How to Choose a Camper for Your Truck
Truck campers let you turn your vehicle into one that is perfect for vacations, but there are a lot of things to consider before making a purchase. When you start looking at the different types of products, you might feel overwhelmed by the sheer number of choices. Before you choose a camper for your truck, first consider the towing capacity of the vehicle.
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Instructions
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Find the Gross Vehicle Weight Rating, or GVWR, of your truck by checking your manual. This shows you the amount of weight you can safely carry. Also check the inside of your glove box, if you have a newer truck. There you'll find the Cargo Weight Rating, which shows the amount of weight the manufacturer recommends pulling with the truck.
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Determine the amount of people you plan on taking on a routine camping trip. Before you buy, you need to know how much space you need. A couple can get by on an attached truck camper, while a family of four or more, typically need a tow-behind camper.
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Look at your own history of camping and where you camped in the past, to determine the places you'll camp in the future. A fifth-wheel doesn't work well in rural areas with dirt roads because it's harder to pull. If you plan on camping in campgrounds with electrical hookups and running water, then a bigger camper works well.
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Decide between an attached camper and a pull-behind camper. An attached camper fits on top of the truck bed and has options such as sides that pop out for additional space. Pull behind or tow behind campers usually offer more space and more features.
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Choose a truck camper that contains the features that you need. For example, you might find that you need a truck camper with a kitchenette and bathroom attached, or that you prefer one with an extra sleeping space that fits over the truck cab. Keep shopping until you find one that has all those features.
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Tips & Warnings
Keep in mind the amount of storage space you have available. A large fifth-wheel might seem like a great choice, but not if you don't have the room to store it.
Don't invest in a full loaded truck camper if you only plan on camping a few times a year. It's better to spend your money on a smaller camper or a pop-up camper that doesn't cost as much and doesn't take up a lot of room in your yard or garage.
