Looking for the perfect truck camper match for your half-ton truck? You’re in the right place. With so many options available, it can be overwhelming to navigate the world of truck campers. And many dealers will mislead you out of ignorance on what your half-ton can really handle. Today, we’re sharing the best half-ton truck campers available and providing our insight on what you really need to look for when making your choice.
Let’s learn more about these adventure-ready RVs.
What Is a Half-Ton Truck Camper?
Truck campers fit into the truck’s bed and essentially become an extension of the vehicle. When it’s in place, traveling and parking are more or less unchanged. You can go to remote places where you could never take a motorhome, travel trailer, or fifth wheel. Truck campers are also easy to remove, so you can use your truck as you normally would while not camping.
Like other RVs, truck campers come in many floor plans, trim levels, and sizes. Some, in fact, are designed explicitly for light-duty half-ton pickup trucks. These half-ton truck campers are lightweight and made to fit snugly in 5.5-foot to 8-foot truck beds.
Pro Tip: It’s easier than you think! Learn How to Load and Unload a Truck Camper on a Pickup Truck.
What Kind of Truck Do You Need for a Half-Ton Truck Camper?
Half-ton trucks are abundant. Examples of half-ton trucks are the Ford F-150, Chevrolet Silverado 1500, GMC Sierra 1500, Ram 1500, Toyota Tundra, and Nissan Titan.
When considering a half-ton truck camper, pay attention to the unit’s weight. Matching the trailer to the available truck payload capacity (how much cargo weight you can carry in the truck cab and bed) is crucial. Overloading the vehicle can cause drivability and handling issues that can be hazardous.
Payload capacity can vary significantly, even within a particular make and model. Packages, options, cab style, and engine are some of the factors that determine payload capacity. Some newer half-ton trucks can have a payload of over 3,300 pounds.
You can find your truck’s payload capacity on a sticker inside the driver’s front door jamb in most cases. Keep in mind the payload also includes all passengers and any cargo in the cab, bed, or camper.
Major Differences in Half-Ton vs. Full-Size Truck Campers
Half-ton truck campers are going to be smaller and lighter-weight. This means that manufacturers generally hold back on any unneeded or ancillary features that add weight. These campers also generally sleep fewer people, typically maxing out at 3 or 4 sleeping spots. Most have reduced holding tank capacities, or do away with them altogether, opting instead for portable water and waste storage vs. built-in.
Overall these units are more nimble, simpler, and minimalistic truck camping setup versus some of the larger truck campers on the market.
The 9 Best Half-Ton Truck Campers
With a decent picture of a half-ton truck camper in mind, you might be ready to start shopping. Here are some of our favorite RVs that fit the bill.
1. Four Wheel Camper Fleet
Four Wheel Campers makes two campers that fit on half-ton trucks like the Toyota Tacomas (although their size clearly calls out that Chevy Colorado/GMC Canyon trucks might not be covered under warranty with a camper.) These models are the Fleet and the Swift. We’re narrowing in on the Fleet, which is designed for standard bed trucks and has the added luxury of having a few more floor plan options than its short-bed truck camper cousin.
The Four Wheel Camper Fleet starts at just over $16,500 base price before adding in fancy options (of which there are quite a few!). This model is for 6.0-foot or longer standard-bed mid-sized trucks. It weighs in at 1,045 pounds base model dry weight. So, keep in mind if you add any substantial options, this weight can go up on your truck.
The floor-length measures 80-inches, and the roof length measures 128-inches. When up, the interior headroom measures 6-feet-4-inches, and when down, the exterior height (including vent) measures 54-inches. The Fleet is 75-inches wide and claims to sleep up to 3-4 people, depending on your floor plan.
Five standard floor plan options are available for your preferred setup: roll-over couch, side dinette, front dinette, shell, and flatbed.
The Fleet has 20 gallons of fresh water capacity, an optional 6-gallon water heater, and no grey or black water holding tanks. All used greywater flows out via a drain or external water sources. Portable toilet options are available for waste solutions.
2. Northstar Liberty
The Northstar Liberty is compatible with 5-foot-6-inch to 6-foot-10-inch short bed trucks and weighs 1,775 pounds dry. It packs many features into a small footprint, like a 3.7 cubic foot three-way refrigerator, two-burner LP stove, auto-ignition furnace, and insulated windows.
You’ll enjoy the indoor shower with a cassette toilet after a long day of exploring. Once the day is over and it’s time to catch some z’s, the north/south queen memory foam mattress will have you sleeping in no time. Options include a roof-mounted AC, a microwave oven, and a pre-wired stereo, to name a few.
The Liberty’s floor length is 7 feet with an overall length of 14-feet-5-inches, and an exterior height of 8 feet with the optional AC unit installed. The tank capacities are 20 gallons for fresh water and 13 gallons for gray water. The cassette toilet uses a separate fresh water tank that holds 4 gallons, and it has a 5-gallon black water tank.
