Camper/pop up questions

[Eddyjo]

Looking for any advice on a pop up or insert so I can travel around the states- I have a 2004 ranger edge 4.0 w/ automatic transmission, 6 ft. Bed- any ideas? Able to sleep wife and I and a 80lb. Lab- (hunting gear/fishing gear) the wife retires and of month and I have- so to keep from getting bored or killing ()each other.......
Thanks in advance!

 

[Saddle Tramp]

I saw one of these years before I owned a Ranger.

Four Wheel Camper Fleet edition

 

[dvdswan]

Here's a couple sites to peruse...

Expedition Portal

Teardrops n Tiny Travel Trailers • Index page (tnttt.com)

 

[lil_Blue_Ford]

My parents looked into this awhile back, then dad’s Ranger got wrecked and dad’s problems got worse. But they were looking at buying a small 5th wheel and pulling with the Ranger. It’s entirely do-able and dad has an inherent dislike for ball hitches. Can’t say I blame him, I don’t care for ball hitches either. Unfortunately small 5th wheels aren’t as common as the “bumper pull” variety so it was taking time to find one.

I was interested in getting a small one for going off roading and such, my first thought was a pop-up because they are cheap, but then I got to thinking it would be nice to have a shower, which put me at least to the ones with the fold out beds. Then a friend finally pointed out to me how will I tow both the camper and my 4x4. Which got me looking into the truck and van based RVs. So that’s where I ended up in my look.

 

[Uncle Gump]

I saw one of these years before I owned a Ranger.

Four Wheel Camper Fleet edition

I like the Project M topper version. The only problem is they don't make it to fit a 6 foot Ranger bed... or even a 2006 Ranger. I wouldn't buy a new Ranger without a 6 foot bed... so there is that.

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

6' bed is kind of a buzz kill for a useful slide in.

They do make slide ins for them though.

I recommend frame mounted tie downs and a rear sway bar. You will have to build the tie downs, I am incorporating the fronts into sliders and the rears into a custom bumper for my Skamper. (pics of my Skamper in my sig)

 

[don4331]

Weight is the killer, more so than the 6' bed for a slide in.

As this is public forum, I will discuss legal, not possible:

My Ranger is 4x4 S/C with Payload Package 2, so GVWR of 5,140lbs (max for any '99 Ranger). I should have 1,500 lb payload. But I have some options: 4.0/Auto/8.8 adds 100 lbs, AC & 31x10.5R15s increase weight by 100lbs, and rear doors on cab another 100lbs, full tank of fuel is 100 lbs and Ford seems to have been a little optimistic on base truck weight. Then you add me and missus, some crap in box (toolbox and air compressor were there when I stopped at scales), and available payload was 800 lbs. (Payload package 1, which most Rangers have, starts at about 300lbs less).

Then my Adventurer 76R camper has a brochure weight of 1166 lbs. But:

The brochure weight, again is a mythical number - It didn't include jacks to get camper on/off (130 lbs) , tie downs, propane cylinder and propane (40 lbs), battery in camper (70 lbs)*, pots & pans, BEvERageS in fridge, clothes, etc. The real weight of camper loaded and ready to roll was a shade over 1,500 lbs.

Which put me about 700 lbs overweight. I can bring the camper close to legal, by removing all the options/personal items. And if I leave the significant other, tailgate, spare, trailer hitch and junk from box behind, replace the tires with the 225/55R16s from my son's Mustang, when I hit the scales with the gas gauge on empty, I would have been within spitting distance of weight. But that isn't very useful.

Also, for what I use the camper for, not having "facilities" was a major drawback...

I am on the hunt for a baby 5th wheel - Scamp's 19' or equivalent; 2400lb/400lb plus 500lbs for batteries/propane/pot & pans/BEvERageS/clothes, etc based on others real world numbers. A 3k lb trailer is still well within OEM limits.

*Pet peeve - propane cylinder(s) <empty> and battery are supposedly standard features, but the "dry" weight in brochure doesn't include them. IMNSHO, the standard features should be include "dry" weight. Adding options (dual tanks, dual batteries) <And delete the standard is an option> will change the numbers but so do all the other options (furnace, hot water heater, lights, etc). There is about 200lbs between jacks, propane tank <empty> and batteries that should be included in brochure weight for my Adventurer 76R (and over 100 lbs for the pop up campers mentioned above). The historic truck payloads were almost as bad - empty tank and no driver. At least the current rating system requires 150lb driver and 80% full fuel tank...

