Tips for Driving with Your Truck Camper

Not too long ago, we discussed how to mount your truck camper onto your truck, but what happens after that? That’s what we’re here to discuss today. Driving a truck camper is certainly going to be one of these easiest RV transport experiences you’ll encounter, but that doesn’t mean it isn’t going to take some work. You’ll need to practice behind the wheel, so to give you some starter tips, we here at The Outpost RV have covered some of the most basic concerns. If you have more questions, then stop by our location in Middlebury, Indiana, serving Kalamazoo, Michigan, and let one of our experienced staff know how we can help you. We can also show you some of our models for sale, including slide-in truck campers.

The Truck

Many veteran owners can forget that your first truck camper might have more firsts attached to it than the camper. You might also be driving a big pickup for the first time. If this is the case, there’s no need to hide this fact. These vehicles can get big and some owners can see a considerable size difference between their old commuter vehicle and their new one. The best piece of advice we can give you that will apply to all trucks is to simply spend as much time behind the wheel as you can. You don’t want to be getting used to both parts of the traveling unit at the same time. Take your time getting used to your new wheels, and only then is it time to load the camper.

When it comes to choosing the right truck, you’ll want to think about your camper and how it’s going to affect what you’ll need. Generally, you’ll want to go for a long bed, since there’s less risk of not being able to fit the camper in the bed. Also think about whether you want a standard or an extended cab (a personal preference) and if you’ll want to spend the extra money on 4-wheel drive (we highly recommend it). The fact is your truck plays just as big a role in this process as your camper does.

Crunching the Numbers

One of the benefits of choosing a truck camper is that it can be more manageable than some of the bigger RVs. However, you’ll still need to be aware of how much bigger it makes your overall unit. Sometimes, you’ll run into tunnels, parking spots, and other common driving scenarios that will not be big enough for all truck camper transporters. Because of this, you’ll want to take some measurements. Figure out how tall your unit is, how wide it is, and how long it is. That way, when you see a sign warning you of a height or width or length restriction, you’ll know if you can keep going or if you’ll need to find an alternative route. 

Driving a Loaded Truck

Many tips we can give for driving the truck once the camper is mounted apply to towing large vehicles in general. You’ll have limited visibility, so everything you do must be done more carefully. Give yourself plenty of time to merge between lanes, have a guide help you with backing up, be aware of how big your blind spots are and where they’re located, and so on and so forth. You’ll also want to be cognisant of the amount of weight you’ve added, which will lengthen the amount of time it takes to come to a stop. Even if you have a fancy new truck, you need to be diligent in your defensive driving practices. 

This should get you started, but it’s normal to still have questions. That’s where our friendly staff at The Outpost RV come in. We’ll help you with all your RV-related concerns and even show you some of the truck campers we have available right now. We proudly serve Middlebury, Indiana and Kalamazoo, Michigan.