When deciding between a short bed and a long bed vehicle, your desire for a pop-up or a hard side truck camper could be a big factor.
If you want to build a pop-up truck camper rig, a short bed vehicle will provide you with more pop-up camper possibilities.
Not only are there more pop-up floor layouts for short bed trucks available, but manufacturers are also building and shipping more short bed truck pop-up campers.
Likewise, the inverse is true. If you want to put together a hard side truck camper rig, a long bed truck will provide you more alternatives (8-foot bed). Not only are there more hard side floor layouts with long beds available, but manufacturers are also building and shipping more hard side campers.
Although there are pop-up campers for long bed trucks and hard side campers for regular short beds (in fact, quite a few), the facts remain the same.
There are also other reasons to choose a short bed truck as a camper.
To begin, you may already possess a truck with a short bed.
Second, you may choose a shorter overall rig length for reasons such as parking, camping, off-roading, or storage.
Finally, you might have your heart set on a specific short-bed camper.
For each of these cases, I immediately thought of my truck camping buddies and their short-bed campers.
They’re all digging their rigs with short beds.
Super short beds (less than 6.5 feet long) are a different story.
There are campers that can fit and carry the same payload as very short bed trucks, but they are scarce, especially in hard side campers.
We don’t recommend exceptionally short beds for truck campers unless you already have one or have another necessity that can’t be avoided.
Get a standard 6.5-foot standard short bed truck to have the most alternatives in a short bed truck.
For everyone else, an extended bed truck is the way to go.
The biggest potential camper floor area and model options are available with long bed trucks.
Long bed trucks also have a longer wheelbase and a higher payload capacity.
Long bed trucks are also available with multiple rear wheels for increased payload capacity, driving stability, and control.
This is an important factor to remember.
We were in a major vehicle accident in our fully loaded truck camper in 2018.
Without our well suited camper and dually truck, I’m not sure we could have kept control.
When it comes to payload matching, it truly counts.
Is it possible to transport a truck camper on a flatbed?
Yes. The walls of a truck bed are used to support the framework of a basic truck camper. Buying a flatbed truck, on the other hand, does not preclude you from owning a truck camper. It just means you’ll have to make some tweaks to the tie-downs and turnbuckles, but it’s not impossible.
Is it possible to fit an 8-foot camper on a short-bed truck?
You may install an 8 foot on a 6 foot bed as long as it fits between the tailgate opening and the tailgate is left on. I accomplished it on a Ford Ranger extended cab shortbed pickup, but I had to leave the tailgate open because the camper was a couple of inches too long.
Is it possible to transport a camper with a half-ton truck?
Half-ton trucks are frequently the best-selling cars in the United States at the end of each year. They are extremely dependable and have a reputation for being one of the best towing vehicles, making them a common sight in the average residential garage. Can a 1/2-ton truck, however, tow an RV?
Yes, a 1/2-ton truck can tow a recreational vehicle. The towing capability of most half-ton trucks is between 7500 and 14000 pounds. As a result, a 30-foot RV weighing between 8,000 and 12,000 pounds with full tanks and accessories would be easily towed.
The remainder of this post will go over everything you need to know about towing an RV with a half-ton truck. Keep an eye out for our recommendation for the best half-ton vehicle for towing.
Is it possible to transport a truck camper in a Ford F150?
A truck camper can be transported in a Ford F-150. When loading your camper, keep in mind the maximum towing capability of 2,700 lbs. For further information on the towing capacity of a Ford F-150, see the table below.
Is a Silverado 1500 capable of towing a truck camper?
Summer is a time for camping, hiking, road trips, and other outdoor activities for many individuals. If you drive a truck, there’s a high chance you’ve used or wished to use a truck camper at some point. On your next camping trip, truck campers allow you the opportunity to explore new routes and stray off the main path. While truck campers aren’t as common as RVs in typical campgrounds or RV parks, they’ve become a popular option for tens of thousands of Americans, particularly those who want to get out into the wilderness and camp on the spur of the moment. Truck campers are also a fantastic alternative for individuals who want to tow additional sporting equipment along with them, such as a boat, quads, or motorcyclists; you can have the convenience of a camper while still being able to carry all of your stuff with you.
