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Equipment & Gear => Power Equipment & RV => Topic started by: troyspinetar on March 02, 2014, 07:43:26 PM

Title: Truck Campers for rigs with 6.5 ft bed? Help Please
Post by: troyspinetar on March 02, 2014, 07:43:26 PM: I know they have designed truck campers that can safely be hauled in pickups with 6.5 ft beds. It seems difficult to find info about it online. I really want to learn more about it to see if its worth pursuing.
I've got a 2011 Chevy Silverado 2500HD 4x4 (6.5' bed).
Anyone out there have a short bed and haul a truck camper?
Thanks for any help you might have.
Title: Re: Truck Campers for rigs with 6.5 ft bed? Help Please
Post by: cooltimber on March 02, 2014, 07:53:07 PM: Hi yeah I do. It's a palomino camper that has a lift top of fiberglass roof.. comfort for one hunter 2 small 4 2,..easy on and off,mechanical jacks that I use a 1/2 drill motor to lower and raise..Elk blood washes out nice though :chuckle:
Title: Re: Truck Campers for rigs with 6.5 ft bed? Help Please
Post by: Sportfury on March 02, 2014, 07:54:21 PM: There are quite a few campers out there for a 6.5 foot bed. Lance and Wolf Creek are a few that make full size set ups. There is a also quite a few manufacturers for popup campers that are light weight. Check out http://www.truckcampermagazine.com/ (http://www.truckcampermagazine.com/) They have a ton of links and information there.
Title: Re: Truck Campers for rigs with 6.5 ft bed? Help Please
Post by: jackson7 on March 02, 2014, 11:26:06 PM: I had the same truck with a 8 ' pop up on it. There are plenty of short bed campers out there. they may sit on the tailgate a bit. I would start looking around to get a handle on what you like. personally, I would look at bigfoot and northern lite. good luck.
Title: Re: Truck Campers for rigs with 6.5 ft bed? Help Please
Post by: KNOPHISH on March 03, 2014, 05:29:15 AM: I put an 8' on my short bed, same truck only a 2005. Also have added air bags on the rear.
Title: Re: Truck Campers for rigs with 6.5 ft bed? Help Please
Post by: troyspinetar on March 03, 2014, 06:34:34 AM: Thanks for the info!
Title: Re: Truck Campers for rigs with 6.5 ft bed? Help Please
Post by: Encore 280 on March 03, 2014, 06:56:19 AM: Here's a pic of my '04 Lance 815 (8-1/2') on my '04 F-150. The camper is just over 2k lbs but it rides great. I installed a Tembrin system so I don't need air bags. That way I'm not putting air in and letting air out whenever needed. Your truck would do just fine.
Title: Re: Truck Campers for rigs with 6.5 ft bed? Help Please
Post by: troyspinetar on March 03, 2014, 07:03:23 AM: Quote from: Encore 280 on March 03, 2014, 06:56:19 AM
Here's a pic of my '04 Lance 815 (8-1/2') on my '04 F-150. The camper is just over 2k lbs but it rides great. I installed a Tembrin system so I don't need air bags. That way I'm not putting air in and letting air out whenever needed. Your truck would do just fine.
That's perfect for what we would be using it for. We don't need slide outs or anything. How roomy are they? Need to sleep 2 adults and 2 kiddos. Thanks
I like the idea of not being loaded down too much.
Title: Re: Truck Campers for rigs with 6.5 ft bed? Help Please
Post by: Encore 280 on March 03, 2014, 07:15:48 AM: It would be real cozy in there with 2 adults and 2 kids lemme tell ya. Mine doesn't have an oven but it has the stove and a micro wave. I'll look around and see if I have any pics of the inside. You would be able to get a good idea if you looked on Craigslist and checked out the inside pics of campers.
Title: Re: Truck Campers for rigs with 6.5 ft bed? Help Please
Post by: troyspinetar on March 03, 2014, 07:17:14 AM: Right on thanks.
Title: Re: Truck Campers for rigs with 6.5 ft bed? Help Please
Post by: Encore 280 on March 03, 2014, 07:23:07 AM: Here's a pic of the Tembrin (Timbren)? system. It's just a thick rubber bee hive looking device that replaces the factory one on the frame and sits on the axle housing only when the load gets too heavy, they're really good and do the job. I have pics of the inside of the camper but they're all MB and have to be resized.
Title: Re: Truck Campers for rigs with 6.5 ft bed? Help Please
Post by: jackelope on March 03, 2014, 07:32:48 AM: How does that truck fare on windy roads? Looks heavy. Is it sitting on the bump stops??
Title: Re: Truck Campers for rigs with 6.5 ft bed? Help Please
Post by: Encore 280 on March 03, 2014, 07:37:28 AM: I haven't had it out on any windy days yet but I'm sure I would notice it. It sits on the stops when the camper is on but not when it's off. I've never crawled under it to see what things look like under load. I had it on a couple weeks ago and towed my 17' foot boat down to Oregon and it did fine then except for gas consumption. :bash: I've been impressed by how this truck hauls the load.
Title: Re: Truck Campers for rigs with 6.5 ft bed? Help Please
Post by: JohnVH on March 03, 2014, 07:57:38 AM: 7.5' in my short bed F150, I did put airbags on it, when I put the tailgate down the camper came right to the end of it. Then Id sometimes tow a 16' river sled over the pass to Winthrop also. It felt overloaded but it never complained, other than some brake fade on big hills, drove it to Idaho and back one spring turning 200K on that trip.
Title: Re: Truck Campers for rigs with 6.5 ft bed? Help Please
Post by: Encore 280 on March 03, 2014, 08:03:11 AM: Is your truck a 4x4? They have a beefier suspension than the two wheel drives. I'm comfortable with mine and just the camper but it puts a load on it when going up hills when the boat is back there, ugh. :chuckle:
Title: Re: Truck Campers for rigs with 6.5 ft bed? Help Please
Post by: JohnVH on March 03, 2014, 08:05:12 AM: Quote from: Encore 280 on March 03, 2014, 08:03:11 AM
Is your truck a 4x4? They have a beefier suspension than the two wheel drives. I'm comfortable with mine and just the camper but it puts a load on it when going up hills when the boat is back there, ugh. :chuckle:

