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Each year millions of campers leave the confines of their homes and neighborhoods and set off on a quest for the fresh air and open spaces of the great outdoors. But campers are no different than other vacationers, and the degree to which they escape the comforts of home can vary greatly. Some campers like to travel in their RV (recreational vehicle) in which they can enjoy all the comforts of home and then some! Some RVs have more amenities than many homes or hotels!

In contrast to the RV camper, some people truly like to rough it and live off the land as their ancestors did. For them a tent and fire provide their basic necessities, and the fun lies in getting away from modern creature comforts. However, not all campers are interested in staying in one place. Sportsman - like hunters or fisherman - or those who simply like to explore, need something different that will provide them with shelter, comfort, and mobility, and nothing fills that role like a truck camper.

A truck camper is a camper that rests securely in the flatbed portion of a pickup truck. Unlike an RV or pop up camper (a camper that is towed behind a truck or car), a truck camper allows you to bring a solid shelter with you in the smallest possible footprint.

Because it rests in a pickup truck, it can go just about anywhere a pickup truck can go. Back roads or the boulevard, parkways or national parks, a truck camper can go anywhere your heart desires. That is why these campers are the choice for the sportsman who seeks remote hunting or fishing grounds, or the campers who want to find their own campsite far away from the convention of the hardwired campgrounds.

Truck campers offer obvious advantages in their mobility, as well as lower gas mileage and lower profile than RVs or pop up campers. However, do not let their smaller size fool you, they can be incredibly well appointed and more spacious than one would imagine. Like all recreational vehicles, they range in size, features, and price.

Starting with a smaller and more basic model, one would typically find a truck camper that offers floor space that is roughly eight feet in length. While that may sound small, a well designed truck camper can pack a lot in that little space. You can expect to find that even the more basic, lower priced truck campers will have features like an ice box, a sink with hot and cold water, a stove top, Porta-Potti storage area, an outdoor shower with privacy curtain, a sitting area, and a generously sized bed. When combined with propane gas and water storage ability, even a basic truck camper can allow you to venture far from the beaten path without sacrificing comfort or ignoring any of your basic needs.

If you have a taste for things that are anything but basic there are truck campers for you as well. Deluxe campers can stretch to as much as twelve feet of floor length and have a list of features that you would expect to find on a full sized RV. How about a bathroom and shower, flat screen television with surround sound system, refrigerator and freezer, multiple burner stove top and oven, heating and air conditioning, and a queen sized bed? Yes, all of those things and more can comfortably fit in a first rate truck camper.

The truck camper that is best for you depends on several things. Your wants and needs, your budget, and most important, your truck; all of those factors will drive your ultimate decision. Some campers can not fit in the bed of smaller trucks, and some smaller trucks can not handle the weight of the largest truck campers (which can exceed three thousand pounds). Once you find a combination that meets your criteria then your destination is up to you! A truck camper is your key to anywhere you want to go, and you can go with as much style as your heart desires!