Many people consider truck campers to be one of the most functional solutions when it comes to traveling on the road.
They even say that a truck camper is a hybrid of a trailer park and a large RV, which makes it perfect for camping.
The topic that most of these people debate over, however, is can a truck camper sit on the tailgate or not. Some owners favor tailgates and value their importance. Others disagree, arguing that a tailgate is a hindrance.
To help you pick a side that you’re comfortable with, this article discusses both arguments’ pros and cons. So, let’s begin, shall we?
Can Your Truck Camper Sit On the Tailgate?
Any truck camper can sit on a tailgate—so long as your vehicle is the right size and has a truck bed that’s accommodating. Most standard trucks have short beds and it’ll be difficult installing a camper onto them without having to put down your tailgate. That’s why it’s important to know beforehand if your tailgate will withstand the weight of your camper.
Since tailgates are at a truck’s rear, they’re designed to be unhinged or even removed altogether if the need arises. In other words, they can provide you with the extra space you need to install a truck camper onto your vehicle.
You have to know that, in doing so, you’ll be increasing the weight load on your truck. This in turn will cause performance problems while driving. Additionally, it might damage your automobile’s axle in the long term.
If you own a large dually truck, you might not face these problems since such vehicles have enough space in the back for a camper. Smaller trucks, on the other hand, whether they have long or short beds, don’t have the same luxury. You’ll need to check the camper’s model, size, and weight before installing it onto your truck.
Why Should You Keep Your Tailgate On?
One side of this article’s debate favors keeping your tailgate on to support your truck camper. People who argue this notion have their reasons, of course, which include the following:
Difficulty in Removal and Reinstallation
A tailgate may seem like a quick pop-and-lock part of your truck, but its design is more complicated than that.
Some truck models have tailgates that require tools to both remove and reinstall them. Not just that, but you may also need an extra pair of hands to help you if your tailgate is heavy.
That’s why many consider it cost and time-effective to keep the tailgate on and simply install the truck camper on it. This way you avoid any damages done to either your truck or tailgate.
Extra Storage Space
Keeping your tailgate on means it becomes easier to load your valuables onto your truck. It’ll store your items in place and provide you with extra room to securely safe-keep your things. This is especially helpful for those who are on the road full-time and will benefit from the storage space.
As for your truck camper, leaving your tailgate on helps nestle it onto your vehicle. In other words, you won’t have to worry about your things accidentally falling out since you can freely open and close your tailgate whenever you need to.
A Convenient Addition
If your truck camper fits just perfectly onto your truck, you can use your tailgate as a one-step stair that’ll get you inside. It’ll also make it easier to load things into and unload your stuff off your camper. As an added plus, your tailgate can act as a porch where you can sit and drink.
For those who like to barbeque, you can place a grill on the tailgate and flip some burgers on a chilly night out. In both cases, your tailgate will be adding a cozy, homey feel to your camping experience.
Why Should You Remove Your Tailgate?
On the other hand, there are those who argue that you should dispose of your tailgate before installing a truck camper. Their reasons are as follows:
The Tailgate’s Extra Weight
Even with the smallest trucks, their tailgates can still weigh up to 54 pounds. Keeping your tailgate means extra fuel consumption and payload capacity.
While a tailgate can be sturdy and carry around three times its weight, it’s much easier to just dispose of it if there’s no need for that.
Removing your tailgate then will reduce the strain put on your truck to perform efficiently. The axle, which is your vehicle’s main body, will become less susceptible to damage. It’ll also increase the truck’s weight capacity to carry more.
Avoid Damaging the Tailgate
Not all the roads you travel on are going to be easy. Most of them will have rocks, pebbles, and roadkill scattered along the lanes.
Leaving your tailgate on guarantees that various road objects will scratch its paint and damage it. Removing it, on the other hand, ensures that it remains good to use for many years.
Additionally, removing your tailgate just to reinstall it, later on, takes a lot of work. Not only that, but it also requires much technical experience.
If you lack the skills for it, you might find yourself spending a lot of money to fix and repair the damages done. So, it’s easier to avoid all that by getting rid of it.
Conclusion
Can a truck camper sit on the tailgate? The short, simple answer would be yes, it can. However, there’s a long, complicated version to that answer too.
A truck camper is a valuable addition to your vehicle, no doubt, but it still has its cons. Installing one on a tailgate will help better store your items and provide you with limitless opportunities while you’re out camping. Yet, a camper will also increase your loading capacity and be difficult to maintain.
Either way, we suggest that you favor the side which will help you out most. If you’re over your payload weight, don’t sit your truck camper on a tailgate. If not, install one and make incredible use of it.