Truck Campers Only, w/ an Overland & Off-roading theme

[Turnem]

I purchased my first truck camper in 1978. It was a beast loaded on a 1960 Ford F-250. It had never been removed from the truck prior to me buying it. Camper must of weighed two tons. The truck was all stock with a 292ci V-8 and manual transmission. Never even considered suspension modifications. Did add a 10 ton PTO winch for pulling logs out of the woods. I was 22 years old and three of us moved to Steamboat Springs CO and lived out of the camper for the whole ski season. We froze our asses off with only a small electric heater that we would sneak power from the campground. Our ski boots were frozen solid every morning.

Fast forward 40 plus years. I now have a 2020 F-350 Tremor with a 2021 Northern Lite 8-11 camper. Every luxury feature you can imagine. Forced air heat and hot showers. The truck and camper are so advanced compared to my first truck/camper their no comparison. Funny thing is it’s really not any more fun, just a lot more comfortable now. Hearing about your adventures with your Truck/Camper makes me want to get out more. I do have what’s called an Indy Ski pass which gets me to small ski areas all over the west and can park my luxury camper in their parking lots. Ski in Ski out.

 

[MileHigh]

I purchased my first truck camper in 1978. It was a beast loaded on a 1960 Ford F-250. It had never been removed from the truck prior to me buying it. Camper must of weighed two tons. The truck was all stock with a 292ci V-8 and manual transmission. Never even considered suspension modifications. Did add a 10 ton PTO winch for pulling logs out of the woods. I was 22 years old and three of us moved to Steamboat Springs CO and lived out of the camper for the whole ski season. We froze our asses off with only a small electric heater that we would sneak power from the campground. Our ski boots were frozen solid every morning.

Fast forward 40 plus years. I now have a 2020 F-350 Tremor with a 2021 Northern Lite 8-11 camper. Every luxury feature you can imagine. Forced air heat and hot showers. The truck and camper are so advanced compared to my first truck/camper their no comparison. Funny thing is it’s really not any more fun, just a lot more comfortable now. Hearing about your adventures with your Truck/Camper makes me want to get out more. I do have what’s called an Indy Ski pass which gets me to small ski areas all over the west and can park my luxury camper in their parking lots. Ski in Ski out.

I love waking up in the camper at the base of mountain on a powder day. Best day ever is waking up at the Wolf Creek parking lot on a 20 on 20 on 20-inch day, if you know what I mean...epic deep pow day. Followed by a gourmet dinner and wine in the camper then a soak at the Pagosa Hot Springs. Pass out in the parking lot then repeat.

 

[Stainless03]

I love waking up in the camper at the base of mountain on a powder day. Best day ever is waking up at the Wolf Creek parking lot on a 20 on 20 on 20-inch day, if you know what I mean...epic deep pow day. Followed by a gourmet dinner and wine in the camper then a soak at the Pagosa Hot Springs. Pass out in the parking lot then repeat.

I really do miss living in Colorado. Now I get one or two snowboarding trips a year and we have to hope for the best weatherwise. No more chasing powder days when you live in Florida.

 

[Turnem]

I love waking up in the camper at the base of mountain on a powder day. Best day ever is waking up at the Wolf Creek parking lot on a 20 on 20 on 20-inch day, if you know what I mean...epic deep pow day. Followed by a gourmet dinner and wine in the camper then a soak at the Pagosa Hot Springs. Pass out in the parking lot then repeat.

MileHigh name makes sense. I’ve also skied Wolf Creek on an epic powder day. They get lots of them! I may have missed an earlier post, what Camper are you using these days? Is it a Lance? What’s the weight? Any suspension modifications?

 

[MileHigh]

MileHigh name makes sense. I’ve also skied Wolf Creek on an epic powder day. They get lots of them! I may have missed an earlier post, what Camper are you using these days? Is it a Lance? What’s the weight? Any suspension modifications?

Same 2002 Lance 815 so its really light, I cant even tell its on the Tremor. I also have a newer bumper pull RV that is our glamping rig. The Lance I kept for snowboarding and road trips. No suspension mods on the truck just the Torklift tiedowns, added a lithium battery to the camper, I have a small solar panel and an MPPT charge controller, a Lagun table, I modified the plumbing to use RV antifreeze to flush the toilet. Nothing like the newer campers have.

