european truck campers

2021/05/21

We came to truck camping because we dont like RVs with long overhangs because you cant leave paved streets with them. We pull a boat trailer carrying a Linder aluminum dinghy, outboard, and fishing gear. The usual trucks used in USA/Canada such as Ford F350s, Chevy Silverados, and Rams are costing over $150,000 new in Australia. Id like to own a RV in the future and a truck camper would be my first choice due to the versatility. They have to be converted to right hand drive but there seems to be a fairly substantial profit margin for the importers of these vehicles who have the market sewn up via various legislation. We took a summer trip to Edinburgh for the Military Tattoo at Edinburgh Castle. Truck campers are a real rarity in the United Kingdom as pickups are not a really common leisure vehicle and mostly used by tradesman. With some local advice and the right attitude, Peru is a great place to travel and camp. Andy Peak, Manchester, United Kingdom 2013 Nissan Navara (Frontier) 2008 Skarosser Polar 4.0. They are fixed on the frame with four screws. We have a very active scene of truck camper owners who gather several times a year at different locations. Most truck camper industry leaders believe there are about 100,000 active truck camper rigs on the road in the United States and Canada, possibly more. Still, you can buy two of these with a lazy axle for the price of one American truck. We meet up with our friends at private organized truck camper rallies/meetings from our German Forums all over Germany. There are also plenty of good walks along the cliffs and beaches with fantastic views over Weymouth Bay and Portland Harbour. Private campgrounds vary from what you would expect at a full service national or state park to a little more than a field or a paved parking lot. A four-wheel drive truck is essential as we often camp on beaches or in the bush and we take our boat with us. They are only imported in small numbers by a few expensive US-car dealers. Traveling anywhere in Australia is generally safe and people are friendly and approachable, but be prepared if you wish to head to the Outback. For them motorhomes are better and more flexible and practical for the family business. The Australian trucks are all under-powered. We purchased our Northstar Laredo rig in the United States and travelled there for three months before shipping the truck and camper back to New Zealand. You also can find nice campsites close to a city or in the countryside. All appliances are 240-volt and the gas fittings are Australian compliant. For our longer holidays we prefer the west coast of Scotland, mixing in the mainland with some island hopping through the inner and outer Hebrides. Our 2008 Skarosser Polar 4.0 camper is a hard side and was built in Sweden, where they use them down to -30 Celsius (-22 Fahrenheit) thanks to their excellent insulation and Alde central heating system. Norman Ashley, Canberra, Australia 2005 Ford F250 2011 Outfitter Apex 8LB. As long as the new US President does not start an economic war, there is a growing demand for United States truck campers in Europe. We mostly wild camp and avoid campsites whenever possible. My camper is in use from early March to mid November. I have traveled around Europa, from Scandinavia to Italy, France to Albany and all islands in the Middle-Sea. I have traveled in this rig throughout most of the western United States (as far north as Alaska) and Canada and down the Baja peninsular in Mexico. I have not paid for a camping as we also have Apps like Wiki Camps. Above: We spent June and July in Finland, touring it from top to bottom. We have contacts with some Spanish forums, especially with the French. My wife and I are lovers of camping, the outdoors, and traveling. Blake Hooper, Nagoya, Japan No truck yet No camper yet. We swam in the clean lakes and had sauna of course! Given the opportunity, I will tow a small sailing dinghy behind my rig. It has a Switch System directly on the frame. The towing vehicle was an exquisite Mercury Villager. Ringstead Bay has a stunning coastline and good inshore fishing. The cost of diesel makes idling at the traffic lights a blood sport. I am a camping enthusiast with a keen interest in growing number of this great concept here in United Kingdom. Ian King, Auckland, New Zealand 2012 Chevy Silverado HD 2012 Northstar Laredo. Our camper copes well with the freezing sub-Arctic temperatures and the northern lights give us a glorious show most nights! Who are these International TCM Readers of Mystery? The annual start will be at the Holy Mountain of Andechs Monastery one week after Easter from April 