Best New Truck Camper Models for 2021

There’s no doubt about it, the truck camper industry is healthy and strong with the release of eight new models in 2020. While it’s true that the COVID-19 pandemic had a major impact on the nation’s economy, that wasn’t the case with the truck camper industry and the RV industry as a whole. Indeed, most RV company’s reported record sales as Americans looked for a safe way to vacation and socially distance in their “COVID campers.” Sure, there were issues sourcing parts as manufacturers temporarily closed their plants, yet most truck camper manufacturers were able to adapt and overcome. In 2020, the truck camper industry saw the release of several new truck camper models and floorplans that will for sure be a hit in 2021. Here are the best of these new releases for 2021. Remember, you saw this comprehensive, well-researched list here first, well before Internet copycats with nearly identical lists publish theirs.

1. KingStar Camino 88

Our favorite new truck camper release for 2021 from a brand-new company, Michigan-based KingStar. Made 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 twin lounging seats with powered foot rests, underfloor storage, a wall-mounted air conditioner, and a stainless steel shower. KingStar offers four distinct interior layouts, all of which include an east-west overcab sleeper berth, with a north-south berth coming in 2021. 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 the north-south model).

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, two AGM batteries, and pullout tables. The smorgasbord of Camino 88 options include a Norcold Furnace, a Norcold AC/DC compressor refrigerator, two shower options, a propane cooktop, a 4-gallon Thetford toilet, carpeting, “soft touch” ceilings, a Dometic Heki Skylight, and a full entertainment package. Of course, KingStar’s amazing Hitch Pack, Hitch Pack Tower, and Jack Pack can be ordered as an add-on accessories for additional storage. Available in either retro aluminum or “slick-side” fiberglass siding, with several exterior color options to choose from. Starting at $21,500 for the Open Range model, the KingStar Camino 88 is sold factory direct in Michigan.

2. Lance 960

Lance Camper’s first new design in nearly five 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 in technology, 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.

The Lance 960 is modern looking inside and out. It features 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, 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. Arriving at top dealerships nationwide in early 2021.

3. Scout Olympic 6.5

Due to the innovative exo-skeleton design and the camper’s 1,133-pound dry weight, the Scout Olympic is one of our favorite new designs for 2021. With its low dry weight, the Scout Olympic 6.5 has been designed to fit on most half-ton pickup trucks, like the ever-popular Ford F-150, Toyota Tundra, Chevy Silverado 1500, and Ram 1500. Like all Scout campers, the Olympic incorporates a number of industry-first add-ons to save on weight. These removable add-ons include a roof-top pop-up tent, that increases the sleeping capacity by two, a Dometic CFX3 75L refrigerator-freezer with WiFi, a 4.9-gallon removable water tank, a removable dining table, a Yeti Goal Zero 1500x lithium battery pack, and a removable propane cooktop. Standard features include a Renogy 160 watt solar panel, a moon roof with a screen and solar reflective shade, a four-person dinette with sleeper conversion, and dual 5-pound propane bottles.

The Scout Olympic supports four-season travel with an optional Newport Real Flame 4,500 BTU propane fireplace and standard robust insulation. Interested in a long-bed model for a half-ton truck? The company has that covered too with the Scout Kenai, which features a floor length of 7.6 feet, a dry weight of 1,370 pounds, and a Thetford cassette toilet. One of the best new releases in 2020, the starting price for the Scout Olympic base model is only $19,980. Available at top dealerships nationwide.

4. Bundutec Roadrunner

Truck camper guru and BundutecUSA owner, Rory Willett, likes his campers to stand out in a crowd and this one does because the Roadrunner is great-looking camper. Like all Bundutec campers, the Roadrunner is constructed of wood and overlayed with either a smooth grey aluminum or a grey fiberglass siding. The Roadrunner’s 8-foot 7-inch floorplan features a north-south 80×60-inch bed with a large kitchen and a wardrobe on the driver’s side and a huge 30×36-inch wetbath and a 66-inch long U-shaped dinette on the passenger side. Standard features include a 35-gallon fresh water tank, a 20-gallon grey water holding tank, a Thetford cassette toilet, the revolutionary Truma Combi Eco Plus water heater furnace, an exterior shower, Seitz windows, and a Dometic CR1110 3.7 cubic foot compressor refrigerator.

Bundutec offers a plethora of options for those who are looking for additional conveniences while on the road, including a Zamp 340 watt solar power system, lithium ion batteries, a True Induction Dual Cooktop, and a 3,000 watt Xantrex inverter with a built-in transfer relay, which, when coupled with the camper’s large solar power system, offers true energy independence off-grid. With a dry weight of 2,450 pounds, the Roadrunner should only be hauled on a one-ton truck. Fits on both short-bed and long-bed trucks. A terrific new release and the camper we own, the list price for the Bundutec Roadrunner only $29,313. Sold factory direct only in Raymond, Iowa.

5. NuCamp Cirrus 620

NuCamp’s first attempt at building a true half-ton capable truck camper in 2019 failed with the company releasing the excellent Cirrus 720 for 3/4-ton trucks instead. But where the Cirrus 720 failed, the brand-new Cirrus 620 succeeds. The Cirrus 620 weighs only 1,491 pounds dry making it an excellent payload match for most half-ton pickups. The floorplan features a refrigerator and a hideaway Thetford swivel cassette toilet on the driver side, a small kitchenette on the passenger side, and a small dinette and north-south queen size bed up front. The interior height is a shade over 6 feet 4 inches. Unfortunately, NuCamp designers were unable to shoe-horn a wetbath into the camper’s diminutive 5-foot 9-inch floorplan though you can take a shower outside using the company’s excellent Nautilus Water Management System.

