Jeez lolol. I am an old crusty retired tow truck driver in the western part of this precious nation. And I have never stopped shaking my head about the rollover wrecks consisting of giant pickup campers mounted on tiny pickups... So easily avoided yet these top-heavy rollovers occurred sooo many times during the summer vacation months...
Looking at truck campers, the first thing I thought was what kind of truck do I need to safely haul this thing? Do I need a dually? You have to make sure you have the right truck for the job to avoid a rollover. It's not rocket science.
I realize this is an old video so you may not see this but you've got me curious as to what pickup style tended to be in these accidents, more so single rear wheel or were there also plenty of duallys as well ?. Without a doubt in later years some manufacturers have gone totally insane with creating triple slide out campers and lying to customers as to what they can haul them on. When they went to basements with holding tanks, that just made the campers all the taller and top heavy.
I was a dealer in truck campers and I can honestly tell you that these monsters need a minimum 450 size truck and even that is minimal and you will still need helper springs or airbags. If you plan to travel a lot the working life of your truck will be cut in half a high price to pay for an $80K truck investment plus the camper that will do the damage.
I agree. While many pickup trucks are made to tow a prodigious amount of weight, few (if any) are designed to carry it in the bed, directly over the rear wheels. Once you get into the category that these babies are in, you'd be better off with a 650 or 750 chassis cab that has a frame and suspension engineered for those loads, but then you'd have no bed in which to put the camper. Personally, these things look nice, and I can see the appeal, but of all the RV options I think this is the least practical, most dangerous, and the hardest to live with because taking it on and off the bed is no easy task. Many people do it once, and then just leave it on the back of the truck permanently, which negates the whole idea of using it to get around town when camping.
@@laven111 One of the joys of truck camping is going out into the back country. The camper can go just about anywhere your truck can go. We live in Oregon and the west coast has a ton of great camping spots that are completely free with spectacular views. I've always bought used and with a little strategy and patience you can usually catch a great deal. My Dodge 12 valve diesel dually can haul my Host camper with weight to spare (found truck used for 9k, and put another 22k into refurbishment and upgrades) and my Host truck camper is like new, has all the amenities, and I bought it for 16k.
I think my 1997 Sunlight camper is much better when you look at cost per square foot. I only paid $2,600, has bathroom, 3 burner stove, small refrigerator, sink, and AC. Two beds, awning. I added 2 batteries and 2 100 watt solar panals, for boon docking. Still under 3 grand on it.😁
The 2021Host Mammoth was my top choice for our 3rd truck camper. Originally I wanted to trade our Lance to a bigger Lance but the decision to go Host was made easy once we stepped into the Mammoth. Incredible FLOOR SPACE, layout, build quality, AND huge BASEMENT storage made the Lance 1172 feel 'old school' small. Artic Fox was a close 2nd.
Looking into getting one for my son and I to road trip in, and I'm curious if the dinette or jackknife couch would be comfortable for someone over 6 feet tall. He's 6-1, and neither one of us is into cuddling lol.
@@tuurd I'm 6' and slept on the couch a few times without any trouble. Also, once the couch is folded down to a bed, your feet can hang over the end since there is no wall there to box you in.
The Host Mammoth also has an option of a washer dyer! That's why its my top Truck camper! How could you beat that on flat bed truck (for more storage)? Though i was surprised about how relatively light wight these huge campers are. Thank you Minds Eye Design!
Bought a Lance 990 in 1994 and still have it. We put that thing through the wringer with three kids all over the west and up into Canada and it has held up. It was the biggest they had at the time but nothing like the behemoths they sell now days with multiple slide outs and a two story staircase just to get in the darn thing. Gonna make one last trip in it this time all the way up to Alaska, planning to set out mid September.
Big Foot is the one for me. Canadian made. Two pieces of fiberglass with no slide outs equals no leaks. The camper cost too much to risk a leak rotting your investment away.
Campers and most rv’s right now are holding their value regardless. Until supply chains normalize, your camper will keep its value for at the least the next two years, and if demand increases, you may even get more than what you paid for it. These are the times we’re are in.
I had a Bigfoot, it leaked like they all do around the vents and intrusions on the top. But, I'd rather have a Bigfoot than anything else, thats for sure. Love Em.
The Host campers were the best designed. They felt spacious and homey, where all the other rooms ones felt cramped. If you were staying and traveling for more than weekend trips, I’d definitely choose a host model over any of the others.
5:50. That’s a fiberglass camper marketed with the Ford Camper Special (early 1970s). I think the manufacturer was Starcraft. Very ahead of it’s time and very unique for it’s day.
What nobody tells you is that these campers are too heavy for the f-350 or the 3500 series of trucks. You need an f-550, 5500 series are bigger to haul these big beasts. There are more and more instances of these campers bending truck frames and destroying them. You better know your max payload capacity that includes everyone and everything you put in and on the truck and don't go over it because if you are overweight, insurance and warranties won't cover the damage
Completely agree. I’m in a bunch of slide in truck camper groups on Facebook. Large number of people carrying a Lance 1172 in a Ram 3500 DRW Diesel 4dr crew cab 8’ bed. Those trucks only have a payload of about mid 4K. I mentioned to one guy that there’s no way you aren’t way overweight, after cargo, people and filled tanks. He said he knows he is and that he accepts it. Then tells me a majority of camper owners are. Then says…….thats life.
@@allyusjaeger9145absolutely not true. These campers weigh 4500+ pounds wet weight. Then cargo and people. You’re looking at another 1500+. Not every 350/3500 dually has that payload capacity to handle that weight. There are some out there with a mid 6k range to low 7k range, but are hard to find. I’ve been searching dealers for months and many are 4500 to low 5000 range.
For truck bed campers, something that would be EXTREMELY useful is what bed length is required for the camper unit. It would be very handy to know if you want to spec a 1 ton pick-up with a 6'4" bed or do you need to spec an 8' long bed.
Every manufacturer provides the CG number in their specs. The CG (center of gravity) should be above the rear axel or in front of it. However, in my own research, I’ve observed the vast majority of truck camper manufacturers do list which campers are designated for short bed trucks or long bed trucks with some models that will work on either length bed.
