Leer vs. slide in camper.

[SnakeOilWilly]

I was wondering how practical using a leer topper on a truck is as opposed to a slide in camper to live in full time. Also how can I keep things from sliding around while driving if I ware to get a leer topper. I know leer toppers are way cheaper than slide in campers but with that price difference how much comfort will I have to sacrifice? Has anyone lived in a truck with a leer topper before and if so how is storage? I have some books and CDs I would want to bring along.

Any input is much appreciated!

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By the way I meant WERE rather the ware.

 

[Spirituallifetime]

I have slept in a topper for a week it wasn't to bad, not a lot of room for stuff will have to build a bed platform and store stuff under the bed. Add insulation as soon as you can. It was 20 deg at night when I was in it for the week, it would get a lot of water condensation on the topper and just about rain inside!
Slide in Camper: can stand up inside
has lots of built in storage
insulated
built in stove and refrigerator

Topper: not insulated
gets a lot of water condensation in cold weather
can't stand up inside
light weight will get better gas mileage
limited storage, will have to build in

 

[Optimistic Paranoid]

I slept for two weeks inside such a rig one summer for two weeks.

I would say that you can live IN a full size camper, but you have to live ALONGSIDE a truck cap. You can sleep inside the cap, but you will need to cook, lounge, etc. beside the truck.

In an urban stealth scenario, spend your time at work, at the library or gym, at a mall, etc. As Bob has pointed out, you could hang out at parks and do simple cooking on the picnic tables. Weather permitting.

For a boondocking scenario, I would want to pitch a tent alongside the truck and have folding chairs and table.

Regards
John

 

[SnakeOilWilly]

Thanks guys. I think I'll save up and get a camper or who knows, maybe a class C.

 

[SoulRaven]

I have been living in my oversized truck cap full time for a month so just four more to go.

Woke up to 64-degree weather with sunshine today at Hickory Hammock Florida.

Great sleep on top of the air mattress and under the skeeter netting.

It’s a much better quality of life vs. another –20 Pocono winter.

I have more than enough storage space under the bed that takes up 40% of the floor space.

I suggest you buy a huge external hard drive and go with e books and rip the CDs to 320 bit mp3 files.

Plus I get 18 mph on level highways w/ V6 and 4.10 rear axle with less than a 1000 pound payload including myself.

Total gross weight is less than 5000 which is my registered payload.

 

[VanLifeCrisis]

check this out, id do something like this in a topper

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might insulate some tho

 

[Spaceman Spiff]

Here is another topper build:

http://www.expeditionportal.com/forum/threads/47516-LATEST-PROJECT-Truck-Drawers-Sleeping-Platform

First picture will give you some idea of how much room you have.

I slept for two months in a topper. As Optimistic Paranoid said: you live outside. Condensation is a huge problem if the temps get below the dew point. It also gets old crawling in and out of bed if you have to get up a number of times during the night. Great for stealth.

-- Spiff

 

[Woody Creature]

I have lived for 2 years in an aluminum topper. 2 years in a class c. Two years with a Bronco and a tent. The class c was too awkward/big for me. The tent was too much hassle. This time I am going with an A.R.E. DCU. Here is an image of one :http://truckcamperhints.com/2014/12/05/truck-topper/
This may be the compromise you are looking for.

 

[SoulRaven]

Masprema.

You have a photo of my truck at your blog and it is a Leer 30" to 42" not an ARE.

 

[Woody Creature]

Thanks Loo. I like your Leer. You gave me the impetus to see which mfg had what. Found that the A.R.E. DCU offered me what I needed. Thanks for you blog and posts.

 

[akrvbob]

A topper will make a good home but to me getting more height is critical. I lived in a home-built shell that was 48 inche tall and I loved it. I'd do it again in a hearbeat! But I wouldn't build it. I'd buy a shell from here:

http://belairshells.com/wood-n-alum

This is a picture from their website of the one I'd buy for $1800:

 

[SnakeOilWilly]

That looks good Bob. I might just have to get that.

 

[acfdexpo]

Check out http://tradesmantrucktops.com All aluminum and its looks like they build anything, but no doubt more expensive.

 

[Canine]

Bob, that is a cool camper. I saw another one from the link that acfdexpo gave. This one incorporates a service box. Here is the specific picture:

http://tradesmantrucktops.com/wp-content/uploads/custom-cabovers-A-61-e1415057075176.jpg

That would seem a bit narrow to sleep sideways if it were insulated. I really, really like the topper though!! I also like the price of the one Bob posted!

When was 19 I slept in my truck with an insulated, tall topper. I lost my apartment, so I put all my stuff into my truck, put a piece of plywood across and slept in there. I used a truck stop to shower and ate out a lot. I also remember making peanut butter and jelly sandwiches a lot. I couldn't stand up nor could I sit up on the bed, but I could sit up on the floor and was comfortable. I thought it was kind of fun as it was summer time. When a friend found out about how I was living the last three weeks, she and her husband were almost aghast. At that age I didn't realize how ':s' that was. I didn't want to live with them, but they insisted, so I did. Kind of awkward. A couple weeks later I had enough money to get another apartment.

It was a fun experience created by being young and dumb. Now I would do a tall topper like I had again for a short while as long as it wasn't too cold. It would need to be tall enough to stand in if I were to live full time.

 

[Seraphim]

A topper will make a good home but to me getting more height is critical. I lived in a home-built shell that was 48 inche tall and I loved it. I'd do it again in a hearbeat! But I wouldn't build it. I'd buy a shell from here:

http://belairshells.com/wood-n-alum

This is a picture from their website of the one I'd buy for $1800:

+1

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Height is important, especially if you need to sit up at night, or get up at night to do night business.

 

[RVTravel]

The truck cap on that website is a LEER, not an A.R.E. brand, according to her blog.

I have lived for 2 years in an aluminum topper. 2 years in a class c. Two years with a Bronco and a tent. The class c was too awkward/big for me. The tent was too much hassle. This time I am going with an A.R.E. DCU. Here is an image of one :http://truckcamperhints.com/2014/12/05/truck-topper/
This may be the compromise you are looking for.