First, backpackers and tent campers who are ready to get off the ground and have more camping comfort.
Pop-up truck campers tend to appeal to two specific customer groups. So which is right for you a hard side or a pop-up truck camper? However, there are important exceptions to this rule including hard side truck camper rigs set-up for beach camping and overlanding. The majority of hard side truck camper owners mostly travel on pavement and improved roads. Some pop-up truck campers even work with mini-trucks like the Toyota Tacoma, Nissan Titan, and Chevy Colorado.Ībove: A Toyota Tacoma and Four Wheel Camper, photo taken by Andrew SaundersĪbove: Hard side campers can go off pavement, Lance 855S and Chevy 3500Ĭompared to typical towables and motorhomes, hard side truck camper rigs offer significantly better off-road capabilities, but are not well suited to extreme off-road travel like pop-up truck campers are. Near universal half-ton truck compatibility is another major advantage of pop-up truck campers, especially for the soft-side models (more on soft versus hard pop-ups next). Most hard side truck campers wouldn’t dare follow.Ībove: Two Northstar pop-up campers on half-ton trucks, photo taken by Sue and Tom Schaaf With the roof in the driving position, pop-up truck campers have the ability to drive deep into areas with low branches and other roadway obstacles. The lower weight and center of gravity also make pop-up truck campers well suited to off-road travel. This significantly reduces drag and improves fuel economy, wind noise, and overall driving dynamics compared to hard side truck campers (and most other forms of RVs).Ībove: Where most hard side truck campers would need to turn around if they saw this sign, pop-up truck campers could drive right through. First, they have a much lower profile and center of gravity in the roof-down or driving position. In turn, pop-up truck campers have many of their own advantages. Hard side truck campers also have more floor plan and feature options including dry baths, slide-outs, and sofas.Ībove: Hallmark pop-up camper in the driving position Hard side truck campers offer many inherent advantages including better overall insulation, better overall sound isolation, and more interior storage. Hard side truck campers have a fixed roof and solid sidewalls. When a pop-up roof is raised, the camper is said to be in the camping position.Ībove: A Wolf Creek 850, non-slide, hard side truck camper When a pop-up roof is lowered, the camper is said to be in the driving position. Pop-up truck campers have a roof that raises and lowers the upper third of the truck camper. There are two different types of truck campers hard side truck campers, and pop-up truck campers.Ībove: A pop-up Four Wheel Camper (top down) next to a hard side AdventurerĪbove: Palomino pop-up campers in the driving position (left) and camping position (right) That will either confirm your choices, or send you back here for a quick rethink. Then it’s time to stop reading the internet and go see the truck campers in person. For further insights into your camper choices, we recommend reading the Review section and the Articles By Brand section (bottom of website) for additional content related to your selected brands and models. With that information in hand, launch the Camper Chooser system, enter those preferences, and find the specific truck camper models that match your requirements.įrom there you can use the Buyers Guide to compare MSRPs, floor plans, capacities, and specifications. Both articles focus on the importance of knowing exactly what you need and want in a truck camper, and help you make those critical decisions.įollowing these two articles, you should know your truck camper preferences. Newbies Start Hereįor newbies and experienced truck campers alike, we highly recommend reading, “ The Best Truck Camper” first, and then returning to this article.
As such, the time has finally arrived to completely rethink and rewrite, “How To Choose A Truck Camper”. For two, the floor plans, features, and options available in the truck camper marketplace have greatly increased. For one, our understanding and experience with truck campers has multiplied many fold. That article helped set the tone for the mission of Truck Camper Magazine, and has been read over 200,000 times. In January of 2007, Truck Camper Magazine published an article titled, “How To Choose A Truck Camper”. Newbie or expert, these are the big decisions. Truck Camper Magazine lays out the critical decisions for choosing a truck camper, explains the important options, details their pros and cons, and adds a dash of real world perspective.