We had so much Expo fun choosing between an Alaskan 8.5 slide-in in Rugged Grey and an Alaskan 8.5 flatbed in Classic White. Here’s the match-up. Get ready to rumble!
When we started Truck Camper Magazine way back in 2007, flatbed truck camper setups were almost unheard of. Heck, back then, the word overland was just that—a word. Now, flatbeds are everywhere, and Overland gets capitalized as a marketplace phenomenon. Things have changed!
Above: A classic Alaskan slide-in with its front pop-up walls down for ventilation
It was nimble and forward-leaning companies like Alaskan Campers that took flatbed truck campers from obscurity to ready to order. In fact, Alaskan brought two Alaskan 8.5 truck campers to Overland Expo—one slide-in in Rugged Grey, and the other flatbed in Classic White. And you thought the decision was only between slide-in versus flatbed. Nope. You get to pick a color, too.
Above: An Alaskan flatbed with passenger side entry
The amazing thing is how different these two campers are inside. Yes, the cabover bedroom is essentially identical and you can option in a cassette toilet in both, but everything beyond that is a whole new deal.
Above: The optional hidden Alaskan cassette toilet and inset shower pan in the flatbed model
From a macro perspective, the slide-in has a rear entry and a forward face-to-face dinette (pictured below). This is a classic Alaskan configuration honed and finessed since the 1950s.
Above and below: The interior of the slide-in Alaskan
Does it work? Oh yes, it does, and how. If you want to know what an Alaskan is all about, start here. Of course, Alaskan has infused modern technology and systems into this old school meets modern day icon. If there’s a modern Alaskan that triggers nostalgia, this is it.
Above and below: The interior of the flatbed Alaskan
The flatbed has a side entry and rear face-to-face dinette (pictured above). This is not your grandpa’s Alaskan Camper. While it has the classic Alaskan vibes, this camper is big and open in ways the folks attending the 1960’s Alaskan truck camper rallies couldn’t have dreamed of.
You get more floor space, more storage, and more windows. Then again, you’ll need more truck, and you lose a bit of that classic Alaskan look.
At Overland Expo PNW, we had some fun deciding which we would choose. Ultimately, the flatbed won us over for its space and storage. And we would order it in Classic White with the Sitka interior. Isn’t it fun just to think about these things? Take that Alaskan to Alaska for the summer, and Baja in the winter. One can dream.
It was a real treat to see the slide-in and flatbed side-by-side. This is the kind of opportunity you can get at the factory, or an Overland Expo, or if you can – catch Alaskan’s pop-up tours.
Folks, the photos of Alaskan Campers do not do them justice. You have to see one in person to truly get it. There’s a reason Alaskan Campers have been in production since the mid-1950s. Like a Criss Craft boat, or a Rolex watch, they’re the real thing.
For more information on Alaskan Campers, visit their website at alaskancampers.com. Click here to request an Alaskan brochure.
