Camper guys, got a question
My 2000 Dodge Cumming has only 567,000 on it, I am keeping it until 1,000,000 miles. I had the standard bed replaced with a flat bed a few years back. Will standard slide in campers fit onto the flat bed? I have looked at some purpose built flat bed campers and those suckers cost about two Cessna 172's! I am looking at used for under 20K. I do not want a trailer, It must have A/C and a generator for dry camping in the summer heat. I do not want a pop up type either. Cozy and easy to use is key here.
Just tire kicking for now, thinking about retirement.... Wise words of wisdom, snarky remarks and smart axxed comments are appreciated. Some one responding with real information is a bonus on this thread.
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WTH...... R A M is a no go word, who is the PC police here????? What were they thinking? 0 -
I know you love your truck but if this is for retirement I think I would go for a newer vehicle?However, If you are dead-set on using that flatbed, I think I would build a box on it.
Now that the important stuff is out of the way.... R. A. M.
Rama derogatory term for an unattractive member of the opposite sex.I can't believe you made out with that girl. She was a total ram.
http://onlineslangdictionary.com/meaning-definition-of/ram
RAM RanchA ranch, probably in Wyoming, ran by Grant Macdonald and Dr. Phil. It is infamous for cowboy orgies.0 -
Don't see why this wouldn't work. You could save some money if you left off the fancy back porch but I think I would keep it. 
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I've seen lots of truck campers on flatbeds around here. Leaves a nice space underneath for coolers/boxes.
https://northwoodmfg.com/truck-campers/wolf-creek/
These are a well built, light weight camper. I've got the heavier version, the Arctic Fox brand.0 -
You will need to strap it down and have stops to stop sliding and ever how long your bed is the limiting factor on size. I have a eight-foot bed so it can take a bigger camper. All RV stuff is in high demand now because of the virus pandemic. You picked the wrong time to buy used or new. Sorry to tell you a bargain is going to be hard to find.serf
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I am keeping the truck. It has been insanely well maintained, if it ain't right I get it fixed (my co. pays and does all repairs and maintenance on it). I wonder if a slide in with overhang rear entry would work on the flat bed. I see some for sale within 200 miles that are in the 14-18K range 5-10 years old. My main concern is getting it to fit my truck bed and having A/C and genset installed or ready for one. 0 -
Ricci.Wright said:Don't see why this wouldn't work. You could save some money if you left off the fancy back porch but I think I would keep it.
The front suspension must be rough on the roof0 -
Not sure what you got in mind, but love the picture Ricci posted,,,, 0 -
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A regular slide in camper on a flatbed? How redneckerson do you really want to be?
Safety wise it's a bad idea.
1: With nothing to hold the camper, it's going to require more/bigger/tighter tie downs and the framing of slide ins isn't all that sturdy.
2: There's going to be a big gap above the pickup cab causing far more wind drag increasing the "lift" on the front of the camper adding to what #1 pointed out.
3: The access height will be increased by several inches as will the overall height.0 -
Personally, I would think it would lead to structural problems on the Camper. I do not believe it would be a good idea to have the walls unsupported. At the very least, I would use two screw jacks on each side leading up to a pressure treated full length 2X4. (Or similar.)
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A picture of your flat bed truck might help?
Are you also thinking about towing anything behind you truck while going camping?
AND as the one guy said bargains are going to be hard to find right now. At first I thought maybe might be good time to shop for camp trailers, guns, etc, due to people out of work and needing $$$$, but it's just the opposite.
They are buying, camping and maybe not going to make any payments by staying hid in the woods and buying guns to try and keep robbers at a social distance.0 -
you say you are looking in the $15,000 range, that sure buys a lot of motel rooms and no hassle to haul or clean up....... 3 -
Flying Clay Disk said:Well, I know you said you don't want a trailer, but I'm going to be "that guy"...hopefully you will read on.A camper on a conventional bed pickup is kind of a PITA to get on and off, and the tying down takes time. With a flatbed this will be even more of a PITA and require more time. This leaves you with the old "motorhome" analogy...(i.e. unless you want to disconnect all your power, sewer and water to go to the store for that forgotten item, you're going to have to tow something like a 2nd vehicle anyway). With a trailer, you take it to where you want to go and drop it. This way your tow vehicle is available to go on excursions. Plus, a trailer is going to afford you a whole lot more space to relax in than a camper ever will.I've had the motorhome bug since I was a kid and took a trip in one, but the impracticality of a motorhome was lost on me then. I've had to talk myself out of a camper / motorhome repeatedly over the years. A trailer is just a far better option.
You have a point. In Alaska I dry camped in a slide in for up to 11 days out in the boonies, it carried 23 gal of water and I never ran out. When I got the pusher motorhome we used it 49 out of 52 weekends one year. It had a heated basement with 90 gallons of fresh water on board. I camped at Eureka Lodge many times snowmobiling in the winter and never froze up! The heated basement kept things warm, the genset never shut off. It was as cold as 25 below on some weekends.I have been thinking more about a trailer now. My plan, (if you want to call it that) is to go to lakes, camp, fish and enjoy the outdoors for 2-5 days. I have not fished much in years and I do miss it. If I retire and am forced to sell the Cessna due to cost issues a camper could still give me the get away time I desire at much lower costs than flying my airplane someplace, renting a car, paying for hotels and the like.I like being alone, I thrive on it. A camper might be the best option as the purchase of a good genset sitting on the flatbed with enough power for the A/C unit might be the best, least costly option. I looked at some very suitable newer used units in the 10-15K region that would serve that purpose well.
Going with a trailer would also prevent me from having to break camp every time I needed a beer run... It is unAmerican to not have beer whilst fishing.
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I've got a camp trailer and a slide in camper.
