To Camper or not to camper?

[TrailJustin]

I came from the Tacoma world, and my last build was solid. Long story short, I got tired of it, needed more room for kids, and to be honest, my truck did camping and adventuring really well but that was about it.

Now here we are with a Tundra, and I’m asking myself: camper or no camper? My wife and I used to spend about one weekend a month camping before the baby, and we plan to continue once he’s older than six months. With that in mind, a camper on the Tundra would give us an even bigger and more comfortable sleeping area.

I originally sold the Tacoma because I anticipated life slowing down with a kid, and I was right. Having a truck that isn’t camper-only has been huge. From hauling stuff, to fishing, to hunting, and everything in between, I really missed having a usable truck bed.

But now that we’re here, I kind of miss being able to load up the truck and head out to places like Napa, CA for a weekend of camping. So is there a way to have my cake and eat it too?

I’ve thought about a trailer, but then I’d have to tow, and fitting into tight or small areas can be a challenge. I’d love a sealed slide-in camper, but something like a Scout or Four Wheel Camper is way outside the price range. That brings me back to the topper route.

If I go that direction, I’d definitely want to design a system that allows me to take it off and store it. But then that raises the question: will I ever actually take it off? With the rising cost of toppers, are they even worth it? Or is it better to wait for a good used deal on a Four Wheel Camper?