The results are in. Way beyond bathrooms, the reader data reveals deeper truths about our marketplace. Buckle up industry. The data is off the charts!
Long before Overland was a marketplace, truck campers were categorized as either hard sides or pop-ups with different customers and different product preferences on both sides. This is why our Camper Chooser System starts with ‘Hard Side or Pop-Up’.
Over the past decade, the emergence of the overland phenomenon has created two more distinct truck camper categories; overland truck campers and traditional truck campers. These two categories—like hard sides and pop-ups—have very different customers with very different product priorities.
Overland vs Traditional Truck Campers
The important difference between overland and traditional truck campers boils down to comfort and convenience versus ultimate off-road capability. Overland enthusiasts prioritize ultimate off-road capability over comfort and convenience. Traditional truck campers prioritize comfort and convenience over ultimate off-road capability.
Naturally, these priorities directly impact camper design. To make overland campers as off-road capable as possible, they’re often lighter and smaller to match mid-size off-road capable trucks. To make traditional truck campers as comfortable and convenient as possible, they’re often bigger and heavier requiring full-size trucks.
Where traditional campers typically have all the features of home including kitchens, dinettes, bathrooms, and cabover bedrooms, overland campers pair down these features and comforts and focus on off-road durability and utility.
Of particular relevance, almost no overland-focused campers have walled bathrooms, whereas the majority of traditional truck campers do.
One Question To Find the Truth
For years, we have heard from readers questioning the lack of walled bathrooms in campers we’ve announced and featured. From this feedback, we had anecdotal evidence that portions of our industry were possibly out of step with the greater truck camper marketplace and community.
On balance, the decision-makers in the truck camper industry need hard data, not anecdotal evidence. To find out exactly where truck camper enthusiasts are on this topic, I came up with a single-question survey that connected the three important dots; overland versus traditional, pop-up versus hard side, and no walled bathroom versus walled bathroom.
Here’s the question we asked:
“First, identify your preference for Overland-style truck campers (often seen at Overland Expos) versus Traditional-style truck campers (often sold on RV dealer lots). Second, indicate whether you prefer pop-up or hard side truck campers. Third, select whether you prefer a walled bathroom or no walled bathroom. Once you have your answers, choose from the following eight possibilities that best describe your camper preferences.”
Here were the possible answers:
1. Overland-Style Truck Camper. Pop-Up. No Walled Bathroom.
2. Overland-Style Truck Camper. Pop-Up. Walled Bathroom.
3. Overland-Style Truck Camper. Hard Side. No Walled Bathroom.
4. Overland-Style Truck Camper. Hard Side. Walled Bathroom.
5. Traditional-Style Truck Camper. Pop-Up. No Walled Bathroom.
6. Traditional-Style Truck Camper. Pop-Up. Walled Bathroom.
7. Traditional-Style Truck Camper. Hard-Side. No Walled Bathroom.
8. Traditional-Style Truck Camper. Hard Side. Walled Bathroom.
We posted the question in our Email Alerts and our Facebook and Instagram communities. A remarkable 731 truck camper enthusiasts answered in seven days. That’s a very healthy survey response demonstrating a lot of interest in this topic.
And here’s the unfiltered result:
The Big Take Away
It’s impossible not to conclude that Truck Camper Magazine readers—and likely the great majority of truck camper enthusiasts at large—prefer traditional, hard side, walled bathroom truck campers.
That lines up with everything we know about truck camper production numbers and sales from eighteen years of working directly with industry leaders and the community at large. More traditional, hard side, walled bathroom truck campers sell than any other category. Visit any major truck camper dealer lot and that reality will be on full display. The size of the result may be surprising, but not the result itself.
That doesn’t mean there aren’t thriving markets for overland truck campers, pop-up truck campers, and no walled bathroom truck campers, but the marketplace opportunity for these categories is significantly smaller compared to traditional hard side, walled bathroom truck campers.
Written Response Analysis
In addition to the above question, we asked readers to explain why they prefer, or don’t prefer, a walled bathroom in a truck camper. Here’s a break down analysis of the written responses:
1. Preference for Walled Bathrooms
Privacy: A major recurring theme is the desire for privacy. Respondents often mention that a walled bathroom provides a separate, enclosed space, which is especially valued when traveling with others or in mixed company. Privacy concerns also extend to reducing noise and odors from the bathroom to the living or kitchen areas.
