We have been RVing for 15+ years, started with a hard sided Aliner popup. Went to a 22' TT for 4.5 years before trading it in on a 24' Class C. Then added a couple of open trailers to tow my motorcycles ending with my current {and last} a 6 X 10', 8' tall cargo trailer.Never had any interest in a Class A, fiver or truck camper until... My friend stopped by our place in Arizona with his truck camper and cargo trailer {that's my Cargo trailer back behind his}:As you can see his truck is a long bed F-350, 7.3L diesel with a very nice TC pulling his 12' cargo trailer. We were very impressed with this set up. His trailer hauls his Harley Road Glide and a nice Yamaha dirt bike, mountain bike and a bunch of other stuff. I was already on board with the cargo trailer thing as ours works well {25K miles on it in the last 3+ years}. I haul either my Can Am Spyder or Polaris Rzr SXS, BBQ, LP cylinder, firewood and assorted tools and toys in addition to the buggy or bike.I have no need for a truck large enough to be viable for a TC, I get by just fine with my Honda Ridgeline but really had my eyes opened to the possibilities that only a truck camper brings to the RV equation. No plans to change as our setup works great, is paid for and I will be 70 in a couple of weeks {old dogs and new tricks kind of a thing}. Might just have to start poking around the TC threads which could be dangerous... film at eleven!:B

Welcome. Some of things that set a truck camper apart from your motorhome:+Larger tow ratings+4wd and diesel options+Taller chassis clearances+Ability to drop camper and use only the truck-Less living and storage space-Higher cost per square foot-Higher climb into camper or bed-Taller than many Class C's

Your friend’s rig is practical but not pretty and I’ve seen some very good looking combos like his. Just for me, dropping and reloading the camper was just too much since I stay only two nights or so before getting itchy feet.

Bedlam,I don't see taller as an improvement--so long as one does not bang their head on the ceiling.I'm thinking of low hanging branches--and the vent in my bathroom that fell on its sword. (In my lower than yours class c).

I think Bedlam was talking about ground clearance. Most of the roads in the Western US have really high clearances in any case. I think it’s from clearing wide paths for fire trucks and log trucks.

jimh425 wrote:I think Bedlam was talking about ground clearance. Most of the roads in the Western US have really high clearances in any case. I think it’s from clearing wide paths for fire trucks and log trucks.His last point:'-Taller than many Class C's "He does mention better ground clearance.I think TC's are able to go where even a 4 wheel drive class C can't. Drive in on two wheel drive--and back out on 4 wheel.

I think I am beginning to understand... | Good Sam Community

16 Replies

Kayteg1
Explorer II
Nov 17, 2021
My basement Fleetwood had tons of cabinet space and huge countertop.
We have never been weight savers, when coming from bus conversion I pulled over 2000 lb of camping stuff, but that camper had more storage that we would use, even on Alaskan trip.
StirCrazy
Moderator
Nov 16, 2021
Deb and Ed M wrote:

Biggest drawbacks to a p/u TC: even less storage space (no overhead cabinets). The climb in and out of a small door. However, IMO, the ability to go where a large SUV can fit, is priceless! And we were able to camp in some incredibly-beautiful places along the Oregon coast!

that depends on the model. I have overhead cabnets above the sink and stove, and all the way across the ushaped dinet. all the newer ones I have been looking at have lots also. for me the biggest drawback is the lack of outside storage, but I have found a few models that have a ton of that also.
bighatnohorse
Explorer II
Nov 16, 2021
When considering any type of truck camper, bear in mind that "the truck is everything".
Never buy a truck camper without first studying the truck requirements for safely handling the camper weight.
Kayteg1
Explorer II
Nov 15, 2021
Bedlam wrote:
For clarification: There is not one perfect RV, so I did add some plus and minus attributes of truck campers.

But you can make perfect RV for your current needs.
Our big TC were good when we've been on 9 weeks long trips across the America.
But since we signed off those long trips from our bucket list, I found Sprinter van with bus style front door, so I have convenient entrance that even old, small dogs can manage.
18 mpg helps in making fast trips to our family, who spread in 3000 miles circle.
Bottom line, your needs change and the perfect RV criteria change.
When I never plan to go on rough roads, Sprinters also come with 4WD.
The biggest negative for me with TC was that DW would not drive the behemoth. She just fly with the same length van.
Deb_and_Ed_M
Explorer II
Nov 15, 2021
We had driven to Portland, OR to visit my daughter and her family - we had a popup truck camper and boy, was I glad for that! Daughter's small cars couldn't carry all of us to the interesting places she wanted us to see/visit, so we followed with the truck/TC. Daughter CLEARLY had no concept of where an RV can or cannot go - but narrow, steep roads with low overhanging branches (or tight urban streets) simply didn't pose a problem and we visited some amazing places!!

Biggest drawbacks to a p/u TC: even less storage space (no overhead cabinets). The climb in and out of a small door. However, IMO, the ability to go where a large SUV can fit, is priceless! And we were able to camp in some incredibly-beautiful places along the Oregon coast!
Bedlam
Moderator
Nov 14, 2021
For clarification: There is not one perfect RV, so I did add some plus and minus attributes of truck campers.
pianotuna
Nomad III
Nov 13, 2021
Thanks opnspaces. I did not notice the minus sign.
JimBollman
Explorer
Nov 13, 2021
I was very happy with my 2000 F250 7.3L diesel with slide in camper for many years and thought it may be our last truck camper setup since it was in good shape and only had a bit over 100K miles. Then my wife had her second knee replacement and could not handle the overhead bunk any more. So at 70 we sold the combo and bought a Class B. That was 3 years ago, the camper part suits us ok but the 5.4L gas engine does not have the pulling power I was use to when I pull my 12' enclosed trailer. Just more things to consider.
opnspaces
Navigator III
Nov 13, 2021
pianotuna wrote:
jimh425 wrote:
I think Bedlam was talking about ground clearance. Most of the roads in the Western US have really high clearances in any case. I think it’s from clearing wide paths for fire trucks and log trucks.

His last point:

'-Taller than many Class C's "

He does mention better ground clearance.

I think TC's are able to go where even a 4 wheel drive class C can't. Drive in on two wheel drive--and back out on 4 wheel.

Don't overlook the minus sign in front of Taller than many Class C's

He put a plus in front of the positives and a minus in front of the negatives.

+Larger tow ratings
+4wd and diesel options
+Taller chassis clearances
+Ability to drop camper and use only the truck
-Less living and storage space
-Higher cost per square foot
-Higher climb into camper or bed
-Taller than many Class C's
happycamper1942
Explorer
Nov 13, 2021
Don't let your age stop you. I was 78 back in June (79 now) when I traded in my 5th wheel which I'd had for 11 years and bought a new truck camper. Since then we have used it for 42 nights, about a third of the time I've owned it.
To be fair, I owned 6 truck campers before the 5th wheel so I knew what we were getting into.
As long as you're mobile, go for it before its too late.:)