What it is
A pickup camper uses the pickup's payload rather than its towing capacity, which is a completely different calculation. A 2,600 kg camper in a half-ton pickup needs about 2,600 kg of payload plus passengers — an order most half-tons cannot deliver.
Why people choose it
Its strength is the outdoor lifestyle. You sleep in a small footprint but eat and relax outside, and the vehicle stays short and nimble. It is the classic setup for hunting, fishing and green lanes.
What to check before you buy
Check the fit precisely: bed length, tailgate clearance, and whether the camper's centre of gravity sits behind the pickup's rear axle line, which is where handling gets ugly.