Sunset Park RV debuts four hard side, non-slide, aluminum-framed, all-composite, and vacuum-bonded truck campers for mid-size and full-size trucks. The Sun Trek 800 is a stand out—the lightest dry bath on the market!
As a product category, truck campers must remain affordable and accessible to the next generation of outdoor recreation enthusiasts, water-sports and off-road toy towing enthusiasts, and go-anywhere, camp-anywhere explorers.
This means developing and offering lightweight, payload-appropriate truck campers for practical half-ton and midsize trucks. It means keeping campers simple by avoiding costly features and equipment that drive up prices without adding meaningful value for many buyers. And most of all, it means staying focused on the first-time buyer, their budgets, and real-world requirements.
If we fail in this mission, the truck camper segment will struggle to attract enough new buyers to sustain long-term growth. The future health, relevance, and viability of the marketplace depend on keeping truck camper ownership within reach of the next generation of adventurers.
Fortunately, companies like Sunset Park RV are entering the market with a range of new models that speak directly to this marketplace need. Sun Trek’s four model line-up starts with a basic hard side, non-slide, non-bath, mid-size unit and goes up to a hard side, non-slide, full-size, dry bath flagship. Each Sun Trek model focuses on different camper niches offering compelling size, weight, and price entry points.
Of the four Sun Trek models, the Model 800 instantly stood out to us. There are currently fourteen other hard-side, non-slide, dry bath truck campers in our Buyers Guide. None of them are anywhere near as light as the Sun Trek 800. Nine-feet, mid-bath, dry bath at 2,263 pounds dry base weight? Forget about it. And the 800’s dry bath isn’t small. It’s a full-size beast.
We interviewed Merle Schmucker, President and Founder of Sunset Park RV. The more we learned about Merle, the more the Sun Trek line made perfect sense. Why is Sun Trek laser focused on being all-composite, aluminum-framed, vacuum-bonded, lightweight and affordable? That’s Merle’s vision, but that’s not all he’s focused on. As you’re about to read, Sun Trek is a brand to watch.
For the floor plans and specifications for the Sun Trek 800, 700, 600, and 550, scroll to the bottom of this article. Click here for a Sun Trek camper brochure.
The Sun Trek 700 on a Ford F-350. Photos taken at Trailer World of Colorado.
As the legend goes, you started a construction company in Florida at the age of seventeen. What’s the story behind you becoming an entrepreneur at such a young age?
I’ve always wanted to work and do my own thing. I got my first job when I was thirteen years old, but my parents kept the money. By age fourteen, I had three jobs and two side hustles. I kept the side hustle money.
Around 2001, I worked for an RV manufacturer for about a year before the RV market took a sharp dip. After that, I became a swing guy on different construction crews—basically filling in wherever help was needed. Then my uncle, who worked in construction in Florida, called and said, “I could use you here in a few weeks.” I booked a one-way ticket, went to Florida, and helped my uncle for about two to three months. That’s where I met my future wife.
After that, I started working independently in construction. That began with a year in Indiana, then working in Florida during the winter months. Of course, nobody in Florida wanted to give a seventeen-year-old work, so I started pounding on doors and picking up roofing and subcontract work wherever I could. That’s what led to starting my own construction business at a young age.
While I was in Florida, my father-in-law knew a guy who did work in gated communities with big homes. I decided that’s what I wanted to do. I found out who was building these homes and talking to them about subcontract work.
One builder had 100 homes in process with around forty that didn’t have contractors. At first they told me they didn’t need anyone. I looked young, so they weren’t sure about me. I called again Monday morning and they sent me to work on an 8,000 square foot house. I thought I was going to start with a small house, but the concrete was already done and the project needed to move forward.
Once I finished that first house, I had no issue getting work. Builders kept asking who did the work on the 8,000 square foot house. Before long, I was working on multi-million dollar homes with custom features, domes, and unique interior finish work. Eventually, it got to the point where most of what I did was interior finish work on larger homes. The projects became easier as my reputation grew.
That’s an amazing story. What pulled you away from your Florida construction business to move home and start Sunset Park RV?
After we got married, my wife told me she wasn’t raising kids in Florida. She wanted to raise our children in Indiana. For a while, she would travel to Indiana for four or five months in the summer, and I’d fly back and forth between Florida and Indiana on the weekends.
I was in Indiana when I ran into an old friend from school at Menards. He said, “You need to come out and see what I’m doing. We started an RV manufacturer.” I went to see it, got involved, and within about nine months I owned 25 percent of the company.
