Why a camper? (fiberglass shell topper, that is)

Looking for some personal testimonials of my fellow TWers who own campers. What's good about it, what's bad? What do you use it for and any regrets.

I have Diamondback SE for a long bed currently and would love to make the jump. May be starting to dip my toes into overlanding and weekend getaways. Just looking how best to go about it.

 

Get a bed rack and a rtt to put on top of that . Camper shells are ehh they still leak . Not much room if u plan to sleep in it . And pain to remove when u need the whole bed .

 

This is what I'm afraid of. It's a shitshow removing the tonneau, I can't imagine the camper.

 

What do you mean not much room? Depends on height but with a long bed most people have plenty of room.

 

Height . Most put the bed on a platform so u lose height . .more room to move around in a rtt .

 

Want to make sure we have the same definition of “camper”.

OP do you mean a “camper” like a snug top fiberglass topper or a “camper” like a GFC or a “camper” like a slide in camper?

 

I’ve got the Diamondback SE with the frontrunner rack setup and it’s perfect.

 

Yeah these...

 

I believe FrontRunner makes bars and adapters for the Diamondback

 

It’s up to personal preference on space but I have a snug top rebel and I sit up and still have 3-4 inches of headroom and I’m 5’11”. I’m not trying to stand up in my bed anyway.

depends on if that’ll bother you. I love sleeping in mine. One thing people don’t consider is how much quieter the hard toppers are than a tent or RTT at night. Hope you find what works for you!

 

That's a sweet setup

 

The problem with both slide ins and RTTs is that both are a pain to remove. They kill mileage. So unless it’s a dedicated vehicle, or you like folks to think you’re cool, neither is really a good option.

Good old fashioned tent camping is roomier than RTT and you don’t pay a penalty unless you are camping.

A small trailer has more room, and often times a functional bathroom, than a slide in.

Here’s a hint. Most women really want a functional and private toilet.

 

Softtopper with an actual camper. I sleep more comfortably than most. No regerts.

 

Check out my build thread in my signature. If it's just you or just you + 1 dog, I love having my setup - ripped out the passenger seat and built a platform. I am 5'10 and can lay completely flat, it was about 150$ so far - still need a techstream cable (about $100) to recalibrate the airbags if and when I put the passenger seat back in.

The goal/intent was to have the setup be the same level of involvement/difficulty to get reset as a rooftop tent coming on and off.

I pull up - pouring rain, snow, wind, doesn't matter. Camp is all set up.

Downsides - loses passenger seat, airbag lights are on since the seat is disconnected. Stinky dog in the cab with me. Only fits 1 + 1 dog at most, wouldn't work for 2 people.

Upsides - full bed, comfy as all get up (just did 2 weeks straight on it and it was great), and still have my full bed (plan is to set up MTB hauling back there and do some MTB trips, too).

 

I've had camper shells on all of my previous trucks. I never slept in there but I just found the extra height more valuable. With the tonneau I was constantly fighting with trying to close the cover over something I put in the bed. But that was before the tri-folds and I was using hard shell so it wasn't as versatile as they are now.

I think I'm going tri-fold this time around.

 

I have a Leer 100R (I think that's the model #, it was on the truck when I bought it). It does leak a little when it rains hard, but only in the rear. I believe it's coming through the brake light. But I use it to haul 3 bikes and big stuff back and forth to our camp. On a day it's supposed to rain, I do have a few big totes to put anything I don't want to get wet in. No regrets. I was originally going to take it off. But I've had the truck 10 months and it's still on there.

 

I’ve noticed in recent years that any sort of RV is now called a camper.
This does lead to some confusion.

So for clarification a topper should be called a shell. A traditional slide in a camper. A trailer is attached to a receiver and a fifth wheel to the bed. With further distinction of either standard mount or goose neck.

RV’s are self propelled vehicles broken down into various classes.

 

topper should be called a cap**

 

I’ve had both, camper for the win tho. More room, kids hang out in there to get out of the sun, can sleep in there, and I think it looks great.

 

Aint that the truth...

Yeah, may be I should edit the post tittle as those fiberglass shell toppers.