Truck camper? Truck no!

The sun crests over the mountains to the east, illuminating a winding trail that leads down into this pristine valley. Four sides of craggy peaks surround a verdant meadow cut by a serene stream, and there we are, right in the middle of it.

We’re in our F-250 with a Scout Campers Kenai truck-bed camper. We absolutely love this setup. It’s rugged, nimble, and quite comfortable. It has taken us to some incredible locations, like the one I’ve described here.

So, the conclusion of this camper selection process seems pretty obvious–we’re getting another slide-in camper before we hit the road full-time, right?

Not so fast…

Things to know:

Buying a camper for full-time travel is a big decision. While we had a truck camper in the past (and LOVED it), we’re going a slightly different route this year.

We’re not buying a truck camper (well, kind of)

Our travel history points a strong finger toward a truck camper being the ideal camper for us. We’ve spent well over a year (I did the math) sleeping in rooftop tents and our minimalist Scout Camper. We have the experience, and we clearly have a preference.

Our Scout Camper took us on many adventures, including to the stunningly unique landscape of Craters of the Moon National Monument.

It may come as a surprise, then, that we are not getting another slide-in camper. Despite their many advantages, which I will happily dive into in a moment, there are a few deal-breaking compromises that deterred us from jumping head-first into a larger slide-in truck camper.

The benefits of slide-in truck campers

Let’s get one thing straight–we love truck campers. Sure, they have their shortcomings, but golly–there’s just something special about them. So, when we get to the reasons we’re not buying a slide-in camper, keep that in mind. We genuinely adore these mobile habitats.

What exactly do we love about them? I’m glad you asked. It’s a long and compelling list, and dadgum if it didn’t almost push us in that direction again.

• Mobility. Other than certain Class B RVs and vans, truck campers are likely the most mobile camper option out there. They don’t require that you tow anything, they can be quite compact. Throw in the wheelbase of a truck, and you have a pretty mobile package that allows you to navigate city streets and parking lots with relative ease.

• Capability. A slide-in camper is just about as capable as the truck it is on. If you have an extremely capable truck with a high degree of off-road ability, you’ll be able to take your camper practically anywhere. Just watch out for low branches!

• Removable. Setting up base camp or pausing travel for a while? Simply remove the camper, and you have a truck to use for all your daily driving needs. This is a tremendous benefit for those of us with only one vehicle, and while you may not remove it often when traveling, the option is worth noting.

• Upgrade the camper, the truck, or both. Unlike RVs, which are all-in-one units, truck campers allow you to separate the camper from the truck at any time, sell one or both, and upgrade as you see fit. So, if you outgrow your current camper or your truck has engine problems, you can easily change it up without selling the entire setup.

The argument against truck campers

If you’ve read the other blogs in this series, you can probably sense that we are most enthusiastic about truck campers. It’s fair, then, to question why we’re deciding against a slide-in truck camper.

The truth is, we came dadgum close to replicating our former truck camper build, just with something a bit bigger. When we got close to making that choice, there were a few key considerations that deterred us, ultimately steering us in a different direction.

As much as we loved our Scout Kenai, it did have some shortcomings.

Cramped interiors and minimal floor space

The greatest weakness of truck campers (in our humble opinion) is the fact that they sit between the wheel wells of a truck bed. This, along with the sides of the bed, severely limit floor space and interior room. While these compromises are fine for shorter trips (and the benefits arguably offset them entirely), they were a deal-breaker for us when considering full-time living.

The narrow walkway within the camper is reason enough to reconsider, especially if you have a rather sturdy pup that likes to stretch out as long as possible. So, blame this one on Chowder if you have to.

Difficult to use as a base camp

While you can technically remove most truck campers and use them as a base camp, the process is tedious and dangerous. Unless you are in a single location for quite some time, it’s unlikely that you will go through the hassle of removing and reloading the camper. This is not a huge concern of ours, but it is worth mentioning.

No pass-through to the cab

Because truck campers are not a single unit, there is no way to move from the camper to the truck without exiting. Again, this is not a tremendous negative to us, but it is a downside, especially if the weather is temperamental or, God forbid, you find yourself in a sketchy situation where safety is a concern.

There are better options (we think so, at least)

If you’re looking at our list of truck camper cons and thinking it looks awfully short and unconvincing, we agree with you. That’s why the camper we ended up buying is in the same family as a slide-in truck camper–call it a distant cousin.