When I started working with them, I quickly realized the company wasn’t being handled correctly. I told the owners I would either take over operations and put more money into the business, or I would step away and do my own thing.
They asked me to run the company, but after spending a few days in the office, I realized I wanted to start something of my own.
So we agreed that I would sign a non-compete in exchange for a structured buyout. By the second payment, they couldn’t make the payments, and shortly after that, the company went out of business. Because of the non-compete, I couldn’t build the same type of RVs they were building. That ultimately led me to found Sunset Park RV, taking a different approach and starting a new company.
Sunset Park RV is known as an independent manufacturer of travel trailers. What motivated you to expand into the truck camper market?
We built truck campers in 2010 for about eighteen months, along with travel trailers. At the time, the travel trailer side of the business was growing quickly, and producing both created operational challenges on our production line. I would have needed another building to continue truck camper production. In 2010, I made the decision to stop building truck campers and focus on travel trailers.
From there, the company became more stable and continued to grow. Even so, I always wanted to return to building truck campers. I knew that when we did, we would need a separate production line and dedicated space. Over time I began preparing for that.
In October of 2024, I purchased the old Riverside RV location. Shortly before that acquisition, I brought back a former employee who had run production and later worked at Forest River. With him back on the team, we developed a prototype truck camper. That became his full-time focus and we launched truck camper production at the old Riverside location.
“Consumer and dealer feedback plays a major role in our product development.”
Your travel trailer designs are focused on small, lightweight, entry-level units. Is that the same niche you’re focusing on for Sun Trek truck campers?
Yes, but with a focus on all-composite construction. When we come up with a new floor plan, I try to make it lighter and better than what’s currently on the market, with more storage and better options. With our travel trailers, we are among the lightest, and that’s the same approach we want to take with Sun Trek truck campers.
Regional Sales Manager, Josh Treat, is on the road in a Sun Trek truck camper. He and his wife are camping in that camper gathering real-world feedback, and talking to dealers. Consumer and dealer feedback plays a major role in our product development. With our travel trailer line, we’ve had tremendous success listening to customers and dealers and making changes from that feedback. We’re taking that same approach to how we develop our truck campers.
Josh’s road trip with a Sun Trek 800
Sunset Park RV touts its Amish production team and craftsmanship as a driving force. Are the Sun Trek truck campers Amish made?
There are Amish in both of our plants, but we’re not all Amish. We hire anyone with a good work ethic. The Amish are raised learning farming or construction skills, so we hire as many as we can.
Talk to us about Sun Trek core construction including materials, framing, and lamination.
Sun Trek truck campers are 100 percent aluminum-framed and vacuum-bonded using all-composite materials. Everything except our interior cabinetry is made from composite materials.
To be clear, the floor, walls, roof and the entire truck camper structure is wood-free and all-composite. This helps us achieve our lightweight goal. We are continuously looking for ways to make our products lighter without compromising structural integrity.
For our models with flush toilets—the Sun Trek 700 and 800—we built-in the ability to drop the underbelly to access the tanks and plumbing in the basement. If you ever have an issue in that area, you can literally drop the underbelly and swap out tanks or directly repair the plumbing.
“For our models with flush toilets—the Sun Trek 700 and 800—we built-in the ability to drop the underbelly to access the tanks and plumbing in the basement.”
That is a fantastic idea and I wish we had that feature on our personal camper. How much of Sun Trek production is in-house?
We do almost everything in-house, especially after experiencing the shortages during the pandemic. We work with Superior Products to get electrical components, appliances, refrigerators, 7-way power cords, and other items. We then pass all that savings on to our dealers and customers.
Sun Trek currently has four hard side non-slide truck campers; 550, 600, 700, and 800. How do you approach truck camper design?
We use AutoCAD and SolidWorks for product development, but we rely more on SolidWorks because the 3D capabilities are better. I’m a very visual person, and in SolidWorks I can look at the design, move things around, add drawers, and make changes before we build.
In addition, we also build physical prototypes. I’ll share my ideas with the team, and they’ll start putting something together. Then I’ll go out, look at it, and take it apart and put it back together. Our Sun Trek 800 truck camper was developed that way. Our engineers and production teams sometimes want to choke me, but that’s part of the process.
Do Sun Trek campers use internal or external tie-down and turnbuckle systems?
Our 550 and 600 models have internal ratchet straps. We don’t recommend internal ratchet straps on the 700 and 800 because the camper is too big.
