Truck Camper News

Rugged Mountain RV Implements Multi-Fuel Heater

With the glycol-based Timberline 2.0 heat and hot water system, Rugged Mountain RV offers a choice of diesel or gas fuel, plus a 1,500-watt electric element. And that’s not all that’s hot about this new system.

Rugged Mountain Integrates Timberline 2.0

Rugged Mountain RV has opened up the marketplace to triple-slide flatbed truck campers for Class 5 trucks. To say these campers are big is missing the point. Together with Rugged Mountain RV’s signature tiny home interior styling, these campers are downright residential in look, feel, and floor space. There are apartments in New York, Paris, and Tokyo that pale in comparison.

That might sound ridiculous to the old-school slide-in truck camper crowd, of which I am most certainly a part. That may be true, but fellow slide-in camper stick-in-the-muds need to realize that we are not necessarily the target market. If you own a 35-foot fifth wheel, a 26-foot (including the truck) truck and camper is a relief. And believe me, a lot of prior fifth-wheel and motorhome owners have bought multi-slide truck campers. I know some personally.

Another niche market for Rugged Mountain RV is overland. We reported from Overland Expo West this past May how absolutely bonkers attendees were going after experiencing Rugged Mountain RV’s triple-slide interior, and then discovering the decidedly non-overland price tag. In that world, the $99,400 MSRP (plus a truck) is considered affordable. Nuts.

Of course, even traditional truck campers can get swept up in the space. Even we swoon every time when we see the rear sofa slide. I don’t think we’ll ever go for a camper that big, but it’s easy to see how folks do. And Jesse Collinsworth, CEO of Rugged Mountain RV, has found yet another way to make his behemoths the undisputed kings of the triple-slide marketplace.

Introducing the Timberline 2.0

Timberline Line Drawing

Over the past few years, Jesse has been on a mission to make his flatbed truck campers state-of-the-art. For example, his 2024 Denali 3S statement triple-slide camper has six 175-watt solar panels (1,050 watts total), two Expion 368 Ah batteries (736 Ah total), Victron 3,000 watt inverter, three 30-amp DC to DC chargers, a Furrion tankless on-demand water heater, a Norcold eight cubic foot 12-volt refrigerator, two burner induction cooktop, a 30-inch electric crystal fireplace, a Houghton Belaire 3400 AC and heat pump, and Euro bunk bed. There’s more—including a fully tricked-out Ram Laramie 5500 with LiquidSprings and a full wrap—but you get the point. As John Hammond said in Jurassic Park, Jesse, “spared no expense”.

What was missing from that spectacular build was a more efficient heat and hot water system; preferably one that eschews propane.

Timberline Unit

Above: The main component of the Timberline 2.0 system

This topic came up with Jesse at Overland Expo West and he dropped some news. He had installed and was testing a new product by Elwell Corporation called the Timberline 2.0. The Timberline 2.0 is an all-in-one hydronic heat and hot water component that runs on gas or diesel—depending on the model selected—and electric.

He added that the Timberline 2.0 was already approved by the RVIA (Recreational Vehicle Industry Association), a requirement for Rugged Mountain RV’s RVIA membership. In addition, the Timberline is TEi certified to UL and CSA standards.

Wait What? Hydronic, Gas or Diesel, and Electric?

Timberline Diagram

Above: A diagram of an installed Timberline system

All we heard was hydronic, gas or diesel, and electric. From that description alone we knew the Timberline 2.0 could be a disruptive product. The efficiency numbers reported by the company further underscore the allure of the Timberline 2.0; .18GPH max on gasoline, and .21GPH max on diesel. It’s actually more efficient on gas.

Timberline RV Component Install

Above: The Timberline heat exchanger for the bedroom and bathroom zone

Timberline RMRV Main Unit Install 1

Above: The main Timberline 2.0 component installed in a Rugged Mountain RV

The hydronic system utilizes glycol, but uses quiet heat exchangers (automated air handlers) instead of convectors. This means you don’t need to run glycol convectors and lines throughout campers as the Alde hydronic system does. It also means the system can heat up a cold camper quicker by running the heat exchangers harder. For an even faster heat up, the Timberline 2.0 can use 1,500 watts of 120-volt power. All of this is potentially game-changing stuff.

Timberline RMRV Exterior Compartment Open

Above: This is the Timberline diesel burner component. You can also order a gas version.

An additional benefit of the Timberline 2.0 system is that it has two zones for heat, each with its own thermostat. Rugged Mountain RV is using zone one to heat the kitchen and main living area, and zone two to heat the cabover bedroom and bathroom.

The ability to separately control and direct the heat in different areas of a camper is something we haven’t seen before in a truck camper and has interesting implications. For a cold winter evening, keep the main living area at 50 degrees Fahrenheit (10°C) and heat the cabover bedroom to 72 degrees (22°C). Yes, please!

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Above and below: The Timberline 2.0 touchscreen control panel

The Timberline system includes a touchscreen panel that controls the system. From this panel, you can control what fuel source you’re using (gas for the gas model, diesel for the diesel model, plus 120-volt electric for both models), how fast the heat circulates throughout the camper, and more.

Timberline Touchscreen Control Display

The Timberline 2.0 water heater is considered an on-demand system with the added benefit of an expansion tank. We have never found ourselves running out of hot water with a six gallon water heater, but the idea of not ever needing to worry about it is enticing. An hour shower in a truck camper on full hookups? It’s now possible.

Another benefit Jesse touted is the high altitude compatibility. One facet folks sometimes don’t consider is how altitude affects various components. Propane components are especially prone including propane furnaces, water heaters, and refrigerators. Sometimes they don’t work as well. Other times they don’t work at all. In another contrast, the gas or diesel, and electric-powered Timberline 2.0 is designed to work at high altitudes.

Timberline RV Fuel Fill

Above: The Timberline 2.0 diesel fill on a Rugged Mountain RV truck camper

As of July, Rugged Mountain RV has completed its testing of the Timberline 2.0 and built three customer campers with the unit. Along with the Timberline 2.0 component, Rugged Mountain RV is installing five-gallon diesel tanks. Given the efficiency of the system, that should last a long time. Talking to Jesse, he is convinced this is a superior direction for his campers.

Timberline RV Installed Screen

Above: The Timberline 2.0 touchscreen control panel installed just inside the entry door of a 2025 Rugged Mountain Denali 3S

The Heat Is On

What really sets the Timberline 2.0 apart from the competition is its ability to run on gas or diesel. To be clear, you purchase either a gas version of the Timberline 2.0, or a diesel version. Like our trucks, you can’t run both fuels through the same unit. However, the ability to run the unit off gas or diesel, and/or power it with 120-volt electric is a showstopper.

The downside of most new and advanced systems is cost and the Timberline 2.0 is no exception. The basic Timberline 2.0 retails for $4,500 US. That’s tough to justify when the tried and true propane furnace and water heater are one-third the cost.

However, the allure of ditching propane tanks (imagine the storage that opens up, the potential weight savings, and the convenience of not needing propane stations) and the compelling list capabilities of the Timberline 2.0 system help vindicate the purchase. We are intrigued.

For more information on Rugged Mountain, visit their website at ruggedmountaincustomrv.com. Click here to get a free Rugged Mountain brochure.

 

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