The 2025 TCM Calendar is ready to order for the low-low price of just $14.99. It’s time to reveal who made the cover, who made which month, and how these inspiring truck camping images happened. Order your 2025 TCM Calendar today!
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Every year we order the first copy of the new calendar about two weeks before we make it available to you. The calendar arrives in a robust cardboard box from Lulu.com and the annual ceremony begins. With our fuzzy horned hats affixed and TIKI torches lit, Angela, Cosmo, and I gather around to welcome the one physical product this electron magazine has offered since our founding. Somehow—even after we’ve already seen the images and calendar on our computers—it’s exciting to hold the actual calendar in our hands and see the winning cover and months.
Hats off and torches extinguished, we double-check the photographs, winner names, rigs, and location spellings, holiday dates, and overall quality. There’s also a series of physical tests including wall hanging in our condo and camper, page flipping in both horizontal and vertical planes, and pen, pencil, and blunt object writing evaluations in multiple languages. Thankfully, Lulu.com has proven to be a reliable vendor.
We are aware that some truck campers believe a printed calendar is no longer required as your phone calendar app has supplanted this purpose. This misguided notion is concerning on multiple levels and misses the primary purpose of this printed piece. First, phones are not trucks, campers, national parks, BLM lands, or fresh BBQ and are thus a terrible distraction to your all too precious time and core meaning on this planet. Second, the aim of the annual Truck Camper Magazine Calendar is to continuously inspire you to put that darn phone down and get out truck camping.
Trust us when we tell you having this calendar on your home and/or camper wall will arouse your truck camper mojo. Without it, countless precious time could be lost scrolling to nowhere. Get the calendar. Get inspired. And get truck camping!
Thank you to everyone who participated in this year’s calendar contest. Here’s to 2025!
COVER – Stefan Ruhland
Patagonia National Park, Chile
2018 Ford Ranger
2020 Multi4 Willy180
We had a dream to travel the world with our truck camper. So we quit our jobs and gave up our apartment in Germany. Then we shipped our Ford Ranger from Hamburg to Baltimore and started our adventure.
We crossed the United States on Route 66 and traveled along the Rocky Mountains to Alaska; the official starting point of the Pan-American Highway. From Fairbanks, we took the famous Highway 1 south via Mexico, Central Americ,a and the Andes in South America with Ushuaia as the final destination.
After 35,000 miles, we finally arrived at Patagonia National Park in Chile. Here, autumn welcomed us with a magical atmosphere. At the place where the picture was taken, you can relax and unwind from the off-road trip with a view of the snow-covered peaks under the golden leaves.
Due to the extremely strong winds in Patagonia, we were initially hesitant to launch the drone as it’s a high risk. But we were very happy that we dared to do it, as we will always remember this wonderful day with this picture.
JANUARY – Carol Caetano
Yosemite National Park, California
2011 GMC Sierra
2021 Lance 855S
Yosemite National Park is beautiful all year round, but there’s something quite magical about it in the winter. Half Dome and El Capitan are covered in snow, the river is lined with trees drenched in white, and the air is crisp and clean. We had been there on day trips during the summer and spring, but ever since we bought our camper, we have wanted to camp there.
Winter seemed like the perfect time to camp in Yosemite, so we went in February. One of the locations that I have always wanted to photograph in the winter is “Valley View”. We found a little parking area close by and parked the camper. I was literally in awe of the view. Spectacular! Magnificent! Amazing!
What a blessing to be able to witness Valley View in the winter. And to top it off, once I snapped all of my photos, I was able to get back into our warm camper, have a cup of coffee, and sit back and take it all in. Ah, the joys of traveling in retirement.
FEBRUARY – David Albers
Baja California Sur, Mexico
2022 GMC Sierra 2500
Northstar Adventurer 8.5
Our first visit to Baja was in December of 2022. It was love at first sight. We spent three glorious months camping on beautiful beaches, sometimes with nothing but waves and whales to keep us company.
