Looking for a vehicle that will allow you to explore the great outdoors? You may be considering a truck camper or conversion van. Both types of campers have their own set of benefits and drawbacks. The best camper for you depends on a number of factors including where you plan to camp, how long you plan to camp, who you plan to camp with, and your personal preference. This guide outlines the pros and cons of camping in a truck camper vs van. We’ll cover comfort, cost, off-road capability, maintenance, living space, fuel efficiency, ease of driving, parking, and much more. Hopefully, this guide helps you decide which camping setup is right for you.
What is a Camper Van?
Camper vans are vans that have been modified to include living amenities, such as a bed, kitchenette, storage space, seating area, and sometimes a bathroom. A wide range of designs and layouts are available. Camper vans are often referred to as class B motorhomes. They are also called conversion vans.
Camper vans are built into existing vans. A camper van can range in size from a minivan to a large commercial van. Most models measure 18-24 feet in length. Some popular camper van models include the Mercedes Sprinter, Dodge Promaster, and Ford Transit.
You can convert your own van into a camper with a bit of DIY, hire a company to build you a custom van, or buy a pre-built model. Some of the biggest camper van manufacturers include Airstream, Winnebago, Thor, Coachmen, and Pleasure-Way.
Despite their compact size, camper vans come equipped with all of the essential amenities including a small kitchen, a sleeping area, seating, and storage space. Some models have a small bathroom. Some Class B RVs offer off-road capability.
Many people live out of their camper van full-time. Van life is popular among digital nomads. Others just use their van for short camping trips. Camper vans have become incredibly common over the past decade as van life has increased in popularity. Check out my guide to the pros and cons of van life for more info.
What is a Truck Camper?
A truck camper is a type of RV that sits in the bed of a pickup truck. Truck campers come with a range of amenities including a bed, dining area, refrigerator, stove, sink, heating, air conditioning, and a small bathroom. On most models, the bed sits over the cab of the truck. These are sometimes called cab over campers. Truck campers are also sometimes called slide-in campers.
Truck campers come in various sizes, shapes, and designs. There are small truck capers that only include a sleeping area. Larger truck campers may include pop-out sides to increase the living space. Different campers require different types of pickups to support their weight.
To haul a truck camper, you’ll need a pickup truck. For lighter campers, a 1/2 ton truck like the Ford F-150, Ram 1500, or Chevrolet Silverado 1500 may suffice. Heavier campers may need a heavy duty truck like a 3/4 ton or 1 ton. The largest campers often require a dually truck. A large truck camper might mount to a flatbed pickup. This is called a flatbed truck camper.
When you reach camp or when you’re not using the camper, you can use a series of jacks to remove it from your truck. This allows you to use the truck for other purposes.
In most states, truck campers do not need to be registered and licensed separately from the truck. They are not considered recreational vehicles. Instead, they are considered an accessory or cargo.
What Are the Differences Between a Truck Camper and Van?
The main difference between a truck camper and a van is the type of vehicle used. A truck camper is a camper shell that is mounted to the bed of a pickup truck. On the other hand, a camper van is a camper that is built into the back of a cargo van or passenger van.
Another key difference is the way you access the camper. With a truck camper, you can’t pass between the cab and the camper. You must exit the truck cab and walk around to the rear of the vehicle, where the camper door is located. With a camper van, you can walk from the driver’s seat to the camper. You don’t need to exit the vehicle. You can also access the camper through the side door.
off-road capabilities are also different. Trucks tend to be more off-road capable than vans. Trucks often feature four-wheel drive systems, heavy-duty suspension systems, lifted frames for improved ground clearance, and large tires for enhanced traction on rough terrain. In contrast, camper vans are usually not designed for off-road situations. They generally lack four-wheel drive capabilities or heavy-duty suspension systems. There are exceptions to this. Off-road vans are available.
Truck campers and vans do share some similarities. The amenities and interior space are usually pretty similar. These are both small campers designed for individuals and couples.
Truck Camper Pros
Truck campers can offer a number of benefits over camper vans. In this section, I’ll list some of the main advantages.
Truck Campers are More Versatile
Probably the biggest benefit of a truck camper is its versatility. When you use a truck camper, you have both a camper and a pickup truck. The vehicle is multi-use.
When you’re done camping, you can simply remove the camper. Most campers have jacks that allow you to easily lift it out of the truck bed. This job takes just 15-20 minutes.
After removing the camper, you have a normal pickup truck to use. You can use your pickup for hauling, commuting, towing, or running errands. It can be your daily driver if you choose. You can use it to help you move. When you use a truck camper, you only need to own one vehicle.
