When Judy Webber hits the road, it’s all grit, glam, and girl-powered adventure. From city glamping to camper makeovers, her story is a fearless ride through fun. Get ready for memory-making perfection!
What happens when you mix a spreadsheet-wielding bargain hunter, a wine-loving roller coaster fan, a fearless parallel parker, and a glamping goddess who can back up a truck camper better than most people can park a car? You get Judy Webber: part camping maverick, part DIY magician, and 100% unstoppable force of fun.
Let’s be clear—Judy doesn’t just “own” a truck camper. She dominates the lifestyle. Whether she’s converting a grungy, water-damaged pop-up into a Pinterest-worthy treehouse on wheels, or navigating a 60-point turn to escape a back-alley parking trap in downtown Nashville (yes, that happened), Judy approaches every adventure with laughter, tenacity, and the confidence of a woman who’s lived, learned, and laughed her way through every campsite, city block, and roadside hiccup.
And did we mention her co-pilot? Enter Stacy, the fearless bestie who will redirect traffic at a casino garage entrance with the force of a Broadway stage manager—just to get a glass of wine. Together, Judy and Stacy form a kind of mobile girl gang powered by electric bikes, inflatable kayaks, Spotify playlists, and the shared belief that life is too short to wait for their guys to finish golf and deer seasons.
Judy’s not waiting for permission, and she’s certainly not waiting around for someone else to hitch up the rig. She’s the kind of person who proves—again and again—that adventure doesn’t wait. You just have to say yes, crank the wheel, and make the memory.
So grab your beverage of choice, settle into your camping chair, and prepare to meet a bold, funny, and inspiring fellow truck camper. This isn’t just another interview. This is Judy Webber—unfiltered, unforgettable, and rolling through life with style, smarts, and a serious side of sass.
Above: Judy, Stacy, and Judy’s sister
You had an unusual path to truck camping. Tell us about it.
I’m a girl camper, and that’s an important part of the story. My husband and I have camped in tents, pop-ups, and travel trailers. When he bought a used camper to keep at his hunting lease, I bought a truck camper to visit cities. He spends time at his hunting lease during the fall deer and spring turkey hunting seasons. He uses the truck camper there sometimes. Other times, he stays in the bunkhouse on the property.
Why did you choose a truck camper?
I never liked pulling a trailer. Tires blow out. And they are a pain to park and set up. But I got to thinking, “If I can park a truck, I can park a truck camper!” I decided that when he went to the lease, I’d take the camper, grab a few girlfriends, and we’d check out fun places like Nashville, Memphis, Little Rock, Branson, and the towns and cities in Texas.
You’ve now owned three truck campers. What’s the story there?
I started with a used Palomino pop-up due to the super cheap price. The previous owner had not winterized it properly and—on our first girl outing—we had water everywhere due to broken tubing. It wasn’t hard or expensive to fix, but it ruined a weekend of camping.
My camping buddy and I did not like putting the pop-up roof up and down, but we loved it for camping. It was like being in a tree house! Unfortunately, we had bad luck with rain coming when we put the top down and—despite the electric lift mechanism—had challenges with tucking the canvas in. We needed a ladder, and that wasn’t fun in the rain. We wanted an easier solution for camping.
Once I had a truck camper, I started looking into truck campers. We went to a few places in Texas and loved the Lance models. They were pricey, but nice. One day, while in a meeting at work and perusing RV Trader, I saw a Lance 650 advertised nearby, and it was way underpriced. I figured I would have some work to do, but the guy just needed to get out of the payment. I bought it to have a hard side, plus I knew it had equity. We used the same 2008 Chevy 2500 HD for both the Palomino and the Lance.
You’re now in an Adventurer 86FB. When did that happen?
We also have another truck, which is another story. I had an electric Chevy Bolt for my work commute. Due to recalls, GM had to buy back the car. GM offered the full MSRP ($46,000) if we bought another Chevy.
I created a spreadsheet for my husband in order to propose getting a truck with new technology, such as backup cameras and Apple CarPlay. The new truck was $72,000 minus $21,000 profits from the Bolt, minus $28,000 from the sale of the old truck. This equalled a new Chevy 2500HD for $23,000. Jeff agreed to that deal.