Yep, 4x4 5.4L auto, bone stock, traded it off a few years ago for a diesel, but that was the best truck Ive ever owned. Climbing the pass you just shift it down to second and keep it in the powerband.
Title: Re: Truck Campers for rigs with 6.5 ft bed? Help Please
Post by: CAMPMEAT on March 03, 2014, 08:07:45 AM: Eagle cap campers. www.amlrv.com (http://www.amlrv.com) Made in Yakima. I have an 8.5 camper on my 2013 Duramax. Stay away from the Palomino type. They are cheaply built compared to the Eagle Cap or Lance.
Title: Re: Truck Campers for rigs with 6.5 ft bed? Help Please
Post by: Kittman on March 03, 2014, 08:18:08 AM: I would start my search looking into Lance or Eagle Cap. Quite possible you will be comparing everything else to them.

http://www.lancecamper.com/lance-truck-campers.php (http://www.lancecamper.com/lance-truck-campers.php)

http://www.amazon.com/Hellwig-61902-Pro-Series-Helper-Feature/dp/B001UFXTG6/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1393862960&sr=8-1&keywords=hellwig+61902 (http://www.amazon.com/Hellwig-61902-Pro-Series-Helper-Feature/dp/B001UFXTG6/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1393862960&sr=8-1&keywords=hellwig+61902)

Bought a new Lance in 2006 and I am very pleased with it. I would resist buying anything used if possible as truck campers do require a bit of maintenance to keep them in good shape, however if you do make sure it is looked over very carefully.
Title: Re: Truck Campers for rigs with 6.5 ft bed? Help Please
Post by: troyspinetar on March 03, 2014, 08:20:50 AM: Quote from: CAMPMEAT on March 03, 2014, 08:07:45 AM
Eagle cap campers. www.amlrv.com (http://www.amlrv.com) Made in Yakima. I have an 8.5 camper on my 2013 Duramax. Stay away from the Palomino type. They are cheaply built compared to the Eagle Cap or Lance.
Will take a look. I like locally built stuff!
Title: Re: Truck Campers for rigs with 6.5 ft bed? Help Please
Post by: Encore 280 on March 03, 2014, 08:23:17 AM: If you're a BIG guy then I don't think you're going to like getting in and out of the bathroom on an 8.5 camper or at least an '04 Lance like mine. They're not very roomy. :yike:
Title: Re: Truck Campers for rigs with 6.5 ft bed? Help Please
Post by: troyspinetar on March 03, 2014, 08:35:25 AM: I'm tall and lanky, probably more issues with not smacking my head walking in and out.
Title: Re: Truck Campers for rigs with 6.5 ft bed? Help Please
Post by: Encore 280 on March 03, 2014, 08:43:01 AM: Well you won't want to be sitting up very fast in bed then. :bdid: :chuckle:
Title: Re: Truck Campers for rigs with 6.5 ft bed? Help Please
Post by: troyspinetar on March 03, 2014, 08:44:17 AM: Nope :o
Title: Re: Truck Campers for rigs with 6.5 ft bed? Help Please
Post by: CAMPMEAT on March 03, 2014, 09:01:38 AM: I'm big and the Lance bathroom was very tight. The door size seemed smaller than the Eagle cap. The Eagle cap was very easy to get into and out of. Plus, the camper we bought has a round table, which made a huge difference to me.
Title: Re: Truck Campers for rigs with 6.5 ft bed? Help Please
Post by: CAMPMEAT on March 03, 2014, 09:10:38 AM: ..........another
Title: Re: Truck Campers for rigs with 6.5 ft bed? Help Please
Post by: CAMPMEAT on March 03, 2014, 09:14:08 AM: ..................another
Title: Re: Truck Campers for rigs with 6.5 ft bed? Help Please
Post by: troyspinetar on March 03, 2014, 09:39:15 AM: Quote from: CAMPMEAT on March 03, 2014, 09:01:38 AM
I'm big and the Lance bathroom was very tight. The door size seemed smaller than the Eagle cap. The Eagle cap was very easy to get into and out of. Plus, the camper we bought has a round table, which made a huge difference to me.
PM'd you