G'day All,Our first Truck Camper was a Starcraft Pine Mountain Lonestar S Pop-up.It was very small, if someone was cooking, the other person, had to sit down.Great TC though, with a big overesized East-West Queen Bed.I thought it had everything, wife thought it was too small! Weighed about 1150-1200lbs dry. Great for offroad, with my then 2002 Ford F250 Supercab Diesel.Had some fantastic times.

i dont remember what year or brand name it was. heck, seems i only have a couple pictures of it.an 8' camper. 5 gallon fresh water tank with 12v pump. had an ice box and cat heater. no bathroom. we took it to a lot of places and had great memories.

In 1976 I bought a new Beaver 9 1/2 and kept and used it for 24 years. Never had a leak (I did all the necessary maintenance) and it was still in usable shape when I sold it. Carried it on a 1974 3/4T camper special with stake bed tie downs (never had a problem with them). It had two extra rear leafs and carried the camper well. I had over 60,000 miles on it. I towed an 18' ski boat and got a constant 9 MPG with/without the boat and or camper. I had an 'extendable' rear bumper to use with the camper. It had two 2 1/2" square mounts that allowed it to be extended. I never weighed it because the 'Weight Police' were not invented yet. I moved to a Lance 9' then a TT, then a lance 821, now a 30' Lazy Daze class C (I cant climb to the overhead bed anymore).

1998 caribou 9EIt is the one I have now going on three years of fun!!!!!!!

My first "truck camper" was a WilderNest tent-topper:Lots of room, more primitive but very versatile. Perhaps it is more of a topper than a TC, (but it does go on the truck bed and it is removable.) If not considered a "TC" in the pure definition, then first would be a '93 NorthStar TC-800 pop-up.(note: image shown is one taken from the internet.. not my actual one, but exactly the same, right down to the painter pole supports.)

My first TC came with a 70 Ranchero that I bought, (4 men could lift it and put it on the truck......no jacks) it had a small east/west bed over the cab and a "U" shaped dinette in the front that converted into a bed. An ice box designed for a 25# block and 10 gallons of fresh with a little sink with a hand pump that drained out of the back. I have no idea what brand it was, but it was my first and it introduced me to the world of TC camping..........that was over 30 years ago and 6 TC's.

What Was You First Truck Camper? | Good Sam Community

DWeikert
Explorer II
Jul 06, 2013
Although I did take a few trips camping under the cap of a Toyota Tundra, my first TC is the one in my sig.
dadwolf2
Explorer
Jul 06, 2013
We almost bought a Wildernest like d3500Ram had but had to go with the tent option at that point in our life.

Our 2011 Outfitter is our first & current TC.
tktplz
Explorer
Jul 05, 2013
I'm still on my 1ST 1. A 2010 Travel Lite 690FD in my Signature. Bought it in November 2010 and will have it till around 2025 when I retire. Then I'll get a new truck and camper to retire with. It stays in a garage out of the weather 24-7 except when it's camping, that's both the truck and the camper. I have a company car and 3 motorcycles so the truck is hardly used except to haul the camper.
6pac
Explorer
Jul 05, 2013
Our first camper was a 14'tt which we rented in 1967 . Our first TC was a Lance 815 in 2001 retired Alaska bound ,traded for an Lance 845 in Ak. Then in 2005 returned to Ak an upon arriving in Montana wife saw the Lance 881 and we traded the Lance 845 for it.
travelnutz
Explorer II
Jul 05, 2013
A Georgie Boy 8 ft TC purchased new in the Fall of 1965. Put it on a 1966 Chev 30 pickup with a 292 cu in big 6 engine and 4 on the floor with a creeper gear also.

Truck was also used to put our 28 ft Owens cabin cruiser in the water in the spring and pull out in the Fall is why we had the creeper gear. Had a special trailer made from a mobile home frame with 6 wheels on it. The boat's massive wood cradle was carriage bolted to the trailer rails. The big surprise was that the massive wood cradle would make the trailer float and I had to bolt 2 old heavy stamping die sets (about 800 lbs total) to the trailer frame to sink it down so I could drive the boat on the cradle. When the boat fuel tanks were close to full (110-120 gals)the truck rear whhels would just spin on the ramp and wouldn't pull it out. My Dad would chain his V-8 car ball hitch to the trucks front frame and with both vehicles pulling, out it would come. Did what you had to!
Sheriffdoug
Explorer
Jul 05, 2013
ticki12,
The Avion C11 looks an amazing build & design for it's age, will be around for ever!
MTRhino
Explorer
Jul 05, 2013
Also had a topper on a 70 Chevy 1/2ton but only for a year or so, then purchased a 76 Chevy 3/4ton with a gutless 350 and a 4speed to haul a early 70's Security 9foot camper. No bathroom but had a small room for a porta-potty, cooktop, sink and dinette. Hauled that thing all over the country with a 2 horse trailer behind it going to rodeo's. Used it for many years, year round with just a catalytic heater by the door when it was cold. Last I saw it the pickup had 385,000 miles on it and was still hauling the camper when we traded it for an 87 3/4ton Chevy.
ticki2
Explorer
Jul 05, 2013
Still on my first one , it will probably out live me .
samsontdog
Explorer
Jul 05, 2013
59 Chevy Apache {not sure on spelling} with a big slide in box type camper with a bed and small propane two burner stove. The Wife and I plus 5 kids used that for several years before buying a 1960 + 16 or 18 ft Kenskill TT
mooring_product
Explorer
Jul 05, 2013
1998 KZ sportsman. I could set the cruise at 80mph and just cruise.

yeehaw by MooringProduct, on Flickr