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First we need to start with the truck, but we've never owned one before.
We've been doing all our road trips in our Subaru Outback, but motel hopping gets old.
We were thinking of a van, but we like that trucks are (usually?) 4 wheel drive so we can adventure a bit more... although we're not heavily into the extreme off road/back country thing.
Not looking for a short bed, that would be too cramped for us with the camper, but probably 6 1/2 foot bed or maybe 8 foot? How do those two sizes compare for maneuverability etc.
Cabs... it will be mostly me and hubs, but do most come with a back seat?
Then I found out there's gas vs diesel... all new to me! Lol!
So... what's your favorite pick up truck? How do the different brands compare with reliability? Cost repairs, etc.
First we need to start with the truck, but we've never owned one before.
We've been doing all our road trips in our Subaru Outback, but motel hopping gets old.
We were thinking of a van, but we like that trucks are (usually?) 4 wheel drive so we can adventure a bit more... although we're not heavily into the extreme off road/back country thing.
Not looking for a short bed, that would be too cramped for us with the camper, but probably 6 1/2 foot bed or maybe 8 foot? How do those two sizes compare for maneuverability etc.
Cabs... it will be mostly me and hubs, but do most come with a back seat?
Then I found out there's gas vs diesel... all new to me! Lol!
So... what's your favorite pick up truck? How do the different brands compare with reliability? Cost repairs, etc.
Any insights for this newby appreciated!
I'd go with Ford, Chevy or Toyota for the 1/2 ton route. Dodge, Chevy or Ford for the 3/4 ton especially if you want diesel, but it doesn't sound like you need diesel.
How tall are you two? If I were sleeping in the bed with my wife I'd want an 8 foot bed.
How nice of a vehicle are you looking for? Trucks come from relatively bare work varieties to expensive luxury trims.
If the trucks sole purpose was to facilitate your camping trips and you're set on camping in the shell, I'd get a work truck trim with a short cab and eight foot bed.
$7,000 starting, add a couple grand for options. I'm good. Get some mid/high rise off Facebook Marketplace for a grand. The extra space is nice for a truck camper although not completely necessary. It won't be as nice. It'll be $8,000 cheaper. I'd probably go with a Tacoma today. Tows enough, six foot bed, good aftermarket.
Location: East of Seattle since 1992, 615' Elevation, Zone 8b - originally from SF Bay Area
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We had a 2007 Ford Ranger for 10 years, and only got the 2017 F150 due to buying a 25' travel trailer. Both have 6-1/2' bed which is sufficient, I can carry thin 8' lumber diagonally, or 4x8 plywood sitting on top of the tailgate. Long beds are rare and more expensive, harder to park. When we were just in our early 20s I had a Ford Courier pickup and a shell on the back, and we camped in it often. I installed carpet along the sides of the bed because they get really cold when you touch them at night.
The problem was having to move our supplies to the cab every night, but now almost all have either extended cab or 4 doors.
Eventually we went to a big tent, and now being old, we prefer the comforts of the trailer with a real queen bed, stove, oven refrigerator, toilet and shower/tub.
If you're sleeping in the truck bed, get a cap with screened windows you can open or covered vents, so you can ventilate the space. Otherwise condensation from the occupants exhaling moist air can condense on cold surfaces in there. Those Moonlanders look pretty cool. :-)
P.S. One other route you could consider would be towing a small teardrop camper behind an SUV - that's probably the route I will go when I retire. They're pricier than you'd think - figure on $20k-$25k for a decent quality one, decently fitted out. You can get some stripped down teardrops for half that and some uber rugged/techie ones for twice that.
First we need to start with the truck, but we've never owned one before.
We've been doing all our road trips in our Subaru Outback, but motel hopping gets old.
We were thinking of a van, but we like that trucks are (usually?) 4 wheel drive so we can adventure a bit more... although we're not heavily into the extreme off road/back country thing.
Not looking for a short bed, that would be too cramped for us with the camper, but probably 6 1/2 foot bed or maybe 8 foot? How do those two sizes compare for maneuverability etc.
Cabs... it will be mostly me and hubs, but do most come with a back seat?
Then I found out there's gas vs diesel... all new to me! Lol!
So... what's your favorite pick up truck? How do the different brands compare with reliability? Cost repairs, etc.
Any insights for this newby appreciated!
Some questions
1) How heavy is the camper?
2) How far and how hilly are the trips you are thinking about?
3) Just two of you, or are there kids and/or friends on these trips?
4) Is this truck just for out of town trips or will it have to go to the work every day and the grocery store?
Ford, Dodge, or Chevy, they all make some pretty good trucks.
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