Why Should You Buy a Truck Camper?
When it comes to recreational vehicles, there are so many options that it can be somewhat overwhelming to a new buyer who’s not sure what they’re after. If you want to have the convenience and security of a travel trailer with the compact nature of a traditional tent, a truck camper might be just the thing for you. You’ll have more versatility when you’re driving and won’t have to worry about the logistical complications created by a separate trailer. Broadmoor RV, located in the Tri-Cities area in Pasco, Washington, can help you determine the right truck camper for your needs.
History of Truck Campers
The truck camper came about in the middle of the 20th century as an alternative to the traditional RV, and their development has followed a similar path. By the 1980s, it became standard practice to put truck campers over compact trucks, but the weight of the campers often overwhelmed the smaller chassis. Nowadays, it’s more common to use a full-size truck to carry a truck camper. Innovations in amenities have allowed truck campers to provide as many luxuries as a normal RV while condensing space and keeping costs down.
What Is a Truck Camper?
Truck campers generally anchor to the truck bed and many feature a cab-over design for extra room. There are additional options to increase space, such as slide-out styles. Truck campers may be hard-sided with wood or aluminum framing, incorporating fiberglass, wood, and aluminum in their construction to remain as lightweight as possible.
Pop-up truck campers have roofs that can be raised at your destination, which means your driving profile is lowered, reducing drag and wind resistance. These roofs can be soft canvas or constructed similarly to the rest of the camper. All the moving parts of this style can create more chances for malfunction, however, so keep that in mind when choosing between a pop-up style and a more traditional higher profile camper.
Advantages Over Other RVs
There are a number of advantages to owning a truck camper over other recreational vehicles. One of the biggest perks is how much money you’ll save -- truck campers are much more economically priced owing to their smaller size. Also, you can easily upgrade either your truck or your camper without having to purchase an entirely separate vehicle, and if you buy either one used, that’ll save you even more money. Plus, truck campers don’t have hinges or tires or engines that can wear out, so you won’t have to fork out as much for maintenance costs.
The superior maneuverability of truck campers allows you to go off-road and seek out those beaches and secluded places that would be off-limits to a full-sized RV or even a travel trailer.
No more camping in a crowded RV park! You’re also able to maneuver down tight roads more easily and you won’t need an entire parking lot’s worth of space to turn your rig around because your turning radius is so much narrower. Go where you really want to go!
Because truck campers rest on the back of your truck, they’re easier to drive through urban areas. You can park anywhere your truck fits and the lower profile of a truck camper is less likely to offend neighborhood associations when you’re visiting family in residential areas.
When you’re not towing your entire living situation behind you, that gives you room to tow something fun, like your boat or your powersports vehicles. Since the camper is easy to remove from the truck bed, you can also go on short jaunts and carry other loads in your truck.
You know what a truck camper is now -- it’s versatile, compact, and convenient. If you’re ready to take the plunge and set up your truck with a unique and cozy camping solution, come see us at Broadmoor RV in Pasco, serving the Tri-Cities area of Kennewick and Richmond, Washington. We also welcome customers from Walla Walla, Spokane and Seattle, Washington, as well as those across the border in La Grande, Pendleton, and Hermiston, Oregon.