All of our truck campers also have detachable jack brackets. You pull a pin and the jack comes off. Those are standard.
The cabover in the Sun Trek 700 is north-south
Are the cabovers east-west or north-south on the four Sun Trek models?
It depends on how long the floor length is. If the floor length is under seven-feet, the cabover is east-west. If it’s over seven-feet, it’s north-south.
The cabover in the Sun Trek 600 is east-west
What make and model of windows are standard on Sun Trek campers?
I originally looked into importing windows from overseas, but found a manufacturer here in Indiana. They’re tinted acrylic thermal pane windows that are made for us.
Tinted acrylic thermal pane windows on Sun Trek campers
What furnace and water heater did you select for Sun Trek truck campers?
That’s one component area where we don’t directly import. We use Dometic six-gallon water heaters and furnaces on all of our models.
I considered using tankless water heaters, but they’re more prone to freezing. Small amounts of trapped water in the heat exchanger and internal lines can freeze, expand, and crack components. Traditional RV tank water heaters, like the Dometic model we use, are less susceptible because they hold a larger volume of water in a single tank, which freezes more slowly.
The 7.7 cubic foot refrigerator in the Sun Trek 800
What refrigerator did you choose for your truck campers?
We import our own line of 12-volt compressor refrigerators under the name Superior Products. The Sun Trek 550 has a 3.3 cubic foot refrigerator, the 600 and the 700 have a 4.4 cubic foot refrigerator, and the 800 has a 7.7 cubic foot refrigerator with a 10.7 cubic foot option.
Sun Trek campers come standard with 190-watts of solar
How much solar is standard on Sun Trek campers?
At this time, 190-watts of solar is standard. There will be developments on that front moving forward.
What is the standard battery setup on the Sun Trek 550, 600, 700, and 800?
Batteries are not standard on our campers, but all four models can fit two Group 27 batteries. The 800 will fit two Group 31 batteries. Again, there will be some important developments on that front in the near future.
What size are the propane tanks on the four models?
The 550 does not have a propane option. It’s all-electric with an electric fireplace and the option for a diesel heater. The 600, 700 and 800 have one 20 pound vertical propane tank.
Talk to us about the fresh, grey, and black tank capacities.
We wanted larger tanks than our competition, so we designed four models with holding capacities equal to or greater than others in their size class. By creating our own tank molds, we’re able to maximize every available space. We essentially fill every square inch of our basement with holding tanks.
The cassette toilet in the Sun Trek 600
The 550 has 15 gallons fresh, no grey, and a porta-potty for black. The 600 has 21 gallons fresh, no grey, and 4 gallons of black (cassette toilet).
Wet bath in the Sun Trek 700
The 700 has 36 gallons fresh, 38 gallons grey, and 15 gallons of black. And the 800 has 36 gallons fresh, 38 gallons grey, and 15 gallons of black.
Dry bath in the Sun Trek 800
That’s impressive. Are there any available options for the Sun Trek truck camper line?
We intentionally keep the options for the Sun Trek truck camper line limited to maintain simplicity, weight savings, and affordability. Not everyone wants every feature, so items like the microwave are optional, and buyers can also choose to upgrade from manual jacks to electric jacks.
Beyond that, available options include items such as roof air conditioning, awnings, and upgraded ventilation fans, along with a few model-specific features depending on the floor plan. The goal is to offer the essentials and a handful of practical upgrades, allowing customers to configure the camper for how they camp without adding unnecessary cost, complexity or weight.
The smallest Sun Trek is the 550 at 1,018 pounds dry
What is base dry weight for the Sun Trek 550, 600, 700, and 800?
The dry weight for the Sun Trek 800 is 2,263 pounds, the Sun Trek 700 is 1,758 pounds, the Sun Trek 600 is 1,188 pounds, and the Sun Trek 550 is 1,018 pounds.
The biggest Sun Trek is the 800 at 2,263 pounds dry
Sunset Park RV sells through a nationwide dealer network. How many of those dealers offer Sun Trek truck campers at this time?
We currently have fewer Sun Trek truck camper dealers compared to our travel trailer lines, which leaves a significant amount of open territory. We’re actively looking to expand our dealer network for the Sun Trek line. Josh Treat is the primary contact for interested dealers.
What is the base MSRP for the Sun Trek 550, 600, 700, and 800?
Base MSRP starts at $32,050 for the Sun Trek 550, $35,221 for the Sun Trek 600, $41,246 for the Sun Trek 700, and $44,397 for the Sun Trek 800.
