Who makes the best slide-in truck camper? Which campers are the top models? These are great questions, which deserve a truthful response. Unfortunately, providing a short and simple answer is difficult. The answer really depends upon the person shopping for the camper and the person’s requirements. This is because a massive truck camper with multiple slide-outs isn’t always wanted by shoppers. Some are perfectly happy with a simpler, lighter camper like a pop-up. Fortunately, for today’s consumer, there’s a lot to choose from when it comes to truck bed campers. With dozens and dozens of makes and models to choose from, however, the task of finding the right truck camper can be a little daunting at first. Fortunately, we’ve done a lot of this work up front with a variety of campers of all sizes, weights, and lengths. In it, we offer several old-time favorites plus several new models which are sure to be big sellers. Remember, you saw this comprehensive, well-researched list here first, well before Internet copycats with nearly identical lists publish theirs. So without further adieu, Truck Camper Adventure is proud to present the 12 best pickup truck campers for sale in 2021.
1. Host Mammoth 11.6
The largest, most luxurious camper on this list, the Host Mammoth 11.6 is also Host Industries’ best-selling camper. The Mammoth name fits because this camper is big, really big. Part of what makes the Mammoth so big is that it features three slide-outs. Yep, you heard us right—three. The camper’s 11-foot 6-inch floorplan includes a large dinette, a massive dry bath, a fireplace, a comfortable loveseat, and a queen size bed with an option for a king. The Mammoth 11.6, like all Host Campers, is loaded with “host” of standard features, including a two-way 8-cubic foot refrigerator, a 6-gallon DSI water heater, a 25,000 BTU propane fired furnace, a 1,000 watt inverter, and a three-burner propane cook top with a folding cook top cover. Not only that, the holding tanks in this aluminum-framed camper are probably the largest found in a slide-in truck camper, with 65 gallons of fresh, 51 gallons of grey, and 31 gallons black. Other features include beautiful “grani-coat” solid surface counter tops, a dual battery compartment, an exterior 6-foot sliding storage tray, a 25,000 BTU furnace, two 30-pound propane tanks, a 6-gallon water heater, a 1,000 watt inverter with a dedicated AC outlet, and optional Expion360 lithium battery upgrades that will power an air conditioner. At a whopping 4,700 pounds dry, you’ll need a minimum of a 3500/F-350 dual rear wheel truck with a 5,500 pound payload to safely haul this elephant-size beast. Indeed, some Host Mammoth owners have resorted to getting a 4500/F-450 or 5500/F-550 truck with an even larger payload to haul this hotel-on-wheels around. The base model lists for $65,000. Available at top dealerships nationwide.
2. Hallmark Ute 8.5
Based out of Lupton, Colorado, Hallmark RV offers a complete line of high-quality, pop-up truck campers. The Ute is one of Hallmark’s best-selling models. Constructed of a composite fiberglass with a balsa wood core and a one-piece molded fiberglass composite roof, the Hallmark Ute is built to last. The camper’s 8-foot 5-inch floorplan features a 60×80-inch east-west queen-size bed with underbed storage, a large kitchen on the driver’s side, and a 55-inch U-shape dinette, and a wet-bath with a shower, toilet, and sink on the passenger side. Standard features include a Progressive Dynamics 45 amp “Mighty Mini” Power Center, molded one-piece counter tops, overhead cabinets with beautiful Tambour doors, big-view double windows, a 4-gallon DSI water heater, a dual battery compartment, a Lagun swing-away table, and a choice between either amber bamboo or maple cabinetry. The tanks sizes for the XL model are pretty decent too with 30 gallons fresh, 12 gallons grey, and 14 gallons black. Hallmark’s best options include a 200 watt solar power system, a north-south cabover, a Thetford Cassette Toilet, a side awning, inverters with transfer relays, a low-profile air conditioner, custom flooring, and several choices in cabinet finishes including a few exotic ones. Weighs only 1,643 pounds dry, making it ideal for those who are looking for a more adventurous, off-road experience. Fits on both long-bed (XL) and short-bed (XS) full-size trucks and comes with a five-year structural warranty. One of the best, an overlanding favorite, the base price for the Hallmark Ute is $58,995.
