1,124 TCM readers share their demographics, rate their favorite shows and websites, and reveal what they like, and want improved about Truck Camper Magazine. Let’s dive in.
Our annual readership survey always re-invigorates our drive to better serve the truck camping community. This year is no different. After reviewing the data and reading over fifty pages of comments, it’s crystal clear that we’re doing a lot of things right, and there’s still ample room to make things even better.
This feedback is truly invaluable as we decide where to stay the course, and where to push forward. Thank you to everyone who completed our annual survey and took the time to share their perspectives with us. We are listening.
The Results
The following percentages were calculated by dividing the responses for each question by the total number of survey responses. A small number of surveys were not completely filled out resulting in percentages that do not always add up to 100 percent.
1. What is your gender?
Male – 87.98%
Female – 12.02%
2. What is your age?
29 years old or younger – .62%
30 – 39 years old – 2.67%
40 – 49 years old – 9.18%
50 – 59 years old – 29.5%
60 – 69 years old – 42.34%
70 – 79 years old – 14.71%
80 years old or older – .98%
3. Are you a Truck Camper Magazine free email alert subscriber?
Yes – 88.38%
No – 11.62%
4. What social media do you use? Please check all that apply.
Facebook – 44.28%
YouTube – 14.76%
Pinterest – 2.99%
Twitter – 1.99%
5. In the past year, have you used the Truck Camper Magazine Request Info feature?
Yes – 65.16%
No – 34.84%
6. If you answered yes, what have you used the Truck Camper Magazine Request Info feature for? Please check all that apply.
I requested one or more brochures. – 68.86%
I requested local dealer information. – 45.06%
I requested one or more price quotes. – 17.72%
7. Which types of Truck Camper Magazine content do you find most interesting? Please check all that apply.
Ask the Expert and Truck Camper 101 Articles – 77.08%
Truck Camping Lifestyle Stories – 76.63%
Truck Camper Reviews – 69.92%
New Truck Camper Gear Announcements – 64.46%
Truck Camper Gear Reviews – 62.76%
New Truck Camper Announcements – 62.31%
Photo Gallery – 60.88%
Off-Road and Expedition Stories – 56.58%
Truck Camper Gear Guide – 53.0%
Mod Contest – 51.48%
Truck Camper Buyers Guide – 46.11%
Factory Tour Stories – 41.45%
Newbie Corner Articles – 37.78%
RV Shows and Rallies Listings – 35.72%
Reader Email and Feedback – 34.56%
HD Videos – 33.93%
TCM Calendar Contest – 33.84%
Industry Leader Interviews – 31.07%
Dealer Inventory Section and Updates – 19.52%
TCM Stars Catching Up Series – 11.82%
9. Which of the following reasons are the most important to you when choosing a truck camper over another form of RV. Please check all that apply.
Ability to go anywhere a pickup truck can go – 94.18%
Superior maneuverability of a truck camper – 81.83%
Boondocking / dry camping where you want for free – 75.47%
The ability to tow a boat, trailer, horses, ATVs, toys, etc. – 63.92%
Saving on registration and insurance – 41.63%
Possible Use as Family Emergency Vehicle – 39.57%
Saving on maintenance – 31.6%
Saving on fuel – 28.29%
Saving on storage – 24.53%
Saving on depreciation – 13.79%
10. What do you tow, or plan to tow, with your truck camping rig? Please check all that apply.
A boat – 42.36%
Off-road vehicles / ATVs – 26.9%
Utility trailer – 25.74%
None – I do not tow – 24.02%
Automobile – Car, Jeep, or SUV – 22.57%
Motorcycle – 18.16%
Snowmobiles / snow machines – 5.48%
Other watercraft / jet skis – 5.19%
Horse trailer – 3.65%
Racecar Trailer – 2.98%
Farm Tractor – 2.59%
Travel Trailer – 2.40%
Airplane – 1.06%
BBQ Smoker – .96%
Civil War Cannon – .01%
11. Do you currently own a truck camper?
Yes – 76.57%
No – 23.43%
12. How likely are you to purchase a truck camper in 2015?
Definitely going to make a purchase – 7.68%
Likely going to make a purchase – 15.0%
Not likely going to make a purchase – 77.33%
13. How likely are you to purchase truck camper gear in 2015? Truck camper gear includes turnbuckles, tie-downs, suspension enhancement equipment, camper jacks, aluminum storage beds, and towing systems.