What is the Sunset Park RV warranty for Sun Trek truck campers?
We have a one year structural warranty. Appliances have their own warranties.
Will we see additional Sun Trek truck camper models to debut in 2026—maybe at the Elkhart RV Open House this September?
Yes. We will have an all-new truck camper targeting one-ton trucks at the Elkhart RV Open House in September. And we might have a few new and highly innovative features not currently available in the truck camper marketplace.
Now you’re talking. In early 2023, Sunset Park RV launched the Volt travel trailer with a 48-volt electrical system, a 400 Ah lithium battery, a 1,155-watt solar panel array. Are you considering a Volt version for the Sun Trek models?
That’s a good possibility.
Amish homes are not connected to the electrical grid. That stated, if you walked into my shop or house, you wouldn’t know the difference. We have lights and power just like any other home. The difference is we run entirely off solar. Not many people realize that the Amish are experts in solar, electrical, and battery systems. We’re using that expertise to push Sunset Park RV—including Sun Trek truck campers—ahead of the competition.
On a lighter note, what’s the story behind the Pet Camp? And would you consider making a truck camper version?
Pet Camp is something we put on our Facebook page and there were people who have asked us to build a Sun Trek version. They’re legit. Our team member, Johnny, builds them in his garage. And yes, we’ll build a Sun Trek truck camper version.
Is there anything else about Sunset Park RV or the Sun Trek truck camper line that you’d like people to know?
We are looking to build out our dealer base. I urge dealers to look into our sales statistics. We’ve had highly competitive numbers straight through the downturns. Our products are also exceptionally competitive on weight, price, storage, and features. That’s where we’ve been successful with travel trailers and that’s where we’re going with Sun Trek truck campers.
For more information about Sun Trek, visit sunsettrailers.com. Click here to request a free Sun Trek camper brochure.
Here are the four Sun Trek models, floor plans, and specifications:
The Sun Trek 800 is a hard-side, non-slide, dry bath truck camper for long bed trucks. The interior floor length of the Sun Trek 800 is 108”, the width is 7’8″ and the interior height is 6’6″. The center of gravity is 27.5” from the front wall.
The Sun Trek 800 has a 36 gallon fresh water tank, a 6 gallon water heater, 38 gallon grey tank, 15 gallon black tank, and an optional 20-pound propane tank.
Sunset Park is reporting the base dry weight of the Sun Trek 800 at 2,263 pounds without options. The base MSRP for the Sun Trek 800 is $44,397 USD. Click here for a Sun Trek 800 brochure.
The Sun Trek 700 is a hard-side, non-slide, wet bath truck camper for long bed trucks. The interior floor length of the Sun Trek 700 is 85”, the width is 7’1″ and the interior height is 6’6″. The center of gravity is 32.5” from the front wall.
The Sun Trek 700 has a 36 gallon fresh water tank, a 6 gallon water heater, 15 gallon grey tank, 15 gallon black tank, and an optional 20-pound propane tank.
Sunset Park is reporting the base dry weight of the Sun Trek 700 at 1,758 pounds without options. The base MSRP for the Sun Trek 700 is $41,246 USD. Click here for a Sun Trek 700 brochure.
The Sun Trek 600 is a hard-side, non-slide, cassette toilet truck camper for short bed trucks. The interior floor length of the Sun Trek 600 is 72.5”, the width is 7’1″ and the interior height is 6’5″. The center of gravity is 27.375” from the front wall.
The Sun Trek 600 has a 21 gallon fresh water tank, a 6 gallon water heater, no grey tank, 4 gallon cassette tank, and an optional 20-pound propane tank.
Sunset Park is reporting the base dry weight of the Sun Trek 600 at 1,188 pounds without options. The base MSRP for the Sun Trek 600 is $35,221 USD. Click here for a Sun Trek 600 brochure.
The Sun Trek 550 is a hard-side, non-slide, no bath truck camper for short bed trucks. The interior floor length of the Sun Trek 500 is 73”, the width is 6’5″ and the interior height is 6’0″. The center of gravity is 35.5” from the front wall.
The Sun Trek 550 has a 21 gallon fresh water tank, a 6 gallon water heater, no grey tank, no black tank, and an optional 20-pound propane tank.
Sunset Park is reporting the base dry weight of the Sun Trek 550 at 1,018 pounds without options. The base MSRP for the Sun Trek 550 is $32,050 USD. Click here for a Sun Trek 550 brochure.
