer dually required.
Then, go look through a ~25 foot travel trailer (TT) advertised for the same money as the TC you like. And buy one of those. For living in an RV year round, you will have to pay for the spot. Might as well be slightly more comfortable. A toilet that isn't also a shower is pretty nice, and cant really be had in a small TC. A TT is cheaper/similar price to a TC and way more comfortable for long term. You can still travel with it too.
Yes, there are plenty of full timers in TCs. Because they want to, they are retired, and love to travel. Not trying to finish school in the middle of winter in Denver in an old-*** rag top pop-up TC.
I love my TC, and though I don't full time in it, I have lived from it for up to a few months straight. Not bad, definitely doable. With it just sitting on the jacks for months, though, a TT would have been way more comfortable!
Either way, read through these forums. Also, go find a local RV park on a busy weekend and walk around in the late afternoon. Talk to people about their experiences. Don't ask to see inside their campers (rude), but talk to people in the smaller campers and see what they say.
Have fun!
Thread Starter
|
New User
Joined: Apr 2018
Posts: 13
Likes: 0
Welcome to the forum!
First recommendation - read through this TC forum. Lots of good info here.
My recommendations for your starting point:
First, go walk through some truck campers at a dealer. Look at the smallest pop-ups and up to a 811/865 size. DON'T walk into an 1165/1200 size. Ever. EVER!!! Or you'll want one.
Figure out what size camper you think you can live in. That will drive what size truck you'll need. Living year round, a hard side/hard side slide will be more comfortable than a pop-up. (not knocking the pop-ups!)
Don't even look at F150s for a TC (from that time frame/budget, anyways), unless you only want a very lightweight popup. An F250 is OK, though I'd focus on an F350. (Both will need airbags and sway bars if you want a hard side TC).
A 2000-2006 series F350 gas motor with under 100kmi can be found for <$10,000. Is the pop-up enough for you? A SRW truck should be fine. Is the 811/865 hard side size needed to keep you comfy? You need a dually (in those years of truck). Did you not listen to me and walk through a 1165/1200? You're screwed. Newer dually required.
Then, go look through a ~25 foot travel trailer (TT) advertised for the same money as the TC you like. And buy one of those. For living in an RV year round, you will have to pay for the spot. Might as well be slightly more comfortable. A toilet that isn't also a shower is pretty nice, and cant really be had in a small TC. A TT is cheaper/similar price to a TC and way more comfortable for long term. You can still travel with it too.
Yes, there are plenty of full timers in TCs. Because they want to, they are retired, and love to travel. Not trying to finish school in the middle of winter in Denver in an old-*** rag top pop-up TC.
I love my TC, and though I don't full time in it, I have lived from it for up to a few months straight. Not bad, definitely doable. With it just sitting on the jacks for months, though, a TT would have been way more comfortable!
Either way, read through these forums. Also, go find a local RV park on a busy weekend and walk around in the late afternoon. Talk to people about their experiences. Don't ask to see inside their campers (rude), but talk to people in the smaller campers and see what they say.
Have fun!
First recommendation - read through this TC forum. Lots of good info here.
My recommendations for your starting point:
First, go walk through some truck campers at a dealer. Look at the smallest pop-ups and up to a 811/865 size. DON'T walk into an 1165/1200 size. Ever. EVER!!! Or you'll want one.
Figure out what size camper you think you can live in. That will drive what size truck you'll need. Living year round, a hard side/hard side slide will be more comfortable than a pop-up. (not knocking the pop-ups!)
Don't even look at F150s for a TC (from that time frame/budget, anyways), unless you only want a very lightweight popup. An F250 is OK, though I'd focus on an F350. (Both will need airbags and sway bars if you want a hard side TC).
A 2000-2006 series F350 gas motor with under 100kmi can be found for <$10,000. Is the pop-up enough for you? A SRW truck should be fine. Is the 811/865 hard side size needed to keep you comfy? You need a dually (in those years of truck). Did you not listen to me and walk through a 1165/1200? You're screwed. Newer dually required.
