Truck campers hit a sweet spot for many travelers, especially pickup owners who prefer a self-contained unit over trailering. This attractive truck and camper combination looks ready for adventure, and the $18,500 asking price combats the sticker shock of $80,000 to $400,000 van campers. The 1976 Ford F-250 Camper Special and 1974 Roll-A-Long camper boasts a recently rebuilt engine and transmission, according to the description here on Craigslist. Thanks to reader Curvette for spotting this well-preserved duo in Sandy, Oregon. Speaking of well-preserved, check out the shine on that claimed original paint!
Ranger XLT trim represented the top of the line, including such luxuries as carpeting and a headliner. Fancy! Wood grain in the instrument panel and steering wheel underscores the opulence. An array of aftermarket gauges provides additional telemetry. Despite the single cab, this western blanket-covered bench seat makes room for three. How often do most pickup owners transport more than three people?
Ford’s stout 390 cid 6.4L V8 filled the middle slot for the 3/4 ton F-250 in 1976, between the entry level 360 and the mighty 460, according to the Ford brochure at XR763. A C6 three-speed automatic handles the gear changes. Thoughtful details like the fuel pressure gauge, tidy cable and hose routing, and the Mr. Gasket clear fuel filter should encourage potential buyers.
The 11 foot camper offers plenty of room for two or a small family. This dinette converts to a bed, and the pass-through allows access to the cab without going out and around. Plaid and wood grain marked high style in the age of paneling and bell-bottoms, and Formica countertops resist years of abuse.
The larger-than usual bunkhouse provides a permanent bed and hang-out space with enough height for adults. My 1982 Lazy Daze Class C measures 28 inches here, and we use it only for storage. If mine looked like this Roll-A-Long, I might actually sleep there.
Generally speaking, campers with the added length behind the bed give you a bathroom, and this one is no exception. The small but fully-equipped wet bath can be a game-changer, opening the door to boondocking (camping without electrical or water hookups) and a quick shower after a long day of hiking, hunting, or kayaking. With new self-propelled RVs starting around $80k, would you take a chance on this vintage truck camper?
I expected to see little Scotty Gs face in the upper bunk window, although his parents unit wasn’t this obtuse. This camper appears to be way overkill for the truck, and would be downright dangerous to drive. People surely must find that out AFTER the installation, as there’s nothing that can really prepare you for the dangers that lie ahead. Thing about pulling something, you can drop it at the campground and drive around normally. This, you have to take the camper with you, and a total PITA. Watch out for that low canopy at the DQ,,,the truck itself is a sweetheart, and probably worth the price alone. I just don’t know how many want a unit like this anymore. Since cost is apparently no object, all I see in my Colorado vacation hotspot town, are, Prevost buses, Sprinter types and 40ft.tri-axle 5th wheel behemoths pulled by some dually, but never anything like this anymore.
BTW, if any indication as to the state of the economy, campers and RVs are WAY down here, and it’s mid-summer, so maybe cost has become an object after all,,,
“This, you have to take the camper with you, and a total PITA. Watch out for that low canopy at the DQ”
Lol Howard 👑🍦 it’s been done many times no doubt, and I howl 😂 imagining Dads reaction w the whole family on board 😲😡
actually , for a 250 the weight is within specs , and considering the stupid prices of everything today , THIS is a steal . even IF its a Ford .
I had an 11 ft DelRay pickup camper very similar to this one. I tried it with my 1/2 ton GMC and it was clearly too heavy. I put it in my 3/4 ton GMC and it was fine, and the weight, as with Dave, was well within specs. Used it for years until my family outgrew it.
Agree. With the simple mechanics this ole ship could be verified or improved into road worthiness. It’s a given 10-12 mpg, but how much better are modern campers on mpg? Doubt it justifies 65,000 in initial investment.
The jack stands mounted on the corners of the camper’s main box are used to lift the camper up so the truck can be driven out from under it. There’s no need to haul the camper around any time you want to leave the campsite.
Nice truck and its even got a 390 too, and the camper looks way better than average condition for sure. They still make slide in truck campers, and oftentimes on their sites ones that have a large overhang like this one they outright recommend a dually.
Hope it finds a good new home.
That’s a beautiful truck. It would probably bring more than the asking price by it’s self at an auction. I’d love to have it but don’t want the camper, as my camping days are in the past. It looks like the owner is knowledgeable enough to have equipped it with capable wheels and tires, and possibly springs, that handle the load with out being dangerous to drive. I like it, I think someone is going to get a nice truck.
Love the truck, don’t need a camper.
Tons of motorhomes,campers,fifth wheels,boats, off road vehicles here in the Phoenix metro area,whether its locals or snow birds.The economy is jumping with thousands of jobs at the Taiwan chip plant,and soon a 3.2 billion dollar railroad yard North of Sun City West.Lake Pleasant is a huge draw in the West Valley.
Nice rig to much money for that dry rotted heavy monstrosity on the back of it
Would I take a chance on it? In a skinny minute, I would.
Odds are that once this is sorted out mechanically it will never leave you stranded on the side of the road and if something does happen, you’ll probably be able to fix whatever it is with your Leatherman and a couple zip ties.
The only thing this is missing is AC.
My father Richard Landfield owned Roll-A-Long, they mainly manufactured chassis mounted F-350 motorhomes. The slide in camper is a rare find. I’m not surprised it’s in such exceptional condition, they were a very high quality product for their time.
Sounds like they were a quality unit Matt 👌 👍 seller says no smells or leaks, and it still looks absolutely fantastic inside for 50yrs old. Nice camper and well appointed as well.