Eventually, we pulled ourselves away from the beach, taking the ferry to mainland Mexico to continue our journey south, but we knew we’d be back to Baja one day. It was too special to leave forever. Baja brought both of us a level of peace and joy that neither of us had known we needed.
In 2024, we spent three more glorious months back on the beaches of Baja. The one in this photo is an old favorite that we were excited to get back to; a beautiful beach in Bahía Concepción where you only need to bring a swimsuit, sunscreen, and plenty of pesos.
The vendors will take care of the rest! At least if you want them to. Every morning, vendors arrive with freshly caught seafood, enchiladas, potable water, kayaks for rent, woven blankets, hats, and trinkets. If you can get past the intermittent semi J-braking from the truck flying along the coastal route behind you, it’s a paradise.
MARCH – Lori Dasko
Valley of Fire State Park, Nevada
2016 Ford F-350
2024 Cirrus 820
The beauty and wonder of Valley of Fire State Park has drawn us back numerous times over the years, each time to explore more of its fascinating geology. This gem of a state park hosts two campgrounds which are set among an otherworldly expanse of red rocks. Looking out the camper window, it’s easy to imagine being on some far-away planet.
My quest for this photo began as the sun started setting on a chilly evening. Our campsite was nestled in a horseshoe of towering sandstone formations, so I scrambled up to get this shot. Even though I was in a campground, it seemed like there was no one else for miles around.
APRIL – Derek Hansen
Fall Creek Falls, Idaho
2002 Ford F-350
2004 Lance 1010
After seventeen years of living in Alaska, and many truck camper adventures for our family of five, we moved to Idaho where I grew up. Ever since, we’ve been on the lookout for nearby scenic spots that could remind us of Alaska’s famous natural beauty.
Scrolling around on Google Earth, I spotted nearby Fall Creek Falls, a picturesque roadside waterfall along the South Fork of the Snake River in eastern Idaho’s Swan Valley. When I first saw it, it immediately reminded me of the many roadside waterfalls in Alaska. I wanted to get my truck camper photographed with it for the calendar contest.
The falls face east, so I needed to be there at sunrise for the best lighting. I spent the night boondocked on the side of the road in this spot, which is the closest parking for the short trail down to the falls. I flew a DJI Mavic Air 2S quadcopter to take the photo, using a neutral density filter for a long exposure to get the streaming water effect and combining two different exposures for a higher dynamic range.
The South Fork of the Snake River is reputed to be a world-class fly-fishing location and also a nice river to just float down. There are several boondocking locations along the river that are perfect for truck campers and that we are looking forward to exploring in the future.
Coming back to Idaho after being away for so long in the military is almost like seeing it for the first time. I am reminded of T.S. Elliot’s words: “We shall not cease from exploration, and the end of all our exploring will be to arrive where we started and know the place for the first time.”
MAY – Doug Alkire
Ironwood Forest National Monument, Arizona
2022 Ford F-250
2022 Four Wheel Camper Hawk Flatbed
The main reason I decided to purchase a Four Wheel Camper was for traveling to locations like this one. For years, I’ve traveled from Phoenix to Tucson, speeding down Interstate 10 as I pass Picacho Peak, always wondering what those craggy mountains to the west were all about. Driving a small, two-wheel drive hatchback, the thought of exiting the highway and exploring was out of the question.
In 2022, I took ownership of my Four Wheel Camper and have made it my mission to seek out those far and distant locations I thought were unreachable. The Ironwood Forest National Monument is a wonderful playground sitting just south of Phoenix and just northwest of Tucson. I would recommend going in early spring when the late winter rains have encouraged the landscape to bloom into never-ending shades of green.
This particular spot is at the end of a 3.5-mile tight and windy road. If you’re not into pinstripes, this might not be the place for you, but if a couple of scratches cover up your other scratches, then the payoff is worth it. You and your rig will be dwarfed by the majestic saguaros that carpet the landscape. The serenity is magical and the weather is just about perfect February through April. Other people visit this location, but the space allows everyone their own slice of heaven.
