Time For Another Truck Camper (8' with tailgate installed...Options?)

[deminimis]

Hey all,

We've had a BF 10.6 (Chev 3500 dually), Okanagan dual slide (Ram 5500 flatbed) and BF 10.5 ('19 3500 Silverado SRW). Currently we have a Avion 34x Amtrak sleeper car of a trailer (more for parking than for camping). Getting the itch for another truck camper. We have a 2019 SRW 3500HD Chev (8.2' foot bed). Always wanted a pop up and always succumbed to buying big. This time, when it's time, it will be a pop up or my name ain't "deminimis".. This time I want to leave the tailgate on and be able to close it. Buying used, so I gets what I gets, but... Anyway, it appears the Guenella might work? Perhaps the Grandby? Alaskan, perhaps, but not looking for one of those. Any others that have been around long enough to support a used market that might work in a slightly longer long bed? No rush as I want to pay off the Avion first, and I'm doing a sailboat refit, but I want to pull the trigger in the not too far distant future. Not wishing to offend, but no Palominos or similar. We sometimes go places where we shouldn't, so beefier is always better. Guessing I'm missing a few, so I welcome your thoughts. Thanks!!

 

[BBZ]

Grandby is the way to go in my opinion, especially if keeping it light is important to you.. Mine is exactly 8 foot so tailgate should close, my bed it exactly 8 feet and I cannot close it with the camper on (bumpers on the camper might have to be trimmed?)

The Guenella is nice, going to be on the heavier side.. but they make great campers also..

 

[deminimis]

Thank you X2!

 

[Casa Escarlata Robles Too]

Also check out ATC they make a 8' Puma/Cougar camper or shell.
Frank

 

[deminimis]

I forgot about ATC. Thanks!

 

[Wandering Sagebrush]

I forgot about ATC. Thanks!

I recently received my second ATC, the first a Bobcat that I ran out of room, the new one is a Cougar shell with furnace and stove. The ATC team is great!

 

[deminimis]

Thanks all.

You can see why I need to get a TC again. Dragged this beast from TX back to OR in August. We've taken it to a KOA in The Boy's college town a couple of times since. It's pretty amazing (dovetail joints, maple/birch cabinetry.... a bathtub), but it's not really our style of camping. Our "water camper" works great most of the time, but doesn't work in the middle of the desert. We wanted to do an XC trip this Spring, hitting a number of spots, but dragging this giant aluminum loaf of bread around this is just too much. It will make a great "non-ADU", however.

 

[CPT Davenport]

If I had a 3500 and could do it all over again, I would get the flatbed conversion and go that route.

 

[deminimis]

Been there, but not this time.

 

[smlobx]

I think the Guanella is a strong contender but it depends on what you want inside. Using generalities…the FWC’s will be lighter but the Hallmarks will have more amenities…JMHO.

We have an Everest (8’-6”) and carry it on my F-350 without issues.

Which ever way you decide to go be sure to measure the bed length from the top of the bed in front. Most truck beds have a “curled” lip that extends back so the length will be less than if you measured from the floor but you probably knew that

 

[Jon R]

Grandby is the way to go in my opinion, especially if keeping it light is important to you.. Mine is exactly 8 foot so tailgate should close, my bed it exactly 8 feet and I cannot close it with the camper on (bumpers on the camper might have to be trimmed?)

The Guenella is nice, going to be on the heavier side.. but they make great campers also..

I have a 2021 GMC 3500HD and a 2021 Grandby. Originally I thought I wanted to leave the tailgate on, so I measured and looked at trimming the bumper blocks to bring the front wall of the camper within 1/2 inch of the front bed rail. Even that did not provide enough room to close the tailgate. I believe the bed on the 2021 is a couple of tenths of an inch linger than the previous model. I don’t think you can get a Grandby into a late model GM and close the tailgate.

On the other hand, if you tried it out I don’t think you’d want the tailgate there because you’d have to bend over a lot more to get in and out of the camper door. It’s a lot easier to step in and out from a lower level.

 

[deminimis]

Thanks. I'm leaning towards Hallmark as I've always liked them, but honestly, we'll likely get the camper that's available when it's time to buy (Grandby, Cuchara, Guanella, or possibly even a third BF (late1500). However, my preference is to definitely go small and keep the tailgate attached, but the used market does not always care what I want. Preference is to keep it light and short (so I don't have to use one of my SuperTrussses) 'cause we already have a lot gong on.

 

[deminimis]

I have a 2021 GMC 3500HD and a 2021 Grandby. Originally I thought I wanted to leave the tailgate on, so I measured and looked at trimming the bumper blocks to bring the front wall of the camper within 1/2 inch of the front bed rail. Even that did not provide enough room to close the tailgate. I believe the bed on the 2021 is a couple of tenths of an inch linger than the previous model. I don’t think you can get a Grandby into a late model GM and close the tailgate.

Thank you Jon. That is very good to know.

 

[ckent323]

We have a 2007 FWC Keystone. Longer than the Grandby but discontinued in 2011.

If you can find a used one that was made after FWC went back to the interior window cover (in 2005 as I recall) they are nice. Ours does not have a built in cassette toilet and we have a plastic walmart 4 drawer unit sitting on top of a platform I built. The porta potti stores under the platform and the drawer unit is great and convenient. We can easily access the contents even with the top down!!!

We carry the camper with the tailgate on and down. It serves as a narrow step and ledge which we like. It also protects the overhanging bottom of the camper. However, I am 6' tall but if I were much taller the ledge created by the tailgate would make ducking in the door harder.

If I were looking now I would think about a removable flatbed camper really hard. The extra room would be nice. I use my pickup with a bed cap so I can haul things in the cargo bed part of the year so being able to easily remove the camper and use the cargo area for hauling is important. The downside is the additional cost.

 

[Jon R]

Unless you know you want a fully equipped from the factory camper, I’d suggest taking a good look at the FWC Project M. If I was doing it again I’d seriously consider going that route.

 

[deminimis]

Thank you, but I do not have time to outfit a camper. if so, I'd probably buy a used SpaceKap and build that out. My projects are overwhelming at present (with no end in sight). We do have a member of our little Facebook Group (CWA - Campers With Attitude) that is taking delivery of a Project M in the Spring. That would be a great way to go (if one had the time).

 

[Jon R]

Thank you, but I do not have time to outfit a camper. if so, I'd probably buy a used SpaceKap and build that out. My projects are overwhelming at present (with no end in sight). We do have a member of our little Facebook Group (CWA - Campers With Attitude) that is taking delivery of a Project M in the Spring. That would be a great way to go (if one had the time).

“I know what I’m about, son.” - Ron Swanson

Sounds like you know what you want, which is good.