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.

We bought a truck!

It’s been a long time coming.

If you’ve been following along, you know we’ve been exploring the various considerations that go into making a major purchase–in this case, a one-ton truck platform for the camper that we’ll be living out of starting in 2025. If you haven’t read those ramblings yet, be sure to check them out as they document our journey to this moment–the big reveal.

We’ve picked and purchased our future home, and we have to say, it might be our favorite rig so far (and we’ve had way too many).

Introducing our 2024 Ram 3500 Big Horn.

Our 2024 Ram 3500 Big Horn.

Things to know:

We’ve finally landed on a truck for our full-time travels, and it sure is a doozy. It had to check some pretty specific boxes to fit the needs we foresee, but we feel confident that we found the perfect truck that works for us and landed (almost) within our budget.

Why we bought a RAM

It’s sure to be a controversial decision–the truck brand tribalism seems to be as strong as ever–but we bought a Ram. Here, we’ll detail the specifications of our new truck, as well as why we made the decision we did.

A detailed look at our new Ram

First things first, let’s lay out the specifics of the Ram we purchased. This foundation will provide context so we can dive into our thought processes as we made this massive decision for our new full-time RV lifestyle.

The Basics

Our Ram is a 2024 Ram 3500 with the Big Horn package. It is a crew cab with a long bed and single rear wheel–a shockingly rare combination, it seems (more long bed Rams come with dual rear wheels).

It is equipped with a high-output 6.7L Cummins diesel engine, 6-speed Aisin transmission, and (of course) a 4x4 transfer case.

The Packages

Outside of the Big Horn package (which is essentially a glorified Tradesman), our truck features a handful of upgrades and equipment packages. We didn’t have much interest in adding a bunch of features to our truck (more on that later), so we were more than happy with the additional options on this one.

On top of the Big Horn package and high-output engine, our truck came equipped with:

• Billet Silver Metallic paint

• Cloth bucket seats

• Towing Technology Group

• Night Edition package

• Level 1 Equipment Group

• Auxiliary Switches

• Clearance Lamps

• Side Steps

• 50-Gallon Fuel Tank

• Alpine Sound System

• Trailer Surround-View Camera System

The Ram may be huge, but it is still a capable rig.

Our thoughts on our Ram’s features

To be totally transparent, we were not looking for anything more than a base model. Our budget was the biggest factor in our search for a truck, and we would have been content with a bare-bones truck that fit our functional needs.

With that in mind, we have some initial thoughts on the options our truck came equipped with–including things we’re glad it has, wish it didn’t have, and might have opted for given the chance.

Features we love

Despite not personally selecting the options our Ram was equipped with, it does have a handful of packages that we’re grateful for. We didn’t seek them out, but given that the truck has them, we are happy to have them!

• Towing Technology Group. This package includes some very useful features. We personally love the Surround-View Camera System (great for tight spaces and parking), as well as the Blind-Spot Detection. Both of these features make navigating this massive machine just a little less stressful.

• Night Edition. Call us shallow, but we are glad our truck doesn’t have any chrome on it. The Night Edition package is practically useless (and there’s no way we’d choose it for over $4,000), but the painted bumpers and blacked-out trim are aesthetically pleasing.

• Level 1 Equipment Group. While we could do without most of the things included in this package, we do appreciate the power mirrors. Manually adjusting all four mirrors–including telescoping and folding them–gets old real quick, and this package eliminates that annoyance.

• Auxiliary Switches. Easy wiring and control of accessories? Sign us up!

• 50-Gallon Fuel Tank. 1,000-mile unloaded range. Do we need to say more?

Features we could do without

This section is going to be a little lengthy, so we won’t go into as much detail as we did in the one above. Just because a feature makes this list doesn’t mean it’s inherently bad or not worth the money; it just means that we don’t need it and wouldn’t pay for it if we optioned our truck from the factory.

• Night Edition. Do we like how it looks? Absolutely. Would we pay the premium for it if we were given the option? Absolutely not.

