Forum Discussion

steveh2112's avatar
steveh2112
Explorer
Oct 03, 2013

truck camper vs. popup trailer

i'm planning a 6 month coast to coast trip (CA to NY) from April to Sept next year.

we are a couple, 55/45, planning a mixture of RV/camping and discount hotels when we can find them on groupon/priceline etc.

saving money is a priority, more than comfort, so we are thinking truck camper or popup trailer but i've been in neither so was interested to get some advice.

first off, the most important thing to us is, we must have a toilet and hot shower as neither of us want to deal with camp ground facilities for that. everything else (besides sleeping) we can compromise on.

so it seems to me the advantage of a truck camper is its better for driving around than towing something. i also assume its cheaper on gas? also, since there's no wheels to go wrong, i'm thinking less likely to have mechanical issues and also, no need to register it with the DMV?

i'm guessing the popup trailers are a bit more spacious for an equivalent 2nd hand cost and usually have more features? maybe more comfortable?

note that we haven't got a vehicle yet so i figure get the camper first then buy a vehicle to match

another big factor is we need to sell everything in September as we will be flying home to Thailand, so what would be easier to sell off season?

i'm interested in your thoughts on this? in my situation, which way would you go?

steve
Truck Campers

30 Replies

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  • hmknightnc's avatar
    hmknightnc
    Explorer
    Oct 03, 2013
    JnJnKatiebug wrote:
    If I was buying something to live in for six months and then sell it would be a good used half ton pickup and a small travel trailer with a slide. Nice bathroom, shower and bed. No worries setting up in the rain. More room than a truck camper and should be easy to sell at the end of your trip. Pickup trucks hold there resale very well. A used camper would be easy to sell also. JMHO


    x2. Little more expensive than a popup combination but cheaper than a heavy duty truck and TC. Also there is no Popup or TC with large enough tanks/bathrooms (there are exceptions in the TC world but expensive and heavy). A good used 1/2 ton truck and good condition TT will sell quickly, might even get back what you bought it for in 6 months or awful close.
  • steveh2112's avatar
    steveh2112
    Explorer
    Oct 03, 2013
    SteveAE wrote:
    Steve,

    Here is a different twist for you to consider.
    Since you plan to stay in motels (and I assume eat out) occasionally, I suggest that you save yourself a lot of time and money and just get a nice mid-size vehicle that gets good gas mileage (4x4 if interested in back road travel and camping). Then bring along a tent, sleeping bags, a small stove, some simple cooking supplies, and a small cooler. Maybe even toss a couple bikes on the back (on a hitch mounted rack), a canoe on the roof, and a couple backpacks in the truck. I suspect that traveling this way, you would find it a lot easier to explore the US and go where ever you want than if you were lugging a RV around.
    My wife and I traveled this way for about nine months (I think we stayed in a motel twice) and it was the best trip ever.

    However you do wind up making your trip, have fun.
    Steve


    when i lived in the bay area, i would drive my explorer up to Yosemite a couple of times a month for climbing trips and sleep in the back in some of the camp grounds outside the valley

    it was ok for a weekend but 6 months! still at least i was sleeping inside something, not in a tent, which i'm not interested in at all.

    the problem with SUVs for me is i'll be carrying around seats i don't need, when what i need is space, hence the cargo van idea

    i'm not interested in a conversion van, i think too had to sell fast
  • SteveAE's avatar
    SteveAE
    Explorer
    Oct 03, 2013
    Steve,

    Here is a different twist for you to consider.
    Since you plan to stay in motels (and I assume eat out) occasionally, I suggest that you save yourself a lot of time and money and just get a nice mid-size vehicle that gets good gas mileage (4x4 if interested in back road travel and camping). Then bring along a tent, sleeping bags, a small stove, some simple cooking supplies, and a small cooler. Maybe even toss a couple bikes on the back (on a hitch mounted rack), a canoe on the roof, and a couple backpacks in the truck. I suspect that traveling this way, you would find it a lot easier to explore the US and go where ever you want than if you were lugging a RV around.
    My wife and I traveled this way for about nine months (I think we stayed in a motel twice) and it was the best trip ever.

