Truck campers are the ultimate Go Anywhere, Camp Anywhere, Tow Anything RV. Forget motorhomes and trailers. If you want fun, freedom, and adventure, you want a truck camper.
A truck camper is a demountable recreational vehicle (RV) that is loaded and unloaded from the bed of a full-size or mid-size pickup truck. The common feature is the ability to demount the camper from the truck. As we like to say at TCM, “If it doesn’t demount, it doesn’t count”.
In the United States and Canada, truck campers are also known as truck bed campers, slide-in campers, pickup campers, and cabover campers. Europeans call them demountable campers. In Australia, they are commonly known as tray campers.
Whatever you call them, it’s important to know which camper is best for you, how to properly match a truck and camper, and which companies are selling them today. Let’s dig in.
There are two types of truck campers; hard sides and pop-ups. Hard sides have hard walls similar to a motorhome or towable RV. Pop-ups have soft walls that pop up for camping and pop down for travel.
Hard side and pop-up truck campers can contain all of the full-size amenities found on motorhomes and fifth wheels, including bathrooms with showers and toilets, kitchens with sinks, microwaves, refrigerators, cooktops, and ovens, dinettes with full-booth seating for four adults, and cabover bedrooms with queen-size beds and plentiful storage.
Hard sides with one, two, and even three slide-outs open up truck campers to full-size sofas, huge dry baths, and even kitchen islands. You can quickly sort and find truck campers by type and features using the Truck Camper Buyers Guide.
For a comprehensive overview of the available types and how to select the right one for you, please read “Picking The Perfect Truck Camper” and “The Best Camper”.
There are three reasons why truck campers are the most versatile RV on the planet: the ability to go anywhere a pickup truck can go, the ability to dry camp (boondock) off-road and/or off-grid for extended periods of time, and the ability to tow a wide range of toys, vehicles, and trailers.
From sandy beaches to unpaved logging roads, to standard parking spaces, to the driveways of family and friends, we can go anywhere a pickup truck can go. This remarkable capability dramatically opens up the possibilities of where you can drive, camp, and explore. You will love the go-anywhere freedom.
With four-wheel drive trucks and large holding tanks, battery banks, solar panel systems, and generators, truck campers are designed to travel where motorhomes and trailers wouldn’t dare and camp without hookups for a week or more. If you want to avoid crowded and expensive campgrounds, you have come to the right place. With a slide-in camper, you can camp almost anywhere.
Combined with a pickup truck, you have the ability to tow boats, utility trailers, ATVs, Jeeps, motorcycles, snowmobiles, jet skis, horse trailers, and more. Over 70-percent of TCM’s readership tows something. The ability to tow anything means owners have even more fun.
There’s a good reason why Truck Camper Magazine’s motto is, “Go Anywhere. Camp Anywhere. Tow Anything.” Those are the three main reasons why people buy them. You can’t find this incredible versatility in any other RV type.
For proper safety and handling performance, a truck and camper combination must be fit compatible and payload compatible. To meet these two requirements, there are truck campers manufactured to work with almost every truck size and payload capacity.
Truck campers can be fit compatible with full-size and mid-size long bed, short bed, ultra short bed, and flatbed trucks. They can also be payload compatible with half-ton, three-quarter ton, and one-ton trucks.
For a complete step-by-step guide to matching a truck and camper, please read “How To Match A Truck and Camper”. We also recommend “The Ultimate Payload Match Challenge”.
The following companies manufacture hard side campers.
Adventurers are manufactured by Adventurer Manufacturing LP in Yakima, Washington. They produce four models of Adventurer hard sides, from the 65RB non-slide to the 901SB slide-out camper.
Depending on the model, Adventurer campers are aluminum and/or wood-framed, and laminated with a reactive hot melt roll coater and pinch roll system. Adventurer Manufacturing has a transferable 1-year bumper-to-bumper warranty and a 3-year limited structural warranty. Individual appliances have their own warranties.
For more information about Adventurer Manufacturing and their campers, check out the Adventurer Camper Buyers Guide and visit their website at adventurercampers.com. Click here for a free Adventurer brochure.