Fun fact about the Northstar STC- it's the only side-entrance slide-in camper that isn't designed specifically to be used with a dually pickup. To my knowledge, at least.
I had a 1999 Lance 11.5 foot truck camper on top a 2008 Silverado one ton dually. No slides but had a wet shower and toilet which was nice to have living in it on the road. I like the truck campers eliminating a lot of extra maintenance of a trailer or 5th wheel, plus insurance ( at least on the older models, much less) but the cost of these newer ones is far more than my budget would allow nor would I want to spend on a fast depreciating item as campers! They are very nice and one could live in it easily to not have a mortgage, I’ve done it in mine but if my money was all wrapped up in the truck and camper how will I ever enjoy getting to use it having to work to pay for it? A set up like one of these now a days truck and camper is 100k and one could buy a nice little home but each to their own.
@@orbitaljellyfish808 depends on what nice home is for you. I bought an older home with a huge yard and gazebo with a deck attached from the home to the gazebo for 33k. In a small town of 450 people and one convenience store in town. I did the work on the home myself for my liking and built a huge garden. It wasn’t a super fancy place but was perfect for my needs. That was in 2017 and times have changed even since then so idk anymore. It’s all in one’s needs. To me, less is more and can live on very little.
I used to have a 1972 Coachman camper, it was only 9.5' long, but the front 3 feet where bathroom, wet bath, sink on passenger side, closet door on the driver side blocked the view into the bath from the kitchen. Dinette was raised about 6" for toilet holding tank, it was on passenger side, while closet, refrigerator, stove, then sink where on the driver's side. Very compact, and great use of space, with plenty of room to dress inside the bathroom! Cabover queen bed, and less than 2,800 pounds wet.
@@ElliottMorris Is a 550 dually best 4 Eagle Cap or is a 450 truck enough? I know some say 350s are fine but I don't want the bunk shadow blocking the windshield view. 350's look like tonka toys with an EC on them.
@@celestepalm6949 The EC is going to physically look almost the same on an F-450 as it does on an F-350. Personally, I wouldn't consider putting an 1165 on a 350-class truck, as I think it is asking for trouble. An F-450 or 500 is the minimum I think that should be considered. The challenge with an F-450 is the stated specs show a smaller payload capacity than for a 350, even though the components are beefier. There are many discussions about the reasoning for this, and the implications, and we were comfortable selecting the F-450 - and it handles the 1165 great. The problem with going to an F-550 is it limits you in trim packages (no Limited or Platinum).
Understanding your list is largest to smallest not best to worst but best to worst is more important. Here's my list. 1. Host, amazing but pricey. 2. Eagle Cap, a very close second. 3. Artic Fox. Well made. 4. Bigfoot, no slides but fiberglass construction is well worth considering. 5. Lance, notorious for rotting floors. Northstar. Not in this class it's just big.
To everyone stating you could buy a huge 5th wheel of class A . Yes you can but you have overlooked why the truck camper is the most versatile. Camp almost anywhere without a reservation needed. You can have 4 wheel drive You don’t have to tow a extra vehicle Spacious for your overall footprint. There dollar per square ft. Is the most of any rv but you have the most options as far as towing and scenarios for use. I love my EC 1165 this is my 6th truck camper
The Host Industries Mammoth should clearly be the no. 1 by all possible, and measurable standards. It clearly has the largest, most fully equipped bathroom as well.
This video actually helped me with my RV fever dream shopping; Northwood and Host join Lance, Peak, and Beach Comber on my list of camper manufacturers. I felt my beard grow during the interior shots and listing of creature comforts.
I forgot to include Bear Adventure Vehicles, and their Kodiak Bear model camper should've made this a Top 6 list. I showed my mom the pictures of the interior options on their website for all four of their models, and she was genuinely impressed.
Theres some mfg that build the basic and low price, instead of all this stuff that brakes. My brothers on his 3rd campers and its has dbl slides, he said next no slides, not worth it, but if he has too get a slide, it will be the dinette side!
Love all of them course I started in a tent to homemade camper on the back of the truck to a used camper with a backdoor and a queen size bed over cab table in the middle of the aisle that you could remove and the seats were twin beds, It had a sink stove over nice sized oven and a nice fridge that you put a block of ice in to keep it cold. Heater to warm the whole camper up. one vent over kitchen area and I thought we were living high off the hog! These campers are luxury apartments!! High hog living for sure!!
1974 f350 or 250 Camper Special with the rear end moved toward the rear bumper for a more stable load. These trucks were specifically designed by Ford for truck campers which were a huge thing back in the 70's era. The Ford American Road Camper!
Only the F350 Single Cab 4x2 had the 7" extended wheelbase of 140". That's why those trucks are so rare. The ARC was made by Starcraft and they made approximately 850 units.
Only the f350 had the extended wheel base I still have my 78 lariat 4x2 it has a 5600 lb payload but rides like a bull with those stiff and short rear leaf springs
I've had my 2017 Eagle Cap 1165 since 2018. It's July 2021 and I've been traveling all over Utah (in the north eastern area now) for the last 2 weeks and plan to continue touring the state for another 2/3 weeks. Considering going to Idaho before I head west? My plans are in very lite pencil, as I deviate often. I'll continue on the road possibly until Sept.as I live in Southern Az. and it's ass hot there now. Living in this camper is the best with just me and my roomate (German Shepherd). If ya like long road trips, with full hook ups or boondocking, this camper is the very best. Researched a lot before I found this 1 after an extensive 2 year search.
Я горд за Америку что создают такие шедевры.Есть толко одно....Я много смотрю про автодома в Америке и немного грущу,что есть в создании автодомов халтура,т.е есть много брака.Я буду рад что прислушаетесь и на первом месте у вас будет идеальное качество.