JUNE – Pierre Gagne
Abraham Lake, Canadian Rockies, Alberta
2022 Chevrolet Trailboss
2023 Cirrus 620
Last summer, my friends and I planned a wonderful road trip to cross Canada from Québec to the Canadian Rockies. We usually boondock all the time but, in the Canadian Rocky Mountain Parks, it’s illegal.
After sleeping in Park Canada campgrounds in Banff and Lake Louise, we were finally able to set camp in one of the prettiest spots I have boondocked. Using the app iOverlander, we found this location just outside a locality called Saskatchewan River crossing. The spot is on Highway 11 just outside the National Park and just before Abraham Lake.
As I was traveling with two vans, one Promaster and one Transit, I was the only one able to go down so close to the North Saskatchewan River. It’s these magical moments that confirm my choice of buying a truck camper instead of the more popular van life trend.
After my two nights there, it was time for me to head back home, but not without stopping again in Waterton Park in south Alberta and Glacier National Park in Montana.
The trip was 19 days, 9,166 kilometers (5,695 miles), with an average of 11.76 mpg. The time spent with my daughter? Priceless!
JULY – Steve Osburn
Salmon Glacier Overlook, Stewart, British Columbia
2019 Ford F-350
2023 Northern Lite 10-2EX
An Alaska road trip from Washington State has been on our bucket list for a couple of decades. Over the years, we compiled a list of places to see and things to do, and the overlook above Salmon Glacier was added to the list many years ago.
This year the trip finally happened; an epic three (plus) month trip that took us to places like Banff, Tuktoyaktuk, Denali, Skagway, and dozens of other places—including the Salmon Glacier. The road to the glacier is filled with steep grades, washboards and potholes. It’s actually a road built to support mining operations which are still active today.
We arrived in late August and the fall weather was already setting in. We got to the glacier overlook and had peek-a-boo views of the glacier. We knew that we were camped in the perfect spot and, if the clouds broke, we’d have an epic shot.
I got some cool photos with the clouds, but we heard that the weather was supposed to improve the next day. We got up the next morning to see we were engulfed in a cloud and could see nothing. We waited. We waited some more. Others were at the viewpoint as well.
Some, like us, spent the night, but there were many who came up that morning. They waited too. The clouds would lift a little, give us 15 seconds of view, and then blow back in. Finally, we had a solid break at about 11 AM and I got the shot I was hoping for.
The slight fog that was still over the glacier just made the shot more interesting. I had to cross the street and duck behind some rocks to get our camper to look like we were the only ones there, but I liked the foreground, so that worked.
AUGUST – Anya Mammoser
Denali Highway, Alaska
2020 Toyota Tundra
2023 Outfitter Caribou Lite 8.0
This photo was taken in July during our five-month road trip to Alaska. My husband, our two little daughters, and I drove from our home in Denver, Colorado all the way to Deadhorse, Alaska, and back (a total of 16,305 miles). We explored a lot of the beauty and natural wonders of British Columbia, the Yukon Territories, and of course, Alaska itself. Thanks to our nimble and easily manageable truck and camper set-up, we were able to take less traveled roads, visit places that were off the beaten track and, luckily, have many of those wonders all to ourselves.
One of our favorite side trips was the Denali Highway (Alaska 8). We read that this mostly dirt road was super scenic and worth the effort to drive it. We actually drove the Denali Highway twice; once before we went to Denali National Park and once after. The first time out, the weather was cloudy and rainy every day. There were no views. Then, after a few days in the national park, the skies cleared and we drove Highway 8 again.
The second time, with those clear skies above, we were not disappointed. The views were awesome. One morning, while nearing the end of the highway, we came around a curve and saw this grand view of the Alaska range covered in snow and the road leading right into it. I jumped out and ran back on the road a bit in order to get this shot of our rig heading into this amazing scene.
