In North America the term truck camper and its derived acronym TC, are generally used to refer to any recreational vehicle or RV that may be carried in the bed of a pickup truck. In North America, this RV type is sometimes known as a slide-in or cab-over .
In English-speaking Europe the term demountable or dismountable is more frequently used, and in Australia, the term slide-on is used to describe RVs of this type.
Technically speaking, any RV that can be easily dismounted from its carrying vehicle qualifies as a truck camper. In Australia it is very common to see them mounted on flatbed trucks, or even on what, in North America, would be considered a car.
The lines of definition can blur between a truck camper and a Class C with some Expedition vehicles like the XPCamper or the Earthroamer.
Truck campers are usually considered the most versatile form of recreational vehicle. They are capable of going virtually anywhere a pickup truck can go. The truck camper has been around since the early 1950s, and has gone through an evolution in development that places it on par with many larger and more expensive RV types in terms of amenities.
North America's largest truck camper manufacturer is Lance Camper Manufacturing Corporation of Lancaster, California, followed by Arctic Fox of La Grande, Oregon. Truck campers continue to be most popular in the Western United States and Canada, and this is where most manufacturers are headquartered They are slowly making inroads into the eastern part of the continent as the baby boomer generation retires, and are looking for comfort combined with freedom and versatility. The truck camper is also becoming a very popular RV type in Australia, where rugged terrain makes them a practical choice.
Truck campers are a popular choice for horseback riders, fishermen, hunters, and other sportsmen as a boat or horse trailer may be easily towed. They facilitate camping "off-road" in relative comfort.
A good quality truck camper can cost as much as a much larger RV. All the amenities have to be put into a much smaller package, and the RV has to be able to tolerate the abuse of rough roads.
Categories
There are different classes of RVs generally labeled as truck campers:
Shows and rallies
There are several RV shows each year featuring truck campers. The major Truck Camper Show held bi-annually in the US Midwest features truck campers exclusively. This is usually combined with a national rally.
Many truck camper clubs hold rallies throughout the United States, Canada, Australia, and Europe. See some listings below.
History
Features
Modern truck campers contain most of the amenities found in larger RV types, including refrigerators, stoves, furnaces, ovens, microwaves, bathrooms, showers, etc. Many modern truck campers utilize "slides", which are a movable sections of exterior wall, usually containing the dinette.
Truck campers are loaded and off-loaded to a vehicle utilizing four corner jacks which enable the camper to be raised, and the truck backed up underneath. The camper is then secured to the vehicle with chains or spring-loaded tie-downs.
Suitable truck types
Larger North American pickup trucks are generally the best for carrying a truck camper, although many manufacturers produce units for lighter duty European and Japanese models. The gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) of a truck is the figure used to determine what size camper may be carried. The GVWR, minus the weight of the truck with passengers and fuel is the payload that the truck may legally carry. Stability can be improved by the addition of a sway bar, add-on overload springs (such as Supersprings) or inflatable airbags on the rear suspension. Products like Torklift's "Stableloads" can also be utilized to allow earlier engagement of factory overload springs, improving stability in cornering. Suspension modifications do not increase the legal carrying capacity of the truck, but can improve safety and handling. Most campers are rated at their "dry weight" which is the weight of the camper less any fluids like fresh water or sewage, and any possessions or add-ons that may add to the total weight. These need to be taken into account when determining the maximum size camper a truck may carry. Tires and braking capacity are also two important factors when determining maximum payload. It should be noted that the total axle capacity is always higher than the GVWR. Tires and braking are frequently the rate determining factor, from a safety point of view.
Pickups come in many different varieties; Single Rear Wheels (SRWs), Dual Rear Wheels (DRWs), short bed, long bed, gas, diesel, 1/2 tons, 3/4 tons and 1 ton and up. There are also other factors in the equation such as tire rating. A large enough truck should be used to handle the payload of the camper. A DRW will provide more stability and payload than an SRW, however a DRW is more likely to get stuck in snow or sand, and is not as easy to drive around when the camper is off. A one ton truck will carry more than a 3/4 ton truck, which in turn will carry more than a 1/2 ton truck. There is a significant frame difference between a 1/2 ton truck and a 3/4 truck. The frames on a 3/4-ton and 1-ton truck are essentially identical, Only the suspension and axles tend to vary, as the 1-ton has dual rear wheels available.
A diesel engine will provide more torque and hill climbing capability and provide better fuel economy, but the initial investment is higher along with the dry weight.
A long-bed truck is better suited for most campers. It is very important that the center of gravity of a truck camper be located forward of the rear axle. This is far easier to accomplish with a long bed truck. Some manufacturers do produce campers specifically for short bed trucks or at least interchangeable with long beds.
Carrying capacity and safety may be enhanced by replacing the standard 16-inch wheels found on most pickups with 19.5-inch rims, which will handle higher load rated F and G Class tires, rather than the normal recommended E-Class. These tires have more plys and are stiffer, but are less suited to use on sand or in snow. Two companies produce 19.5-inch rims for pickups, Vision and Rickson.
Tom Wells' comprehensive Guide to Buying a Truck Camper (reprinted with permission)
While some of the information below has already been outlined previously, this article by Tom Wells of Sacramento, California offers a detailed guide that anyone considering the purchase of a truck camper should read to ensure they make a safe choice.
Truck campers are a unique RV choice. They are the only land based RV without wheels; yet they can be fully self-contained and go virtually anywhere you can get a pick-up truck to go (within reason). Their popularity is rising as their amenities have come to equal anything you can find in other RV types. If you already own another type of RV like a travel trailer, you will already have been exposed to some of this information, but what I’ve tried to concentrate on are the specifics of what makes buying a truck camper distinctive. Here are topics discussing the items uniquely important for considerations when buying a truck camper:Most important consideration when buying a truck camper is weight. The camper you will carry will be determined in large part by the truck you intend to put it on. Most own their truck first (if you plan to buy a new truck and a new camper, determine the camper you want first). If you own your truck already first thing is to look at the Gross Vehicle Weight Ratio (GVWR) listed on the door edge of your truck. The GVWR is the maximum weight of you fully loaded truck. Next, you should have your truck weighed with a full tank of gas at a public scale (at truck stops, waste disposal sites, and some states allow you to use the highway scales to name a few). Subtract the weight of your truck at the scale from your trucks GVWR and that determines how much camper you can carry. For example, the typical ¾ ton truck will weigh about 6,200 lbs unloaded (depending on manufacturer and optional equipment). ¾ ton trucks usually have a GVWR of 8,800 lbs. The math is simple; 8,800 – 6,200 lbs means you would be able to carry a 2600 lb camper fully loaded with all gear, food, people, liquids and anything else. The next most important thing to know is that when you go to a dealer's lot and you look at the weight information marked on a metal plate somewhere on the back of the camper, that weight is for the camper without options and without any thing loaded. A good rule of thumb for guessing how much that unit will weigh loaded for a weekend with all of the options you will want is to add 1000 to 1500 lbs to what you see. There are campers available in a wide range of weights, from small light campers that can go on a import compact pick-up to huge beasts of a camper with double slide outs that are better suited to go on heavy duty commercial trucks like the Ford F550. And in between is everything else. If you own the more common ¾ ton truck and you have found you can carry a 2600 lb camper, there are many campers available. When you go to the dealerships or to an RV show, a surprising majority of the salesmen and factory representatives will tell you your truck can carry much more than that. Don’t let them lead you into an unsafe conditi
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