You can also change the type of RV pretty easily. If you have kids or if you simply want more space, you can sell the truck camper and buy a more spacious travel trailer or 5th wheel. It’s easy to upgrade.
You Can Remove the Truck Camper at Camp
When you arrive at camp, you can remove the truck camper at your campsite and drive the truck around normally. You can use the camper normally when it’s not attached to the truck.
This is nice if you’re staying at the same campsite for several days. You can set up a base camp and take your truck off-roading, fishing, hunting, sightseeing, etc. then drive back to camp at night. It’s nice being able to drive a normal vehicle around without all of your stuff.
It’s important to note that you can’t always use the truck and camper separately from the truck but most can. Camper vans don’t give you this option.
Off-Road Capability
Pickup trucks are much more capable off-road than vans. Pickups are commonly available with 4 wheel drive. This gives you more traction on loose surfaces. They also offer more ground clearance and larger tires. This allows you to drive over larger obstacles. Pickups generally have more low-end power than vans as well.
It’s also easy to upgrade a pickup to make it even more off-road capable. There are plenty of aftermarket parts available. You can install a lift kit to increase the ground clearance. You can also install larger, knobbier tires to improve traction. If you plan to drive through streams, you can install a snorkel. In addition, you can install recovery gear such as a winch and traction boards.
Driving an off-road capable vehicle really opens up your camping opportunities. With a 4×4 truck and camper, you can drive further into the woods on rough fire roads and forestry roads. You can drive through muddy and sandy patches. You can drive through snow and ice in the winter. This allows you to reach places that you couldn’t with a camper van. You can camp in off-the-beaten-path destinations.
There are some exceptions to this. You can buy 4×4 vans that are as off-road capable as pickups. These vehicles are a bit more rare and expensive. It’s also important to note that your truck loses some of its off-road capability when you add a camper.
Easy to Register and License
In most states, truck campers do not need to be registered, titled, or licensed. You only need to register and license the truck. The camper doesn’t need its own license plate. The camper is simply considered a truck accessory. It mounts to the truck.
There are exceptions to this. In a handful of states, you do need to register your truck camper. Some states require that campers be titled. You’ll want to check the laws before you buy a camper.
Easy to Insure
It’s also easy to insure a truck camper. Every major insurance company offers affordable policies for this type of camper. In some cases, you can include the camper under the truck’s policy.
If you don’t have a lien on your camper, you may not even need to insure it if you don’t want to. This isn’t recommended though. It’s a good idea to insure your camper from theft, fire, and vandalism.
Truck Campers Are More Spacious
Truck campers are usually larger and more spacious than camper vans. They are both longer and wider. This gives you more square footage to work with. Most truck campers have a kitchen, a dinette, a cab over bed, and a bathroom.
The cab over bed is a major space saver. Another benefit of this design is that the bed is out of the way. This frees up more space for seating and dining.
Some large truck campers even include pop-out sides to increase the interior room. Pop-outs usually aren’t available on camper vans. They are usually only available on class A and C RVs.
The Bed is Always Ready to Use
The bed in truck campers usually sits above the truck’s cab. This means the bed is also always ready to use. You don’t have to convert a dinette into a bed. You can just climb in and sleep anytime. Large campers come with a queen or even king-sized bed.
In a camper van, the bed is almost always convertible. You need to convert a sofa or dinette into a sleeping surface.
Truck Campers Are Tall Enough to Stand Up In
The ceiling in most truck campers is at least 6’4″- 6’6″ high. This allows you to stand up straight and walk around inside the camper. This makes truck campers the better choice for taller people.
There are some exceptions. Some minimalist truck campers aren’t tall enough to stand up in. Many camper vans also aren’t tall enough to stand up inside.
Truck Campers Can be Cheaper
You can buy a mid-range truck camper for around $25,000. Entry-level models start at around $15,000. You can buy a higher-end truck for $35,000-$45,000. Used truck campers are available for $5,000-$20,000.
Camper vans can get very expensive. Entry-level models start at around $60,000. Premium camper vans can sell for $100,000-$200,000.
Of course, you do have to factor in the cost of a pickup truck when you choose a truck camper. If you don’t already have a truck, you’ll have to buy one. A truck with a high enough payload rating to haul a camper is expensive. A new 1/2 ton truck starts at around $35,000. You can buy a decent used truck for around $10,000.
If you factor in the cost of a new pickup, the cost of a truck camper and camper van is around the same.
Very Little Maintenance Required
Truck campers require less maintenance than camper vans. They don’t have an engine, transmission, tires, or suspension components that can wear out.
