Are you considering purchasing a truck camper or a conversion van? What are the benefits and drawbacks to a truck camper vs van life?
The main benefit of a truck camper is that you’ve got a more functional vehicle when not camping. With a van, you’re limited to its only use being as an RV. Depending on how much you plan to use your camper, this can be a major deciding factor.
However, with a truck camper, the price per square foot is much less than you would have with a conversion van. With those quick points, let’s dive into the 19 pros and cons for a truck camper vs van life.
Truck Camper vs Van Life
Pros
1. Multipurpose Use
With a truck camper, the vehicle itself is not only limited to camping use. When you’re not using it as a camper, it’s still a normal truck! If you need to haul lumber, move some furniture, or use it as a regular vehicle, you can. Not to say some smaller campervans can’t be used as a regular mode of transportation, they totally can, it’s just a bit less flexible for all the uses you can get from a regular truck.
2. Cheaper than Class B RVs
Class B RVs built with van chassis from companies like Airstream, Leisure Travel Vans, and Pleasure-Way tend to be quite expensive. Some custom van conversion companies can be pricey as well, but not quite to the same extent as the class b manufacturers.
If you want a professionally built premium Class B RV with a manufacturer guarantee (and an easier time getting RV insurance), you’re going to pay around $120,000 to $200,000.
Even with the cost of a truck at around $40,000 and a truck camper at around $20,000, that’s still much less expensive. Some van conversions (either from a company or self-built) can come out to this price range between $50,000 to $60,000 in total as well.
Off-grid adventure vans offer a compelling conversion that’s a budget-friendly option for van life.
3. Year-round use
If you reside in an area where it snows part of the year, you can use your camper more year-round. With a 4×4 truck or van (yes they make some 4×4 vans) you’re not restricted by terrain and winter driving conditions. In the wintertime in Colorado, for example, truck campers are one of the few options for camping and travel in the mountains.
4. You can park and leave your truck camper if you want
Unlike a travel trailer where when you get to your campsite, it’s easy to unhitch and leave it to go wherever. With a truck camper, you can do the same thing, although it’s a lot more work. You have to take your tie-down system off, unload it off the truck, and into the campsite.
Yet with a van, you don’t have this option at all. Your van goes wherever you go.
5. Less engine maintenance
On both a truck camper and a conversion van there’s no RV specific engine. This leads to much less engine maintenance since you only need to consider a regular truck or van chassis. Either of these engine types are much easier to work on than some of the other class a or class c RVs.
6. You can change your mind easier
If you need to upgrade to more space, are planning on kids in the future, want to tow a travel trailer instead, or need to carry some ATVs, it’s much easier to change your mind with a truck camper. All you need to do is offload your truck camper and you can tow something else with your truck.
With a van, you’ll need to sell it in order to change your vehicle out for another purpose. In general, a truck is a more flexible option.
7. Easier to store
With a smaller camper, it’s much easier to store it. Most people store truck campers at their house. Unlike some high top conversion vans, where unless you have a big amount of space at your house, you would need to pay additional money to keep your van at a storage facility.
In some cases you can store a van in your driveway, depending on its size, stealth, and if you have an HOA.
8. No license plates
In most states, if not all, you don’t have to register your truck camper or pay license plate fees with the state. This is one less fee you’ll have to worry about. Along with license plates, this also makes getting RV insurance a breeze in comparison to conversion van insurance.
9. More expansive interior options
Source: Palomino RV
Larger truck campers even feature slide-outs and additional interior room. This is the type of space that you typically won’t find in a van for the same price. Of course, you can go for a Class B+ Van with slideouts, yet at that point, you’re getting closer to a Class C RV in terms of size, and it’s much more expensive!
Cons
1. More expensive than the cheapest vans
If you’re looking to get into RV living or van life for the least amount of money possible, you can definitely get a better deal with a van. The cheapest vans on the market can be obtained for only $5,000 to $10,000 and converted for about $2,000. All of this depends on how much you want to spend on your conversion, if it’s already converted, or if it needs some work.