If you drive a Chevy Silverado, you might be wondering, “Which camper would fit my truck?” Whether you already own a Chevy Silverado or are in the market for one, you’re aware that the truck comes in a variety of weights, hauling capacities, bed lengths, and other features. We’ve put together a list of our favorite truck campers for each Chevy, whether you drive a Chevy Silverado 1500 or a Chevy Silverado 3500; have a look here to discover more about the finest camper for your vehicle.
Campers for the Chevy Silverado 1500:
The Chevy Silverado 1500 is one of the most popular 1/2-ton trucks on the market, therefore there are plenty of terrific truck camper alternatives for this vehicle. Short (5.5′), Standard (6.5′), and Long (8′) bed lengths are available for the Chevy Silverado 1500. The Shortbed Silverado has fewer truck camper alternatives than the Longbed Silverado, but they do exist. A truck camper for a Shortbed Silverado 1500 should have a floor length of less than 7.5 feet and weigh less than 1,600 pounds. It’s worth noting that almost any camper that fits in a Shortbed will fit in a Standard or Long bed as well, but not every camper that fits in a Long bed will fit in the shorter two. Truck campers for a Silverado 1500 with a Long bed can have a floor length of up to 9.5′, which is significantly longer than a Shortbed truck camper.
2500 Chevy Silverado Campers:
Your 3/4-ton Chevy Silverado 2500 will have similar length requirements for a truck camper as the 1500. Shortbed truck campers that work on the 1500 Silverado will most likely work on the 2500 as well. When it comes to the Silverado 2500 Standard and Long Bed models, the 2500 can accommodate a heavier camper than the 1500. You can easily handle a truck camper that weighs over 3,000 pounds with the Silverado 2500 Standard and Long box vehicles, however this would not be doable with any size of 1500. More amenities are possible with a larger capacity, and you can bet that some of the truck campers on the market today are jam-packed with them.
3500 Chevy Silverado Campers:
The Silverado 2500 is your 1-ton workhorse, with the shortest available bed (6.5′) capable of towing everything a Silverado 2500 Standard Bed can tow, as well as a few of the same truck campers as the 2500 Long Bed. When it comes to the medium bed for the 3500 (8′) and the Dually option, your truck camper options expand in both size and length, with floor lengths of around 10′ available. The Chevy Silverado 3500 will allow you to invest in a truck camper that feels like a penthouse for anyone looking for the ultimate luxury experience in a truck camper.
What is the best way to tell if a camper will fit in my truck?
Consumers can use specific ratings provided by truck manufacturers to assist them assess the truck’s capacity. Some of these ratings can be found on the driver’s side doorjam, on a glove box label, or in the owner’s manual or other material.
If you already own a vehicle that you plan to use as a camper, it’s usually a good idea to take it to a commercial truck scale to find out how much it weighs. This information, combined with your truck’s capacity information, will assist you in determining the remaining carrying and/or towing capacities.
The weight of a camper, both dry and wet, varies depending on the optional equipment fitted and how full our holding tanks are. Take into account the weight of passengers, gear, and the tongue weight of the trailer (if applicable).
Support equipment such as airsprings, customized shock absorbers, and cabover shocks can considerably improve truck and camper package handling. All of the necessary support equipment can be installed professionally by your Lance dealer. Maintaining maximum tire pressure on high-quality tires with ratings that are comparable to or better than your original tires is also beneficial.
What is the best way to secure a truck bed camper?
To secure a truck camper, elevate it slightly over the height of your truck bed using the camper’s jacks. Back your pickup up close to the trailer and lower it into the bed.
Connect the turnbuckles to the camper and the tie-down anchor points while the camper is resting in the bed. Tighten them until they’re completely secure. That concludes our discussion.
Check out our post on loading your truck camper for a step-by-step guidance.
Is it possible to fit an 8-foot truck camper into a 6-foot bed?
We have a truck with a 6-foot bed that can be extended to an 8-foot bed by lowering the tailgate. If the tailgate is down, all of the dimensions appear to fit. The only issue is that the camper’s four metal rings that are supposed to put into the sides of the truck bed to secure it don’t all fit in the vehicle’s slots.