Kimbo Campers has carved out a distinctive niche in the truck camper market with a construction method that looks more like something from the marine or aviation world than the RV industry. Founded by Mark King and built by hand in Bellingham, Washington, Kimbo specializes in lightweight, aluminum hardwall campers with a focus on durability, simplicity, and long-term serviceability. The current lineup consists of two models: the compact Kimbo 6, designed primarily for midsize trucks, and the larger Kimbo 8 for full-size pickups. Both are remarkably lightweight for hardwall campers, with base dry weights of just 830 and 1,125 pounds, respectively.
Construction is where Kimbo really stands apart. Instead of a conventional wood or aluminum frame covered with fiberglass siding, each camper is built from 0.1-inch-thick 5052 marine-grade aluminum formed into a frameless monocoque shell. The aluminum sections are hand-riveted together at approximately 1.5-inch intervals, sealed from the inside, and assembled without an internal structural frame. Kimbo compares the process to aluminum boat construction, where the shell itself carries the structural loads and is designed to endure constant movement and exposure to the elements. There’s no structural wood to rot, no laminated fiberglass exterior to delaminate, and individual aluminum sections and rivets can be repaired if damaged. Even the insulation and interior panels are designed to be removable, providing access to the shell, wiring, and other components for future repairs or upgrades.
Four-season capability is another important part of the Kimbo formula, though the two models take different approaches. The Kimbo 6 uses R-5 rigid-foam insulation throughout the walls and ceiling, along with double-pane Arctic Tern windows and an insulated entry door. A chimney pass-through is pre-installed for an optional Dickinson Marine propane heater, giving the lightweight K6 genuine cold-weather capability without saddling every camper with the additional weight of a permanent heating system. The Kimbo 8 takes four-season performance considerably further with 2-inch-thick R-10 rigid-foam insulation in the walls and ceiling—twice the R-value of the K6—along with double-pane Arctic Tern windows and the choice of a factory-installed Dickinson propane or diesel heater. Kimbo says the K8 was engineered specifically for sub-freezing travel and extended cold-weather camping.
The differences between the two campers allow Kimbo to cover a surprisingly broad range of trucks and camping styles. The 6 is the minimalist of the pair, offering a modular interior and optional bathroom components while keeping weight low enough for many midsize and properly equipped half-ton trucks. The Kimbo 8 expands the concept for full-size pickups with a queen-size cabover bed, dedicated wet bath, R-10 insulation, and substantially greater capacity for extended travel. Yet both remain faithful to the same philosophy: keep the structure simple, eliminate unnecessary failure points, make components accessible for repair, and build the shell to last for decades rather than years. For buyers who value low weight, payload efficiency, four-season capability, and rugged construction, Kimbo offers one of the most unconventional—and intriguing—approaches to the modern hardwall truck camper.
Water Tanks: Fresh-Gray-Black in gallons.
For more information about Kimbo Campers or to get a quote, email the company directly at sales@kimboliving.com.
