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Last Updated on August 24, 2024 by Paul Clayton
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10 Best Truck Campers For Half Ton Pickups
A truck camper is an excellent alternative to an RV. It offers the RV experience to campers for way less and with less difficulty. It is the perfect option for newbies in the RV world and RVers seeking to give up their RV for a cheaper or less complicated option. This is because a truck camper can boondock anywhere and be packed anywhere. You can expect little or no disruption to your camping as truck campers are easy to maneuver.
Key Takeaways:
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- Versatility of Truck Campers: Truck campers offer a more affordable and flexible alternative to traditional RVs, especially for newcomers to RVing or those looking for a less complex option. They are easy to maneuver and can be detached from the truck when unnecessary.
- Compatibility with Half-Ton Pickups: Selecting the right truck camper depends on the payload capacity of the half-ton truck, which ranges from 1,000 to 3,000 pounds. The article outlines 10 top truck campers that are ideal for this category.
- Variety in Design and Features: The reviewed truck campers, such as the Lance 650, Cirrus 620, and Bundutec Wild, differ in weight, material, and amenities. Some focus on luxury features like wet baths and advanced kitchen appliances, while others prioritize lightweight construction for better mobility.
- Off-Grid Capabilities: Many featured truck campers offer off-grid options, such as solar panels, battery setups, and significant water storage. These features are valuable for campers seeking extended adventures away from amenities.
- Space and Comfort: Despite their small size, most truck campers provide ample space for storage, living, and sleeping, with features like convertible dinettes, large beds, and well-equipped kitchens. Some models, like the Alaskan 6.5 and Northstar Lerado, also offer high-quality craftsmanship and materials for enhanced durability and comfort.
Once mounted, they form part of the truck as they fit in the pickup bed. Thus, apart from the added weight and height, you’re driving a truck and may not notice that you have a mobile home attached. With a truck camper, you can drive and park in most places.
You may also like:
- The Best Luxury Truck Campers
- Our 8 Favorite Short-Bed Truck Campers
- 15 Best Pop-Up Truck Campers You Need To See
- The 14 Best Truck Campers For Sale You Can Buy Today
In addition to all these benefits, truck campers are still motorhomes and detachable ones. Thus, you can easily unsubscribe to the RV lifestyle by separating your truck camper from your truck, and you can get back to the RV life by mounting your camper anytime you want.
All these juicy benefits of truck campers make them a desirable option amongst campers. I bet you’re reading this article because you’re seriously considering getting a truck camper for your ½ ton truck, and I would love to help you make that decision.
The type of truck you will use for your truck camper is the ultimate consideration when buying a truck camper. This is because each pickup has a payload capacity. A truck’s payload refers to the amount of weight a truck can safely carry. In other words, the truck’s capacity is expressed in pounds and kilograms.
The payload is a product of the truck’s Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR), and it determines what you can fit into the bed of your truck. The payload ½ ton pickups range from 1000-3000 pounds or more. So you must buy a truck camper that fits into the right weight classification of your ½ ton pick up.
Wondering what these are? We have good news for you as we have compiled the 10 best truck campers for ½ ton pick up in this article. Keep reading to find out the best ones out there.
10 Best Truck Campers for Half Ton Pickups
Lance 650
This video has been included to clarify the topic. Credit goes to It’s Brad
Top of the list is the smallest truck camper that Lance makes – the Lance 650. The Lance 650 is a hard-side, non-slide wet bath truck camper. The Lance 650 model has been tweaked with many unavailable unique features. Lance capitalized on and invested heavily in computer-aided design to build this model.
The Lance 650 is made with modern materials such as Azdel composite and LitePly plywood. These materials make the Lance 650 lighter than its counterparts and suitable for a 1/2-ton truck.
The Lance 650 has an intelligent awning that automatically retracts if it gets too windy. It has power jacks on all four truck corners for easy mounting. You can use a remote control to quickly fix and separate the camper from the pick-up.
