The Tischer is a premium model. There are some new versions by other manufacturers available in the UK for under £20,000. I got a 3 month old Izuzu pick up for £20,000 so it is possible to get a new demountable and nearly new truck for half of the price of this combination. My own camper was about 10 years old when we first got it and cost £8,000. We stuck it on a 10 year old truck costing £6,000 meaning we were on the road for around £14,000. Pulling the truck from beneath the camper takes no more than five minutes (but mine has electric legs and putting it back underneath takes around 15 minutes but does lead to a bit of marital discord occasionally. We use 4 five tonne ratchet straps instead of the steel turn buckles to fix it to the truck. Having a demountable leaves my towbar available for my boat and because the truck is useable while the camper is on site means that my wife isn't stuck on site while I'm sailing. Lack of space isn't an issue if you're tidy. We toured Shetland with two largish dogs for 3 weeks without any problems.
@@MinotaurUK We got a NorthStar 700DL as a second hand private purchase. We had to wait for months to find one that suited us and the drove 300 miles to collect it. Niche Marketing in Lincolnshire sell newly imported NorthStars. The demountable camper group website is updated nearly every day with UK and European campers for sale.
Thats the best comments, I seek to get the right idea what I am looking for. Just wandering how you manage to find such cheap units. I live in Austria and here is nothing to find, so I am looking up what is in Germany, but there is heavy advertising on the new stuff and I still can't find the right thing for my pocket.
They are popular in America. Pick up trucks are popular. People use them as their every day car. The detachable is kept in the driveway. When you are ready to go camping, attach it and off you go. Then it makes a lot of sense. It's about the price of a caravan and easier to drive. Some are huge, but they are designed to be mated with the Big Pickups, Ford E350 or E450. Then you end up with something almost as big as a Class C (they even have slideouts and dry baths), but detachable. Yes, the huge pick up will be used as their every day car.
These models are designed for European and Japanese trucks. They don't have the air con, slide outs, generators, build in bbq's, outdoor TV and gun racks that the yanks need to pull off their drive.
I know that European trucks are usually smaller. Which is why their detachables will be smaller too. Slide out and air con are possible even then. Interestingly, many US detachables don't have generators, a few good batteries will work for a weekend and they will plug into the truck if the air con is needed. No outdoor tv (get a Class C if you want that). And many of the racks are used for bikes, not guns. At least in my area.
Most who have pickup truck campers never bother to disconnect them. They keep the campers attached all of the time. Not much different than a camper van.
Great video and really good points.We got one in January. Absolutely brilliant. I find it better to put on without help or guidance, particularly now that I'm practiced in the line up (once you get it, you've got it) Yes, you do need to get it close, but you can fine tune when lowering if you're somewhere near. It takes me 20 to 25 mins to mount and about 15 to demount, which I'm okay with. Space wise, it's just me and my wife and we have enough room for everything for extended trips. We can also put stuff in the truck bed under the seats (walking gear & chairs), which is useful. I think the main downside is the price, and you need somewhere to store it. Overall, we're chuffed to bits with it & the uk demountable owners group is great. We also love having a hiluxb pickup/4x4 capability, which is my daily car. Cheers.
These are quite popular in Iceland. Pickups are popular there so that goes without saying, and secondly almost all of them are four wheel drive, allowing you to travel the gravel and mountain roads and river crossings.
I have one of the older Tischer 260 models, picked it up from France as they are hard to find 2nd hand in the U.K., just coming to the end of a full strip down and rebuild (videos coming soon) as it was in a poor state. I'm using my Isuzu D-Max Extra Cab which has a 1100kg payload, the unit weighs in at about 650kg dry, have fitted airbags on the truck to help with the load leveling etc. Going on a six week trip around France and Spain next month and will be doing videos on how things go... really enjoy your videos btw. Thanks.
If you like this, you will love the American style 'truck camper'. Some, like the 'Host Mammoth' are as big as a small flat. And, with electric camper jacks and 'Torklift Fast Guns', it's quick and easy. It can take less than 5 minutes to mount or demount the camper from the truck.
We met a single female traveller with a demo unstable/5th wheeler on North Uist and she said you had to be mindful of wind gusts once pitched so she had to attach the pickup a few times to stabilise it. She managed it really well by yourself and didn't take longer than hitching a caravan with practice! Great video Andrew. (Doggys on tour)
For those that are interested in seeing more "detachable" style campers, I recommend that you try searching for "truck bed campers" or "slide in truck campers" you will find mostly U.S or Australian vids, but there are alot of different styles, types, and sizes. 😁
I've always liked the look of these - thanks for doing a review of one this side of the pond. In answer to the 'why would you want one' question, it's one of the few ways of getting a proper 4x4 camper, now that most of the usual van manufacturers seem to have discontinued their 4x4 options (or made them so stupidly expensive as to be unaffordable). Granted, that's not an issue if you're only on roads and parking up at campsites, but if you need any sort of off-road capability, there are few options available.
One difference to a motor home you didn't mention is people who have these are unlikely to buy a pick up truck for this as they will already have one. I think this is for people who have a truck and would like to go camping. Contractors for example. I think the packaging is incredible.
We met a German couple 6 years ago at Delamere Forest with one of these. As you state it was a major issue getting it back onto the cab, once separated. And they had done it enough times. They had sustained a few scrapes on both the van and the car as a result. I think my anxieties about this would far outweigh the issues of towing a caravan. Thanks for the video Andrew. Rod.
I've been looking for a demountable camper top for a pickup in Thailand for years. As far as I can tell, there are none here. Good explanation and review.
I made a demountable for my D21 pickup in 1989 and used it awhile but I needed my truck for work . So I just brought a second hand Citroen relay van which was alot more useable as you could stand up inside . It was easy to drive and no-one could pinch my gear . I personally wouldn't waste my money on this new fancy stuff.
