Truck Camper vs. Camper Shell Camping - Our Review of Both!
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- čas přidán 25. 07. 2024
- Should you buy a pickup truck camper? Is camping out of a camper shell comfortable enough? In this vs. battle, we’re going to pit our custom built truck bed camping setup against our Lance 650 truck camper and hopefully give you all the answers you need in our review of both, round by round.
0:00 Intro
1:13 Round 1 - Cost
1:58 Round 2 - Bathroom
3:31 Round 3 - Space
4:19 Round 4 - Stealth
5:32 Round 5 - Cooking
6:32 Round 6 - Eating
7:50 Round 7 - Driving
8:35 Round 8 - HVAC
9:41 Round 9 - Sleeping
10:21 Round 10 - Storage
11:21 Round 11 - Fridge
12:10 Round 12 - Maintenance
13:00 Round 13 - Setup
13:39 Round 14 - Off-roading
14:16 Round 15 - Pets
SOME OF THE GEAR YOU SEE OR THAT WE MENTION:
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Magnetic privacy curtains - amzn.to/3BmTc5y
Portable oscillating fan - amzn.to/3e6UerZ
Eureka Ignite grill stove - www.rei.com/product/149913/
Collapsible water buckets - amzn.to/37MZJLu
Shower head (may include a wall plug instead of USB FYI) - amzn.to/3jtrFWU
Camp chairs - amzn.to/31OLIZK
Camp table - amzn.to/35ErLpM
Offroading Gear Awning - amzn.to/3tx4wsc
Cutting board (bamboo) - amzn.to/34yyNNg
Swamp cooler stuff
Yakima BikeSwing Bike Rack Hitch Extension - amzn.to/3acssJZ
Swagman Chinook Bike Rack - amzn.to/3x6VW5Y
Car jump battery - amzn.to/34zJ2kM
200 CFM fan - amzn.to/3goEy6T
Westinghouse Portable Power Station - amzn.to/2Q1TAV2
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Greyhound here! One thing that we did not mention in this video that I wish we had was HEIGHT. This is a serious issue in the northeast of the U.S. where we live - there are A LOT of bridges clocking in at 7 feet high, no joke. And it adds quite a bit to our travel time to leave our area because we have to take different, less direct roads. It's extremely stressful and we've had a couple close calls with the camper. And we can definitely NOT get into parking garages with it, which sucks because we do travel to urban areas frequently on our road trip. The cap, hands-down wins the height round since we can drive on all the roads in the northeast like a regular passenger car and get into all the parking garages (unless our kayaks or racks are on the cap).
Gas and insurance goes to the camper shell. Low overheads and parking garages goes to the camper shell. Some of your slide in "wins" can easily be redesigned where the camper shell wins. So when one runs all the items, not just a handful, the camper shell will always win.
I wish we thought of these things as categories beforehand. We’d still choose our dog as the ultimate weight in our decision, but you make great points. Gas usage is much greater with the camper now and changing our route to not get beheaded by a bridge is not a fun thing to have to consider. 😆
That "dropping bombs like we have an endless defense budget" line had me CACKLING! Well done! Cute couple too :)
Haha thank you. 🤣
Great review! We have done it all. Motor homes, trailers, cab overs, shells, and tents! After 45 years, we have settled on a shell and a trailer. Both get used frequently. All the dogs and spouse, definitely the trailer. Just me for 3 or 4 days, the shell. They both work well!
Thank you, and awesome! We have a feeling that we are going to keep switching! I did a 8300+ mile solo road trip last year in two weeks and the shell was perfect. But we both just got back from a three weeker with the dog, and the camper was a blessing for that!
Great video! I'm going for the truck camper Shell!
“Drop bombs like we have an endless defense budget…”.
Awesome!
It called for it 😂😂😂😂
We're using a truck shell. It's higher than most with double open out doors. I can make a bed and sleep across the bed. That leaves plenty of room in the topper for a sitting/cooking area in case of bad weather. I love the ease!
The ease is the best part. No fuss, no nothing! Just up and go. Sounds like you have more space than us. Very cool!
I too have a canopy/topper always on my truck. And I have it always setup in the back for camping/sleeping. Your point about being at ease, is very true for me as well. It's nice to have everything planned out and plain and simple. Take care 🙂🏞🌄🧭🏜🏔
The choice depends on how you use it and what conveniences you and your companion want. My wife would not camp w/o a bathroom, shower, heat and AC. We had a 30’ TT, but it became a hassle to pull if only I was going to the mountains for hunting. We chose, or I chose a truck camper so she would accompany me. More fun together! Our dog could come too and not have to be boarded! Kids are grownup so it is just us. Our first non-slide out took us on a 2 week trip from NY to Fort Wilderness. Great trip, however, my wife saw a Triple slide out Host that she liked and we shifted gears to that which included getting a new truck, a 2020 Sierra Dually which I love! This year we did a 6 week trip to the National Parks and Las Vegas! (My bucket list). Although it is a high 12’6”, it is still 8’3” wide allowing us to travel and park with ease as long as I pay attention to overpasses. I’ve had no issues parking, napping, eating, or using the bathroom anywhere! Very convenient! It is 4 season so we can be comfortable, dry, well fed, and never worry about where the next bathroom is of if we are going to get stuck. Oh yea, solar and inverter with a backup generator makes it all work. We love this setup. Using just a cap would not be acceptable for us.
It sounds like we have the same reasons. I personally like the truck cap for solo trips and we both enjoyed it for years together, but having fun together is the end goal and that meant bringing our dog and having the ability to shower anywhere in comfort admirer s brutal 16 mile hike 🤣. Which six parks did you go to?
I've watched your camper build from the very beginning. Hard to believe it's been two years. I've really enjoyed watching you overcome any problems that popped up along the way. I've been very impressed with your work. Your videos have been very enjoyable and look forward to seeing what you get into next.