3. Lance 650
Now Lance’s best-selling truck camper, it’s also the company’s smallest and lightest model. When it comes to luxury and comfort for today’s half-ton pickup, nothing compares with the Lance 650. Indeed, the F-150 and Lance 650 combination is so luxurious and easy to drive, it remains one of Cruise America’s most popular rental RVs. The Lance 650 is one of our favorites as well. Not only does it provide a north-south queen bed and a full size wet bath with a sink, but it also features a large kitchen and a dinette long enough to sleep an adult. With standard equipment, the Lance 650 weighs just 1,700 pounds dry and 1,903 pounds wet. It has a floor length of 6 feet 10 inches long and offers a spacious 6 feet 9 inches of interior height. We’re big fans of Lance’s one-piece TPO nose cap, which gives the camper a sleek and aerodynamic look, the on-demand tankless water heater, the Battle Born lithium battery upgrade, and Lance’s new Easy Charge exterior charging center for quick battery charging. Versatile enough to fit on both 6.5-foot and 5.5-foot pickup trucks and a great little camper, the Lance 650 offers everything you could possibly want except for the excessive weight. Still, many F-150s will need to have the suspension upgraded and have higher rated wheels and tires installed to haul this luxury hotel around—unless, of course, the truck is already equipped with the heavy-duty payload package. We also recommend getting the 5.0L V8 for extra climbing power/torque. Easily one of the 12 best truck campers for sale in 2021. The base MSRP for the Lance 650 is $37,549. Available at top dealerships nationwide.
4. KingStar Camino 88
Built for today’s one-ton truck and even some 3/4-tons, the exterior lines and innovative interior make it obvious that the KingStar Camino 88 isn’t just another cookie-cutter truck camper. Some of these innovations include underfloor storage, a wall-mounted air conditioner, a stainless steel roof, spray foam insulation (R10), and a stainless steel shower. KingStar offers four distinct interior layouts, all of which include either an east-west or north-south cabover bed. Camino 88 floorplans offer a generous floor length of 9 feet 3 inches, a center of gravity between 34-36 inches, and can be hauled on either a long-bed (8-foot) or short-bed (6.5-foot) truck. The dry weight of the Camino 88 is only 2,280 pounds for the standard-equipped Open Range model (add 300 pounds for north-south layout). Standard features of the KingStar Camino 88 include a 28 gallon fresh water holding tank, a 6-gallon water heater, two 20-pound propane tanks, three AGM batteries, a Suburban furnace, a Vitrifrigo 3.2 cubic foot DC compressor refrigerator, and pullout tables. The best options include a stainless steel shower option, two 16-gallon side saddle fresh water holding tanks (three season), a 600 watts solar power system, Battle Born lithium batteries, a 4-gallon Thetford toilet, and a Truma Combi Eco Plus. Built with “slick-side” fiberglass siding with three exterior color options to choose from. Starting at $35,390 for the Open Range model, the KingStar Camino 88 is sold factory direct and from select dealerships nationwide with about a four-month lead time.
5. Northern Lite 8-11EX WET
Based out of Kelowna, British Columbia, Northern Lite suffered a devastating fire in 2014, but has come back better than ever by building one of the best, most luxurious truck campers in the entire industry. One reason for this high quality is Northern Lite’s fiberglass, “clam-shell” exterior. The molded fiberglass design produces not only a superior, aerodynamic structure, but also one that is stronger and doesn’t leak like typical campers. The camper’s 9-foot floorplan features a north-south queen-size bed, a roomy wet-bath, a face-to-face dinette, loads of storage, and a large kitchenette. Standards include all-wood cabinets with beautiful sapele veneer paneling; a mirrored, three-way 6.3-cubic foot refrigerator; a 6-gallon DSI water heater; a dual battery compartment, Seitz windows, and a three-burner propane cooktop. The 2,650 pound camper also features an 18,000 btu furnace, two 20-pound propane tanks, a 9,200 btu air conditioner, a 95-watt solar power system, a 45-amp Progressive Dynamics converter/charger with three-stage Charge Wizard, LED lighting, and side and rear awnings. The tank sizes in the Northern Lite 8-11EX are excellent, too, with 33 gallons fresh, 24 gallons grey, and 13 gallons black. Can also be ordered with a dry-bath. One of the 12 best pickup truck campers for sale in 2021. Comes with an impressive 6-year warranty. At $62,630, the MSRP is a bit on the steep side for a non slide-out camper, but the extra cost is worth it. Available from top dealerships nationwide.