21-23, 2017. Weve traveled through Europe and North Africa in our old Shadow Cruiser. Tony Sutton, Kingswinford, England 2007 UK Ford Ranger 2005 Northstar 650 DL. Then we switched to a Nissan Navara (Frontier). We are a British couple and we live full-time in our truck camper. I have a four wheel drive truck modified with 37-inch off-road tires. My camper originated in Elkhart, Indiana. My conclusion (coming from my earlier one year long stay in your country) is that Americans are the masters in doing everything the most effective, useful, and simple way. Paul Brown, Adelaide, South Australia 2012 Holden Colorado None as of yet. I hate spending our holidays in buildings like hotels or renting houses/rooms. Im just interested in truck campers. Above: We work the winters in Swedish Lapland, 250 kilometers inside the Arctic Circle. The outside speakers (have you seen the movie Dances with Dingoes?) Im just interested in truck campers. We exchanged the original bed with a new flatbed and loaded an adapted Northstar 600SS on it. This is costly and somewhat restrictive. There are not many restricting laws concerning camping (as in some of other countries) so you can spend your time here comfortably. If truck campers are an American product thats not widely available beyond our shores, whos reading TCM outside of the United States and Canada and why? 95-percent of the trucks here are smallest Nissans, Mitsubishis, with some Ford Rangers, etc. We like to explore a specific region more in detail instead of visiting the touristic highlights. The base is a Toyota Landcruiser HZJ. We even fill up with water sometimes when crossing a creek, using a 12-volt water pump. Above: Campsite in Prague, Czech republic. You can access everywhere with no fear of narrow corners, or having to turn back or a place to park. We always get a wave from owners of other American RVs coming towards us. There are some truck camper manufacturers in Australia; Millard and Dove among them. Copyright 2007-2022. American pickup trucks are also not exported in quantity making a truck camper even less attainable beyond the shores of the United States and Canada. That would be after retirement in 2018. Youre about to find out. People will also walk around your truck, while you are sitting inside, and discuss if and how you can get the camper from the truck. I have also traveled to Iceland and to the deserts of North Africa. All in all, I am thrilled with my choice even with the frustration of things that break and getting parts. Once the camper is dropped at the campsite, we head down to the beach with the pickup and boat trailer for a day of fishing. I live in Japan and am very interested in truck campers. B B, NRW, Germany 2014 Nissan Navara KC 2011 Four Wheel Camper Ranger. The camper is a 2015 Klassic Camper and is called the Outback Tracker. I am planning to visit warm destinations in the outback of Australia during our winter from June through August. There is a meeting once a year with more than a thousand vehicles in Storndorf, Hessen. After the trip you can leave the camper on the backyard and use the truck everyday for daily routine. For Toyota trucks, we have the internet platform which is the biggest community for Toyotas in Europe, or may be even the world. Last summer we stayed for over thirty nights in the backcountry. Mark White, Syderstone, Norfolk, England 2007 Chevrolet LUV 2000 Tischer Trail. The group has around 360 members nationwide is growing. If anyone is thinking of coming down under I am more than willing to share what experience I have. Most other campers have caravans and small and big camping cars. Our five year old camper has traveled well over 300,000 kilometers and still polishes up like new. Paul Kellagher, Ireland 2008 Landrover Defender 130 2009 Ranger Camper. I immediately bought it, but the problem didnt disappear. Due to our jobs, we only go on short trips, most of which are extended weekends. Peter Hofmann, Hamburg Germany 2007 Dodge Ram 2500 2011 Lance 865. Yes, some folks in Australia and Europe adapt an American truck camper to an alternative truck, but not many undertake the considerable expense and effort. We had thought about a camper van after years of tent camping. Our roads are rough, and that is being kind. I live in the state of Tasmania, an island located south of Australia. In 2011 we bought a Toyota Hilux in Spain and a PSI-Azala fixed cell in France. Some of our recent trips have been to the Isle of Mull for the Highland games in July and Hogmanay for their New Years Eve celebrations. Originally, there was a queen size bed, but now it has a single one. We love nature and trips to the mountains and