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Hi all
Plan is to get a 2020 8’ bed Ford F-350 Crew Cab – and always keep a new camper (yet to buy) mounted. (Quick overnight camping trips, 4 seasons!)
I don’t drive much at all, and our family will have a 2nd regular car.
I had planned on a Hallmark 9.5’ (wet about 2,500 lbs)
however I’m now considering a hard side camper instead.
Advantages of hard side camper:
More sound and thermal insulation in upper walls. (Minor issue – hallmark pop up has 3 good layers soft insulation, plus we’d get almost silent Truma propane heater built in it)Never have to pop up or down. (Easy with power drill on Hallmark, my pop up choice)
Disadvantages to hard side camper:
More susceptible to cross winds while driving. Being taller. This is my main concern, by far.
heavier.
Much less able to go off road (tree branch clearance issues)
And… price point about the same….. ish.
Thoughts? Discuss.
bonus question – do any hard side campers use or offer the Truma water + air heater ? quiet and efficient. desired for sure.
Good article below:
long bed HARD SIDE campers for 1 ton trucks
https://www.truckcamperadventure.com/2018/11/top-8-long-bed-truck-campers-for-one-ton-srw-trucks/
HI I have to just say I loved my hardside for all the reasons you mentioned above but I would compare it to herding a bowling ball down the road. Horrible gas mileage with that thing and horse trailer hooked on behind. But super comfy! Park it and pop out the slide and that was about all that I needed to do!
It was a 11′ Elkhorn fleetwood with a slide out man it was DELUXE but it got destroyed in a hailstorm parked outside not underneath a shelter. I had it on my 02 gmc sierra k 2500 4wd diesel dually which I would say would be the minimum to help with sway or whatever LOL but now I have a pop up which has its own issues but at least I can park it in the garage on the truck. Campers are like sheep…looking for a place to die if you ask me. So each have their issues you just have to learn skills to fix them. Best of Luck!Carrie
With our DRW LB CC 4×4 Ram and Eagle Cap 995 (with single slide), I’ve been through all kinds of driving conditions over about 140k + miles, and after about the first 100 or so I seriously doubt you’ll even notice it…Just remember to watch out for CG Ranger roof-eve overhangs…
With our DRW LB CC 4×4 Ram and Eagle Cap 995 (with single slide), I’ve been through all kinds of driving conditions over about 140k + miles, and after about the first 100 or so I seriously doubt you’ll even notice it…Just remember to watch out for CG Ranger roof-eve overhangs…
I think experience in a major variable. New things often seem strange or dangerous, but after a short while we can not even remember why we were worried. 🙂
Steve and Andra
2012 F350 6.2 gasser SRW LB
Fab Fours front and rear in case we run into a rhino
2019 Northstar Laredo SCI think that brings up an important point about how important it is to match the truck to the camper. My Laredo was not much of an adjustment from my Hallmark because I had already added Sumo Springs and up graded the shocks. Since my F350 had the camper package I had a sway bar already and although it is not as stout as the Hellwig, it seems to do the job.
We also chose the Northstar Laredo specifically because it is a small bodied hardside, which is not everyone’s cup of tea I know. However, it does not extend past my rear bumper and it not as tall and is tapered in the front to a bit less for the wind to catch.
I learned towing that handling is a crazy thing because it can vary so much between loads, suspension systems, and where you are headed. When we were in Wyoming the first year I think the wind averaged nearly 50 mph and no one thought much of it. Here in Tennessee that much would wind would result in a ‘sever weather warning’. And as one owner has said in the past, “if the weather gets too bad I pull over for a while”. Lot of wisdom in that thought too in my opinion. 🙂
Steve and Andra
2012 F350 6.2 gasser SRW LB
Fab Fours front and rear in case we run into a rhino
2019 Northstar Laredo SCI’ve had a Laredo for a year and F250. First trip last May brought us through snow and wind in Nebraska and Wyoming. Been on a number of mountain and off-road drives since. I’ve had no noticeable problems. That being said any high vehicle will be susceptible to winds. The key is as always adjust driving to weather and road conditions.
I went through the same considerations you did about hard side and popup. I’m glad we went for the hard side. The big negative I think is gas mileage = poor. Not that the 2017 250 does great without the TC loaded. Don’t know how much better mileage would be with popup.
(former hazmat driver)So far we have found very little difference in mileage between our Hallmark and our Laredo. Got 10.8 lst trip last out with the Laredo, maybe got 11-11.5 with the Hallmark so at the end of the day difference in cost to go down the road was negligible.
Steve and Andra
2012 F350 6.2 gasser SRW LB
Fab Fours front and rear in case we run into a rhino
2019 Northstar Laredo SCDriven a lot with my TC and have driven some roads where the State Troopers are out there to let you know there are STRONG winds (I 10 just inside the Cali border), up in Oregon and other places with high wind signs. Yes you can feel it, but if your rig is set up correctly its a lot safer (Hellwing BIG WIG anti-sway bar, Adjustable shocks, Upper Stable loads and good to go.
Used to drive the I 10 a lot and have driven past TT’s and 18 wheelers laying on their sides in some of the high wind areas.
Follow the “P” rule: Prior Planning Prevents Pizz Poor Performance
Don
US Army Retired
2019 F 350 CC-LB King Ranch
Hill Country of Texas
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