Stealth Slide in camper

[Marco1992]

Hi all I've been thinking for quite some time now about selling my truck and buying a van but I've come across this 

Its got the bed on the top like other slide-ins , and the 2 seats you see here beneath it , which I do like, but if I'm in a urban area do you think It would be stealthy enough without popping it and using the bottom area as abed instead? 

Also they are selling it for 2750 is that a fair price? 
How many mpg will I get in my 02 Ford Ranger V6 3.0 
It weighs under 900 lbs 

 

This might be crazy but I was thinking I could make the popup into a hard shell by putting in wood for frame then cover it with aluminum or wood to make it permanently popped up..... Then will it not be stealthy enough?

And in the future connect the Rangers cab to the camper so I don't have to get in through the back door...
Is this possible? 


How much would it cost to paint it to a color like tan/light brown 

Sorry I know I have a lot of questions....

 

[TMG51]

It looks like you're trying to reference a local image in image tags. Might want to upload them as attachments, or with a different hosting service such as imgur.com

 

[Konaexpress]

They are not showing up for me either.

John

 

[SoulRaven]

You need to check the payload rating of your truck.

Then go buy one-half of a yard of gravel (1200-1400 pounds) and take that for a spin around the block climbing and descending the largest hill/mountain in your local area and make sure to also figure in aerodynamic drag plus the camper will be much more top heavy vs. the stone and then you can come to your own conclusions.

 

[Marco1992]

Every time I try to add am attactcment it messes everything up...,,

 

[Marco1992]

 

[Konaexpress]

Nice! Those came out good.

John

 

[Marco1992]

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[Marco1992]

 

[Marco1992]

Sorry I posted one at a time could not figure how to put multiple attachments in one post

 

[highdesertranger]

looks cool from the pics. what brand is it? I don't recognize it. keep in mind soft sides can get very cold in cold weather. someone used to make a tent trailer with insulated material. it was your standard canvas on the out side then Thinsulate then like a mohair type of material on the inside. it must not have caught on because I don't see it anymore. highdesertranger

 

[my_vantasy]

I am in a Skamper pop up truck camper right now. If you were not claustrophobic and wouldn't mind crawling in and out, it could work. Remember though, in order to fold down the top, everything has to come off of the cabover bed and the counter tops, which means it goes on those seats and the floor. I've got too much stuff in here to be able to use it folded.

 

[Spaceman Spiff]

Its got the bed on the top like other slide-ins , and the 2 seats you see here beneath it , which I do like, but if I'm in a urban area do you think It would be stealthy enough without popping it and using the bottom area as abed instead? 

Can't comment on stealth; too many variables.  I have a pop-up camper and I can and do sleep with top down.  It is annoying, can't sit up in bed.  It makes for a smaller space if you need to heat it.  More stable during storms.

Also they are selling it for 2750 is that a fair price? 
How many mpg will I get in my 02 Ford Ranger V6 3.0 
It weighs under 900 lbs 

You didn't state make or year of manufacture, so hard to tell on price.  Look it up.  There are 'blue book' sites on internet that will give you some idea of value.  Older camper's price is more on condition than year of manufacture.  Good structure, good canvas, no leaks are very important.

My camper (FWC Grandby) costs me about 2 MPG, but that is with a 3/4 ton truck with V8.  Some people with small trucks and campers loose more (5 to 6 MPG).

Is weight from sticker on camper?  Seller?  Depending on manufacturer, claimed weight can be empty shell, without options, calculated with options, or weighed at factory.  All are weighed dry.  Plan on adding 200 lbs per person.  Can your truck handle 1100 - 1200 lbs or more?

And in the future connect the Rangers cab to the camper so I don't have to get in through the back door...
Is this possible? 

Boots are made in many different styles to weather proof the connection between cab and camper.  Have you tried crawling through your rear window?  I would not want to do that except in an emergency.


How much would it cost to paint it to a color like tan/light brown 

Last time I bought auto paint, it cost ~$80/gallon.  I know it is more now (I think a friend said $30/qt).  It should take less than a gallon to paint.  Can paint it with house paint but you won't get the shine and depth as with auto paint (works best if you want a flat finish).  I have met one guy that painted his camper with rattle cans.  Camper looked good.  Don't know how many cans he used or durability.

Sorry I know I have a lot of questions....

-- Spiff 

 

[Marco1992]

It's a Starcraft brand

 

[Marco1992]

Does anyone have a pic of the interior of a similar popup when it's closed down so I can see what I'm working with

 

[Txjaybird]

Hello....I don't have a picture to share just some info..........I drive a 1991 ranger 4X4 with an extended cab, it has the 4.O  V6 .  It's pretty much stock except for rear over load/helper springs i added a few years ago. 

 I  have decided to go with a tall bed cap shell and on the truck roof use a roof rack with storage pod while leaving room for a solar panel.    

 Just today {tuesday} i saw a bunch of different do-it-yourself truck campers on You Tube......one was on a ranger & it was a nice looking high top and the guy found it on craig's list for $250.  and fitted it out himself.........my notes to myself say.......Tiro A=ranger camper...... Stray Kittie  [also a  DYI]...... The Nomedic [on do it yourself world]........hope these help.   
 
 Also Bob has somewhere here how he built a truck camper on one of his pickups.  

  Happy Trails....TJB

 

[Every Road Leads Home]

I had a pop up slide in truck camper for a year and it was a major PITA. Condensation issues were a constant battle, much like a tent which meant I was always chasing mold. They're basically useless with out the top up, although the older gentleman I bought it from used to use in winter camping with the top down and slept on a foam mat on the floor, kudos to him but I'd never have tried it. I had it on a half ton and I'd say that was the max I'd want back there. Think it weighed around 900 lbs. I've had rangers, and personally wouldn't want a slide in on one. That would really be stressing out a small truck like that and it wouldn't be enjoyable driving either. As far as stealth goes, I'm not sure, guess that just depends on the area. But in my opinion, there is nothing stealthy about a slide in truck camper. If fact, on small trucks they might even attract the attention of DOT officers and the like. Price seems good though. I bought mine for $2200 and sold it the following year for $4800....this was in 2013. I did do some work to it before selling it. New foam mattress, new seat cushions professionally upholstered (both due to mold from previous owner) and refinished the cabinet doors. Still came out on top though. New owner must not have liked it much either, as I saw it back on CL the following summer

 

[ascii_man]

I think campers are less about "stealth" than about "fitting in a standard parking space & hoping nobody complains."

Too bad there's no cool military word for that! "Overt deployment"?

 

[highdesertranger]

I think that would be "covert deployment" is what . you are looking for. highdesertranger

 

[ascii_man]

I think that would be "covert deployment" is what . you are looking for. highdesertranger

No, "covert" means stealthy. I was looking for its opposite: "we're going to show up in full uniform in broad daylight." Hence "overt".