Stay tuned for the final piece of this countdown to our new camper. We’re excited to share our new home with you and hope that you’ll follow along as we embrace the adventure of full-time travel in 2025.

In the meantime, please connect with us. We want nothing more than to grow our community, learn from those who have more experiences than us, and make some genuine connections along the way! Drop a comment below or follow us on your favorite social media platform. We’d love to have you join our little family.

Why we didn’t buy a travel trailer

Making the decision to become full-time nomads in 2025 was something Hanna and I took very seriously. While we have plenty of travel experience together, there’s a big difference between a few weeks or a couple of months and 365 days of life on the road. So, we wanted to make sure we chose the perfect (okay, there’s no such thing) camper for us.

We weighed a lot of factors during the decision-making process, and while travel trailers definitely have some compelling advantages over other RVs, we ultimately determined that it wasn’t the right route for us. If you find yourself in a similar situation, maybe our thoughts on travel trailers and why we ultimately didn’t buy one will be helpful to you!

Things to know:

Travel trailers offer a lot of advantages for full-time travels. From a built-in base camp to loads of living and storage space, the benefits are undeniable. So, why didn’t we choose to buy one?

Note: By the time you read this, we might already have a camper. Our intent is not to mislead you, we simply wrote these blogs well in advance!

A travel trailer wasn’t right for us - here’s why

For those of you who love travel trailers or don’t have the same priorities as us, keep in mind that this is our story. We actually love the idea of travel trailers and came awfully close to buying a few different models. At the end of the day, our opinions are heavily influenced by our lifestyle and preferences, so filter everything we say through your own experience!

Our history of go-anywhere travel has heavily influenced our camper search.

What we like about travel trailers

This blog may be about why we aren’t buying a travel trailer, but I think it’s important to acknowledge their strengths and admit that we were almost convinced to buy one. They have some real benefits, and they are a great choice for a lot of people. In fact, I’m sure that we would have been perfectly happy if we had decided to get one!

• Loads of living space, making it phenomenal for full-timers, remote workers, and those seeking a homey environment.

• Practically endless brands, models, sizes, floorplans, and features to choose from, allowing you to find a unit that is perfect for you and your family.

• Endless potential for customization, both internally and externally. You can add solar panels, renovate the interior, and otherwise outfit your travel trailer to suit your needs.

• Plenty of support for DIY projects, problem solving, and warranty work thanks to their popularity and widely-accepted use.

• Easy to use as a base camp because you can set up your “home” and have your tow vehicle free to go exploring.

I’m sure there are many other reasons to consider a travel trailer, making them even more compelling for a large portion of the population that is interested in part-time or full-time travel. That said, we determined that it wasn’t the right route for us, and this is why.

We don’t want to tow a trailer (I know, I know…)

We know that many fellow travelers have no issue towing their campers. From tiny teardrop campers to massive fifth-wheels, many adventurers tow their homes behind them with no issue. We deeply admire those people (hats off to you if you’re one of them), but while we have a bit of experience towing trailers, it’s not something that either of us enjoys.

This didn’t immediately rule out travel trailers for us because there are legitimate advantages to them that almost convinced us that it would be worth the sacrifice (more on that later). At the end of the day, though, we didn’t want to be tethered to a trailer and deal with the stress that often accompanies it. Not wanting to tow something around the country was factor number one in deterring us from purchasing a travel trailer.

We like to get off the beaten path

Our travel history consists largely of venturing farther into the backcountry than most RVs and campers can go. We’ve used Jeeps, rooftop tents, and overland-style truck campers to push ourselves into off-grid situations and try to escape the crowds. We love a good campground now and then, but we definitely prefer the boondocking in nature style of travel.

One of our favorite off-grid campsites that we frequently return to.

There are a handful of travel trailers designed to facilitate backcountry camping. Some are built with off-road suspension, feature high-quality fit and finish, and use durable build materials. Unfortunately, those campers tend to be very expensive. At the end of the day, you’re still pulling a trailer down a potentially dangerous road with limited pull-offs and turnarounds. That sounds like a recipe for disaster to us, and it wasn’t a risk we wanted to take.

The price (and quality) vary wildly

One of the most compelling aspects of travel trailers is that you can find something in your budget. Whether you have $10k or $150k, there is a camper out there for you. This is a huge advantage over RVs and other campers. It’s also something that made us hesitant.

Price and quality do not always go hand-in-hand. Sometimes, you can score an amazing product at a budget-friendly price, but those instances are few and far between. When it comes to travel trailers, it was extremely tempting for us to opt for a more budget-friendly camper, then allocate the savings toward other things.

