Mounting Your Truck Camper

As everyone knows, truck campers aren’t very big. They’re built to be compact enough to fit on the back of a pickup, which means you’re going to have limited space inside. That said, most truck campers come with all the basic amenities you’d expect from a full-blown RV.

The greatest benefit of a truck camper is that there’s no towing involved, meaning an easier drive and the ability to reach places that an RV can’t take you. This opens up more camping possibilities and provides greater adventures in the vast outdoors. It also helps you save some money on the initial expense. 

If you plan to travel solo or with one other person, a truck camper may be perfect for you. Read on to learn how to mount your camper, then come to The Outpost RV and have a look at our inventory of truck campers for sale. We’re proud to serve our friends from Middlebury and Kalamazoo!

Raise the Truck Camper

The first thing you’ll have to do is raise your truck camper. It has to be around 4” higher than the bed of your truck. To find the right height, raise it in small increments. First, raise the front end of the camper, then raise the rear to level it out. If you raise the rear end first, the camper can flip forward and damage the overhang. Raise the camper until it’s high enough for your truck to be backed up under it. 

Back Up the Truck

Once your camper is at the right height, you’ll have to back up your truck under it. Ensure that the camper clears your truck’s wheels and make sure to stay clear of the camper jacks when you back up. Take your time and keep everything centered. This is the most delicate part of the job, so don’t rush it. 

Connect the Wiring

When the truck is close enough (but before you fully back up), hook up any wiring from the truck camper to the bed. It’s better to have this taken care of before you fully install the camper. Once you’ve hooked everything up, continue backing your truck into place. You’ll want to avoid having the camper come into contact with your truck’s bumper or tail lights as this can cause damage. If you’re worried about this happening to your truck, you can get a camper bumper kit, which is designed to help you avoid this situation. 

Lower the Truck Camper

Once the truck is under the camper, lower the camper into place. Use the same method you used to raise the camper and work in small adjustments until all the pieces align properly. First lower the back of the camper onto the bed, then the front. Go slowly until your camper rests securely on your truck bed. 

Secure the Truck Camper

You’ll need two important tools in order to secure your camper: tie-downs and turnbuckles. Turnbuckles attach to anchor points on the camper, while tie-downs attach to your truck. Some turnbuckles have built-in indicators to help you adjust them to a secure tension (300 foot-pounds should suffice). Too much tension can damage tie-downs or rip out anchors. Avoid this by using a spring tension indicator or spring-loaded turnbuckles. It’s a bit of an extra upgrade, but it’s worth it to ensure a secure truck camper.

We hope these tips help you have a pleasant camping experience! To learn more or to check our some great truck camper models, come to The Outpost RV in Middlebury, Indiana. If you’re looking for truck campers for sale near Kalamazoo, we invite you to come take a tour of our inventory!