I'm in the process of doing the truck camper on the gooseneck thing that so many have done here and I'm done with step one which was getting a trailer. Here's what we got

http://www.rebelrockrunners.org/gallery/d/28484-2/IMG_0816.JPG

28' gooseneck, 102" deck, no dovetail, 7k axles, etc. You guys know the setup. My buggy can be loaded comfortably with 13' of space so I got some room to play with for the camper. Step 2 requires getting a camper. I'd like a slide in type that will go over the gooseneck and I can pack the sides with tool boxes or whatever. My problem is that I know jack and shit about campers. I'd like to hear from those that have done this what they would change or do differently if they were to do it again. What should I look for in a used unit, what amenities are really nice to have, what could be done without, etc. Spanks

something like this would have more room if you have the cash for it and would give a little better aero too. The slide in campers I have been around are pretty cramped (IMO) and you could easily remove this thing if you want to use the trailer for other things:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/HW27SC-14-Fold-Down-Tent-Travel-Trailer-NEW-2009-LOOK_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQcategoryZ50063QQitemZ350121 342274

With the RV business hurting a bit, there are probably some good deals to be had.

Could also get a 14' box from a Uhaul type truck and build it however you want. they are cheap and easy to find.

JUst make sure whatever you buy is water tight...

Ammenities that are nice are AC, awning, oven, fridge (of course).

Any camper you buy will feel a little small with more than two people...there are some good deals out there, so don't rush into buying something that is beat!

first thing is price,what are you willing to spend on one? 2nd thing has allready been mentioned- aside from the cost,id say being watertight is the most important thing to look for. even if its free its a waste of time to try and fix the rot that results from something thats been leaking.

these things are flimsy and their structural integrity definately is the result of the whole package. compromise any one part and theyre done. they seem to me to be mostly made from balsa wood,1x1s and staples :laughing:

if youre paying good $$ for one and looking at several pick one with a large front sleeping area. the first one i picked up was gutted inside and the sleeping are up front is sloped,and cramped for one person. nicer ones could sleep 2 up there comfortably.

as has also been said,the appliances are nice,just take into account whats there and if they work when working out the price. a furnace is super nice if you wheel in the cold. you can pick up a 12v/110v fridge at wally world for $80 so unless an RV fridge that runs on propane is important to you,id not place too much importance on a working fridge being there.

stove,burners,and a sink are nice,specially if you camp somehwere with hookups,but not as big a deal to me. i carry a small grill that we cook burgers and hot dogs on and it works well enuff for me.

youve got the first step done right-looks like a nice trailer and is a nice size. i made mine from a 24 footer and an 8 foot camper. mine was a fith wheel so i have the upper deck for more storage,but i wish i had an extra 2-4 foot of deck space. my scout fits pretty comfortably,but my grnad wag will be a tight squeeze. with an extra 4 feet it would be easy to fit my bigger GW and still have room to open the door with it loaded.

a quick pic of mine:

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y269/scotty85/firstscouttow2sm2.jpg

you can see what im talkin about with the sleeping quarters. it barely fits me by myself to sleep up there. the inside was gutted,so i built a couple counters and added a couple cabinets. theres a bank of batteries that power 12v lights and fridge,and there will be an invertor to power the small 110v microwave and run cordless tool battery chargers,cell chargers,etc. theres a small 110v a/c that can be run off a plug in from the campsite,or the 5000 watt generator thats mounted up front on the upper deck. still looking for a cheap used air compressor to mount up with the generator,and we have an old 110v mig welder we take with us as well. theres not alot we cant fix and fix right at camp ;)

eventually it will have its own set of tools that live in it so when we go all i have to do is pack a cooler,some extra clothes,hook it up and go!

I didn't see your pic Scotty.


You guys made some good points, I was initially going to go the u-haul box route but decided against it. Also, I forgot to mention budget, I'd like to keep it under $5000, realistically, less is better and there will never be more than 2 people in this max. What should I look to pay for a used unit? I found this online
http://www.rvtraderonline.com/find/listing/2002-FLEETWOOD-Angler%208B-93743920
Which I thought looked pretty nice but from what I can tell it's a short bed model and I've got room for more camper. I might as well get the biggest one I can fit right? That is as long as the price is good.

Popups are so much roomier inside when set up that I always wonder why I don't see more guys running 8' popups turned sideways for these projects.

I didn't see your pic Scotty.

sorry,i was fighting with photobucket and when ahead and posted in case i had to restart my ancient computer ;) hopefully u can see it now.