Come a long way. I camped in an 8 footer back in the day. My wife and I were cramped. Now, 12 footer with slide outs, little different. Still have to love each other, a lot
Hi Glen how are you? It's been a while. I wasn't going to say anything until you said "Write something,,I would luv to hear your thoughts".hahahaha A truck camper with slides closed make's the interior inaccessible. Which means NO Food, washroom or sleeping access. The interiors may possess a modern, trendy LO & decor,,but what does that matter when you still need to bring a tent & sleeping bags? Many places on the road will not allow the slides out,,so,, your stuck,, either in the cab depending on the body count or outside. I recommend to always check slides in first,,then out & take into consideration before purchasing. Imo "Northstar" would be the better choice. It is cost effective,,the decor has clean lines,,simple neutral interior fabrics that can be enhanced easily. It also supports an open FP with Total interior accessibility wherever you are. Also great for those beginners just starting out in the Camping world.:)
@@KiyoshiGrayfeather The slides in all TC could be bumped for quick usage. Agreed.:) Of all the Units shown the 2017 Host Mammoth 11.5 is my fave destination TC. ua-cam.com/video/34JLhbzKbUU/v-deo.html. Luv the interior LO.:)
I was thinking of going with a 46' 5er later in life but I might just get one of these instead for traveling and keep my current 5er as it is in its full time operations.
I’m pretty certain Eagle Cap is no longer being manufactured. We purchased the 2020, 12 ft, 3 slide, king size bed. The dry bath is extremely small and the chairs are very uncomfortable. The interior lack quality, extreme amounts of fake wood which started peeling off and the shelf above the king bed was a real head bruiser when sitting up, plus the mattress is extremely uncomfortable. We started having a lot of problems with the slide outs. The rails and slide mechanisms were under constructed so the slide on the kitchen started rubbing on the interior finish but the side door. Also, the stairs were way too short to safely descend down them without additional stairs. We intended up using a small step ladder to finish the transition onto the ground. I wish we would have keep our 11.5 Adventurer with back kitchen slide out. This was perhaps the best design camper on the market.
I used to transport RV's to Alberta. Picked up many units in La Grande, Pendleton, Dallas, and of course Indiana. A very scenic area indeed. Also, spent many nights at the Pilot / J waiting for Cabbage to open!
Que entretenido viajar en un camper ,la idea me fascina la de lugares que estaria,que genial levantarse por la mañana y ver lugares naturales uhhhh seria guau
We have a 2007 Lance 992 with 2 slide outs. It’s almost 4000 lbs dry weight. I was looking at the eagle cap 1200 and it’s around $75,000 Canadian and very heavy. But they all look great.
I’ve really been looking into these campers the past few months as I work 20 days on 10 days off and I’m very very over sharing a hotel room with another person for 20 at a time. My main concern is where my slip tank and tool box would go because I don’t work near civilization and need them in the winter because I can’t shut the truck off some nights if it gets cold enough
If you're looking at truck bed campers longer than 18ft, just buy a travel trailer. You'll get more space, and you don't need a dually to haul it. Plus, you have your truck bed for large/dirty storage.
We are boomerang camper owners. We started with a ‘99 lance 10something or other. That was too small said my husband. We traded and got a ‘05 Montana 5th wheel…that was too big said my husband. After much research and a 4 month search we have a ‘12 Lance 1191. It is absolutely perfect for us. Our maiden voyage was a long weekend with 3 adults, a dog and two youngsters. We are super pleased with it. Be warned-these rigs are heavy. We have a one ton dually.
Wow, that's great to hear. I'll always be amazed at how roomie some truck bed campers have become. Three adults, two kids and a dog! That verifies the claims, we thank you for the review. I contacted one camper company, I don't recall if it was Lance, but the first thing they asked me was what size truck I had. I understand why. A one-ton dually is perfectly capable, no doubt there. In contrast to pulling a huge fifth-wheel, I believe your husband would agree when driving from point a to b we don't want all the blind spots, difficult parking situations, or feel as if flag vehicles should be required in both front and back at all time. when going camping the plan is to be outdoors not inside a majority of the time. Why drag something larger than the average home size along? I think you got it right, glad to hear you found a camper more fitting, literally. 👍
Stop at a gas station or pee in the woods! Or just open a slide and go in. They take about 30 seconds tops! If your bladder can't handle that, maybe camping isn't for you!
Slide outs are a cool feature for all sizes of campers. So that has me wondering if slide outs are on even the smallest campers. But why stop there? In this challenge I dare you to create a list of other types of vehicles which might be used as campers or homes on wheels / jets (water/air/?). The one restriction is you have to use only real world products that are being sold. No renders or drawings of what is expected to hit the market. ** Bonus points if they have slide outs as well.
Not to mention that at 4,500 pounds, you are at the maximum bed weight of all but the highest level pickup trucks available. That much weight is going to stress your vehicle like crazy shortening it’s lifespan. A class A Diesel pusher will carry that weight with ease and much more.
Hello! I am always amazed at just how much you can put in the bed of a truck!! There once was a time in my life when I owned more than one vehicle. Now, at fifty seven and my children (all boys, three of them) are out of the house, I just own my Jeep. I love, love, love my Jeep Wrangler. It has a seven inch lift and I plan on keeping it until I can no longer climb in it! But I also love these campers. I’ve often wondered if I took my back seats out and took the top off if I could put one of these campers in my Jeep!! Wouldn’t that be something!! Best of both worlds! I’ve even owned trucks before but at that time, I never paid much attention to those campers. Boy, I missed out! Enjoyed the video y’all. Not sure about the trivia question. Thanks! ❤️💜💚
With Eaglecap at nearly 5K weight dry, imagine the axle crushing effect on a F-450 Superduty when it's wet loaded with all your gear, food, etc. 3500 lbs. dry is a good platform to begin with.
I own an Arctic Fox, I absolutely love it. Heated tanks, large fridge, bunk bed over dinette(sleeps 5 total), large 40lb lp tanks(in there own sealed cabinet on the outside and much much more.
This has always been a dream of mine since I was a kid I wanted to buy a truck camper and travel all over as far as I could go. Unfortunately it will most likely stay a dream unless I win the Powerball!
If I’m not mistaken, in the’60’s-‘70’s there was a truck camper with added wheels to support a large extension behind the p/u . Wonder why it was scrapped from production?
Please don’t hate me... but all of these require a pickup truck on steroids when loaded. I can’t help but think that a trailer or fifth wheel would offer equal or more space for less weight and money. The only benefit for most of these, is getting them to a remote site might be a lot easier compared to trying to get a trailer to your favorite fishing spot. 😎
Overall length is definitely an advantage for a truck camper, but it's not the only benefit. In our state (WA), one can't tow double trailers. With our truck camper, we can tow our boat and fit in spaces that most people towing a travel or 5th wheel trailer can't.