If it's demountable, then why wouldn't you be able to use your truck for work, since that would free it up? Check out some of the bigger demountables like Arctic Fox or Mammoth, which have slideouts that create huge interior space. Just imagine something that fits in a truck bed, yet it's like you're living in an apartment. ua-cam.com/video/W6mKMNSLVJs/v-deo.html
@@manofsan u have to have somewhere to put it while you use the truck . Space is something I don't have .Plus these companies didn't exist in 1989 UK and they are much more expensive than a tidy second hand van
Really interesting. I can imagine if you already have a pick up, this could be an option. Never seen one up close before, so thanks for showing us around.
Andrew, I can tell you why those cabins are not more popular. Simply, because Dougal is not included. Therefore, I have to keep looking for a better solution 😉 ... This said, they are not really unpopular. At the moment you will wait for two years, if you order one with Bimobil, not a 100% sure about Tischer, but I'd guess we are talking at least 18-21 month. Therefore, they are far too popular, if you ask me #wantone 😉 _cR P.S. So sad we didn't run into each other during the exhibition!
We do Andrew! Fifth wheel built in st Asaph Wales...beautiful , customisable, not cheap but really stunning. Agreed they are much bigger than this but same as a large caravan. These are perfect for 2 people but too small for more. They make a caravan too...worth a visit!
Nice to see the demountable up close, and see how they are attached. One important aspect you didn't comment on is that the pickup can be used as a working vehicle when not going on holiday. Also there would be a multitude of tradesmen and others that already have and use a suitable pickup, which in effect halves the purchase cost.
Most midsize trucks do not have the bed payload capacity to handle the truck camper. Many consumer think because they have a lot of towing capacity they truck can handle it - nope. Andrew weight + truck camper + stuff usually equals I'm too heavy and need a American Style 1/2 Ton truck. Something does not add up.
These models are designed for the European model Japanese trucks. My Isuzu has a load capacity of 1,200kg and the dry weight of my camper is around 800kg. Then you have to add the weight of water (we travel nearly empty unless wild camping), gas, food, beer and whatever junk we load in. I have added airbags the truck to give a better ride but it wasn't too bad without it.
Their is something for everyone out their, which is fab. You could get to some real nice places with that outfit dark sky’s an loads of stars or beach front on a Scottish Island also with stars lol. Love it 👌👍🏼🎩
Andrew,,hello, I know of an airline pilot, in North California, & found a larger truck mount, fits ,,his wife & 2 Children , I o o recall,,if his vehicle is a CREW CAB , or not , but he found it used I believe on CRAIGS LIST,,,a very well known well built unit. CHERIO, and hugs to Mr DUGGAN , when I discovered the VW ANORAK, it’s not sold in NA, , thinking of going over to buy a crew cab, with a cap, over the rear, it is a Clean diesel, o it can be registered here, ,, Cheers from NJ, USA
Hi Andrew, that's an up market demountable really quite nice except it's pricey I agree, we have them here in Aus but not half as nice, thanks for the share nice seeing something a little different
Hi Andrew and Dougal I think it would be useful as a very modern version of the tiny camper vans that you see. There is one here at Morvich. in the Highlands. Taking the dogs out on Dougals walk around the river amongst the amazing mountains and fantastic scenery. Best wishes to you both, and not forgetting Glynis Pamela
I guess that. .because it requires a certain type of carry vehicle in the UK it would be rather secure. However, 80k rather a steep price (all in of course) but another alternative to our camper caravan lifestyle. (I'm pretty certain though Dougal would stick to the airstream!) Great video as always and informative cheers
I don't know if they are there but if they are you should visit the Fiftyten stand. It's a German company that does pick-up conversions. They rebuild it as a flatbed, put a box on top of the flatbed and a rooftop tent on top of that. All the flexibility you need in a pick-up truck and great for camping and outdoor life.
It is more of a North American item, they are very popular here and they do not drop and go as you mentioned, more a leave on and go! Have never seen a drop and go in a Pitch or Campground!
I'm waiting for when they make it so you can crawl from the pickup straight into the topper...No going outside in case of emergency...Especially for solo women travelers who might be in danger...
I had one that you could do that, the truck had a sliding window, and so did the camper, usually the campers don't have a window big enough to crawl through, but this one did, it was an older one, made in 1970. 😁
Thanks for that vlog Andrew , very interesting info there , often see them and now I know much more about them , we had a simply enormous one at Ryan Bay a few weeks ago Euro something , I was totally amazed by it !!! HGV License would come in handy methinks .
I can see the appeal of truck campers in the states where they have so many opportunities to wild camp in off road spaces and desert, but not so sure about these in Europe. I guess thats why they've never taken off here
Beautiful unit. The problem with them in Australia once you get of the nice roads and in the out back the rough dirt roads destroy the truck. The G force snap the truck in 2. I really wanted to buy one and did a lot of research but unfortunately there not suited to the out back. Paul (Australia) great video, very professional.
I like the idea of these but with not enough storage space.. and they are crazy expensive.. why is the camper part 40k? You could buy 2 nice caravans for that!!
Need a big Ford F-150 or a Dodge Ram for them Our pick ups are like Matchbox versions in-comparison 🙃 A great idea, unbelievable space had a look at them on a recent trip to Canada 🇨🇦
These models are designed for European & Japanese trucks. The yanks need massive trucks because the have slide outs, generators, air conditioning, built in bbq's, outdoor TV's and god knows what else they need for a week on a fully serviced campsite.
Not knocking them They are fantastic 👍 We were looking at one to replace a trailer tent in Toronto a few weeks back. But No hiding the fact US trucks are wider have more wheelbase options, more power and higher payloads so can take a reasonable high centre of gravity. Load that demount on a typical EU pickup high narrow 4x4 chassis along with camping gear, water, fuel, gas, bikes, humans, Fiamma awning plus a large rear overhang it’s gonna be a handful on the road or even off road. One of those expedition type caravans things would be more suitable IMO, leaving the pick up bed empty for 1100kgs of Beer 🍺 👍 Or Gin 😂 It will suit some though Each to their own 👍
I suspect the American versions also get about 5-8 mpg ;-) A mid-sized diesel pickup sold in the UK will usually get around 30-40 mpg by comparison, so even if you accept that's going to drop somewhat by putting one of these on the back, you're still likely to be getting several times the fuel economy of the American variants...
