Truck campers: Looking for lightweight options that won't break the bank

adamcu280

adamcu280

Life of the Party
Forum Supporter
I realize this could be an impossible dream but you never know. Light/Cheap/Strong pick two.

Two Novembers ago the gal, doggo, and I drove down to Baja (TR here) in a GMC 1500 with a Scout camper that we borrowed from her brother. We laughed, we cried, we hurled.

The truck now belongs to us but the Scout stayed with her brother, and now we're kind of sort of looking for another camper rig for a potential repeat/winter relocation to Baja.

Scout pros:
It's always ready to live in; just open the door and there you are. No need to pop anything up.
Solid and durable and weatherproof and you can party on the roof. No flapping canvas.

Scout cons:
Heavy and maxed out the payload of the truck. No towing a boat if we're hauling this around.
Driving a brick is horrible for wind, gas, and overhead clearance.

So we're looking at options for something lighter and maybe less built out that hopefully won't break the bank. The idea would be to blitz down south (so probably a week on the road) and then post up in a rental house somewhere so we wouldn't need the full luxury build of the Scout.

What other brands should I be looking at? Ideally I could find something used because these things seem insanely expensive new. I guess I'd take a used Scout if one came up and the price was right.

Hiatus
GFC
Oru
OVRLND
Four Wheel


IMG_2261.jpeg
 
There are smaller scouts that won't be as heavy, that one looks like one of the bigger ones.

Alaskan also makes them small enough and the hard sided pop up seems nicer than the soft sided options in the winter for the popup type.

nuCamp makes a smaller ~1600lb option as well.

There is the much lighter option of a truck bed slide in thats mostly storage with a rooftop tent. I don't love that as I really dislike rooftop tents (I always hear how fast they are to set up from the people that have them, then watch them spend forever getting it set up and taken back down which they have to do anytime they want to move).

I love my slide in camper (I have a cirrus 820, the 620 is half-tonable) but the cons of most truck campers with the cabover are going to be the cost and the absolute garbage fuel economy. For me camping by myself I just started sleeping in the back of my jeep and if I had a second truck I'd probably build something out with a truck cap instead, but thats sacrificing a lot in terms of comfort to my slide in.
 
adamcu280 said:
I realize this could be an impossible dream but you never know. Light/Cheap/Strong pick two.

Two Novembers ago the gal, doggo, and I drove down to Baja (TR here) in a GMC 1500 with a Scout camper that we borrowed from her brother. We laughed, we cried, we hurled.

The truck now belongs to us but the Scout stayed with her brother, and now we're kind of sort of looking for another camper rig for a potential repeat/winter relocation to Baja.

Scout pros:
It's always ready to live in; just open the door and there you are. No need to pop anything up.
Solid and durable and weatherproof and you can party on the roof. No flapping canvas.

Scout cons:
Heavy and maxed out the payload of the truck. No towing a boat if we're hauling this around.
Driving a brick is horrible for wind, gas, and overhead clearance.

So we're looking at options for something lighter and maybe less built out that hopefully won't break the bank. The idea would be to blitz down south (so probably a week on the road) and then post up in a rental house somewhere so we wouldn't need the full luxury build of the Scout.

What other brands should I be looking at? Ideally I could find something used because these things seem insanely expensive new. I guess I'd take a used Scout if one came up and the price was right.

Hiatus
GFC
Oru
OVRLND
Four Wheel


View attachment 180764
Click to expand...
I’ve had a truck camper years ago, for me it was a love hate relationship. I saw in a national forest campground 2 trucks in a small group had a pop up “wedge “ camper that I thought fit the bill much better. Of course I didn’t want to intrude on them so never found the name. Better fuel mileage, lower center of gravity. I still occasionally search online for them.
 
Growing up we had a popup Jayco my dad got used. He decided on it because of cost and weight. We used it fishing and hunting. He was able to tow the boat with it. We slept in it in the winter comfortably as long as you had propane. It was just particleboard and pop can metal but it did the job.
 
