Buying a truck camper can completely change how you use your truck—but it's also a significant investment.
Before spending thousands of dollars, avoid these five common mistakes.
1. Forgetting About Garage Clearance
Measure your garage before ordering a camper.
Truck campers commonly add several inches above the cab, and discovering your truck no longer fits inside after installation is an expensive surprise.
Measure the truck, garage opening and camper's closed height.
2. Buying for Your Fantasy Camping Life
It's easy to imagine month-long expeditions while shopping.
Then reality arrives and you camp eight weekends a year.
There's nothing wrong with weekend camping. But you probably don't need to build a miniature off-grid house for it.
Buy for what you actually do.
3. Comparing Base Prices
A $7,000 camper isn't necessarily cheaper than an $8,000 camper.
One may require thousands of dollars in windows, ladders, lighting and installation while the other includes them.
Ask every manufacturer one question:
What will I actually pay to have the camper completely functional on my truck?
That's the number you compare.
4. Ignoring Lead Times
Truck campers aren't always sitting on a shelf.
Depending on the manufacturer, waiting 60 days to six months or longer isn't unusual.
If you're ordering for hunting season or a major summer trip, work backward from that date before choosing your camper.
5. Ignoring What Happens When You Change Trucks
Some campers are highly vehicle-specific.
If you're someone who changes trucks every two years, that's worth considering before spending thousands on a camper built specifically for your current vehicle.
Before You Order
Measure everything.
Determine how you actually camp.
Get the true all-in price.
Confirm when you'll receive it.
And understand what happens if your vehicle changes.
Do those five things and you'll eliminate many of the most expensive surprises in truck-camper ownership.