so up until now i have used a small european bumper pull camper. however the inspections and licensing requirements have become a royal PITA not to mention the front area where the propane tanks sit has rotted out from water leaks.

so i have been thinking about a slide in for a while. 99 F350 7.3 manual transmission, so a older, lighter slide in should not be an issue. what i need help with is opinions.... what truck campers from say 95- 2010 would fit the following?

no slide outs period, i could give two flying pig patoots less about the extra so called space. i have read to many horror stories about leaks, chafing wires on electrical and slideouts that suddenly would not close up.

i would prefer a one piece roof either fiberglass, or an old school aluminum or steel sheetmetal roof with as few protusions as possible (gotta put panels up there and the whole spastic plastic roof thing is not something i want to deal with.

i do not care about the septic storage or what not as in japan this is not a thing.... period there is no place to dump so if a particular model is great in every thing except the size of the tank, or the ability to chop the poo up.... i dont care.

I dont care about the shower per se... japan is filled with onsens and public baths and what not so purposely using a built in shower or whatnot is not a requirement. running water is needed for the occasional dish washing or hand washing and nothing else...

the most important thing is can it sleep four people, is it durable (understood its a truck camper which is kinda lower on the totem pole.)

i will follow this up with the next portion of this puzzle (anybody got one they want to sell?

Ken AKA Daddy Tanuki

 

Short bed or long bed, sleeping 4 adults will be tough unless a couple are really small. Over the years I've had several lance campers and different trucks. One major issue with a newer truck and older camper is bed floor to top of cab space. I've had to build a platform to raise up the last one, an 815 Lance IIRC. Those are smaller, no rear overhang so I could tow a boat without an extension. They all have their up side and down side ad far as trailers vs campers vs Motor Homes.

 

I have a unicorn, something you might like. 2005 8'6"sunlite hardside no shower in/outside, no water heater, commode 6/7 gallon black tank , a/c and heater 25 gal.waterRides very well in my 00' f250 4x4 6.8 ccsb. Weighs 1829 lbs wet .
It's not a lance, it is cheaply made, probably why it's so light.
To find a unicorn similar to mine are rare, mine was probably ordered special..
Good luck

 

well i am the largest in the family at 5'8" my wife is japanese and the daughters are half but probably would not be going with us that often as they are both in high school so no time. this is something i really want for the future but would use it 2-3 times per year until retirement and then use it a lot more.

my truck is a late 99 7.3 with the 8' bed so i could take the larger units and its a dually as well which would help in regards to sway and what not.

any one know of which campers (and years) have Fiberglass or sheetmetal roofs vice the current plastic coated weirdness?

 

Livin' Lite made some great campers. Lots had the metal roof and most of them are all aluminum including the floors (extruded aluminum and NO wood to rot) and cabinetry so decent weight wise. I picked up a shortbox Ford version (was a deal between Livin' Lite and Ford) back in 2019 and have probably put over 50k miles on it so far. The bigger longbox version might work for you. They were purchased by Thor and then shut down not long after.

 

Campers sleep 2. In a pinch you can fit more. But getting a hotel suite, makes more sense. Or dump the guy in the trucks back seat or a tent.

Major compromises can be made to sleep more, but it ruins the camper.

Bundutec and Four Wheel Campers are my picks. You can order empty campers from either company and fab your own interior your way.