Home-Like Amenities: Many appreciate the comfort and familiarity of a bathroom that feels similar to home. The enclosure offers a sense of normalcy, which is particularly valued during long trips or in adverse weather conditions. Walled bathrooms provide a sense of continuity with the amenities and convenience of home.
Convenience and Accessibility: Older respondents and those with health issues value walled bathrooms as they are readily available, providing easy access without the need to search for public facilities. For families and those traveling with children, a walled bathroom offers a convenient solution for quick access and privacy.
2. Preferences for Specific Types of Walled Bathrooms
Dry Bath vs. Wet Bath: Some prefer dry baths, which keep the toilet and shower separate, maintaining a cleaner space. Wet baths, although compact, are appreciated for conserving space. A few respondents also express a preference for cassette toilets, as they simplify waste management compared to traditional black tanks.
Functional Uses: The walled bathroom often doubles as a storage area, with users hanging wet clothes, outdoor gear, or towels. This multi-functional use makes it particularly appealing for those who value efficient use of limited space in the camper.
3. Preference for Non-Walled Bathrooms or Minimalist Options
Space and Weight Savings: A smaller segment of respondents prefers non-walled or minimal bathroom setups, particularly in overland or pop-up campers, where weight and space efficiency are crucial. This group often values flexibility in space usage, noting that walls in such compact living quarters reduce usable space and increase weight.
Simplified Camping Experience: Some campers favor a minimalist approach, using portable or cassette toilets with privacy curtains. This setup allows them to maximize open space for other activities or storage, appealing to those who camp solo or prioritize mobility and off-road capability over comfort.
4. Age-Related Preferences
Older Respondents: Privacy and convenience of a walled bathroom are especially important to older respondents, who often require easy access during the night and avoid public restrooms. For many in this group, a traditional hard-sided camper with a walled bathroom is a necessity, allowing them to travel comfortably for extended periods.
Younger or Solo Travelers: Conversely, younger or solo travelers lean towards the flexibility of non-walled bathrooms, where privacy is less of a concern, and the emphasis is on maximizing space and minimizing setup time.
In Conclusion: A Marketplace In Balance
The results of our “Big Bathroom Question” reveal more than just bathroom preferences—they offer a window into the evolving landscape of truck camping itself.
Overall, bathroom preferences reflect individual and camping lifestyles. Traditional hard-side campers with walled bathrooms are popular among those who value privacy, convenience, and home-like amenities. Minimal overland bathroom setups appeal to those focused on lightweight, space-efficient, and more off-road-capable designs. The survey responses underline the importance of options in camper designs to accommodate varying needs for privacy, storage, and efficiency.
While there’s a sizable interest in the overland minimalist style, the data also suggests that most truck campers seek a comfortable, home-like experience. Truck camper manufacturers can look at this survey as a reminder that, for many, the call of the wild is best answered from a cozy, private, and well-equipped camper.
A Note of Caution, And the Real Trick
The fact that a truck camper is a traditional-style, hard side model with a walled bathroom does not guarantee marketplace success. Over the years we’ve seen dozens of truck campers that fit that description disappoint in sales.
To improve the chances of a new camper being a successful, we strongly recommend our 2024 Hard Side Camper Survey Results and 2024 Pop-Up Camper Survey Results. Both surveys present a much more comprehensive look at exactly what customers want in their next truck camper.
Following all of the above guarantees that you’ll be on target for the truck camper consumer, but even that doesn’t guarantee a new camper will succeed. The all-to-often missing ingredient? Excitement! If a new camper fails to truly excite the truck camper marketplace, it often fails to sell. The real trick is to hit all the marks, and then bring something unique and exciting to the marketplace.
Run This Survey
We welcome any other media or company to run this same exact survey with their readership or customer base. It would be fascinating—and deeply insightful—to see what other organizations receive as answers to this simple survey question.
PDF Reader Responses
If anyone has any doubt about the above conclusions or wants even deeper insights into the results, please click on the following PDF link and read the reader responses. They’re amazing.
Click here for a PDF of the written results.
