Can You Have A Truck Camper And A Travel Trailer?

by | Last updated on January 24, 2024

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A truck camper

can make your vehicle too tall

. Some truck campers push the vehicle up to heights of over 12′ tall. This is almost the equivalent of driving a tractor-trailer down the road. This means you may have trouble getting into gas stations and underneath of tunnels and bridges.

What are the cons of a truck camper?

TRUCK CAMPER PROS TRUCK CAMPER CONS * Self-Contained * Separate Vehicle + Camper * Drivability * Time-Consuming Tasks * Depreciates Well * Cramped Space * Low Maintenance * Small Tank Capacity

Why are truck campers more expensive than travel trailers?


Because truck campers are heavy and require heavy duty trucks

, they are more expensive overall than a travel trailer – and they have much less space.

How much can I tow with a truck camper on?

Weight distribution systems dramatically increase the Gross Trailer Weight and Tongue Weight capacities of a hitch. With a properly installed weight distribution system, Class 3 hitches have a maximum capacity of

8,000 to 10,000 pounds of Gross Trailer Weight

.

Are truck campers hard on trucks?

Truck campers are pretty easy to drive. While you still need to be considerate of your height, weight, and center of gravity,

driving a truck camper isn’t much harder than driving the truck

. They are also easy to maneuver since they sit right in the truck bed.

Can you live full time in a truck camper?


Full-time living in your truck camper may come with responsibilities and regular upkeep, but is an incredibly freeing experience

. Many RVers who have larger trailers have to pass up parks, campgrounds and other off-road places because they don’t have the accessibility that a truck camper provides.

Can you sleep in a truck camper off the truck?


No problems

. If you go to any sportsman shows or camper displays, they will usually be displayed off the truck and people climb in and out of the bed all day with no problems. However, floor support is critical and taking weight off the jacks will extend their life.

How long do truck campers last?

Most truck campers can last

20 years or more

. With a little care and regular maintenance, your truck camper will stay with you for a long time, without you having to worry about replacing it.

What is the difference between a travel trailer and a camper?


Camping trailers typically take up less space, but travel trailers provide more room for sleep, storage, or other amenities

. Travel trailers possess the ability to drive on rough terrain but may lack the durability of a camping trailer.

Do I need a dually for a truck camper?

Once fully loaded and wet,

most single-slide campers (and some non-slide, hard sides as well) require the capacity of a dually truck

. Any camper with more than one slide absolutely requires a dual rear wheel truck.

How hard is it to drive a truck camper?

Driving a truck camper is certainly going to be

one of these easiest RV transport experiences you’ll encounter

, but that doesn’t mean it isn’t going to take some work. You’ll need to practice behind the wheel, so to give you some starter tips, we here at The Outpost RV have covered some of the most basic concerns.

How fast can you drive with a truck camper?

California. RV Speed Limit:

55 mph

for trucks and trailers on rural and urban interstates.

Are truck bed campers worth it?

Easily one of the top 10 reasons buy a truck camper.

The maneuverability of the truck camper rig is hard to beat

. The compact size of the rig coupled with the small turning radius of the pickup truck means you can maneuver out of trouble much easier than with towable RVs and large motorhomes.

Can you stand up in a truck camper?

Basically, there are four types of campers that are considered “truck campers”. The camper shell topper is a truck camper at it’s very most basic design. Essentially just one step up from tent camping, a camper shell is a fiberglass shell that does give one enclosed shelter but

does not give room to stand up

.

What size travel trailer can a f150 pull?

Generally, F-150s can only safely pull trailers weighing

less than 5,000 pounds

. However, some models with the right engine and the right towing package can pull trailers as heavy as 7,000 pounds. So if you have an F-150, you should be able to easily use it to pull a lightweight travel trailer or fifth-wheel camper.

What size truck is needed to pull a travel trailer?

This is why some people find the need to go from a

three-quarter-ton truck to a one-ton

—for example, if you have a RAM 2500 HD truck, but the fifth wheel’s pin weight, plus passengers, exceed 3,000 pounds. The average RAM 2500 payload maxes out around 3,000 pounds, but the average RAM 3500 can handle 4,000 pounds.

Can you pull a horse trailer with a truck camper?

Subject: RE: Towing horses with camper on truck.

You will need an optional suspension upgrade for the rear axle; IE air bags or shocks, Timbrens or springs

. The longer the hitch extension and tongue weight, the lower the truck will ride. You may also be overweight on the truck’s rear axle and tires’ capacity.

What are truck campers called?

In the United States and Canada, truck campers are also known as

truck bed campers, slide-in campers, pickup campers, and cabover campers

. Europeans call them demountable campers. In Australia, they are commonly known as tray campers.

What are the advantages of a truck camper?

Truck campers have

less maintenance than travel trailers or motorhomes because they have less parts – no wheels, no engines

. Also, MOST states consider truck campers cargo, not RVs, so you don’t have to register them. This helps save money and hassle too!

Can you put a camper on a short bed truck?


Yes, you can simply slide a short bed truck camper on to the bed your pickup

. Short bed truck campers or slide-in campers is a unit that attaches and fits snuggly on to the back of your pickup truck.

Can you use an RV bathroom while driving?

The good news is that

you can use the RV bathroom while the vehicle is in motion

. Because the electrical systems are in action while the car is on the road, you can use the bathroom and flush with the water pump as normal.

Can a half ton truck carry a camper?

The problem is unlike many of the 3/4- and 1-ton trucks on the market,

most half-tons are not equipped to handle the bulkiness of a full-size camper

. None of the current or even older half-ton pickups can safely haul a 1,000- to 2,000-pound payload in the bed.

Do truck campers have showers?


Larger truck campers will have dry baths or wet baths

. An RV dry bath compares to a full-size bathroom in a house. It has an enclosed toilet and a shower with a curtain or glass door. RV dry bathrooms usually have a sink, but some leave the sink out to save space.

Do I have to remove my tailgate to carry a truck camper?

The tailgate does provide some support for the rear of the camper.

If you remove it, you could end up with a bit of your truck camper overhanging your bed

. What is this? So without the tailgate, this slight overhang will not have support and could become an issue for you.

Can you ride in a cabover camper?

Is it Legal to Ride in the Back of a Truck Camper? In general, the answer is yes. With just a few exceptions,

most states allow passengers to ride in the camper while the truck is in motion

. This is a little surprising since most of the same states don’t allow passengers in a travel trailer or 5th-wheel.

Can I put a truck camper on a flatbed?

Yes. A standard truck camper sits inside a truck bed using the bed’s walls to help support the structure. However,

owning a flatbed truck doesn’t have to prohibit you from owning a truck camper

. It just means you might need some adjustments for mounting the tie-downs and turnbuckles, but it’s not an impossible task.

Timothy Chehowski
Author
Timothy Chehowski
Timothy Chehowski is a travel writer and photographer with over 10 years of experience exploring the world. He has visited over 50 countries and has a passion for discovering off-the-beaten-path destinations and hidden gems. Juan's writing and photography have been featured in various travel publications.