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

Weight is the killer, more so than the 6' bed for a slide in.

As this is public forum, I will discuss legal, not possible:

My Ranger is 4x4 S/C with Payload Package 2, so GVWR of 5,140lbs (max for any '99 Ranger). I should have 1,500 lb payload. But I have some options: 4.0/Auto/8.8 adds 100 lbs, AC & 31x10.5R15s increase weight by 100lbs, and rear doors on cab another 100lbs, full tank of fuel is 100 lbs and Ford seems to have been a little optimistic on base truck weight. Then you add me and missus, some crap in box (toolbox and air compressor were there when I stopped at scales), and available payload was 800 lbs. (Payload package 1, which most Rangers have, starts at about 300lbs less).

Then my Adventurer 76R camper has a brochure weight of 1166 lbs. But:

The brochure weight, again is a mythical number - It didn't include jacks to get camper on/off (130 lbs) , tie downs, propane cylinder and propane (40 lbs), battery in camper (70 lbs)*, pots & pans, BEvERageS in fridge, clothes, etc. The real weight of camper loaded and ready to roll was a shade over 1,500 lbs.

Which put me about 700 lbs overweight. I can bring the camper close to legal, by removing all the options/personal items. And if I leave the significant other, tailgate, spare, trailer hitch and junk from box behind, replace the tires with the 225/55R16s from my son's Mustang, when I hit the scales with the gas gauge on empty, I would have been within spitting distance of weight. But that isn't very useful.

Also, for what I use the camper for, not having "facilities" was a major drawback...

I am on the hunt for a baby 5th wheel - Scamp's 19' or equivalent; 2400lb/400lb plus 500lbs for batteries/propane/pot & pans/BEvERageS/clothes, etc based on others real world numbers. A 3k lb trailer is still well within OEM limits.

*Pet peeve - propane cylinder(s) <empty> and battery are supposedly standard features, but the "dry" weight in brochure doesn't include them. IMNSHO, the standard features should be include "dry" weight. Adding options (dual tanks, dual batteries) <And delete the standard is an option> will change the numbers but so do all the other options (furnace, hot water heater, lights, etc). There is about 200lbs between jacks, propane tank <empty> and batteries that should be included in brochure weight for my Adventurer 76R (and over 100 lbs for the pop up campers mentioned above). The historic truck payloads were almost as bad - empty tank and no driver. At least the current rating system requires 150lb driver and 80% full fuel tank...

Is that a hard side?

My Skamper 072S is a pop up for a 7' bed and it's mythical brochure weight is around 800lbs.

I haven't done much with it but I think it is pretty close, mine is pretty light on options (no house battery or A/C and icebox instead of a fridge)

I don't see the need in packing around the jacks, it's kind of a PITA to take out/put in on a whim.

 

[don4331]

The Adventurer is indeed a hard side - which is probably why it has a brochure weight 350 lbs more than yours. 'Course, your V-8 is going to hurt your payload.

We use the camper as an extra bedroom at the farm when we go to the in-laws. At Thanksgiving, Christmas, even Easter, the furnace keeps the camper toasty; I'm not sure your pop up would handle -30*C. The truck is inside a quonset, so out of wind, but the shed is unheated and doors must be open as we are burning propane. The 100 meter dash from camper to indoor plumbing is...invigorating when it is that cold.​

I don't regularly use a house battery as we have 120v power readily available and the propane tank is borrowed off the bbq (Horizontal 20lb tank is crazy expensive up here for what is it worth).

As for my jacks, I'm concerned the camper frame mounts aren't up to regular mounting/dismounting, so they stay attached. As the camper gets installed/removed 8-10 times year as not going to drive the Ranger with camper into the pasture, I've gotten reasonably proficient at loading/unloading.

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

I didn't mean anything by it, I was just asking what style yours was.

My jacks don't swivel and have the tripod feet so they have to be removed to move the rig. Then you can either throw them in the camper or just leave them at home.

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

Some more thoughts on it.

A slide in is kinda nice in that you don't have to deal with a trailer. Or you can if you want to, if you play it right you can pull a trailer too. Just like everything else it is all about trade-offs.