@@tonysutton6559 WRONG idiot. We use them for boon docking mostly. Only peple with sub-room temp IQs think they are primarily for that type of camping.
Personally it all looks to top heavy!!! & not very safe with those hooks I can see these flying of on motorways were they have not been fixed down properly. Lastly I can see body shops very busy fixing the body's were people have miss judged the reversing 😬😬 I thought the van part more like 20-25k As always Andrew great video 👍
Mark Pullin- You are correct about them being top heavy. But they are very common in the U.S. and it is extremely rare for them to slide off the truck, even at speed on the "motorway". Body damage can occur over time just by hauling them, but it is usually confined to the bottom and interior of the truck bed, as far as causing damage while backing under the camper. It is possible but, You really have to be a complete "wanker" to do that. Have a great day! 😁
mark campbell Difference with the ones in us they hook on like a lorry trailer which would be a much better fixing This looks like more of a diy version. Still believe these do not look good or safe. Lot of money 💰
@@markpullinger7324 I have had several differant types of campers over the years, The ones that hook up like a "lorry" are called 5th wheels here in the U.S. I have had one, as well as one that hooks to a regular boat trailer hitch, and I have had severl types like what is shown on this site. Each have their pros and cons. I ended up building my own. It is similar to what is shown here, but the sides and top raises and lowers by electric lifts built into the camper, when it is lowered for travel it is only 25 centimeters higher than the roof of the truck. It is not much bigger than a truck bed "topper" when parked I can raise the roof up approx 1 meter so that inside I have a bit about 2 meters to stand in. This keeps the weight low when traveling, and total weight is around 680kg. Alot of choices for campers/caravans, depends on budget, and personal preference. But no matter what your preference is, It is just great to get away and do it! 😁 Thank you for your time and response. Have a great day.
mark campbell Thank you for that & true great to get away , I understand now yes the 5th wheel 👍 Would love to see your one you have built sounds very interesting & also as you have had different types would be great to have your true opinion of likes & dislike 🍻
This is very suitable for my county! First of all, Taiwan is small, secondly, people on this island country is really good at parking in very small spaces~ Thanks for introducing such a great camper!! Please say Hi to Dougal for me ^o^
An interesting concept and, as you say, it does in many ways offer the best of both worlds. However, I think For now we'll stick to our sub- £10k combination of 2010 Honda CR-V and 2007 Sterling Europa 520 😉
Interesting video, I always wondered how they went together. I can see some issues: 1. It might make the front end of the pickup a bit light 2. Zero storage in practical terms 3. You have to own/buy a pickup 4. A huge faff to hitch/release on less than perfect level surfaces 5. You cannot move from the camper zone to the drivers seat - you always have to get out. 6. MPG - not going to be great. 5 alone is a major problem and you may as well use a cheap car + an Eriba. I would. Then the cost - 2 x Globescout Plus or 2 x Clever campers + £10k to 'invest' on holiday.....!
Half of America owns a pick up truck... Or a large SUV derived from a pick up truck. These pickup truck campers are great for those who do not wish to tow. More of them than European styled camper vans.
To answer you points, 1. Yes but we added air suspension at the back to equalise it. 2. We went to Shetland for 3 weeks with 2 dogs and had no storage problems (and my wife doesn't travel light) 3. Yes but mine is my daily driver. 4. 5 minutes to release, 15 minutes to attach. Uneven surfaces are no problem unless you start parking where a traditional van would need doubled up leveling ramps. 5. I'm a lazy bastard but the 5 metre walk to the cab doesn't bother me. 6. I get 25-28 mpg with the camper mounted (my wife drives slower and gets a bit more). We get 40 mpg without the camper.
Do like them but can be a little top heavy so suspension has to be heavy guage, I know in the US a lot of folks their use a large rubber mat in the pickup to help stop the unit from sliding about which also protects the underside of the unit. :)
Great review. I’ve been building my own demountable and can’t wait to get the family out in it! The front eye bolts in the tub, are those going through the wheel well/arch ?
Interesting! We have a ton of these in the states, some w slide outs, some are amazing! But... please forgive me... do y’all have full size one ton or better pickups out there? With compact pickups w small beds... I’d be curious about the functionality. Also, was it just the camera angle/lens that made that drop down sink look freaking HUGE? Great video, please give Dougal a treat from us! 😎
Most of our pick-ups are the same size as a Nissan Frontier - small by US standards but big by Euro standards. But then I get 40mpg on a good day from my Nissan Navara (Frontier) which is pretty important when we pay so much for fuel!
Excellent video as always thanks. Possibly daft question time, but is this the same thing as a fifth wheel? I'm sure I've seen those in another of your videos (possibly one of the American ones or at another show) and it appeared they had a pin type connection to a gizmo mounted in the bed of the pick up similar to an artic truck which seems to me an easier way to attach/detach with less faffing about to attach/detach?!
I've owned one of these truck campers, they are really scary when you have them up in the air waiting to be loaded on the truck. If there is a wind it will rock back and forth. As well the ride if your truck goes to hell. It's like being on a boat in rough waters. Much better off with a trailer or motorhome
What does a Tischer camper weigh? It seems a lot of camper to put on a small pickup. In North America where truck campers (I love the term demountable) are popular, a small hard side camper with a bathroom and shower will usually weigh over a ton and require a 3/4 ton pickup or larger. Do they sell these in North America? I'd look at one if they did.