As for the Adventurer, we are near retirement and happened to see quite a few Adventurer truck campers while camping in Alaska. There were some Adventurer models close by at Princess Craft RV in Texas. I found them through your magazine.
We loved the size, solar, generator, floor plan and price of the Adventurer 86FB. Jeff especially liked the solar and built-in generator. I loved the kitchen, the layout, and the drawers!
With the Adventurer 86FB, we can actually camp for a long time instead of short weekend trips. Plus, they did little things such as providing a shoe storage place under the table. Shoes on the floor make truck camping miserable.
“I had a 1979 Pontiac Catalina that I had to parallel park every day for work. From that experience, I can park with inches to spare. The same technique works for a large truck.”
You’re clearly comfortable driving the rig. But what about parking in those downtown settings?
I grew up in St. Louis, so I can parallel park any vehicle. My friends and I head right down to the music district in Nashville, or the strip in Fredericksburg, Texas, or Hot Spring, Arkansas—for example—and then head to a great campsite in the evening. We have traveled this way for many years now and it’s a blast. It was awesome and safer during Covid. Truck campers are fabulous for glamping!
For the first few years, Jeff loaded the camper. I could unload because that only involves unhooking and driving forward. Then one day I thought, “I can park anything and drive anything”.
While living in St. Louis, I had a 1979 Pontiac Catalina that I had to parallel park every day for work. From that experience, I can park with inches to spare. The same technique works for a large truck. And you have better mirrors and backup cameras on the new trucks. Loading and unloading are always nerve-wracking, but so is driving in Dallas.
What kinds of places do you look for when parking in a city?
In many cities, there are surface lots. What bothers me is the cost; $5, $10 or even $20. Maybe we just want two hours for lunch. To save money, I seek out parking meters. I pull up alongside, see if our rig will fit, and back in. Sometimes it takes me two or three times to park. It can be humiliating and it makes other cars angry, but once the truck and camper are in the spot, I know that I am off to a fun shop or restaurant.
When parking in a surface lot in Memphis, I knew that I could fit lengthwise, but would struggle with the width. My friend got out first, but then I could not fit out of my door. I had to get out on the passenger’s side. That was not as harrowing as the surface lot in Nashville. When the bikes are loaded on the back, we’re even bigger!
“I usually drive around a block a few times and look at all of the possibilities. That’s how I find a desirable spot.”
That’s some seriously tight parking! What advice do you have for people visiting cities with truck campers?
Don’t rush. I usually drive around a block a few times and look at all of the possibilities. That’s how I find a desirable spot. Someone is almost always leaving.
Trucks these days are big, and the camper adds a bit more onto the back for sure. My best advice is to have someone spot you. My outgoing BFF camping buddy—Stacy—is not afraid to stand outside and help with directions. We use our phones so she can talk to me and give me information.
A second set of eyes really does help even with great camera systems. Curbs sometimes have drop-offs and height changes. Plus, who wants to ding someone’s car in a strange city?
What do you enjoy doing in these cities?
Complex question. We love relaxing, biking, floating, drinking wine, visiting museums, shopping—really anything outside of work. My friend and I live in Dallas and our go-to is Branson, Missouri because it’s close, a world away, beautiful, and I can meet my family from St. Louis.
We love roller coasters, and the Silver Dollar City in Branson has the best! We are both educators and are stuck on the school calendar. We travel Labor Day weekend, a few times in the fall, and then pick up camping in the spring and early summer.
Sometimes we go to wine festivals in little Texas towns, like the Glen Rose Wine & Art Festival. Parallel parking is involved because we want a clean and close by restroom with all of that wine drinking. Plus, Glen Rose, Texas doesn’t have parking meters. It’s all free. Fredericksburg, Texas is another fun place to visit. There’s great wine, food, shopping, and more parallel parking.
These adventures into the city sound amazing. Tell us about a typical outing.
I prep the truck and camper during the week and have it loaded on Thursday night. I drive it to work on Friday and leave after a few Friday morning meetings.
Stacy’s husband drives her to work, and we are on the road by noon. Most places are three to six hours away, and we are at our destination by dinner time. We drive to where we want to spend a few hours and then hit the campground by 8:00 pm or earlier.