The more campers we toured and the more research we did, however, the more we were unsure. Very few (if any) of the travel trailers on dealer lots inspired confidence. Most felt like they would suffer from quality issues if we dragged them down a rocky road. The higher quality options put some of those concerns to rest, but at much higher prices. All of this left a feeling of uncertainty in our guts that we just couldn’t shake.

Something stinks (it’s the black tank)

There are some advantages to traditional camper bathrooms that utilize a black tank. The residential feel of the bathroom is nice, the need to empty it only on occasion is arguably an advantage, and it’s the most common approach to when ya gotta go on the road. That said, we’ve never been interested in a black tank.

As people who like to go camping in the great outdoors, we don’t love the idea of being beckoned back to civilization by the need to dump our black tank. Sure, we’ll have freshwater and greywater tanks, but those aren’t quite as dire as a black tank. You can limit greywater use and refill your fresh water just about anywhere.

If you look closely, you can probably spot our bathroom tent. No shame!

The added maintenance is also not glamorous or appealing. We realize it’s not a big deal, but we would much rather use an alternative method–such as a dry-flush toilet–than mess with a black tank. Personal preference? Yep! A factor in our camper purchase? You betcha!

Home sweet home

While the plan is to travel full-time, we don’t know what the future holds. If we settle down and buy a house, it might be difficult to store a travel trailer on the property. These campers can be long, and without a suitable place to store them, you’re left paying for a spot in a storage yard. It may not be terribly expensive, but it is still an additional line on the balance sheet that we would rather avoid if the situation arises.

When we are traveling, we are confident that we will want to venture to more remote locations. If we want to go to some of our favorite spots located off of trails, what are we supposed to do with the camper–pay for a spot at a campground while we go sleep in a tent for a night or two? It creates logistical problems for us when we want to embrace the more exploratory side of adventure.

Don’t buy a travel trailer (if you’re us)

There are so many reasons to opt for a travel trailer as a full-time traveler or part-time camper. Many of the benefits of travel trailers really spoke to us. Because it will be our home for at least a year, a camper with adequate space to live, work, and relax is extremely important. The ability to leave the camper behind and take the truck into town or on a day trip is also really appealing. Even the financial side of the equation makes a compelling argument.

At the end of the day, though, we determined that a travel trailer just wasn’t right for us. It’s not because they aren’t great–they truly are, and many people are more than happy using them–but our lifestyle and priorities steered us in a different direction. We can’t wait to share with you exactly what camper we bought.

We’re hitting the road full-time in 2025, and we’d love for you to come along for the ride. Whether you follow our antics on social media, catch up with us on YouTube, or connect with us in the comments, we’re so glad you’re here. We can’t wait to share our journey with you and to continue growing and learning from this amazing community of fellow travelers!

- Riley + Hanna

No van life for us - Why we aren't buying a Class B RV

Hanna and I are many things. Young-ish, super hip, a tiny bit grungy, and well on our way to Instagram stardom. Okay, so maybe only one of those things is true (we’ll let you guess which), but we still seem like ideal candidates for #vanlife.

Truthfully, Class B RVs–including vans–are appealing. They are nimble, self-contained, easy to drive, get decent fuel economy, and the list goes on. So, why did we decide against becoming full-blown van lifers? I’ll tell you one thing: it wasn’t because of those “One Less Sprinter” bumper stickers (even though they are hilarious).

Things to know:

While vans are great for full-time travel, we decided against one for our full-time lifestyle. Here, we’ll discuss the pros and cons as we breakdown exactly why we didn’t buy a van.

Note: By the time you read this, we might already have a camper. Our intent is not to mislead you, we simply wrote these blogs well in advance!

The pros and cons of van life

Before we do a deep dive into our not-at-all-scientific approach to removing Class B RVs from the running, we have to come clean–Hanna actually owned and partially converted a van a few years ago. She did all the work herself, and it had loads of potential. When the pandemic hit and prices skyrocketed, she made the difficult decision to sell it and turn a tidy profit.

Hanna posing proudly with her empty Transit Van.

So, we have a tiny bit of van life experience, but not enough to be considered experts (or anything close to it). The majority of this list was based on the here and now–the evolution of our needs and our newfound direction.

Why vans are great

There’s a lot to love about Class B RVs and van conversions. Over the last several months, we’ve flirted with buying one to facilitate our adventurous life–we like them that much! From the easy driving experience to the I’m-on-an-adventure aesthetic, we have to admit that van life is pretty compelling.

