Truck suggestions (four wheel camper)

[EWizard]

I'm the type of person who likes to research things to death usually.
I'll be in the market for a new truck here in the next couple of years and I eventually want to install a Four Wheel Camper on it.
My first thought was that I wanted to get a Tacoma, but I'm hearing now that having a camper shell on the back will be pushing this truck to the load carrying limit.
Obviously diesel would give me more payload capacity, but what else should I be looking at?
I need a truck that is a 4x4, and has 4 doors (2 kids, dogs, etc.). Also fuel mileage is an issue as well. M brother-in-law has a 4x4 Tundra that gets ~10mpg when loaded down for camping (no trailer).

Anybody care to entertain the conversation about which truck would fit best?
I'm open to Ford, Chevy, Dodge, and Toyota.

 

[Ace!]

Easy answer (since there is really only one): (newest model year) Ford F350, XL(T), Crew Cab, 4x4, gas engine, 4.30 gears and E-locker. There are other trucks for sale, sure, but there are no other answers to the question of the perfect truck, for any job. The answer is always, unequivocally, without further debate, the Ford F350, 4x4, gas engine. The only other question you really need to ask yourself is short bed or long (which is really, will I take it off road or not). You can get into a discussion about other brands, even other Ford trucks, but at the end of the day, the answer remains, Ford F350, 4x4, gas engine. So, you may just want the moderator to lock the thread now, so it doesn't get cluttered with other responses. Hope that helps.

By the way, diesel typically DECREASES your payload. Diesel engines are traditionally heavier than a gas equivalent and therefore the payload goes down, not up, with a diesel.

Edited to add: I forgot one or two things. If by chance, and this is important, you come to decide on another truck, remember the answer (Ford F350). Therefore, you can be assured you're asking the wrong question. Best at that point to reevaluate your questioning skills, until you come back to the correct, and only, answer (F350). That should help clear up any deviation from the straight-line, getting from Point A (what truck) to Point B (F350).

Oh, and you're welcome.

Edited to add: the above was said tongue-in-cheek and was not meant to offend anyone.

 

[longhorn1]

We have a F-250 longbed and our fully loaded FWC Grandby rides very well.

 

[LookyLou]

I have a 2013 Chevy 3500 HD standard bed with the Durmax Diesel loaded with a Grandby. The diesel buys you low end torque and towing power. Other than fear of getting scrapped through a tight spot or break over angle, it will go anywhere and idle through, up, or down anything. I average 14.5 to 15 mpg on trips depending on how much off road there is.

There's Chevy guys, Ford guys, and Dodge/RAM guys and none of them will admit the other's trucks are just as good. Drive them all and buy the one you like best.

 

[EWizard]

Another question. My brother-in-law drove the White Rim Trail a while back and he said that his Tundra was almost too big for this particular trail. That's kind of the reason why I started looking at the smaller trucks (like the Tundra).
I want to get way off the beaten path.

 

[Bombsight]

I like the GMC Duramax / Allison combo.
Its a proven design that's been around for years as opposed to the others always implementing new tech.

As far as getting off the beaten trail and being limited by size of truck? .... I have a Yamaha TW200 for that.

 

[rotti]

That's kind of the reason why I started looking at the smaller trucks (like the Tundra).

Rethink that.
Tundra 77.2" wide, my Chevy 2500HD 80". I don't think 3" is going make much difference in the greater scheme of things. Length about the same in a crew cab, standard box and Hawk configuration. To balance out Ace's response, consider only a GM product and, more importantly, only in a 2500 or 3500 configuration!

 

[Happyjax]

The Ford takes a shot at the Chevys jaw and staggers him, but Chevy regains his composure and pops a couple jabs on Fords nose. Meanwhile Ram is butting heads with the Tundra and they are gonna need some aspirin. There's a Nissan trying to have some Taco for lunch but not having any success..... It's a WWW Truck brawl and we are anxiously awaiting to see who comes out on top......
Whew!