Standard features of the Cirrus 620 include a 2.3 cubic foot DC compressor refrigerator, a 19-gallon fresh water holding tank, a 15-gallon grey water holding tank, the all-in-one Alde hydronic water heater and furnace, the Froli Modular Sleep System, one 5 gallon propane tank, a 210 watt solar power system, and a vented battery compartment large enough to hold two group-24 batteries. The general shape of the camper is very reminiscent of the popular and much larger Cirrus 820 model, though you won’t find anything like the 820’s rear bumper and entry steps on this model. The bumper’s weight was too prohibitive, but the camper does feature a hidden ratchet-style tie down system that presents cleaner lines and fewer outriggers for those who enjoy driving off-road. The NuCamp Cirrus 620 truck camper lists for a $38,591. Available at top dealerships nationwide in January 2021.

6. SuperTramp Flagship 6.5 Pop-Up

A new truck camper company that we’re really excited about, SuperTramp just released a high-quality, fiberglass composite pop-up called the Flagship 6.5. Designed and manufactured in-house, the Flagship 6.5’s monocoque structure consists of a 100 percent composite fiberglass/epoxy shell using a vacuum infusion process for an optimum strength-to-weight ratio. Capable of sleeping up to four, the camper floorplan features a queen-size cabover bed, a full kitchenette, a dinette and a wetbath. The Flagship 6.5 features a removable jack system for serious off-roading and a top that raises and lowers using four electric linear actuators in just 10 seconds. The camper also features two configurations for the open front with the pop-top extended—an insulated fabric front or solid, removable Velcro panels for improved winter insulation.

Standards for this space-age camper include a 200 watt solar power system, 28 gallon fresh water holding tank, an 18 gallon grey water holding tank, two 10-pound propane tanks, two Dometic Seitz thermopane windows with interior screens and shades, an interior and exterior shower, a heated basement, two Maxxair vent fans, an Isotherm DC compressor refrigerator, a pull-out exterior stove, a porta pottie, and a Truma Combi Eco water heater-furnace. The Flagship 6.5 is made for full-size trucks with 6.5-foot and 8-foot beds with floor length of 82-inches and 100 inches respectively. The camper fully kitted-out weighs only 1,400 pounds. Sold factory-direct for $50,000 for a fully optioned-out model from the company’s Golden, Colorado factory only.

7. Northwood Manufacturing Wolf Creek 890

Northwood Manufacturing finally released a new truck camper, the Wolf Creek 890, the first since the Wolf Creek 840 was unveiled in 2014. What makes this truck camper so welcome is its size and light weight—only 2,284 pounds dry—a far cry from its nearly identical Arctic Fox 865 cousin, which weighs a hefty 3,236 pounds. Fortunately, the Wolf Creek 890 still delivers the goods in a major way. Not only is the camper’s floor length generous, at 9 feet 1 inches long, but it also has decent size holding tanks with 31 gallons fresh, 32 gallons grey, and 30 gallons black. The Wolf Creek 890’s modern and attractive interior features a full-length kitchen on the driver side, a north-south queen-size bed forward, and a 40 x 70-inch dinette and wetbath on the passenger side. The wetbath is located forward, making the interior feel more open and less claustrophobic.

Standard features include a Zamp 45-watt obsidian solar panel, a 20,000 BTU propane fired furnace, two 20-pound propane tanks, a 6-gallon DSI water heater, a 45-amp Progressive Dynamics converter/charger with a three-stage Charge Wizard, and a two-way 5-cubic foot refrigerator. The mandatory Wolf Pack “option” includes a Cold Weather Kit to all the refrigerators, allowing for operation down 0-degree F temperatures, a larger Phatt heavier guage ladder, and a rear view camera. Available in either a short-bed or long-bed configuration. The Wolf Creek 890’s best options include Torklift’s excellent Fox Landing Step, thermal pane windows, an Onan 2500 LP generator (short-box only), side storage boxes (short-box only), and a 170 watt solar power system. The base MSRP for the Wolf Creek 890 is $25,034. Available at top dealerships nationwide.

8. Bison Overland Space Wrangler

Based out of the great state of Oklahoma—Go Sooners—Bison Overland is another new kid on the truck camper manufacturing block. With its narrow girth and angled rear kick back, the exterior of Space Wrangler resembles the Four Wheel Camper Flatbed Hawk, only stronger with some added enhancements and a more aggressive, military look. The welded aluminum frame features 1/8-inch aluminum trim and a thicker 1/16-inch skin on the exterior that holds up to abuse from branches on the trail better. The Space Wrangler’s roof is constructed using a full composite, one piece roof panel that is strong enough to stand on. Better yet, their jack mounts are built into the base of the frame to keep the center of gravity low, providing less wobble when mounting and removing the camper.

But Bison Overland’s optional power management package is where this camper really shines with a Redarc Redvision Total Vehicle Management System, a Redarc Manager 30 Battery Management System, a 2,000 watt inverter, a Zamp Obsidian 200 watt solar panel, an exterior solar power port, and a DC-DC alternator charging circuit. Options include Dakota lithium batteries, outdoor cargo and storage access, and Dometic manual or electric awnings. The standard build provides an east-west cabover, but the company also offers a unique “garage” option underneath a north-south bed large enough to carry two mountain bikes on a full slide-out tray. The Space Wrangler floorplan with garage is 8-feet 6 inches long. Can be ordered as a simple shell for $20,000 or with an interior build-out for a yet-to-be-determined price, which the company will be offering in early 2021. Sold factory direct from Bison Overland’s Tulsa, Oklahoma factory only.