Pro Tip: Never heard of a cassette toilet? Here’s what you need to know: Cassette Toilets Explained: What They Are and How They Work.
3. Capri Retreat
The Capri Retreat offers three different floor plans based on bed size starting at a base price of about $18,500 after installation fees and tax. The three designs fit 5-foot-5-inch to 8-foot bed lengths. The Retreat has a unique retro look and can be ordered and custom-built directly from the factory. Direct ordering means ample customization, from exterior accents to interior finishes.
The base-level Retreat includes a queen-size bed up top with a 48-inch by 80-inch lower bed for friends or family. The base unit does not have amenities such as a table, refrigerator, sink, stove, or shower; however, these can be added as an option separately or in prebuilt packages.
It’s rare to see a full standup one-piece fiberglass shower in a truck camper; it’s practically unheard of in a half-ton truck camper. Yet, this is one of many incredible optional add-ons for the Retreat.
The floor ranges from 6 feet to 8-feet-5-inches long, and the exterior ranges from 11-feet to 13-feet-5-inches. All three models share an interior standing height of 6-feet-4-inches. Dry weight begins at 1,050 pounds for a base model that will fit a 5-foot-5-inch bed length. It goes up to 1,760 pounds for a fully-loaded 8-foot bed model.
4. Adventurer 80RB
The feature-packed Adventurer 80RB truck camper fits popular half-ton trucks with 5-foot-5-inches to 8-foot truck beds. It has excellent standard features like a wet bath, foot-flush toilet, tinted safety glass windows, an exclusive 72-inch roll-over sofa, and 16K BTU furnace.
The sofa converts to a 40-inch by 72-inch bed in addition to the generous queen bed above. Also standard are the two-burner cooktop, 4 cubic foot refrigerator, and stainless steel sink in the galley. A low-profile air conditioner, awning, and microwave are just a few of the options available on the Adventurer 80RB.
Specs for this rig show an overall height (including AC) of 7-feet-8-inches and a length of 15-feet-10-inches, making it the longest of the half-ton truck campers shown here. It weighs in at 1,762 pounds dry and is on par with other loaded units in the half-ton category.
The floor length is 8-feet-4-inches, which provides ample space to move around. Three water tanks are standard, with the fresh water coming in at 15 gallons and the black and gray holding 5 gallons each.
New to the Adventurer brand? Learn more about their history, reputation, and product line.
5. Travel Lite Upcountry 775U
The lightweight Upcountry 775U is from Travel Lite’s new line of aluminum and laminated truck campers. With the redesign, they claim to have taken their customers’ feedback to create “Lighter weights, no wood/composite built, true off-grid camping, new and more modern designs…Better seals, no water intrusion with a better profile and still affordable.”
The 775U is the middle offering in the Upcountry line, suitable for F150/1500 shortbox trucks. It is well-appointed with standard features making it a very comfortable option for half-ton truck campers. It features a 12V refrigerator, two-burner stainless steel stovetop, on-demand tankless water heater, solar panels, and 20K BTU furnace as standard features.
This half-ton truck camper has a full wet bath with toilet and shower. The Upcountry 775U can sleep three with the 60-inch by 74-inch north-south cabover bed and the dinette that converts to a bed. There is only one piece of optional equipment not included standard, which is the 13.5K BTU AC.
The Upcountry 775U has an overall exterior length of 181 inches (15 feet) and a floor-length of 89 inches (7-feet-5-inches.) It weighs in at 1,722 pounds dry. The holding tank capacities are 13 gallons for the fresh water tank, 5 gallons for the gray, and 5 gallons for the black.
6. Lance 650 Half-Ton Truck Camper
Lance is no stranger to the truck camper market, as they’ve been manufacturing them since 1965. The Lance 650 half-ton truck camper is built with the same DNA as larger models and is designed specifically for 5-foot and 6-foot short bed trucks.
An 18K BTU ducted furnace will keep you warm on those cold nights. The galley features a two-burner cooktop, a 3 cubic foot refrigerator, and a rectangular sink. Other standard features include a pillow top queen mattress and stereo with internal and external speakers.
The 650 also includes a wet bath, a marine foot pedal toilet, and an exterior wash station to keep your RV’s interior clean. Options include a microwave, roof-mounted AC, and exterior awning, to name a few.
The Lance 650 weighs in at 2,061 pounds dry, has a floor length of 6-feet-10-inches, and an overall length of 15-feet-6-inches. The exterior height with optional AC is 8-feet-1-inch, which gives ample headroom inside.
It has the largest water tank capacities of all the truck campers shown here. Tank capacities come in at 22 gallons for fresh, 15 gallons for gray, and 16 for the black tank–perfect for those extended stays.
