Kingstar had the dog-loving crowds of Overland Expo West by the leash as they unveiled the K9 KRUZR 6. Heat, lighting, water, drainage—man’s best friend officially has better truck camping accommodations than a surprising number of humans. Woof!
By now, we’ve come to expect Kingstar to roll into Overland Expo with ideas that feel less like updates and more like innovative solutions from the edge of truck camper design. Maybe it’s the harsh winters in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula that keep them from sitting still.
Kingstar’s 2026 Updates include a standard 920Ah lithium and 880-watt solar system, a fully enclosed wet bath option, Flat Back rooflines, a coffee maker station, and a first-of-its-kind super single tire lift. But the feature we were most excited to see in person was the K9 KRUZR.
One year earlier, standing in the same red dirt in Flagstaff, Arizona, Marcus Niemela, President of Kingstar, noticed something impossible to ignore—dogs were everywhere at Overland Expo.
Somewhere during the 2,000-mile drive back to Houghton, Michigan, the K9 KRUZR concept started taking shape. Marcus began thinking through every detail that would make traveling with dogs easier, cleaner, safer, and less stressful for everyone involved.
Anyone who has ever left a dog behind in a camper knows the feeling. An hour goes by and your mind starts cycling through questions. Are they too hot? Too cold? Are they getting into something they shouldn’t? Kingstar looked directly at that anxiety and decided to engineer for it.
The result is the K9 KRUZR, a Kingstar model that incorporates a dedicated space for your pup. It features exterior and interior access, a water spigot, drain, lighting, heat vents, and more.
Walking up to the Kingstar booth, we were greeted by Dixie, Marcus’ four-legged adventure companion. She casually wandered in and out of the K9 area like she had already approved the design months ago. Watching her interact with the space made one thing immediately obvious: the K9 KRUZR was built by people who travel with dogs.
The moment we looked inside, it felt less like a kennel and more like a dedicated mudroom for dogs. The space was insulated, finished, brightly lit, and surprisingly roomy in person.
For cold weather camping, ducted heat flows directly into the K9 area from the Truma Combi system, and the insulated walls help retain warmth.
Kingstar’s standard 920Ah lithium battery system can power a 12-volt air conditioner for extended periods off-grid, keeping both the camper and the K9 space comfortable in summer heat.
Then we noticed the details that really tied the concept together: the rubberized floor, built-in water spigot, aluminum tray, and drain system. Wet paws, muddy fur, sandy coats, spilled water bowls—this area is designed for the realities of traveling with a dog.
What surprised us most was how little the K9 KRUZR seemed to compromise the interior living space. The kennel space integrates so naturally into the floorplan that without the pass through door, you almost forget it’s there. Even in Kingstar’s smallest camper, the KRUZR 6, it still felt open, functional, and comfortable.
As a newlywed couple considering our first dog, Sarah and I talked through a real-world scenario of returning from a hike with a wet and muddy pup.
Instead of turning our living area into a disaster zone, we can rinse the dog off with the exterior spigot and let Buddy dry in their own temperature-controlled space.
Meanwhile, we can make dinner inside without our furry companion occupying valuable floor space. Later that evening, once everyone is clean and dry, the dog can come inside for the usual bedtime routine and nighttime cuddles.
The next morning, we can open the K9 area drain, rinse out the floor, and move on with our trip.
As we walked away from the booth, something suddenly felt off. The last time we saw Gordon, he was halfway inside the K9 area filming a video while Angela reached for the latch on the exterior door.
Come to think of it, we haven’t seen him since.
At least he’s warm, comfortable, and has access to fresh water.
For more information on Kingstar Campers, visit their website at kingstar.net. Click here to request a free Kingstar brochure.