@@ElliottMorris - Good point! But add a 3000 pound camper, and a small 1000 pound boat and trailer… you are well into the one ton range. You aren’t touching one of those for less than 100 grand. Ok. Well you might ‘touch’ one, LOL!
There are job-sites where it is hard to bring a trailer, where you could save some money not having to get a motel during the project. I think the choice also depend on what kind of truck you have. You are going to want a top-of-the-line truck with the best transmission and engine. I doubt a Tundra or even Nissan's diesel, could handle any of these. Then there is the type of camping you do. If you are going to be in the same spot for a month, then the slide-outs might ease the claustrophobia. But if you are on a road-trip where you camp somewhere different every night, then you don't want the slide-outs. I would get rid of all those creature comforts to have a shower twice as large with a water-tank twice as large. I love a hot-shower, especially when my lady-friend washes me down.
I don't know that you could save $75,000 (plus another $75.000 for a truck stout enough to carry these) on motel rooms in a lifetime of occasionally-trailer-unfriendly job sites.
Dodge needs to bring back the V10 option with a flatbed truck for campers like this. I hear they put out over 300 hp and way over 400 lbs ft of torque...
That’s antiquated compared to today’s standards. My 2022 F450 puts out 475hp and 1050 pounds of torque. I pull a fifth wheel camper that has a pin weight of just over 3500 lbs. and have seen as high as 15.3 mpg and in the mountains around 11.0. My Dodge V10 I had years ago couldn’t get more than 8 miles per gallon empty it was lackluster at best in power.
That is a Ford camper made by Starcraft I believe who primarily built small boats. We had a 1974 Ford F-350 super camper special and that Ford camper. The design was very advanced. My brother still has the camper.
Even though am Chevy, Ford did the camper special right. Moving the axle back a bit. Was your truck a 4 bbl? When I went to buy a Ford XLT 4x4, Ford would give me camper pkg or 4 wheel drive, not both. That’s why I went to Chevy.
@@KiyoshiGrayfeather Yes, I remember them boots for passage on the older Peterbilt trucks to access the sleeper berth. The new age stuff has plumbing for heat & air in there where years ago they didn't.
Jeez lolol. I am an old crusty retired tow truck driver in the western part of this precious nation. And I have never stopped shaking my head about the rollover wrecks consisting of giant pickup campers mounted on tiny pickups... So easily avoided yet these top-heavy rollovers occurred sooo many times during the summer vacation months...
But the folks tipping over had to also roll over their IRA's to afford the camper to begin with, so it's all good.
Looking at truck campers, the first thing I thought was what kind of truck do I need to safely haul this thing? Do I need a dually? You have to make sure you have the right truck for the job to avoid a rollover. It's not rocket science.
@@EMUA-cam1225 you just paraphrased my statement.
I realize this is an old video so you may not see this but you've got me curious as to what pickup style tended to be in these accidents, more so single rear wheel or were there also plenty of duallys as well ?. Without a doubt in later years some manufacturers have gone totally insane with creating triple slide out campers and lying to customers as to what they can haul them on. When they went to basements with holding tanks, that just made the campers all the taller and top heavy.
@charlesb4267 I totally agree!!
I was a dealer in truck campers and I can honestly tell you that these monsters need a minimum 450 size truck and even that is minimal and you will still need helper springs or airbags. If you plan to travel a lot the working life of your truck will be cut in half a high price to pay for an $80K truck investment plus the camper that will do the damage.
Wow thanks for the good information
I agree. While many pickup trucks are made to tow a prodigious amount of weight, few (if any) are designed to carry it in the bed, directly over the rear wheels. Once you get into the category that these babies are in, you'd be better off with a 650 or 750 chassis cab that has a frame and suspension engineered for those loads, but then you'd have no bed in which to put the camper. Personally, these things look nice, and I can see the appeal, but of all the RV options I think this is the least practical, most dangerous, and the hardest to live with because taking it on and off the bed is no easy task. Many people do it once, and then just leave it on the back of the truck permanently, which negates the whole idea of using it to get around town when camping.
I was thinking of getting a truck camper but price and the truck price plus dump fees and park fees not worth it
@@laven111 check out Bob Wells UA-cam channel it's under cheap living
@@laven111 One of the joys of truck camping is going out into the back country. The camper can go just about anywhere your truck can go. We live in Oregon and the west coast has a ton of great camping spots that are completely free with spectacular views.
I've always bought used and with a little strategy and patience you can usually catch a great deal. My Dodge 12 valve diesel dually can haul my Host camper with weight to spare (found truck used for 9k, and put another 22k into refurbishment and upgrades) and my Host truck camper is like new, has all the amenities, and I bought it for 16k.
I think my 1997 Sunlight camper is much better when you look at cost per square foot.
I only paid $2,600, has bathroom, 3 burner stove, small refrigerator, sink, and AC.
Two beds, awning. I added 2 batteries and 2 100 watt solar panals, for boon docking. Still under 3 grand on it.😁
Yeah its also probably not made of fake ass wood and vinyl stickers like these are 😂.
Awesome!
And with a 5 ton truck, you'll be all set.
There hardly even 1 tone trucks now ?
No just a 5500 or f550 with the single wheel conversion
The number 1 looks like an F450 or 550 under it!
bwahahahahaha
Especially that last one. What’s the payload of an f450 these days
The 2021Host Mammoth was my top choice for our 3rd truck camper. Originally I wanted to trade our Lance to a bigger Lance but the decision to go Host was made easy once we stepped into the Mammoth. Incredible FLOOR SPACE, layout, build quality, AND huge BASEMENT storage made the Lance 1172 feel 'old school' small. Artic Fox was a close 2nd.
Looking into getting one for my son and I to road trip in, and I'm curious if the dinette or jackknife couch would be comfortable for someone over 6 feet tall. He's 6-1, and neither one of us is into cuddling lol.
@@tuurd I'm 6' and slept on the couch a few times without any trouble. Also, once the couch is folded down to a bed, your feet can hang over the end since there is no wall there to box you in.