Then, go look through a ~25 foot travel trailer (TT) advertised for the same money as the TC you like. And buy one of those. For living in an RV year round, you will have to pay for the spot. Might as well be slightly more comfortable. A toilet that isn't also a shower is pretty nice, and cant really be had in a small TC. A TT is cheaper/similar price to a TC and way more comfortable for long term. You can still travel with it too.
Yes, there are plenty of full timers in TCs. Because they want to, they are retired, and love to travel. Not trying to finish school in the middle of winter in Denver in an old-*** rag top pop-up TC.
I love my TC, and though I don't full time in it, I have lived from it for up to a few months straight. Not bad, definitely doable. With it just sitting on the jacks for months, though, a TT would have been way more comfortable!
Either way, read through these forums. Also, go find a local RV park on a busy weekend and walk around in the late afternoon. Talk to people about their experiences. Don't ask to see inside their campers (rude), but talk to people in the smaller campers and see what they say.
Have fun!
Freshman User
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 47
Likes: 1
From: Tucson, AZ
Good luck with your education and search for a truck and camper.
My recommendations are similar to nuctrooper. I have a 2003 F250 V10 SC SD 8' bed 4x4, and had a small truck camper on it for about 8 years in the past (Lance 815). We traveled a lot in it but switched to a 16' travel trailer several years back. Here is my summary for truck campers:
Pros: You can go anywhere in them, down single lane forest roads and way into the back country where you cannot even think about taking a travel trailer.
Simple, easy to use, and ours had a very comfortable queen size bed.
Cons: Even the lightest hard-side truck campers are heavy when fully loaded and will put you at the GVWR of an F250.
Very little storage capacity. You will fill up all the nooks and crannies quickly.
Wet shower that is almost useless, ditto for the fresh water and grey/black water tanks.
If you go with a TC definitely get an 8' bed. Many of the older Ford trucks came with camper packages; the easiest way to tell if the truck has this package is the presence of a rear anti-sway bar. Also try to go with one of the more popular brands of truck campers such as Lance, Artic Fox, etc.
I would strongly consider a small travel trailer if you intend to live in it full time for a while. You will be much more comfortable, and the shower/bath is more functional and storage is considerable improved over the TC. The best thing of all is if you put a camper shell on your truck bed you have a huge storage area that you can throw 1000lbs of stuff in. My wife and I have lived in our 16' trailer at campsites for up to 2 weeks and have been very comfortable. The ability to unhitch the trailer and leave it setup and then go off in your truck is a BIG plus.
You should be able to find a 2000-2005 F250/F350 for under $10k; the 5.4L V8 will be cheaper compared to the 6.8L V10. Try to find a 2003 or later if you go with the V10; that year and later models had improved heads that eliminated potential spark plug problems. My 2003 F250 has about 150K miles and has been a very reliable truck and pulls out 4000lb 16' trailer very well.
Best of luck!
My recommendations are similar to nuctrooper. I have a 2003 F250 V10 SC SD 8' bed 4x4, and had a small truck camper on it for about 8 years in the past (Lance 815). We traveled a lot in it but switched to a 16' travel trailer several years back. Here is my summary for truck campers:
Pros: You can go anywhere in them, down single lane forest roads and way into the back country where you cannot even think about taking a travel trailer.
Simple, easy to use, and ours had a very comfortable queen size bed.
Cons: Even the lightest hard-side truck campers are heavy when fully loaded and will put you at the GVWR of an F250.
Very little storage capacity. You will fill up all the nooks and crannies quickly.
Wet shower that is almost useless, ditto for the fresh water and grey/black water tanks.
If you go with a TC definitely get an 8' bed. Many of the older Ford trucks came with camper packages; the easiest way to tell if the truck has this package is the presence of a rear anti-sway bar. Also try to go with one of the more popular brands of truck campers such as Lance, Artic Fox, etc.
