7 Excellent Short Bed Truck Campers

Last Updated on September 21, 2023 by

For camping and outdoor touring, the comfort of an RV is second to none. But did you know that if you already have a pickup truck, it is not required to rent a camper?

Yes, you can push a short bed truck camper into your pickup truck bed.

Pickups with temporary loading areas are becoming increasingly popular with families and merchants who have to carry more passengers than a single pickup with a straight cabin can accommodate.

At the same time, many pickup truck owners prefer to use bed truck campers to provide shelter when they go out on public roads for adventure.

You can always disconnect your camper if you want to use the pickup for other tasks like freight transport or some agricultural work.

When choosing the best camper for a short platform pickup, it’s essential to consider the dry weight of the camper and compare it to the pickup’s capacity.

If the camper’s dry weight exceeds the carrying capacity of a short barrel pickup, the truck’s suspension system can be seriously damaged.

There are serious safety risks when driving on highways. Short truck campers can be your perfect partner for an adventure despite all the concerns.

Here we have got a list of the best short bed truck campers in this article.

Let’s have a thorough look at each one of them.

Name	Length	Weight
Lance TC 650	15.5 ft	1,700 lbs
NuCamp Cirrus 820	17.42 ft	2,916 lbs
Four-Wheel Hawk Camper	6.6 ft	1100 lbs
Palomino Backpack HS-2902	18.33 ft	3,261 lbs
Northwood Arctic Fox 811	16.67 ft	2,873 lbs
North Star 600SS	12.2 ft	1,258 lbs
Host Mammoth 11.5	19.3 ft	3955 lbs

Image	Name
	Lance TC 650
	NuCamp Cirrus 820
	Four-Wheel Hawk Camper
	Palomino Backpack HS-2902
	Northwood Arctic Fox 811
	North Star 600SS
	Host Mammoth 11.5

What are the Best Short Bed Truck Campers?

1. Lance TC 650

Lance is a renowned truck camper manufacturer with models to fit an impressive range of pickup trucks and cargo boxes.

So it will not arrive as a surprise to know that The Lance TC 650 Truck Camper is known as one of the best short bed truck campers among RV enthusiasts.

This short bed truck camper is the consequence of an effort to create a lightweight and more reliable travel camper van.

Specially designed for 5′ or 6′ half-ton trucks, it can handle a wet weight of 1904 pounds as a standard feature.

With a frame that is made from premium quality aluminum, the weightless yet sturdy nature of this camper is no surprise.

The windows are made of highly resistant Radius-Acryl-Thermopane. Its roof is a one-piece PVC structure, which greatly contributes to making it easier to assemble and disassemble the entire camper.

It is also equipped with a Liteply cabinet that is suitable for storing all your travel requirements.

It also has a keyless entry function, which is convenient at any time on the go or in the woods.

It can comfortably accommodate up to 3 people, making it ideal for couples and small families with only children.

One of the drawbacks is that it doesn’t come with many colors to choose from.

It can be yours at an affordable price of only $26,000.

Key Specifications

Truck Bed Length	6.83 feet
Sleeps	Up to 3 people
Dry Weight	1,700 pounds
Gray Water Capacity	15 Gallons
Fresh Water Capacity	22 Gallons
Black Water Capacity	16 Gallons

2. NuCamp Cirrus 820

NuCamp offers some of the greatest advances in innovation and style. All models from this manufacturer improve the game.

Cirrus 820 camper can comfortably accommodate three chunky adult men.

However, it only has a floor plan of 72-inch cargo space, which is very tidy for such a large and well-equipped truck camper.

It is equipped with a sturdy, fragile colored double thermopane window thanks to the class-defining aluminum frame.

It also features a Froli modular sleep system, so you can get a better night’s sleep than most box spring mattresses found in many short bed truck campers.

It comes with air conditioning of 14,000 BTU and heating of 18,000 BTU.

This provides excellent air conditioning not necessarily found in many other best truck campers in this class.

Other features that might be intriguing to you are The spacious cabin above features a queen-size bed, wet bath, spacious kitchenette, dinette, five cubic refrigerators, double battery compartment, and generator compartment.

There is also hot water central heating for icy nights. It has internal LED lighting and enough storage space for all that you need.

You can have it to yourself for a price of around $32,000.

Key Specifications

Dry Weight	2,916 pounds
Gray Water Capacity	32 Gallons
Fresh Water Capacity	33 Gallons
Black Water Capacity	18 Gallons
Bed Length	6 feet
Air Conditioner	14,000 BTUs
Sleeps	4 people
Heater	18,000 BTUs

3. Four-Wheel Hawk Camper

Thanks to its flat design and aluminum frame body, it is one of the lightest truck campers with a short cargo space on the list.

It might not be as well-equipped as other campers on the list, but it can comfortably accommodate four people.

It also has a water tank, fully integrated LED lighting, and a storage cabinet. It’s light and thick enough to fit in the cargo hold of most short-body pickups.

The manufacturer offers three additional layouts. It has a wide tabletop, a folding sofa, and a front dining area.

You can opt for the one that best suits the family and camping style. A disadvantage is that it is deprived of an overhead cabinet.

