Every summer, Regula and Daniel fly over from Switzerland, pick up their Ford F-350 and Rugged Mountain 11RL, and explore North America to their heart’s content. Here’s how they do it, and what they’ve discovered. Don’t miss these Swiss!
The thought of traveling overseas and exploring a new country or continent with the freedom and flexibility of truck camping is a dream we’ve explored many times. To illustrate this vision, we’ve interviewed dozens of fellow truck campers over the years who have driven, shipped, rented, or even bought rigs on foreign soil and shared their adventures with us. Curious what it’s like to go truck camping in South America, Africa, Australia, and beyond? Grab your passport, and check out our See The World section. Bon Voyage!
Ironically, perhaps the best place to go truck camping on the planet is North America. People from all corners of the globe see the incredible rigs we have, marvel at our seemingly endless roads and destinations, and want to come here and go truck camping. It makes perfect sense since we are also excited about the rigs, roads and destinations available to us. Make no mistake about it. Living in North America is to live in truck camping paradise.
Which brings us to Regula and Daniel from Switzerland. After an exciting trip to Canada with a rental truck camper, they got the truck camping itch. And that itch wasn’t going to be scratched by another type of RV, or one more trip. These two wanted their own truck and camper, and the opportunity to come back to North America every summer and go for as long and as far as they wanted. Sound familiar?
What follows is a fun and inspiring story of how Regula and Daniel fell in love with truck camping and all the possibilities it offers throughout Canada and the United States. Their path to truck and camper ownership was a bit more complex than most of us go through, but the payoff has been life-changing. And their travel recommendations added a few roads and destinations to our bucket list. Get your list now.
Regula and Daniel in Bella Coola, British Columbia
How did you guys get into truck camping?
Back in 2009, we rented our first truck camper and accompanied our best friends on a three-week camping trip on the East Coast. During that experience, we both fell in love with camping in North America. We returned in 2011 and 2016 for extended trips. In 2023, we decided to get our own truck and camper and continue our summer travels in North America.
Why did you decide to get a truck camper for that first trip?
Our first trip was inspired by the Swiss belief that truck campers are ideal for Canada. Renting a Bigfoot truck camper confirmed our passion, and subsequent extended trips solidified our preference for hard side truck campers that have a bedroom and a kitchen that are separated by a mid dry bath. We also liked having a truck because it allows us to go more places.
Regula and Daniel’s rig in Lilooet, British Columbia
We met fellow long-term travelers from Europe during our trips. Some were not familiar with camping and struggled with the available space. We think that renting for an extended period is a good idea before you buy. You get to know if you like truck campers, and if you can cope with the space. We think truck campers have plenty of space because our living room is the outdoors.
“We think that renting for an extended period is a good idea before you buy. You get to know if you like truck campers, and if you can cope with the space. We think truck campers have plenty of space because our living room is the outdoors.”
How did you end up with a Rugged Mountain Granite 11RL?
We knew exactly what we wanted and started extended research on the internet in 2020. That is also when we came across Truck Camper Magazine and subscribed. Your magazine boosted our knowledge. We learned about Rugged Mountain, and that they sell factory-direct. Direct contact with Jesse, Anca and Karina was a major plus. Daniel’s heart as an entrepreneur was beating faster when we learned the story of Rugged Mountain RV.
So, ultimately, we flew to Vancouver in 2023 for two months, rented a car and did a grand tour of camper dealers on our way south to Boise, Idaho. After getting to know various models and finally visiting the Rugged Mountain factory, we met Jesse and the crew, and ordered a custom-built Granite 11RL. We purchased a matching Ford F-350 dually to ensure enough payload. Our camper, affectionately called “Blum’s Chischtli” (“small flower’s box”), is now licensed and stored near Vancouver for our annual adventures.
Pickup day! Pictured from left to right are Karina, Daniel, Regula, Anca and Jesse Collinsworth
That sounds perfect. What kinds of places do you like to visit?
We enjoy exploring national, provincial, state and territorial parks. We like to go hiking, biking, kayaking and wildlife viewing. We want to learn about nature, people, communities, towns and history. We love campfires. We also write and illustrate a travel blog for our friends and family.
Regula and Daniel’s rig in Denali National Park
What do you use for your travel blog?
We use the European app Find Penguins to track and illustrate our journeys.
Have you modified your truck or camper to better suit your needs?
Since our camper was custom-built for us, modifications weren’t needed. We chose all of the interior details like our floor, countertop, fabrics, backsplash tiles and bright green cushions. We wanted a square ceramic sink in the bathroom, so Jesse put one in for us.
When we went to pick up the camper, Jesse recommended camping at the factory for a couple of days, which we did. This was a great idea and we recommend it to everyone. We got to know some dos and don’ts like don’t pull your jacks in too much or they’ll get stuck.
How did you pick and order your F-350?
We consulted TCM’s How to Match a Truck and Camper article and learned that we would need a one-ton dually. We also knew that we wanted to buy and license the truck in British Columbia because we have a good friend there who could help us. We ordered the truck in person in 2023, so it was ready for us the next spring.
The Ford F-350 and Rugged Mountain R11 separated at camp
You must have been so excited when you got your truck and camper together. Where did you go that year?
We started in Idaho, tested the camper on private campgrounds, boondocking along the Snake River and went to some Harvest Hosts. We have also been to some beautiful places in British Columbia and finally made our way to the Northwest Territories in 2024.