Arctic Foxes are manufactured by Northwood Manufacturing in LaGrande, Oregon. Northwood Manufacturing produces eight models of hard side Arctic Fox campers from the 865 non-slide to the 1150 single-slide.
Arctic Foxes are aluminum-framed and laminated with a reactive hot melt roll coater and pinch roll system. Northwood Manufacturing has a one-year limited warranty. Individual appliances have their own warranties.
For more information about Northwood Manufacturing and Arctic Fox campers, check out the Arctic Fox Camper Buyers Guide and visit their website at northwoodmfg.com. Click here for a free Arctic Fox brochure.
Bigfoots are manufactured by Bigfoot Industries (2010) Inc. in Armstrong, British Columbia. They produce nine models of hard sides from the 15C8.2FR non-slide to the 25C10.6E non-slide.
Bigfoots are constructed with two-piece molded fiberglass. They have a three-year structural warranty. Individual appliances have their own warranties.
For more information about Bigfoot Industries (2010) Inc. and their campers, check out the Bigfoot Camper Buyers Guide and visit their website at bigfootrv.com. Click here for a free Bigfoot brochure.
Capri campers are manufactured by Capri Camper in Bluff Dale, Texas. They produce eight models of custom cabover and cabover-less hard sides from the Capri Cowboy to the Capri Retreat for mid-size trucks and full size short and long bed trucks.
Capris are wood-framed using hung wall construction and aluminum siding. They have a one-year workmanship warranty. Individual appliances have their own warranties.
For more information about Capri Camper and their truck campers, check out the Capri Camper Buyers Guide and visit their website at capricamper.com. Click here for a free Capri brochure.
Cirrus campers are manufactured by nuCamp RV in Sugarcreek, Ohio. NuCamp produces three models of Cirrus hard sides; the 620 and 820 short beds and 920 long bed non-slides.
Cirrus campers are aluminum-framed and laminated. NuCamp has a one-year warranty. Individual appliances have their own warranties.
For more information about nuCamp RV and Cirrus campers, check out the Cirrus Camper Buyers Guide and visit their website at nucamprv.com. Click here for a free Cirrus Camper brochure.
Citation Explore campers are manufactured in Hensall, Ontario. They produce the 10-8, 10-2, and 9-6 campers.
Citations are alumium framed campers that are vacuum bonded. There is a five-year structural warranty. Individual appliances have their own warranties.
For more information about Star campers, check out the Citation Buyers Guide and visit their website at generalcoachcan.com. Click here for a free Citation brochure.
Eagle Caps are manufactured by Adventurer Manufacturing LP in Yakima, Washington. They produce the 1165 triple-slide camper.
Eagle Caps are aluminum-framed and laminated with a reactive hot melt roll coater and pinch roll system. Adventurer Manufacturing has a transferable 1-year bumper-to-bumper warranty and a 3-year limited structural warranty. Individual appliances have their own warranties.
For more information about Adventurer Manufacturing and their campers, check out the Eagle Cap Buyers Guide and visit their website at adventurercampers.com/eagle-cap. Click here for a free Eagle Cap brochure.
Host campers are manufactured in Bend, Oregon. They produce five models of hard sides from the Mammoth triple-slide to the Tahoe double-slide.
Hosts are aluminum-framed and laminated with a reactive hot melt roll coater and pinch roll system. They have a three-year structural warranty. Individual appliances have their own warranties.
For more information about Host, check out the Host Buyers Guide and visit their website at hostcampers.com. Click here for a free Host brochure.
Hotomobil campers are manufactured in Turkey and imported by Hotomobil USA. They produce four models of hard sides from the Gladiator XLE to the CyberGlad.
Hotomobils are monocoque composite fiberglass campers. They have a two-year structural warranty. Individual appliances have their own warranties.
For more information about Hotomobil, check out the Hotomobil Buyers Guide and visit their website at import-truckcampers.com. Click here for a free Hotomobil brochure.
Kimbo campers are manufactured in Bellingham, Washington. They produce the Series 6 truck camper.