6. Outfitter Juno 8.5 Hybrid
Looking for a truck camper that breaks the mold with extra room for sleeping? The Outfitter Juno 8.5 Hybrid pop-up is one such camper. It’s not everyday that you see a standard slide-in pop-up with a side-door, a tip-out tent, a north-south bed, and a large wet-bath, yet that’s exactly what you get with the Outfitter Juno 8.5, a pop-up made for full-size, short-bed trucks. Still not convinced? How does a 44 gallon fresh water holding tank, a 16 gallon grey water holding tank, and a 16 gallon black water holding tank sound? Or how about a porcelain toilet, molded countertops, insulated Weblon softwalls, along with a 3 cubic foot DC compressor refrigerator, a three-burner cooktop, a 20,000 BTU furnace, and a robust solar power system? Standard features of the Outfitter Juno 8.5 include an electric roof lift with a manual override, a 20-pound propane tank, a Progressive Dynamics 45 amp converter/charger, under bed storage, overhead storage cabinets, and attractive maple cabinets. Popular options include an 80-inch Hide-A-Bed extended cabover bunk, a microwave oven with a 2,000 watt inverter, An 8-foot or 10-foot side awning, lithium batteries, and a Yakima Roof Rack. Constructed of a true composite foam core roof and body, the Juno 8.5 is rugged and built to last. Weighs only 2,380-pounds dry. Sleeps up to five with the optional “Hide-A-Bed” pull-out bunk. Made specifically for short-bed, three-quarter-ton and one-ton trucks with the requisite payload rating. A long-bed version is also available called the Juno 10. Comes with a 5-year warranty, the base price of the Outfitter Juno 8.5 is $46,995.
7. NuCamp Cirrus 820
Ohio-based NuCamp took the truck camper industry by storm in 2015 by introducing what immediately became one of the best looking, most innovative truck campers in the marketplace—the Cirrus 820. Noteworthy innovations found in this cutting-edge camper include the Alde hydronic heating system, a whisper-quiet water heater furnace combination unit that saves on both weight and space, the Froli modular sleep system, heated floors, and a space-saving folding bathroom sink. But this 2,540-pound camper provides more than just good looks and innovation, it also features a terrific 8-foot 6-inch floorplan with a large wet-bath, a spacious cabover with a north-south queen-size bed, a face-to-face dinette, a massive wardrobe, a large kitchenette with a three-way, 5-cubic foot refrigerator, and copious amounts of storage. Framed entirely of aluminum, highlights include a custom diamond-plated rear bumper with hose storage, a dual battery compartment, two 20-pound propane tanks, an 8-foot side awning, dual thermopane windows, a 38-gallon fresh water tank, a massive 32-gallon grey water holding tank, and an 18-gallon black water holding tank. Best used on a Ford F350, Ram 3500, and Chevy GM 3500HD trucks. Customers have numerous color options when ordering a NuCamp Cirrus camper, including a silver or white exterior with 10 different color accents to match the color of your truck. The MSRP of the Cirrus 820 is $47,335. Available at top dealerships nationwide.
