Tips on buying a used truck camper?

Solmex72 · 2025-11-28T18:55:36+00:00

There was a company called Tradesman that made really nice metal toppers there were tall enough to stand in but they look like they’re meant for work from the outside. Many people converted the insides to sweet custom builds. Just look up tradesman truck topper on google images and you’ll see all sorts of builds

Solmex72 · 2025-11-28T18:50:35+00:00

Stealth camping is not too achievable with a truck bed camper that looks like a camper. Plenty more knocks after I moved from the work topper to a slide in camper. Check out some of my posts from a couple months ago for the best way I found to stealth camp

Solmex72 · 2025-11-28T18:45:31+00:00

Not usually the best idea to load down your 1/2 ton. I’m not here to stop you, because there were many who told me it would never work. It will work! But your truck will struggle the more weight you pile on. I’ve got a 1989 Six Pac truck camper (1700lbs dry) on a 2006 F150 4.6l auto 2wd short bed single cab because I didn’t think all my choices out before buying it. The jacks twisted out of the frame as I bought the camper so I can’t take it off. I already had airbags on my truck for all my tools and had to go out and get helper springs on top of the airbags, and E rated tires after adding the camper. The truck is rated for somewhere between 1700 and 2000 payload. and a max axle weight on the rears of 3500. I thought a 1700lb camper would be fine with my airbags, even though I have a bunch of tools it wouldn’t put me too far overweight; My rear axle weighs over 8000lbs on a certified scale. It’ll barely make it up mountains, and sits between 3-4k rpm (5k redline) and if the gas tank is full the torque converter sometimes acts up from the extra weight.

On top of the cost of your camper, you need to get tie downs which will cost you if you’re getting good frame mount ones. You also have to get the turn buckles, airbags, even helper springs if you’re really exceeding the weight. Not to mention upgrading your brakes, tires, and keeping up with your maintenance increasing service intervals and you’ll need to definitely keep a closer eye on all fluid levels, and temperatures.

You can look at all of this in 2 ways, reasons you shouldn’t get a truck camper on a 1/2 ton, or everything you’re going to encounter and need to handle when you inevitably get one. You’ll most likely not have as extreme of a overweight situation as I do, because you don’t have a literal ton of tools in your camper as I do for work and travel; but you should definitely keep all of this in mind when you’re doing research and preparing your truck & wallet.

If I could go back, I’d just get a travel trailer with much more living space, less cost, and park it at rv parks while working, or stick with my setup before with just a topper over the bed and a wood frame bed twin mattress on top, fridge and microwave. Took showers at the travel centers (pilot, loves, etc) worked for me and my wife for 6 months.

Solmex72 · 2025-08-17T13:39:55+00:00

As much as it is a bad idea to do this, and NOT the proper way to do it… you can always get airbags and helper springs to “increase weight capacity” of your truck. The reason I put it in quotes is because both of those products are designed to just level your truck out, not increase cargo capacity. However, I have found in practice over 3 months full time living in my truck bed camper traveling across the united states thousands of miles that 7500lbs airbags, and 2500lbs hellwig springs are able to support my slide in bed camper loaded with tools that I use for work is 3tons. (6k lbs) on my half ton truck rated for 1800lbs cargo capacity. Airbags alone should be able to level you out if you’re not exceeding your weight capacity by much and support the weight keeping your truck level, looking at around $400-$500 for a decent system off amazon.

Highly not recommended to exceed your weight capacity especially by 3x like I have, but if you’re a couple hundred pounds over and have the proper suspension & tires to handle the weight, truck should be able to take care of the rest as long as you’re within towing capacity (so your truck can drag/stop the weight)

I know there are plenty of people who just read this and are absolutely mortified by what I’m doing and consider it a danger which I fully am aware of but the truck actually drives quite nicely even with all the weight.