Thank you so much Bob! We can't believe how much time has passed as well. We built that truck camper almost six years ago! So much change, but so much optimism. The US is a beautiful country and we feel blessed that we can continue to explore her! Anyway, anyhow, anywhere!
After having an FJ cruiser and a rooftop tent, the experience that changed my mind and get a truck camper.
Constant tearing down of the rooftop tent and having my hands turned bricks from the cold mornings. Having extreme rain or winds feel like the tent was ready to fly off the FJ. The freezing cold and trying to stay warm and comfortable in a rooftop tent can be an extreme challenge. Although it was easier to go off road, in the end I opted for that Kimbo Camper.
It was harder to get around sometimes, but for the most part it really wasn’t a big issue. I have one of the smallest truck campers you can get, so it was pretty easy to park just about any place.
But the best part for me, perhaps being that I’m in my 60s now, was the ability to stop and fit in any parking spot open the back and just climb in to get clean, go to the bathroom, stop for lunch. Being able to stretch out and heat the place easily in the morning or evening. I had way more storage and privacy.
But the biggest factor being I could stop and just open the back tailgate step into the camper and close the door. Very simple to get in and out and be on my way within minutes.
Kimbo Campers are built in the Pacific Northwest in Bellingham and are about the smallest camper you can get to fit on a Toyota Tacoma!
The Dickinson propane heater was able to heat up the place within minutes.
Yes it wasn’t quite as stealthy, but a rooftop tent can be quite noticeable too. All in all my experience and age I opted for the truck camper! 😝
Yup, we decided to just skip the rooftop tent phase - no thanks! I remember checking out the Kimbo campers in our search. They look really nice! You hit the nail on the head, though - one parking spot, and no time-consuming ramp up. We were in Utah recently and there was nothing for hundreds of miles. It was nice to just pull over on a wide shoulder for the bathroom as opposed to trying to find cover in the desert 😂. I did not know they were made in Bellingham. We have a friend from there.
@@MagellanandGreyhound
It was a no brainer for me, I live just south of Seattle and drove up to see what it was all about. I wanted to make sure I could stand up in it.
Which model. I have a Tacoma trd off road double cab short bed. Would yours fit my truck?
I started out with a camper shell. then got a tear drop trailer. But I gotta have a bathroom in the middle of the night; so now I drive a van.
A functioning toilet is never to be under-appreciated!
Before I bought my shell I had removed the back seat of my Tundra, built a platform and added foam for sleeping on.
It was an interesting setup due to the fact that I'm 6'5", but the way I had it I could JUST fit and stretch out.
I'm good with my setup now because I don't camp a whole lot, I mostly use it when I'm traveling for work and don't want to bother with a room for the night.
Just pull over and it's ready to go.
Wow that is a tight fit. I always wondered if really tall people could pull it off. But yes, pulling over and just passing out is the best aspect of the shell. No fuss.
Hi Guys and gals I gotta say I've done both setups and have to say I prefer my truck camper with the BBK Bed Bath Kitchen that way I can cook clean and have a nights rest with out having to fear
Each setup has its own charms, but the BBK is underrated. We've been getting a little crazy with the hiking and it's the best thing to come back to afterwards.
Very good points. If you start with the shell you could always use it for specific trips if you wanted.
I wish we had multiple trucks with multiple setups ahaha. There's no perfect setup for every trip!
We have an long bed Shell on our 2021 F350 CC pulling a 26 ft TT and we love it. Our two dogs love it
Best of both worlds! We would definitely have to change our setup if we get another dog
Thanks for this! We actually have a 44 ft motorhome and tow a 4x4 shortbed F150. We have been weighing the choice to put a camper or shell on the truck so we can still go and explore. But this video really helped us. We had been looking at the Lance 650 for over a year and we have stepped into them, wondered is this gonna work. We are not rich by any sort, retired and working from home tutoring online. Again, thanks!
Some F150s from what I remember are tailor made for the 650. We really like ours. It’s definitely a blend of situations for both comfort and exploration, and our dog of course.
Thank-you very much for the video! I'm pondering our options right now and this was great considerations, some of which I hadn't thought of.
Glad it helped! If you have time, feel free to comb the comments section. Some folks definitely added different considerations we hadn’t even thought of either
Thank you! Just what I was looking for. Excellent video guys.
Glad we could help! And thank you
After seeing this video I was more than convinced to subscribe to your channel …I watch tons of Rv videos living vicariously thru them…..I saved your video the comparison between the camper shell and the truck camper was so darn interesting I couldn’t tear myself away…also you two as a couple are funny and charming….I look forward to seeing more stuff from you…..thanks for doing this for us…😊
Thank you! Well I hope we live up to this video. We’ve only made a few of them like it. This one was really fun to make 🙂
My husband and I have been camping and traveling in one fashion or another since childhood days with our respective families. We currently own 3 RVs and tents so there's wisdom in all of them...an Airstream 19ft camper, a full-on Chevy Conversion Van by EXPLOYER CO., and a Class A Newmar Motorcoach. How you camp, how long you camp, where you camp often dictates what will work for you and weather conditions during your trips. Day Tripping Overnights, Fishing, Tailgating...the Van. BEACH stays, NASCAR, a Weekend or a Week...the Airstream. Extended stays or long distances...the Class A Motorcoach. And being parked LEVEL is key to keeping your electrical appliances running smoothly and properly. Bottom Line, we love it all!
Wow that is a lot! But sounds like you’ve seen so much too I’m sure. You are so correct! Being level is topmost! Holy cow lol
Great to chat with you on the ferry back to Key West. Very well done video on the comparisons. Agree that our pets play a key role in the decision making process.
You too! It was very nice meeting you both. And we were fortunate that the ride itself was very calm. Pets are the best!
Pets are a huge reason why i would get a truck camper. This video is great and informative!
@@DCFamily7 it was a game changer for us. He goes nearly everywhere with us and he’s so happy. And he sleeps better from being so busy haha
Thanks for the video! Very in depth review.