Whereas with a truck camper, although you’re looking at similar numbers, they’re generally a tad higher since you have to factor in the cost of the truck purchase. Not to mention, the cost of fuel is higher with a truck and can be factored into your overall cost of ownership.
2. You need a truck
If you don’t already have a truck, then you won’t be able to use a truck camper. You’ll have to buy both a truck for $30,000 to $50,000 and a truck camper for $20,000.
This is a similar predicament with a van, depending on which type you choose. In a high top conversion van, you’ll also need to buy the van itself for $30,000 and cover the cost of the conversion at $15,000 to $40,000.
The prices do work out to similar numbers, although it is another thing to consider when looking at what you need to buy.
3. You’re not as stealthy
Depending on which type of van you get, a truck camper, in general, offers much less stealth. With a white van on the outside, most people assume it’s just a work van and not a camper.
This makes parking a lot easier in cities or other areas where you’re trying to blend in.
Whereas with a truck camper, class b van, classic VW, or anything more obvious, you stick out like a sore thumb.
4. Not as capable off-road as some people think
Going off-road with a truck camper can get quite bumpy. The only exception to this would be a pop-up truck camper. Otherwise, you may be better off with a specially equipped van that’s built for it.
Source: Sportsmobile
The most popular off-road campervans are made by Sportsmobile with their 4×4 van conversions. The overall center of gravity and weight distribution of a 4×4 van is better designed for trails and rough terrain. You can see it in action in this YouTube video.
5. Worse gas mileage
Hands down vans offer much better gas mileage than a truck will. On average you can expect to get around 10 to 13 mpg with a truck camper, and 15 to 20 mpg or better in a conversion van. The smaller the van, or truck camper, the better gas mileage you’ll get.
The only exception to this is when the new electric trucks or vans start to enter the market. Companies like Rivian and Tesla’s Cybertruck are going to no-doubt shake up the industry. With this, you could even charge your entire rig off solar!
6. It’s harder to park a truck camper
Smaller vans will be easier to park, hands down. If you’re going to the beach, fast food, or parking garages, it’s going to be a tough time with a large truck camper. The overall length, width, and height will be larger with a truck camper. Unless if you go with a small pop up truck camper.
However, some vans may come close to the same dimensions if you’ve got a high-top extended wheelbase conversion.
7. Your truck cab and camper are completely separate
In a campervan where you have a connected cab, you can easily walk back to your living space. This is fantastic if you want to prepare a quick meal while on the road.
Whereas in a truck camper, you’ll have to physically get outside of your camper and into your vehicle. Some people don’t like this aspect in case of an emergency for a bear or other danger where you need to hop in the driver’s seat and move quickly.
8. Bigger size compared to smaller vans
You can go smaller in a van than the smallest options with a truck camper. At the end of the day, a truck features a much larger frame and overall vehicle size than the smallest vans available on the market.
9. Moisture issues in truck camper bunks
Moisture can tend to stay in the upper bunk area of a truck camper. Moisture can also build-up the same way in a high top van, and it’s something to maintain on either option you go with.
10. Tend to get beat up quicker
Going down the highway, the truck campers tend to get beat up quicker than other types of campers. Tie-down systems and jacks also tend to also be the main things wrong on an older truck camper. If these systems fail, it can be a catastrophic situation. These are things you simply don’t have to worry about with a campervan.
Conclusion
Overall it’s quite impressive how much can fit inside the bed of a pickup truck. Many truck campers and vans do a good job of maximizing the space in such a small area.
However, if you need more stealth or better gas mileage, then a van is the better choice. There is no perfect camper for all uses. It’s a choice you’ll have to make on your personal needs and preferences.
Regardless of which option you choose, be it a truck camper or conversion van, you’re sure to have a great time with your camper in the outdoors!