Canvas side pop-up slide in

+
Lighter
Lower clearance (easier to fit in a garage/shed)
Neat openess with the top windows open
Catches less wind for both mpg and handling with a crosswind

-
Lift mechanisms can be light duty (operate carefully, don't put a bunch of crap on the roof for it to lift etc)
Roof structure sees substantial stress from lift mechanism (more of an issue with age)
Still tall enough to be a pain to store inside
Harder to install in a lifted truck (I have to let the air out of my 31's)
Less secure in theory for bear country (if a park has a problem bear they will boot softside campers until they get it resolved)
Door is short (but it works better than you think it will)
Careful with the canvas/plastic windows!
Can get dew inside like a tent

Hardside slide in

+
No lift mechanism or canvas to worry about
GTG during "hardside only" camping proclamations at national parks due to bear problems so you won't get booted for being a soft sided camper (keep in mind it is still toothpick and tinfoil construction for real world bear security... don't leave your bacon grease on the stove when you go fishin')
No moisture weirdness associated with a tent
Better in cold
Easier to mount things on the roof (aka canoes etc)
Probably quieter inside (coyotes, wind etc)
Generally have closer to a full size door

-
Catches more wind on the road, both for mpg and crosswind/handling
Heavier
Even worse clearance than a pop-up slide in for drive thrus, garages/sheds
Harder to install in a lifted truck

Prices vary wildly, out west like California or Colorado they can be pretty pricey with the current "overlanding" fad in full swing. In the midwest... everybody goes for a fifth wheel to drag 5 miles to the local state park and/or the state fair so the market is more limited both to buy and sell. They do make hardside popups... I haven't really looked into them.

Now if you meant a popup trailer...

+
Neat open view
Lightweight... Someone makes one you could pull with whatever you have (does not require a truck with a bed between this long and that long that it is no more than this deep with a cab that can't be taller than this...)
Easy to park/store inside

-
More tires to maintain
Another license plate (some states require slide ins to be registered)
Trailer to insure (again some states/insurance companies consider a slide in a separate thing)
Trailer "fun" for maneuverability
Like 0 real security (at least with a pop-up slide in the canvas is 6-7' off the ground)
Careful with the canvas/plastic windows!
And you get a lift mechanism of sorts to take care of
Can get dew inside like a tent

Just my $.02.

 

[Uncle Gump]

6' bed is kind of a buzz kill for a useful slide in.

They do make slide ins for them though.

The Project M isn't a slide in... it's just a blank topper with a pop top. Weighs 377 lbs.

I sure do like it... not sure I $10K like enough...

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

The Project M isn't a slide in... it's just a blank topper with a pop top. Weighs 377 lbs.

View attachment 56980

I sure do like it... not sure I $10K like enough...

I haven't delved into that world much, I know there are a couple makers of those. I saw in a video from the MOORE expo Alucab makes something similar too.

Around 12:50

Being Alucab I bet it is pretty cheap too...

 

[don4331]

I didn't mean anything by it, I was just asking what style yours was.

My jacks don't swivel and have the tripod feet so they have to be removed to move the rig. Then you can either throw them in the camper or just leave them at home.

Apologies, if my response came off harsh. I was explaining my justification. Note: both my Ranger and F-150 hit front GAWR way too easy. And feet on my jacks are convex - trade off between really stable and able to set down anywhere...

I would add as + for the pop up - lower c.g. - important if you are overlanding or similar. Which makes it a - for the hard side.

Hard side is GTG wherever/whenever you stop for the night.

For both truck campers - they are 3' off the ground; gets to be bigger issue the older I get. Trailer is lower (unless you get of the fancy off road ones), so loading canoe on roof is a lot less work. Trailer is also not limited to the 6-7' bed of truck (and 40'' between wheel wells), so there are tandem axle toy hauler pop up trailers.

Any trailer is easier to drop at base camp, allowing truck to go places.

 

[JohnnyO]

Travel Lite makes two that will fit a Ranger, a full-size with an overhang that would be borderline on weight, probably should add airbags. They made a smaller one called a Razyr but I don't see the mid-size one on their website now.
Capri Camper makes their Cowboy unit which isn't real big, don't know about fitting the dog, but it only weighs 695 lb.