Starting to think about a slide in camper

[Shran]

I have a 1973 model Mitchell 8' slide in camper. I love it but it's pretty basic. Install/removal is not that big of a deal, jack it up, drive under, tie down. 30 minutes max. I've done it a million times though.

Your bed length and camper length will affect towing. I have a Super Duty with an 8' box and I can close the tailgate with the camper in the truck. Towing is not affected. If I had a shorter truck, or a longer camper, or whatever, hitch extensions and all that mess come into play.

These things are often not made very well so be sure you check over everything for water leaks & damage. Sometimes a seemingly small leak turns a decent looking camper into a total disaster. Mine had a lot of rot in the wall around the door from water leaking through broken marker lights - it was ALMOST not worth fixing. I had a couple of others that I literally took to the dump because they were just too far gone.

 

[bobbywalter]

Install/removal is not fun. Especially with a taller fullsize.

Even a popup installed in my Ranger makes it too tall for most garages

Does no wonders for mpg and handling when not needed

Really should be stored inside when not in use... but one can not just run the truck into the garage.

If you go used watch for rotten wood. The torsion springs for the roof put a lot of stress on the wooden perimeter frame. Sidewalls rot where the camper jacks go.

4WC makes a gutted pop up shell you can build exactly what you want, if I was to get another one and they made one that fit my truck that is probably the route I would go.

Ease of install/removal and storage when not in use... a RTT is a lot less work and easier to store when not in use.

we are not talking about the same thing.

i am talking some cases less than 10 to 15 minutes tops.

these were brand new at the time setups...25 k or more...i was shocked at the costs and thought they were nuts.


but never seen drive over spreaders before either..just rickety ass jacks...

most all of that was custom added and reworked.... just like their buggies. worked awesome though.

so if i build an overlander top it will incorporate that capacity.

 

[scotts90ranger]

I'm with Shran on the load on/off, it's hard to back into the thing alone but all said and done with my electric jacks I can back into it and tie down in under 30 minutes alone... with the old camper on hydraulic jacks it took two people jacking in unison front/rear to get things moving even enough... my first camper was a 11.5', that worked but is too long for towing a rig with the needed 4' long hitch extension... too much schenanigans for me... but that thing was $500 so I couldn't complain, it's a rotten mess that I still need to get rid of (it's only been like 5 years, or maybe 7... don't rush me...)

Here's my 18k pound mess ready for a trip... previous camper not the current one... yeah, we have cute little warming fires when camping in the dunes

 

[ryan]

This is the kind of thing I'm leaning toward, just for the simplicity of it all, even though it doesnt have a lot of amenities

Bruin XL Weekender | Oru Designs Campers

www.orudesignsusa.com

 

[Curious Hound]

I saw this thing at Moore Expo. I think it would suit me pretty well. Toy hauler big enough for motorcycle, enclosed storage and RTT on the trailer. Then I can unhook the Ranger and go break it.

 

[ryan]

I saw this thing at Moore Expo. I think it would suit me pretty well. Toy hauler big enough for motorcycle, enclosed storage and RTT on the trailer. Then I can unhook the Ranger and go break it.View attachment 117724

I really like those, but for a jeep on full width axles they're ~$30k to start

 

[Curious Hound]

I really like those, but for a jeep on full width axles they're ~$30k to start

Not going to pull that size with a Ranger, either.

 

[Shran]

This is my old setup/ new setup is the same trailer, trail rig and camper but with a 2007 F250.

I would not want a camper that is much smaller than what I have. My wife & I are normal size people... the bed is cramped. Head room is fine, wouldn't want it any lower. No bathroom (no big deal.) It used to have a clean water tank but it was junk so I deleted that.

No idea how much it weighs but it's all wood and it's pretty heavy. My old F250 with the 460 would tow it, slowly. The new truck doesn't really mind at all.

 

[ryan]

This is my old setup/ new setup is the same trailer, trail rig and camper but with a 2007 F250.

I would not want a camper that is much smaller than what I have. My wife & I are normal size people... the bed is cramped. Head room is fine, wouldn't want it any lower. No bathroom (no big deal.) It used to have a clean water tank but it was junk so I deleted that.

No idea how much it weighs but it's all wood and it's pretty heavy. My old F250 with the 460 would tow it, slowly. The new truck doesn't really mind at all.

View attachment 117727
View attachment 117728

Old school setup!

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

we are not talking about the same thing.

i am talking some cases less than 10 to 15 minutes tops.

Its about an hour for me.

But I have to pull it out of the barn to somewhere level, lift it off the pickup box trailer, get my truck under it, let it down and then tie it down.

 

[Curious Hound]

Its about an hour for me.

But I have to pull it out of the barn to somewhere level, lift it off the pickup box trailer, get my truck under it, let it down and then tie it down.

I think Bobby is talking more along the lines of "once you're already on the road". For example; you drive to SMORR. Set up camp and pull the truck out from under it. Go wheeling in the park. Drive to the Mexican restaurant and back, etc. Last day of trip, slip the truck back under it, tie down and drive home.

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

I think Bobby is talking more along the lines of "once you're already on the road". For example; you drive to SMORR. Set up camp and pull the truck out from under it. Go wheeling in the park. Drive to the Mexican restaurant and back, etc. Last day of trip, slip the truck back under it, tie down and drive home.

You can get in most newer campers without them being in the truck.

The backing in and tying down is still basically the same.

The backing in is rather terrifying.

 

[Shran]

You can get in most newer campers without them being in the truck.

The backing in and tying down is still basically the same.

The backing in is rather terrifying.

I don't have pictures but mine is lifted up with two jacks that are basically a pole with a hand winch attached to a piece of angle iron that slides up & down. They have to be in a very specific spot or the camper will tilt to the front or back. I tried 3 jacks and that was actually worse (I have four of them total.)

The jacks usually get bound up somewhere so you have to beat on them with a hammer to free it up - usually it's when the camper is at its full lifted height.

My rear axle/wheel assembly is so wide that I have to run over part of the jack bottom every time I back under it.

Oh, if it's windy, forget it. That's certain crushing death by camper.

Sketchy AF is a huge understatement - backing under it actually lowers my blood pressure by about 100 points.

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

I don't have pictures but mine is lifted up with two jacks that are basically a pole with a hand winch attached to a piece of angle iron that slides up & down. They have to be in a very specific spot or the camper will tilt to the front or back. I tried 3 jacks and that was actually worse (I have four of them total.)

The jacks usually get bound up somewhere so you have to beat on them with a hammer to free it up - usually it's when the camper is at its full lifted height.

My rear axle/wheel assembly is so wide that I have to run over part of the jack bottom every time I back under it.

Oh, if it's windy, forget it. That's certain crushing death by camper.

Sketchy AF is a huge understatement - backing under it actually lowers my blood pressure by about 100 points.

All that aside, even if it fit your truck and everything is brand new. If you are not square and catch a jack and you have what 800-1500lbs of camper falling on your truck. I have to have a spotter to get me under it straight.

 

[scotts90ranger]

You fellers need jacks mounted to your campers, especially cordless remote controlled electric jobbies... assuming the camper is parked somewhere I put it fairly level I can be backed in and tied down within 20 minutes by myself... I'm over being scared of backing in, unless there's a strong cross wind or something it's not too bad and mine is like 2k pounds dry so like 3k as is... it's sturdy enough on jacks when all the way down, I've been in it when all the way up but it's not a great feeling...

If one of you were closer I'd give you the set of hydraulic jacks off my first Lance camper with brackets and everything, I need to strip and scrap/burn that thing... been sitting too many years...