Kimbos are an all-aluminum monocoque shell. They have a two-year structural warranty. Individual appliances have their own warranties.
For more information about Kimbo, check out the Kimbo Buyers Guide and visit their website at kimboliving.com. Click here for a free Kimbo brochure.
Kingstar campers are manufactured in Houghton, Michigan. They produce the KRUZR series truck campers.
Kingstar campers are wood framed with spray foam insulation and hung wall construction. They have a two-year structural warranty. Individual appliances have their own warranties.
For more information about Kingstar, check out the Kingstar Buyers Guide and visit their website at kingstar.net. Click here for a free Kingstar brochure.
Lance campers are manufactured by Lance Camper Manufacturing Corporation in Lancaster, California. They produce nine models of hard sides from the 650 non-slide to the 1172 double-slide.
Lances are aluminum-framed and laminated with a reactive hot melt roll coater and pinch roll system. They have a one-year limited warranty and a two-year structural warranty. Individual appliances have their own warranties.
For more information about Lance Camper Manufacturing Corporation and Lance campers, check out the Lance Camper Buyers Guide and visit their website at lancecamper.com. Click here for a free Lance brochure.
Mod Bug campers are manufactured in Edwardsburg, Michigan. They produce the TC14, TC12, and TC9 truck campers.
Mod Bug campers are aluminum and composite-framed campers. They have a one-year structural warranty. Individual appliances have their own warranties.
For more information about Kingstar, check out the Mod Bug Buyers Guide and visit their website at modernbuggyrv.com. Click here for a free Mod Bug brochure.
Northern Lites are manufactured by Northern Lite Manufacturing, Ltd. in Kelowna, British Columbia. They produce six models of hard sides from the 610 non-slide to the 10-2 EX CDSE Special Edition non-slide. They also have the anniversary Limited Edition series.
Northern Lites are constructed with two-piece molded fiberglass. They have a six-year structural warranty. Individual appliances have their own warranties.
For more information about Northern Lite Manufacturing, Ltd., check out the Northern Lite Camper Buyers Guide and visit their website at northern-lite.com. Click here for a free Northern Lite brochure.
Northstars are manufactured by R.C. Willett Co., Inc. in Cedar Falls, Iowa. R.C. Willett Co., Inc. produces seven models of hard sides from the Liberty non-slide to the 10X non-slide.
Northstars are wood-framed using hung wall construction and filon fiberglass siding. R.C. Willett Co., Inc. has a two-year structural warranty. Individual appliances have their own warranties.
For more information about R.C. Willett Co., Inc. and Northstar campers, check out the Northstar Hard Side Buyers Guide and visit their website at northstarcampers.com. Click here for a free Northstar brochure.
Outpost Campers are manufactured in Bayside, Colorado. They produce the Outpost 6.5.
Outposts are composite campers. They have a three-year structural warranty. Individual appliances have their own warranties.
For more information about Outpost Campers, check out the Outpost Buyers Guide and visit their website at outpost-campers.com. Click here for a free Outpost brochure.
Palominos are manufactured by Palomino RV (a division of Forest River, Inc.) in Colon, Michigan. They produce seven models of hard sides from the HS-750 non-slide to the HS-3210 Max single-slide.
Palominos are aluminum-framed, using a reactive hot melt roll coater and vacuum-bonded system. They have a one-year bumper-to-bumper warranty. Individual appliances have their own warranties.
For more information about Palomino RV, check out the Palomino Hard Side Buyers Guide and visit their website at palominorv.com. Click here for a free Palomino brochure.
Phoenix Campers are custom-built by Phoenix Pop-Up Campers in Commerce City, Colorado. They are a custom truck camper company.
Phoenix Campers are aluminum-framed, using laminated construction and fiberglass siding. They have a one-year bumper-to-bumper warranty with a two-year warranty of the lift mechanism, liner, and frame. Individual appliances have their own warranties.
For more information about Phoenix Campers and their custom pop-ups, check out the Phoenix Buyers Guide and visit their website at phoenixpopup.com. Click here for a free Phoenix brochure.