Glad you enjoyed. We appreciate you watching
Very well done. Objective and honest. Thanks.
Thank you Mark
Great review, very helpful info. Thanks😅
Thank you! We are glad it helped!
Totally awesome! Thank you for this video. Rev
Glad you liked :)
this is a really well done video thank you so much
Thank you so much!
OMG!!! April!!! Nice! Im into camping as well. I use a Soft topper on my Honda Ridgeline to do solo adventures.
Hola Carlos! You found me at my other hiding spot. Gardening and camping seem to go hand and hand, don't they? ❤
@@MagellanandGreyhound Definitely. 👍🏼 very nice
This video really helped me decide! Thanks!
Fantastic! Glad we could help. What did you choose? 😁
Sweet video and Thankyou for your service.
Thank you so much! And glad you enjoyed
Stealth could also apply to home security if you live in an urban area and you remove your camper from your truck but store it on your property where everyone can see it. Because once you load it and leave everybody knows your gone for an extended time and a local thief might feel emboldened even if you have a home security system. But with a truck shell nobody knows how long you'll be gone as long as you loaded up undercover of a garage. Of course this is entirely situational and maybe a bit paranoid but something to think about for home security while on the road.
Couldn’t agree more. That’s a good point. With the shell we never took it off. But it’s pretty obvious when a camper isn’t being used
Very good point about thieves and such. We have had over the years thefts, and suchlike. We are always keeping everything locked up.
Since there's No Trespassing signs by the front gate, a family member has said that I'm paranoid and why have them up. This family member doesn't live here, I do since 1976. My Law Enforcement friends have said over the years that posting our property is the best thing to do.
I have my cargo trailer triple locked:the doors, and 2 on the hitch.
Always all the best for you folks and safe travels 👍🤝🏞🌄🇺🇲💯🕊
You can definitely overdo it, but that's not what you'll be saying when you're a victim! I say whatever seems reasonable enough for you to give yourself peace of mind and help deter is the best way to go. Safe travels to you too!
Awesome video friends!! As per parents, Round 15 is the most important…hands down winner. It was wonderful seeing the different categories and perspectives!
A lot of the stuff is personal preference I think. I can totally see us in 10 years coming out to your area of the country and getting really into overlanding. It just depends on where you are in your life and what you’re trying to do. But right now, even though we don’t have children, we do … 😁
great sense of humor and great advice!
Thank you! 🙂
Nice comparison. A big factor to me is the fact that almost all the time I am by myself. I'm OK with the limitations of my shell, but if my wife were joining me more regularly I think I'd prefer the camper. Unfortunately, price also has to be heavily weighed as a factor.
Thanks! Yes, the shell is better for solo treks in my opinion, especially short trips. Have done it many times. As you saw, two people plus wanting to bring a dog changed the equation. And yes, the price was definitely a heavy cost - time will tell if too heavy 😆
Great comparison guys. We have never tried the RV lifestyle. There’s no way that Chris would do a bed in the back of a truck but , that sounds like a great idea to me. We’ve been talking about getting a feather light trailer though for a while.
The truck bed lifestyle is a minority lifestyle lol, and we agree. We loved it for what it was, but between Zeus and the ambition for our future trips, it was time. If you find yourself going to places without lodging often, it’s a no brainer
Great video guys! 👍🏻
Thank you so much! 😀 Glad you enjoyed it!
Thanks for the comparisons. My old truck camper just hit it's expiration date due to wood rot. I'm now considering options. As you get older, a cozy middle of the night bathroom has a lot of attraction.
I hope we gave you enough information! We love both setups, but where you are in your life matters a lot. We aren't ones to complain, but the bathroom/shower is really really really nice :)
@@MagellanandGreyhound - Yes, great information, well presented. I'll check out your other videos on making Truck Cap/SUV camping better. I'm looking at another camper tomorrow, but spend a number of nights in the back of an SUV that has the rear seats modified to allow the use of a good mattress. Thanks
@@kelvindodd5577 we have a few more in a playlist, so hopefully they help out. Just a mix of some of the things we’ve tried throughout the years.
THIS VIDEO DID HELP ME OUT A LOT! THANKS FOR YOUR THOROUGH COMPARISON.
You’re very welcome! We are truly glad we helped. There’s plenty of other categories too like gas mileage - not sure how we forgot that one ;)
@@MagellanandGreyhound 😆 Happens to the best of us! 🤷🏾♀️
New fan here...love it thx for tip. I planned to buy a tent first and camp in my yard to see if im ok... thx again
Thanks! And nothing wrong with tenting! We still do it haha.
Probably my favorite part of the video was how much Zues is a member of your family. My current camp set up is a very small tent, two pop up canopies (I often only use one), a shower tent. My doggo Chloe always goes with me. But next summer I am planning to upgrade to a Runaway camper. My tent is so tiny hard to get in and out of. I have to dress in the shower tent and everything has to go in my car. It will be nice to have a cozy clean place to sleep. I don't need the other comforts of a camper - bathroom or kitchen. I live in a dry shack so I haul buckets of water at home. I have daily showers down to a science and a composting toilet is my everyday life anyhow.
I should also add that I have a K9 Sport Sack and a basket for my bike for Chloe so she never gets left at the campsite no matter what I'm doing. That would make a difference.
Allison, it sounds like it will be a much deserved upgrade, for you and Chloe! That is some serious diligence. Tents, shower tents, bathroom logistics - it’s a lot of work, and it wears thin over time, I think.
I have loved the touch of humor you have given it and it seems that you are getting a lot out of the camper. You will continue using the truck? wonderful video my friends
Thank you! It has made our trips so much nicer. Zeus just came with us for three weeks
Very helpful. Thank you!!
You’re very welcome!
A marvelous alternative is a shell with a quality canvas tent, height, space, separation, living arrangements. Stealth as needed, and space when in the open.
Downside, it is rough, for people with companions to store everything without feeling "crammed" while city sleeping, but wonderfully doable for a solo adventurer!
