Instagram would have you believe that every twenty-something-year-old should quit their job, buy a shitty van and live a nomadic lifestyle full of wanderlust and minimalism. While the #VanLife sounds appealing you don’t have to give up your entire life to pursue epic experiences. What you do need though is an awesome adventure vehicle.

Some people take those beat-down hippie vans and turn them into masterpieces with craftsmanship and luxury. Others buy toy haulers with enough room to house their neighborhood which is pulled by their 6-wheel, 6-figure F350. Some people are perfectly content camping out of the back of their Subaru with nothing but a blanket and their dogs to keep them warm.  It really doesn’t matter what your adventure vehicle looks like. What matters is, does it serve your purpose?

If you are looking for a camping setup that maximizes your ability to go anywhere on a whim the camper shell conversion is something you want to consider.

Why a Camper Shell?

There are a ton of options when it comes to outdoor recreational vehicles. Travel Trailers, 5th wheels, pop-ups Jeeps, etc… All have advantages and disadvantages. When deciding if a camper shell would accomplish what I wanted I looked at all the different ways I could safely live and sleep outdoors while exploring the most amount of nature in the shortest amount of time.

Tent Camping vs Camper Shell

I love tent camping. I grew up doing it in Washington and there is a real simplicity to camping under the stars. What I don’t love is being eaten by bears or hypothermia. Both possibilities when camping in Idaho where I now spend most of my time. Yes, you can take all the precautions to prevent both scenarios. But wouldn’t you sleep better knowing you’re protected by an insulated, hard-sided camper shell?

RV/ Travel Trailer vs Camper Shell

I will admit I was a bit hesitant to camp in a travel trailer for the first time. I viewed sleeping in a tent as rugged and tough. The “Glamper” seemed like something for wimps and city slickers. But after hiking 10 miles up a mountain and back in 100-degree weather, I told my ego to shut-up and enjoyed the air-conditioned luxury of our Jayco. The problem with trailers and RV’s though is their size. Even the smaller ones create limitations on what parks and campgrounds you can stay at. Plus it takes time to get everything hitched and ready. Although I own a travel trailer I wanted even more freedom to go anywhere at a moments notice.

Researching a Shell

If you’re following my train of thought and are seriously considering going the camper shell route, it’s time to do some research.

First, Where Can You Get A Camper Shell?

Maybe I was naive, but I figured I could get one from a dealership. They sold me a truck so they should be able to get me parts for my truck right? Wrong, to get a new camper shell you have to find a place that sells custom truck parts. A quick google search will point you in the right direction. Or visit the two big camper shell dealers websites, Leer and ARE. They both have dealer locators.

What Model of Camper Shell Should I Get?

Don’t focus on brand. In fact, you may not even have a choice depending on the make, model and year of your truck. Place your attention on features. This is what I would recommend looking for:

Extra Headroom

You don’t want to feel like your sleeping in a coffin, do you?

Side Windoors

Look into the availability of Windoors. These are windows on the sides that both slide open for ventilation and completely open up. It’s a pain to have to climb from the tailgate to the front of your camper to reach things. The Windoors allow you to quickly grab what you need without having to even get into the truck bed.

Roof Liner

Make sure the inside of the shell is lined. This insulation is critical for chilly nights.

My Setup

After doing hours and hours of research I finally decided to go with a Leer 180. It gave me a little extra headroom without making my truck look too goofy from the outside. I also opted for the Windoors on both sides which proved their usefulness right away when designing my setup. I was also able to get a free headliner using a coupon printed off Leer’s website.

Click here to continue on to Part 2 for how to design your camper shell setup.

Don’t want to miss out? Follow us on Twitter and Facebook

Chad Albright

Chad can be summed up by his idea of a perfect day: Waking up early to watch the sunrise over the mountains, warm cup of coffee in hand then grabbing his camera and fly rod, hitting the trail to explore some uncharted territory followed by cold beers and campfire steaks. Chad is often joined on his adventures by his wife, Tori, and their dog, Kona.