• 12-Inch Display. Does it look nifty? Yep, but we prefer a smaller screen with more physical buttons, dials, and knobs.

• Level 1 Equipment Group. Outside of those handy power mirrors, the majority of the features included in this package are not worth it to us.

• Alpine Sound System. This system sounds wonderful, but it is $600 and eliminates a substantial amount of storage space beneath the rear seat.

• Trailer Surround-View Camera System. This package is intended for those who tow often and want a (you guessed it) surround view of their trailer. At $1,000, it is just excessive–especially when you can find them online for less than half of that price.

• Premium Cloth Bucket Seats. Having a center console is nice, but we would have been happy with a bench seat.

Feature we wished we had

While we aren’t too picky, we would have liked it if a couple of additional features were included–especially with the ridiculous prices of trucks these days.

• An inverter. Okay, Ram–seriously?? What modern truck doesn’t have an inverter?

• LED headlights. If a truck costs more than about $5, it should come standard with LED headlights.

• Remote start. We know, we know–this particular feature is a bit “extra,” as the kids say. Still, it would be nice to let the diesel warm up before hopping into the cab.

• Heated seats. This is a Hanna specialty. She loves heated seats, and though we’ve rarely had them, she always appreciates it when we do.

It sure is a beautiful truck.

Why we chose Ram

Ultimately, we chose Ram because we preferred it to the other options after a few test drives and the price made sense. We got a great deal (as far as cars go these days) at about 25% off MSRP. Heck, Riley flew down to Florida just to snag it.

We will go into more detail in the future, including why we chose Ram over Ford. For now, we just wanted to introduce our new rig and move on to talking about campers. After all, that’s the next big purchase–we need a camper to pair with the truck!

If you have experience with full-time RV travel, diesel trucks, or simply want to share your insights and opinions, please drop a comment below. We’d love to hear from you and engage with our little travel community!

We can’t wait to share our journey with you. From selecting a truck and a camper to adjusting to life on the road, we’ll be documenting every aspect of our experience with full-time travel. We hope you’ll follow along!

- Riley + Hanna

Choosing a truck for full-time travel - Brands and trim levels

Brand rivalries are loads of fun to observe (and jokingly participate in), but at the end of the day, we’re not terribly brand loyal. Sure, we’ve had a handful of Jeeps and a couple of Fords, but that’s not because we detest other manufacturers–we’ve simply always purchased the vehicles that appealed to us for one reason or another.

Our latest Jeep - a bare-bones two-door Wrangler (hand-crank windows, anyone?!)

As we began our hunt for the ideal truck for our impending full-time travel, we did so with (relatively) open minds. We have limited experience with heavy-duty trucks (and zero experience with one-ton trucks), so we wanted to be thorough and allow our research and test drives–not any preconceived bias–to shape our path forward.

Things to know:

We’re hitting the road full-time in 2025, and we need to choose a truck to facilitate that adventure. Part of the purchasing process is determining which truck brand and trim level we want to call our home!

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

What is the Best Truck for Full-Time Travel?

There are many factors to consider when choosing what vehicle to buy. Throw in the wrinkle of living in said vehicle, and the decision suddenly feels even more potent–you want to make sure you get it right the first time.

Among those many factors are two relatively personal considerations–brand and trim level.

Choosing a Truck Brand for RV Travel

While it seems that brand loyalty is a big deal to a lot of people, especially in the world of trucks, we have never been overly concerned with this brand versus that brand. Based on our vehicle history, we’ve clearly gravitated toward certain brands (Jeep and Ford), but it was always because the vehicles appealed to us, not because we had a sense of loyalty toward those brands.

Our Ford F-250 treated us very well.

When we started looking at heavy-duty trucks, we decided to drive one from each of the big three manufacturers–Ford, Ram, and GM. So, we did exactly that, test driving a Ford Super Duty, Ram 3500, and GMC Sierra HD (we did not drive a Chevy since the platform shares so much overlap with the GMC).

In addition to test driving a handful of trucks, we (and by we, I mean Riley) spent hours researching, reading forums, and watching videos about the trucks on our list. Ultimately, we narrowed our shopping list down to two brands–Ford and Ram.