You guys made some good points, I was initially going to go the u-haul box route but decided against it. Also, I forgot to mention budget, I'd like to keep it under $5000, realistically, less is better and there will never be more than 2 people in this max. What should I look to pay for a used unit? I found this online
http://www.rvtraderonline.com/find/listing/2002-FLEETWOOD-Angler%208B-93743920
Which I thought looked pretty nice but from what I can tell it's a short bed model and I've got room for more camper. I might as well get the biggest one I can fit right? That is as long as the price is good.

what kind of 2 people? u and a buddy obviously dont want to be all snuggly inside the top sleeping quarters so make sure theres another couch/table type thing that turns into a bed for him ;)

you and a your significant other are a different story,just make sure the one you get has enuff room up there.IIRC,she wont take up much room and you definately wont mind bein snuggly up there with her :D

if i were you,with a 28 foot trailer id be looing at 10 footers,i think,you should be able to find one of them with a shower even :grinpimp:

as far as what to pay for one,ive gotten 2 of them for free,and a buddy has gotten one for $100. if youre patient youll come up with an olderone for dirt cheap thats ueable. if you dont like the 1970s siding and interior deco the newer ones like in your link seem to go from $1000-$2500 around here. there was a $400 10 footer like that on craiglist with a shower and it went fast.

definately put up some some pics as you build!

further questions? :)

Popups are so much roomier inside when set up that I always wonder why I don't see more guys running 8' popups turned sideways for these projects.

for me,it was partially an availability thing. you dont see 8 foot pop ups in nice enuff shape to use for cheap enuff to buy one. most of the cheap ones leak and/or have tears,rips,and seams in the canvas that need fixed.

i did give that some consideration and if i could have found a cheap pop up id have very strongly considered it.

another thing to consider is the canvas isnt gonna keep the cold out as well in the cold as a camper with an inner and outer wall with insulation in between. if you wheel where it gets down into the single digets in the winter,youll appreciate a warm slide in to come back to get the feelin back in your fingers between rides.

the final straw for me was the "setup" factor. if were gonna have to crank up the pop up and get it situated,we might as well just set up a nice tent.

i agree tho,there are advantages-aerdynamics bein a big one,a folded up pop up prolly weighs less and has alot less drag than a big slide in.

if deck space is of utmost importance,ive also seen guys mount small pop ups up on the neck.

Cool, thanks for the info Scotty. Yea I thought 5k was a bit much especially for a short bed camper like that one. I'm in no rush I'll wait for a good deal. And yea, this is for myself only or myself + wife so I'd rather have extra storage space than an extra bed.

I'm not real interested in the pop-up route. It just seems to much like a glorified tent and I don't want the upkeep of the tarp carvas or whatever it is.

One thing I would look at, if it is you and your SO, a north/south bed in the cabover part. If it's going to be you and a buddy and one of you are sleeping in the overhead part and the other is sleeping on the converted dinette, then don't worry about it.

The reason I suggest a north/south bed is when asleep, invariably whomever is sleeping on the inside will need to get up and climb over the other person to get up and go to the bathroom.

I have a 10' lance and as a point of reference, the weight sticker says 2800lbs, I would guess closer to 3500lbs loaded, probably more. Lance's seem to be a good value for quality. Mine is a 2002 and it has been to the tip of Baja (3 times), British Columbia, and everywhere west of the Mississippi and has never been back to the dealer for any repairs. Age/Sun damage is starting to take it's toll though, most of the vents have been replaced due to dry-rot.

There should be some deals popping up. Good luck.

Jack

Currently I am a van camper, but in observing the growing numbers of similar setups, they all tend to be:

1) just big enough for 2 adults or a small family (kids in tent)
2) hardly get used for cooking
3) hardly get used for eating
4) no one is allowed to piss or shit in them (for good reason)
5) no shower

at which point your left with a climate controlled sleeping quarters.

IMHO the storage underneath is a moot point as its incorporated into a tag along anyway. The design of the slide-in is to maximize the space of a truck bed. (which it does very well) Then you stick it on a trailer that is wide, then space it up 6" to clear the goose. etc..

SO with that in mind... I'd look for a 10-15' tag along camper or the convert a cab over box..

In a tag along, the floor layout is a little better, probably a little wider, and you could put stairs to the side, and park closer to the back if needed...

Just my .02

Then I was thinking... If you used an ambulance box off a truck, they are usually sealed up front and can be had pretty cheap. Have side and rear doors/windows, pretty simple construction, fiberglass roofs etc.. Might be something to think about :D

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/1995-CHEV-AMBULANCE-4X4-LOW-MILES-38-K_W0QQitemZ200276479097QQcmdZViewItemQQptZCommerci al_Trucks?hash=item200276479097&_trksid=p4506.c0.m245&_trkparms=72%3A727|65%3A12|39%3A1|240%3A1308

There is an older F350 model up the road forsale from me..

I was looking for a 8' popup like mentioned above, but just couldn't find one. That's when I started looking at slide-ins. I chose a popup slide-in, for the aero benefits.