Thinking About Van Life? Here's Why You Should Consider a Truck Camper for Life on the Road

You can drive up to a breathtaking view, park it, and call it home. This is life on the road, with hot coffee in hand and eternal nature stretching out before you. 

Maybe you've seen "van lifers" take over social media, or the housing crisis keeps you up at night. Either way, living in a van by the river sounds more plausible. 

If you’re considering joining the wave of people hitting the road, you’ve probably looked into all the van conversions and camper vans, but have you considered the benefits of a truck camper? With over 6 feet of headroom, truck campers are more practical and better suited for long-term living than vans. Here are some reasons why.

You can remove the truck from the camper, giving you vehicle access.

In a van, your home moves with you, which is one of the charms and the most significant inconvenience. When you're on day 3 of your trip, everything is set up at your campsite - The lights are strung, the ground mat and camp chairs are out, the picnic table cloth is on, the BBQ is ready, and you realize you're out of toilet tissue, ketchup, whatever. You have to go back to town. In a van, you’d have to pack up your perfectly finished campsite and drive it away while you run this errand. With a truck and truck camper, however, you can simply drop the camper off of your truck and leave everything exactly how it is while you use your vehicle. Pick up groceries, run errands, and go for dinner with your vehicle without disturbing your campsite. This is one of the main benefits of a van, especially for snowbirds with longer-term sites. 

The camper uses standard RV parts, making it easy to get serviced and find replacements.

Unlike conversion vans and custom builds, truck campers use standard RV parts that can be found in several different types of RVs, making the appliances easy to get services and find replacement parts. This is especially useful for those who travel long distances and might only sometimes be within range of their RV dealer, having universally used parts preferred by other RV dealers and service technicians. 

Truck campers are mass manufactured, using the latest & most excellent appliances and tech.

Another great benefit to a truck camper is that they are mass manufactured by significant RV manufacturers. They are built with the latest products on the market and reputable RV technology. Electric lifts, 12V technology, and external battery charging and disconnect are all features you can find standard in many truck campers being made today. Also, truck campers come with manufacturers' warranties and additional appliance warranties that are not guaranteed with converted vans. Rely on a reputable dealer for service and maintenance and be notified of any recalls or updates in warranties. 

No unforeseen hotel or accommodation bills (truck maintenance without sacrificing your home)

If you’ve researched the cons of van life, you’ll know that unforeseen hotels and accommodations are among the most costly of variable expenses for van lifers. If the van is getting service, the owner is essentially out of their home until the repairs are complete. Depending on the issue, this could take weeks and leave people in costly hotels in unfamiliar places. This inconvenience is especially challenging because the entire unit (camper portion included) is unusable if there is a mechanical issue with any part of the vehicle, including the engine. The benefit of a truck camper is that it separates from the truck chassis - so if there are any mechanical issues with the truck or the engine, you can detach the truck from the camper and at least be in your own home while your vehicle is getting service.

Common vehicles are more accessible to service and find replacement parts

Trucks are generally more accessible and less expensive to service than vans. They are a more everyday vehicle and are easier to find replacement parts, so your stay at the mechanic likely won’t take as long. 

There is no conversion and little to set up/take down between campsites (bed, window covers, etc.)

Have you ever watched the TikToks of van lifers showing how they set up their van for “living” after being on the road? Window covers, Bed conversion up and down, etc.? Luckily with a truck camper, there is little to no interior setup when you arrive at your destination, so you can sit back and relax without going from “car mode” to “house mode.” 

Partisan from cab to camper offers more security 

You’ll hear a lot of van conversion tips to make sure to include a partisan between your cab and living space for safety and security. This is to prevent intruders from trying to access you in the living quarters through the cab windows/doors and to deter access for theft and robbery. With a truck and camper, your living space is entirely separate from your truck cab, preventing burglaries and adding an extra defense against intruders entering your camper where your valuables are stored. 

Truck bed storage (pick up big items), backseat storage while driving

You have access to a vehicle to run errands, get groceries and take you out during your trips, and a large truck bed for additional storage and hauling options. Pick up local firewood, large water jugs, and more to return to your campsite quickly. You can leave your camper set up and run all the errands you need to without disturbing your site. Plus, if you’re on a site without grey and black water drainage, you can easily tote external storage tanks and honey wagons to the nearest dumping station without packing up the campsite. 

A truck and camper are, on average, less than a class B.

One of the most critical points is that a truck and camper, on average, are less expensive than a Class B van. Whether you’re looking to convert your van or if you’re looking into a camper van, van life doesn’t cost what “living in a van down the river” implies. In 2023, you’re looking at upwards of $100,000 for a well-equipped camper van or van conversion - even more if you’re considering one with added amenities like an onboard washroom, a shower, solar power, etc. A truck and camper can undoubtedly run you over $100,000, but obtaining the whole package on a lower budget is more manageable. Plus, many truck campers are pre-equipped with the main amenities like indoor/outdoor showers, roof-mounted solar, and more - making it more affordable, more comfortable, and more “bang for your buck” on a lower budget. Camp-Out has new truck camper models currently available starting at under $35,000.

You can trade or upgrade chassis and maintain an old camper

Another benefit to your chassis and camper being separate is that you can trade or upgrade either one at different times. If you want to trade or upgrade your vehicle at any point, you can do so without changing your camper. If you maintain your camper well, it can last a long time and can transfer from vehicles as you grow.

You can use the truck as a primary vehicle when not camping.

Additionally, when you choose a truck and truck camper over a Class B or camper van, you can use the truck as your primary vehicle when you’re not camping. Unlike driving a camper van to and from work, the gym, restaurants, etc., a truck is a practical vehicle for everyday use.

Truck campers have plumbed toilets lines and black water systems

Another benefit to the design and manufacturing of a truck camper is that it uses black line drainage, and black and grey water separation and is plumbed into holding tanks with generically used valves and drainage systems. No compost toilet (trust us, if you’ve smelt one of those you know you don’t want it in an enclosed space), no “pay per flush” toilets, no cassettes. All of the truck campers we carry with toilets are manufactured using generic parts and are standardly plumbed to black tanks with hand valves. 

The truck camper is better equipped for off-road/off-grid adventures

A truck camper is an easy choice if you're planning to go off-road or off-grid.

The chassis, axles, and wheels of a van are not designed for any type of off-road adventure and as you’ll hear in most van life reviews, getting stuck is common when driving in sand or gravel. A truck is designed for rugged roads and withstands rougher conditions and off-roading. Truck campers like Palomino Backpacks with the BADLANDS package and Northern Lites are specifically designed for these types of adventures and will hold up to bumps and shakes on the road.

Truck campers are easier to store when not in use

Truck campers are also less maintenance to store when not in use. Because vans have engines and engine-mounted batteries, they are not easy to store for extended periods without frequent maintenance and care. Truck campers just need regular seams and seal checks like any other RV; otherwise, they can be stored for any length of time without any cause for concern. 

Ultimately, for those who want to hit the road, whether it be to work remotely, explore the road less traveled or escape winters, a truck and truck camper combo is more affordable, more convenient, and practical than a Class B motorhome or converted van. Whether you’re thinking of taking that road trip or moving full-time into a tiny home, we’d be happy to show you some of the newest truck campers available from manufacturers like Northern Lite, Westland RV, and Palomino.