Camper truck & travel trailer
What are the differences between a truck camper and a travel trailer?
Forum Discussion
As donn0128 said, the truck camper slides into the bed of a pickup truck. In nearly every state a truck camper doesn't need to be registered since it's cargo and not a vehicle. (There are a couple of exceptions that at least claim to require registration. I don't quite understand how that works since other things you carry in a truck don't need to be registered.)
A travel trailer is a trailer that's towed behind whatever sort of vehicle and nearly always needs to be registered. A few states don't require the registration of small trailers, possibly including a few small travel trailers and a few more other little towable campers such as some popups or teardrop trailers.
As a practical matter, a truck camper is usually quite compact inside and doesn't permit one to carry other stuff in the truck bed, but also doesn't involve towing a trailer. For going on back roads or national forest trails that can be a big advantage. A travel trailer usually has more room, and leaves the truck bed free for stuff if needed and if weight ratings permit, and can be towed by other sorts of vehicles. A travel trailer and truck are usually lower in overall maximum height than many truck campers, sometimes and advantage. Being a trailer, you do of course have some additional mechanical parts to maintain and more tires to buy.
A travel trailer is a trailer that's towed behind whatever sort of vehicle and nearly always needs to be registered. A few states don't require the registration of small trailers, possibly including a few small travel trailers and a few more other little towable campers such as some popups or teardrop trailers.
As a practical matter, a truck camper is usually quite compact inside and doesn't permit one to carry other stuff in the truck bed, but also doesn't involve towing a trailer. For going on back roads or national forest trails that can be a big advantage. A travel trailer usually has more room, and leaves the truck bed free for stuff if needed and if weight ratings permit, and can be towed by other sorts of vehicles. A travel trailer and truck are usually lower in overall maximum height than many truck campers, sometimes and advantage. Being a trailer, you do of course have some additional mechanical parts to maintain and more tires to buy.