8. Alaskan Sportsman
A brand-new, non-cabover model, the Alaskan Sportsman was designed with the minimalist in mind. The hard-top camper is only 6-foot 6-inches long and weighs only 1,449 pounds wet, perfect for short-bed half-ton pickups like the Ford F150, Ram 1500, and Chevy/GMC 1500. The Sportman’s floorplan is simple. The driver side features a small kitchenette with a stove and sink with a storage locker large enough to house a portable toilet located on the passenger side. Sleeping and seating is provided by an attractive jack knife sofa that sits along the front wall with a 45L refrigerator-freezer mounted underneath. As one would expect for a 6-foot 6-inch floorplan, the amenities inside the Sportsman are pretty spartan. The jack knife sofa expands to a comfortable and spacious 80×44-inch, full-size bed large enough to sleep two adults. There is no wet-bath, though the storage cabinet in the camper is large enough to store a porta-pottie for late night nature calls. The Sportsman comes with a 15 gallon fresh water holding tank (with an optional 27 gallon tank available), a horizontal 20-pound propane tank with gauge, a Thetford two-burner cooktop, a stainless steel sink with a manual hand pump, a 12 volt Truma Weekender C44 refrigerator-freezer chest, and a Truma VarioHeat furnace. The non-cabover camper also comes with a Zamp 170 watt solar power system, a group 31 AGM or lithium battery, a 10-speed MaxxAir Vent Fan, overhead storage, and blacked out window covers. Sold direct from Alaskan’s Winlock, Washington factory. Lists for $25,500.
9. Four Wheel Camper Flatbed Hawk
Based out of Woodland, California, Four Wheel Campers builds one of the best, most durable pop-up campers in the industry. With its narrow girth and distinct rear kick back, the Flatbed Hawk is completely at home in the extreme off-road environment. The camper is only 59 inches high with the pop-up down, weighs a paltry 1,325 pounds dry, and only 2,100 pounds fully loaded. Not only that, the one-piece, lightweight aluminum roof is water proof and will handle decades of use. Flatbed Hawk highlights include an east-west 72×78-inch bed, a small kitchenette, an Isotherm 1.7 cubic foot three-way refrigerator, and a large dinette in the rear. Popular options include a Wrappon Green 12 volt portable toilet, a dual battery box with Battle Born lithium batteries, an indoor shower, an Isotherm 65, 85, or 130 liter DC compressor refrigerator, 14 interior fabric choices, and an excellent 320 watt solar power option to extend your time off-grid. The only real negative with the Flatbed Hawk is the small size of the fresh water holding tank—it’s only 20 gallons—but this capacity can easily be expanded by installing another fresh water tank in the tray. Easily one of the 12 best pickup truck campers for sale in 2022. Built for full-size trucks equipped with a short, 6.5-foot tray. Pricing for the Flatbed Hawk starts at a very affordable $30,495. Available in numerous exterior colors in smooth or ribbed aluminum. This rock-crawling, low-profile beast may not be the largest truck camper in this list, but it can take you almost anywhere, and with its welded aluminum frame and aluminum exterior, will last for decades.
10. Rugged Mountain 9RL
Idaho-based Rugged Mountain started out as a tiny house builder, branched out into travel trailers in 2014, and launched a truck camper line in late 2016. This is a very good thing because Rugged Mountain builds a high-quality truck camper with real wood paneling, painted beadboard walls, hard wood cabinets, and a full walk-on TPO crowned roof. The camper’s spacious 8-foot 11-inch floorplan features a front wet-bath and dinette on the driver side and a two-way 5-cubic foot refrigerator and a large kitchen on the passenger side. Holding tanks sizes are excellent with 36 gallons fresh, 38 gallons grey, and 24 gallons black. The Granite 9RL features lots of interior storage, a 84-inch slide-out fishing pole drawer, a dual battery compartment with a battery cut-off switch, two 20-pound LP tanks, and a 6-gallon DSI water heater. While the Granite 9RL is a superb camper in its own right, the “Rugged Package” raises this camper to even loftier heights with Reico Titan remote controlled jacks, a 20-inch Furion stainless oven with glass folding cover, a stainless microwave, a ceramic tile backsplash in the kitchen and bathroom, PVC crown molding, a 24-inch stainless steel apron sink with pull-down faucet, a keyless entry, a Furrion stainless range hood, and a stainless refrigerator insert. A terrific camper framed entirely of wood, the Granite 9RL weighs only 3,459 pounds dry, putting it well with the payload ratings of all long-bed one-ton trucks. Fits on both short-bed and long-bed trucks. The MSRP for the base model of Rugged Mountain Granite 9RL is $28,350; the company’s exclusive “Rugged Package” adds another $9,920 to the price.