Definitely going to make a purchase – 22.3%
Likely going to make a purchase – 39.26%
Not likely to make a purchase – 38.44%
14. Have you attended a RV show that you learned about in TCM’s RV show listings?
Yes – 28.06%
No – 71.94%
15. Do you plan on attending a RV show in 2015?
Yes – 62.75%
No – 37.25%
16. Have you attended a truck camper rally that you learned about in TCM’s rally listings?
Yes – 13.6%
No – 86.4%
17. Do you plan on attending a truck camper rally in 2015?
Yes – 31.33%
No – 68.67%
18. Have you ever recommended Truck Camper Magazine to family, friends or aquaintances?
Yes – 77.02%
No – 22.98%
19. Have the truck camper and gear reviews in Truck Camper Magazine helped inform your purchasing decisions?
Yes – 91.97%
No – 8.03%
20. What actions have you taken as a result of something you saw on Truck Camper Magazine? Please check all that apply.
Visited a sponsor’s website – 93.12%
Contacted a sponsor by email – 33.81%
Visited a sponsor’s dealership – 29.89%
Contacted a sponsor by phone – 25.41%
Visited a sponsor at a RV show – 22.25%
Visited a sponsor’s factory – 10.22%
Contacted a sponsor by regular mail – 3.06%
21. What print magazines do you subscribe to?
Trailer Life – 24.21%
None, I do not subscribe to print magazines. 22.57%
American Rifleman – 17.26%
Consumer Reports – 15.53%
National Geographic – 11.95%
4 Wheel and Off-Road – 11.03%
Field and Stream – 9.09%
Handyman – 7.97%
Highways – 7.97%
Alaska – 7.76%
Diesel Power – 7.76%
Motorhome Magazine – 7.15%
Backpacker – 7.05%
Popular Mechanics – 6.84%
Guns and Ammo – 6.74%
Mother Earth News – 6.74%
Woodworking – 6.54%
Outdoor Life – 6.03%
Boating – 5.82%
Car and Driver – 5.52%
RV Lifestyles – 4.80%
Popular Science – 4.70%
Smithsonian Magazine – 4.70%
Truck Trend – 4.70%
JP Magazine – 4.19%
Sunset – 3.78%
Arizona Highways – 3.68%
Motortrend – 3.58%
Outdoor Photographer – 3.58%
Rider – 3.37%
Money – 3.17%
Wood – 2.76%
Turbo Diesel Register – 2.66%
Road and Track – 2.55%
Overland Journal – 2.55%
Men’s Health – 2.04%
Sports Illuatrated – 1.63%
Scientific American – 1.53%
Truckin – 1.12%
Wired – 1.02%
22. What television shows and networks do you watch?
History Channel – 59.73%
Discovery Channel – 55.71%
National Geographic Channel – 39.36%
American Pickers – 36.89%
Big Bang Theory – 33.70%
Weather Channel – 32.79%
Fox News – 30.50%
NCIS – 29.77%
Travel Channel – 29.50%
60 Minutes – 29.41%
HGTV – 28.31%
PBS – 28.13%
Outdoor Channel – 24.29%
ESPN – 22.74%
Food Network – 20.91%
Blue Bloods – 19.18%
Gold Rush – 18.90%
CSI – 17.35%
Top Gear – 17.17%
NASCAR – 15.71%
Downton Abbey – 15.43%
Military Channel – 14.70%
Bones – 14.34%
Duck Dynasty – 13.70%
Velocity Channel – 12.69%
SPEED Network – 11.60%
The Blacklist – 10.05
CNBC – 6.67%
Does not watch television – 4.93%
Homeland – 4.29%
23. What websites do you most frequent?
Amazon.com – 53.77%
Craigslist.org – 43.01%
Google.com – 39.89%
YouTube.com – 39.43%
Facebook.com – 39.25%
CampingWorld.com – 34.28%
eBay.com – 32.26%
Cabelas.com – 30.61%
RV.net – 26.65%
Weather.com – 24.72%
Yahoo.com – 21.23%
TruckCamperForums.com – 19.76%
GoodSamClub.com – 18.20%
LanceOwners.org – 17.56%
FoxNews.com – 17.19%
RVTrader.com – 16.54%
BassPro.com – 11.95%
ExpeditionPortal.com – 9.74%
NATCOA.com – 9.47%
WanderTheWest.com – 8.92%
Northern-Lite.org – 8.64%
CNN.com – 6.99%
ESPN.com – 6.99%
KIJIJI.com – 6.07%
DieselTruckResource.com – 5.42%
PickupTruck.com – 4.78%
irv2.com – 4.41%
ADVrider.com – 4.23%
EagleCapOwners.com – 4.23%
Escapees.com – 3.40%
TurboDieselRegister – 3.13%