As we listed out our top van life pros and cons, there were a handful of benefits that really stood out. Your list may look a little different, but we think these adVANtages really make vans special!

• They’re a single unit, meaning that you can go from sleeping to driving without ever leaving the RV. This is great for a number of reasons, including situations where safety or weather is a concern. It also gives the entire unit a roomier feeling (in our experience, anyway), thanks to the large windshield and open cockpit.

• They get better gas mileage than most (if not all) alternatives. They tend to be compact, aerodynamic, and more efficient. Some people report getting upwards of 20 mpg in certain vans, which goes a long way toward your range on a tank and definitely helps the budget!

• They can be customized. Whether you’re a DIY magician, an RV lot shopper, or someone who wants to order a custom van through a builder, the possibilities are practically endless. This helps you get what you want within your budget. That’s a lot of flexibility!

• Vans are compact, nimble, and have decent aftermarket support for things like suspension and bumpers. All of this means that they are better equipped than most of their RV counterparts to explore off the beaten path, push farther into the backcountry, and facilitate an off-grid camping experience.

Why van life isn’t for us

If that list of van life advantages (yes, I made the same pun. I’ll do it again, too) seems compelling, we’re right there with you. There’s a lot to love about vans, and we would definitely consider going the Class B RV route in the future. Right now, though, there are a few factors that pushed us in another direction.

Hanna in her partially-converted camper van. Photo Credit: Tori of Come to Bliss.

Vans are expensive

To be fair, nearly every RV route has the potential to get expensive. Due to the rising popularity of vans and the proliferation of high-end builders, vans tend to be excessively expensive–at least in our eyes. The bang for your buck just isn’t there, unless you heavily weight quality (which is fair).

When we went through our budgeting process, we compared the vans we liked against other options we could have for the same amount of money. That comparison really raised some eyebrows. For what many of the leading van builders are charging, we could have a pretty incredible truck-based camper, a gorgeous Class C RV, or a host of other really nice rigs. Alternatively, we could save a bit of money by choosing a less expensive camper and put the rest of the budget toward travel!

Let’s talk about bathrooms (‘cause why not?)

Campers and bathrooms are always a bit of a touchy subject. From black tanks to plastic bags, everyone has a different opinion of which is best, but I think we all agree on one thing–there is no perfect solution.

When it comes to Hanna and me, we value a private and semi-comfortable bathroom. I have some digestive issues (messed up pipes, we like to call them), so we have been on a multi-year quest to find the bathroom setup that works best for us when we’re on the road. What we’ve learned is we need to prioritize comfort and normalcy even if it means sacrificing a tiny bit of that wild, let’s-take-the-gnarly-trail spirit we tend to have.

All that is to say, vans often struggle to provide a legitimate bathroom for full-timers. Due to size constraints, they might have a little closet of a wet bath, but most rely on curtains or a turlet (if you’ve seen Impractical Jokers, you get this reference) in the open. We’re no longer about that life.

Hanna cruises past an outdoor store in her van.

A van is a van

My curse (one of many) is that I tend to overanalyze things to death. I think of contingency after contingency, nuance after nuance, and so on. Sometimes, I suffer from analysis paralysis, which drives Hanna banana-nut crazy. So, when choosing a camper, I couldn’t get the nagging questions of “what if” out of my head.

What if we want to leave the camper somewhere and drive into town? What if we stop traveling for a while and only have one car? What if we need to sell the camper, but the camper IS our vehicle?

These thoughts led to a semi-decisive conclusion–we needed something that could either separate from the camper, or we needed a camper that could tow a car.

Why we’re not doing van life

Despite a lengthy list of reasons to choose van life, it just isn’t for us (right now). I think we’ll always flirt with that lifestyle–maybe we’ll even embrace it one day–but we’re going in a different direction this time. With our emphasis on off-road capability, the ability to leave the camper behind, and outfitting our rig with a bathroom that works for us, the deck was stacked against van life. Most of them are just a touch too compact for what we want.

The big reveal (and I mean BIG) is coming soon. With full-time travel on the horizon, we have been working hard behind the scenes to ensure our camper will be ready to be our home by 2025. We hope you’ll stick around, continue checking out the blog, and follow along as we explore this beautiful country.

We also would love to learn from you! If you have camper, truck, or travel experience, please connect with us. From life-changing tips to something as simple as what plates won’t break as we rattle about on forest roads, every little insight helps!

- Riley + Hanna