Hooking up a camper at a campground is simple. Connect the water and electricity and we’re done. We take care of the sewer if we even have sewer available the next morning. Years ago, when the kids were little, we had a pop-up which was a total pain to set up and connect. When they got bigger, we had a 23 foot foot pull-behind which was also a pain to park and connect.
Stacy and I take electric bikes—a must with a truck camper. We also have inflatable kayaks that are perfect for lake camping, and they travel with a small footprint.
Do you ever camp in a city overnight?
We usually find campgrounds near cities. The exception was Memphis. Based on online reviews, we stayed across the Mississippi River in a KOA and drove the whole rig around. In Memphis, we wanted good food and to visit Graceland since we were both old and hadn’t been.
We like state parks, Army Corp of Engineers (COE) parks, private places, and even national parks when they are available. My number one priority is location and safety. And when possible, Stacy likes nice pools or fake beaches and lakes. We both love a good floaty and a beverage. Camping is a way to unwind from our stressful jobs. Weekend truck camping does just the thing.
Truck campers can fit anywhere except parking garages (ask me how I know). Truck campers also provide a potty and a shower in addition to a comfortable queen sized bed. This is important to me and the friends who travel with me on fun-filled weekend getaways. If we stay longer, I can drop the truck. And I find loading and unloading easier than messing with the heavy-weight distribution hitch for a travel trailer.
Okay, how do you know you can fit anywhere except parking garages?
Stacy said one day at work, “Let’s go to the Choctaw Casino in Oklahoma on our way to visit your family in Branson. This was years ago when I had the smaller Palomino pop-up camper. We actually stayed in the Casino hotel since there isn’t really a campground in that area.
Anyway, we were driving up after work and I don’t really like big surface lots. It seems like a truck would be easy to steal. After check-in, I said, “Let’s park in the garage that is attached to the hotel and stay away from the commuter gamblers parked in the surface lot”. I can’t believe I am admitting my justification for the garage, but it just felt safe.
We drove around back and entered the garage opening and I hit one of the gray PVC pipes hanging from a chain. I stopped the truck and Stacy hops out and says, “Well, that thing is swinging for sure. You better back up!” Now it’s a Friday night at a casino 1.5 hours out of Dallas and there are other people—in cars—trying to get into this garage.
Well, nothing deters Stacy from a mission. She wanted a beverage and to gamble, so she walked down a concrete driveway with steep curbs and started telling each car to back up and drive around a while because we needed to back the black truck and camper up and out of this garage entrance or they would never get in.
“People were so pissed, but she was very convincing and, one by one, each car backed up and out of this single lane entrance.”
People were so pissed, but she was very convincing and, one by one, each car backed up and out of this single lane entrance (poor design in my mind) until I was able to back out and return to the surface lot out front. The whole scene was pretty funny, but mostly because of her laughter, waving arms and determination to get a glass of wine ASAP. The faces of the others—not so funny.
That’s quite the story. And quite the lesson for all of us!
There have been so many unforgettable moments. My girlfriends and I were visiting Nashville and couldn’t find street parking, so we had to use a side lot. Now, many of these are minuscule and in back alleys. The parking attendant told us what spot to use. We barely got the truck in and had to crawl out the passenger side door.
Hours later, the lot had filled to capacity and it looked like we were trapped in. It took a 60-point turn or so to get out. Lots of forward and back with my fun friend, Stacy, directing each move. We were up with an audience of bystanders who could not leave in their small automobiles until I unstuck my truck and camper. Once we were free from the subpar parking lot, we received a round of applause. I’d like to think it was for my driving abilities, but in reality, I believe they were just happy to get to their cars.
Stacy with the assist again. That’s a good friend. You told us that you’ve been able to sell your previous campers for more than you bought them for. How did you manage that?
Two things. Shopping online while attending hours of boring meetings, and the ability to make improvements. Think of it like flipping, but using it along the way. There are always bargains out there and many people either don’t know how or are unable to make improvements the their campers.
I bought my sister’s pull-behind after my mom passed away for $6,000 and sold it for $17,000. I spent maybe $500 on improvements. Campers come stock with the cheapest things and it’s so easy to make simple but valuable changes. For example, I had a Lance and I loved the little things like the magazine and spice rack. The Adventurer has great kitchen drawers, but no spice or magazine rack, so I made and installed both.