7. Scout Yoho
Like the Capri Retreat, the Scout Yoho base unit is minimalistic with adventure in mind starting at $22,495. While other half-ton truck campers include many options as standard, the Yoho allows you to choose the options that match your lifestyle. Base options include solar power, a portable power station, led lights, and portable water storage with filtration.
Optional features include a 45L portable fridge/freezer, portable two-burner cooktop, gear racks, and an awning. A 4.9-gallon Jerry can with a charcoal filter and spray wand are also standard for all of your fresh water needs.
If you prefer a few more creature comforts, you can include a fridge/freezer combo, a 4.5K BTU fireplace, a portable toilet, and a portable cooktop. The Yoho has a dry weight of 934 pounds, an overall height of 78 inches, a length of 121 inches, and a floor measuring 69.75” x W 41.5”. The Yoho does not offer black or gray water tanks. We also feel obliged to point to the potential downside of having “Yo Ho, Yo Ho, a pirate’s life for me…” stuck in your head every time you camp. 😉
Pro Tip: Get the inside scoop about What’s So Special About Scout Campers.
8. nuCamp Cirrus 620
The nuCamp Cirrus 620 is loaded with standard features, all in a compact package. Standard features include a galley with a two-burner cooktop alongside a single-basin stainless steel sink and a two-way refrigerator. The 210W solar kit, a hide-a-way cassette toilet, backup camera, and Nautilus water system are also standard.
The sleeping arrangements are comfortable with a queen-size bed up top and a dining table that converts to a second sleeping area. A few options are available, like a side awning, 9200 BTU AC, a microwave, and our favorite lithium batteries: Battle Born Batteries!
Weighing in at about 1,500 pounds, the Cirrus 620 is relatively light for the number of options included. The overall length is 12-feet-8-inches while the height is 8-feet-2-inches. The water tanks hold 18 gallons of fresh water and 12 gallons of gray to reduce dump station trips. The toilet is a 5-gallon cassette.
9. Hallmark Milner
The Hallmark Milner is a small pop-up truck camper designed to fit short 5.5-foot and standard 6.5-foot truck beds. It has an 80-inch floor-length and an overall length of 140 inches. It has a base weight of just over 1,200 pounds—which is slightly different than dry weight. Hallmarks have a lot of customizations and add-ons available, so the more you add on the more it will weigh. Keep this in mind if you’re building out a tricked-out rig and are planning to put it on your half-ton truck!
Standard features include maintenance-free composite roofs and molded fiberglass exterior framing. Inside, you’ll find real wood cabinetry, a 3-way absorption fridge (or upgrade to a 2-way 12-volt compressor fridge), and LED interior lighting. You’ll get a 30-gallon fresh water tank, with an option to add a 12-gallon gray tank and a 5.3-gallon black tank.
For the pop-up portion, they have manual crank roof lift mechanisms (power optional) and insulated soft-walls. When popped up, it has an interior height of 80 inches and an exterior height of 84 inches. In the lowered position, it is 60 inches tall on the inside and 64 inches on the outside.
One of the things we love about this camper is, that although it is a small pop-up truck camper, it has HUGE windows! All Hallmark campers also come with a 5-year structural warranty. Base price starts at around $47,000.
Pro Tip: Truck campers aren’t your only half-ton option. Some fifth wheels can be pulled by half-ton trucks!
Half-Ton Truck Camper Comparison Table
Now, we just threw a lot of information at you about sizes. To make these campers easier to compare and digest, we’ve created this half-ton truck camper comparison table:
| Model | Dry Weight | Floor Length | Interior Height | Exterior Height | Width | Tanks | Toilet |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Four Wheel Campers Fleet | 1045 lbs *base | 80″ | 6′ 4″ (up) | 54″ (down) | 75″ | 20 F / No Gray | Portable options |
| Northstar Liberty | 1,775 lbs | 7′ | 6′ 4″ | 8′ | 84″ | 20 F / 13 G | Cassette 4 F / 5 B |
| Capri Retreat | 1,050 – 1,150 lbs | 6′ – 8’5″ | 6’4″ | – | 58″ | 0-40 Fresh, No Gray | Portable 2 F / 5 B |
| Adventurer 80RB | 1,762 lbs | 8’4″ | 78″ | 92″ | 90″ | 15 F / 6 G | Cassette 5 B |
| Travel Lite Upcountry 775U | 1,722 lbs | 89″ | 6’8″ | 8’4″ w/ AC | 98″ w/jacks 87″ w/o | 13 F / 5 G / 5 B | Pedal Flush |
| Lance 650 | 2,061 lbs | 6′ 10″ | 8’1″ | 22 F / 15 G / 16 B | Pedal Flush | ||
| Scout Yoho | 934 lbs | 69.75″ | 75″ | 78″ | 74.75″ | 4.9 F / No Gray | Portable 2.6 gal |
| nuCamp Cirrus 620 | 1,500 lbs | – | 6’4″ | 8’2″ | 8’2″ | 18 F / 12 G | Cassette 5 B |
| Hallmark Milner | 1,212 lbs *base | 80″ | 60″/80″ | 64″/84″ | 83″ | 30 F / 12 G (opt) / 5.3 B (opt) | Porta Potty or Cassette options |
Can You Live Full-Time in a Half-Ton Truck Camper?
