Pro's and Con's of a Truck Camper Life VS Van Life

Pro's and Con's of a Truck Camper Life VS Van Life 

     Let's talk about some of the pro's and con's of a truck camper vs pro's and con's of a camper van. I live full time in my truck camper right now and am traveling across the US. For reference, I have been in my camper for 6 months. I haven't had the chance to fully experience van life but I did go cross country in my SUV before deciding to get a truck camper. There were several outweighing factors on why I went with a truck camper and I wanted to share those with you. 

    Here's how my thought process went when I decided to go with a truck camper. Originally I was stuck between a small RV, a Camper Van, and a Truck and a Truck Camper. In order to narrow that down I looked at my budget first. I would first suggest deciding what your budget is and then your "must have list". To be honest both my "budget" and my "must have list" were negotiable to me and I was willing to give up certain things or pay more for others. If you have a larger budget, let's call it 6 figures, then you will have more options and higher quality options as well. My budget was around 50k for a truck and camper or about 40k for a camper van. The reason you will want to pick your budget first is because there are things that you will and will not be able to get depending on your budget. 

    Some different "must haves" can include, bed size, work space, 4X4 or all wheel drive, and bathroom requirements. Once you have this list and your price you can plug it into a website and see what options you have. You might consider dropping one of your "must haves" or raising your budget. You may find out that you'll be able to afford a newer version RV or a truck and camper vs an older camper van. 

The Pro's of having a truck and truck camper were what sold me on it. The con's of a camper van also confirmed my decisions. 

Pro's of A Camper Van

    They are small: This can be a big selling point because they can fit into smaller spaces at RV parks meaning you may spend less money since the smaller spaces are cheaper at many places. This also is a benefit if you aren't used to driving a big vehicle or plan to take smaller or windier roads. 

    The van is all one piece: You don't have to get out of your vehicle to go to the back, you can also use the swivel seats to relax in the driving area. If you are planning on boondocking and there is bad weather this can be a big plus. You may plan to do a major park in residential areas, using rest areas, parking in parking lots or on random streets this can also be a benefit if you hear what we call "the dreaded knock".

Con's of A Camper Van

    It's your home and Vehicle: A lot of people think this is a Pro but I don't because when you need maintenance on your vehicle or your camper you have to give up both. Sometimes maintenance can take days or even weeks and then you won't be able to live in your house during this time which is very unfortunate. You may need to get a hotel or even stay in a tent. If something breaks in your camper and you need it fixed you also have to turn in your vehicle. 

Ultimately this was the decision maker for me. 

    Security: Because your home is always with you, driving in town to a grocery store, park, or event can leave your van in a low security scenario. When you have a camper you can leave it at an RV park or trusted location which might be your safest bet. 

Pro's of A Truck Camper

Insulation: After touring many camper vans, truck campers, and RVs it seemed like the RV's stayed to coolest in the heat and the vans were the least insulated. I am sure you can insulate them better yourself or find one that is insulated well, however you will probably have to pay extra for this and give up some space. We've spent a week in the snow and several weeks in below freezing temperatures. I thought the truck camper held up really well especially with the help of the built in furnace, coffee, tea, or some hand warmers. 

It Is Two Pieces: You can use the truck separately. This is a very important factor for people who may need the truck as their primary vehicle. It is also a huge  deal when something breaks down and you need to fix something. 

4X4: It is true that you can get a 4X4 van but it is much easier to find a truck that is a 4X4 and can be more practical. Finding a truck with 4X4 of AWD will more than likely be cheaper than finding a van with 4X4 since vans that are 4X4 or AWD are usually priced at a premium. 

Con's of A Truck Camper

Wear and Tear on Truck: Campers weigh anywhere from several hundred pounds to several thousand pounds. If your truck is not capable of carrying the load of your camper then this can cause problems for your camper fast. Adding on additional weight will probably also make the maintenance on your car not last as long which is an additional expense. 

It Is Two Pieces: This is a con and a pro. It is a con because you cannot walk through the vehicle from the camper portion into the truck. This could be a safety issue if you plan on camping in unsafe areas or areas where you aren't paying for some form of security. If someone knocks on your camper, it's not possible for you to simply drive off like you could in a camper. But this may not be an issue for you specifically depending on your travel goals. Personally I like the separation between the two because I can use the back seat of my truck as storage as well as the additional storage in the camper. 

My Overall Opinion of Truck Camper Life

I've really enjoyed it over the past 6 months. About 2 weeks into my journey I really started to change my view and started really seeing my truck camper as my new home on wheels. It is a lifestyle change if you plan on doing it full-time. However, there are so many more people living alternative lifestyles than you will realize. I really enjoy crossing paths with other full timers and I enjoy seeing the different lives that everyone lives. If you are able to embrace the change and embrace different cultures and lifestyles, then it might be the lifestyle for you. For me, the journey and the wait was definitely worth it! I hope this information helped you! Don't forget to follow me on here, TikTok, and YouTube. 

https://www.youtube.com/@strayamericans

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