I'm thinking about getting one for our trip out west next year. I've gone back and forth between a motorhome, a trailer or a slide in truck camper. Each has their obvious good points. But, I think I've eliminated the motorhome and the trailer based more upon their bad points...number one being my wife won't be willing to drive them. With just a half-ton truck, the main sticking point right now is finding one at a reasonable weight (and likewise, price).

 

Anybody else have any experience with one? If so, what's your pro's and con's? (I'd like to compare your list with mine.)

Don’t think I would want one in a 1/2 ton truck, but I’m no expert.

If you have never done a motor home, go with a small one first, they are not bad to drive but can be tricky.

 

Also, what All Blue said above.

We have an ultra lite 28 foot Wildwood that my Avalanche pulls fine. Dry weight is about 5400 pounds. Similar to you, I am the only driver. We have a blast with it though.

You need a 3/4 ton truck or rent a RV.

We have an ultra lite 28 foot Wildwood that my Avalanche pulls fine. Dry weight is about 5400 pounds. Similar to you, I am the only driver. We have a blast with it though.

 

If it was anywhere here in the midwest, I'd be all over a trailer. But to pull something 6,000 miles through the Rockies and back...

If it was anywhere here in the midwest, I'd be all over a trailer. But to pull something 6,000 miles through the Rockies and back...

 

I pulled a hybrid trailer to South Dakota, Grand Tetons and Yellowstone about 8 years ago. Pulled it with a 98 F150 5.3L. The trip was amazing. I didn’t have any issues, but I did wish I had a bigger truck fo those long climbs.

I pulled a hybrid trailer to South Dakota, Grand Tetons and Yellowstone about 8 years ago. Pulled it with a 98 F150 5.3L. The trip was amazing. I didn’t have any issues, but I did wish I had a bigger truck fo those long climbs.

 

Add Glacier to the list and you've got a lot of what we got planned. Depending on the time, we might head down to Salt Lake City and then into Cheyenne (and possibly Denver).

I have no experience with a truck camper but an uncle had one that would stand on its own once you got to a camp site. That way you can drive around and see the sights without that extra top-heavy feel. On a trip like you describe, I don't know how long you'll stay in one place, so you may not be able to take advantage of that feature.

I have no experience with a truck camper but an uncle had one that would stand on its own once you got to a camp site. That way you can drive around and see the sights without that extra top-heavy feel. On a trip like you describe, I don't know how long you'll stay in one place, so you may not be able to take advantage of that feature.

 

I'd absolutely love to take advantage of that feature. (It's one of the con's of a motorhome, that you have to pack up your campsite anytime you want to go some place.) By being able to unload it on the jacks, it'd basically be more like a trailer, in that aspect. I'd probably only do it at places where we'd be staying more than a single night, though.

A Lance/Arctic Fox/Northern Lite/etc. is a dream of mine. Here are some of their benefits:

 

1. You can tow something behind your truck like a boat, horse trailer, act's, etc..

2. A 4x4 truck with a truck camper can reach places a motor home or travel trailer could never reach allowing you to truly camp in the wilderness.

3. If you have auto troubles on the road finding a Ford, Chevy, Ram, or whatever your truck brand will be a heck of a lot easier to find than a motor home dealer to work on your motor home.

4. Many states view truck campers as cargo so no registration, property tax, etc. and insurance will be a rider on your policy rather than a individual insurable item which will save you also

5. If you can drive a truck, you can drive a truck camper, they are very easy to drive

6. Cheap to maintain due to no engine, transmission, etc..

7. Easy to store due to size. You can buy rolling "carts" and just roll it into your garage.

8. They hold their value MUCH better than other campers.

 

Cons

1. Any more than 2 people and things get tight.

2. Cost per square foot of living space.

3. Truck requirements (see below)

 

I read numerous truck camper blogs and they all say take what the manufacturer or dealer recommends for a truck, and go one up. Ie if recommend a 1/2, consider a 3/4 ton. Recommend a 3/4, go single wheel full ton. If recommend a single wheel full ton, go dual wheel full ton.. The bigger truck will make the ride much more stable and make braking much better.