Truck bed camper

[bigo1966]

Does anyone know what the deal is with older (80's-maybe early 90's) truck campers not fitting in the beds of newer Fords? What is narrow in the newer trucks? Am I going to need to get a newer camper to fit my truck?
2000 F350

Orion

[Clint]

Does anyone know what the deal is with older (80's-maybe early 90's) truck campers not fitting in the beds of newer Fords? What is narrow in the newer trucks? Am I going to need to get a newer camper to fit my truck?
2000 F350

Orion

The ONLY problem Ive ever had is due to the newer truck beds being deeper. I put a 1970s in bed in my truck and all I had to do was raise it up with 2x6s. Same with my 1990 camper I have now. Im driving an 02 F250.

[bigo1966]

Well thats an easy enough fix. Anyone one else?

[MAMA]

I am pretty sure it is just raising up a bit as well.
BiG E and Flexy here on the board I believe have a 2000 Ford and have a 92 truck camper in the bed.....

[CSP]

No, it's not a matter of depth or height necessarily. The tailgate opening is not as wide as older trucks.

This is on '99 and up Ford. I don't recall the years for other makes. To fit an older camper you need at leas a 65" wide tailgate opening.

[bigo1966]

Does anyone know of anyone modifying the camper to fit in the bed?

[Clint]

Does anyone know of anyone modifying the camper to fit in the bed?

Dunno, like I said, I havent had any problems, with either a really old camper, or a kinda old camper, all I had to do was raise em up a few inches...

[bigo1966]

This is the one im looking at. I guess we will see what happens. http://denver.craigslist.org/rvs/633738046.html

[spazinweasel]

mesure before you buy just in case. some trucks have narrower and shorter beds, its a small amount but enough to goof things up almost all newer pickups have taller bed sides

[vb]

The ONLY problem Ive ever had is due to the newer truck beds being deeper. I put a 1970s in bed in my truck and all I had to do was raise it up with 2x6s. Same with my 1990 camper I have now. Im driving an 02 F250.


this is the correct answer. has nothing to do with the tailgate. the camper needs to fit between the wheelwells and thats been standerdized for years as a result of the suposed need to carry plywood sheets.


the older campers just need to be raised up to clear the cab and in some cases the sides of the bed. period

[Clint]

This is the one im looking at. I guess we will see what happens. http://denver.craigslist.org/rvs/633738046.html

Mine is a 90 haulmark camper. I only have to use 2x6" in the bed to get it to clear. I put 4 in just to spread out the load nice and flat. So, since you have the same truck I do, you should be more than fine.

[vb]

93 camper that was special made in 91?

ive had 2 hallmarks "made" for me. i dont care one bit for the folks there and the quality is poor, but, for what this thing is priced at. you cant hardly go wrong. look for leaks and rot. remeber that the upper sides may need replaced some day. check em close for wear and are they brittle?

[Dutttch1]

No, it's not a matter of depth or height necessarily. The tailgate opening is not as wide as older trucks.

This is on '99 and up Ford. I don't recall the years for other makes. To fit an older camper you need at leas a 65" wide tailgate opening.

What he said, as well as the height from the bed to the top of the roof. I was going to modify ours and sold it instead.

[vb]

i know that as far as the hallmarks are concerned that the older ones fit into my 2000 f350 just fine through the tailgate. it was just the height that mattered.

[Wild Hare]

this is the correct answer. has nothing to do with the tailgate. the camper needs to fit between the wheelwells and thats been standerdized for years as a result of the suposed need to carry plywood sheets.


the older campers just need to be raised up to clear the cab and in some cases the sides of the bed. period
x2
tailgate has nothing to do with it. bottom of the bed is 48" between the wheel wells which the standard camper is at 48" as long as you have a 3/4 ton or better and a long box that camper will fit your truck. you will just need to shim the bottom of the camper with 2x's as said b4

[4x4chase]

YES the width between the rear taillights is tight but it WILL fit. When you set it into the bet be prepared to put 2 4x8 sheets of plywood to clear the cab. I had to use three sheets of plywood to clear the clearance lights.

[vb]

my last hallmark was a hard side with a queen above the cab. the overhang drooped so much over time (2 years) that i had to raise er up about 4 inches. i would not recommend full sheets of plywood. water retention.

[MAMA]

I am sure you noticed (but in case you did not) that it says "no jacks" which means you will have to spend some extra cash to get those and they are not cheap:(

[Wild Hare]

I am sure you noticed (but in case you did not) that it says "no jacks" which means you will have to spend some extra cash to get those and they are not cheap:(
he can rent camper jacks for 10 bux and put her on the truck and live with it in there forever

[Kurt]

he can rent camper jacks for 10 bux and put her on the truck and live with it in there forever

If that works for him.