My camp trailer is not as user friendly for taking into the boonies as the slide in camper. The camp trailer is not for off road use, but is ok for 2 people.
For off road and into the boonies:
To free up my full size 4x4 tow/haul vec for hauling a ATV and running to town to get supplies or for use hunting at longer treks from camp in the 4x4 w/o having to break camp , and getting deeper into the boonies easier I installed my 8 ft slide in camper on a 16 ft bumper pull utility trailer and doing such the slide in camper over head brush clearance is lower to the ground. the camper has A/C, 12v Antenna TV, heat, Propane/120v fridge and I have a small portable gen set for running the A/C and re-charging a on-board lights/TV battery. Have a nice big storage area under the camper front overhang and a rear porch and storage area down each side of the trailer under the side overhang of the camper for additional water storage, etc. Only thing is the 8 ft slide in would be crowded for two hunters and all their gear even though it would sleep 4. additional hunters. A10 ft slide in camper would be more user friendly on a 16 ft trailer for little more room inside. I stay in this camping rig for 12-14 days sometimes when on a hunt. If anyone else is hunting with me they have to furnish their own camping/sleeping quarters. This is a one man hunting/sleeping camper rig.
I used this 8 ft slide in on my truck for few years taking it on and off each hunting season and gets to be a pain and not an easy task for one person especially safety wise and also towing a 8 ft trailer behind or a jeep and not knowing if the trailer or jeep is ok in tow due to flats or otherwise.
Summary: Slide in camper on a hunting vec was a constant pain for my uses.3 -
Agree, just toss the room key and pay the bills, can't beat that at all, especially the cost. I've traveled all over this country in all sorts of ways, nothing beats the comfort of a clean motel / hotel.hillbille said:you say you are looking in the $15,000 range, that sure buys a lot of motel rooms and no hassle to haul or clean up.......0 -
Since you have the flat bed, look into either a 5th wheel or goose neck trailer. They tow much better. You can set up the flat bed with low storage & your genny. 3 -
I use an old goose-neck horse trailer with livings quarters up front and room for horse or 4-wheeler or what ever else you want to haul in the back 0 -
After perusing the online ads for campers and slide-ins I think a camper is about right. Adding to this thought a toy hauler, small and compact, might be interesting since I have a Honda Pioneer 500 that might come in handy. I will go look at some of the available units in the next few weeks just to tire kick and see if anything strikes my fancy.I have extensive experience with camping in Alaska in both a Coachman 115RB slide in and the Coachman Santara 35' diesel pusher. Both were the source of many days and weekends of pleasure. The slide in was heavy when loaded. It taxed the Ford F-250 that first carried it. When I got the V-10 Dodge dually it carried a lot better. I would carry the camper and pull a 22' Alumaweld boat to Homer almost every weekend. When pulling the boat I had to use a 4' "stinger" hitch extender I built to get past the back of the camper that hung 3'6" over the back of the truck bed. The V-10 power made it easy to climb the big hills heading to the Kenai Peninsula pulling the boat and carrying the camper.Things have changed a lot in the past 20 years so careful eyballing and learning more is the first step in deciding what unit fits the bill and IF I want to actually pull the trigger on doing this. Twin axles is also a must for reasons stated already. I like the idea of dropping the trailer and having both the truck and the Honda handy for excursions. West Virginia has a lot of trails to explore and the Honda would be a lot of fun heading out to the hills. Dumping the camper leaving the truck free to go would also be a huge plus.
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The sides of the camper are self supportive, and don't rely on the truck bed sides to support them...KenK/84Bravo said:Personally, I would think it would lead to structural problems on the Camper. I do not believe it would be a good idea to have the walls unsupported. At the very least, I would use two screw jacks on each side leading up to a pressure treated full length 2X4. (Or similar.)
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bpost: 31542986410395/comments/31542947499675
After perusing the online ads for campers and slide-ins I think a camper is about right. Adding to this thought a toy hauler, small and compact, might be interesting since I have a Honda Pioneer 500 that might come in handy. I will go look at some of the available units in the next few weeks just to tire kick and see if anything strikes my fancy.I have extensive experience with camping in Alaska in both a Coachman 115RB slide in and the Coachman Santara 35' diesel pusher. Both were the source of many days and weekends of pleasure. The slide in was heavy when loaded. It taxed the Ford F-250 that first carried it. When I got the V-10 Dodge dually it carried a lot better. I would carry the camper and pull a 22' Alumaweld boat to Homer almost every weekend. When pulling the boat I had to use a 4' "stinger" hitch extender I built to get past the back of the camper that hung 3'6" over the back of the truck bed. The V-10 power made it easy to climb the big hills heading to the Kenai Peninsula pulling the boat and carrying the camper.Things have changed a lot in the past 20 years so careful eyballing and learning more is the first step in deciding what unit fits the bill and IF I want to actually pull the trigger on doing this. Twin axles is also a must for reasons stated already. I like the idea of dropping the trailer and having both the truck and the Honda handy for excursions. West Virginia has a lot of trails to explore and the Honda would be a lot of fun heading out to the hills. Dumping the camper leaving the truck free to go would also be a huge plus.
We bought a toy hauler hybrid.....same height as a standard camper, but is still a toy hauler. We went with a Cherokee Grey Wolf 26RR. We love it so far!
Make some minor upgrades after your purchase, better tires for sure, and it's a great travel trailer!
Jon
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If you're going to get out and about frequently, a class C MH is the way to go, IMO. There you have it all in one package. You can haul a small tow car, or carry a motor bike or scooter for short runs to wherever for whatever. Staying in motels is great provided you don't t want to get out in the boonies to stay at a campsite, but the cost of motel living for frequent and extended periods would be extremely costly. A trailer would be my next option.
Added: if I was to buy s trailer, a used Escape is hard to beat:
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