 

[Ace!]

The Ford Super Duty is significantly narrower than the GM/Chevy, which should help considerably getting off the beaten path. The Super Duty is 79.9" wide.

 

[Bombsight]

Narrower = highway rollover when swerving. broken down Dodges!

ohhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh

jk

 

[LookyLou]

The Ford Super Duty is significantly narrower than the GM/Chevy, which should help considerably getting off the beaten path. The Super Duty is 79.9" wide.

Significantly? 79.9" versus 80".

 

[DavidO]

Different people have much different ideas as to what truck is best. For me it has to carry the load it was intended for without modification. When I traveled on the White Rim Trail in the summer of 2014 I wondered if my full sized GMC with Hawk would be to large. That was until I had this truck with a 18' pop up trailer mounted on back pass me. He probably thought that my truck was just a toy.

 

[EWizard]

Rethink that.
Tundra 77.2" wide, my Chevy 2500HD 80". I don't think 3" is going make much difference in the greater scheme of things. Length about the same in a crew cab, standard box and Hawk configuration. To balance out Ace's response, consider only a GM product and, more importantly, only in a 2500 or 3500 configuration!

I actually meant the difference between the Tundra (or other full size truck) and the Tacoma.
Not between the Tundra and other full size trucks.

 

[hoyden]

I have a FWC Fleet on my Tacoma. It's great. I put heavy-duty OME full suspension and burly tires.
It's great. I can go anywhere.

(space-wise it's just me and the dogs, so it works)

 

[rotti]

I actually meant the difference between the Tundra (or other full size truck) and the Tacoma.
Not between the Tundra and other full size trucks.

Tacoma 75" wide so not that much difference. You mentioned two kids and a dog? I personally wouldn't consider anything smaller than a Hawk or a Grandby and that equals a crew cab full size truck. I've traveled most of the moderate 4wd roads in CO and width hasn't been issue...ground clearance and 10 point turns on switchbacks yes.

 

[BWSracing]

Im supper happy with my 2014 ram 2500 crew cab diesel. Bed payload is over 2,000lbs and the truck drives extremely well with the camper in the back. I just took a trip from VA to Miami and back with towing an enclosed loaded car trailer down and no trailer back averaging 16.7mpg over 70mph for 2300 miles. I have also been on trails and back woods. %100 stock besides wheels/tires. Plus the 2500 ram for this year has cool spring front and rear giving it a very good ride all the time. Hope this helps


Sent from my iPhone using Wander The West

 

[Bombsight]

Nice rig, BW!

I often ask myself if a black truck wouldn't be a better choice with the threat of the infamous CLIMATE CHANGE!!!

 

[Durango1]

Whatever you get go with a 3500. You will thank me later for the extra payload. And IF your camper will be on permanently look at a custom aluminum flatbed on a chassis cab frame. That will be my next truck. Or maybe a built out 4 x 4 Sprinter...

 

[EWizard]

I gotta say, the UTE flatbed w/ FWC is a pretty awesome combo.
My wife thinks otherwise. She's not into the "tow truck" look.

 

[Atlin]

My two cents, as someone who hasn't taken delivery of a camper yet.....
I got a F150 (2015) with 3.5 ecoboost engine, extended cab and 6.5 bed. So far (~4000 miles) I really like it. Quiet smooth ride, which should get smoother with some weight in the back. Plenty of power. Mileage, well it's a truck so not so great but about 18 mpg without the camper so I figure somewhere around 16 with the camper. I love the big (36-gallon) fuel tank - worth getting that option no matter the truck you get. We have some neighbors who have a ~2008 F150 with a Grandby on it, and they say you hardly notice the camper (also on the 6.5-foot bed, so sits on the tailgate). With the new aluminum construction, the truck weight has gone down and payload up, so I'm thinking it should be very workable unless you overload the camper.

Greg