Pickup campers?

[pvf]

Does anyone have any experience with pickup campers? I would like to know the good and the bad about them.
What kinds are better than others and are they a pain in the you know what to put them on the truck?

Hooking up to a horse trailer is easy not sure about the camper part.. We have a truck with an 8 foot box so I don't think that will be a problem.

Hubby thought that if we got that instead of a horse trailer with living qts then we could use it when we haul the boat camping ect..
Although he did say that might be a pain to use a pickup camper too..

[seerfarm]

Only problem you may run into is that sometimes they slightly (depending on size) can extend past the actual bed of your truck. If you plan to haul a trailer as well....could cause interference.

[TDH]

Have you looked at all, at the prices of those things? You might well be better off with a horse trailer with LQ....

[pvf]

yeah I just googled it.. Ouch.. I wasn't sure if they are all that expensive or if its just the site that it brought up.. Yikes.. It had one listed for 15,000 I couldn't believe it and then it had a whole list of stuff that you could add that was extra.

I know that we would get a new one but if thats the price they run then no way..

Seer thanks for that info that wouldn't be very helpful if the trailer wouldn't be able to be hooked up..

I know how the weight of a trailer ects the truck, but how does the camper effect it? For like driving, ect..

[beth55051]

In my experience (we have several friends with campers) get a pop up one if you decide to go with a pickup camper. Much easier to control in the wind especially pulling a trailer hauling horses.

If you can get hydraulic/electric jacks so you arn't stuck cranking up one corner at a time. That can really suck, especially when you're tired and cranky.

I would not suggest getting one that hangs out past the pickup box. Yes, they make extended hitches but they're not really meant to pull something like a loaded stock trailer.

If you want one really cheap let me know, I know someone who has a really old but fully functional pickup camper sitting in there pasture who wants it gone before snowfall.

[scrapchick]

We thought about a pickup camper but decided that if we arent going somewhere requiring Cleo, we could throw the Harley in the back or the go cart or other fun stuff.

[Crookedblaze]

My older brother has one and hates it.

It was expensive, he hardly ever uses it and it eats gas. Also, the one he had can't be installed ontop of a bedliner, so then it goes right on the bed and ruins the paint. He also has problems hauling his boat, and when he wants to haul bigger stuff in the back (he's in construction) he has to stick boards into the cab through the vent in the back window of the truck.

It did prove handy when he got married, suddenly his truck turned into public transportation to Mount Hood and he could fit 15 people in the back.

But if you used it a lot, you would get your moneys worth.

[Wendy F]

My parents have one and love it. They pd $21000 for it brand new! I agree, but it is loaded and super nice. They haul it with their dually and had to get the extended hitch also. They like it because they haul their motorcycles or the boat when they go camping.

[pippy]

We have a pickup camper..we really like it. We searched far and wide to find a used one in great shape so that we did not pay the high cost of brand new. We found a later 1980's model, used about 10 times, always shedded - no damage at all, everything worked for $500. Couldn't ask for a better deal. That was many years ago..when we are not using it, it is shedded.(Make sure to mouse proof).
We feel it is better to not leave it on the truck at all times when we are not planning on staying somewhere because it does affect the gas mileage. When loaded w/ camper and 4 horse trailer, we get about 7 mpg.
It is not hard for us to put on or take off. My husband found a trailer frame and so we can set it on that and just roll it in and out of shed to truck- that makes it alot easier. Can't explain it, I'd have to post a pic on that.
I dont' remember right now what brand we have. It is hard to find a well preserved truck camper, the new ones are very spendy..but to us, it is handier then if we had a trailer w/ living qtrs because we do otherstuff where we pull something and would like to camp (such as trailer w/ atv or the motorcycle). Definitely do not get one that extends past the back. When we were looking, we found alot that extend past the back, but if you look long enough, you'll find a good used on that doesn't...
There are a few times I wish I had a fancier looking trailer w/ living qtrs, but I just can't justify spending 20,000+ dollars on it, when my 3500 current setup works the same..

edited to add: I do not feel it affects the way the truck handles while pulling a trailer- turning and such...it's significantly more weight though, as long as you have a 3/4 or one ton you are putting it on and pulling w/, in my opinion, you don't really notice. WE once had an RV- now that was hard to drive on a windy day...the camper does not feel at all like the RV did.