@@VetSemperFi great! Just what I needed to know. Thanks for the reply.
Comes with a mammoth price too lol
Weight is everything, TRUST me!
The Northstar looked like a high school shop project compared to the others.
Especially for 10-15k more you can get far higher quality from #4.
It's the Host Campers for me is #1
🇺🇲
The Host Mammoth also has an option of a washer dyer! That's why its my top Truck camper! How could you beat that on flat bed truck (for more storage)? Though i was surprised about how relatively light wight these huge campers are. Thank you Minds Eye Design!
Bought a Lance 990 in 1994 and still have it. We put that thing through the wringer with three kids all over the west and up into Canada and it has held up. It was the biggest they had at the time but nothing like the behemoths they sell now days with multiple slide outs and a two story staircase just to get in the darn thing. Gonna make one last trip in it this time all the way up to Alaska, planning to set out mid September.
I had one of those. It was 11’-3” long in the bed. It was nice.
Big Foot is the one for me. Canadian made. Two pieces of fiberglass with no slide outs equals no leaks. The camper cost too much to risk a leak rotting your investment away.
Campers and most rv’s right now are holding their value regardless. Until supply chains normalize, your camper will keep its value for at the least the next two years, and if demand increases, you may even get more than what you paid for it. These are the times we’re are in.
@@politicjunkee I'm kicking myself for not buying an RV 2 years ago before all of the craziness happened
I had a Bigfoot, it leaked like they all do around the vents and intrusions on the top. But, I'd rather have a Bigfoot than anything else, thats for sure. Love Em.
@@PersononYT56 Look for a used one!!!
The Host campers were the best designed. They felt spacious and homey, where all the other rooms ones felt cramped. If you were staying and traveling for more than weekend trips, I’d definitely choose a host model over any of the others.
Hello Brittney Nottelling, thank you for watching!
Weight, they are heavy
5:50. That’s a fiberglass camper marketed with the Ford Camper Special (early 1970s). I think the manufacturer was Starcraft. Very ahead of it’s time and very unique for it’s day.
What nobody tells you is that these campers are too heavy for the f-350 or the 3500 series of trucks. You need an f-550, 5500 series are bigger to haul these big beasts. There are more and more instances of these campers bending truck frames and destroying them. You better know your max payload capacity that includes everyone and everything you put in and on the truck and don't go over it because if you are overweight, insurance and warranties won't cover the damage
Completely agree. I’m in a bunch of slide in truck camper groups on Facebook. Large number of people carrying a Lance 1172 in a Ram 3500 DRW Diesel 4dr crew cab 8’ bed. Those trucks only have a payload of about mid 4K. I mentioned to one guy that there’s no way you aren’t way overweight, after cargo, people and filled tanks. He said he knows he is and that he accepts it. Then tells me a majority of camper owners are. Then says…….thats life.
my sentiments exactly, those things weigh 2 tons empty???? you need a hell of a truck to haul safely/legally
Pretty sure any dually(DRW) made 2013-present has the cargo carrying capacity.
@@allyusjaeger9145absolutely not true. These campers weigh 4500+ pounds wet weight. Then cargo and people. You’re looking at another 1500+. Not every 350/3500 dually has that payload capacity to handle that weight. There are some out there with a mid 6k range to low 7k range, but are hard to find. I’ve been searching dealers for months and many are 4500 to low 5000 range.
For truck bed campers, something that would be EXTREMELY useful is what bed length is required for the camper unit. It would be very handy to know if you want to spec a 1 ton pick-up with a 6'4" bed or do you need to spec an 8' long bed.
Every manufacturer provides the CG number in their specs. The CG (center of gravity) should be above the rear axel or in front of it. However, in my own research, I’ve observed the vast majority of truck camper manufacturers do list which campers are designated for short bed trucks or long bed trucks with some models that will work on either length bed.
@@reeddill7842 Maybe I missed those pieces of information on the manufacturer websites. Thanks for that info.
I thought it was fairly obvious that every one of these requires a long bed dually MINIMUM to carry safely.
Fun fact about the Northstar STC- it's the only side-entrance slide-in camper that isn't designed specifically to be used with a dually pickup. To my knowledge, at least.
I had a 1999 Lance 11.5 foot truck camper on top a 2008 Silverado one ton dually. No slides but had a wet shower and toilet which was nice to have living in it on the road. I like the truck campers eliminating a lot of extra maintenance of a trailer or 5th wheel, plus insurance ( at least on the older models, much less) but the cost of these newer ones is far more than my budget would allow nor would I want to spend on a fast depreciating item as campers! They are very nice and one could live in it easily to not have a mortgage, I’ve done it in mine but if my money was all wrapped up in the truck and camper how will I ever enjoy getting to use it having to work to pay for it? A set up like one of these now a days truck and camper is 100k and one could buy a nice little home but each to their own.
Please lmk where I can buy a nice home for 100k
@@orbitaljellyfish808 depends on what nice home is for you. I bought an older home with a huge yard and gazebo with a deck attached from the home to the gazebo for 33k. In a small town of 450 people and one convenience store in town. I did the work on the home myself for my liking and built a huge garden. It wasn’t a super fancy place but was perfect for my needs. That was in 2017 and times have changed even since then so idk anymore. It’s all in one’s needs. To me, less is more and can live on very little.
I used to have a 1972 Coachman camper, it was only 9.5' long, but the front 3 feet where bathroom, wet bath, sink on passenger side, closet door on the driver side blocked the view into the bath from the kitchen. Dinette was raised about 6" for toilet holding tank, it was on passenger side, while closet, refrigerator, stove, then sink where on the driver's side. Very compact, and great use of space, with plenty of room to dress inside the bathroom! Cabover queen bed, and less than 2,800 pounds wet.
What I don't like about truck campers is that the option list is always twice as long as the standard equipment list.
But it does allow for very specific personalization. Just like how people customize their cars.
Wait....Artic Fox 1150 price $35k?
These ain’t campers,these are studio apartments on wheels.
"Studio apartment on wheels" I think you're on to something! I like it. I'd would undoubtedly, without second thought, feature some in a video.