As far as maintenance goes, you’ll have to winterize your camper when it gets cold so water lines don’t freeze up and cause damage. You may have to do some caulking once in a while to prevent leaks. You also need to inspect the jacks and tie-downs from time to time. These components can suffer from wear and tear from repeated use.
Of course, you still have to maintain the truck that you attach the camper to. The truck will require the same types of maintenance as any other vehicle. You’ll have to change the oil regularly, ensure that the tires have the appropriate pressure, keep the fluids topped up, and generally maintain the vehicle.
If you already own a truck, you’re not really adding any additional maintenance for yourself. If you buy a camper van, you have a whole other vehicle to maintain.
You Can Use Your Truck Camper Year Round
If you enjoy winter camping, a truck camper is an excellent choice. If you have a 4×4 truck, you can drive over snowy and icy terrain through the mountains to reach campsites during the winter months. These campsites may not be accessible with a 2 wheel drive van.
Truck campers are often better suited for winter camping as well. They often feature better insulation than vans. This will keep you warmer. Most models come with a propane heater built in. If you plan to camp during the winter regularly, you can buy a truck camper that is designed for four season use.
Vans can also be used for winter camping if they are equipped with a heater. Diesel heaters are popular among van lifers.
Heavier Towing Capacity
A full-sized pickup truck will have a greater towing capacity than a camper van. For example, a 3/4 ton truck can tow 13,000-20,000 pounds. Most camper vans are rated to tow 5,000-10,000 pounds.
The extra towing capacity is useful if you plan to tow a large boat or a heavy trailer. With a camper van, you’re more limited in what you can tow.
Truck Camper cons
Truck campers aren’t for everyone. In this section, I’ll outline some of the main drawbacks to consider.
Attaching and Removing the Camper Can be a Hassle
The process of mounting your camper on your truck can be a challenge if you’ve never done it before. The first couple of times that you do it, it’s a good idea to have a second set of eyes and hands to help you out. You’ll need someone to help you line up the camper while you back under it. You may also need help securing it to your truck safely.
It’s easy to damage your truck or the camper if you’re in a rush. You could back into the camper and damage the lights or bumper of your truck. Worst case, you could tip the camper over. You need to have patience to avoid causing damage.
After you’ve mounted and removed the camper a few times, the process becomes much easier. You should be able to get the job done in 15-20 minutes all by yourself. It will always be a bit of a hassle though.
You Have to Own a Pickup Truck to Use a Truck Camper
A truck camper needs to sit in the bed of a pickup truck. A pickup is the only vehicle that you can use with a truck camper. If you don’t already own a pickup truck, you’ll have to factor in the cost of buying one. This is a major expense.
You can’t use just any pickup to haul a truck camper. The truck needs to have sufficient payload capacity to handle the weight of the camper. Truck campers are heavy.
Most truck campers require a 3/4 ton or 1 ton truck. Some require dual rear wheels to support hte weight. Some smaller models can fit on a 1/2 ton truck. You usually can’t use a lightweight pickup to carry a camper.
Big trucks are expensive. A truck that is capable of hauling a camper will cost at least $40,000-$50,000 new. You can buy a used truck for under $25,000. You could buy an older truck for less but then you have to deal with mechanical issues associated with older vehicles.
It’s also important to note that not all campers are compatible with all trucks. You need to have the proper bed size to fit the camper that you want. Many truck campers are only compatible with an 8 foot bed. Smaller campers can fit in a 5.5-6.5 foot bed.
Truck Campers are Not Stealthy
When you use a truck camper, you stick out. Everyone knows you’re camping. If you park on a city street or in a parking lot, you can’t blend in with the other cars.
This can attract some unwanted attention. The police will be more likely to knock on your door. If you’re trying to camp in a city, you could get ticketed. Some cities have laws against sleeping in vehicles and camping within city limits. A property owner could also ask you to leave if you’re parked in a private parking lot overnight or in a residential area.
With a van, you can be more stealthy. A plain white van can blend into a city. This allows you to camp in more urban areas.
Poor Gas Mileage
Adding a camper to a truck greatly reduces the fuel economy. A modern truck without a camper might get 15-20 mph. When you add a camper, you might only get 9-12 mpg. This is pretty poor.
Your gas mileage decreases for a couple of reasons. First, the camper adds a lot of drag. It sticks out above the truck and to the sides and creates wind resistance. Truck campers are not aerodynamically efficient.
Campers also add a lot of weight. A camper can weigh anywhere from 1000-5000 pounds. Your truck will burn more gas to carry the extra weight.
Vans, on the other hand, can achieve much better fuel economy. A modern van can get 20 mpg with a full camping setup in the back.