The Lance 650 has up to a 12-volt battery and a solar panel that charges the battery. It has euro acrylic windows, which makes RVing in all seasons very comfortable. The Lance 650 not only comes with a 60 by 80 domestic residential bed, but it also has a domestic refrigerator, closet, multimedia center, 12-volt television, fully equipped kitchen, microwave, and other appliances to make your camping fun.
The camper also has a wet bathroom, which is constructed with ABS. It is the largest and most fully featured wet bath possible for a truck camper of this weight, with just enough room for sitting and standing.
Despite the weight of the camper, the camper is still beautifully designed, airy, and roomy. Also, the Lance 650 has a huge 6-foot, 4-inch, U-shaped dinette, which is more significant than what is obtainable in most truck campers for ½ ton trucks and many larger campers. With a dry weight of 1,694 pounds, wet weight of 2,463 pounds, and a floor-length of 6’10”, the Lance 650 is easily one of the best truck campers for ½ ton trucks.
The perks of this camper are durability and comfort. The Lance 650 is an excellent buy for anyone seeking a long-lasting, well-equipped truck camper.
Bundutec Wild Pop-up Camper
This video has been included to clarify the topic. Credit goes to
The Bundetec brands are known to offer a lot for less. The Bundutec Wild Pop-up camper is not any different from other Bundutec models. It has everything you need in your truck camper.
The notable feature of the Bundutec wild Pop-up camper is that it has a wet bath, unlike most campers, which is suitable for ½ ton trucks. Unlike most pop-up campers, it has a shower, toilet, and water tank. The Bundutec Wild is designed for a short-bed truck. The Dry weight of the Wild is 1,610 pounds, ideal for ½ ton trucks.
This truck camper comes with not only a complete wet bath but also a large water-holding tank that makes using that wet bath possible. The holding tank’s capacity is 21 gallons, and that of the heater is 4 gallons.
For a pop-up camper, the Wild has quite a lot of fixtures. It has a kitchen, refrigerator, dinette, and a north-south 56×74-inch mattress with lift-up under-bed storage. If you want a camper with enough space, you will enjoy the Wild. Also, the Wild camper comes with a group 27 deep-cycle battery.
The Wild is a wood-framed camper. Its exterior is made of .030 aluminum, laid over the wood frame, making it sturdy and durable. The front nose is built with fiberglass, another superior material for constructing truck campers. The manufacturers of this truck camper invested heavily to ensure that this model is durable.
Most Bundutec wild truck campers are designed with grey and contrasting black colors. This gives the camper a unique look and feel. So, if you are looking for a superior look, this camper is one of the best-looking models out there.
With all these features, it is safe to conclude that this truck camper offers excellent value for a ½ ton truck camper.
Cirrus 620
This video has been included to clarify the topic. Credit goes to Hartleys Auto & RV Center
The Cirrus truck camper is one of the best campers you will ever see. It’s lightweight and geared towards 1/2-ton trucks, yet it has some fantastic features. Its dry weight is just 1,700 pounds. It has a kitchen, a dinette, a bed, and a bathroom with a cassette toilet, bathtub, and shower.
In the kitchen, there’s a gas stove with two burners fitted for cooking meals. Just above the gas stove is an exhaust fan to control the smoke, so you can cook a storm in this camper conveniently. There is also a three-way fridge large enough to keep your groceries for days, four large cabinets in the kitchen for storage, and three huge cabinets underneath the stove and sink. In fact, with the Cirrus camper, you get enough storage space in the kitchen.
The dinette in the Cirrus camper is large enough for two adults to sit and have their meals comfortably. Thus, you can travel in pairs with the Cirrus camper. Two large cabinets are beneath the fridge and above the dinette for storage.
The Cirrus truck camper has five large windows that are properly insulated and have a screen and shade system for privacy. It also has LED lights, speakers, and a 110-volt and 12-volt outlet on either side of the bed.
While the inside of the Cirrus 620 is quite impressive, the exterior is equally amazing. The frame is designed with aluminum and kusa board, which keeps the camper light and is suitable for a ½ ton truck. Also, the exterior walls are made with fiberglass sidewalls and azdel backing.
On one side of the Cirrus 670 truck camper, there are outlets and a nice storage compartment. All the connections and propane are on the other side, along with the compartment where you can access the cassette toilet.