06:33 Looks like the tailgate needs to be removed completely. I take you leave that at home while on your holidays. I doubt people mount and dismount the unit frequently. Nice idea though.
bish2t - Easy to do on most pickups. Many people remove the tailgate and replace it with a mesh gate for the improved mileage. Or would that be better kilometerage for you across the pond people? 😁
Erin Thor nice idea Erin. I suppose the mesh replacement could easily fit inside the camper when driving and quickly taken outside when the camper is in use. I own a pickup and this idea is growing on me 😀
Am so tempted, so does the dealer so the necessary modifications to the truck? And am I right that only certain sizes of camper will fit on certain trucks?
Always look unwieldy to me, with today's technology you think that it would be possible to install a reversing camera in the pick-up bed to aid loading??
Is the insurance more or less than a regular camper or caravan. Most pickups are insured commercially for tax benefits and the demountable camper would be a private leisure insured item.
@@tonysutton6559 thanks for answering, security could be an issue without wheels or hitch to secure, surely they have some kind of item that could be locked on the front to stop a thief from backing under and taking it.
@@patrickeh696 thanks Patrick, in Ireland they have either private insurance or commercial and the insurance companies don't cover a commercial insured pick up for private or leisure without paying for a class 2 commericial policy on top (€€€) of a private policy.
Just too small and cramped for me. Also, not sure it would be in any way cheaper, you still have to pay for a powerful truck and the camper. I'd much rather just spend that on a van-based build, class B, and use that as the daily driver if need be. But of course other people have other priorities.
In America pickup truck campers are cheaper and smaller than towed campers. Although usually larger than camper vans, but not motor homes. Like towed campers vehicles can be purchased at a different time, such as after paying off the loan for a camper.
@@patrickeh696 No pickup truck is really tiny, and they still cost tens of thousands to buy if you buy new which significantly adds to the overall cost of the combo of truck + camper. Of course, if someone really needs a pickup truck for day to day living, and already has one, a camper like this would be much more attractive.
Hello Andrew, do you know a caravan / camper dedicated to toys? ie an example on my side to have an idea, i research a camper in which i could put a Quadski, a swincar e-spider and an Honday X-ADV
@@andrewjditton Thank you Andrew, yes i know the knaus, i wanted to have it at first some years ago but you have to put your bike outside if you want to sleep so not so good for security. Also, you can't put a Quadski, a swincar e-spider and an Honda X-ADV in there :)
The Tischer is a premium model. There are some new versions by other manufacturers available in the UK for under £20,000. I got a 3 month old Izuzu pick up for £20,000 so it is possible to get a new demountable and nearly new truck for half of the price of this combination. My own camper was about 10 years old when we first got it and cost £8,000. We stuck it on a 10 year old truck costing £6,000 meaning we were on the road for around £14,000.
Pulling the truck from beneath the camper takes no more than five minutes (but mine has electric legs and putting it back underneath takes around 15 minutes but does lead to a bit of marital discord occasionally. We use 4 five tonne ratchet straps instead of the steel turn buckles to fix it to the truck.
Having a demountable leaves my towbar available for my boat and because the truck is useable while the camper is on site means that my wife isn't stuck on site while I'm sailing.
Lack of space isn't an issue if you're tidy. We toured Shetland with two largish dogs for 3 weeks without any problems.
If you don't mind my asking, which one [camper] did you get, and did you find a UK dealer for them, or was it a private purchase?
@@MinotaurUK We got a NorthStar 700DL as a second hand private purchase. We had to wait for months to find one that suited us and the drove 300 miles to collect it.
Niche Marketing in Lincolnshire sell newly imported NorthStars.
The demountable camper group website is updated nearly every day with UK and European campers for sale.
Thats the best comments, I seek to get the right idea what I am looking for. Just wandering how you manage to find such cheap units. I live in Austria and here is nothing to find, so I am looking up what is in Germany, but there is heavy advertising on the new stuff and I still can't find the right thing for my pocket.
@@martinpetrov8322 look on Facebook on demountable campers group sales. Richard lists just about every used camper sale in Europe.
@@tonysutton6559 thank you, I found him. There are really a great number of offers.
They are popular in America. Pick up trucks are popular. People use them as their every day car. The detachable is kept in the driveway. When you are ready to go camping, attach it and off you go. Then it makes a lot of sense. It's about the price of a caravan and easier to drive. Some are huge, but they are designed to be mated with the Big Pickups, Ford E350 or E450. Then you end up with something almost as big as a Class C (they even have slideouts and dry baths), but detachable. Yes, the huge pick up will be used as their every day car.
These models are designed for European and Japanese trucks. They don't have the air con, slide outs, generators, build in bbq's, outdoor TV and gun racks that the yanks need to pull off their drive.
I know that European trucks are usually smaller. Which is why their detachables will be smaller too. Slide out and air con are possible even then. Interestingly, many US detachables don't have generators, a few good batteries will work for a weekend and they will plug into the truck if the air con is needed. No outdoor tv (get a Class C if you want that). And many of the racks are used for bikes, not guns. At least in my area.
@@tonysutton6559 Look Pa, another euro-moron.
@@LisaMarli Don't mind Tony. It is a frequent Euro-troll on these channels.
I like truck campers, but I can't ever seeing myself being able to back up a truck UNDER one.
Kisses to Dougal!! He is so patient.
Most who have pickup truck campers never bother to disconnect them. They keep the campers attached all of the time. Not much different than a camper van.
Great video and really good points.We got one in January. Absolutely brilliant. I find it better to put on without help or guidance, particularly now that I'm practiced in the line up (once you get it, you've got it) Yes, you do need to get it close, but you can fine tune when lowering if you're somewhere near. It takes me 20 to 25 mins to mount and about 15 to demount, which I'm okay with. Space wise, it's just me and my wife and we have enough room for everything for extended trips. We can also put stuff in the truck bed under the seats (walking gear & chairs), which is useful. I think the main downside is the price, and you need somewhere to store it. Overall, we're chuffed to bits with it & the uk demountable owners group is great. We also love having a hiluxb pickup/4x4 capability, which is my daily car. Cheers.
Good stuff! Thanks for sharing your 'real world' experience - will be useful to folks seriously considering one of these. All the best.