It's so impossible to go wrong either way as long as life is being lived and enjoyed!
I should say as well, a deisel heater, name brand, or knock off, is such an economical, and energy efficient heating option.
Really great video all in all for those curious about routes to take. Fantastic job!
That’s also a great option. We find that we learn something new in every campground we stay at. And couldn’t agree more - however you get out there and enjoy yourself, in a camper, a tent, a hotel, just get out there!
An Awesome comparison video. I know water is a very important issue. There are many yt videos showing pvc pipe pressurized water systems (also able to heat it other than just the sun heating it) that go on the top of a cap that don't take up much room. It would still allow for your kayaks to mount to the top. It would be a similar look as your canopy.
I too have been in a constant debate as which to choose, cap or camper. I did a lot of research and decided for now to go with a used cap and a cap over ladder rack. I plan on putting 2 sot kayaks along with the pvc water system on it.
There are soo many videos about heating and cooling a cap depending on what season your traveling in. I plan on putting a roof vent in also.
I also have looked into a secondary battery to run additional power that charges from the alternator and /or solar.
I have the entire idea in my head and have 90% of the material that I need to do the build. I just need the time and space to make it happen.
Safe travels and have a blast.
keep up the good work.
Thank you! Never thought of putting a system on top. The debate never ends really, but isn’t nice to have so much versatility these days? Vans, soft top pop ups, pull behinds … I think in the end, you go with what you have until you can go with what you want. Hopefully you get yours going by the time the weather warms (unless you have warm weather still lol)
I like your new setup! I wish you many fun and exciting adventures with it 👍🤙
It’s been sweet, man. We really enjoyed it on this road trip.
@@MagellanandGreyhound I bet!
Great video. What type of truck do you have.
Woo goo hey guys. Been waiting for this video
Thank you! 🙃
I grew up truck camping with my dad, so I’m a truck camper guy. I also take two sea kayaks on top of my camper. I see the 650 has no ladder or rack system. My 815 came with both. I also built a bike rack for my ladder from Lolo Racks. Not sure how you could haul your kayaks but you might consider installing a front hitch and adding a bike carrier. But for your life style I have the best solution: you can flat tow a jeep. That way you can put a bike rack on a hitch and kayak rack on top. Have a second vehicle to go exploring and a place for storage. I haven’t checked the feasibility in detail but it’s been a dream of mine.
Biggest negative for us is not having the kayaks. Love your idea though with the jeep to carry the kayaks! We’ve seen people towing a small boat for fishing on their campers. We’re just getting into this so I suspect we’re going to get very specific on what we prefer. Maybe we even upgrade the camper to an 815/50 etc
Excellent video 👍👍👍. Love the humor 😂😂
Thank you! We are trying to get our regular around the house humor in the videos. 😂
I've got a truck camper on a flatbed trailer. And building a truck shell camper for the 2nd truck I have. Best of both worlds!
Oh man, you do have it made! I’d love to have that flexibility. We only have one truck haha
You guys are very entertaining and you have some very good ideas.
Thank you 😁
We plan around our dogs, too, but in a different way. While we camp in a wonderfully climate-controlled 23' Airstream, for several of those occasional lengthy, not-so-dog-friendly day trips, we have been fortunate to find doggie day care for the day in town, or even onsite kennel facilities responsibly managed by the park. A few examples are Mammoth Cave, Biltmore Estate, Dollywood. We pick up our babies hours later, in one or two instances more spoiled than when we'd left them! Worth a phone call.
That’s good to know! We looked into it a few times, but we couldn’t find those services. I forget where we were. Gotta spoil them! 😁
First of your videos I've seen, prompted by passing a neat-looking truck camper this afternoon. I like your logical method of coming to a decision, I like your sense of humor, I like you period. My camping days are over (yes, the damn Army) (and a darling wife who's gone soft on me) but I enjoy the dream. Looking forward to more of your videos.
Appreciate that Steve. Logic is my (our) forte. Army camping is something no one can imitate! I do not miss it. At. All. Although I did just make her eat MREs on a recent trip 😝. Hopefully you find our other stuff interesting. We mostly make informational travel videos, but every once in a, we make stuff like this. Everyone tells us we need to include our warped sense of humor. You might be on to something
Love this! Thank you :)
You’re welcome :)
This helped a ton thank you
You’re very welcome 😊
Camped in all of it…… my travel trailer is stored in the shop I have a 7/7 travel lite on my f350 …..this works very well for us
We looked at some travel lites. Also very nice. Is the camper so far your favorite of all time or your current favorite? We have a fondness for each way we’ve camped
You guys deserve 1 mil subs....
Thanks for the information.
Haha thank you so much. That probably won’t happen, but we welcome your optimism. Glad you found the video useful!
I found a 1990 Six-Pac D650 truck bed camper for $348. Basically stole it. I'm so blessed. Spending money on a renovation and can't wait to get some traveling done
That is a crazy steal! Holy moly. I love the idea of renovating something, but only when it’s well past it newness and usefulness and it’s ok to really be experimental
Great comparison, we've been considering upgrading in the future to a truck camper and loved your review! Thanks for sharing!
It’s worth it!
@@MagellanandGreyhound
Camper shell: Moderately camping
Slide-in: Glamping to the very definition.
You’re supposed to be cooking and enjoying the outdoors. Ever thought of putting your slide-in camper onto a trailer? It helps free up truck bed space and improve your MPGs by lowering the wind sail of a camper. There’s a dude in CZcams who did this exact thing.
Hey Ted! Sorry for the delay. Sometimes we get comments and they get filtered as spam and we see them months later. I never heard of that idea, but it sounds like a good one. The MPG is definitely less with the camper. As for the shell/camper, for us, the hiking is the best part, but always the most tiring. Being able to hike down to the bottom of the Grand Canyon and come back up to our dog was too good to be true. Add a hot shower? Bonus. We still overnight backpack! :)
@@MagellanandGreyhound
Go watch Jay Legere CZcams channel. Thank me later. Type in “truck camper strapped to a trailer”.