11. Lance 960
Lance Camper’s first new design in nearly six years, the Lance 960 was heavily influenced by truck camper owner feedback from across the country. It includes the latest advancements in seating with comfortable recliner seats and the latest tech, including the Truma Combi Eco Plus water heater-furnace, something we’ve been pushing with Lance for years. The ultra-quiet Truma Combi not only saves on weight but also space, resulting in more storage. Designed for single rear wheel (SRW) long-bed trucks, the Lance 960 weighs only 2,970 pounds dry, putting the camper at an acceptable 4,000 pounds fully loaded. The Lance 960’s 9-foot 11-inch floorplan features a gorgeous interior with medium gray wood-stained cabinets, a large wet bath with a bathroom sink, a small kitchen with a three-way 5-cubic foot refrigerator, and a north-south queen-size bed. Standards include Lance’s excellent one-piece TPO nose cap, which gives it a sleek and aerodynamic look, the Plastoform thermoplastic windows (first introduced in the excellent Lance 650), and the modern, radiused overhead cabinets in the interior. Popular options include a 100 watt solar power system, side and rear awnings, Battle Born lithium batteries, keyless entry with key FOB, and Lance’s excellent roof rack system. Tank capacities are excellent for this long-bed camper with 45 gallons fresh, 30 gallons grey, and 28 gallons black. The MSRP for the Lance 960 is a very affordable $44,460 for the base model and about $49,000 fully optioned-out. Available at top dealerships nationwide.
12. Bundutec Wild
A superb design by long-time truck camper designer and builder, Rory Willet, the Bundutec Wild was built with today’s half-ton truck in mind. Like all Bundutec pop-up campers, the Wild’s construction consists of a rugged wood frame, a one-piece fiberglass and aluminum frame roof, and attractive .040-inch smooth gray aluminum siding. But what really sets this half-ton camper apart from the rest, however, is that it offers not only a complete wet-bath, but also a grey water holding tank that makes using that wet-bath practical. The camper’s 7-foot floorplan features a kitchen and wet-bath on the driver side, a refrigerator with loads of storage on the front wall, and a full-length dinette on the passenger side. Highlights include a north-south 56×74-inch mattress with lift up under bed storage, a 21-gallon fresh water tank, a 17-gallon grey water holding tank, a NovaKool R3000 compressor refrigerator, a Thetford Cassette Toilet, a stainless steel sink, and Seitz window and door screens fine enough to keep out annoying “no-see-ums” bugs. A plethora of options are offered by Bundutec, including a 160 watt solar power system, the BunduAwn wrap-around awning, the Quick Pitch En-Suite Shower Enclosure, and the revolutionary Truma Combi water heater furnace that not only saves on weight and space, but is also whisper quiet when in operation. Weighs only 1,610 pounds dry. Easily one of the 12 Best Truck Campers for Sale in 2021. The list price for the Wild is only $26,993, a bargain when you consider all that you get for the money.
Now that Covid is here to stay, this list is even more important. A TC means independent traveling, or as my wife and I like to say, “Sheltering in place on wheels”!
We purchased a Host Mammoth 11.6, with the exact features optioned in your vehicle in February and have just finished a 10K mile 4 month excursion which took us around the USA from the Mexican Border to the Canadian Border and from Huntington Beach to the Outer Banks. We reside in AZ and have returned to 110 Degrees, Yikes!
This is our fourth TC, the last one being an amazing Lance 1121 Single Slide. The new Host had a lot to live up to and my wife and I will attest that it has done a respectable job.
Our trip tested the four season operational parameters right away, leaving AZ in 107 Degrees and using the AC / Gen system to Montana in snow storms at near 15 Degrees using full time heating. Without any Fresh Water additive, we had no freezing issues. However if I am doing extreme weather, we put a handle or two of Vodka into the fresh water tank to lower freezing point and to make TC layovers more fun!!