Below, we’ve laid out some of the pros that compelled us to list Ford and Ram as our top two truck brands for full-time travel. Why did we leave the GMC and Chevy off our list? While there were a few other contributors to this decision, the primary factor was based on personal preference–we have always liked solid front axle vehicles, and the GM trucks come with independent front suspension (IFS).

• Off-road capability. Thanks to the solid front axle, the Ford and Ram trucks have a more traditional off-road-worthy design. You can eke a bit more off-road performance out of these trucks than an IFS alternative, especially at the HD level. Note: we are aware of GMC’s amazing partnership with American Expedition Vehicles and the off-road goodies now available from the factory on their HD trucks. However, those models are far outside of our price range.

• Aftermarket modification and support. It seems most aftermarket manufacturers are focused on bringing parts and accessories to the Ram and Ford platforms, giving us more options to modify our truck to our preferences and needs.

• Aesthetics. While we don’t mind the looks of the GMC trucks (especially those AEV varieties), we gravitate toward Ford and Ram from a purely visual perspective.

• Experience. We have hands-on experience with both brands (or brands adjacent to them), giving us a degree of comfort and familiarity. The interior of a Ram echoes that of a Jeep, and we’ve had (and loved) a Super Duty before.

• Observation. While we see our fair share of GMC and Chevy trucks on the road, we noticed a lot more Fords and Rams pulling trailers and working in commercial settings. While anecdotal, this definitely affected our perception of those two brands.

Truck Trims - A Luxury Land Yacht?

If you’ve ever played around with the “truck builder” configurators on manufacturers’ websites, you know that the number of options and level of customization available is astounding. In some ways, this is great–it gives you an opportunity to tailor your truck to your specifications. On the other hand, it can be overwhelming, and prices sure do add up quickly.

Because we got a late start to the truck buying party, we don’t have the luxury of ordering a custom truck to our exact preferences. Instead, we used these online tools to explore the various trim levels available from Ram and Ford, make a list of must-haves and that-would-be-nices, and see how different options might influence the final price.

As a reader of this blog, there’s a good chance you know how ridiculous truck prices have gotten and how excessive many of the trim levels are these days. While it’s amazing that you can get massaging seats and luxury finishes in an HD pickup truck, we have no need or interest in such a bougie rig.

Chowder, our certified comfort expert, loved the posh interior of the F-250 Lariat.

In fact, our previous F-250 was a Lariat, and it was too fancy for us. Some of the features were neat, but we definitely didn’t need them. So, this time around, we would be focusing on lower trim levels–Tradesman and Big Horn for Ram and XL and XLT for Ford.

Here are a few of the features we wanted. Some are what we’d call necessities, while others are more wishlist items.

• Four-wheel drive is an absolute must.

• A decent screen for the backup camera.

• 360-degree cameras would be nice. We had them on the F-250, and they were convenient with the camper.

• A big enough back seat for Chowder.

• Power mirrors would be a huge bonus.

• We don’t want “advanced safety features,” as they may not play nice with modifications.

• Large fuel tank.

That’s about it! If that seems like a pretty simple list, it’s because it is. However, when you throw in other prerequisites–like cab size, bed size, and engine preference–you’d be surprised how few matching trucks are available.

Come One, Come All

Whether we buy a Ford or a Ram or lose our minds and import a Unimog, lovers of all brands are welcome here. Please share your experiences with the different truck brands, leave some recommendations about trim options that are full-time must-haves, and otherwise help us out as we narrow down our list of potential trucks to purchase.

While we have a bit of a reputation for swapping vehicles every two years (a trait Riley inherited from his grandfather), we’re hoping that this truck is reliable and sticks around for a long while. Only time will tell, but that’s the intent!

Tune in next time for the next bit of brainstorming as we continue through our truck-buying thought process. We hope you’ll join us on our journey as we convert into full-time travelers and help us out along the way as we inevitably hit bumps in the road.