I would strongly consider a small travel trailer if you intend to live in it full time for a while. You will be much more comfortable, and the shower/bath is more functional and storage is considerable improved over the TC. The best thing of all is if you put a camper shell on your truck bed you have a huge storage area that you can throw 1000lbs of stuff in. My wife and I have lived in our 16' trailer at campsites for up to 2 weeks and have been very comfortable. The ability to unhitch the trailer and leave it setup and then go off in your truck is a BIG plus.
You should be able to find a 2000-2005 F250/F350 for under $10k; the 5.4L V8 will be cheaper compared to the 6.8L V10. Try to find a 2003 or later if you go with the V10; that year and later models had improved heads that eliminated potential spark plug problems. My 2003 F250 has about 150K miles and has been a very reliable truck and pulls out 4000lb 16' trailer very well.
Best of luck!
Hotshot
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 18,259
Likes: 9,012
From: Sheridan / Gilchrist
The decision to get a camper would be to live in it full time while I finish school.
I would strongly consider a small travel trailer if you intend to live in it full time for a while. You will be much more comfortable, and the shower/bath is more functional and storage is considerable improved over the TC.
Thread Starter
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New User
Joined: Apr 2018
Posts: 13
Likes: 0
Wow! Thank you so much everyone!
i really hadn’t considered a TT.
and so much good info about trucks.
i really am a newb- this is so appreciated!
i really hadn’t considered a TT.
and so much good info about trucks.
i really am a newb- this is so appreciated!
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Hotshot
Joined: Oct 2015
Posts: 19,687
Likes: 12,812
From: Wyoming
Most RVs (trailer, truck camper, fifth wheel, etc) aren't made for full time occupancy. A few are, but those are generally at the high end price-wise. One of the full time issues is humidity. Occupying the unit for extended periods of time tends to cause humidity to build up and it gets into the walls and can cause mold. Up here in the front range that is less of a concern due to our low ambient humidity level.
The components in the unit such as water heater, water pump and furnace aren't made to run constantly.
And finally, many units simply aren't designed to handle cold weather. I'm talking 20° F and lower. The tanks aren't insulated which means they'll freeze once the temperature gets low enough.
The components in the unit such as water heater, water pump and furnace aren't made to run constantly.
And finally, many units simply aren't designed to handle cold weather. I'm talking 20° F and lower. The tanks aren't insulated which means they'll freeze once the temperature gets low enough.
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Freshman User
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 27
Likes: 0
From: South west ,MO
You have really gotten some good information. i will just add from having lived in truck campers full time on 2 occasions and think they are to small for full time living. We stayed in it for a year each time and we were very happy to move into a house. I think a TT would be a lot more comfortable for a long stay.
Posting Guru
Joined: Mar 2018
Posts: 1,962
Likes: 11
From: Fairbanks, AK
You have really gotten some good information. i will just add from having lived in truck campers full time on 2 occasions and think they are to small for full time living. We stayed in it for a year each time and we were very happy to move into a house. I think a TT would be a lot more comfortable for a long stay.
To the OP - lots of great advice here. The wife and I have been on this journey for a while and are considering RV'ing when we retire... in a TC. But we're at a much different stage in our lives and are looking at TC's with 180 sq ft of living space. In addition to what others have mentioned, I think you should consider 2 more things:
1. Are you going to be living alone? 2 people in the type of TC you'll need for now is CRAMPED. That tight of living quarters will make or break a relationship. Go into that eyes wide open.
2. One of the guys hit on this but from the angle of going with a TT. He gave great advice from that POV. The other POV and a 'pro' for a TC is maneuverability and how much space you take up in total. We're sticking with TC's at least until we retire for this alone. I can take a TC so many more places than I can a TT. And when parked at a camp site, I take up lots less space and can fit in tighter places.
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