That was pretty awesome! He’s a clever dude
I bought a pop-up shower tent to use outside my truck cap camper when I'm remote, but it's useless in the winter so I use fitness showers whenever possible.
We’ve used ours with the camper too. But we’re in the northeast so we encounter the sand issue as you. Fitness and/or truck stop showers in a pinch …
Thank you sharing the difference. Wow!! I am interested in the camper shell building it out. Now this is something to think about
Thank you! It was a labor of love for us and all comes down to your preferences. We skipped van life because we use our truck for so much not related to camping.
@@MagellanandGreyhound Thank you for replying, you have a new subscriber.
@@Atpeacewithoneself oh no problem at all! We try to get to them all. And thank you 🙏
@@MagellanandGreyhound ❤️
For me - shell all the way. I was stealthily sleeping around NYC and no one every knew. Once I slept in a paid indoor parking right in the middle of the city.
Oh that must be an adventure. I hope you have a good pair of earplugs. I’ve taken naps in Brooklyn before when I was so exhausted and couldn’t make it that last bit home.
Great vid folks! I just sub and look forward to your follow up vids. I’m going with the truck camper because of the same reasons you mentioned. My wife and I have a 80 lbs dog the we hate leaving behind when we go places. And SHE will not use public showers. She also needs her own toilet “non negotiable “! I can use a 5 gal bucket)) Thanks !
Haha it’s all about who isn’t willing to do what. We completely understand her logic. We are more than familiar with the 5 gallon bucket and peat moss, or kitty litter. 🤣
You guys are hilarious! At first I thought you guys were weird but then I found your funny weird and that works for me! 😂
Ahaha, thank you! Did you happen to watch our original Lance tour video too? The funny weird is there and there’s a bloopers section.
Great Video, we just had this very conversation today. Stick with the cap or go to a slide in truck camper. A perfect timing on your video! Cheers to the both of you, I enjoyed this video! Liked, Shared, and Subbed. (Good sense of humor too!)
Awesome! We knew we couldn't have been the only ones with the struggle. They are both great, in their own ways, but no one thing can be perfect forever. Are you leaning more towards a camper now? Or have you dug in and decided to keep the cap?
The cap saves so much money! He just told me tonight on the phone that while he is traveling out & about, he may as well keep the cap for now so he can stay here & there without being noticed. He just said that, then I found your video tonight! So that was really cool. So as of the here & now, the Cap stays for us.
That it does! I can't even fathom how much money we've saved with ours either. Other than Zeus and our super ambitious road trips lately, the simplicity of the cap can't be beat. And yes, being a stealth ninja is fun too. :)
Love it! Great video! And, is Mr. Mister The Poet Laureate? I mean, profund...."Drop Bombs" AND "Ice Cream IS Ice Cream!" Spectacular use of Mother's proper English! Just teasing, I found this video to be very informative and appreciate the time you took to lay out the pros and cons. Safe travels and may Zeus be ever so comfy!
Ahaha maybe in another life! 😂 We are trying to infuse our videos with more humor. Glad you enjoyed it and safe travels to you too! We just got home after three weeks in the camper and I have to tell you, while it was great, I’m totally eating pizza, gyros and bagels tomorrow! Waistline be damned! 🤣🤣🤣
Good stuff, thanks!
Thank you!
Thank you sir for your service 🇺🇸
Thank you 😊
I was just dropping a quick tip on truck camping setup I had. I love it. I had a high top camper shell on an 8 ft bed. Made and 8 ft bed. I had 6 ft bed that moved from bed to couch. It had storage underneath couch area and we had a small 1ft wide by 6 ft long table on opposite wall. I installed several light, window coverings, small vent with fan, 5 gallon water tank and deep cell battery with small solar panel. i stayed in it for 3 weeks at a time on a travel vacation with wife.
The best thing we had was a chevy c-20 high top conversion van. We removed middle seats and install mini fridge, coffee maker and battery charger with deep cycle battery. We removed all the conversion power to it instead of van battery. We took rear window out and added custom bracing and covers and installed a house hold 5k btu AC unit. And in winter we had a large oil filled radiator heater. We slept on the back seat which folds down into a full size bed at a push of the button. We had over head storage and tons of over head lighting. Had a small 24 inch tv that hung in the front behind the rear seats. We travel a year with this setup stopping at camp grounds.
Wow, you really went all in, and I don’t blame you haha. I wish we had an 8 foot bed. That would given us so many more options. The fact that you had a tv in the van sounds sweet too
@@MagellanandGreyhound thanks you. Yeah I wanted to be real comfortable and we were also in a camp ground with water and electric at site. At that time regular tv antenna built into van roof would get us several local channels. Now it would be worthless. I did enjoy your video tho.
@@nicksyardcare nothing wrong with being comfortable. I always love hearing what others do in their setups. No one setup is the same and everyone always has inquest ideas
Great video! Thank you! I think it depends on what your outdoor goals are! For me, at this time, I am looking at either a shell and truck shell camping or a slide in. I have a 26’ camper I use for “glamping” with my wife. I love full hookups with that. However, I am an avid hunter/flyangler and love mobility and the option to tow my ATv with a small trailer or my e-bike on a hitch bracket. For me the pro comparisons are: Truck Shell- Lower cost, better fuel mileage, less wear and tear on pickup components, more opportunity to get out with my 9 year old son or solo (yes, I do like being alone while hunting or fishing!) and easier access to more backcountry areas. The bike takes me the rest of the way into remote locations with less people. The Slide in: More convenient and comfortable camping…That’s it. And I’ll need a place to store it after. Regardless, this video convinced me of my next project which is to build a bed/camp kitchen/she;ving set up for my soon to be new shell for truck bed camping!
Safe travels to both of you and thanks for the content!
