Camper Shells

Camper shells started out as rigid roofs to cover a pickup bed for basic camping needs, hence the name, but now are mostly used for utility and storage purposes but it can still be used for camping. A camper shell provides sturdy shelter against winds, rain, snow, and hail and requires no set up. It does not include any kitchen or other facilities. It is usually only about the height of the cab so you can't stand up in it.  They usually aren't insulated.  You can purchase optional "carpet kits" for the pickup bed that enhance the appearance and comfort if you do choose to use it for camping. I have one that, when the cushions are folded up, creates a comfortable sofa against the front of the truck bed (back of the cab) and a cushy, wall to wall mattress when laid out that is very comfortable to sleep on. I've seen some that have bench seats along the side over the wheel wells and the pad between them can be lifted into place to create a comfortable wall-to-wall bed. The seats open on the top and on the ends for storage. The design originated in the 1970s and, surprisingly enough, they're still making them.

                                                         

How is a camper shell different from a truck camper? First of all, a camper shell is usually only has high as the roof of the cab and has no interior improvements, that is why it is just a "shell". Some camper shells have slightly raised roofs that give a little more head room.  A full on camper usually has stand-up head room, beds, eating area, and a galley with a stove, sink, and ice box. High end campers may have sanitation facilities, furnaces, and refrigerators.  Most camper shells are not insulated.  Most campers are.  Still, a camper shell will generally be more weather resistant than a tent and doesn't require any setup.

Unlike truck campers, camper shells are usually designed to fit a specific year, make and model of pickup truck.  Some might be interchangeable or you might be able to adapt one to fit your truck, but often the angle on the front needs to match the angle of the cab and there isn't much you can do if they are different.  Another consideration is the footprint -- length and width at the base where it sets on the rails of the truck bed. A good fit is essential if you want to keep the interior dry in the rain,

If you already have a pickup truck, a camper shell could be a pretty cost effective way of turning the bed into a weather proof cargo area and a basic sleeping space in camp. For the most part, it just replaces your tent and you'll still need sleeping bags, a camp stove, cooler, water, and some kind of dishpans or basins for washing dishes and personal hygiene. The sturdy aluminum or fiberglass construction stays dryer than a tent and is often warmer, especially if it is insulated. Many are not, just aluminum sheeting or structural fiberglass.  Camper shells are securely anchored to the truck bed so you don't have to worry about them blowing down in the wind like you might a tent. Camper shells do not include heaters or furnaces, but you can warm them with a good tent heater. Just be sure to maintain adequate ventilation to prevent suffocation! If you have a sliding window that opens into the truck cab you might get some temporary warming from the truck heater.

Depending on how you configure your carpet kit and stow your gear, you should be able to arrange things so you have little if any setup to do when you reach camp. If you arrive late it is really nice to just roll out the sleeping bags on a nice soft mattress and not have to wrestle with a contrary tent in the dark and the wind and then sleep on twigs and rocks. Sometimes shells have sliding front windows. If they do you may be able to pre-warm your shell as you drive if your truck also has a sliding rear window -- and a really good heater. Given that the heater in your vehicle is usually designed to only keep the cab warm, trying to heat the shell might not be practical or efficient, but it also might be worth a try. I've had trucks with heaters that would drive you out, even with the windows open! My dad had a 1936 Dodge pickup we used on the ranch. All of the windows except the windshield were gone, but we'd have to turn down the heater even on the coldest winter days or it would drive us out.

There are also soft top versions built of materials similar to a convertible top. These are usually referred to as canopies instead of shells, but they serve the same purpose. They aren't as durable and probably don't hold in the heat as well as a solid shell, but they are light weight, probably less expensive, and often easier to put on and take off. So, what's the difference between a canopy and a truck tent? A canopy is more or less permanently attached to the truck bed and stays in place when you're driving. It normally doesn't extend much above the top of the cab. A truck tent essentially just a dome tent that is installed in the bed after you reach camp instead of being setup on the ground. It may or may not have stand-up head room. It cannot be left in the truck when you are driving, except perhaps to maneuver slowly around your camp site. Never try to drive on roads or highways with a truck tent set up in the back of your truck!

Shells aren't just for turtles!