For pickup truck owners who want to get into RV travel, a truck camper is a logical first step. This specially built unit is loaded into the bed of a pickup truck and fastened in place with tie-downs attached to the vehicle's chassis. The tailgate of the truck is removed while the camper is in place in order to allow entry into the camper through its rear door. The camper can be set up on its own jacks at home for storage or at the campsite, freeing the truck for separate use. When not being used for camping, the pickup truck can make an excellent primary or secondary family vehicle. Truck camper units range in length from 18 to 25 feet. The unit size will depend on the size of the pickup truck. Depending on the model, truck campers can sleep up to six campers.

Truck campers have traditionally been built to make the most efficient use of limited space. Most are self-contained with sleeping, cooking, and bathroom facilities onboard. Truck camper manufacturers offer a wide range of sizes and floor plans, with some maximizing living and sleeping space with extended cabovers.

Adding a truck camper to your pickup truck will affect the handling and gas mileage. A truck camper may add more than 36 inches to the overall height of the vehicle. They often appear top-heavy, leaving the driver with the feeling that the vehicle is going to roll over at any minute. In fact, rollover-type accidents involving these vehicles do occasionally occur. High-wind areas, tight curves, sudden swerving, wet or slippery conditions, and uneven roads all require an experienced, capable driver behind the wheel. Talk with both your RV dealer and your vehicle mechanic to be sure that your truck can handle the camper you are considering.

TRUCK CAMPER

Some truck campers combine features of campers with foldup trailers. While traveling, the camper is a very low-profile truck camper. When set up with the roof raised, the necessary headroom is provided by canvas that extends the sidewall to the dimensions of a conventional truck camper. This type of configuration has some advantages in reducing the overall weight of the camper and in improving stability when driving. You may also find that it improves fuel economy due to reduced wind resistance. Make sure your tires are in good condition and properly inflated to handle the load. That way, you won't feel like a turtle about to be flipped over on its back.

TRUCK CAMPER FLOOR PLAN

Truck campers can range in price from $3,800 to $24,000, with the average price around $15,000. This does not include the price of the pickup truck that will carry the camper.

The smaller size of the truck camper makes it especially suitable for people who want to camp in remote wilderness areas accessible only by back roads. Pickup truck campers can go places that are sometimes unsuitable for any other type of RV. A vehicle with four-wheel drive capability will make the combo even more versatile on difficult roads.