For many years I was putting mine on and off about twice a month. If you're going to be doing that I would recommend getting electric jacks.

[bigo1966]

WOW, Thanks for all the input. Luckly ive kept a hold of 4 camper jacks for no reason till now....got them from work for free. I have a chuck that goes in a drill, up and down no problem. Im hoping to go take a look at the camper this weekend. Ill look it over pretty good, for the price and the fact that its a larger popup camper ill most likely come home with it. Unless its really bad, they lady responded with " its seen a lot of sever stormes, snow and a lot of rain"----Did not like the "a lot of rain comment" Im keeping my fingers crossed.

Orion

[CSP]

x2
tailgate has nothing to do with it. bottom of the bed is 48" between the wheel wells which the standard camper is at 48" as long as you have a 3/4 ton or better and a long box that camper will fit your truck. you will just need to shim the bottom of the camper with 2x's as said b4

Sorry, but there's more to it than that. The area of the camper above the wheelwells and below the bedrails is wider than 48". It's not the bottom of the camper sliding between the wheelwells that causes problems.

This comes from me trying to sell a slide in that fit between the tailgate opening on my '97 F250, but would not slide through the same opening on a 2001 F250. It's not something I pulled out of my backside.

[vb]

most of been a special case. i had an 84 stepside chevy, 96,97, and 2000 ftrucks and the same campers fit em all with the exception off height.

who was the manufacturer

[CSP]

Here's a picture of one just like I sold. It was a FourWheel Popup. You can clearly see the area just to the right of the astroturf covered step where it is wider than 48", but narrower than the area above the bedrails. This area is about 6-8" tall, so it would take more than a 2x4 to get it above the tailgate opening. If an ad specifies that it won't fit a newer truck it's probably a good idea to at least do some measuring, because they aren't all the same.

http://www.dana60.com/csp/POPUP.jpg

[Wild Hare]

Here's a picture of one just like I sold. It was a FourWheel Popup. You can clearly see the area just to the right of the astroturf covered step where it is wider than 48", but narrower than the area above the bedrails. This area is about 6-8" tall, so it would take more than a 2x4 to get it above the tailgate opening. If an ad specifies that it won't fit a newer truck it's probably a good idea to at least do some measuring, because they aren't all the same.

http://www.dana60.com/csp/POPUP.jpg


Dude, the 2x4 issue is for final setting the camper in the tuck. the camper jacks can raise them alot farther for the installation.
for 1500 bux i would make whatever mods i needed to get that camper in my truck

[POLLY]

http://fortcollins.craigslist.org/zip/638520583.html

free

[CSP]

Dude, look at the area I have circled in red now. This fits within the tailgate opening.

Let me ask the experts, do you have personal experience with my old camper? Have you tried to get this specific camper in the bed of a newer truck? Yeah, that's what I thought.

There are cases where the tailgate opening is critical. Get over it.

http://www.dana60.com/csp/POPUP.jpg

[Wild Hare]

well perhaps thats the difference between your old popup and the hallmark he has pictured.
but the tailgate issue just makes the difference between a slide in camper and a lift over camper:D

not tryin to piss in your wheaties csp but people that are trying to buy used campers to go on used trucks will makesome modifications, thats all i'm sayin

[CSP]

That would have taken major modifications to make it work considering the area in question on mine was where the bathroom was on one side, and the refridgerator on the other. With as many as there are out there for sale, the guy who was interested in mine found another that worked without modifications.

I fully understand what you and others are saying WildHare. All that I'm saying is take a tape measure to determine what will/will not work, modifications or not. What works on one isn't necessarily a universal fix.

[Wild Hare]

exactly. :D

[vb]

i had some plumbing stuff that was sort of similar. i had electric jacks though. was able to get the thing up high enough to clear for loading and then when she sat down all was fine

[flexy]

We have a 2002 Ford and our truck camper is a 1993 Sun Lite. We just had to raise it a bit to clear the cab.

[bigo1966]

I e-mailed Hallmark and they actually responded promptly saying it would fit, just as others on this board stated. I think certian brands out there dont fit in new trucks and some do as stated. AT any rate im hoping to look at the camper tomorrow.

[CSP]

We have a 2002 Ford and our truck camper is a 1993 Sun Lite.

That makes sense as the 1988 Chevy/GMC was the first to have the narrower opening and set the standard for the narrower campers. The camper I had was a 1984 model.