You are so right. We have an Eagle Cap 1165, and I tell people that it's likely larger than the first studio apartment that I had.
In the bed of the pickup truck!
@@ElliottMorris Is a 550 dually best 4 Eagle Cap or is a 450 truck enough?
I know some say 350s are fine but I don't want the bunk shadow blocking the windshield view. 350's look like tonka toys with an EC on them.
@@celestepalm6949 The EC is going to physically look almost the same on an F-450 as it does on an F-350. Personally, I wouldn't consider putting an 1165 on a 350-class truck, as I think it is asking for trouble. An F-450 or 500 is the minimum I think that should be considered. The challenge with an F-450 is the stated specs show a smaller payload capacity than for a 350, even though the components are beefier. There are many discussions about the reasoning for this, and the implications, and we were comfortable selecting the F-450 - and it handles the 1165 great. The problem with going to an F-550 is it limits you in trim packages (no Limited or Platinum).
Understanding your list is largest to smallest not best to worst but best to worst is more important. Here's my list.
1. Host, amazing but pricey.
2. Eagle Cap, a very close second.
3. Artic Fox. Well made.
4. Bigfoot, no slides but fiberglass construction is well worth considering.
5. Lance, notorious for rotting floors.
Northstar. Not in this class it's just big.
Yes been trying to understand how the AF did not make the list but northstar did. Baffeld
To everyone stating you could buy a huge 5th wheel of class A . Yes you can but you have overlooked why the truck camper is the most versatile.
Camp almost anywhere without a reservation needed.
You can have 4 wheel drive
You don’t have to tow a extra vehicle
Spacious for your overall footprint.
There dollar per square ft. Is the most of any rv but you have the most options as far as towing and scenarios for use.
I love my EC 1165 this is my 6th truck camper
6th camper truck 🤣 off road 4x4 🤣 camp anywhere 🤣 you should start a yt channel so we can see your amazing off road adventures! 🤣
@@sayulitalyfe5299 I’ve thought about it but I am not into putting myself out there like that.
@@capitolraceworks wear a mask to stay anonymous
The Host Industries Mammoth should clearly be the no. 1 by all possible, and measurable standards. It clearly has the largest, most fully equipped bathroom as well.
Artic Fox is the #1 camper here for their amenities and 4 season Camper! Wow luxury at its finest!
Until they fall apart. I saw too many coming apart in the Great State of Washington. Somehow leaked and the panels came off.
This video actually helped me with my RV fever dream shopping; Northwood and Host join Lance, Peak, and Beach Comber on my list of camper manufacturers. I felt my beard grow during the interior shots and listing of creature comforts.
I forgot to include Bear Adventure Vehicles, and their Kodiak Bear model camper should've made this a Top 6 list. I showed my mom the pictures of the interior options on their website for all four of their models, and she was genuinely impressed.
These are pure luxury compared to the 1973 truck camper I used to own
Theres some mfg that build the basic and low price, instead of all this stuff that brakes. My brothers on his 3rd campers and its has dbl slides, he said next no slides, not worth it, but if he has too get a slide, it will be the dinette side!
Love all of them course I started in a tent to homemade camper on the back of the truck to a used camper with a backdoor and a queen size bed over cab table in the middle of the aisle that you could remove and the seats were twin beds, It had a sink stove over nice sized oven and a nice fridge that you put a block of ice in to keep it cold. Heater to warm the whole camper up. one vent over kitchen area and I thought we were living high off the hog! These campers are luxury apartments!! High hog living for sure!!
That Eagle Cap should be #1. It's awesome!
I own an 1165 Eaglecap and the quality is subpar to say the least!
1974 f350 or 250 Camper Special with the rear end moved toward the rear bumper for a more stable load. These trucks were specifically designed by Ford for truck campers which were a huge thing back in the 70's era. The Ford American Road Camper!
Only the F350 Single Cab 4x2 had the 7" extended wheelbase of 140". That's why those trucks are so rare. The ARC was made by Starcraft and they made approximately 850 units.
Only the f350 had the extended wheel base I still have my 78 lariat 4x2 it has a 5600 lb payload but rides like a bull with those stiff and short rear leaf springs
I've had my 2017 Eagle Cap 1165 since 2018. It's July 2021 and I've been traveling all over Utah (in the north eastern area now) for the last 2 weeks and plan to continue touring the state for another 2/3 weeks. Considering going to Idaho before I head west? My plans are in very lite pencil, as I deviate often. I'll continue on the road possibly until Sept.as I live in Southern Az. and it's ass hot there now. Living in this camper is the best with just me and my roomate (German Shepherd). If ya like long road trips, with full hook ups or boondocking, this camper is the very best. Researched a lot before I found this 1 after an extensive 2 year search.
I have a 2016 Eaglecap 1165 and the quality of it is subpar to say the least! I myself would never buy an Eaglecap again!
The Truck and Camper shown prior to #3 is a 1970 vintage Ford F250 with a Ford made Factory equipt camper.
The Host camper had toilet in a separate room from shower. 1st class🤗🇺🇸
Tough choice they all looked pretty good but personally it’s what’s on the inside that counts.
Omg! These are Fabulous!! I need several lottery tickets!
Я горд за Америку что создают такие шедевры.Есть толко одно....Я много смотрю про автодома в Америке и немного грущу,что есть в создании автодомов халтура,т.е есть много брака.Я буду рад что прислушаетесь и на первом месте у вас будет идеальное качество.
The mammoth is the only one that offers a washer dryer
Hello David Moore, thank you for watching!
price?
Definitely the eagle cap 1200 and 1165. I like the peninsula in the kitchen though over all plus the amount of sleeping for everyone.
Right on
It's the Mammoth for me.
Come a long way. I camped in an 8 footer back in the day. My wife and I were cramped. Now, 12 footer with slide outs, little different. Still have to love each other, a lot
honesly this video deservers billion views
Prices are absolutely disgusting now. The lance 1172 is $100,000 now. Compared to $53,000 3yr ago. What a F’d up world we live in
Yes, when I saw the first $35k price I immediately checked the videos date. 😡
I love them all. Just beautiful. I like the last one best,
Hi Glen how are you? It's been a while. I wasn't going to say anything until you said "Write something,,I would luv to hear your thoughts".hahahaha
A truck camper with slides closed make's the interior inaccessible. Which means NO Food, washroom or sleeping access. The interiors may possess a modern, trendy LO & decor,,but what does that matter when you still need to bring a tent & sleeping bags? Many places on the road will not allow the slides out,,so,, your stuck,, either in the cab depending on the body count or outside. I recommend to always check slides in first,,then out & take into consideration before purchasing.
