A truck camper is an RV that slides on the bed of a pick-up truck that can be taken off or attached at will. When not attached, the campers are held up by jacks, either manual or hydraulic. To attach the camper, the pickup truck is backed up underneath the rig, and the jacks are lowered until the camper settles in the truck bed. This type of versatility means the truck owner can use his vehicle for other things when the camper is not attached. It also means he can tow a boat or another trailer in addition to having his camper on board.
The first "truck camper" of note was the "war truck" used by General John J. Pershing in his pursuit of Poncho Villa into Mexico in 1916. It had cots and a cooking stove. The chassis cost $3,650, a staggering amount for that time. It was later purchased by Henry B. Joy, one of the investors in the Packard Motor Car Company for use as a personal camper. The vehicle is now on display at the Henry Ford Museum in Dearborn, Michigan.
Henry Ford, the founder of the Ford Motor Company, got into the RV lifestyle in 1922. He often traveled in a caravan with such famous people as Thomas Edison and President Warren G. Harding. His 1922 Lincoln had places to store food, cooking utensils and camp chairs. Although the actual "camping" was still done in tents, the ability to take food, water and have the means to cook and serve meals gave more freedom of movement to the "safaris" taken by lovers of the outdoors. The 1922 Lincoln is now on display in a garage at Fair Lane, Ford's Dearborn estate.
The first true pick up campers were manufactured in 1945 in Torrance, California. Their creator, Walter King (now deceased) was the original CEO of King Manufacturing, Inc. He is considered to be the father of the pick-up camper. He loved to hunt and fish, and Walter King came up with the idea while pursuing these hobbies. He also understood that people wanted their recreational vehicles to be comfortable as well as practical.
Mr. King was the first to use foam insulation, wallpaper, Formica and mini-blinds. This made these "home away from home" campers both lightweight and pleasing to the eye. The lighter weight also made them easier to carry on the truck bed, allowing for better braking ability and better gas mileage. Though King Manufacturing, Inc. has branched out into other RV types--such as travel trailers and motor homes--the pick-up camper remains one of its most popular products.
Pick-up campers soon became the most popular and cost effective way to explore the country. Modern pick-up campers come in all shapes and sizes. Some have slides, compartments that hydraulically extend outwards when parked adding inside living space. Full size or queen beds are usually in a cab-over section. Pick-up campers now have all the comforts of home; they offer air conditioning, microwaves, two or three burner stoves, refrigerators, furnaces and bathrooms.
Campers can be plugged in at an RV park to electric and water. They can even function in the middle of nowhere using battery and propane power. Pick-up campers are versatile, self-contained travel capsules enabling anyone that has the desire the ability to explore the open road in comfort and safety.