Anyhow, the Host Mammoth was (as stated) amazing, but not perfect. We noted three issues that will have to be addressed or at least accepted.
1.) The ladder is decorative only and completely inaccessible from the ground!!! On our Lance, we used the roof actively for gear stowage with a nice rack. Host provides a luggage rail but the ladder does not extend low enough to offer access to even the most nimble, with the lowest run over 5′ high. I see in the photo gallery there is an extension on the featured Mammoth, but when I called the factory, they explained that the extension was discontinued for 2019-> and I needed to purchase a ladder from home depot to get to my ladder. (By the way, the customer service could not have been more indignant and it probably didn’t help that I reminded him of how ridiculous his advice sounded after paying $70K for a new camper).
2.) The rain gutters exhaust in the camper front on both sides right at the Driver and Passenger front doors!!! In a rainstorm, even rain, there is a 2″ stream of water in columns flowing straight down about 11″ from the closed door. Not enough room to barely open the door and squeeze out mind you, but just right to fill the door handle cradle and window button recesses full of water, not to mention the lower door tray. I also asked the now weary factory customer service person about this situation and he said that I should fashion some channels that bring the water farther forward, which is what other more compliant Host Owners had done. OK, I said, not bringing up the $70K purchase price this time. I’m learning!
3.) There is not exhaust hood over the cooking burners and the smoke detector went off every time we used it to make breakfast. I spoke to the Host rep, on this matter as well and he explained that the central living room ceiling exhaust fan is the one which should be turned on while cooking and to crack the window behind the cooktop for air flow. Once again, a long Ok from me. I said nicely that we were in 107 degree outdoor temperatures and did not want to loose our nice cool air on one occasion and on a second occasion we were making breakfast at 15 degrees and snowing, and did not want to loose our nice warm air. In his rehearsed dismissive way, he told me it is what it is.
4.) Finally, and mysteriously, when we spend road time with the slides all closed and put down a 400 mile jaunt, we always find, on opening the slides, little piles of metal shards. Originally, we thought that it was leftover from assembly and just shaking out of the slides crevices, but after 10,000 miles of travel, we still get these little piles of metal shards, an occasional self threading tap screw, and pieces of staples. Mystery.
With all that said, the Host Mammoth has become a darling possession that we believe may just become our forever home! The solar is so productive, we only run the gen to turn on the AC. If you are a TCer, you know that the goal is to follow cool weather and never use the AC, ergo, we hardly ever used the Gen, which is fantastic. The dual coach batteries and inverter handles the TVs for nightly viewing, laptop charging, phone charging, lights, etc and never comes close to draining the batteries before the next morning sunrise.
In summary, if you have a women in your life, the Host Mammoth will bring her the creature comforts of a Class A while providing an unmatched Boondocking, 4X4 nimble / agile adventure capable TC.
BTW – My 11.6 Host Mammoth is paired with a 2020 Ford Crew, LB, F350 6.7 Diesel Dually and this truck required zero mods to handle the Mammoth, running wet and loaded at about #6000. Cruises down the road like a caddy, pulls hills like Lance Armstrong on steroids and clocked in at 10.1 mpg over 10K journey.
Thank you for the review! the shards, screws, and staples are a bit disconcerting!
Covid isn’t real so it isn’t here to stay.
Always make your sure your tinfoil hat is firmly in place before commenting!
At the top of your list Bigfoot should be alongside Northern Lite.
Bigfoot pioneered the design. Both the Bigfoot and Northern Lite in my opinion are the best built truck campers on the market.
Surprisingly the Capri is rated in your top ten. The camper is not that appealing and has a squared rear door. Then I realize these opinions are Influenced by sponsors more than fact.
Nope! If that was the case, we would only rate those who advertise with us, but we don’t operate that way. Others might, but not TCA. Five of the campers rated on this list don’t advertise with us at all. We do like the Bigfoot campers though and rated them very high in other rating lists like those made for one-ton trucks.
It’s all very subjective.
It’s like ranking flavours of ice cream and being worried somebody is going to copy your list.