These are quite popular in Iceland. Pickups are popular there so that goes without saying, and secondly almost all of them are four wheel drive, allowing you to travel the gravel and mountain roads and river crossings.
I have one of the older Tischer 260 models, picked it up from France as they are hard to find 2nd hand in the U.K., just coming to the end of a full strip down and rebuild (videos coming soon) as it was in a poor state. I'm using my Isuzu D-Max Extra Cab which has a 1100kg payload, the unit weighs in at about 650kg dry, have fitted airbags on the truck to help with the load leveling etc. Going on a six week trip around France and Spain next month and will be doing videos on how things go... really enjoy your videos btw. Thanks.
Nice one! Please keep me posted when you launch the vids.
Great for 2 people and if you have a pickup all ready then it’s ideal.
If you like this, you will love the American style 'truck camper'. Some, like the 'Host Mammoth' are as big as a small flat. And, with electric camper jacks and 'Torklift Fast Guns', it's quick and easy. It can take less than 5 minutes to mount or demount the camper from the truck.
We met a single female traveller with a demo unstable/5th wheeler on North Uist and she said you had to be mindful of wind gusts once pitched so she had to attach the pickup a few times to stabilise it. She managed it really well by yourself and didn't take longer than hitching a caravan with practice! Great video Andrew. (Doggys on tour)
Demountable - damn you autocorrect!!
For those that are interested in seeing more "detachable" style campers, I recommend that you try searching for "truck bed campers" or "slide in truck campers" you will find mostly U.S or Australian vids, but there are alot of different styles, types, and sizes.
😁
Love all your reviews Andrew. Always informative and very professional, but more Importantly, personal. We feel we are right there with you.
Cheers Nigel!
I've always liked the look of these - thanks for doing a review of one this side of the pond. In answer to the 'why would you want one' question, it's one of the few ways of getting a proper 4x4 camper, now that most of the usual van manufacturers seem to have discontinued their 4x4 options (or made them so stupidly expensive as to be unaffordable). Granted, that's not an issue if you're only on roads and parking up at campsites, but if you need any sort of off-road capability, there are few options available.
One difference to a motor home you didn't mention is people who have these are unlikely to buy a pick up truck for this as they will already have one. I think this is for people who have a truck and would like to go camping. Contractors for example. I think the packaging is incredible.
We met a German couple 6 years ago at Delamere Forest with one of these. As you state it was a major issue getting it back onto the cab, once separated. And they had done it enough times. They had sustained a few scrapes on both the van and the car as a result. I think my anxieties about this would far outweigh the issues of towing a caravan. Thanks for the video Andrew. Rod.
use some cardboard to protect against scrapes?
I've been looking for a demountable camper top for a pickup in Thailand for years. As far as I can tell, there are none here. Good explanation and review.
Interesting concept and Dougals most ecstatic reaction can’t be clearer 👍
I appreciate your honest review about it. Not a lot of people would do that.
I made a demountable for my D21 pickup in 1989 and used it awhile but I needed my truck for work . So I just brought a second hand Citroen relay van which was alot more useable as you could stand up inside . It was easy to drive and no-one could pinch my gear . I personally wouldn't waste my money on this new fancy stuff.
If it's demountable, then why wouldn't you be able to use your truck for work, since that would free it up? Check out some of the bigger demountables like Arctic Fox or Mammoth, which have slideouts that create huge interior space. Just imagine something that fits in a truck bed, yet it's like you're living in an apartment. ua-cam.com/video/W6mKMNSLVJs/v-deo.html
@@manofsan u have to have somewhere to put it while you use the truck . Space is something I don't have .Plus these companies didn't exist in 1989 UK and they are much more expensive than a tidy second hand van
Thanks Andrew. Ahhh, the good old truck camper. This one is very nice for s small truck.
Always nice to see something a bit different...cheers for the look around!!!
Really interesting. I can imagine if you already have a pick up, this could be an option. Never seen one up close before, so thanks for showing us around.
Im afraid its not doing it for me but I would definitely like to order a Dougal please. ;-)
Sorry, we're right out of stock of Dougals at the moment... ;@)
Andrew, I can tell you why those cabins are not more popular. Simply, because Dougal is not included. Therefore, I have to keep looking for a better solution 😉 ... This said, they are not really unpopular. At the moment you will wait for two years, if you order one with Bimobil, not a 100% sure about Tischer, but I'd guess we are talking at least 18-21 month. Therefore, they are far too popular, if you ask me #wantone 😉 _cR P.S. So sad we didn't run into each other during the exhibition!
We do Andrew! Fifth wheel built in st Asaph Wales...beautiful , customisable, not cheap but really stunning. Agreed they are much bigger than this but same as a large caravan. These are perfect for 2 people but too small for more.
They make a caravan too...worth a visit!
Nice to see the demountable up close, and see how they are attached. One important aspect you didn't comment on is that the pickup can be used as a working vehicle when not going on holiday. Also there would be a multitude of tradesmen and others that already have and use a suitable pickup, which in effect halves the purchase cost.
Most midsize trucks do not have the bed payload capacity to handle the truck camper. Many consumer think because they have a lot of towing capacity they truck can handle it - nope.
Andrew weight + truck camper + stuff usually equals I'm too heavy and need a American Style 1/2 Ton truck. Something does not add up.
These models are designed for the European model Japanese trucks.
My Isuzu has a load capacity of 1,200kg and the dry weight of my camper is around 800kg. Then you have to add the weight of water (we travel nearly empty unless wild camping), gas, food, beer and whatever junk we load in.
I have added airbags the truck to give a better ride but it wasn't too bad without it.
Yes they do 😀
Drove one in Canada for about 4 weeks ...... loved it .
Drives like a motorhome , no sweat Of
Sorry , wasn't finished yet....
If you have the space to park it , it's easy to mount it and go .
Compact and complete for a Nice weekend.