If you’re planning on traveling cross country with your truck camper, you should take the gas mileage into consideration. The cost of fuel can add up quickly. Particularly if you’re getting less than 10 mpg. If you’re only going to use your camper for short weekend camping trips around home, gas mileage is less important.
You Can’t Pass Between the Cab and the Camper Without Going Outside
Personally, I think this is one of the most significant drawbacks of a truck camper setup. With a truck camper, you have to exit the cab, walk around the vehicle, then enter the camper from the outside. You can’t access the cab from the camper.
This can be a major annoyance. If you forget something in the truck camper, you can’t just reach back and grab it. You have to pull over, park, and get out of the vehicle to get it.
If it’s cold, rainy, or muddy where you’re camping, this can be annoying. You have to get dressed and walk through wet and dirty conditions to access the camper or truck cab. You can’t just drive away in your PJs.
This can also be a security issue. If you’re camping and some scary people show up, you can’t just crawl into the driver’s seat and get out of there. If there is a dangerous wild animal, such as a bear, outside, you can’t drive away without going outside. You have to wait until the animal leaves before you can move from the camper into the cab.
Having to walk between the cab and truck camper also makes you less stealthy. If someone sees you climbing into the camper, they will know that you’re camping. If you’re camping somewhere you’re not supposed to, they could call the police on you.
With a van, you can crawl from the back into the driver’s seat and leave whenever you need to.
Harder to Drive
A truck camper is usually taller, wider, and longer than a van. Most trucks and campers measure around 18-25 feet in length, 11.5-12.5 feet in height, and 7.5-8.5 feet in length.
The sides of the camper stick out further than the sides of your truck. This makes a truck and camper more difficult to maneuver. You have to be extremely careful while navigating tight areas such as narrow city streets, narrow forest roads, and parking lots. It would be easy to hit something.
You will also notice your truck’s performance decline when you attach your camper. While driving, you will feel the extra weight of the camper.
You won’t be able to slow down as fast. Your braking distance will be longer. You need to anticipate stops and brake sooner when coming to stop lights. Give yourself plenty of room.
You also won’t be able to accelerate as fast. You won’t be able to pass people as quickly as you’re used to. When passing on a two-lane road, you need to consider this.
Truck campers also catch a lot of wind while driving. When a semi passes you, you might feel the camper blowing around. A large gust of wind could also blow you off your line. You have to be careful while driving in windy conditions. If it’s extremely windy, pull over so you don’t tip.
You also need to be careful while cornering. The camper makes your truck a bit top-heavy. If you corner too hard, you could tip your truck. Turn slowly and steadily.
If you don’t have any experience driving a large vehicle, you may not feel comfortable driving a big truck with a camper. It can be too much for some drivers to handle. Before setting off on a big trip, you might want to practice around town to get a feeling for driving a larger vehicle.
To be safe, it is also best to maintain a low speed while driving a truck with a camper. Ideally, you shouldn’t exceed 55mph.
Vans are a few feet shorter. They also aren’t as tall or wide. This makes them a bit easier to maneuver.
Truck Campers are Harder to Park
Truck campers are longer, wider, and taller than vans. This makes finding a parking spot a bit more difficult.
An average parking spot measures 18 feet long and 8.5 feet wide. Some truck and campers are too long or too wide for an average parking spot. You may have to take up two spots. In a small parking lot or crowded city, it can be a challenge to find a space big enough to park.
You also have to watch out for low entrances and overhanging tree branches while navigating parking lots. You must know the height of your vehicle and pay attention when passing under anything.
In addition, you can’t park in most parking garages with a truck camper. You also can’t go through most restaurant drive-throughs with a truck camper. This is somewhat limiting if you plan to spend any amount of time in urban areas. There are lots of places you can’t park because the camper is too big.
The only exception is if you use a small pop-up camper. These are similar in size to a large van. You can drive and park in most places with a pop-up camper.
Vans are usually easier to park but not always. High-top vans with an extended wheelbase can be similar in size to a truck and camper.
Moisture Can Be an Issue in Truck Campers
In many truck campers, moisture tends to accumulate in the cab-over bed area. If you don’t do anything about it, you may experience mildew.
To reduce the accumulation of moisture, you need to make sure your camper has good ventilation. Open windows when you can. Turn on the ventilation fan. It’s also a good idea to use some moisture absorbers.
Moisture can also be an issue in vans but it’s usually easier to deal with.
Truck Campers are Too Tall to Drive Some Places
You have to consider height restrictions while driving a truck camper. If you mount your camper to a big, lifted pickup, it may be over 12 feet tall. That’s almost as tall as a semi truck. To compare, a high-top van is around 8-9 feet tall.
