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Anybody have recommendations for a hard sided truck camper?

Original Post
Sam Root · · Boise, ID · Joined Mar 2016 · Points: 122

Well in another life I did the whole van life thing and that saga came to an end. A van doesn't fit my needs when it comes to backcountry snow and ice driving. I'm looking to re enter some sort more durable option. I'm not rich and famous so a 4x4 Sprinter is out of the question. Has anybody used a Scout model truck camper? Or does anybody have suggestions for another slide in? I'm limited to hard sided because I'm planning on a big season of ice climbing. I'd love any input!

Frank Stein · · Picayune, MS · Joined Feb 2012 · Points: 205

If you want to be fully off-road capable, look into a bolt-on as opposed to a slide-in. They are just as roomy, less expensive and weigh one-quarter of what an equivalent slide-in does. Fourwheel Project M comes to mind, and AT Overland also makes one. 

Glowering · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Oct 2011 · Points: 16

Budget?

Whatever you get look for the winter or sub zero package. Extra insulation, better heater, etc that’s cheaper to get included than add on.

My buddy added a propane boat heater in his Lance. It doesn’t use a fan so it doesn’t use battery power.

If you don’t need a bathroom it opens up the options a lot for a light weight camper.

I had a Lance and did some pretty serious 4x4ing with an F250 with added springs, etc. No problems for the truck or camper. It’s just tall and top heavy.

The biggest drawback of a truck camper is its top heavy and of course thats worse on a 4x4. Also not aerodynamic. So I’d usually keep it to 59 mph for safety and mpg. 

Frank Stein · · Picayune, MS · Joined Feb 2012 · Points: 205

So, I just looked at the Scout that you mentioned. It does look like a really nice camper. Here is a comparison between a basic Scout and a basic Project M for a 6’ Tacoma, which have similar floor plans. The scout does come with solar, a battery and a storage cubby. Project M has a roof fan. They both have track lights.

Design: Project M=bolt-on fiberglass with aluminum skeleton and a vinyl pop-up;  Scout=fully hard-sided fiberglass slide-in with aluminum skeleton. 

weight: Project M=377 lbs; Scout=875 lbs

price: Project M=less than $11k; Scout=Little over $22k  

The pop-up type campers should be slightly more aero, as you can drop the roof. Still, at 75 mph, my Tacoma lost at least 5 mpg with one of these  

We have been comfortable in our camper in temps down to 12 degrees using a mid-size Mr. Buddy heater and open roof vent, and I do not use the available winter insulation kit. 

Zachary Ott · · Minneapolis, MN · Joined Sep 2016 · Points: 0

In the same realm as AT Overland and 4WC's Project M, other options are Oru, Hiatus, Topo Toppers, Super Pacific, Snap! Treehouse.

Other styles are Ovrlnd and Alucab.

You can find Vagabond Outdoor campers on the used marketplace and they are well built, but the company is now out of business.

Sam Root · · Boise, ID · Joined Mar 2016 · Points: 122

Thanks for all the replies. Sorry for not including some pertinent details. I'm looking to put this on a 6.5ft Tundra, so payload is a bit of an issue. Ideally keep dry weight under 1500lbs. So something like the mentioned Lance wouldn't work.

My question on a project M (I've looked into these before). How are you guys building out your truck bed? I'm looking to have a solar setup and a heater (likely propane) and sink/water. I do have a lot of interest in the project M and those other pop ups, but do you guys have photos of your truck bed builds?

Frank Stein · · Picayune, MS · Joined Feb 2012 · Points: 205

I have a very basic build. Two benches running along each side of the bed, a large slide-out bed platform, track lights, and a roof fan. I built an additional bench/shelf under the bed platform. We use a Mr. Buddy heater, and separate Goal Zero battery and solar panels. The heater and battery easily stow away under the benches. It works well for us, but we also never spent more than three weeks on the road. 

