Some of my fondest outdoor memories as a child were spent in a small truck camper. My parents had a 74 chevy stepside which was considered a full-size truck at that time, but due to the fat rear fender design, it’s bed was small. Still, the truck could accommodate a small camper, which offered plenty of comfort and amenities.
These days, there’s obviously way more options when it comes to trucks and fortunately, campers too. Many prefer a small truck, like a Toyota Tacoma, Chevy Colorado, Ford Ranger, Nissan Frontier or similar models from other manufacturers. Sure, you’re limited on load weight and size, but there’s surprisingly plenty of small truck camper options out there.
Below, we list some of the popular small trucks and campers available:
Toyota Tacoma Small Truck Campers
The first year the Tacoma came out in the U.S. was 1995 to present day, with 3 different generations. Versions of the Tacoma pickup include:
- 2-door Regular Cab
- 2-door Extended Cab
- 4-door Crew Cab
Short bed is 5’ and long bed is 6’. Payload capacity is up to 1,620 pounds when properly equipped. View Toyota Tacoma Campers
Ford Ranger Camper Models
The Ranger Pickup came in Regular Cab and Super Cab (extended cab) versions. Bed lengths include:
- Long Bed: 1983-2012 with a 7 ft. bed
- Short Bed: 1983-2012 with a 6 ft. bed
Ford Ranger Payload Capacity: 1,272 to 1,790 lbs. In terms of campers, we’ve found a few options: View Ford Ranger Campers
Chevy Colorado/GMC Canyon Campers
The Chevy Colorado small pickup truck, and it cousin the GMC Canyon were introduced in 2003 and run to present day, with 2 generations, running from 2003-2012 and 2012-present. Available as:
- 2-door Regular Cab
- 2-door Extended Cab
- 4-door Crew Cab
Colorado and Canyon compact trucks are available with 5 foot and 6 foot beds. View Chevy Colorado Campers
Nissan Frontier Campers
The Nissan Frontier truck spans 3 generations: 1997-2004, 2nd Gen from 2004-2015, and the 3rd Gen running 2014 – Present Day. The short bed model is 5′ feet in length and the long bed is 6′ feet.
- 2-door Regular Cab
- 2-door King Cab
- 4-door Crew Cab