In an ideal world we could have two trucks with each setup (or a way to easily remove the cap)! I do miss the convenience of the cap but I also love the comfort of the camper. I’m with you on the solo activities. Sometimes you just need to be by yourself
As a pet owner, I totally get it. But, as the one who does 100% of the care of our home...the LAST thing I want requires the care and cleaning like home, when it is supposed to be a camping/hiking trip. I miss my babies too (3 cats, 2 dogs, plus a few ferals). But it is totally worth it for me to pay a trusted college student in working young adult to care for them, and keep an eye on our home. And believe me, we pay very well. Plus, as the one who does all of the prep, design, and loading for any trip...I like the challenge of making my 1999 Ford ranger ready for boondock or tent camping. I live in Utah, and there are so many roads you wouldn't want to take with a truck camper. But, thanks for the video and I wish you all the happiest of adventures.
Completely understand that. At times we're a bit overwhelmed with the care required and miss the ease of just being able to leave on a somewhat whim. You have some great adventures too! We loved Utah when we visited Bryce (and hopefully much more soon)
Very informative and entertaining 👏
Thank you Manuel, glad you enjoyed it 😁
Awesome stuff!
Thank you 😊
Great video. But for $300 you could’ve had a 12v compressor fridge/freezer in the backseat, thus earning the shell a draw on that round. But as a pet owner myself I get it. I, too, have a camper shell for short trips, and a small toyhauler for longer trips. And my dog influences which setup I use.
Thank you! I think that was the direction we were headed with the fridge. We met a couple in a campground that had one and we were smitten. But now we’re even thinking of a second dog. So I think we made the right choice, even though I love the spontaneity of the shell.
Veteran - 100% thank you. And, Thank you for posting this video. Good info.
Thank you so much! The ultimate video would have been tent vs van vs truck cap vs camper vs travel trailer vs motorhome, but that isn’t happening! 😁
It would be interesting to see what you think of the the topper lift system you use with the shell.
Never heard of and just googled it. That looks really cool! Off the top of my head, it definitely adds much needed living space. Have you used one before?
Well done!!
Thanks man 😁
PS I love your attention to all who comment🤗 That is super important and responsively wonderful💯🔥
Haha thank you. We do try. Definitely miss some here and there, but always try to help, especially with questions 😁
@@MagellanandGreyhound Awesome, thank you guys💯🤗
We love our pop up camper. When you leave your pup in the Truck Camper how do you keep it cool when you are boon docking and on a hike? Thank you for sharing this video we really enjoyed it. Mary💕Fred
Thank you! At this point, we always time a hike to align with leaving the camper in the campground with AC for the Zeusinator and return afterwards. We’ve done boondocking with him but not where we leave him unfortunately
The video shows how much storage depends on the camper model and manufacturer. The north wood greek wolf is equipped in size and has good storage space.
You’re absolutely right. We’ve seen other ones with very very different configurations.
I had a Lance years ago, and while it was very comfortable, the resulting rig was clunky. When I just wanted my truck back, It was a huge chore to remove the camper ( those things are heavy), and it had to be stored at a storage lot, which is another nuisance. Today, I am starting over. I have a new pickup truck, and purchased a new shell for $1500 (a deal). Since my truck is also my car, good mileage is a must. The truck is a full size Ford, but is the light duty version. What I am shooting for is a nimble set up that is easy to prepare for travel, and just as easy to put away when not in use. So far we have done a lot of dispersed, off grid camping what would be difficult in a larger rig.
Ed, totally understand. You got a sweet deal on a cap, especially with prices right now! I think one of the best things about the cap is what you said. It’s nimble. You can just go. It’s hard to describe just how important that can be. For us, our dog changed everything. I’m pretty sure we’d still use the cap and maybe waited (if ever) to get a camper.
@@MagellanandGreyhound Camping is an art. To me, it is all about being there. My brother only uses a tent; a van or a truck camper is too much for him. I have a cousin that does a yearly off grid camp out with friends where they all haul in houses with garages: 5th wheel trailers plus untility trailers ('garages' for the 'toys'). It is all good. Right now I am trying to refine my technique and get maximum use out of what I have.
Thanks!, enjoyed the video...and Zeus!
Question: I'm between a roof rack or camper shell for hauling kayaks and bikes...do you think 2 mountain bikes would fit in a camper shell with one of those "front wheel over the tailgate" dilleos? (obviously with the lid open)
Thank you! If you have shorter kayaks, you could just load them from the side and no problem, but if they are long (like ours are over 17 feet heavy monsters), you'd likely have to load them up without the bikes being in the camper shell. That's an annoying process potentially. That's why we went with the swinging hitch bike rack, but we thought about storing the bikes in front of the truck too, so that could be an option. The kayaks, I think it's safe to say, have to go on top, unless you're going to tow them, so work around that. And measure everything out. 😂
You made some good points, but I think I could swing your vote to be more skewed to the shell by one simple trick...and connecting tent. I have an 8' long bed tent and a tent that is of the same maker, that sits on the ground behind the truck. So, the tent on the ground connects to the tent in the bed…like a gerbil cage, HA!
Like I said I have a bed tent, not a shell…but…you can connect just about ANY good-sized tent to ANY shell (back of a truck) with a few modifications (those videos are out there).
So your vote for space, eating, bugs, ect would all go to the shell. AND!!! The ground tent doesn’t have to come out. So if you are “stealth camping” just put the ground tent up in the next stop.
AND!!! Consider this…you can also connect that ground tent to another ground tent (Which I did, and I love it…a bit of set up time but not as bad as you’d think with the new “pop up” tents). So, you can have a mud/changing room that leads to a main/living tent that is connected to your bed.
Just know that the tent is a tent…it still gets cold but for the most part you are dry.