 

[TRAMPER]

TRAMPER, thanks for this great thread. I read all of the posts but this is the one I wanted to reply to because you hit on my reasons for buying a truck camper. In 2009 I went snowboarding at Aspen and the hotel room was $150/night, for nothing fancy. I can't afford to live or even stay the night at places like Aspen, but I want to live that life, even for just a few days. That summer I bought a used truck and a used 2002 Lance 815 then modded it out to be a luxury ski hut and mobile man cave that I can take to any mountain ready to tailgate any occasion. Granted not all ski resorts allow you to park in their lot overnight but it don't matter, because you're in a truck camper you can "stealth" camp nearly anywhere a truck can go. Preferably directly in front of the bar in town, if it was allowed. There were nights where the after party was in the camper.View attachment 137583
The second reason, I did not discover until after I owned a truck camper. Freedom. The great feeling of freedom to, as you stated "park my truck and camper on any of the 10’s of millions of acres of public land and have all those things and when I get tired of it I can go see the next view." I live in CO so the west is my backyard. I bought a Tremor in 2020, put on some Torklifts mounted the old camper and already we have been to CO, NM, WY, TX, CA, SD, ND, MT, UT and NV.
The night before this picture was taken at Sequoia NP, we slept in a Costco parking lot. Afterwards we drove to Huntington Beach and valet parked it at a fancy hotel that I paid for with points. It wouldn't fit in their parking garage so they parked it right in front of the hotel next to the sports cars. Which was great for us because we had easy access to our luggage, our ebikes and beach toys in the camper. Which is the third reason to own a truck camper: the mobile home-base. This is my wife's favorite part of having the truck camper so that she does not have to use the bathroom at a truck stop, camp ground, or rest area.

You’re welcome, and I’d like to point out that while I started this thread everyone on here has contributed so much amazing information, pictures, and answered so many questions it means a lot to me that you, me and so many others are getting a lot out of it. Truck camping is a lifestyle and it can vary a ton, everyone has their own reasoning for getting into it but there is so much overlap in owners. I think we are all kindred spirits.

Your story is awesome! And really does sum up the versatility and strengths of a truck camper. RV owners look down their noses at us, but we know the truth. For certain lifestyles there’s no way to beat these rigs.

Super glad to have you on this thread, it really has gotten some legs with a lot of folks. Guess Super Duty’s/ Tremors make a pretty great host platform.

Your after party reference, using your camper to keep the party alive reminded me of one of my favorite stories one of my bosses told me.

He’s a little bit of a hill billy and had a 7.3L Diesel F350 with an old camper on it.

Well one morning he woke up to a loud knocking on his camper door, well as his groggy hung over eyes opened he realized he was kind of balled up sleeping against the wall. As he climbed down and answered the door there was a Sheriff who politely asked him if he had been drinking last night. My boss responded yes, and that’s why he had spent the night in the camper as to not drink and drive. The sheriff told him that he appreciated that and was glad he was being safe however, “next time could he please not park half way up the sidewalk”. This was a time ago in a small town, probably be harder to get away with now a days. So make sure you always park your camper in a good spot before the drinking starts lol.

Anyway, looks like a great rig and you’ve been to some amazing places! Glad to have you hear with us!!!

Not really relevant to truck campers but I took advantage of a rare warm day off in Dec to go fly fishing. Didn’t catch, or even see a fish but I did find this beautiful deer head. My guess is someone shot it a month or two ago and couldn’t recover it but the body was gone and there wasn’t even much left on the skull. Anyway brought it home as it seemed such a waste for such a beautiful set of antlers to get chewed on by mice all winter.

 

[Chadx]

...but I did find this beautiful deer head. My guess is someone shot it a month or two ago and couldn’t recover it but the body was gone and there wasn’t even much left on the skull. Anyway brought it home as it seemed such a waste for such a beautiful set of antlers to get chewed on by mice all winter.

That will make a beautiful European mount (much to the chagrin of the mice, squirrels, chipmunks, coyotes and porcupines that they didn't beat you to it! Ha)

 

[TRAMPER]

That will make a beautiful European mount (much to the chagrin of the mice, squirrels, chipmunks, coyotes and porcupines that they didn't beat you to it! Ha)

Well, a few critters definitely beat me too it. I’m guessing the Coyotes did a number on the carcass, you can see the spine and rib cage in the background. I had to stand on the spine and twist to get the head off, but yes your right, going to be a neat “trophy” one of the very rare ones I take home from fishing hahaha.

