Considering getting a truck camper

[JamesDean1234]

I have a 2012 Nissan Frontier PRO-4X. I'm strongly considering getting a used truck camper if I can find a good deal and one that actually fits my 5 ft bed. Is there anything I should know, take into consideration, helpful tips, etc.
Thank you in advance for any advice, information, and personal experiences.

[ppine]

I started with a truck camper on my one ton Ford. I wanted to pull a boat and a horse trailer. My girl described the TC as too much trouble for a short trip and not enough room for a long trip.

[jaycocreek]

JamesDean1234 wrote:
I have a 2012 Nissan Frontier PRO-4X. I'm strongly considering getting a used truck camper if I can find a good deal and one that actually fits my 5 ft bed. Is there anything I should know, take into consideration, helpful tips, etc.
Thank you in advance for any advice, information, and personal experiences.

There are a few out there that will fit your truck but they are few and far between...If you get a conventional TC like a Lance etc,your going to have to much camper for your truck limiting where you can take it..It certainly can be done but I doubt you would be happy with the outcome..

Many times I have put a shell type on the back of my PU and did the inside as I wanted it.A couple turned out pretty cool..There not heavy or high and do not limit where you can go...

Example:Shell Truck Campers

[ppine]

I was just talking a couple yesterday in the mountains. They had a Toyota truck and just graduated from a pop up camper to a small travel trailer. They were absolutely in love with their trailer and all the room even in a single axle easy to pull TT./

[ajriding]

TopperEZlift

A truck "shell" that can lift 20 inches with tent sides. Very small but enough headroom to move around.

[Grit_dog]

Meh, consider a better platform even in a compact truck for a small camper. Or rind the smalles pop up they make and shore up the truck.
At a bare min, I'd want a longer bed Taco or Colorado.
And temper your expectations. You'll have to do some suspension mods to any small truck to even think about hauling a small 6' long popup.
It's doable though. Just do a little research.

[ajriding]

It will be very small. Issue with TC's is that the rails of the truck bed take up space where a trailer or Class C would have for storage.
I have a full size truck with 8 foot bed, and had a 10' long popup camper once. It was small!
For one or two nighters small works. No shower, no storage, but you are inside and have built-in appliances (stove, fridge, sink) and a feeling of being in a camper.
Popups are tents as far as noise and insulation go.
Putting the TC on, taking it off are not anywhere near as quick as hooking up a trailer.

Cool thing about TC is camper goes anywhere truck goes, but for something that small, you can pull a small trailer a lot of off-road places too. A little truck like this is not going to be doing a lot of rock crawling with a camper in the bed anyway, so what difference is a high-clearance trailer?

I had a popup TC. Hated it. Sold it.
Bought a popup-style trailer (not a popup, but one like a popup TC, just on wheels). Sold it.
Bought a HILO trailer, still not happy. Sold it.
Bought a full-size 10 foot TC. Happy.

You can find adventure just in buying different campers 😉

[pcoplin]

A 4Wheel camper or Palomino Backpack is all I think are available in that size. And you'll still need some springs work I bet.

[SidecarFlip]

Think I'd consider getting a new truck first. Something a bit larger.

[Bumpyroad]

a CA company, 4 wheel campers???????????? makes a very light one that I priced out to fit my 5 1/2 bed at $26,000 IIRC
bumpy

[Lwiddis]

What’s the truck’s payload number minus passengers and stuff?

[ppine]

A small pick-up with a 5 foot bed is a poor choice for a camper. Maybe you can find a pop-up camper, but it will not have much room.

[cewillis]

What is your rear axe capacity? Spring capacity? Wheel and tire max load?
Maybe this or this.
But both would be pushing it a lot I suspect. And finding used? I don't know.

[JimK-NY]

You will be able to carry a small popup; i.e., canvas sided, truck camper. That is it.

[guidry]

You will VERY limited on what truck camper you will be able to carry on that truck. Pretty much a tent on the truck bed.