If you want really basic, check out the Four Wheel Camper Project-M. Basically, a canopy with a pop-up sleeping area. Nothing in the bed, so if you want fancy, you could build out the interior. Or just throw your gear in the back and go. I have someting similar on my Gladiator, but a wedge style from South Africa (Alu-Cab Canopy Camper) that I completely built out the interior and can hang out comfortably when the weather turns.

IMG_5842.jpeg
 
Dennis Mitchell said:
This works well for me, pulling the boat with this still get 18 mpg thats huge as of today.....
Click to expand...
Nice rig! Looks like maybe a more robust truck than a 1500?

Thanks for the replies everyone. So much to consider! Hopefully the Gal and I can get on a similar page with our creature comfort requirements as I think that'll be the biggest factor. I guess it's more important that she's happy. ;)

Pricing out some of the options new is insane. Not that I can afford it anyways but I can't fathom putting a $44k Alaskan camper on a $5k truck.
 
_WW_ said:
Get a van.
Click to expand...
Ha, the age old dilemma! We have two AWD Siennas. Mine's a 2010 and hers a 2021; she traded in her Outback XT for it after a couple trips in mine. :) I suppose we could take one of them to Baja but the truck's far more capable off road. Plus, we would rather have the modular option of a slide-in camper vs. another, larger, van.

FWIW many of my friends have tried truck + camper and van and I'd say it's 50/50 on what version people end up liking more. It all really depends on how you're actually using the thing and what your budget is.

Salmo_g said:
Now you're getting at the real nitty gritty. Get her conditioned to finding comfort sleeping on the ground with a blue foam pad, and not one of them luxurious inflatable thermarest ones. Everything gets easier after that.
Click to expand...
We've both spent our time on the blue foamies but we're getting softer in our old age.
 
Rent something (truck and camper?) that will suit your needs for your first trip. That way you can figure out what you really need vs what would be nice.

I have had tents, campers, trailers, 5th wheels, Class A's and Class C's. For periodic use, renting is much cheaper in the long run --> no maintenance, insurance, storage, depreciation, etc.
 
_WW_ said:
_WW_

Thread 'New remodel project.'

Step one.
IMG_20241207_104211182.jpg

Bringing home the top.
  • Like
Click to expand...
Love it! "Free Candy" van!

I wish I had the skills to pull off such a conversion. Maybe someday, but not right now.

Looks like you already had the van? We already have the truck.
RCF said:
Rent something (truck and camper?) that will suit your needs for your first trip. That way you can figure out what you really need vs what would be nice.

I have had tents, campers, trailers, 5th wheels, Class A's and Class C's. For periodic use, renting is much cheaper in the long run --> no maintenance, insurance, storage, depreciation, etc.
Click to expand...
We've already done our first trip! That's why I'm looking at slightly less fancy camper rigs. I'd rather have a more rustic and lighter setup vs. a decked-out Scout.

]Who rents slide-in campers? I'm guessing it'd be crazy expensive to rent something for ~4 months. I was thinking buy used, then sell it when I'm done if it's not the right thing.
 
  • Like
Reactions: RCF
I would go with pop up camper as above fairly light weight, saves on gas mileage, often can accept a roof rack.Used, prices are readily.
 
I usually unload camper would suggest electric jacks this model fits both long and shortbox trucks weighs in at 1,900 lbs only drawback is water capacity is only 18 gallons, truck is a 3500
 

Attachments

  • 20250519_192602.jpg
    20250519_192602.jpg
    727.8 KB · Views: 34
  • 20240827_151452.jpg
    20240827_151452.jpg
    716.5 KB · Views: 33
I've looked at these Capri Campers a few times, very customizable to your needs.

World's Best Truck Camper - Capri Camper

Two models. Three sizes. Endless adventure. Built to ride with the tailgate on or off, up or down, each camper is designed for the journey ahead. The Retreat offers a roomy 6’5” interior height—space to stretch, breathe, and sleep under the stars. For a more compact fit, The Cowboy gives you 5’...
capricamper.com capricamper.com
 
Another pop up camper option is All Terrain Camper in Sacramento. They kept the product more basic, and four wheel went for volume and more bells and whistles. i had one with my gmc 1500 for a couple of years, and it was great. i bought it w/o interior, and outfitted myself.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top