Good morning truck campers. I add this note while enjoying my breakfast as strong 15 degrees winds pound against my beloved Bigfoot. We came from an Arctic Fox which was great but we do a lot of winter camping in the mountains and when the temperature dropped the fox would have lines on the wall where the aluminum structure conducted the cold in. Out first outing we hit the mountains and when we got up the thing we both noticed was there were not the hot and cold spots like the fox the temperature stays consistent in our tiny home away from home. The build quality is exceptional and the support from the factory is fantastic. When we ordered I had already planned my own solar inverter so I asked the factory to make a slight modification to the generator wiring and they did. As I installed the new system I reached out for some wiring info and they had it to me right away.
We took the opportunity to tour the factory some time ago while we were making our decision and ready appreciated the care we saw from employees at each stage of the assembly process. These people really want you to have the best possible camper experience.
All of that to say I think that Bigfoot should make the list!
God bless you all
Doug and Cindy
Thanks, Doug. We agree, but we’re limited on how many campers we can include in any one list. In this one, we tried to present a wide variety of campers. You’ll be happy to know that we’ve published other articles which rank the best campers by truck class, i.e. 3/4-ton and one-ton. Bigfoot has made it in all of those articles.
I would like to offer one additional thought. Out of all those rigs, the one that caught my eye and caused me to seek more information was the Apex 8. Believe me, I’m no pop up guy but that white on white look and that well balanced profile looked great.
So here is a little side bar comparison. I did some web surfing and quickly found an extremely comprehensive review. The owner noted the ease of working with the company but he also described several production issue’s. Things like water leaks and sub par wood work to name two. I agree with Mikes take on the unit, however for that price it would have to be perfect and rigged to the max. So you ask what else is there to buy? There is plenty and if I were in this market I would take a long look at that 850 built by Northstar. Watch the available videos taken at Princess Craft in Texas, they are very well done. Here are my observations. The water tank capacity is less but you could easily tote around three jerry cans and make it a push. The fridge is bigger and the wood working I bet is top notch. The 850 comes with the less desirable cassette toilet arrangement, personally I prefer the quality throne and larger black tank combo offered by the Apex. The two remaining items provide the real separation between the two units. The Northstar offers a tip out bunk suitable for kids and dogs and even adults that are vertically challenged. With it’s reasonable base price and even a few grand for uncle sam the total could still be around 35K and that’s out the door with every available option.
So there is my take. The pop up market truly has some great contenders offered to the market. For those of you who prefer this platform for what ever reason I encourage you to take the time to do the side by side comparisons. I think once this is done you well find Northstar at the top of the list or at least in the top three. Clearly if you are into traditional high quality construction preformed by a company that’s been around for decades, the choice should be clear.
Thanks Mike for the new material to read. I appreciate the coverage you have provided to the industry. Product discussion is vital to promoting improvements, growth and sales.
Regarding your selections, I was both surprised and grateful. New builders willing to go all in to manufacture RV’s that represent the smallest segment of the RV industry should be welcomed and commended when they produce a quality product. I believe Rugged Mountain deserves your praise. There 9 and 11 foot models are competing against some serious competition. Speaking of serious competition, I was disappointed to not see the new SS from Northstar not make the list. The increased size is well thought out and with it’s legendary quality I think the SS could be a winner for a large segment of the TC family. I am hoping Rex has success with the concept and is motivated to give the STC a fine tuning. Both clam shell builders have bounced back from company destroying problems. I have always had a preference for Bigfoot. I hope just because they were not recognized people don’t forget that they build quality and produce a TC with a great floor plan. Maybe last but not least Rory over at Bundutec is well deserving of the coverage. Gutsy and creative are two adjectives that come to mind when I read about his company. There willingness to follow HRC’s lead when it comes to smooth side medal siding has long endeared the company to me. I only wish more builders felt like I do when it comes to aluminum and fiberglass walls.
Camper number 1, the Host Mammoth, is mentioned as being a short bed camper. It is definitely a long bed camper …. Our 2017 model is wonderful!