If you’re in the market for a truck bed camper, it’s best you focus on a truck bed camper with a bathroom. Especially if you’ll be traveling through areas that do not have many rest stops or spending time in remote areas without bathroom facilities. But do regular truck bed campers have bathrooms?
The simple answer is yes. There are many truck bed campers that come with either a wet bath, dry bath, or outside shower. However, not all of them do. For instance, many small truck campers rarely feature any type of bath due to space limitations. But if you know where to look, you’ll find them.
Truck Bed Campers For Rent Near You
Having a truck bed camper that has a toilet and shower is a plus. It allows you to become more self-sufficient in the wild, have privacy when camping with your family and friends, and maintain personal hygiene when you go off the beaten track. Thankfully, RV manufacturers are now designing more truck bed campers with bathrooms.
In this post, we will review 10 of the best truck bed campers that have a shower and toilet. Let’s dig in.
P.S. You can try one before you buy right here on Outdoorsy.
What is a Truck Bed Camper?
A truck bed camper is a specially built RV that rests inside the bed of a truck. It’s also referred to as a pickup camper, slide-in camper, or truck camper. You can easily demount it when you need to use your truck for other purposes. They’re like backpacks for pickup trucks.
You’ll find these units in two styles: hard-side truck campers, which typically have a larger floor plan with fixed roofs and solid sidewalls, and pop-up truck campers, which are lighter and have soft walls that pop up for camping and fold down when traveling.
Benefits of a Truck Bed Camper
These highly versatile campers are smaller and more agile than motorhomes and travel trailers, less appointed than regular RVs, but more comfortable than tents. One of their biggest selling points is that they can go anywhere that the truck can go. This opens up more campsite options. Boondockers, overlanders, dry campers, and off-grid enthusiasts appreciate them the most.
Furthermore, truck campers are inexpensive compared to full-size RVs, storing them requires less room, they don’t take up extra parking spaces, and they offer great maneuverability as you’re simply driving your truck. On the downside, they aren’t great for bigger families, most offer limited interior room, and you need to invest in a capable truck if you don’t own one.
Regardless of the type, truck bed campers are equipped with many of the same amenities regular recreational vehicles have. They come with a bed, galley, and a small seating area. But do truck campers have toilets and showers? As you’ll see below on our list, pickup campers can have a bathroom.
8 Best Truck Campers with Bathrooms
Below, we highlight 8 quality hard-side and pop-up truck bed campers with a bathroom.
Best Overall Truck Camper with Wet Bath: Lance 650 Truck Camper
Bed Length: Short or Standard Bed
Exterior Length and Width: 15’6”X 86”
Dry Weight: 2,061 lbs
Sleep: 3
Starting MSRP: $35,456
Top of the list and ticking most boxes is the Lance 650, Lance’s top-selling truck camper. It’s a high-quality, full-featured lightweight unit explicitly designed to sit on half-ton trucks with 5′ and 6′ beds. So, if you own a Ford F-150, this camping pod is for you.
In spite of its size, it provides everything you would expect to find in a full-size camper. That includes a full-size dinette, a kitchenette, a north-south queen-size bed, and generous storage. Of course, it houses a bathroom with a shower, foot pedal toilet, removable clothes rod, skylight, and ducted heat.
You’ll also be impressed by the thermopane euro windows, tankless water heater, USB charging ports, fantastic rood vent, LED patio lights, and Bluetooth/app-enabled audio system. Its welded aluminum frame helps it save significant weight.
Best Truck Camper for Boondocking with Dry Bath: Lance 975
Bed Length: Long Bed
Exterior Length and Width: 19’5”X 96”
Dry Weight: 3,675 lbs
Sleep: 4
Starting MSRP: $56,413
If you’re looking for a slide-in truck camper that has a bathroom, The Lance 975 is the perfect candidate. It’s a hard-side, full-wall slide-out truck camper made for one-ton dually trucks. Thanks to its heavy-duty construction, you can venture off the beaten path with ease.
You’ll love the mid-ship dry bath that feels like a home bathroom. The bath has a separate marine toilet with a foot pedal flush and a separate shower stall. Appointments like a clothes rod, skylight, power roof vent, and towel rod are also present. Also, the fresh water and wastewater storage tanks are impressively large—45 gallons fresh, 30 gray, and 28 black.
When it’s time to retire for the night, there’s a queen bed with an innerspring mattress. Prepare food in the modern kitchen complete with a 3-burner high output cooktop, serve meals in the facing dinette, and store leftovers in the full-size fridge. Despite all its features, it’s not ridiculously heavy, clocking in under 4,000 lbs.