The extra height makes it difficult to drive in areas with low clearance. You can’t drive a truck camper through drive-throughs or in parking garages. There may be some bridges that you can’t drive under. You also have to keep an eye out for low-hanging branches.
The Off-Road Capability of a Truck Camper Might Not Be as Good as You Think
A truck camper can be driven off-road. Your truck’s off-road capability will be reduced when your camper is attached. There are several reasons for this.
A large camper can make the truck more top-heavy. You have to be careful while driving over steep terrain. It’s easier to tip your truck over while driving off-road with a heavy camper attached.
There are also some places that you won’t be able to access with a camper due to the extra height and width. If you’re driving narrow trails through a forest with lots of branches overhanging, you may have trouble driving through with a massive camper. You can use a chainsaw to clear your path in some cases. Sometimes, roads are just too overgrown to drive through.
The camper will also affect your vehicle’s acceleration and braking. You also won’t be able to hit obstacles with as much speed. This can affect off-road performance. Your vehicle will also be much heavier with the camper. If you get stuck, it may be harder to get unstuck.
If you’re planning on driving on some really rugged terrain, there are some alternative options. You could use a lightweight pop-up camper. These are small and light enough that they don’t affect your truck’s handling much. A rooftop tent is also an option. Of course, you could also use a ground tent or hammock.
Truck Campers are Harder to Get In and Out Of
It can be difficult for people with mobility issues to climb in and out of a truck camper. The camper must sit up high due to the height of the bed of the truck. You’ll have to climb some stairs or a ladder to get into the camper.
The bed also sits up high over the cab of the truck. You’ll have to climb a ladder to get up into bed.
Older campers and those with certain disabilities may have trouble using a truck camper. Those who use a wheelchair will also have trouble using a truck camper.
Vans are much easier to climb in and out of because they sit lower. It is even possible to install a wheelchair lift in a camper van.
Van Pros
Vans Are More Stealthy
If you plan on stealth camping in a city, a van is the better choice. With a van, you can camp in parking lots, on city streets, and in residential areas without anyone knowing that you’re camping. When designed properly, a van blends right in.
Having a stealthy camper may be necessary if you’re a van lifer living out of your van or if you simply want to camp in urban areas. A stealthy van is also beneficial for those who travel cross country. You can pull over in towns and find a place to camp. You don’t have to look for a hotel. Having the ability to stealth camp really opens up your camping opportunities.
Not all vans are stealthy. You have to choose the right kind of van if you want to stealth camp. The best kind of van for stealth camping is a plain white cargo van. These commercial-looking vans can fit in anywhere in the city. People are used to seeing them everywhere. Minivans are also incredibly stealthy. Nobody will know you’re camping.
You want to avoid conversion vans that look like campers. These are not stealthy. You’ll also want to avoid modifications that make your van less stealthy. For example, vent fans, bike racks, luggage racks, and curtains can make your van look like it’s being lived in.
It’s important to note that the legality of stealth camping varies. In some places, it’s perfectly legal. In other places, you could get ticketed if you’re caught. Do your research before you steath camp.
Vans Get Better Gas Mileage
A modern camper van can get 15-20 mpg on the highway. To compare, a truck and camper might only get 8-12 mpg on the highway.
The savings in fuel can really add up over the life of your camper. An extra 5 mpg could save you thousands of dollars over the course of thousands of miles of driving.
Fuel economy is important if you’re planning to put a lot of miles on your camper. For example, if you take a 3000 mile road trip across the country in a van that gets 15 mpg, you’ll burn 200 gallons of gas. This will cost you $700 at $3.50 per gallon.
If, on the other hand, you drive a truck and camper that only gets 10 mpg and you take the same 3000 mile road trip, you’ll burn 300 gallons of gas. This will cost you $1050 at $3.5 per gallon.
On this trip, you’ll save $350 in gas if you drive a van instead of a truck camper. If you were to put 150,000 miles on your vehicle over the course of its lifetime, you will save tens of thousands of dollars in gas if you choose a fuel efficient van instead of a gas guzzling truck and camper.
This savings will allow you to travel further and camp more often. It’s also nice if you’re on a tight budget. Gas is one of the biggest expenses of camping.
Vans Can Be Cheaper
If you’re comfortable with DIY, it is possible to build your own camper van for little money. You can buy a decent used van for $5,000-$10,000. You could convert it yourself for $2,000-$5,000 worth of materials and some of your time. It’s possible to build your own camper van for under $10,000.