Their is something for everyone out their, which is fab. You could get to some real nice places with that outfit dark sky’s an loads of stars or beach front on a Scottish Island also with stars lol. Love it 👌👍🏼🎩
Cheers Lee!
Love the idea of one of these if I only had the budget, thanks for showing us Andrew.
Pickup bed RV's are just about the least expensive way to go shy of a tent. They even make them w slide outs! LOL!
Looks a great product. I think if I was sat at the table then might struggle to get a total of 4 people in. 😂😂. 👍👍
We call it a "camper shell" That's a beauty! Send me a Dougal please. :)
Andrew,,hello, I know of an airline pilot, in North California, & found a larger truck mount, fits ,,his wife & 2 Children , I o o recall,,if his vehicle is a CREW CAB , or not , but he found it used I believe on CRAIGS LIST,,,a very well known well built unit. CHERIO, and hugs to Mr DUGGAN , when I discovered the VW ANORAK, it’s not sold in NA, , thinking of going over to buy a crew cab, with a cap, over the rear, it is a Clean diesel, o it can be registered here, ,, Cheers from NJ, USA
I’ve seen a few of them around sites, thanks for look inside and all the info 😊
Hi Andrew, that's an up market demountable really quite nice except it's pricey I agree, we have them here in Aus but not half as nice, thanks for the share nice seeing something a little different
Hi Andrew and Dougal I think it would be useful as a very modern version of the tiny camper vans that you see. There is one here at Morvich. in the Highlands. Taking the dogs out on Dougals walk around the river amongst the amazing mountains and fantastic scenery. Best wishes to you both, and not forgetting Glynis Pamela
MORVICH! Big love :)
A lot of hardship for something small ,great vlog😃👍🏻
The pickup truck camper come like trailers and vans at different prices in America.
I guess that. .because it requires a certain type of carry vehicle in the UK it would be rather secure. However, 80k rather a steep price (all in of course) but another alternative to our camper caravan lifestyle. (I'm pretty certain though Dougal would stick to the airstream!) Great video as always and informative cheers
This is a premium model, you can get a new camper and truck for under £45,000 (and you don't need a second car).
Definitely a premium product. .and a viable alternative to the norm. think it's got a marmite appeal lol
I don't know if they are there but if they are you should visit the Fiftyten stand. It's a German company that does pick-up conversions. They rebuild it as a flatbed, put a box on top of the flatbed and a rooftop tent on top of that. All the flexibility you need in a pick-up truck and great for camping and outdoor life.
Missed it! Next time...
Great for two people love the idea, should watch grizzly’n’bear in their land rover 130 with a camper on going around Asia
It is more of a North American item, they are very popular here and they do not drop and go as you mentioned, more a leave on and go! Have never seen a drop and go in a Pitch or Campground!
I'm waiting for when they make it so you can crawl from the pickup straight into the topper...No going outside in case of emergency...Especially for solo women travelers who might be in danger...
I had one that you could do that, the truck had a sliding window, and so did the camper, usually the campers don't have a window big enough to crawl through, but this one did, it was an older one, made in 1970.
😁
@@sidewyndersshed1676 you can always customize that now and have bucket seats instead of a bench seat
I love it!!! I want to get some of those camper!!!! But i can't!!!!!
Thanks for that vlog Andrew , very interesting info there , often see them and now I know much more about them , we had a simply enormous one at Ryan Bay a few weeks ago Euro something , I was totally amazed by it !!! HGV License would come in handy methinks .
Brilliant Andrew, thank you, thats really informative, cheers.
Glad you enjoyed it
I can see the appeal of truck campers in the states where they have so many opportunities to wild camp in off road spaces and desert, but not so sure about these in Europe. I guess thats why they've never taken off here
Dougal is a pretty practical terrier and he says that costs way too many dog bones
Beautiful unit. The problem with them in Australia once you get of the nice roads and in the out back the rough dirt roads destroy the truck. The G force snap the truck in 2. I really wanted to buy one and did a lot of research but unfortunately there not suited to the out back.
Paul (Australia) great video, very professional.
Very interesting Paul, cheers!
I like the idea of these but with not enough storage space.. and they are crazy expensive.. why is the camper part 40k? You could buy 2 nice caravans for that!!
40k wow! I thought it'd be cheapish like 5k max lol!
Need a big Ford F-150 or a Dodge Ram for them
Our pick ups are like Matchbox versions in-comparison 🙃
A great idea, unbelievable space had a look at them on a recent trip to Canada 🇨🇦
These models are designed for European & Japanese trucks. The yanks need massive trucks because the have slide outs, generators, air conditioning, built in bbq's, outdoor TV's and god knows what else they need for a week on a fully serviced campsite.
Not knocking them
They are fantastic 👍
We were looking at one to replace a trailer tent in Toronto a few weeks back.
But No hiding the fact
US trucks are wider have more wheelbase options, more power and higher payloads so can take a reasonable high centre of gravity.
Load that demount on a typical EU pickup high narrow 4x4 chassis along with camping gear, water, fuel, gas, bikes, humans, Fiamma awning plus a large rear overhang it’s gonna be a handful on the road or even off road.
One of those expedition type caravans things would be more suitable IMO, leaving the pick up bed empty for 1100kgs of Beer
🍺 👍
Or Gin 😂
It will suit some though
Each to their own 👍
I suspect the American versions also get about 5-8 mpg ;-)
A mid-sized diesel pickup sold in the UK will usually get around 30-40 mpg by comparison, so even if you accept that's going to drop somewhat by putting one of these on the back, you're still likely to be getting several times the fuel economy of the American variants...
@@tonysutton6559 WRONG idiot. We use them for boon docking mostly. Only peple with sub-room temp IQs think they are primarily for that type of camping.
@@MinotaurUK Wrong Chris. Please educate yourself beyond the level of a 5year old.
These have had these for years in the state
very expensive way to get a ball ache !! seen a few around sites but not many - i can now see why! great review though sir👍
Personally it all looks to top heavy!!!