In the meantime, don’t be shy–feel free to leave a comment below, send us a message, or otherwise join our little community!

- Riley + Hanna

What truck should we buy?

Over the past five years, Hanna and I have had a lot of vehicles. Hanna likes to tease me about it, and while I am willing to acknowledge I might have an issue, I’d also argue that it’s a common one–we boys like cars!

We’ve had summer romances with Jeep Wranglers and Gladiators, a brief fling with a Ford Transit Van, and a situationship with a Ford F-250 Tremor. Time and again, we fall in love with a vehicle, only to shift our goals and make a change. Now, we’re doing it again.

Hanna takes in the Badlands in South Dakota.

You’ll notice that all of the vehicles I mentioned serve a purpose–they facilitate a lifestyle of adventure and travel. Hanna and I love getting outside, exploring, and traveling as much as possible. We’re beyond blessed that our jobs allow us to work remotely, meaning we can travel with almost unlimited freedom (so long as we can access the internet).

Things to know:

In 2025, we’re hitting the road full-time. We’ve flirted with this idea for years, and we’re finally giving in and giving it a fair shake. So, while we love our little two-door Jeep Wrangler, it’s time to buy a big old truck.

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

What to look for when truck shopping

Let me make this disclaimer very clear–I am not a vehicle expert. I have my share of experience buying, using, modifying, and maintaining our vehicles, but I am far from a mechanic. The intent of this blog is not to act as a truck buyer’s guide. Instead, it’s an exploration of our thought process as we try to choose the right truck for our travel plans.

Truck capacities - how much can you tow?

The first consideration for us was the capability of the truck. Because we will be using it to haul a camper around, there were certain non-negotiables when it came to the work capacity of the truck. A Tacoma wouldn’t cut it, and neither would an F-150. That leaves us with what GM would call an “HD” truck–a three-quarter or one-ton model.

Often, a three-quarter (250/2500) is more than adequate for camping. If you are towing a travel trailer or hauling a moderately-sized slide-in camper, a 250 will likely do. Once you step it up to the big leagues of fifth wheel campers and larger truck campers, you’ll want to invest in a 350 (or bigger).

Camping with friends near Silverton, CO.

Without giving away too much–we don’t want to reveal what camper we’re getting until it’s official–we are opting for a one-ton truck. We would rather have more truck than we might need, so we’re going for maximum towing and payload without crossing that threshold into 450+ territory.

Truck size - because the dog needs a backseat kingdom

After determining the class of truck you need, it’s time to sort through the various cab and bed combinations. Some manufacturers have more than others, but the basic options look something like this:

Bed Length

• Regular (6.5’ or 6.75’)

• Long (8’)

Cab Size

• Standard (No backseats)

• Extended (Half doors in rear)

• Crew (Full-size back doors)

For our uses, we knew we would need a long bed. The cab size debate was not so clear-cut. While we knew a standard cab was too small, the difference between an extended cab and a crew cab was minimal enough to spark a little controversy. The decision came down to a simple question–is it better to shorten the overall length of the truck to improve maneuverability in town and on trails, or is it better to have extra interior space for storage?

We are leaning toward a crew cab for the additional storage. With approximately 12” difference between the two, the increase in overall truck length seems pretty minimal, pushing us toward enjoying the extra interior space. We’d love to hear your thoughts on this in the comments below!

Trim levels - cowboys and kings

Truck trims have gotten a bit out of control as of late. Where it used to be base models and higher trims with some modern amenities, it’s now a luxury apartment versus a penthouse. No matter what you choose, you are going to have a comfortable and well-equipped truck (whether you like it or not).

Our last Ford was a Lariat, and it was more posh than we’d ever need. This time, we’re opting for the lowest possible trim, both to save money and to eliminate as many unnecessary additions as possible. Is it nice to have certain creature comforts (Hanna would argue heated seats are a necessity)? Absolutely. But do we need a 12” screen and leather seats? We definitely do not.

We loved our Tremor, but the Lariat trim package was unnecessary.