As full-time RVers for the better part of a decade, we have seen many people make living full-time in small campers work. Half-ton truck campers wouldn’t be the easiest option, but we’ve known people who’ve made do with RVs having less space and capabilities than some of the units mentioned in this article.
Our recommendation would be to learn more about full-time RV living before making your final choice, as choosing the right rig is a very personal process. Once you determine what features, floorplan, and budget requirements you have, you’ll be able to choose whether a half-ton truck camper is right for you and which of these top models fits the bill.
Did You Know: While Dodge Ram used to be quite a popular truck brand, it is now two separate vehicle companies!
Adventure Awaits in a Half-Ton Truck Camper
The options for half-ton truck campers are plentiful. No matter if you’re a weekender, full-timer, off-grid explorer, or are entirely new to camping, there’s a truck camper for your needs and lifestyle. So hop in that half-ton truck, drop a camper in the bed, and cruise off into the sunset. Adventure awaits!
If you’re going to buy the best truck camper, you’ll want to make sure you have the best truck too! Before you decide, take a look at our comparison: Ram Versus Ford Versus Chevy: The Best Truck Debate.
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X Frasier
Friday 15th of September 2023
Pastime Truck Campers Smallest model can be carried by a Tacoma!
Cliff
Wednesday 5th of October 2022
I have a 2011 Ford Ranger 4x4. Put a Tradesman shell on the bed. The shell was made 2ft above the cab height with a overhang over the cab. Have had this on my Ranger since 3/19. On my last camp trip I noticed that the Rt front corner of the bed was sagging about 3 inches. When I got back home I removed the shell and bed for inspection and found that the weight of the shell had caused the bed corners to sag and has cracks in the sheet metal that holds up the walls of the bed. Also cracked the bottom flange that sets on the bed. Had the same shell on my last truck that was a 91 Ranger for 8 years with no problems. Looks like the are using a poorer quality steel on the 2011 Ranger and the bed can't support the weight of the shell.
Leah Marie Wheeldon
Thursday 27th of January 2022
Excellent article. I wonder if you have heard of the Westland truck campers made by Travelaire in British Columbia? I have a Westland 7.6 on my 2012 Nissan Frontier 4X4 crew cab (6 foot box). The Westland 7.6 is 1070 pounds and has a very spacious cab-over bed and a bathroom (no shower). Westland also makes a 80W and 80WS models for half ton trucks. I did research the Four Wheel, Capri, Scout, Travel Lite campers for models to fit my mid-size Frontier, but found the Westland to compare favourably, even better in some instances, at a more reasonable price point. Thanks again for this article and all your articles received in my email every morning!
Randy Graham
Wednesday 10th of March 2021
The 80RB is pedal flush
Mortons on the Move
Thursday 11th of March 2021
Thanks, Randy. We wrote it as "foot flush," which is just a shorter version of "foot pedal flush." It's the same toilet - just called different things by different folks. :)
john urbas
Wednesday 10th of March 2021
GREAT ARTICLE! With comparison charts so you do not have to download brochures or flip between websites to get information on more than one brand or model. Do you know of any sites that allows you to compare different companies? I am really interested in finding the R value of various models. What value could be used to obtain an approximation of the added weight of a four season package? Would the packages call for a change away from the half ton truck ability? Are companies agreeable to installing upgrades and pre-installing wiring as they build? You have presented many desired upgrades and I cannot see the need to get an RV just to remove the installed equipment. Upgrading: Tom aweSOME, me aweFUL. I always look forward to each article. They actually cover everything from soup (Instant Pot) to nuts (upgrades/maintenance). Thank You!
Mortons on the Move
Saturday 13th of March 2021
Hey John, Unfortunately I am not aware of any sites aggregating that data. Would be great to see tho, figuring it all out is so challenging. Many of those questions are going to be manufacturer-specific, and even then they change each year. Some companies will do custom upgrades and or minimal pre-wiring for you. Lance did upsize the solar wiring when we asked even tho they connected it to the existing small wires at the batteries (which we upsized later). I totally agree however on the upgrades, would be great to get it right the first time!. So glad you are enjoying the site, its been a lot of work but we have been enjoying sharing our knowledge and experience from 6 years on the road :)