& not very safe with those hooks I can see these flying of on motorways were they have not been fixed down properly.
Lastly I can see body shops very busy fixing the body's were people have miss judged the reversing 😬😬
I thought the van part more like 20-25k
As always Andrew great video 👍
And I have seen many trailers becoming unhooked passing their towing vehicle too...
Mark Pullin-
You are correct about them being top heavy.
But they are very common in the U.S. and it is extremely rare for them to slide off the truck, even at speed on the "motorway".
Body damage can occur over time just by hauling them, but it is usually confined to the bottom and interior of the truck bed, as far as causing damage while backing under the camper. It is possible but, You really have to be a complete "wanker" to do that.
Have a great day! 😁
mark campbell
Difference with the ones in us they hook on like a lorry trailer which would be a much better fixing
This looks like more of a diy version.
Still believe these do not look good or safe.
Lot of money 💰
@@markpullinger7324
I have had several differant types of campers over the years, The ones that hook up like a "lorry" are called 5th wheels here in the U.S. I have had one, as well as one that hooks to a regular boat trailer hitch, and I have had severl types like what is shown on this site. Each have their pros and cons.
I ended up building my own. It is similar to what is shown here, but the sides and top raises and lowers by electric lifts built into the camper, when it is lowered for travel it is only 25 centimeters higher than the roof of the truck. It is not much bigger than a truck bed "topper" when parked I can raise the roof up approx 1 meter so that inside I have a bit about 2 meters to stand in. This keeps the weight low when traveling, and total weight is around 680kg.
Alot of choices for campers/caravans, depends on budget, and personal preference. But no matter what your preference is, It is just great to get away and do it! 😁
Thank you for your time and response. Have a great day.
mark campbell
Thank you for that & true great to get away ,
I understand now yes the 5th wheel 👍
Would love to see your one you have built sounds very interesting & also as you have had different types would be great to have your true opinion of likes & dislike
🍻
This is very suitable for my county! First of all, Taiwan is small, secondly, people on this island country is really good at parking in very small spaces~ Thanks for introducing such a great camper!! Please say Hi to Dougal for me ^o^
An interesting concept and, as you say, it does in many ways offer the best of both worlds. However, I think For now we'll stick to our sub- £10k combination of 2010 Honda CR-V and 2007 Sterling Europa 520 😉
Interesting video, I always wondered how they went together.
I can see some issues:
1. It might make the front end of the pickup a bit light
2. Zero storage in practical terms
3. You have to own/buy a pickup
4. A huge faff to hitch/release on less than perfect level surfaces
5. You cannot move from the camper zone to the drivers seat - you always have to get out.
6. MPG - not going to be great.
5 alone is a major problem and you may as well use a cheap car + an Eriba. I would.
Then the cost - 2 x Globescout Plus or 2 x Clever campers + £10k to 'invest' on holiday.....!
Half of America owns a pick up truck... Or a large SUV derived from a pick up truck. These pickup truck campers are great for those who do not wish to tow. More of them than European styled camper vans.
Horses for courses!
To answer you points,
1. Yes but we added air suspension at the back to equalise it.
2. We went to Shetland for 3 weeks with 2 dogs and had no storage problems (and my wife doesn't travel light)
3. Yes but mine is my daily driver.
4. 5 minutes to release, 15 minutes to attach. Uneven surfaces are no problem unless you start parking where a traditional van would need doubled up leveling ramps.
5. I'm a lazy bastard but the 5 metre walk to the cab doesn't bother me.
6. I get 25-28 mpg with the camper mounted (my wife drives slower and gets a bit more). We get 40 mpg without the camper.
FYI in Australia they are called 'Slide ons' which I think better express what they do.
Almost the same in the U.S., we call them "slide in" truck bed camper. Most likely because most pickups in the U.S are not flatbeds.😁
I think Google said he would like a detachable👍😁🇬🇧
Thanks for such an informative video. Interesting to weigh up the pros and cons.
Glad it was helpful!
Do like them but can be a little top heavy so suspension has to be heavy guage, I know in the US a lot of folks their use a large rubber mat in the pickup to help stop the unit from sliding about which also protects the underside of the unit. :)
I've fitted air suspension.
I have a tischer with my Isuzu, and I am happy. 😀🇫🇷
Great review. I’ve been building my own demountable and can’t wait to get the family out in it!
The front eye bolts in the tub, are those going through the wheel well/arch ?
Thanks, think you've explained why you very rarely see them demounted on site. Looks like a lot of faffing about.
Nice little unit , but for 80,000 euros I can buy four caravans and four towing cars. Maybe that's why their not selling in the UK
Exactly.
For 80,000 euros you can buy more then one hundred tents and one hundred backpacks. There will still be some cash for footwear.
Interesting video Andrew, don’t like the product, cramped and I think it’s ugly, but hey if we all liked the same things life would be pretty boring.
Here in Australia we call them "slide ons' and we don't have 'pick ups', we have utes
We have these "slideons" in Australia that fit onto the back of a ute (similar to a pickup) but they are not as popular as in the USA
Its a pity the Isuzu tech is about ten years out of date but they don’t mention that do they.
Interesting! We have a ton of these in the states, some w slide outs, some are amazing! But... please forgive me... do y’all have full size one ton or better pickups out there? With compact pickups w small beds... I’d be curious about the functionality. Also, was it just the camera angle/lens that made that drop down sink look freaking HUGE? Great video, please give Dougal a treat from us! 😎
Most of our pick-ups are the same size as a Nissan Frontier - small by US standards but big by Euro standards. But then I get 40mpg on a good day from my Nissan Navara (Frontier) which is pretty important when we pay so much for fuel!
Andrew Ditton - Excellent mileage indeed! Diesel?
Now I see why there aren’t that many about, I’ve seen 3 or 4 in 20 years. A fifth wheel is so much better and with all the benefits
Perfect rv
Just the messing around with the Turnbuckles alone would cause me to not want to drop and go!
