Tips for Truck Camper

[flounder]

Hello,

I am looking for anyone with experience with the smaller truck bed campers. I have a 2013 F-150 short box and have been considering one of the small 1/2 ton rated truck campers (Four Wheel campers, Palamino backpacker, or Adventure 80RB). My main concern is my truck has 7200# GVWR and curb weight is listed at about 5600#. This leaves 1600# difference and most of these campers are very close, or already over that when optioned out. Then add myself, dogs, and all the gear for things like snow and what have you. I have been told that with some upgraded suspension and tires I would be fine but might be upward of 1000# over GVWR. Anyone out there have experience with this kind of thing? I plan on upwards of a year road trippin N America and want to have warm fuzzy this set up would be more than solid for the task. Hoping for some relatively light off roading to get into some more remote areas.
Thanks for any input

 

[shade]

Hello,

I am looking for anyone with experience with the smaller truck bed campers. I have a 2013 F-150 short box and have been considering one of the small 1/2 ton rated truck campers (Four Wheel campers, Palamino backpacker, or Adventure 80RB). My main concern is my truck has 7200# GVWR and curb weight is listed at about 5600#. This leaves 1600# difference and most of these campers are very close, or already over that when optioned out. Then add myself, dogs, and all the gear for things like snow and what have you. I have been told that with some upgraded suspension and tires I would be fine but might be upward of 1000# over GVWR. Anyone out there have experience with this kind of thing? I plan on upwards of a year road trippin N America and want to have warm fuzzy this set up would be more than solid for the task. Hoping for some relatively light off roading to get into some more remote areas.
Thanks for any input

One of the many wedge campers would be significantly lighter than the ones you mentioned, and the AT Overland Atlas is a new, full pop-top model that might work for you. 360 lbs.

 

[phsycle]

Four Wheel Camper
500lbs.

Project M Topper - Four Wheel Campers

The Project M is the newest camper from Four Wheel Campers is the perfect pop up truck topper for the minimalist adventurer.

fourwheelcampers.com

 

[JaSAn]

I have an (old) FWC Grandby shell with DIY buildout. With 180# me, a 30# beagle, camping gear, 2 weeks supplies and 12 gallons of water, the camper weighs (CAT Scale) 1560#.

7920# (loaded truck and camper) - 6360# (empty truck, me, dog, 32 gal gas) = 1560#

 

[Wrathchild]

OVRLND Pop Top Camper Shells

OVRLND Campers builds the lightest, most spacious and robust campers shells on the market.

campovrlnd.com

They’ll build the shell exactly how you want. Interior stuff will be on you. Quality construction. Full vertical walls for more interior space. No “shelf” cutting into the interior like the project M. Nearly king size bed(69”x80”) on my Sierra 1500.

 

[Bayou Boy]

I ran an ATC cougar on a 2011 Ford SuperCrew Platinum with airbags and upgraded E range tires. Took it over a ton of Colorado dirt passes and thousands of miles with zero issues. Do it and go have fun.

 

[blackdmax15]

Not to hijack Flounders threat but the AT shell would be awesome if it flipped forward like the old flippac toppers did. I’d be sold.

 

[shade]

Not to hijack Flounders threat but the AT shell would be awesome if it flipped forward like the old flippac toppers did. I’d be sold.

Not easy or cheap, but Jim Bob did just that.

The Jim Bob Camper — Jim Bob Barnett

This was a project that I’d been kicking around in my head for a few years now, I always loved my filppac but the flippacs had issues that overtime will eventually eat it alive and it will fall apart. It was a great design that wasn’t executed well and then the AT Habitat came out….I initially thoug

jimbobbarnett.com

 

[bas157]

The Snap Treehouse says it weighs around 340 pounds: https://snapoutfitters.com/

 

[motoboss]

Hard-Sided Pop-Up Camper by Hiatus Campers

Introducing Hiatus Campers We are a new camper company based in Washington that designs and manufactures hard-sided pop-up truck campers. You can visit our website: hiatuscampers.com. Our patent pending folding wall system utilizes composite panels that can be popped up in less than ten...

www.expeditionportal.com

 

[inv3ctiv3]

Not to hijack Flounders threat but the AT shell would be awesome if it flipped forward like the old flippac toppers did. I’d be sold.

Not easy or cheap, but Jim Bob did just that.

The Jim Bob Camper — Jim Bob Barnett

This was a project that I’d been kicking around in my head for a few years now, I always loved my filppac but the flippacs had issues that overtime will eventually eat it alive and it will fall apart. It was a great design that wasn’t executed well and then the AT Habitat came out….I initially thoug

jimbobbarnett.com

Yup you can see more of it here:

 

[Peter_n_Margaret]

My advise would be to start with a 2 door cab/chassis and do a custom build from the chassis up using fibreglass sandwich panel.
Fewer compromises, lighter weight and lower CofG.
A forward control vehicle will give more living space in a shorter vehicle.
Cheers,
Peter
OKA196 motorhome