Imo "Northstar" would be the better choice. It is cost effective,,the decor has clean lines,,simple neutral interior fabrics that can be enhanced easily. It also supports an open FP with Total interior accessibility wherever you are. Also great for those beginners just starting out in the Camping world.:)
@@KiyoshiGrayfeather The slides in all TC could be bumped for quick usage. Agreed.:) Of all the Units shown the 2017 Host Mammoth 11.5 is my fave destination TC. ua-cam.com/video/34JLhbzKbUU/v-deo.html. Luv the interior LO.:)
Would love to see you guys do one with top 10 pop up truck campers!
They probably have done 5 so far....
Incredible what they’ve done to campers
I was thinking of going with a 46' 5er later in life but I might just get one of these instead for traveling and keep my current 5er as it is in its full time operations.
Hello Xenomethean, thank you for watching!
I’m pretty certain Eagle Cap is no longer being manufactured. We purchased the 2020, 12 ft, 3 slide, king size bed. The dry bath is extremely small and the chairs are very uncomfortable. The interior lack quality, extreme amounts of fake wood which started peeling off and the shelf above the king bed was a real head bruiser when sitting up, plus the mattress is extremely uncomfortable. We started having a lot of problems with the slide outs. The rails and slide mechanisms were under constructed so the slide on the kitchen started rubbing on the interior finish but the side door. Also, the stairs were way too short to safely descend down them without additional stairs. We intended up using a small step ladder to finish the transition onto the ground. I wish we would have keep our 11.5 Adventurer with back kitchen slide out. This was perhaps the best design camper on the market.
خیلی عالی وجالب بود اطلاعات مفید و کاملی بود ممنون ازشما سپاس گذارم ازایران 🇮🇷🇮🇷سلام میفرستم برای شما👌🏻👍🏻❤❤
Arctic Fox is made in my hometown of La Grande, Oregon.
as a truck driver i stop theree all the time they just renovated the pilot/flying j
I used to transport RV's to Alberta. Picked up many units in La Grande, Pendleton, Dallas, and of course Indiana. A very scenic area indeed. Also, spent many nights at the Pilot / J waiting for Cabbage to open!
Out standing campers!!👍👍🤗
Que entretenido viajar en un camper ,la idea me fascina la de lugares que estaria,que genial levantarse por la mañana y ver lugares naturales uhhhh seria guau
We have a 2007 Lance 992 with 2 slide outs. It’s almost 4000 lbs dry weight. I was looking at the eagle cap 1200 and it’s around $75,000 Canadian and very heavy. But they all look great.
I have a 2012 992! I live in it full time and have since 2016!!
Host is the best layout
I’ve really been looking into these campers the past few months as I work 20 days on 10 days off and I’m very very over sharing a hotel room with another person for 20 at a time. My main concern is where my slip tank and tool box would go because I don’t work near civilization and need them in the winter because I can’t shut the truck off some nights if it gets cold enough
Small utility trailer with a tidy tank in it behind the truck and camper is what I do.
Look up alde hydronic heating… it may be an idea.
If you're looking at truck bed campers longer than 18ft, just buy a travel trailer. You'll get more space, and you don't need a dually to haul it. Plus, you have your truck bed for large/dirty storage.
Hello A C M, thank you for watching!
man these look comfy might have to buy one or two the world may never know
To own one of these, you'll need to have at least a one or two ton truck with dually
We are boomerang camper owners. We started with a ‘99 lance 10something or other. That was too small said my husband. We traded and got a ‘05 Montana 5th wheel…that was too big said my husband. After much research and a 4 month search we have a ‘12 Lance 1191. It is absolutely perfect for us. Our maiden voyage was a long weekend with 3 adults, a dog and two youngsters. We are super pleased with it. Be warned-these rigs are heavy. We have a one ton dually.
Wow, that's great to hear. I'll always be amazed at how roomie some truck bed campers have become. Three adults, two kids and a dog! That verifies the claims, we thank you for the review. I contacted one camper company, I don't recall if it was Lance, but the first thing they asked me was what size truck I had. I understand why. A one-ton dually is perfectly capable, no doubt there. In contrast to pulling a huge fifth-wheel, I believe your husband would agree when driving from point a to b we don't want all the blind spots, difficult parking situations, or feel as if flag vehicles should be required in both front and back at all time. when going camping the plan is to be outdoors not inside a majority of the time. Why drag something larger than the average home size along? I think you got it right, glad to hear you found a camper more fitting, literally. 👍
Wow we pick up truck campers have come a long way, but they do not with the name of that have! Magnificent !!
For those emergency potty breaks, we need to see the campers when any sliders aren’t open.
Stop at a gas station or pee in the woods! Or just open a slide and go in. They take about 30 seconds tops! If your bladder can't handle that, maybe camping isn't for you!
Esse sim é meu sonho de consumo até hoje foi o melhor modelo que já vi nesse estilo
Slide outs are a cool feature for all sizes of campers. So that has me wondering if slide outs are on even the smallest campers. But why stop there? In this challenge I dare you to create a list of other types of vehicles which might be used as campers or homes on wheels / jets (water/air/?). The one restriction is you have to use only real world products that are being sold. No renders or drawings of what is expected to hit the market.
** Bonus points if they have slide outs as well.
I loved all of them thank you for sharing
Ok, $60000 for camper, 85000 for truck, there is a nice class a in store
Not to mention that at 4,500 pounds, you are at the maximum bed weight of all but the highest level pickup trucks available. That much weight is going to stress your vehicle like crazy shortening it’s lifespan. A class A Diesel pusher will carry that weight with ease and much more.
I've seen Class A sell for 50k.
