Truck campers, also known as slide-in campers, are a popular way to enjoy the great outdoors, but before you can use one, you need to know if you have to take the tailgate off for installation. The answer depends on the type of truck camper you are using and the type of truck it is being mounted on.
The first step in determining if you need to remove the tailgate is to determine what type of camper you have. Generally speaking, there are two types of truck campers: hard-shell and soft-shell.
Hard-shell campers are made of a more durable material than soft-shell campers and are typically more expensive. They often require that the tailgate be removed in order for them to fit properly. Soft-shell campers, on the other hand, may not require that the tailgate be taken off as they are much smaller and lighter than hard-shell campers.
The next factor that determines whether or not you need to take the tailgate off is what type of truck your camper is being mounted on. If your camper will be mounted on a pickup truck with a long bed, then it’s likely that you won’t have to remove the tailgate as most long beds have enough room for a camper without taking it off. However, if your camper will be mounted on a short bed pickup truck or an SUV with a short bed, then it’s likely that you will need to remove the tailgate in order for your camper to fit properly.
Finally, another factor that affects whether or not you need to take off your tailgate is how much clearance is between your camper and vehicle when installed. Depending on how tall your camper is and how high your vehicle sits when loaded with camping gear, it may be necessary to remove some or all of your tailgate in order for everything to fit correctly.
Conclusion:
In summary, whether or not you have to take off your truck’s tailgate for installation of a truck camper depends on several factors such as what type of camper and vehicle it’s being mounted on as well as how much clearance there is between them when installed. It’s best practice to check these details ahead of time so that you can plan accordingly.
