I probably was stupid but I bought a slide in camper for my f250 without measuring it or considering the weight thing. My bro says they weigh a ton, but i was looking at the one I bought (havent picked it up yet... or paid for it acually, just with a handshake). its a old one, probably a late 70's model, no toilet hot water or shower, its pretty basic. its just sheet aluminum and 2x4 constructed, and isnt that big, how much could it possibly weigh?? I cant believe it weighs 2000 lbs... there isnt anything in it but a lil table, a bed over the cab and a sink, and a tiny icebox. I have to go measure it tomorrow and look for a manufacturer plate with the dry wt and date/ ect.

in an old 250 camper special, do you think this realy basic aluminum shell camper will be a problem weightwise/gas milage wise? to look at it im thinking torn down into chunks for the scrapyard I could haul it in my nissan pu! (its that basic/empty). I dunno if I should pay for it or just forget it and opt for a tag along camper... I will know more about it when I find the plate on it and measure it. anything I should be looking for/concerned about?
I was visually comparing itto newer ones, and size wise and feature wise there is no comparison, mine is way smaller with lots less "stuff" in it. (i imagine the "stuff" makes up a bulk of the weight)

I never had a slide in before so if any of you have any experience painful or otherwise, please share any advice ya got for me onslide in campers...

I know it has to sit on the bed floor so the space between the front bottom and the underside of the cabover part has to be resonably the same as the distance from the floor of my bed to the cab roof or it wont fit right... right?

agggg ya git all excited when ya see a deal and it gets ya into trouble...

 

Tell ya what, I wish I had one again. If it is as basic as you say, it should give you verry little problems for weight / milage concerns. Make sure the distance from the bottom of the cabover to the bottom of the floor(camper) is MORE than the distance from your bed floor to the top of the roof(truck). Make sure that you anchor it properly, nothing like taking your new camper home and..... OOPS it just fell out onto the road at 50mph. Nehow, remember to check it over good and enjoy.

edit: figure camper should be about 3-4 in. off the top of the cab, also 1-3 in, between fenderwell and side of camper.

 

I did go over it a lot, its pretty clean and dry for such an old camper..
I cant figure out how you would secure it to the bed of the truck, i dont see any clamps or bolts or any thing... must be a trick to it.
I dont think it can weifgh that much its sitting on 4 skinny aluminum jack stands....(bolted to each corner)
i'll post whatever I find out tomorrrow...
yea I was looking at ones for sale online this one is no way as big inside as most. there is hardly room for the sink and stovetop l along the wall, no way you could put a shower and a toilet in there. I am susp[ecting its for a shortbed PU...
I guess thats good...less weight to worry about.

 

you could always add F350 rear springs if you're concerned about the weight

 

How long is it?
I have an old camper that sounds like the one your talking about.
Mine is an 8 1/2 footer and weighs about 1400 lbs I used to carry it in an f-150 and it was ok, but if you h ave a 250, you'll have no problems. Of course you wont want it in there every day, just when your planning to go camping.

 

I've been looking at one that sounds real close to what you're decribing. Think I'll end up paying about a $100. I went to the camper place and they sell a set up to attach the camper on to your truck. Two plates of steel that bolts to the front of the bed with a bit of it sticking out so you can attach a chain and tightener. Then two eye bolts that attach to the rear bumper for the same purpose. They were asking several $100 for $5 worth of material with some holes in it. It is a much better system than sticking chunks of metal in the bed pockets. Go to the camper place and check them out. I'll be making my own.

 

I have had several of them and I have really enjoy them, Right now I have a 11 1/2 ft one that I haul with my crew cab, You just have to take it easy and pay attention to what you are doing , other wise no big deal. I have hauled alot of them in a F250 also and they handle them just fine. Hope this one works out for ya
Seeya Jim

 

i measured it it is exactly 8 feet long(the part that sits in the bed). the other dimensions fit fine, but I will have to make a 4" frame grid to set in the bed so it can clear the roof of my 65's cab.
the truck has a set of helper springs on it already, and it is a camper special so it has a heavy set of springs originally anyhow..

the plate says '"burkhart trailer MFG "papose" and its stamped 1968.
it must have been in a garage or something its extreamly clean and the alunminum trim isnt corroded like you would expect after 35 yrs.
I think the truck can handle it, it cant possibly weigh that much.
as i measure it I can even leave the tailgate on and close it, if that would add any security to keeping it in place...

 

What truck forum would you like this thread moved to ?

Suspension
or
Year of truck ...forum ?

 

well it didnt fit in either one, so I figured "general" would fit...
its more about the camper combination than the year or the suspension...
but if you must move it I suppose move it to suspension, as thats pretty much my main concern.

and to hear from other people who have caper slide ins and how they handle it..... move it to wherever you think it fits best.

 

Yes,I realized it was about more the camper, but it went highly technical so I figured t should go to a truck forum so Suspension it is.
I might even join in your discussion.