I would like to ask for some help in choosing a camper. I am from the 5th wheel world, and have never owned a TC. We sold our fiver a couple of years ago, and want to get into a truck camper. The trouble is when I write down my wife's and my desires, I can't seem to narrow down our search much.

First and foremost it must fit on my F-250 KR Crew cab Short Bed. Max of 2250lbs

Here is our list so far:

1. Used preferably over new, but not a deal breaker.
2. A full size queen bed in a front to back layout not side to side.
3. A Cassette toilet, preferred but not a deal breaker. ( we just got back from a month in New Zealand, and a rental campervan that had a Thetford cassette, and it made me a convert.
4. 6'5" min headroom. ( I am 6'5" so I would prefer no more knots on the melon)
5. Only hard sided, no pop-up.

I have been looking at:
Northern Lite ( No cassette)
Bigfoot ( too heavy)
NorthStar ( have cassette, but I don't see much more info on these)
Lance ( Lots of leak complaints) We live in SE Alaska. Can you say "RAINFOREST"

Well hopefully this is enough to get this thread started.

Thanks

I've got a Dodge 2500 Quad Cab Short Box so we're both looking for about the same thing. Yep, that weight business keeps getting in the way. We have about settled on a Lance 815, late 2007 model. Lance must have gone to the fiberglass exterior in late 2007. I'm pretty sure I've seen the 815 2007 in aluminum as well.

I've not heard much at all about a Lance being prone to leak - of course I live in Tennessee and there aren't very many truck camper people around here. Something to keep in mind when you hear a negative comment about a product is "market share." - There's a gazillion Lances out there so you're going to hear a greater volume of comments. Good and bad. It's really easy to over focus on the bad when buying something - I know I do anyway.

We thought - and re-thought about the bed orientation issue. We started out thinking we wanted a longways bed but have about shifted over to a sideways style. The reasons being: 1) I just don't want that big old cantilevered structure sticking out there; 2) my wife goes to bed before me and sleeps all the way through the night so there wouldn't be any problems with waking one another up while crawling over during the night. When I thought about it like that the longways bed issue became less important.

The 845 could work - except we really like the rear corner dining area design in the 815. The 861 is another possibility except it's starting to get pretty heavy. The 845 is not exactly a lightweight either. The 825 would work except - no rear corner dining area. On the search goes - I think it's the 815 for us. Now finding a fiberglass 815 with a sideways bed is another story.

WesGPS

There are two models from Adventurer that might fit your needs: 80W and 80GS. Both are under 2000lbs and are designed to fit light duty short box trucks. Personally I like the 80GS better but the bed is turn 90deg from what you want so the 80W is probably your best bet.

http://www.amlrv.com/campers_model_80W.php

None of their models have cassette toilets. they do have the 80SK which is very light but has a portable toilet... no privacy especially when its raining!

They're made in Yakima Washington now but used to be made in Abbotsford BC a few years back so there's probably lots of used ones available in your neck of the woods.

Sun Lite has great campers!!!

I have one, and mine has a bathroom in it.

Check this link out with pictures of one...Sun Lite Truck Campers.... This one doesn't have a bathroom, but I was just showing what a Sun Lite looks like.

If you go with a larger Sun Lite, You can get one with a bathroom.... We have been real happy with ours.....Another thing about Sun Lite truck campers is, They don't weigh that heavy.

I did have to put ''air bags'' on my F-150, because we take A LOT of gear with us, and I pull a boat also.

Good-luck!!!