sea. We are truly blessed in that regard. We did not want a towable. We had a lot of fun, met great people, and hope to continue with this experience. Manfred Klement, Ziemetshausen, Bavaria, Germany 2000 Ford F-250 1992 Jayco Sportster 8-Foot. I drive a 2010 Isuzu DMax, which I think you would call a light truck. There are many opportunities to go truck camping in Germany. The camper has an external kitchen on the left hand side and has a 12-volt refrigerator, small gas cooker, sink, hot and cold water, and plenty of storage. Our blog is in Spanish. We use our Northstar Freedom truck camper for all vacations. The camper is removed from the truck every night unless we are just stopping overnight en-route to somewhere or anywhere. It would be helpful to find information about how to run and maintain this kind of rig over here. That determines the demand for truck camper. Im an active truck camper owner in the United Kingdom. Steffen Klein, Bad Homburg, Germany 1999 Toyota Land Cruiser HZJ 79 1999 der Fentje, special made. So my plan is not to buy an European truck camper but an American one. Peter, Tasmania 2010 Isuzu DMax 2015 Klassic Camper, Outback Tracker. Because of pollution regulations in our region, we were forced to sell the Toyota. Miroslaw Parejko, Wroclaw, Poland 2006 Ford F 150 No camper yet, just a 2006 Hymer trailer. I say that because you cant even test drive a rig or step inside many. Perhaps that says more about my age. Viola and I did a RV trip through parts of the American west in the Fall of 2016 and met a few people from the Truck Camper Magazine community. Truck campers are still very rare in the United Kingdom and we dont see many others on the road unless we are at a demountable truck camper meet! We bought our Arctic Fox truck camper in Langley, British Columbia, Canada in the autumn of 2003 after a long weekend trip to Vancouver. At the top of my bucket list is to travel across the United States in a truck camper. We have been to the Lake District, North Wales, Yorkshire Moors, and The Peak District. Chris Hodgson, Dundee, Scotland, United Kingdom 2007 Ford Ranger Thunder 2006 S.Karosser EC-6L. If you like to do a trip to Germany and Europe you can find us at: wohnkabinenforum.de and wohnkabinen-talk.de. Its becoming more popular. In almost every town you can visit old beautiful churches. Richard Zildjian, Northampton, United Kingdom 2008 Toyota Hilux SKarosser (Swedish camper). Our camper was built in Sweden and well equipped for the frozen winter temperatures above the Arctic Circle. Pauls article in TCM is, Truck Camping in Ireland. Theres no television in our rig. All land in England and Wales belongs to somebody and wild/free camping or boondocking isnt encouraged. They will shake the bejesus out of you and your camper and truck. The hardest part is deciding if you wish to travel the Outback, or lush mountain areas on the mainland, or Tasmania.

Australia is made for truck campers as many narrow part-time four-wheel drive tracks do not have the space to turn a caravan around. We have a community on the internet, make short trips, and enjoy the outdoors. We also visited Alaskan Campers and Four Wheel Campers. After seeing truck campers during our holiday in the summer of 2003, we decided that a truck camper would better fit our needs. Trucks are the big issue out here. Mostly we run into a predominantly European crowd of overlanders enjoying the country to themselves. The dealer finally was ordered to pay the damages. Most times we cook by ourselves with fresh local ingredients. We also have a Facebook page which is also quite popular with 550 members. In Spain, this way of traveling is still not popular. We do all that is possible to find and sign up owners here at Demountablecampergroup.com and hope people enjoy all the help they need. There are only a few generators used in Europe. There has never been a great choice of truck campers until most recently, and they are expensive. Above: A picture from their truck camping trip to Norway. There are three lightweight 100-watt solar panels on the roof and an external plug to connect additional portable panels when required, like when we camp in the shade out of the 40-degree plus heat (100+ degrees Fahrenheit). TTIP would have lowered the prices for US cars. Jonatan Gudjonsson, Seltjarnarnes, Iceland 2007 Dodge Ram 2500 2004 Four Wheel Camper Grandby. Official campgrounds are few and far between. It offers a freedom that is not seen in other types of rigs in Australia and never fails to turn heads or start a conversation wherever I pull up. Those modifications are not cheap out here. I am sure the cost of American trucks has limited truck