Campers For Rangers

[JohnnyO]

Here are a couple I found at an RV show. If you like more than a tent but don't want a trailer. Double check the width in bed but both manufacturers say they will fit mid-size trucks like the Ranger.

Rayzr. I was in one of these at an RV show. Not bad for the size although it's heavier than the Capri Camper.
https://www.travelliterv.com/come-and-see-our-models-of--rayzr

Capri Camper. The Cowboy model is very light at 695 lb if you don't add too many options. The cabover Retreat model is heavier at 1000 lb dry so you might want air bags for a Ranger, but you can get an optional shower, cooktop, sink, etc.
https://capricamper.com/

 

[Shran]

Four Wheel Campers makes some nice ones too, with models designed specifically for small trucks. I toured their facility in CO a couple years ago, they are a quality product.

https://fourwheelcampers.com/

 

[rusty ol ranger]

That rayzr looks very rangerable. The others look iffy to me anyways.

 

[sgtsandman]

Yeah, there are a few slide in models out there. Getting some sort of suspension helper or installing the 1,750 lbs leaf springs would probably be a good idea. Cloths, food, bedding, and what not add up fast.

 

[Biggfoot44]

Interesting ! I'll study the links, and be back later tonite with rambling about pickup campers , mid size trucks, and suchlike .

 

[JohnnyO]

Yeah, there are a few slide in models out there. Getting some sort of suspension helper or installing the 1,750 lbs leaf springs would probably be a good idea. Cloths, food, bedding, and what not add up fast.

I would need air bags or helper springs just for the beer.

 

[don4331]

Apologies: Rant over brochure "dry weight" and "ready to roll weight"

I have an Adventurer 76R camper for my Ranger. Dry weight - base started at 1,140 lbs in brochure, which given I have payload package #2 (should have been 1,550lbs) sounds like it should work.

But that brochure base weight is some mythical number that a production camper doesn't come close to. And doesn't include: jacks (125 lbs for manual ones, more for electric), battery (60 lbs), microwave (30lbs), propane (20 lbs)...I can't remember what else, but basically I have 2 options: jacks and microwave. Why they don't include the propane and battery is beyond me... The "as delivered" weight was >1,500 lbs. I had to add platform so camper wasn't sitting on cab roof: it's just 4 - 2x4s and sheet of 1/2" plywood (30 lbs) and Torqlift front & rear tie downs. (50 lbs).

Before we set out we added ~120 lbs of clothes, pillows, sheets, comforter, pots, pans, cutlery, soap, towels, food, gear, tools, etc. We didn't fill up any water, and the Adventurer 76r doesn't have "facilities" so, no black water.

At the other end, the 5.0 & auto (200 lbs), ac (40 lbs), trailer hitch (40 lbs), rear doors on SCab (90lbs), Explorer 8.8, 30.5x10.5R15s (60 lbs), etc dropped my payload to ~1,100 lbs. Still pretty close to payload package #1's 1,200 lbs.

When we scaled the truck, the front axle was near GAWR and rear was ~3,150lbs! (~400 lbs over the GAWR on door jamb and just under GAWR for the Expo axle), we won't talk about GVWR.
Note: removing spare, tailgate and the missus kicking me out gets truck close to legal.

 

[bobbywalter]

Apologies: Rant over brochure "dry weight" and "ready to roll weight"

I have an Adventurer 76R camper for my Ranger. Dry weight - base started at 1,140 lbs in brochure, which given I have payload package #2 (should have been 1,550lbs) sounds like it should work.

But that brochure base weight is some mythical number that a production camper doesn't come close to. And doesn't include: jacks (125 lbs for manual ones, more for electric), battery (60 lbs), microwave (30lbs), propane (20 lbs)...I can't remember what else, but basically I have 2 options: jacks and microwave. Why they don't include the propane and battery is beyond me... The "as delivered" weight was >1,500 lbs. I had to add platform so camper wasn't sitting on cab roof: it's just 4 - 2x4s and sheet of 1/2" plywood (30 lbs) and Torqlift front & rear tie downs. (50 lbs).

Before we set out we added ~120 lbs of clothes, pillows, sheets, comforter, pots, pans, cutlery, soap, towels, food, gear, tools, etc. We didn't fill up any water, and the Adventurer 76r doesn't have "facilities" so, no black water.