 

[Chris-DTA]

Had a room with a view today as I needed a nice location to film part of my truck and camper tour/walk-through. Beautiful day in the SoCal mountains.

 

[TRAMPER]

Had a room with a view today as I needed a nice location to film part of my truck and camper tour/walk-through. Beautiful day in the SoCal mountains.

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Please post up the link when you upload the video

 

[NightForceFan]

Had a room with a view today as I needed a nice location to film part of my truck and camper tour/walk-through. Beautiful day in the SoCal mountains.

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Looks great but I would have to leave my Titos at home with that many steps. Lol. Great rig Chris

 

[Chris-DTA]

Looks great but I would have to leave my Titos at home with that many steps. Lol. Great rig Chris

In real life it is actually not that bad. The phone camera wide-picture setting makes it look scarier than it is. My 7- lbs Yellow Lab uses the stairs all the time.

Here is a better shot at the stairs from a different day.

 

[rwalk]

Considering moving my Maxtrax off the Molle panels to free up some space for the earlier discussed trash/wood bag and other smaller accessories. I saw a photo of someone who had mounted L track to the cabover portion and put the Maxtrax there. Seems like a good solution. What is the best way to mount L track on these composite campers? Drill into the aluminum and put in a nutsert? Seems like others, including the below example, have mentioned drill and tap? I've never dealt with this type of construction before and a bit nervous.

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[TRAMPER]

Considering moving my Maxtrax off the Molle panels to free up some space for the earlier discussed trash/wood bag and other smaller accessories. I saw a photo of someone who had mounted L track to the cabover portion and put the Maxtrax there. Seems like a good solution. What is the best way to mount L track on these composite campers? Drill into the aluminum and put in a nutsert? Seems like others, including the below example, have mentioned drill and tap? I've never dealt with this type of construction before and a bit nervous.

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I would contact Arnold/ OEV specifically and ask. That’s your best bet. There may be embedded plates.

 

[TRAMPER]

I actually went the other way today funny enough. My Maxtrax pins and locks just came in so I can get my Trax off the garage floor.

 

[Chadx]

I would contact Arnold/ OEV specifically and ask. That’s your best bet. There may be embedded plates.

There are no embedded plates in any of the OEV composite walls. On the composite, would would have to through-bolt and that limits weight-carrying capacity significantly when I discussed with Arnold and Mark some years ago. In the case of the above OEV, that ownewr did drill and tap threads into the aluminum extrusion. That is also how OEV attaches weight bearing molle panels, spare tire carrier, ladder, awning mounts, eclosure mounts, etc.; to the aluminum extrusion.

 

[TRAMPER]

There are no embedded plates in any of the OEV composite walls. On the composite, would would have to through-bolt and that limits weight-carrying capacity significantly when I discussed with Arnold and Mark some years ago. In the case of the above OEV, that ownewr did drill and tap threads into the aluminum extrusion. That is also how OEV attaches weight bearing molle panels, spare tire carrier, ladder, awning mounts, eclosure mounts, etc.; to the aluminum extrusion.

As always @Chadx knows all!

 

[Chris-DTA]

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I actually went the other way today funny enough. My Maxtrax pins and locks just came in so I can get my Trax off the garage floor.

Well, now you're legit ...

 

[TRAMPER]

Well, now you're legit ...

It’s funny. I feel more legit…. Hahahaha. I actually really like them on there. That molle panel doesn’t feel super rigid so I think that’s a good use of that space. You have so many more options with your tray…. Maybe someday for me!

Your camper is really coming along nice…. The improvements you’ve been making are really game changing for your usage.

 

[Chris-DTA]

Thank you. It is almost time for me to turn the next page and move from making improvements to making memories and experiencing life. The list of things I want to change or upgrade is really short and some of those will have to wait a few months.

1) Add an awning (February?)
2) Replace the front bumper and winch with a Buckstop aluminum bumper with brush guard (and a new winch as the other one will not fit). I hope to do this in spring.
3) Add a lightbar at the front and add lights to the sides of the truck (attached to roof rack probably). Maybe rock lights ... - not urgent.