[pvf]

Thanks everyone for the advice. I'm not really sure how often I would use a camper.. For other things besides camping with the horses..

Scrapchick if I could get hubby's little boat in a horse trailer I would be fine..
Not that he uses it all that much.. last year it was used a whole 5 days. This year it hasn't been out once yet..

[tuffsmom]

Why don't you look into getting a small Motorhome. I see those at shows. I have seen people pulling everything with them.

[Slim Pikkens]

I have a big camper that stands on 3 jack style legs. One just backs up underneath and lowers it down. I haven't used it in years except as a spare room for the odd guest who wants to try "camping". It's for sale or barter. No market for it here as it doesn't have the "wow" factor.

[pvf]

Originally Posted by tuffsmom

Why don't you look into getting a small Motorhome. I see those at shows. I have seen people pulling everything with them.

We had thouhght about that, but then we loose our gas millage that we would get with our truck. So that defeats the purpose.


slim to bad you weren't closer..

[dproaps]

I just gave one away, an older Coachman, couldn't sell it around here. I loved it and hated it.

The bad - It was a pain in the you know to take on and off. It extended out past the truck bed (with a long bed too) and Dave had to custom build an extended hitch for it because the extended hitches they make aren't strong enough for the horse trailer. It made the truck awkward to drive. You had to have long extended mirrors to see around it.

The good - It was like a little home away from home. We just kept it packed for the camping trips, so getting ready was a lot easier. You could easily sleep two adults and two children in it. It was comfortable. It had running water!

If you decide to get an older model, check check check to make sure it will fit your truck bed! We had an older model truck we used, traded it in then the camper wouldn't fit! Apparently, the newer model trucks are not as wide as the older models, our truck was 60 1/2 inches wide and the camper needed 62 inches. Talk about one mad hubby!

[paso_lover]

The day of the origianl post I went to look at one since we had been out riding and past it. I had seen it 3 weeks ago and only remebered it as we walked by. Dirt cheap, great shape and PERFECT for what I wanted it for. Told the guy I'd be back with Andre at 7. Grabbed my cash, got there and the flippin thing was sold 30 minutes before . Serves me right for not doing what I should have 3 weeks ago .

[pvf]

Originally Posted by dproaps

I just gave one away, an older Coachman, couldn't sell it around here. I loved it and hated it.

The bad - It was a pain in the you know to take on and off. It extended out past the truck bed (with a long bed too) and Dave had to custom build an extended hitch for it because the extended hitches they make aren't strong enough for the horse trailer. It made the truck awkward to drive. You had to have long extended mirrors to see around it.

The good - It was like a little home away from home. We just kept it packed for the camping trips, so getting ready was a lot easier. You could easily sleep two adults and two children in it. It was comfortable. It had running water!

If you decide to get an older model, check check check to make sure it will fit your truck bed! We had an older model truck we used, traded it in then the camper wouldn't fit! Apparently, the newer model trucks are not as wide as the older models, our truck was 60 1/2 inches wide and the camper needed 62 inches. Talk about one mad hubby!

Good to know.. Didn't think about the width of the camper only the length..

[pvf]

Originally Posted by paso_lover

The day of the origianl post I went to look at one since we had been out riding and past it. I had seen it 3 weeks ago and only remebered it as we walked by. Dirt cheap, great shape and PERFECT for what I wanted it for. Told the guy I'd be back with Andre at 7. Grabbed my cash, got there and the flippin thing was sold 30 minutes before . Serves me right for not doing what I should have 3 weeks ago .

Slim Pikins has one.. Maybe your closer to her than I am.

[paso_lover]

Originally Posted by pvf

Slim Pikins has one.. Maybe your closer to her than I am.

Ya I just PMed her. I think she's about an hour away from me, thanks.