The first truck camper was filthy when I bought it, but I can clean. It was also ugly and ugly is the easiest to change. It had broken plastic tubing from a lack of proper winterization. I should have expected as much. I bought it off a boy child up in Oklahoma City for such a good price.
Tell us about the interior changes you’ve made to your three truck campers.
I removed the large tables and made smaller ones. I understand the purpose is for a third sleeping area, so I don’t get rid of the large table. It just goes under the mattress.
Above: New smaller table and curtains
Other things I did include adding shelves in medicine cabinets or drawer dividers. I have also added hooks or pegboard to the outside storage cubbies.
The Adventurer had ugly fabric cushions. The Lance had ugly vinyl. Vinyl is easier to clean. So, I made fitted sheets essentially for the seats and back cushions on the dinette of the new camper.
Above: In the Adventurer, Judy added new cushion covers and interior decorations
If something spills, I can pull them off and wash them. Easy peasy. Why don’t camper stores have those?
Additionally, I made wood cutting boards that fit the sink, so that the plastic ones can be saved for when they sell. Or, I sell it with the new wooden cutting boards if they look better.
Above: Palomino backsplash and window valance added
I always add some type of backsplash near the stove and sink. Campers should have this also. There are so many small modifications that campers need. I also redid the interior of one of our boats. I made a good profit on that one also.
Is this mainly your truck and camper? You did say that your husband goes with you sometimes.
Yes, it’s mainly my truck and camper. I got the first one when my mom gave me $5,000 before she died. I was looking at a little pull behind, but I have experienced blowouts on the previous campers. I think it’s dangerous to be stranded on the side of the road with a crazy friend who has great people skills but lacks strength or mechanical skills.
My husband and I do travel together with the truck camper, often pulling our boat. Truck camping is perfect for glamping, weekends at the lake for fishing, a trip to the Texas coast, or a long adventure to a National Park. Jeff is good with the girls’ trips. It saves him from attending wine or art festivals, and he is saved from traveling to Branson and spending extra time with my side of the family.
Above: Stacy and Judy on the Appalachian Trail
Where are you planning on traveling to next?
I have, unfortunately, had three brain surgeries since September, with the latest one two weeks ago. I hope to get to Branson this spring or early summer. The long-term plan is to retire in Colorado and spend time exploring the national forest land with my husband. My friend, Stacy, will come up for sure. Who knows where we will go, but we do love wine, music, and art festivals. My hopes are to meet some new retired lady friends in Colorado who also like the same. Poor Stacy has five years until retirement. I have three months to go. Sucks to be her.
I’m sorry to hear about the surgeries. Here’s to looking forward to many fun truck camping adventures in retirement. Do you have any advice for women who might be hesitant to drive a truck camper or use a rig on their own?
It is scary, as are most new things, so start small. I practiced driving the travel trailer around campgrounds before we would park. I practiced backing up in our own driveway.
I just want to go do things the older I get. Put fear aside and get out there. When I look around my Texas suburban neighborhood, I see lots of trucks in people’s driveways. The United States has so many great places to visit.
“I just want to go do things the older I get. Put fear aside and get out there.”
Covid really drove my decision years ago. Stacy and I wanted to travel on weekend getaways. Her husband likes golf, and mine likes hunting. We had the time and the means for travel. We didn’t always camp. Sometimes we visited my kids in Alaska or Europe, or wherever they were stationed (they’re in the Air Force). With high-pressure jobs, we mostly wanted a quick and safe weekend out of Dallas.
Truck campers (other than maybe a small Class C) are the perfect fit for girl camping. They are particularly perfect for the zillions of truck owners. The Palomino was my gateway drug; an affordable little truck camper that opened my eyes to my favorite way to camp. I am hooked and don’t think I will ever want another pull behind or fifth wheel (like my parents had) or a giant-assed Class A like my sisters.
I have comfort, maneuverability, and versatility in one tidy package. Memory-making perfection!
Judy Webber’s Rigs
2020 Chevy 2500 HD (current truck)
2023 Adventurer 86 FB (current camper)
2019 Lance 650 (2nd camper)
2016 Palomino pop top (1st camper)
