If it is only a 3 pin connector, it would appear to only provide 120v power
for the lights inside. In that I mean similar to a lamp there is only 3 wires
2 for power and 1 for ground.

I assume the camper only has a ice box not a refrigerator and then a propane
stove or cooktop (?)

Is there any wiring for hooking up to the truck for 12v power for anything?

I guess you may be looking for that preverbable needle in a haystack.
I own a Northland camper made in Idaho and not that many made it down to california. Actually I drove to WA state to purchase the camper since I was
not finding what I wanted anywhere near my price range locally.

I have electric jacks on my camper, it is set up manually (no remote..yet)
but I did need to build blocks out of double 4x4's and 2x8's to get the camper
high enough to clear my 4x4 truck bed. It seems pretty stable, but then I
also lower it back down onto a set of 3/4" plywood x's that sit 24" off the
ground to help support the weight of the camper. My storage pad is concret.

<I am looking for a used Juno 8.5 by Outfitter Mfg. I know that they are only a year old but I am sure that one or two will be available, I just don't know the best avenue to find them. I've tried RVTrader online and other sites. Does anyone have a suggestion where to look or somewhere I can give my contact info so that when one does come available I'll know?>

You might start your search on www.google.com or www.ebay.com

<i just purchased a 1980's?? sun lite eagle from a guy on craigslist. i am very excited to get this thing cleaned up and ready for my full time boondocking roadtrip across the country.
anyone know where i can find the serial plate that gives the weight of the camper?
anyone know the weight of the basic eagle model (no frig, furnace, hot water,)???
any suggestions on building up the side rails of my bed with wood to support the sides of my camper better?
where can i find an owners manual for this camper?
where can i find a full canvas top replacement? >

Congradulations on your purchase, the id plate is usually on the left side
near the water or electric door. Or possible on the rear of the camper.

Since I assume your camper is no longer manufactured you will need to
start with www.google.com and see what you can find.

A manual....maybe ebay?
A canvas top...google for canvas tops, or a company that is a RV wrecking
yard and might have parts from units they have dismanteled.

good luck in your search.

<Just joined the forum after buying a 2004 F250 4x4 Super Cab Powerstroke with a 2003 Fleetwood Elkhorn 9T. Both the F250 and the truck campers are pretty rare here in Scotland which makes it tricky to find much advice on them.
Anyway. I was wondering if this model of truck camper would fit on a 2008 F350 4x4 dually, or would the legs be too narrow for the truck to reverse under? Has anyone got a similar set-up, or would the dually be total overkill for this camper? Am I right in thinking that the dually will be more stable and less likely to bog down in muddy fields?>

Martin,

It may be a bit late since it is almost Oct now, but although Fleetwood no
longer manufactures truck campers the only items you need to switch
over to a dually truck is a set of camper jack brackets to move the front
jacks out for clearance of the dually fenders on the rear. You should be
able to go on-line to purchase said brackets over the internet.

As for a dually being better in a muddy field, maybe yes, maybe no.
I guess it depends on how muddy we are talking about...:-)

Jim,

In the price range you quoted (around $1000) most of what you will
find is brand names are no longer manufactured, not a bad thing, just
keep in mind that as you look at campers look for dry rot or missing
equipement which could add substanially to your costs.

If you are handy with tools, most anything can be fixed or updated
on a camper with simple hand and carpentry tools.

I wanted something in this decade so I had to spend a little more
money, but I wanted a few specific things like A/C, wet bath and
electric jacks since I usually load and unload the camper on my own.

Fleetwood manufactured a number of truck campers under a number
of names, the high end campers that have been around alot of years
and are still made are Lance, S/S, Alaska rasided roof.

Just my $0.02

I understand the not wanting to haul the extra weight of the water
from home, but not all of us go camping where they have running
water in the camp area.

Lynn S & WesGPS,

Aqualung has given you both good advice, what I want to add is since
you both have purchased short bed trucks are you planning on buying
6 ft campers or going for a 8 ft camper with some overhang?

To each their own on buying new vs used, new you can finance it, get
a 1 yr warranty, nobody has ever slept in the camper, etc.

Used, a large saving on $$$ layed out for the purchase, but harder to
finance unless bought from a dealer.

Air bags defenitly should be added along with a rear sway bar if your
truck does not already come with one.

Like already stated A/C and a microwave are nice if you would use
those items. Built in microwave is nice, but a counter top unit can be
purchased at Target or Walmart for about $40.

Another item to consider is hydrolic jacks/screw jacks/electric jacks
for loading and unloading your camper. Very few people leave the
camper on the truck 100% of the time, I don't. I also use my truck
for my business.

Me personally I wanted A/C, a microwave, a wet bath and electric jacks.
I bought my unit used (it's a 2001 and I paid less than $6K) I got all the
items I wanted except the microwave so I purchased one at Walmart for
the mentioned $40.