Amen! A tent is indeed a tent! And being dry is way more important than being cold haha. We’ve seen these a few times before actually. We even had one - different than yours - that connected to the cap pretty easily and made a kind of large foyer extension. I think for us the category of dog became too important. We just couldn’t keep him cool enough or warm enough with the cap and therefore couldn’t do some extreme hikes while he lazily slept all day. 🤣
This was great, love your humor and creativity. As you allude to, not all categories are equal in importance...wondering if you could go through your decision tree on why the Lance, vs Adventurer or other similar sized rigs I may not know about, also why not theLance 850, which is rated for 1500's as well, lastly curious about your mods that you allude to in terms of suspension. Thanks again...yall are great!!
Thank you! 😁 - The reason we went with the Lance was because a neighbor in a campground had one and gave us a tour. It was love at first sight. We looked at many others (Palomino etc) but felt we liked the Lance the best. We went with the 650 instead of the 850 partially because it was a huge leap from a camper shell and we want to start small. We really don’t need much and figured if we needed bigger later, we could do that. Suspension (rear) - we added a sway bar, airlift springs and heavy duty shocks. Rides nice and sturdy now!
Thanks for quick reply…
@@bbgregory1884 no problem! We’re not a huge channel and enjoy talking to people. 😁
You guys are great. Do you work from the road? Is taking the camper off a pain? Thanks
@@mannymotta2174 Hey Manny! Greyhound here. No, we're just regular people, both have jobs at home. We take a few trips a year. Our channel probably makes us look busier than we are LOL. Amazingly, the camper can be taken off or put on in about 15 minutes. We saw it happen in a campground and that was on of the selling features for us. We talk more about it in our tour video if you want to see it!
Enjoyed the comparison, and very professional quality! I may be biased but I think a cargo trailer conversion is a good in between solution!! 😉
Haha thank you! We actually considered that as a solution, but we are both not fond of towing anything. I envy some of the setups people have and how much less they paid. 😆
@@MagellanandGreyhound Yeah gas mileage is my nemesis right now, and pulling on snowy roads! Take care and safe travels out there!
@@bwiesman yes we freaked out recently while in California. Prices were nuts. You stay safe as well!
Love the video! I love the idea of a truck camper. Buuuut we have 4 kids. So we bought 33 acres of land and are putting a prefab 16x24 cabin on the property. Maybe one day we will hit the open road
Thank you! And yes this camper will not accommodate six 🤣. Probability says though that half your children will get the itch to travel, so be prepared! 33 acres sounds like my idea of semi-seclusion though, especially if up in the mountains
And ice cream is ice cream! Never truer words have been said! ;-)
Hi great video
We purchased a 14 foot camper from Taylor coach similar like a truck camper
We wanted something small below 3500 lbs but still have all amenities small enough to go places we could not go with a big camper.
Enjoy
thank you! and that's great. everyone's situation and comfort level is different and you just have to get what works for you, even if that changes. I remember we met an older couple at Big Bend years ago who had a truck cap, then camper, then trailer, then a motor home, then megahousebus, then scaled back down to a motorhome because the megabus couldn't navigate certain roads! We joke that eventually we will just get a compact car and stay in hotels haha
Hey guys! I really enjoy your videos! I’ve got a quick question... how much would you say you pay for fuel appropriately monthly. I’m out here in California and my wife and I want to buy a camper and new truck but are hesitant because of the gas price so. Any info would help, Thanks and be safe!
I wish I could tell you, we unfortunately haven’t tracked that. But - I can tell you this, our truck probably was 20mpg and with camper on it, dropped to 15 mpg. You definitely have to fill up more! Gas by us is about $3.50, but by you it is definitely not! My suggestion not only for gas, but for a new truck, is to see if you can wait it out. I’ve seen that campers have exploded even higher than when we were looking. And vehicle shortages are here for awhile too.
Love your videos!! Your truck camper is so cool!! I have a ram 6 and half foot bed grey same color as yours. If you think about selling your old set up let me know. Im just starting into truck camping and if you don’t need your old set up maybe we can workout a deal!
Awesome and thank you! Unfortunately we can’t sell you our setup 😁. What were you thinking of doing?
As a commercial driver and armchair analyst of over 5 years in how to best approach this conundrum, this is hands down the best video ever conceived of the most innocuous problems. Thank you.
Addendum: in concluding this video I firmly agree there may be one singular item to make the call: for me, hands down a bathroom for my daughter.
Thank you! Appreciate your comment! We’ve never done van life or lived out of a tractor trailer (although we adore truck stops), but we figured our comparison would cover the most common issues. The bathroom was weighted heavily for us too. A trip we just took only affirmed that we made the right choice.
@@MagellanandGreyhound
Thanks for the reply. I’ve subbed thusly looking forward to your management of camper living. Camper units appeal to me for various reasons but tripping into the GVWR problem after becoming a commercial driver and realizing the shortcomings of my truck, I’ve been reticent to acquire anything befitting an 8’ bed and a 2k payload capacity.
So I’m really looking forward to your small camper lifestyle and insights.💪🏽
No problem Ken! We tend to do mostly videos of our travels, with the occasional video on truck camping. Feel free to email us at magellanandgreyhound@gmail.com if you'd like to discuss anything in the interim. We don't mind and we have quite a bit to say about the GVWR problem!
That was a great review/ vs. I love off roading so I just don't have anything yet but saw a video about a company called FLATED. They have inflatable camper shells. I may try one of those out the next time me and my daughter go out🤙
You two are fun 😊
🌟New Subscriber🌟
Thank you! Just checked out Flated. That’s so cool. I wish they were around or we knew about them years ago. Seems like an easier option than a heavier shell.
@@MagellanandGreyhound That's what I was thinking👍
What is the listed payload on your car jam sticker for the truck that you use for your camper?
I feel like the pets can go either way because yes they can be indoors in the camper but I feel like a bigger dog would have more room in a camper shell (obviously depending on your setup)
Completely agree. For us it wasn’t so much if he had enough room, but could safely stay in the shell/camper while we’re hiking to the bottom of the Grand Canyon. I have a friend who goes hunting in his shell setup and his dog and that’s all he needs.