Best Lightweight Truck Camper With Toilet: NuCamp Cirrus 620
Bed Length: Short Bed
Exterior Length and Width: 12’8″X 8’2″
Dry Weight: 1,493 lbs
Sleep: 3
Starting MSRP: $42,995
Looking for a short truck bed camper with shower and toilet? Set your sights on the Cirrus 620. It’s a top-quality truck camper engineered specifically for the half-ton truck owner. Whether you plan to boondock or go on a lengthy road trip, this super light yet versatile camping pod can sustain you.
The floorplan features a small kitchenette on the passenger side, a small dinette that converts into a second sleeping area, and a north-south queen-size bed up front. While you won’t find a wet bath, you will appreciate the privacy of the indoor hideaway 5-gallon cassette toilet. To wash up after a sweaty day outdoors, use the Nautilus Water Management System to take an outdoor shower.
A stargazer window and deluxe real wood cabinetry add a touch of style, while the solar roof package will make your travels a lot more enjoyable. Other standard appointments include a freshwater holding tank with a 19-gallon capacity, a 15-gallon gray tank, and an all-in-one water heater and furnace.
Truck Bed Campers For Rent Near You
Best Pop-Up Truck Camper with Bathroom: Northstar 850SC
Bed Length: Standard Short or Long Bed
Exterior Length and Width: 15’X7′
Dry Weight: 1,785 lbs
Sleep: 3
Starting MSRP: $28,995
The Northstar 850SC is the best pop-up truck bed camper with bathroom. This fully self-contained camper rests in a standard short bed or long bed pickup (6′ 4″ to 6’10”). It has a pop-top roof that’s aerodynamic, improving fuel economy while in motion. At the campsite, the raised roof provides plenty of headroom to comfortably move around.
Stepping inside this demountable camping shell, you’ll find a queen bed and a convertible U-shaped dinette. Both accommodate 3-4 sleepers. You’ll rarely need to stop at public restrooms as this unit has a shower and cassette toilet stationed at the rear, by the backdoor.
The freshwater tank has a 30-gallon capacity, the gray holds 13, and the black tank 5. There’s also a 4-gallon fresh water heater. When you need to refuel, you’ll find all amenities you need to create your best meals, including a 2-burner cooktop and 3-way fridge.
Best 4 Season Camper with Dry Bath: Northern Lite 10-2EX LE
Bed Length: Long Bed
Exterior Length and Width: 218”X 98”
Dry Weight: 3,317 lbs
Sleep: 4
Starting MSRP: $$64,995
Northern Lite 10-2EX limited edition is a hard-side, non-slide truck camper built with all of the comforts of home. Its craftsmanship is second to none, and it boasts a leak-proof, 2-piece fiberglass shell, meaning it can handle whatever mother nature throws at you.
Inside its walls is a dry bathroom with an internal door separating the toilet and shower. Even more interesting, the shower space has a built-in seat and a small sink. Cooking is a pleasure, courtesy of the 3-burner stove with oven, 3-way fridge, and microwave.
A quick peep into the interior, and you’ll notice it was designed with luxury in mind. The style is evident in hardwood cabinetry, premium leatherette seating, and top-of-the-line appliances. To safely carry this camping pod, you’ll need a three-quarter or one-ton truck.
Most Affordable Truck Camper with Toilet and Shower: Adventurer 80RB
Bed Length: Any Bed
Exterior Length and Width: 15’10″X90″
Dry Weight: 1762 lbs
Sleep: 4
Starting MSRP: $21,245
Adaptable and light-duty, the Adventurer 80RB can fit on any truck bed, whether it’s super short, standard short, or long truck bed ranging from 5.5 ft to 8 ft long. Inside, it incorporates a wet bath featuring a foot-flush toilet, a fiberglass shower pan, a skylight, and a vent fan. There’s also an outside shower.
When it’s bedtime, a queen mattress is available and there’s a comfy sofa that converts into an additional 40 X 72-inch bed. A sealed 2-burner cooktop, stainless steel sink, high neck faucet, and a four cubic feet fridge/freezer complete the galley. The open spaces in neutral colors paired with large windows make the interior feel classy and spacious.
Other highlights include flame-treated fabric upholstery, hardwood cabinetry, marine-grade flooring, and plenty of overhead and drawer storage. The freshwater tank’s capacity is 15 gallons, while both the gray and black tanks hold 6 gallons.