I use 5 tonne ratchet straps. It takes abot 30 seconds for each corner.
Быстро благодарности за меня!! Понятие . Устали речь много хватит вопросы!!
Can we have some focus, please, Andrew?
Wow, that sink is the size of a small bath.
I look better in soft focus.
Andrew Ditton Actually, that’s what Dougal said...
Excellent video as always thanks. Possibly daft question time, but is this the same thing as a fifth wheel? I'm sure I've seen those in another of your videos (possibly one of the American ones or at another show) and it appeared they had a pin type connection to a gizmo mounted in the bed of the pick up similar to an artic truck which seems to me an easier way to attach/detach with less faffing about to attach/detach?!
No, these are different to 5th wheels. I think I know what I need to try and review next!
looks like doggy did a doo doo at 6.46....😊
thank you
Hi Andrew very interesting.shame about the backing up of the pickup to attach the body as you said looks a bit of a faff.thanks for sharing
I've owned one of these truck campers, they are really scary when you have them up in the air waiting to be loaded on the truck. If there is a wind it will rock back and forth. As well the ride if your truck goes to hell. It's like being on a boat in rough waters. Much better off with a trailer or motorhome
Плачу! . Очень понравиться машину все удобно набор!! Ильмира! Привет всем!!
What does a Tischer camper weigh? It seems a lot of camper to put on a small pickup. In North America where truck campers (I love the term demountable) are popular, a small hard side camper with a bathroom and shower will usually weigh over a ton and require a 3/4 ton pickup or larger. Do they sell these in North America? I'd look at one if they did.
I’ll take one if I get a Douglas with it!
NO!!!!! ;@)
👍👍👍👍👍👍
06:33 Looks like the tailgate needs to be removed completely. I take you leave that at home while on your holidays. I doubt people mount and dismount the unit frequently. Nice idea though.
bish2t - Easy to do on most pickups. Many people remove the tailgate and replace it with a mesh gate for the improved mileage. Or would that be better kilometerage for you across the pond people? 😁
Erin Thor nice idea Erin. I suppose the mesh replacement could easily fit inside the camper when driving and quickly taken outside when the camper is in use. I own a pickup and this idea is growing on me 😀
bish2t the pluses are camping almost anywhere. The minuses are weight, low storage, low payload, and not a lot of holding tank capacity.
"Why are they not more popular"
Because we Europeans don't use pickups like Americans.
Maltbrew I have a Nissan Navara pickup in the UK, but don't think I would like attaching it to it. I have seen a few demountables in the UK too.
Trucks are very popular particularly for the self employed who lose the vat.
I noticed WAY fewer pick-ups in Germany than in the UK, probably because of that reason.
Interesting to look at. Have you put up a 5th Wheel video too?
Kathleen Henson I have seen a few on the roads of the UK. Pickup truck is used again.
No, not yet. I'll have to go see the guys in North Wales!
Am so tempted, so does the dealer so the necessary modifications to the truck?
And am I right that only certain sizes of camper will fit on certain trucks?
When will this be available here in the states…?
AMAZING!
Always look unwieldy to me, with today's technology you think that it would be possible to install a reversing camera in the pick-up bed to aid loading??
Good idea Alan - I'm sure that can be done.
Some people do, but it's easy are the first few attempts.
Andrew Ditton , hello, my car has a sat type back up system which works ok,
Is the insurance more or less than a regular camper or caravan. Most pickups are insured commercially for tax benefits and the demountable camper would be a private leisure insured item.
My camper is about £150 with the CC&C. They won't give me a discount for fitted wheel locks because I have no wheels to nick.
In the USA no additional insurance is required.
@@tonysutton6559 thanks for answering, security could be an issue without wheels or hitch to secure, surely they have some kind of item that could be locked on the front to stop a thief from backing under and taking it.
@@patrickeh696 thanks Patrick, in Ireland they have either private insurance or commercial and the insurance companies don't cover a commercial insured pick up for private or leisure without paying for a class 2 commericial policy on top (€€€) of a private policy.
@@paulwest6262 Sucks to live in an over regulated country.
Just too small and cramped for me. Also, not sure it would be in any way cheaper, you still have to pay for a powerful truck and the camper. I'd much rather just spend that on a van-based build, class B, and use that as the daily driver if need be. But of course other people have other priorities.
In America pickup truck campers are cheaper and smaller than towed campers. Although usually larger than camper vans, but not motor homes. Like towed campers vehicles can be purchased at a different time, such as after paying off the loan for a camper.
No Croft, these use TINY pick-up trucks
@@patrickeh696 No pickup truck is really tiny, and they still cost tens of thousands to buy if you buy new which significantly adds to the overall cost of the combo of truck + camper. Of course, if someone really needs a pickup truck for day to day living, and already has one, a camper like this would be much more attractive.
Jadooooooore
It's called a box camper
@6:46 is that what Dougal thought of it? 😁
Oh my! I know what it looks like... but it can't be, or I would have smelt it!
Anything there that's impressive ?
Like a 3-storey motorhome on a 7.5 tonne chassis with extending sides and matching trailer garage for the car ? ;)
U could just let air out ur tyres . Then re flate after you pull out
Check out the Demountable Camper Group UK for more info.
demountablecampergroup.com
I'm not getting notification of your videos 😕
GRR!
@@andrewjditton lndeed 😊
Do they have truck campers for full size 8 foot trucks
Hello Andrew, do you know a caravan / camper dedicated to toys? ie an example on my side to have an idea, i research a camper in which i could put a Quadski, a swincar e-spider and an Honday X-ADV
In the UK I would check out the Knaus Deseo Transport, or the TripBuddy Anywhere. Good luck!
@@andrewjditton Thank you Andrew, yes i know the knaus, i wanted to have it at first some years ago but you have to put your bike outside if you want to sleep so not so good for security. Also, you can't put a Quadski, a swincar e-spider and an Honda X-ADV in there :)