When it comes to storage space, the Cirrus 620 shines. This truck camper has a lot of storage space, so you can pack enough things. You do not have to limit what you pack for your trip, as you will probably find enough storage space to fit them all in. This truck camper delivers great quality and is one of the best out there.
Four Wheel Camper Hawk Model
This video has been included to clarify the topic. Credit goes to Four Wheel Campers
The four-wheel camper is a good option for a ½ ton truck. It has a floor length of 6.5 ft and a dry weight of 1,075 pounds. This truck camper is lightweight and very easy to mount on any truck. The four-wheel camper has a 20-gallon fresh water tank, which helps to keep the wet weight down, and the truck is generally light.
There is also an optional 6-gallon water and outer shower package. Thus, the maximum water capacity is 26 gallons, which is fair for a half-ton truck camper. There is an external grey water tank, but there is no black water tank. This is not that much of a big deal for most campers, but it is still one low point for this camper.
Other interior features of this Four-Wheel camper include a fully equipped kitchenette, an east-west queen bed, a three-way refrigerator, and a 1.7-cubic-foot reefer. The kitchen is well-equipped with a two-burner gas stove, a kitchen sink, and cabinets.
When ordering the Four-Wheel camper, customers can choose from three-floor plans vis a rollover side couch, side dinette, or front dinette. You get options, and you can pick the one that best suits your taste and needs in a truck camper. Additional amenities like a cassette toilet and an outside shower can also be added.
If you want to extend your trip off-grid, the 160-watt roof-mounted solar system and a dual battery setup will be helpful.
The Four Wheel Camper is open and spacious because there is no upper cabinetry. This camper also has a 5-liter DC compressor refrigerator and two 10-pound propane tanks. Propane tanks are lighter to lift, and this is a significant advantage. However, 10-pound tanks cannot be easily exchanged like 20-pound vertical tanks.
Generally, this camper is a good option for campers who want the basics in a truck camper. It still offers some of the best features in a camper and is a perfect match for a ½ ton truck.
Hallmark Milner
Like every other Hallmark camper, the Hallmark Milner is constructed with a durable molded fiberglass composite exterior topped with a low-maintenance, one-piece molded composite roof. The Hallmark Milner weighs about 1212 pounds dry and is an excellent match for ½ ton trucks.
The Hallmark is a pop-up truck camper with standard features, including a 60×80-inch east-west bed with under-bed storage, a large, 30-gallon freshwater tank, molded one-piece countertops, a three-way 3.8-cubic-foot refrigerator, and a 5-gallon propane tank.
When popped up, the Hallmark Milner camper reveals exclusive big-view double windows. The windows have three layers. From the outside to the inside, there’s a UV-rated automotive clear plastic, tight-pattern bug screen, and an insulated soft-wall panel adhered with heavy-duty Velcro. This ensures enough privacy and can be pretty handy in all seasons.
This camper also has overhead cabinets with Tambour doors. The manufacturers were very generous with the cabinets, and campers enjoyed enough storage space. Also, there’s enough space to walk around inside the Milner. This is due to the Lagun table system of the dinette.
The dinette is on the driver’s side but can be moved to the passenger’s side to create more space when not in use. It can also be converted to a 73.5-inch by 30-inch bed.
Also, under the dinette seat, there is an optional porta-potty. The potty is accessed by a cabinet door constructed explicitly for this purpose. The dinette table has a 110-volt outlet, a 12-volt outlet, and two USB outlets.
The kitchenette has a gorgeous two-burner gas stove with an optional flush-mount stainless steel SMEV cooktop. The cooktop can be closed to reveal more counter space for meal preparation and dishwashing. Even with the cooktop open, the fiberglass countertop still provides enough cooking space.
There is an inset sink beside the gas stove for washing dishes. The single sink is large enough for cleaning cooking pots and pans.
The Hallmark Milner has a battery compartment large enough to hold two 6-volt golf cart batteries. It also has a cubby large enough to store a portable toilet and a shower pan for indoor showers.