I have no experience to be honest but in my eyes … I would prefer the van camper 😊 excellent presentation guys! A big dilemma..
It really is a big dilemma lol. 😜
First and foremost, I absolutely love watching your video. Quite honestly, the two of you need to think about having a television series. That being said, I'm a truck camper guy. Well, now I am. Currently, I have a arctic fox 865. Like yourselves, we started with the truck camper shell. Then we purchased a Sportsmobile, Econoline 4 x 4 van. Then we went to a 4 x 4 C-Class motorhome, a Minnie Winnie. Always had my Jeep, with a homemade teardrop camper. Yeah, we've tried them all. We enjoy the mountains, and also spending time in Alaska and Canada. Logging roads, we just love them. We've taken our truck camper off-road, as far as 100km, traveling on two tracks never having an issue. We paid $34,000 for our truck camper, and we also have purchased a sherptek bed 4 my F-450 4 x 4. For us, the arctic fox truck camper has been a game-changer. I'm also disabled, and travel with a black lab service dog. She helps with my Mobility and my PTSD. Blue girl, her safety / Comfort is a priority of mine as well. I believe each person's vehicle is a very personal choice, and there's no really wrong answer. All my past vehicles, have performed well in their own special way. However for me personally, that truck camper has been the perfect fit, for me. Does that mean it's the perfect fit for everyone, absolutely not. But for me, I'm now a truck camper guy. We have no propane, we use only diesel/electric. We don't have a black tank anymore, we made the decision to go with a composting toilet. We use a diesel heater, and also a Dickerson wall hanging fireplace. Also I made the decision to have my entire truck camper spray with Rhino lining. Replacing our AC unit with a 12-volt AC unit. Lastly, we run solar and lithium batteries, never really having to use our generator much. Our F-450 is a Overland Beast, really allows me to get out there once again. I missed it, being able to go way way out in the forest and up in the mountains. Not real big fan of crowds, I've never got over my PTSD.. But like I said, to each their own. You make a lot of sense in what you're saying, there is no doubt. However for me, I pretty much travel full-time now. Getting away from the VA, and now spinning much more time out nature. It's just good for my spirit. Yes, I've struggled with my vehicle choices. But now this truck camper is the best fit, once again for me. Thank you for your video, and we're looking forward to seeing more of your video uploads. Wishing the both of you nothing but safe travels, and tons of the ventures. Blessings.
Thank you William, you are very kind! I think you hit the nail on the head, and it's cool to hear that you've run the gamut on camping vehicles. It really is a personal preference, and that preference changes. Now that we've got the camper, I really appreciate your suggestions, because I know we would definitely prefer a composting toilet over a black tank. We were trying to balance that go anywhere where there's no hotels attitude with comfort in longevity. We don't RV full time - just vacations, but it was so hard to really travel for more than a week or two without being fatigued and needing a home recharge. We just got back from a 3 week road trip and could have kept going! Just curious, since you seem very well traveled, what are your favorites places you've been to? Always looking for ideas 😀
I don't know if you mentioned it but MPG goes hands-down to the camper shell; getting nearly what the truck alone would get. But, there are "things" in between a truck cap / shell and full-blown truck camper, such a a these bed rail mounted popup camper. Harker Outdoors EDC is one of several... not much heavier than a truck cap at 400# for a full size pickup, lower than that for mid-size trucks... even for a Jeep Gladiator... 1/3 the price of the typical truck camper, has tons of place for camping gear, since the bed is totally clear; leaving room to haul stuff when not camping. In fact it will fit into my garage - 8x18 overhead door. MPG will be about 18 - 19, where a truck camper might be 11 - 12. Setup or tear down is between 1 and 3 minutes. Features a 58" x 84" bed platform that raises when not in use.
Yes, hands down, for the shell. We definitely lost 2-3 mpg with this thing. I think you’re spot on about the pop up campers - they were the next logical step for us under normal circumstances. But between our dog and now building a home from scratch on raw land, it made the most sense for us to jump a few levels 😁.
I work at ARE it's great seeing one of are products on CZcams
It’s a great product! 😁
Great review, but the cost would be such a huge thing for most people that there would be no contest.
Completely agree. Every category is weighted differently and that’s a huge one.
I really like the cab over campers, however, one needs a strong stomach if you get one. A friend asked me to go up to Flagstaff and help him pick up a cab over he saw on craigslist. He bought it and we drove a newish Dodge Ram 2500 (not tandem) pu with air bag over rear axle from Flagstaff Az., down to Phoenix on I-17.
In Flagstaff we picked up the Lance cab over, nice setup. By the time we finished the trip he made the decision to sell the camper and get a trailer, all the hairpin turns with the top heavy constant threat of tipping scared the hell out of him, me too. Out west and if you can avoid the Adirondacks, Tennessee and a few other locations, there aren't a great many places in the US you can go to avoiding mountain travel, east-west on I-10 perhaps.
That’s a really good point. I don’t have a good stomach when a passenger haha, but the beefed up rear suspension has really helped us. I’ve driven down the Big Sur section of the PCH and I’m a little scared now. That must have been some experience for him to pick up it and offload it that fast!
Just found your channel. I see you have the 1500 Ram, It’s comparable to my 5.7l 2015 Tundra…I have 20” AT tires. I opted against 4x4 since a 2x2 has more carrying capacity and can get me pretty much anywhere I want to go with proper tires. How is carrying the weight of the Lance with your 1500? Limitations?
We take things a little slower (uphill, turns, etc) and it definitely feels weird in heavy wind or when a tractor trailer roars by you. Otherwise we beefed up our rear suspension (airlift springs, heavy duty shocks and a sway bar) and e-rated tires. All in all, rides really sturdy.
Another consideration is fuel cost. A Truck Camper is a lot heavier and will cause the truck to use more fuel. At $4 a gallon, this could be an important factor. 👍
Great point! We go down about 2 miles a gallon with the camper. For a truck that is not nothing!