This road trip was one of the best of our lives and it left us with lots of family memories, tons of amazing photos, and now a Truck Camper Magazine calendar as a souvenir.
SEPTEMBER – Lise Mailloux
Lyndon, Vermont
2023 Jeep Gladiator Rubicon
2024 Soaring Eagle OV-X 5.0
Last year, we discovered this place called Lyndon, Vermont. We didn’t have a pop-up yet. I was looking for a solution to my off-road experience with a comfortable place to sleep in my Jeep Gladiator.
When we chose our new truck camper in August of this year, we planned a hike back to this spot (the Eagle) to take this photo of our Soaring Eagle OV-X 5.0, which represents our truck camper!
This new way of camping is bringing us new acquaintances and new places to enjoy. We love to travel in the wilderness and find places to set up for a night, then head out the next day to explore. The best part is that we’re in touch with nature.
We’re ready and equipped for more adventures, and it’s only just begun.
OCTOBER – Kris Cassidy
Lake Santeetlah, North Carolina
2016 Ford F-350
2015 Wolf Creek 840
Every year we take a fall color camping trip. Having recently moved to North Carolina, we have enjoyed the wide variety of deciduous autumn hues here. We found this awesome remote boondocking spot on the shores of Lake Santeetlah in the Nantahala National Forest at the culmination of our fall tour in western North Carolina.
We enjoyed a quiet few days kayaking, meditating, reading, hiking, and taking in the spectacular fall colors. There was hardly anyone else around and kayaking on the still clear reflections of the lake was akin to paddling in the sky.
This huge lake has many fingers to explore, necessitating keeping track of your location on a GPS to not get lost! This is one of our favorite go-to locations, especially since boondocking opportunities in the region are limited. Find me on Instagram at @kriscapturesphotography.
NOVEMBER – Erik Christiansen
Central Oregon
2005 Toyota Tundra
2020 Northstar TC650
This was our third or fourth time trying to catch the aurora in central Oregon. The first few times we attempted to see it, the aurora wasn’t reaching far enough south and was very faint, or it was cloudy.
On May 10th, I saw the potential was the best I’d ever seen it and invited some friends to go try to catch a glimpse. I consulted the dark sky maps and we picked a random dirt road thirty minutes east of our hometown of Bend, Oregon. We packed up the truck camper and set out soon after sunset. Since we hadn’t scouted this particular road, it turned out to be a little rockier than I expected and one of our friends ripped her bumper off on a rock getting to the spot. Major bummer.
When we parked and set up, the aurora was mildly visible. It was a faint glow low on the horizon. It almost looked like light pollution. Our friends that ripped their bumper off were not as excited as we were, and only stuck around for another half hour waiting for something to happen. About fifteen minutes after they left, the sky exploded with color. We were able to see light pillars and reds and greens clearly with the naked eye.
As a photographer, I was losing my mind looking at the long exposures my DSLR was capturing. Shooting the aurora isn’t really as hands-on as other types of photography. Once I had my settings picked, I just set it in time lapse mode and let it capture the show for hours.
This picture is my favorite from a series of 1,290 photos captured over the span of an hour and 4 minutes. As epic as this is, a bug landed on my lens and crawled around for the final 20 minutes of this time-lapse ruining a bunch of shots. I shot over 2,600 photos that night, so even with the bug, I was a happy camper.
When the show died down in the wee hours of the morning, we just climbed into the truck camper and went to sleep. There’s nothing like truck camper life!
DECEMBER – Monic Tando
Mammoth, California
2016 Ford F-250
2022 Lance 825
We headed up to Mammoth, California for a quick weekend getaway. It quickly turned into a longer experience as we unexpectedly got snowed in. The snowstorm resulted in the 395 closing.
With the roadway closed, we decided to stay at a local RV resort. When we woke up to head to the mountain, our camper was covered in snow. We had the best riding the following day!
Our runners-up are featured on the back cover.