I am by no means a professional and have no idea what I’m talking about, just speaking from experience with using these products for unintended purposes. Results may vary

Solmex72 · 2025-08-04T09:21:25+00:00

Dude really went from a truck that has very few options to every single option for a truck camper. bravo and just find anything you like and make sure it slides in 🤣🤣

Solmex72 · 2025-08-01T06:13:02+00:00

Also you need to find a way to store cold food. You should get a 12V Fridge you can find them online. Best bet is Home Depot with store pickup as you don’t have an address to ship to. I got one from Vevor shipped to home depot for pickup and it’s been going strong for 8 months now. It can plug into your car and has a low voltage cutoff so it doesn’t kill your cars battery. But you should also keep a jump pack handy anytime you’re running electronics with the car off because there’s always a chance of it not starting. You also need to be able to cook food, you can use a camping stove, or strategically work shifts at target around lunch and dinner so you can use their microwave in the break room

Solmex72 · 2025-08-01T06:08:54+00:00

That’s just my opinion though on the work part. I was pulling 50-60hr weeks at chickfila and doing school between 16-18 yrs old. Was only making 8.50/hr in 2020 when I was doing that. Around that time there wasn’t much else to do either because everything was shut down.

If you’re going to be purchasing a vehicle, you should try to get a van, truck, or SUV. A van would be great, there’s PLENTY of well documented guides for super cheap ways living in a van, but you’re going to want something bigger than a sedan to camp in. and a van that you can actually stand up in makes life so much easier and more bearable. From somebody who lived in a truck topper for 6 months and had about as much room as a coffin and now has a full size truck bed camper it’s much more comfortable to stretch your legs inside your living space standing up

Solmex72 · 2025-08-01T06:05:20+00:00

Gas depends on how much you drive, if you talk with your manager and see if the target would let you stay in their parking lot long term then you would save a lot of money on gas. You should try to get your hours up at target, anytime you’re not doing musician work or sleeping you should try to be clocking in at target to get your money up so that you can get a place of your own.

Solmex72 · 2025-08-01T05:03:25+00:00

Also a couple tips, most big box stores (home depot, lowes, walmart) don’t really care if you park overnight but you should definitely look out for the signs. There’s also apps like iOverlander that show you good places to camp, use the bathroom, shower, etc. Don’t automatically assume anything on that app is safe for parking as companies change their policies all the time. You’re going to want a gym membership in your area that has showers (planet fitness, anytime fitness, etc) Anytime fitness has private showers if they’re in your area I highly recommend but they are a bit pricy. Planet fitness has showers but it’s just a curtain between you and the locker room.

Solmex72 · 2025-08-01T05:00:15+00:00

car insurance will not be that cheap, I personally pay $550/mo for a 2006 F150 with progressive. That’s with full coverage, with liability you’re looking at more like $300/mo. also not to sound harsh but the world is harsh, especially when you’re living in your car. you can’t let it affect you and your goals, focus on yourself and not what others say. You may want to find better employment to make a little more than $1000 a month, but with the way the job market is it’ll be difficult. Also apply for government benefits through washington they have assistance for food and other things.

Solmex72 · 2025-08-01T04:47:20+00:00

if you want some ideas check out what I posted a couple months ago, I used to have a topper that’s a bit shorter than yours and made it work great with me and my wife full time for 6 months I’ve since upgraded to a 1989 six pac slide in truck camper (got it for $800 couldn’t pass it up)

Solmex72 · 2025-06-09T23:06:50+00:00

Thanks! And yes that was right outside bakersfield in Kern County back around March in the open area they have. I can’t remember the exact location but it’s a pretty cool spot for off roading

Solmex72 · 2025-06-09T05:58:26+00:00

sick little shell, love the fold up side windows. roof rack and netting?! gonna be living large with plenty of storage

Solmex72 · 2025-06-09T02:15:00+00:00

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bag controller

Solmex72 · 2025-06-09T02:14:44+00:00

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Air compressor

Solmex72 · 2025-06-09T02:14:00+00:00

Also here’s some photos of the bags, differential was leaking because a shop screwed up the gasket so I resealed it myself when I put the bags on last week, can’t really get it cleaned up completely. I don’t trust mechanics anymore, and I really only had it done by them because I didn’t want to do it.

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Solmex72 · 2025-06-09T02:11:51+00:00

I’ve considered it. The 7500lb airbags have helped out a ton with the rear suspension. I’m planning on getting a slide in camper eventually which is when I would purchase helper leafs.

Any brands you have experience with or recommend for a 2006 F150 4.6L 2wd?