At the other end, the 5.0 & auto (200 lbs), ac (40 lbs), trailer hitch (40 lbs), rear doors on SCab (90lbs), Explorer 8.8, 30.5x10.5R15s (60 lbs), etc dropped my payload to ~1,100 lbs. Still pretty close to payload package #1's 1,200 lbs.

When we scaled the truck, the front axle was near GAWR and rear was ~3,150lbs! (~400 lbs over the GAWR on door jamb and just under GAWR for the Expo axle), we won't talk about GVWR.
Note: removing spare, tailgate and the missus kicking me out gets truck close to legal.

7k rolling wt for my ranger was avg back in the d35 explorer 8.8 days. 8k plus was regularly done.

its why i have full floater rear 60 now.


wouldnt bat an eye at 2k in gear on a expo axle and 3600 overall.











but i have had some design plans for a slide in.

 

[JohnnyO]

The Capri Cowboy says 695 lb so even if you add the optional a/c and jacks, beer, a bit of food, other camping gear, beer, clothes, and beer, you should still be no more than 1000 lb.

 

[don4331]

I think you are under estimating:

Brochure Capri Cowboy weight: 695 lbs; Manual Hapijacks 125 lbs; Coleman A/C 96 lbs = 916 lbs (and probably more as production camper will be heavy based on my visits to RV shows).

Refrigerator (40 lbs, I like my beverages cold), propane (20 lbs), Torqlift tie downs (50 lbs) and SoB, you're over 1,025 lbs, and you have yet to add clothes, pillows, sheets, comforter, pots, pans, cutlery, soap, towels, food, beverages, gear, tools, etc. And that assumes the battery (60 lbs) was included in brochure weight - it isn't in most cases.

The fact that a Ranger could carry >2k lbs, and 8.8 is good for >3.5k lbs doesn't matter when the weight Nazi's in BC run you over scales - you exceed the sticker on the door, and you're fined and parked. Same issues as towing trailer - what the truck can physically do, can legally do and really should do are separate.

p.s. Original Rangers are 40.5" between wheel wells; midsize Cowboy is 42"

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

It is kind of funny, down here nobody cares about campers. Unless you get into a wreck, then someone probably would but otherwise if it fits it ships.

 

[Biggfoot44]

Don4331 hit upon the Open Dirty Secret from back in the era that slide in pickup campers were mainstream RVs . All the F -250 Camper Specials and C-20 Camper Specials in the real world were overweight, especially on the real axles .

But back in the day " trucks under 1 ton" were rarely weighed , or subject to " No Trucks " restrictions , at least in the US .

And Camper Spec 3/4 tons held up to the abuse reasonably well , at least for occasional camping/ vacation use .

The F-350 Super Camper Special , and GM C-30 Dually actually could be within ratings , but by that point new sales of Slide Ins were waining , and Fifth Wheels were the big growth item in RV's .

 

[rusty ol ranger]

Don4331 hit upon the Open Dirty Secret from back in the era that slide in pickup campers were mainstream RVs . All the F -250 Camper Specials and C-20 Camper Specials in the real world were overweight, especially on the real axles .

But back in the day " trucks under 1 ton" were rarely weighed , or subject to " No Trucks " restrictions , at least in the US .

And Camper Spec 3/4 tons held up to the abuse reasonably well , at least for occasional camping/ vacation use .

The F-350 Super Camper Special , and GM C-30 Dually actually could be within ratings , but by that point new sales of Slide Ins were waining , and Fifth Wheels were the big growth item in RV's .

Those F350 SCS trucks were rated up to like 4000lbs IIRC. Thats some serious slide in camperage. My 77 3/4ton camper special could carry a 2700lb one.

You cant tell me that isnt heavy. Plus, the overhang in killer which is why the SCS trucks used the longer cab/chassis wheelbase.

Some of them slide ins got so big they had wheels under the overhang!

 

[Grumpaw]

How about this rig from the 60's.
Don't think my 2.3 could handle it, but a Ranger with a 4.0 and some added heavy duty springs might be able to.

Grumpaw

 

[JohnnyO]

I always thought something like the 1969 Jeep CJ-5 camper with its own axle would be great for my Sport Trac.

www.cj5camper.com