Rugged Mountain campers are manufactured in Emmett, Idaho. They produce six models of hard sides, from the Denali 3S triple-slide to the Granite Platinum non-slide.
Rugged Mountain campers are wood or composite-framed with spray foam insulation and hung wall construction. They have a two year structural warranty. Individual appliances have their own warranties.
For more information about Rugged Mountain, check out the Rugged Mountain Buyers Guide and visit their website at ruggedmountaincustomrv.com. Click here for a free Rugged Mountain brochure.
Scout Campers are manufactured by Adventurer Manufacturing LP in Yakima, Washington. They produce four models of Scout hard sides; the Kenai, Olympic, Yoho, and Tuktut.
Scout Campers are made with wood-free composite structural panels in a frameless exoskeleton. Scout is all about removable components that can be used indoors or outdoors, like compressor refrigerators and their UPT battery systems.
Adventurer Manufacturing has a transferable one-year bumper-to-bumper warranty and a three-year limited structural warranty. Individual appliances have their own warranties.
For more information about Scout, check out the Scout Buyers Guide and visit their website at scoutcampers.com. Click here for a free Scout brochure.
Soaring Eagle Campers are manufactured in Wakarusa, Indiana. They produce the Aerie, Adlar, and Aquila.
Soaring Eagles are aluminum-framed with composites. They have a three-year structural warranty. Individual appliances have their own warranties.
For more information about Soaring Eagle Campers, check out the Soaring Eagle Buyers Guide and visit their website at soaringeaglecampers.com. Click here for a free Soaring Eagle brochure.
Squire campers are manufactured by Lance Camper Manufacturing Corporation in Lancaster, California. They produce four models of hard sides; the 825, 805, 610, and 605.
Squires are aluminum-framed and laminated with a reactive hot melt roll coater and pinch roll system. They have a one-year limited warranty and a two-year structural warranty. Individual appliances have their own warranties.
For more information about Lance Camper Manufacturing Corporation and Squire campers, check out the Squire Camper Buyers Guide and visit their website at lancecamper.com/squire. Click here for a free Squire brochure.
Star Campers are imported from China and then finished by R.C. Willett Co., Inc. in Cedar Falls, Iowa. There is one model, the Star Comet, and shell campers.
Star Campers are made from composites and aluminum. R.C. Willett Co., Inc. has a two-year structural warranty. Individual appliances have their own warranties.
For more information about Star campers, check out the Star Buyers Guide and visit their website at starrvproducts.com. Click here for a free Star brochure.
Supertramp Campers are manufactured in Golden, Colorado. They produce the Flagship HT.
Supertramp campers are vacuum-infused fiberglass. They have a one-year structural warranty. Individual appliances have their own warranties.
For more information about Supertramp, check out the Supertramp Buyers Guide and visit their website at supertrampcampers.com. Click here for a free Supertramp brochure.
Wolf Creeks are manufactured by Northwood Manufacturing in La Grande, Oregon. Northwood Manufacturing produces three models of Wolf Creek hard sides; the 910, 890 and 850 non-slide campers.
Wolf Creeks are aluminum-framed and laminated with a reactive hot melt roll coater and pinch roll system. Northwood Manufacturing has a one-year limited warranty. Individual appliances have their own warranties.
For more information about Northwood Manufacturing and Wolf Creeks, check out the Wolf Creek Buyers Guide and visit their website at northwoodmfg.com. Click here for a free Wolf Creek brochure.
The following companies manufacture pop-up truck campers.
Alaskans are manufactured by Alaskan Camper, LLC in Winlock, Washington. They produce nine hard side pop-up truck campers from the 630 short bed to the 10FD flatbed side door long bed.
Alaskan pop-ups are wood-framed using hung wall construction and aluminum siding. They have a one-year warranty and a lifetime warranty on the hydraulic pump motor.
For more information about Alaskan Camper, LLC and their hard side pop-ups, check out the Alaskan Buyers Guide and visit their website at alaskancampers.com. Click here for a free Alaskan Camper brochure.
Four Wheel Campers (FWC) are manufactured by Four Wheel Campers in Woodland, California. They produce nine pop-up camper models from the Project M to the Hawk+ to the Grandby long bed flatbed.
