How Much Does a Truck Camper Cost? (Buy, Rent & Own)

Whether you’re looking to buy or rent a truck camper, the cost will likely play an important role.

So, how much does a truck camper cost to buy and rent? And what’s the true cost of ownership if you decide to buy?

Let’s break down the average cost to buy a new and used truck camper, how much a truck camper rental typically costs, plus cover the main (and hidden) costs of camper ownership.

How Much Does a Truck Camper Cost?

A truck camper typically costs between $1,000 for a used camper to around $50,000 for a brand new model. The price varies significantly depending on the brand and model of the camper, its amenities, whether it’s new or used, the time of year you buy it, etc.

Of course, those are the average price ranges. You can currently find models for over $100,000! Here’s a snapshot of the current price ranges (lowest and highest) of truck campers on RVTrader.com.

The 2012 Palomino Bronco can be found for as low as $2,995, while the 2022 Host Industries Mammoth 11.5 is priced at $104,995.

Plus, there’s the option to rent a truck camper, which might save you a lot in up-front buying costs and the cost of ownership if you only plan on using it once or twice a year.

To get you a more accurate cost for truck campers, we separate them out by new vs. used and compare them to other types of campers below.

Tip: If you’re intent on buying a truck camper, don’t skip the cost of ownership section below, as it will help paint a more accurate picture of how much that camper will cost for as long as you own it.

Let’s start with new truck campers.

How Much Is a New Truck Camper?

On average, a new truck camper will cost between $5,000 and $50,000. As mentioned above, some outliers cost over $100,000 (the 2022 Host Industries Mammoth 11.5, for example), but the majority are much cheaper. 

So, how does a new truck camper compare to the other types of RVs?

Related: How Much Does an RV Cost?

Average RV Cost by Type

Important: The figures in this table represent averages. You’ll find some models well outside these average prices. As mentioned above, the 2022 Host Industries Mammoth 11.5 runs around $105,000! But, for your typical RV or camper, you can expect it to fall within the ranges above.

Now, let’s look at how much a used truck camper costs.

How Much Does a Used Truck Camper Cost?

On average, you can find used truck campers between $1,000 and $30,000. Again, there are outliers, some used luxury truck campers can cost over $100,000, but the majority are much cheaper. 

The type of used camper and the year are the two biggest factors that drive cost. Let’s look at the average prices for the different types of campers and RVs to see how they compare.

Average Used RV Cost by Type

Used prices for RVs are all over the board, as so many factors can influence the price. 

Tip: If you’re interested in purchasing a used RV, first identify the type of RV that fits your needs and search for used models near you to get a good idea of how much you’ll likely spend. Once you’ve found a few models in your budget, check out our guide on what to look for when buying a used RV.

How Much Does a Truck Camper Cost to Rent?

Renting a truck camper is a viable option whether you want to test out the camper lifestyle before buying or want all the thrills of camping without the maintenance and annual insurance costs of owning.

So, how much does truck camper rental cost on average?

It’s harder to pin down an average rental cost for a truck camper because, in addition to all of the price factors – amenities, size, time of year, length of rental, location, etc. – some truck camper rentals include the truck itself. Others require you to use your own truck or a rental truck.

That said, you can expect to pay around $150 per night to rent a truck camper (by itself).

Let’s see how that compares to renting other types of campers and RVs.

Remember that these are average prices and will vary depending on the amenities, size, time of year, length of rental, location, etc.

Tip: Check out our guide titled How Much Does It Cost to Rent an RV for a complete breakdown of the costs plus tips to get the most out of your rental!

To get a true cost of the entire camper rental vacation, you’ll need to factor in:

• Rental insurance: This may be included in the rental cost if you use a reputable RV rental company like Outdoorsy. But, for extra damage or trip insurance, you’ll have to pay out of pocket.
• Prep fee: Many camper owners will charge a prep fee to “ready” the camper for your trip.
• Delivery fee: In many cases, you can optionally have the camper delivered to you for a fee.
• Price-per-mile: Some rental companies or RV owners charge per mile you travel on top of the daily rental fee.
• Fuel expense: You will need to pay for the gas in your truck used during the trip, and many rental companies require the tank to be full when it’s returned (if a truck is included). Depending on the cost per gallon of gas and the miles traveled, this expense can add up!
• Campground fees: Campgrounds can range from $15 to over $100 per night, depending on their location and amenities. If you’re looking to save money, you can always dry camp, as well, which is typically free (you’ll just have zero amenities). 