Ventilation at the Hawk Four Wheel Camper is one of the things that may not be noticeable on paper, but we hope you bring it into the real world.

For “pop-ups,” there are four windows to ensure good airflow. This is not always the case in many similar competitive models.

This bed truck camper can be yours for a price of $19,000.

Key Specifications

Dry Weight	1,100 pounds
Sleeps	Up to 4 people
Bed Length	6 feet 8 inches
Fresh Water Capacity	20 Gallons

4. Palomino Backpack HS-2902

Palomino is an RV manufacturer that is doing its best to serve a variety of interests.

You can see it in the Palomino Backpack HS2902.

With a 9.76 ft bed and a dry weight of 3,262 pounds, this is a hard shell truck camper for a 1-ton short bed truck, not a half-ton pickup truck.

But what you get is a pull-out truck camper with a wet bath and ample sleeping space for up to four people.

Optional rooftop air conditioning and heating packages are also available from many dealers.

This beautiful short-bed truck camper comes with a price tag of $33,000.

Key Specifications

Dry Weight	3,262 pounds
Gray Water Capacity	20 Gallons
Fresh Water Capacity	45 Gallons
Black Water Capacity	20 Gallons
Bed Length	9.76 feet
Sleeps	Up to 4 people

 

5. Northwood Arctic Fox 811

Arctic Fox is one of the most known and classic short truck campers.

So it’s no wonder they designed a model like the Arctic Fox 811 and fit it in a short box of 3/4 ton pickups.

However, with a dry weight of 2,870 pounds and a floor length of 8 feet, you need a truck that’s at least as sturdy as the safe slideout transport of this hardshell truck camper.

What you get in exchange for it is a really well-designed truck camper characterized by excellent material quality and ample interior space.

In theory, it can accommodate up to 5 people, but 2 and 2 teenagers are more realistic.

The slideout area has a relatively large dinette table that can be converted into a bed in the evening.

There is an optional bunk bed for families who have to deal with two children but want to give each one their bed.

Families are also going to appreciate the wet bath at the rear.

However, keep in mind that this camper is very heavy without the slideout feature.

It comes with a critical feature set called “The Fox Package.” This package tends to add 560 pounds more to the total dry weight of the RV.

This makes the total dry weight up to 4,210 pounds (4.21 tonnes), which is well worth the money.

Other features are 6 gallon DSI water heater, landing step, two-way seven cubic feet refrigerator, 100-watt solar panel, and 2500 generators.

This camper is suitable as a truck camper for short and long beds and is ideal for all seasons.

The price tag for Arctic Fox 811 is around $32,000.

Key Specifications

Dry Weight	2,870 pounds
Black Water Capacity	23 Gallons
Gray Water Capacity	38 Gallons
Fresh Water Capacity	50 Gallons
Bed Length	9 feet
Sleeps	Up to 5 people

6. North Star 600SS

The NorthStar 600SS is a well-assembled foldable camper explicitly designed for small light pickups.

This can also improve fuel economy by improving aerodynamics while rushing at high speeds.

With carver bunk beds and a convertible dining area, the NorthStar 600SS can easily sleep up to 3 adults or two adults and two children.

A full-featured kitchen has an RV refrigerator, two-burner hobs, and one sink supported by a 17-gallon freshwater storage tank, but it doesn’t have an official bathroom.

You can own a NorthStar 600SS for $23,995.

Key Specifications

Dry Weight	1,260 pounds
Fresh Water Capacity	17 Gallons
Bed Length	6 feet 3 inches
Sleeps	Up to 3 people

7. Host Mammoth 11.5

This camper is big and really big, so the name Mammoth is perfect.

One of the reasons why the Mammoth is so big is that it has three slideouts.

This aluminum-framed camper van storage tank is probably the largest you’ll find in a slide-in-track camper, with 65 gallons of fresh, 31 gallons of black, and 51 gallons of gray.

With a dry weight of 4,700 lbs, you need at least a 3500 / F350 double rear wheel truck and a 5,500 lbs payload to carry this elephant-sized beast safely.

The price of the base model is $ 65,000.

Key Specifications

Dry Weight	5,500 pounds
Fresh Water Capacity	65 Gallons
Black Water Capacity	31 Gallons
Grey Water Capacity	51 Gallons
Floor Length	11 feet 6 inches

Conclusion

This article looked through some of the best short bed truck campers, with the approximate prices being mentioned with each model.

Pickup trucks with short beds and large double cabs are very popular because they can transport family and colleagues from Monday to Friday.

Fortunately, quite a few RV manufacturers are starting to make RVs that fit in the smaller cargo space of these pickup trucks.

If you are seeking a high-quality hardshell model, the Reims-TC650 may be the perfect truck camper for your requirements.

It can place a wet bath for a convenient off-the-grid bounce is especially practical. It might be a little too bulky to combine with the payload capacity of a semitone pickup.

If you are looking for a flat and aerodynamic model, the Hawk for Wheel Camper may be the perfect pop-up truck camper for your short-bed pickup truck.

You will certainly appreciate the internal ventilation on scorching nights.

Also worth mentioning is the convenience of a 20-gallon freshwater tank for dishwashing and basic cleaning.

Light enough to adjust in the cargo box of most short-bed pickup trucks.

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