This category is very much a “to each their own” factor. We would rather have a little extra jingle in our pocket, even if it means missing out on the latest and great tech.

Gas or diesel - the immortal question

I mentioned at the beginning of this blog that I’m no truck expert, and this is where I feel the most out of my depth. We have plenty of experience with gas engines, including Ford’s impressive 7.3L Godzilla. On the flip side, we have zero experience with diesel engines. So, everything we’re factoring into our decision here is based on research and anecdotes.

Gas engines are popular, easy to get, and arguably easier to maintain. What they lack in efficiency, they make up for in cheaper repairs, lower gas prices (at the moment, at least), and simplicity–no DEF or other emissions nonsense here. They also tend to be much lighter, which can translate to better off-road ability.

Diesel engines are known for being incredibly powerful, more fuel efficient, and practically apocalypse-proof. Conversely, repairs on modern diesels are said to be expensive thanks to the complexity of their design. Throw in the horror stories people have about emissions equipment, and we feel a twinge of hesitancy when considering this route.

We’d love your insights on this particular topic. Would you choose a gas engine or a diesel? My heart says diesel, but there is more than a little uncertainty mixed in with that feeling.

Which truck brand is the best?

This particular piece of the truck buying puzzle can be a little controversial. There are strong proponents of each major brand, and understandably so. Every brand has its strengths, and I think that quality and durability is largely the same between every truck maker these days. That said, we have refined our search to two companies–Ford and Ram.

I would tell you that we’re clinging to the unforgivable offense of government bailouts, but the truth is much less dramatic–we have always preferred solid front axles. Independent front suspension (IFS) on a one-ton truck just doesn’t compute to me. Call me old-fashioned if you’d like.

We have always preferred solid axle vehicles.

So, we’re left with the Ford F-350 and the Ram 3500. Both are good-looking trucks that can be configured just about however you want them. The F-350 is available with the only gas engine we’d consider (the 7.3L), while both platforms are available with proven diesel powertrains–the 6.7L Powerstroke from Ford and the 6.7L Cummins from Ram.

Overall, I think we prefer the Ford. That said, we are not opposed to the Ram. This is another area where we just don’t have the experience and expertise to determine a clear winner. If you have experience with either platform (or better, both), please share it below. Your advice would go a long way toward helping us make the right decision!

Should we buy a new or used truck?

Traditional wisdom has always advised against buying a new vehicle. There’s a saying about your new car losing half its value as soon as you drive off the dealer lot, and while the pandemic did alter that briefly, it still holds true (in most situations). At the same time, there are some benefits to purchasing a new truck.

The pros of a new truck

• Better financing

• Clean slate for proper maintenance

• Factory warranty

• More control (maintenance, mods, use scenarios, etc.)

The pros of a used truck

• Lower purchase price

• Less depreciation

• Reduced insurance costs

At the end of the day, this decision largely comes down to your budget and your priorities. Our budget is not unlimited, so we will definitely be leaning toward a used truck, but the benefits of a new truck–especially the opportunity to meticulously care for it from day one–are worth considering.

What truck is right for us?

Based on the thoughts laid out above, Hanna and I have a decent idea of the truck we’re looking for. That said, there are still a lot of details to sort out, so the actual truck we purchase could look different than the one this blog seems to picture.

If we were to simplify our buying criteria–which is uniquely ours, not universal–it would look a little like this.

• Ford F-350 or a Ram 3500

• Crew cab with a long bed

• Base model (or close to it) - XL or XLT (Ford) or Tradesman (Ram)

• 6.7L Powerstroke or 6.7L Cummins diesel engine

• Lightly used

What do you think? Are we on the right track for living full-time on the road and going to some pretty remote locations? Is there anything you would do differently?

Please drop your suggestions, recommendations, and personal experiences below. We’d love to hear what you have to say as we make this important (and expensive) decision!

We also encourage you to follow our journey as we prep for and embark on the adventure of a lifetime. We can’t wait to share our journey with you, grow our community, and make connections with like-minded folks who love trucks, travel, and the outdoors.

- Riley + Hanna