Best Pickup Camper for Ultra Short Bed Trucks: Northstar Liberty
Bed Length: Ultra Short and Short Beds
Exterior Length and Width: 14’5″X7′
Dry Weight: 1775 lbs
Sleep: 3
Starting MSRP: $31,995
Out of all the hard-sided campers Northstar has engineered, the Northstar Liberty is the shortest and lightest. It can sit on super short half-ton pickup beds(5′ 6″ to 5’10”) or standard short beds (6’4″ to 6’10”). There’s also 7 feet of floor-length to walk through.
This wood frame removable camping shell comes with a wet bath with a cassette toilet and an interior and exterior shower. But does it have what it takes to compete with other campers? Sure, it has a modern kitchen, a nice dinette, and a north-south cab-over queen bed.
Discover storage on either side of the bed, place a TV on the provided stand, and hang out on the Lagun swing-away table system. Other hot features include thermal pane insulated windows with a shade and screen, auto-ignition water heater, and LED lighting.
Best Luxury Truck Camper with Bathroom: Northwood Arctic Fox 1150 Truck Camper
Bed Length: Long Bed
Exterior Length and Width: 19′X8’1″
Dry Weight: 3,358 lbs
Sleep: 4
Starting MSRP: $36,971
Arctic Fox creates some of the best truck campers of our generation. They demonstrate a commitment to quality, comfort, and functionality. This single slide 1150 camper follows the same path, delivering unprecedented luxury within its fully welded, thick-wall aluminum frame.
It has extending sides and an over-cab sleeping area that creates a hotel suite impression, plus it’s jam-packed with all amenities you would need for a week away in the wilderness. Boondockers will be impressed by the massive heated holding tanks—59 gallons for the fresh water tank, 35 for the gray, and 43 for the black.
Highlights of its sleek interior include a designer wood grain finish, full bathroom, RV queen bed, roll-over lounge, and stainless steel appliances. Ample storage is available in several wardrobes, overhead cabinets, and on the shelf above the bed. Also, the unit has four-season foam block insulation and a solar panel.
How to Optimize Your Truck Bed Camper Bathroom for Off-Grid Travel
- Upgrade Water Efficiency:
Install low-flow showerheads and faucets to extend fresh water usage. - Invest in a Composting Toilet:
Composting toilets reduce reliance on black water tanks and eliminate the need for frequent emptying. - Add Solar Power:
Using solar panels to power your water heater or pump ensures independence from external hookups. - Use Portable Water Filters:
Portable filters allow you to refill fresh water tanks from natural sources safely, extending your time off-grid.
FAQ: Truck Bed Campers with Bathrooms
Here are answers to the most commonly asked questions about these campers:
What are the advantages of truck bed campers with bathrooms?
Truck bed campers with bathrooms provide travelers with convenience and comfort, allowing for off-grid adventures with access to essential facilities like a toilet and shower. They are ideal for remote camping and long road trips.
What types of bathrooms are available in truck bed campers?
There are two primary types:
- Wet Baths: Compact, all-in-one spaces combining shower, toilet, and sink.
- Dry Baths: Separate shower and toilet areas, offering a more spacious bathroom experience.
How do plumbing systems work in truck bed campers?
Truck bed campers typically include:
- Fresh Water Tanks: Supply water to the shower, toilet, and sink.
- Gray Water Tanks: Hold used water from sinks and showers.
- Black Water Tanks: Contain waste from the toilet.
Are truck bed campers with bathrooms easy to install?
Installation requires a proper tie-down system and truck compatibility. The camper’s weight must match your truck’s payload capacity for safe and secure operation.
Can truck bed campers with bathrooms handle cold weather?
Yes, many models are designed for four-season use, featuring insulation and heated water tanks. Proper winterizing and monitoring of water systems are essential for cold-weather camping.
What maintenance do truck bed camper bathrooms require?
Routine cleaning, monitoring tank levels, and inspecting plumbing systems are key maintenance tasks. Winterizing your camper and ensuring proper storage can extend the bathroom’s lifespan.
Truck Campers With Bathrooms: More Convenience on the Road
Who said truck bed campers have to be bare-bones camping units? Now you don’t have to give up on comforts such as a bathroom when you choose a slide-in camper. Choose any of the pickup camping pods above, and you won’t have to rely on public restrooms.
Still not convinced by a truck camper? Consider renting a truck bed camper before counting them out.