campers becoming more popular in Australia. Norway is one of the easiest countries we have found for touring in a camper. My vehicle is specially built. We do not drive too much, but most times we drive every day. As far as boondocking is concerned, Im sure there are many places to stay as long as you dont bother anyone. We spent May and early June 2016 touring this most beautiful country. Last year we were in Iceland and enjoyed it very much. Japanese national parks and prefectural parks usually dont have campgrounds. I was thunderstruck. I love truck campers, but the rest of my family does not. The places to overnight off-grid are often spectacular, and there are frequent places to get fresh water and clear the system. The one-day, quick visits of beautiful places like sunny Croatia, Italy, or Spain are impossible with a trailer. I will hopefully be able to afford a truck camper. There is an internal 47 liter refrigerator and tons of storage space under the bed. I have thought that its my fault for not bringing the shortest possible truck camper across the ocean with the truck. Worse still is the availability of parts and service outside a few major cities and even then it is slightly worse than bad. This was a big embarkation point for British and American troops during the D-Day landings in World War 2 and there are lots of historical relics in the area from this time. Steve Blackman, High Wycombe, United Kingdom 2007 Ford Ranger 1991 Shadow Cruiser Sky Cruiser 1. We joined the caravan and camping club so that we can use their small and inexpensive sites. We now have more storage in the area where normally the wheelbases are and the camper is a bit higher, which is great for driving through water. The frustration of not simply shopping and buying rig makes truck campers difficult to come by. In Germany you can sometimes find some older American units that once belonged to US soldiers stationed there. My country isnt such the spectacular touristic destination as the Croatian or Montenegros seashore (my recommendation). Power is supplied by two fixed 90-watt solar panels (180 watts) and further 80-watt portable one, and two 100 amp/hour gel batteries. Alberto Sacio, Lima, Peru 2012 Toyota Hilux 2012 Four Wheel Camper Fleet. Our hotel was two miles further on the end of very steep and snowed road. I drive a four-wheel drive three-liter turbo diesel Toyota Hilux, with a Four Wheel Camper Fleet pop-up. Onsen parking lots (hot springs resorts) are also popular. As we drive on the other side of the road to the USA, our campers often have the heavy items (water, stove, refrigerator) on right hand side to counter the camber of the road. The Australian Ultimate extras include a 300-amp hour LiFePo4 battery with its own cell balancing system, a 2,500 watt pure sine wave inverter that automatically maintains 240-power throughout the camper as soon as the mains or shore power is disconnected, which in our case is most of the time. One F350 owner from Perth in Western Australia went back to Melbourne in Victoria (think L.A. to New York!) The Australian Ultimate camper also comes standard with a reverse osmosis water filtering system complete with a 12-liter pressurized holding tank essential when you cant always get clean fresh water. It is small compared to American cells, but it is comfortable with all the amenities for one couple. Having wanted one for a few decades, the opportunity presented itself and I finally took a leap of faith. Second, most truck campers are designed for American pickup trucks. Communication takes please via an online forum, which is frequently used. The external power outlets and satellite allows me run my business from anywhere in the country, including Ship Creek which is in the middle of Woop Woop. Decisions are made via floor plans, websites, and articles and reviews in TCM. The quality is very different, but normally the campsites are clean and offer more or less comfort. There is also a number of local European manufacturers, mostly German and Italian, but, in my opinion, there is only a few brands which can try to compete with the American ones on quality. We had different trucks in that time, but finally ended up with our Toyota HZJ79. We carry our two mountain bikes on a front mounted carrier and our boat has an extendable draw bar to access the rear tow bar under the camper. When I bought my King Ranch it in 2008 in Fredericksburg, Virginia, I didnt realize that the essential idea to cover my travel and camping needs is a truck camper. It should be four season ready. Im still trying to find something fitting in Europe, but this is almost a dark hole for F150-compatible truck campers.