THE FORGOTTEN RV Living large in the back of a truck

Although it may lack the full-time livability and Insta-glam chic of #vanlife, there is another type of mobile lifestyle option for those of us who can’t afford a souped-up motorhome. Much smaller and infinitely cheaper than a loaded Sprinter or restored Airstream, the venerable old-school truck cap is for getting back to basics.

Known by many names, the basic cap is easy to find (both new and used), simple to install, extremely drivable, and very low maintenance—no appliances to fail, no tires/brakes/axles to keep in order, no separate registration or insurance, and no storage fees to deal with when not in use. They’ve been around since the ’50s, with DIY jobs and small regional manufacturers giving way to a handful of mainstream titans (Leer, ARE and Snugtop, to name a few) that dominate the industry today.

While its popularity peaked in the ’60s and ’70s, the basic truck-top camper is still found on roads from coast to coast.