Four Wheel pop-ups are aluminum-framed using hung wall construction and aluminum siding. They have a five-year warranty on the frame, pop-up soft wall, and roof. The interior has a one-year warranty. Individual appliances have their own warranties.
For more information about Four Wheel Campers, check out the Four Wheel Campers Buyers Guide and visit their website at fourwheelcampers.com. Click here for a free FWC brochure.
Hallmarks are manufactured by Hallmark Manufacturing, Inc. in Fort Lupton, Colorado. They produce seven pop-up models from the Vail short bed to the Guanella long bed.
Hallmark pop-ups are wood framed with molded fiberglass body panels and one-piece molded fiberglass roof construction. They have a five-year structural warranty. Individual appliances have their own warranties.
For more information about Hallmark Manufacturing, Inc. and their pop-up campers, check out the Hallmark Camper Buyers Guide and visit their website at hallmarkrv.com. Click here for a free Hallmark brochure.
Northstars are manufactured by R.C. Willett Co., Inc. in Cedar Falls, Iowa. R.C. Willett Co., Inc. produces seven models of pop-up camper models from the 600SS to the 850SC.
Northstar pop-ups are wood-framed using hung wall construction and filon fiberglass siding. R.C. Willett Co., Inc. has a two-year structural warranty. Individual appliances have their own warranties.
For more information about R.C. Willett Co., Inc. and Northstar pop-ups, check out the Northstar Pop-Up Camper Buyers Guide and visit their website at northstarcampers.com. Click here for a free Northstar brochure.
Palominos are manufactured by Palomino RV (a division of Forest River, Inc.) in Colon, Michigan. They produce six models of pop-up camper models from the SS-500 to the SS-1251.
Palomino pop-ups are aluminum-framed and laminated using a reactive hot melt roll coater and vacuum-bonded system. They have a one-year bumper-to-bumper warranty. Individual appliances have their own warranties.
For more information about Palomino RV and their pop-ups, check out the Palomino Pop-Up Camper Buyers Guide and visit their website at palominorv.com. Click here for a free Palomino brochure.
Phoenix Campers are custom-built by Phoenix Pop-Up Campers in Commerce City, Colorado. They are a custom truck camper company.
Phoenix pop-ups are aluminum-framed, using laminated construction and fiberglass siding. They have a one-year bumper-to-bumper warranty with a two-year warranty of the lift mechanism, liner, and frame. Individual appliances have their own warranties.
For more information about Phoenix Pop-Up Campers and their custom pop-ups, check out the Phoenix Pop-Up Buyers Guide and visit their website at phoenixpopup.com. Click here for a free Phoenix brochure.
Scout Campers are manufactured by Adventurer Manufacturing LP in Yakima, Washington. They produce three models of Scout pop-ups; the Kenai, Olympic, and Yoho.
Scout Campers are made with wood-free composite structural panels in a frameless exoskeleton. Scout is all about removable components that can be used indoors or outdoors, like compressor refrigerators and their UPT battery systems.
Adventurer Manufacturing has a transferable one-year bumper-to-bumper warranty and a three-year limited structural warranty. Individual appliances have their own warranties.
For more information about Scout, check out the Scout Buyers Guide and visit their website at scoutcampers.com. Click here for a free Scout brochure.
Soaring Eagle Campers are manufactured in Wakarusa, Indiana. They produce the OV-X pop-up camper.
Soaring Eagles are aluminum-framed with composites. They have a three-year structural warranty. Individual appliances have their own warranties.
For more information about Soaring Eagle Campers, check out the Soaring Eagle Buyers Guide and visit their website at soaringeaglecampers.com. Click here for a free Soaring Eagle brochure.
Supertramp Campers are manufactured in Golden, Colorado. They produce the Flagship LT.
Supertramp pop-ups are vacuum-infused fiberglass. They have a one-year structural warranty. Individual appliances have their own warranties.
For more information about Supertramp, check out the Supertramp Buyers Guide and visit their website at supertrampcampers.com. Click here for a free Supertramp brochure.