    However you do wind up making your trip, have fun.
    Steve
  • diver110's avatar
    diver110
    Explorer
    Oct 03, 2013
    This is something I have explored too. No doubt, a pop-up /tow vehicle is the cheapest way to go, but iffy for showers and bathroom. You are better off using on-site facilities. Truck and camper is a lot more money, but much better accomodations and you can squueze into more out of the way places. I think you would be happier with the latter if you can afford it. Go with a gas truck. Cheaper in the short run, which is all you are looking at.
  • steveh2112's avatar
    steveh2112
    Explorer
    Oct 03, 2013
    just for an example, i'm looking at this truck

    and this camper

    purely for example of course, just to get an idea what things sell for this time of year

    for the people who like to tell me i post too many questions, isn't that what forums are for? its not necessary to read all the posts if you don't want to

    my original idea by the way is to get a naked cargo van and just put a few basics inside like a mattress, SUV tent, chemical toilet, etc. i'm still thinking that may be the simplest (but definitely not the most comfortable) option
  • 69_Avion's avatar
    69_Avion
    Explorer
    Oct 03, 2013
    JnJnKatiebug wrote:
    If I was buying something to live in for six months and then sell it would be a good used half ton pickup and a small travel trailer with a slide. Nice bathroom, shower and bed. No worries setting up in the rain. More room than a truck camper and should be easy to sell at the end of your trip. Pickup trucks hold there resale very well. A used camper would be easy to sell also. JMHO

    That is what I would do. A heavy duty pickup truck isn't cheap. I think that a trailer would be easier to sell. The TV can be smaller so it may be cheaper than a heavy duty pickup truck.
  • DutchmenSport's avatar
    DutchmenSport
    Explorer
    Oct 03, 2013
    If I had to choose between a truck with truck-camper or a pop-up trailer, I'd take the truck and truck-camper over the pop-up any day.
  • billtex's avatar
    billtex
    Explorer II
    Oct 03, 2013
    steveh2112 wrote:

    saving money is a priority, more than comfort, so we are thinking truck camper or popup trailer but i've been in neither so was interested to get some advice.

    steve


    As comfort is not a priority...you better go with the popup. You will be way too comfortable in a TC...and you won't want to sell it at the end of your trip.

    We could not wait to sell our popup many years ago...this should work out well for you also.
    You will be more than ready to sell the popup and return to Thailand.
    Sounds like popup is the way to go for you.
    B
  • JnJnKatiebug's avatar
    JnJnKatiebug
    Explorer
    Oct 03, 2013
    If I was buying something to live in for six months and then sell it would be a good used half ton pickup and a small travel trailer with a slide. Nice bathroom, shower and bed. No worries setting up in the rain. More room than a truck camper and should be easy to sell at the end of your trip. Pickup trucks hold there resale very well. A used camper would be easy to sell also. JMHO
  • twins89's avatar
    twins89
    Explorer
    Oct 03, 2013
    Steve, you have posted numerous questions on multiple previous posts regarding your trip and I am not sure you are going to find the answers you want - ever. If finances are a concern, get a minivan (easily resold) and a pop up. Yes it can be a pain putting up and taking down but it is the most economical - you can get a nice one for a few thousand dollars. However, most do not have a bathroom and if they do, the holding tanks are very tiny. Gray tanks are not permitted to be dumped on the ground and black tanks are definitely not permitted to be dumped on the ground - you will need to visit the dump stations regularly. A truck camper is usually very heavy. A truck to support a truck camper is a costly one - usually a 250 or 350 and many times a dual truck with air bags. They do have bathrooms but are small and so are the holding tanks. Perhaps what you should do is purchase a mini van big enough to get your things, stay at inexpensive motels and hostels throughout the country and get a nice tent for those time when you want to be in the outdoors. Yes you will need to visit the campground showers but you would be surprised on how nice some of them are.

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