Our long-standing truck camper definition has always been simple: “If it doesn’t demount, it doesn’t count.” The forthcoming Supertramp Paragon puts that rule to the test. Has the definition evolved? Should it? Have a look and weigh in.
Nineteen years ago, we faced a question that has defined Truck Camper Magazine ever since: What is a truck camper? It sounds obvious today, but in 2007, there had been little public discussion on this topic. We needed a clear answer to define what to cover, and not to.
After careful analysis and talking to numerous truck camper industry leaders and community members, we came up with a simple answer. “If it doesn’t demount, it doesn’t count.” The longer version was, “If it wasn’t field-demountable from a pickup truck with a set of four attached corner jacks or portable jacks, it wasn’t a truck camper.”
That definition cut through the noise and clarified what a truck camper was, and what it wasn’t. With this filter, we instantly knew if a new product belonged in Truck Camper Magazine, or not. No pickup? No jacks? No dice.
Starting in the early 2010s, Overland emerged as a breeding ground for fresh approaches to motorized travel. The Overland community had little to no roots in the RV industry and zero compunction about challenging long-standing product definitions. Overland focused strictly on off-road and off-grid capability, durability, and visual appeal. The old ways were openly questioned, and often left behind.
Fast forward a decade-and-a-half and the Overland market has blossomed with a dizzying array of companies and products. Walk an Overland event today with a strict truck camper lens and you’ll find plenty of gray areas. Pickup trucks of every description are everywhere. Products with all manner of tenting, walls, and storage are labeled ‘campers’ and mounted to pickup beds. Technically, many of these ‘campers’ are demountable, but they rarely use jacks.
On the other end of the spectrum—both in price, size, and overall build—are pickup-based chassis-mount rigs. These all-in-one truck and camper vehicles mimic the profile and capabilities of traditional truck campers but forgo the most basic, “If it doesn’t demount, it doesn’t count” rule. And for everyone ready to hold the line, these all-in-one chassis mounts offer the number one feature nearly every truck camper owner wishes their rig had: a human-size truck-to-camper pass-through.
“It’s not strictly a truck camper, but our readers will want to see it.”
This was the thought that started this whole article. The renderings of the forthcoming Supertramp Paragon reveal a pickup truck-based concept that mirrors the form and function of a true truck camper, but trades demountable versatility for an all-in-one platform with a covetable cab pass-through.
At this point, Paragon exists only as renderings and published specifications. Still, Supertramp has shared a substantial amount of detail about what they’re building. Paragon is planned as a chassis-mount camper on a bed-delete Ford F-350. Like their existing Flagship pop-up and hard side line, it’s slated to feature all-composite, vacuum-infused fiberglass construction.
The interior will offer a seven-foot ceiling and more than 100 cubic feet of storage. The floor plan includes a north-south king bed, full cab pass-through, and a dual-access interior garage sized for full-size mountain bikes. The rear seating is designed to convert between a dinette, L-shaped couch, and full-size bed, with storage integrated throughout.
The renderings also showcase dual-pane Arctic Tern windows and two MaxxAir Deluxe roof fans for ventilation, with optional air conditioning. The projected water system includes a 40-gallon fresh tank and a 20-gallon grey tank with a gravity drain. Heat and hot water will come from a Truma Combi tied into the truck’s fuel supply.
The 12-volt system is designed around Victron components. Standard capacity is listed at 270Ah of heated Battle Born lithium, expandable to 1,080Ah. Charging is expected to include up to 100 amps DC-to-DC from the truck, 660 watts of roof solar standard with expansion via external blankets, and 100-amp shore charging. A 3,000-watt inverter is specified. Interior equipment is planned to include an Isotherm 130L fridge/freezer, induction cooktop, sink, and portable cassette toilet, with an optional wet bath.
On the chassis side, Supertramp reports working with Carli Suspension on custom-valved shocks while retaining the factory F-350 suspension architecture. Introductory pricing is listed at $189,000, with a production-ready Paragon expected to debut at Overland Expo West later this year.
At first glance, that price commands attention. However, a one-ton truck, a premium hard-side camper, frame-mounted tie-downs and turnbuckles, and a serious suspension upgrade can reach similar territory. Paragon bundles that investment into a single integrated package, trading demountable versatility for an all-in-one build. It also prompts some very important questions about the current definition of a truck camper.
We’re interested in your feedback on pickup truck–based chassis mounts and whether they belong in the same discussion as demountable truck campers. We can’t be afraid to challenge our definitions, especially when these products come from within our own industry and community. If the lines are shifting, this is a healthy opportunity to examine where they’re drawn.
