Truck camper vs. van

I am currently looking to upgrade my camping system from the tent lifestyle. I understand there are pros and cons with a van and a truck camper. I am looking for input and your experience for others who have made this decision. 

I am not interested in hauling a trailer / fifth wheel set up. I drive a 2012 F-150.

thanks for saving that photo, but when i saw this one, it confirmed there was no way a Real Man could ever drive a Blue-diesel 'earth-friendly' Mercedes van made for vegans and gym climbers

It depends: What are you using it for? Weekend warrior with some extended trips or full time living? Where do you primarily climb? (easy access roads or 4-wheeling required). From my experience full time living is nicer in a camper van but you can be limited in where you can go with the van, unless you have a 4WD van, but those are $$. I currently have a four wheel truck camper with a high clearance 4WD truck and can go anywhere. When not camping the truck can be used as a daily driver, hauling stuff, multi use. I had a camper van, but the truck camper fits my lifestyle better today. Also older truck campers can be found cheap if you can find one that fits your truck.

I've got a tacoma with a camper shell... it's an aluminum deal that is made for tool hauling more than for camping and is tall but has no windows... just some side doors that open up for tool boxen.  I bought it used for about $400.  It's ugly and it looks like a work truck, but I am fine with that.

It's too small to do much other than sleep in it, and I end up out there about 5-10 times a month.

I didn't do much to trick it out.  I just added a bit of foam for a mattress,  a string of xmas lights and a brighter LED light to read by.  I just added one of those 9' square tapestries (I have a bunch of magnets, which was a dumb way to do it) because it looks nicer and I don't like getting condensation dripping on me.  

It's not at all insulated, and so it's about as cold as whatever the outside temps are.  I have a nice down comforter, though, and I have been sleeping warm (I'm in Texas, but I've slept in it below freezing and been okay).

If you've already got the truck, getting a camper shell is easy enough.  I found mine on facebook marketplace, but there were other ones on craigslist.  You have to know the dimensions pretty well, but mine came straight off another tacoma with the same 6' bed.

I kind of like that mine is taller than the roof of the cab, but at the same time I've been thinking about cutting out the tool boxes so I have more room.  The way mine is setup it's too small to have guests even if you're pretty friendly.  And I often want to bring a double bass (I play gigs out of town sometimes) and it's a bit tight with that instrument in there.

If you don't have a Sprinter, you're not a real climber.

bruno-cx wrote:  The only question you should be asking is, "Sptinter or Tacoma?" A Sprinter is just a updated pedo van with a shitter. Tacoma is the greek life personified, it you will get laid.

The only wrong choice is a roof top tent for any vehicle.  Those things are the sit on top kayaks of the camping world. You will be mocked endlessly while shopping at whole food or dropping your kids off at soccer practice.

c'mon son, ain't nobody living in their car getting laid.

I've got a super bougie 4x4 sprinter. Wish I had a Taco with a camper.

I will sell you my box truck conversion that way you don't have to decide.

For reference when I say truck camper I am thinking of a camper that goes in the bed of the truck, not just a shell for my truck bed.

Edit:

Dumbass post limit is blocking me from my own thread.

I live in UT. 80% of my climbing is here. The other 20% is in the surrounding states.

caesar.salad wrote: I've got a super bougie 4x4 sprinter. Wish I had a Taco with a camper.

Why is that?

Since you have a full size pickup, I would encourage you to get a slide in camper. You get the benefits of a full-time livable camper, while also retaining the usefulness of a pickup. Do you have a place to store the camper when its not in use? Often, people have to beef up their rear suspension if they are keeping the slide-in installed full time.

No sprinter here but I have a Promaster which is super well tricked out. Heater, bed, kitchen, storage...everything you need. I love it and it certainly increases the amount of time I spend out on trips. But look at the opportunity cost before you jump in. If work or family make for only infrequent trips then you will be much happier/cheaper with a nice vehicle (fuel efficient and comfy) while staying at Airbnb's.

subaru. camper. nuff said

https://www.facebook.com/marketplace/item/2177407989241975/

grog m wrote:

Why is that?

Taco/Tundra with a camper is much more nice to drive offroad. The reason is the camper and truck are two separate units while the van is a single unit. Any bump is very jarring in the van because because it's so rigid, while the bumps of offroading get transferred partially to the camper in the truck so the camper moves a little bit within its tie downs and the truck doesn't jerk around as much. Also it would be really nice to be able to park the camper on stilts and drive the truck around without it. You can't do that with a van.

Edit: Just to frame the subject a bit more, I have lived full time in my van with my wife for over 3 years. We do not own a separate home or anything else. I wouldn't really trade for a truck/camper because I love my setup, but the grass is always greener I guess. Sometimes I dream about downsizing to a Transit Connect.

There is no perfect answer that I have found as everything is a compromise.

I would think a deal breaker would be access to your fave area. Is 4wd required or not?

If not, the living space in the Van is ideal as well as economy (fuel).

But the F150 can go way more places.

Harumpfster Boondoggle wrote: There is no perfect answer that I have found as everything is a compromise.

I would think a deal breaker would be access to your fave area. Is 4wd required or not?

If not, the living space in the Van is ideal as well as economy (fuel).

But the F150 can go way more places.

Oh yeah. I forgot to mention fuel economy. My v6 sprinter gets 18-20 mpg diesel and is a huge boat of a vehicle. My friend with a Tundra+camper gets around 11mpg gas. YMMV.

Oh yeah. I forgot to mention fuel economy. My v6 sprinter gets 18-20 mpg diesel and is a huge boat of a vehicle. My friend with a Tundra+camper gets around 11mpg gas. YMMV.

My Tacoma and shell gets 17-19 depending on how lazy I am about driving.  But it's got a tiny engine and no power.  I think it'd get 20-22 if I had a lighter/ more aerodynamic shell.

Tacoma with FWC Fleet here.  I get 16 MPG if I drive good, usually 13-14.  Ford F-150 everyone tells me gets much higher MPG and will take the larger FWC (recommended if your not solo).  Truck pluses = off road and better in cross winds.  Sprinter MPG (from what I've been told) and comfort.

I have climbed out of a lifted AWD Astro, regular minivans and a porshe boxster. Minivans are my favorite. Good milage, drives like a car , just enough room and invisible to police. The Boxster was surpisingly practical. Front and back truck with a haulbag on a luggage rack. Plenty of room. 26 mpg and you could set the cruise to 130 on the way to redrocks. 

Tombo wrote: Tacoma with FWC Fleet here.  I get 16 MPG if I drive good, usually 13-14.  Ford F-150 everyone tells me gets much higher MPG and will take the larger FWC (recommended if your not solo).  Truck pluses = off road and better in cross winds.  Sprinter MPG (from what I've been told) and comfort.

On the cross wind thing the sprinter has a really nice adaptive breaking system that applies thhe breaks on one side or the other to keep you in a lane in high cross winds. It reacts way faster than I can and I'm thankful I have it when crossing the plains states in the winter. I dont have experience to comment on truck+camper in winds.

Jaren Watson wrote:

My god, that's a beautiful machine.

I took my dog with me to the City of Rocks this past weekend. It's early, so we were the only ones in the reserve. Naturally, with no superior godmen present to subvert his wolfish instincts, he was running roughshod. Here's a picture.

Here's another picture, right after I showed him the photo you posted.

The results speak for themselves.

Game sees game.  Does he require a lot of pepper spray? lol . fine looking Staffie, I bet he has a heart of gold like every one I've met.