Just like many other campers. This camper has the basics. It is thus one of the best options for ½ ton trucks and one worth buying.
Alaskan 6.5
This video has been included to clarify the topic. Credit goes to Mixflip
The Alaskan 6.5 is a “solid wall” truck camper suitable for ½ ton trucks. It is a pop-up truck camper, and this model features a unique patented pop-up design. The Alaskan camper’s pop-up side is solid with a hydraulic mechanism that raises and lowers the entire top of the camper, unlike the traditional pop-ups with soft sides. The manufacturers were gunning for a tough exterior when it popped up or not.
This truck camper has a dry weight of 1,390 pounds and a floor-length of 6’5′. The interior of the Alaskan camper is one of its major selling points. The manufacturers invested in gorgeous and attractive-looking materials to give this camper a charming look and unique design. There is a beautiful leather dinette inside the camper, a wood-paneled ceiling, and attractive maple cabinets throughout this camper.
The windows of these Alaskan campers have insulated panels that can fold in. When raised up, the camper is about 6’3″. There is a large cab over and a drop-down single bed. This camper has tonnes of overhead storage, so you get enough space for your things.
In the kitchenette, there is a two-burner stove and a single sink. A portable potty is opposite the kitchenette, and a three-way 2.5-cubic foot refrigerator.
This camper’s Standard features include a 15-gallon freshwater holding tank, a 5-gallon propane tank, Hehr windows, and a full-length door that requires no stooping when entering or exiting. It has a standard group-24 battery, but as an option, as many as two can be added.
This camper is one of the best options for owners of ½ ton trucks.
Adventurer 80RB
This video has been included to clarify the topic. Credit goes to Fraserway Kamloops
The Adventure 80RB is Adventurer’s narrowest truck camper. It has a large and functional kitchen with deep storage and upper cabinets. The countertops are thermal-formed and significantly lighter in weight than regular kitchen countertops.
The kitchen has a single-bowl sink, a tall faucet, and a two-burner gas stove. The gas stove and kitchen sink arrangement gives enough space on the countertop to prepare meals and wash dishes.
This truck camper has a four-cubic-foot two-way domestic refrigerator. This should hold enough food for three to five days, depending on your eating habits. With a dry weight of 1,750 pounds, the Adventurer truck camper is ideal for 1/2-ton trucks.
Across the kitchen slide out is a wet bath with a shower and toilet. There is also a large U-shaped dinette with a round table that can be moved away to create more space in the camper. The dinette can comfortably accommodate four adults. It can also quickly be converted into a 60-inch by 30-inch bed. Thus, depending on the arrangement, it could serve as a dining, lounge area, or bed.
You will also find a storage compartment, an audio-video system, and speakers above the dinette. There is also a 57-inch by 80-inch east-west cab in the Adventurer 80RB. The only major shortcoming of the Adventurer 80RB is the capacity of the tanks. It has relatively small tanks: 11 gallons fresh, 6 gallons gray, and 6 gallons black—a maximum of 4 days for a solo camper and two to three days for a couple.
Thus, the Adventurer 80RB might not be suitable for long trips, but it is one of the best options.
Northstar Hardside Lerado
This video has been included to clarify the topic. Credit goes to Beautiful Adventures-Amazing Places
With a dry weight of 1,775 pounds, the Northstar Hardside Lerado is easily one of the best truck campers for 1/2-ton pickups. This camper has a freshwater capacity of 20 gallons, a greywater capacity of 13 gallons, and a blackwater capacity of 5. Its floor length is 7 feet, and its center of gravity is 24 inches.
The Northstar Hardside Lerado is small but still has many excellent features. It has a 6-by-6 bed, indoor and outdoor showers, an autoignition heater, and LED lighting inside and outside the camper.
The Northstar Hardside Lerado camper is built to keep you warm in any weather. It has gas-filled, thermally insulated windows that warm the inside temperature, as well as screens and shade for privacy.
The kitchen is well-designed and fitted with many amenities to make traveling comfortable. It has a two-burner gas stove, a sink with a faucet, and lots of storage space. The gas stove and sink are positioned to give campers enough countertop space. There is also a three-way refrigerator measuring 6 cubic feet.