Regula and Daniel’s Harvest Hosts site in Caldwell, Idaho
We love Harvest Hosts! What was the Northwest Territories like? That’s an area we haven’t explored yet.
The Northwest Territories are very remote. You meet more bison than people. On the Ingraham Trail, it felt especially remote, and we always felt welcomed by the locals, who said they were happy to have visitors. We saw lots of wildlife and went on hikes and kayaking trips. At Prelude Lake near Yellowknife, we kayaked almost every day for two weeks. Yellowknife surprised us with its vibrant summer culture, street festivals, and concerts.
Daniel is at a campsite at Prelude Lake along the Ingraham Trail
From Fort Simpson, we flew into Nahanni National Park, which you can only reach by plane, boat, or a multi-day hike. We spent a whole day flightseeing in this amazing, untouched park, surrounded by pristine lakes, dramatic mountains, and wild rivers. The park’s remoteness and natural beauty left a lasting impression on us. It truly felt like one of the last great wildernesses.
That’s going on our bucket list. When do you plan your trips?
We always have North America on our minds. Daniel usually does the planning while I am busy with work in Switzerland during the winter. This past summer, we went to Alaska to meet Daniel’s brother to fish at Cooper Landing. So that gave us the direction and the timing.
Homer Spit, Alaska
During the remaining time in Alaska, we planned as we went, adjusting to the weather and taking recommendations from locals. That’s how we ended up exploring a dead-end road along the Cook Inlet.
Captain Cook State Park, Alaska
We call those local recommendations road magic because of the amazing things they can lead to. What’s the appeal of dead-end roads?
We love dead-end roads! They add a twist to our travels, and we often meet interesting people. We always want to see what’s at the end, even if it’s nothing special.
“We love dead-end roads! They add a twist to our travels, and we often meet interesting people. We always want to see what’s at the end, even if it’s nothing special.”
In Alaska, we expected it to be very wild and remote, but found well-developed roads and cell service almost everywhere. It was less rugged than we imagined, but the nature—glaciers, mountains, fjords, and wildlife—were breathtaking.
The Yukon, on the other hand, was much wilder and more remote. Driving the Dempster Highway to Tuktoyaktuk at the Arctic Ocean was unbelievable, and it was another dead-end road. In most of the Yukon, we had no cell service at all.
The Northern Lights along the Dempster Highway
How do you fly in, pick up your camper, and go?
Our camper is fully equipped and stored just outside Vancouver, British Columbia. We bring most of our clothing back and forth with us, and of course, we clear out all food before we leave, so mice aren’t tempted.
Regula and Daniel’s Rugged Mountain R11 hibernating for the winter
Upon arrival, we move in, do maintenance, and stock up on supplies. We carry mountain bikes on the hitch of our camper. That required a fairly long welded hitch extension so that we can easily get in and out without removing the bikes.
Mountain bike hitch with hitch extension
Where would you recommend other truck campers visit?
Top recommendations include Bella Coola and Carpenter Lake near Gold Bridge in British Columbia.
We also enjoyed the Dempster Highway in Yukon and the Northwest Territories, the Ingraham Trail and Nahanni National Park in the Northwest Territories, and Portage and Captain Cook State Park in Alaska. All are fairly remote, and have amazing nature, wildlife and scenery.
A black bear spotted alongside the Rugged Mountain Granite 11RL in Alaska
What do your friends and family in Switzerland think of your camper and your North American adventures?
Reactions vary. Some are excited, some are envious, and some struggle with the lifestyle. We’ve also made new friends with similar lifestyles on the road and stay close to family and other good friends, something that is made easier by technology like Starlink. My mom is 82 and a traveler herself. She loves what we’re doing but hates that we’re gone for six months of the year.
Denali National Park
What’s the plan for 2026?
We plan to visit friends in Saskatchewan, traveling from British Columbia through Alberta, and may also explore Washington, Montana, and Idaho, and even visit Rugged Mountain— the journey itself is the goal.
Regula with the historical Arctic Ocean sign in Tuktoyaktuk, Canada
Do you think you’ll ever ship your rig to Switzerland?
No. Our rig is too large for Europe and is intended solely for our North American adventures. When we stop traveling, we will sell it locally.
In the fall, when we go back to Switzerland, we enjoy seeing family and friends again. Then we look forward to our next summer in North America. Traveling can be tiring because you are constantly planning, and you need to get in tune with different environments. We have a good balance.
That does sound like an ideal balance. Any parting advice for someone who might want to follow in our footsteps?
Assembling a truck and camper in North America was a bit of a process. Our top recommendation is to do thorough research, find people to help with buying a truck and camper, and research the required taxes and insurance. Make sure you find storage early to give you peace of mind, and expect some unexpected challenges, as some processes are simply different from where you live. We’ve learned that when you’re in a different country, it’s best to do as the locals do. Don’t compare everything to home. Embrace the differences and find what works for you.
“We’ve learned that when you’re in a different country, it’s best to do as the locals do. Don’t compare everything to home. Embrace the differences and find what works for you.”
Regula and Daniel’s Rig
Truck: 2023 F-350 XLT crew cab, 4×4 dually, gas, long bed
Camper: 2024 Rugged Mountain Granite 11 RL
Tie-Downs and Turnbuckles: Torklift