It’s a good idea to plan for these expenses ahead of time to better understand the trip’s total cost before securing your rental.

Cost of Truck Camper Ownership

When you buy a truck camper, unfortunately, the expenses don’t stop there. In fact, there’s something called the cost of RV ownership, which can add up to quite a bit.

So, what is the true cost of owning a truck camper?

If you’ve owned a truck camper before, then you probably have a pretty good idea of all the extra expenses that come with ownership. 

But, if you’re looking to buy your first camper, here is a list of the potential ownership costs you’ll want to plan for.

Truck Camper Maintenance & Repairs

Some typical truck camper maintenance tasks can include:

• Battery testing and replacement
• Propane tank refill/replacement
• Filter cleaning/replacement
• Regular washing and waxing of the exterior
• Replace seals
• Sanitize the water tanks
• And so on 

Plus, don’t forget about repairs. If something breaks, and things will break, you have to pay to either get it fixed or for the part and fix it yourself.

For example, water heaters will eventually go out and need to be replaced, window screens tear, tail lights burn out, etc.

So, is it expensive to maintain a truck camper?

On average, RVers typically spend between $500 to $2000 per year on maintenance. But, if something major goes wrong, you can expect that number to jump. Warranties can help cover some costs, and getting a professional inspection performed on your camper prior to purchase can help protect you and your wallet.

Camper Insurance

Similar to your home or auto, insurance to protect you and your RV is another recurring cost you’ll want to consider.

According to Progressive, the average annual RV insurance policy will cost $502 for a travel trailer and $848 for a motorhome in 2020. Liability-only policies started at $125 per year.

That said, the actual cost for an insurance policy will vary based on the type of RV, location, features, driving experience, and so on.

Fuel Costs

Fuel costs will vary significantly depending on your truck’s MPG, distance traveled, cost per gallon of gas, etc.

Tip: Use a fuel calculator to estimate fuel costs before the trip. And use apps like Gas Buddy to find the cheapest gas near you.

If you have a fairly economical truck, fuel costs will be considerably less.

Hidden Costs of Owning a Truck Camper

Along with the above costs, there are what some would consider “hidden” costs to owning a truck camper. Or costs that many tend to overlook (but can add up quickly).

• Park Fees: The cost to reserve a spot at a campground can range from $15 to over $100 per night, depending on their location and amenities. You can help offset these costs by splitting your time at free boondocking locations.
• Storage Fees: You’ll need a place to store your Camper when not used. Some have the luxury of being able to store their camper on their own property. Some do not. Expect to pay between $50 to $250 per month to store your truck camper.
• Registration Fees: Depending on where you live, you may have yearly registration fees for your truck camper. Luckily, the majority of states do not require this.
• Memberships: While RV membership programs like Thousand Trails and Passport America are designed to save you money, they still cost to be a part of.
• Supplies: Similar to a home, you’ll need to stock your camper with kitchen utensils, food, laundry and cleaning supplies, etc.
• Upgrades: Upgrade costs will certainly vary, but if you want a better wifi signal or a satellite dish, for example, these will incur additional costs.
• Depreciation: While not a direct cost, your RV will lose value, especially if you buy new. A new truck camper typically loses 25% of its value in the first five years! One way to avoid that initial major drop in value is to buy used. Your used camper will still depreciate over time, but it won’t be as drastic as the first few years.

Now that you understand the costs of buying and owning a camper, what’s next? Check out our guide on the pros and cons of owning an RV to find out if owning one is cost-effective and if it’s truly right for you!

Plus, check out our guide on what to look for when buying a used truck camper, complete with a downloadable checklist!