Glowering · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Oct 2011 · Points: 16

(dad's soap box) I suggest slowing down in a pickup (especially with a camper), van, or suv. I cruise 75 mph in my car, but drive about 65 mph in my truck unless I'm on a long rural stretch of highway with low traffic. There's tons of videos on youtube where a little car just taps a truck/suv on the highway and the truck rolls over because they are top heavy and the little car is fine. I drive up to ski a lot in the winter when it's snowing for powder days and see a truck/suv rolled over or in the ditch every other trip. I did a double roll over in a Ford Explorer years ago and wasn't even going that fast, just had to swerve to avoid another vehicle, those were flawed trucks, but still. I've driven with others in SUVs after that and now I can tell how much it takes to roll and many people have no idea how close they come to rolling over when they are making a sharp turn. (/dad's soap box) 

https://www.youtube.com/shorts/hvRwJZd2l2A

Erik Harz · · Soda Springs, CA · Joined Jan 2010 · Points: 35

If you do decide to go for a nicer hardsided camper, I'd look at a NuCamp Cirrus 620, they are pricey but have that Alde radiant floor heating system with an outside shower.  They just came out last year I think. I saw somebody is selling one in Mammoth:

https://reno.craigslist.org/tro/d/mammoth-lakes-lets-go-camping/7670355221.html

I've been in a couple scout campers and I was having a hard time understanding the cost for the limited build out you get inside. I'm in a F-150 with a go fast camper. I also do the Mr. Buddy thing to take the edge off the early morning / right before bed. Only used it for light duty overnight ice climbing trips and spring splitboarding on the Sierra Eastside.

Mark Webster · · Tacoma · Joined Nov 2008 · Points: 235

Depends on the amount of luxury you are looking for. Everything is a compromise but I feel like I have the ideal setup, and it is on a Tundra like yours, though mine is an 8 foot bed.

It's basically a bare bones plumbers canopy. I had it custom built in 6 weeks for $3000 and it weighs 100 pounds...or so they told me. It's lined with a thin felt that is glued to the inside of the aluminum skin. I've camped in 15 degree weather at Indian Creek and Joshua Tree though I do carry a minus 40 degree sleeping bag. And I've occasionally used a Buddy heater inside when my wife comes along. 

My DIY bed platform is 6 foot, which leaves me two feet of clear space in which I can put a chair and the heater. It's very cozy inside with the heater...but we rarely use it. We cook outside on the tail gate or picnic table. I see a lot of people camping and climbing with much heavier, more expensive and elaborate rigs. It seems that young people like a lot more luxury than I did at that age. And while that's fine, there is a price to pay in weight, size, clearance, top heavy issues...not to mention loan payments.

My climbing buddies at the Creek last April were unable to cross the rivers in their Sprinters. This led to me loading up my Tundra with 9 dirtbags - 5 in the front, 4 in the back to get across the river to crags like Way Rambo...twas a great way to meet new friends. Nothing like a bow wave above the hood. Full speed ahead Captain!

Here is a photo of my DIY bed platform which easily supported 4 climbers. I can remove it in half an hour:

I wrote a blog post about my version 2 bed platform with more photos and details.

Steven Sutin · · Vancouver, BC · Joined Apr 2019 · Points: 50

Northern Lite 6-10, Bigfoot 6-11, or a Somerset

All are hard sided fiberglass campers designed for smaller trucks

Zachary Ott · · Minneapolis, MN · Joined Sep 2016 · Points: 0
Sam Root wrote:

Thanks for all the replies. Sorry for not including some pertinent details. I'm looking to put this on a 6.5ft Tundra, so payload is a bit of an issue. Ideally keep dry weight under 1500lbs. So something like the mentioned Lance wouldn't work.

My question on a project M (I've looked into these before). How are you guys building out your truck bed? I'm looking to have a solar setup and a heater (likely propane) and sink/water. I do have a lot of interest in the project M and those other pop ups, but do you guys have photos of your truck bed builds?

Most the companies I listed make versions for Tundras since most were designed for Tacomas due to popularity, and less than 500lbs (i think AluCab is heavier though).

Solar setups can either be bought through the companies if buying new or DIY pretty reasonably. Lot of people are using diesel heaters. TacomaWorld and various Facebook groups are great for looking at builds.

I'm doing a more barebone build in my Vagabond so I can continue to fit plenty of crashpads in the back.

Guideline #1: Don't be a jerk.

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