That makes a huge amount of sense.... I can think of several security applications for the iball as well... Great idea... Thanks...

Makes sense to me... The only caveat would be that maybe the straps would rub on the side of the pickup bed. If so that could ruin paint but for a lightweight camper such as a popup it makes sense...

I am likely late with my advice and am no expert on pickup campers but here's my 2 cents worth.

I agonized over dually vs. SRW for a couple of years and in the end bought a 4WD 2006 F350 Crew Cab Diesel with 8' bed that is a SRW.

A large part of my decision was in getting a like new truck that had been babied for a good price but since the purchase I've found that the SRW and high center of gravity in this 4WD pickup drove my expectations of a camper into much lighter territory than I would have picked if I'd bought a dually.

Since I'm primarily a hunter and fisherman that will be using my truck and camper for weekend hunting and fishing trips I bought a NorthStar TC800 (lightweight popup at about 1500lbs dry) and am very happy with it but if you're taking your wife on extended trips and she likes comfort I'd buy a dually and NEVER look back.

Unlike me, most buyers of campers are satisying a spouse that likes comfort and seeks space to move around and buying a SRW pickup when you're facing that is being unrealistic.

IMO the SRW camper truck is for people that are minimalists and are willing to give up a lot of space and conveniences for mobility, light weight, good fuel mileage, and small footprint.

That being said, my friends with duallies always comment on how much more manueverable my truck is and how it easily goes into tight spaces that their duallies won't fit in. I also get way better actual fuel mileage than they do. Almost ALL of them own a small pickup as well for their daily driver.

There is no set right or wrong answer but there are always tradeoffs and safety quickly becomes an issue if you want a SRW but have a want/need for a big heavy camper. Note: almost ALL pickup campers fall in this category.

I guess it's safe to say that fully 80% of the pickup campers and trucks I see on the road are horribly matched and almost always WAY overloaded and top heavy. I go the other route and try to go well under my truck's limits not just for safety's sake but to save fuel and increase my portability which is my whole reason for a slide-in pickup camper in the first place.

Bob

I've camped many times in the national forests in Florida and it's almost always free if you stay out of the campgrounds with utilities or hosts.

You don't really even have to camp in the campgrounds unless it's deer hunting season and even then there are some free places if you don't mind being around a bunch of barking dogs and hunters drinking beer. LOL

Most of the year you have the forest all to yourselves and there are some great places to camp with rivers, lakes, ponds, creeks and the roads are usually passable for any truck camper as long as you watch out for sugar sand or washouts.

I've always had 4wd trucks and have either pulled small travel trailers or had slide in campers.

I have always assumed that camping in national forest nationwide was the same and when I lived in Woodland Park Colorado I camped a fair amount with my motorcycles and my bronco with a travel trailer and never even once paid to camp.

I guess I've always taken free camping for granted but usually my trips would be from home to a known (to me) camping place and back home. I guess it would be a lot different on the road to somewhere else far far away...

I think you can also camp almost anywhere on BLM land as well too right?

Bob