Although this kitchen does not have a microwave oven, campers can fit a microwave of their choice in it.
The cab-over has 110 and 12-volt outlets and a standard dinette with an optional upper dinette bunk. The laguna table system is used for the dinette, allowing campers to rotate the table to accommodate more people. You can also rearrange the dinette to reveal a 56-by-35-inch bed.
With this and the upper bunk, the Hardside Lerado truck can accommodate more people than most truck campers.
The Lerado truck camper also has an immersion digital thermostat, which allows more inside temperature control. There’s also a hatch on the ceiling to brighten up the camper and give it an outdoor feel. It is worth recommending.
Travel Lite 770R
This video has been included to clarify the topic. Credit goes to Josh the RV Nerd at Bish’s RV
Travel Lite campers have 2×2-inch and 2×4-inch solid wood, R7-insulated walls, 024-inch thick aluminum siding, a fiberglass front end, and double plywood-insulated flooring. With a dry weight of 1,385 pounds, the Travel Lite 770R fits well on most half-ton trucks.
The Travel Lite 770R truck camper has a shower and shower pan in the bathroom. It also has a wardrobe with aluminum doors and a hanger for clothes. The kitchen has a two-burner gas stove and an inset sink. There is just enough countertop space for meal preparation and washing dishes. There is some extra storage above the sink and gas stove, and there are also cabinets underneath.
The truck camper has a 48 by 82-inch bed, a three-way 3-cubic-foot refrigerator, and a portable cassette-style toilet.
However, this camper is not self-contained as it lacks holding tanks, a fixed bathroom, and other features. Campers who prefer their truck campers to be better equipped may need to go with another truck camper. The Travel Lite 770R might not be the best option for them. However, it is affordable, lightweight, roomy enough for comfort, and provides the necessary facilities for basic camping.
Capri Retreat Truck Camper
This video has been included to clarify the topic. Credit goes to D&H RV & Marine
The Capri Retreat truck camper is a hard-side, non-slide truck camper with a dry weight of 1,150 pounds and is a good option for ½ ton pickups. Capri Campers do not have toilets or bathroom sinks, as with most Capri truck campers. It has a shower with a seat shelf that can accommodate a Porta-Potti. There are three large adjustable shelves directly across the shower stall. This creates ample storage unavailable in most truck campers suitable for ½ ton trucks.
There is a dinette on the passenger’s side. The Capri follows the standard floor plan used by various manufacturers for decades. Opposite the dinette is a well-appointed kitchen with a single basin stainless steel sink, two-burner flush-mount propane cooktop, a microwave, and a 2-way, 3-cubic foot Dometic refrigerator. An optional microwave cabinet and a hollow middle cabinet under the counter give the kitchen extra storage space.
Like most truck campers, the dinette can be rearranged to a shorter bed to accommodate more people. There is also a medium storage cabinet under the dinette. The cabover in the Capri Retreat is an east-west configuration.
Conclusion
Slide-in truck campers offer an ideal solution for individuals seeking the freedom of the open road, coupled with the comforts and amenities of home. They provide a perfect balance between portability and luxury, and their diversity ensures that there is a model to suit every type of adventurer.
Their appeal lies in their ability to be conveniently mounted onto the bed of a pickup truck, transforming it into a mobile home that is equipped for both short excursions and long-term travel. They offer an excellent middle ground between the flexibility of tent camping and the comfort of RVing, enabling you to access rugged, off-road areas while providing a comfortable, cozy shelter.
The above models have unique strengths: some are designed for lightweight and compact travel, while others focus on providing a luxurious, spacious living environment. Some are designed specifically for use in all seasons, with high-grade insulation and sturdy construction, while others prioritize customizability and personal preference in their design.
Slide-in truck campers represent a diverse, adaptable, and convenient category of mobile accommodation, providing an excellent choice for anyone who wants to enjoy the freedom of the road without sacrificing the comforts of home. Each model above brings its unique flair to this balance, and your perfect camper depends on the specific blend of mobility, convenience, comfort, and adventure you seek.
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