Truck Camper w/ Kids

[Hunts]

Hey everyone, me and my wife are just getting in to truck camping now.

We used to hunt and camp often but haven’t since we had kids. We have a two-year-old and four-year-old so it’s been a few years.

We are now looking to get back out there with a truck camper. Our plan is to get a truck camper with a king bed because the kids are little enough to sleep with us. The truck camper also has two 80 inch benches that are easily able to fit me if I get kicked out lol

Once the kids get big enough we can push them out so they get the tent camping memories.

We are torn between truck camper and bumper pull trailer. We like getting out in the back country and we’re gonna do a lot of weekend warrior trips, which is why I am interested in a truck camper. Easy to get out for quick trips.

Does anyone here have experience of truck camping with two little ones? I’d love to hear any advice or challenges…. Good stories for encouragement too

As of now we are planning to get a SuperTramp HT….if not then we are looking at the Pause campers

Thanks in advance!

 

[Korey H]

We travel extensively with four kids. Do it! Love following other travel fams. We are @wehartstravel on IG

 

[clark_henry]

A truck camper is definitely more nimble for backcountry access compared to a trailer, especially when you're juggling little ones and just want to get out there fast.

 

[Kingsize24]

We do it with both. The truck for the wife and I, and trailer for the kiddos. Gives us our own spaces, and we don't have to worry about them not being safe once we turn in for the night. If we are going to do alot of day exploring, we drop the trailer as a base camp, and drive around with just the truck. This still gives us access to food and drinks during the day trips. Otherwise we leave it as a unit. We think its the best of both worlds, still allowing us to be quite nimble.

 

[Sparse Gray Hackle]

Both TCs and Travel Trailers have their pluses and minuses, and you should consider them before investing in an expensive toy. If you go and stay put, the TC is usually easier to get out there, but if you want to roam around, you have to pack things up before you can go. With a TT, there’s a bit more hassle getting out there and setting up, but you can leave camp in place and roam more easily.

Typically, you’re going to have more room for the kids if you have a travel trailer.

It’s all about what’s important for you and the family.

Edit: the post above gives you the best of both worlds.

 

[COAKXterra]

We had an ATO habitat on our rig when our daughter was born. Previous, my wife and I probably did 50/50 on camping and staying for 2-3 days vs traveling every day (which we did a lot more with the xterra and sleeping inside). I loved the room of the habitat and the weight and simplicity of it, but it did take some effort to break down/set up especially if we threw out the awning, etc. My wife couldn’t do it alone, and it wasn’t the best set-up for an infant-toddler despite several attempts to make it work, so we sold it and swapped to a fiberglass ARE shell and tent camped (family… 2 adults, one tiny human, one not-tiny dog… we had a big Agnes bunkhouse 6 for that circus) or truck-bed camped (solo).

We recently sold the canopy and bought a hard shell slide-in though. I am away a lot for work and my wife wanted to be able to take the tiny human and the not-tiny dog camping with minimal set-up (ie - tent) so that she could maximize time camping and avoid managing both “kids” during set-up/take down. We pick it up in a couple weeks, and immediately are heading out on a 9 night trial run here in AK. So… will see how that goes, but a lot of research and thought went into this, so fingers crossed.

Some things we considered…
- hard shell with window coverings = make it dark during summer to promote tiny-human sleeping. Tents can be hard up here if you don’t wear an eye mask. Also, some bear protection (wife got spooked once by a grizzly huffing around our tent late one night a few years ago)
- heater = 3 season family/4 season me use
- beds = queen size cab over bed, so room for two… plus twin size convertible dinette for kiddo. (Let’s be honest… that’s more than likely my bed. Haha)
- weight = tried to stay as light as possible. Going onto a power wagon (see my thread for details about that)

 

[SDDiver5]

I've been in the same boat for quite some time. I also have a 2 and 4 year old. We have been fine with a large tent, blow up mattress for Wife and I and then two play/sleep pens with slumber pods over them. Tight fit with our tent but works very well.

I think if/when we upgrade, it will be to a TT. I struggle with the idea of buying one. Simply renting one a few times a year via outdoorsy with No maintenance and no storage sounds great to me.

 

[Sparse Gray Hackle]

I've been in the same boat for quite some time. I also have a 2 and 4 year old. We have been fine with a large tent, blow up mattress for Wife and I and then two play/sleep pens with slumber pods over them. Tight fit with our tent but works very well.

I think if/when we upgrade, it will be to a TT. I struggle with the idea of buying one. Simply renting one a few times a year via outdoorsy with No maintenance and no storage sounds great to me.

Renting is a good idea for several reasons. You’ll avoid all of the maintenance and storage issues you mentioned, you’ll quickly learn if that style of camping is right for you, and I suspect you’ll learn what brands to avoid Due to shoddy materials and workmanship. I am not a fan of stick and staple rigs.

 

[vintageracer]

Kids grow up QUICK and DOUBLE IN SIZE from 2 years old to six years old and 4 years old to 8 years old.

REAL EASY to quickly out grow the rig you pick today than you could ever imagine.

Will you and kids still want to travel 2 years from now or will the travel dream have faded?

Be very careful about getting caught up in the TODAY without considering the TOMORROW!