Not too long ago, finding a true hard-side slide-in camper for a mid-size pickup was a challenge. Most traditional hard-side campers were simply too large and too heavy for trucks like the Toyota Tacoma, Ford Ranger, Chevrolet Colorado, GMC Canyon, Jeep Gladiator, and Nissan Frontier. Fortunately, that’s beginning to change.
Today, a growing number of manufacturers are designing hard-side campers specifically with mid-size trucks in mind. And we’re not talking about pop-up campers or truck toppers. These are fully enclosed, hard-wall slide-in truck campers, with offerings ranging from ultra-light, minimalist designs weighing around 500 lbs to more traditional campers equipped with holding tanks, kitchens, toilets, and even a wet bath.
Of course, these campers aren’t created equal. Some achieve their remarkably low weights by eliminating traditional plumbing systems, propane appliances, and holding tanks. Others offer many of the same amenities found in larger truck campers, but with a corresponding increase in weight. Construction methods vary considerably, too, ranging from traditional wood framing and welded aluminum frames to composite panels and aluminum monocoque shells.
The following table compares 10 hard-side slide-in campers currently available for midsize trucks, arranged from lightest to heaviest. We’ve included the specifications that matter most when comparing these campers: dry weight, floor length, fresh-, gray-, and black-water capacities, propane capacity, and construction method.
One important caveat: just because a camper is designed to fit a midsize truck doesn’t mean every Tacoma, Ranger, Colorado, Canyon, Gladiator, or Frontier has sufficient payload to safely haul it. Always check the payload rating on your specific truck and remember to account for passengers, water, propane, camper options, food, and gear when calculating your total load.
| Camper | Dry Weight | Wet Weight | Floor Length | Water Tanks | Propane | Construction / Framing |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tennessee Truck Campers 6′ | 500 lbs | ~500 lbs | 71″ | Optional fresh | None | Fiberglass/composite panels; no structural wood |
| AT Overland Aterra 600 | 757 lbs | ~857 lbs | 74″ | 12-0-0 | 10 lbs optional | Structural honeycomb-composite panels; frameless composite construction |
| Kimbo 6 | 830 lbs | ~875 lbs | 72.88″ | 2.9-0-0 | 20 lbs; 30 lbs optional | Frameless, hand-riveted 5052 aluminum monocoque |
| Soaring Eagle Adlar 5.0 | 900 lbs | 900 lbs | 57″ | None | None standard | Welded tubular aluminum frame; composite backing; seamless fiberglass exterior |
| Scout Yoho Hardwall | 929 lbs | ~980 lbs | 69.75″ | 4.9-0-0 | 10 lbs | Aluminum exoskeleton; composite substrate; fiberglass exterior/roof |
| Capri Retreat Midsize | 950 lbs | ~1,100 lbs | 72″ | 10 or 16 gal fresh only | 20 lbs when equipped | Solid-wood frame; insulated; anodized aluminum skin; one-piece aluminum roof |
| Sun Trek 550 | 1,018 lbs | ~1,193 lbs | 73″ | 21-0-0 | None | Vacuum-bonded laminated sidewalls; one-piece PVC roof membrane |
| Travel Lite Up Country 365U-XS | 1,130 lbs | ~1,322 lbs | 72″ | 13-5-5C | 20 lbs | Wood-free laminated/aluminum construction; Hydro-Lite exterior; aluminum-trussed roof |
| Travel Lite Up Country 550U-XS | 1,150 lbs | ~1,342 lbs | 65″ | 13-5-5C | 20 lbs | Wood-free laminated/aluminum construction; Hydro-Lite exterior; aluminum-trussed roof |
| Sun Trek 600 | 1,188 lbs | ~1,400 lbs | 72.5″ | 21-0-4.7C | 20 lbs optional | Vacuum-bonded laminated sidewalls; one-piece PVC roof membrane |
| Lance Squire SQ605 | 1,326 lbs | ~1,551 lbs | 72″ | 17-10-0 | 20 lbs | Aluminum-framed walls, floor, cabover and roof; Azdel and foam insulation; fiberglass exterior |
| Lance Squire SQ610 | 1,486 lbs | ~1,881 lbs | 82″ | 15-14-16 | 20 lbs | Aluminum-framed walls, floor, cabover and roof; Azdel and foam insulation; fiberglass exterior |
Water Tanks: Fresh-Gray-Black or Cassette toilet,in gallons.