The last truck camper I owned had hydrolic jacks and working alone to
install or remove is NOT a good idea or fun. The electric jacks allow me
the ability to do that by my self.

Well I hope your maiden voyage went well. I'm sure you learned that
you tighten the turn buckles until there is no more slop in the chains.

Also I'm sure you learned to double check the chains/turnbuckels after
driving a few miles.

I never thought about trying to use a video camera for that.

When I load my camper I just line up each side in my mirrors
and back under the camper, then lower the camper on to the
truck.

Depending on what part of the country you live in, try www.google.com
for RV salvage or wrecking yards.

On the cost of foam, yes you are delusional on the pricing, just as I was
the last time I went looking for some for a project. Why so high on the
price I do not know.

Take a look at www.craigslist.org or try craiglook the craigslist is for each
city and craiglook will show all the items for sale across the USA

Big Block Blondie,

To clairfiy, Torklift brand are the under frame camper mounts
and Happy Jack are the one's that mount to the front of the bed
and the rear bumper.

If you do a little shopping on www.craigslist.org you can usually
find a set of either brand used for a good cost savings.

It does help that you have a Ford since there seems to be more
of those parts for sale used.

Are there any truck camper rallys or trips out on the west coast?

Are there any truck camper clubs on the west coast?

OK, BigBlockBlondie,

(1) the camper jacks (hydrolic or electric) are mainly for installing or
removing the camper from the truck. When camping you can lower
at least the rear two jack to stabilize the camper to help with wiggle
when a person walks around inside the camper.

(2) Leveling is done at the wheels/tires on the truck, you would have
to buy some 2x8 sections of lumber to drive the lower side of truck up
on to for leveling since the refigerator will not run if unlevel on either
propane or electric.

(3) towing a trailer for the motorcycles, as long as you have a trailer
hitch that is adjuatable so the trailer is towed level you should NOT
have any real sway problems. Level means front to back and bigger
than small tires on the trailer.

Suggestions: After you buy a camper make an appointment at a
RV repair shop and pay to have a mechanic show you how each item
in your camper works so you know what is what. yes there are books
on this subject and getting one of those would help too.

Hope this helps.

If you look in the Lance brochure (as an example) it will state that any
of their campers over 10 ft must be used on a dually truck.

That said I have a buddy in Idaho with a 2004 2500 dodge diesel single
rear wheel with a S&S camper 11ft and he tows a 24ft enclosed car
trailer.

Personally I would go with the dually truck for what you want to haul.

Since no one else has spoken up I'll give you my $0.02 worth.

Contact Lance directly at customer service and ask your question.

I am the second owner of my Northland Industries camper and
they have been very helpful answering my questions by email.

Just google Lance camper and you should get the contact info
you need to reach them. I believe the plant is in Lancaster CA.

Good luck in your search for a camper, your limiting point is your 1500 truck
vs a 2500, but that just means a little more hunting for a good deal.

Just keep it simple and try to stay at 8 ft in length, a bit harder to find a
wet bath in that length, but not impossible.

Just keep in mind any camper that is longer than the truck bed will require
some type of hitch extension for towing your boat.

In my case since I tow a 3300 lb drag race car on a open trailer and having
a 9'-11" camper I ended up needing a Torklift Superhitch, 24" hitch extension
and air bags to handle everything.

Big Blondie,

We've given you some info to absorbe, but not addressed one of your
questions....brand of camper.

#1 camper on most peoples list would be a Lance, also the most expensive,
that said you should be able to find a decent older used camper in your
price range.

All of the Fleetwood campers are now orfins since that company no longer
makes campers or travel trailer. Only motorhomes.

S&S is another good brand name, I own a Northland also a decent brand.

Another item to consider is hydrolic jacks vs electric jacks, if you have a
helper for loading and unloading then hydrolic jacks work fine, if your on
your own, then the electric jacks are very helpful, but most older campers
will not have that upgrade.

Propane tanks have date codes on them, after 12 yrs old you need to replace
them with new takes since the propane places will not refill them anymore.
If you buy a camper with stand up tanks (#20 tank like a BBQ uses) no
problem, that is the kind you can get at Home Depot on exchange for $20
but if your camper uses the lay down type (ask how I know this) then to
replace them you are looking at approx $150 for two tanks (empty).

Phil Saran
2004 Ford F350 4x4 4dr
2001 Northland 9'-11"
SOCAL

Big Blondie,

Properly set up your truck should be able to handle a 11 ft camper.
If you want to sleep 5 people you will need to be looking for a big
camper.

My Northland 9'-11" camper with wet bath, etc weights in at 2700 lbs
but really only sleeps 3 not counting the small bunk over the table.

The bigger camper you get, the more items to help it you will need.
Air bags, better shocks.

Also figure that you gas/diesel milage will be around 8-10 MPG with a
camper

Phil Saran
SOCAL