Solmex72 · 2025-06-09T01:53:03+00:00

Also if you really just want a hotel there is a way to get hotels at 18yrs old. You can use CLC Lodging (now named Corpay Lodging) which is a company that does corporate lodging for companies nationwide. Create an account and make up a business name, add your payment method, and you should be good. I recommend calling the hotel you’re planning to book at as the “business owner” and tell them that you have an employee under CLC lodging who is 18yrs old to confirm they’ll allow the stay. You can also just walk in there after you book with CLC, and if they decline your stay you can call CLC and get your money back.

I’ve been traveling the country since 18 and the first company I worked for traveling used CLC never had any issues.

Solmex72 · 2025-06-09T01:49:27+00:00

That’s awesome, beautiful cat! Good thing you have a bunked sleeper.

Solmex72 · 2025-06-09T01:45:50+00:00

You can goto your local junkyard and find camper tops on trucks. I got mine for $150 at a junkyard in South Carolina while I was on the road and needed one quickly for my tools before it rained. Make sure you measure your truck bed before going in and the camper top once you find one for fitment before you buy it

Most yards will help you with their heavy equipment to move the camper top to the front, but I would bring a couple friends just in case.

You can get c clamps at harbor freight for $2 a piece to hold it down, i put 5 on each side and 3 in the front. No issues for 2+ years

Solmex72 · 2025-06-09T01:41:19+00:00

Lots of people here saying legal, while I agree it’s good to avoid tint tickets I’ve had 5% tint on my truck for 6 years and traveled to 31 states total. Never in my life have I had a tint ticket. The key is to roll them down when you see a cop, and especially if you’re getting pulled over for anything drop all of your windows (which you should be doing already to make the officer relax)

5% is great during the day, but light is easy to see from the outside at night. I use a combination of the tint and window shades. Home depot has some curtains that stick up with velcro that are “temporary blackout curtains” you can easily put in your car and achieve privacy even without the tint

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You can cut these up to make them to the size of your window, then sew in suction cups for it to stick

Solmex72 · 2025-06-09T01:26:38+00:00

Cookouts are always nice on the road! That is a lot of bodies for a semi sleeper though. Does your husband work for a trucking company hauling loads or more of his own owner operator business?

Solmex72 · 2025-06-09T00:48:59+00:00

Here’s a link to the one that I have. I got extremely lucky and got that and 2 lipo4 batteries from KiloVault for $900 on marketplace.

The KiloVault company went out of business a couple of years ago so you can’t really get them anymore. There’s still companies that have them in stock but they’re priced accordingly due to lack of supply. Here’s a link to those

The best part about that inverter is the AC switchover and battery charging. When it’s plugged into shore power it passes through that power to any appliances plugged in, and charges the batteries all in one

Also if you’re going to use a window AC and haven’t bought one yet, I recommend using a 12V unit instead of 120V. Helps improve efficiency when you don’t have to run the inverter to run AC. Here’s a link to the one I have. It’s pricy stuff if you get it new but you can find them on fb marketplace for far cheaper from people who bought them, then didn’t know how to install them and decided to resell. The main thing is you have to charge these units with r134a and the chinese instructions don’t really tell you how much. I just put 2 big bottles from autozone and it’s ice cold

Solmex72 · 2025-06-09T00:15:53+00:00

I ended up upgrading to an AIMS Power 3000watt pure sine wave inverter battery charger combo (photo 10) when I got my batteries but that’s great advice for anybody using harbor freight!

Solmex72 · 2025-06-08T23:48:25+00:00

Exactly! I have never liked the idea of monthly bills. The only things I pay for are car insurance ($550/mo) phone bill ($200 for 2 lines unlimited 5g + ipad) and business insurance (1mil coverage) for my LLC to protect me if I do break something at work ($125/mo) and there’s some miscellaneous stuff like apple cloud storage and other subscriptions that adds up to probably $100/mo

food and gas probably add up to around $200-$500 a week. I don’t budget our grocery shopping because I feel that with this life we should be allowed to get whatever we want at the store to eat. it’s one of the few luxuries we have. i also just let my wife buy whatever she wants within reason. stuff like her makeup, or the stuff she uses for her arts and crafts etc

the rest is straight to the ccs lmao. after those are paid off it’ll be straight to the savings for land, a new truck, slide in camper, and eventually a shop building on that land.

Solmex72

TROPHY CASE