Balancing the weight evenly is very important but not even mentioned, such as water tanks locations
Hello! I am always amazed at just how much you can put in the bed of a truck!! There once was a time in my life when I owned more than one vehicle. Now, at fifty seven and my children (all boys, three of them) are out of the house, I just own my Jeep. I love, love, love my Jeep Wrangler. It has a seven inch lift and I plan on keeping it until I can no longer climb in it! But I also love these campers. I’ve often wondered if I took my back seats out and took the top off if I could put one of these campers in my Jeep!! Wouldn’t that be something!! Best of both worlds! I’ve even owned trucks before but at that time, I never paid much attention to those campers. Boy, I missed out! Enjoyed the video y’all. Not sure about the trivia question. Thanks! ❤️💜💚
With Eaglecap at nearly 5K weight dry, imagine the axle crushing effect on a F-450 Superduty when it's wet loaded with all your gear, food, etc. 3500 lbs. dry is a good platform to begin with.
Truck campers have come a long way!!!! I like them now!!!!
I like the older ones. Lighter and window in front. Not as high either.
Good video. Size matters and the designs of these are well done, very evolved. Host campers should have been at #1 or #2.
I emphatically agree with your comment and about the Host campers.
I own an Arctic Fox, I absolutely love it. Heated tanks, large fridge, bunk bed over dinette(sleeps 5 total), large 40lb lp tanks(in there own sealed cabinet on the outside and much much more.
Love definitely Host Campers from Oregon, all the 3 💚💛💜 Friendly from Noumea 🇳🇨
number 5 is just about as good as it gets!!!
JUST SHOWS YOU GET WHAT YOU PAY FOR!!!!
Just subbed I love these things I really think I know how I’m gonna live
ROFL @ "we landed on the moon...for the 1st time "
I like the Everest. It will fit nicely on my new F950.
This has always been a dream of mine since I was a kid I wanted to buy a truck camper and travel all over as far as I could go. Unfortunately it will most likely stay a dream unless I win the Powerball!
Love it ❤and the video ❤💜⚘🍦⚘💚❤
Now y'all know number 3 is the nicest camper Y'all just got through showing. Weighing in in the $60,000
I will take the first one ,and be damn happy with 35,000 k price.
1973 Ford Truck Camper
answer for trivia
If I’m not mistaken, in the’60’s-‘70’s there was a truck camper with added wheels to support a large extension behind the p/u . Wonder why it was scrapped from production?
I'm pretty sure that camper you are talking about was made by Born Free.
It's good I like it
Please don’t hate me... but all of these require a pickup truck on steroids when loaded. I can’t help but think that a trailer or fifth wheel would offer equal or more space for less weight and money. The only benefit for most of these, is getting them to a remote site might be a lot easier compared to trying to get a trailer to your favorite fishing spot. 😎
Overall length is definitely an advantage for a truck camper, but it's not the only benefit. In our state (WA), one can't tow double trailers. With our truck camper, we can tow our boat and fit in spaces that most people towing a travel or 5th wheel trailer can't.
@@ElliottMorris - Good point! But add a 3000 pound camper, and a small 1000 pound boat and trailer… you are well into the one ton range. You aren’t touching one of those for less than 100 grand. Ok. Well you might ‘touch’ one, LOL!
Nice video
$50-60k can buy you a lot of travel trailer.
Trivia answer:I think that's a StarCraft one a Ford Camper Special circa '70, they were really sought after when I was a kid
There are job-sites where it is hard to bring a trailer, where you could save some money not having to get a motel during the project. I think the choice also depend on what kind of truck you have. You are going to want a top-of-the-line truck with the best transmission and engine. I doubt a Tundra or even Nissan's diesel, could handle any of these. Then there is the type of camping you do. If you are going to be in the same spot for a month, then the slide-outs might ease the claustrophobia. But if you are on a road-trip where you camp somewhere different every night, then you don't want the slide-outs. I would get rid of all those creature comforts to have a shower twice as large with a water-tank twice as large. I love a hot-shower, especially when my lady-friend washes me down.
I don't know that you could save $75,000 (plus another $75.000 for a truck stout enough to carry these) on motel rooms in a lifetime of occasionally-trailer-unfriendly job sites.
Wow amazing
Good Stuff 👍🏿😀
That's a monster! Fortunately, it's green new deal friendly!
West coast dominated this category.
سلام🙋...ای کاش تو ایران هم از این کمپها بود👍👏👏👏👏
Nice, for the money the fox looks to be the best deal and I like the Eagle too
Dodge needs to bring back the V10 option with a flatbed truck for campers like this. I hear they put out over 300 hp and way over 400 lbs ft of torque...
That’s antiquated compared to today’s standards. My 2022 F450 puts out 475hp and 1050 pounds of torque. I pull a fifth wheel camper that has a pin weight of just over 3500 lbs. and have seen as high as 15.3 mpg and in the mountains around 11.0. My Dodge V10 I had years ago couldn’t get more than 8 miles per gallon empty it was lackluster at best in power.
That is a Ford camper made by Starcraft I believe who primarily built small boats. We had a 1974 Ford F-350 super camper special and that Ford camper. The design was very advanced. My brother still has the camper.
Even though am Chevy, Ford did the camper special right. Moving the axle back a bit. Was your truck a 4 bbl? When I went to buy a Ford XLT 4x4, Ford would give me camper pkg or 4 wheel drive, not both. That’s why I went to Chevy.
Does your brother still have his camper? I'd like to see pictures of it if you could get in contact with me
@@76f350 yes he still has the camper. I keep telling him to sell it.
When these Campers look better then my HOUSE. Jeeze.
Once you experience the Host camper, you will reorder your list.
Title says "Biggest" but you ordered them by length. Width/slideouts should be a consideration when you're talking biggest, i.e. most space.
Mali end Glenn the best !!!!!
I love the functionality of the interior I would prefer to have a pass through from the cab to the camper though for my spoiled pampered pup
@@KiyoshiGrayfeather Yes, I remember them boots for passage on the older Peterbilt trucks to access the sleeper berth. The new age stuff has plumbing for heat & air in there where years ago they didn't.
A pass thru large enough to crawl thru for fast escapes/emergencies without going outside and into the truck.
I really enjoyed this video even though I don't have a truck!!!!