When most people think of expedition vehicles, images of six- and seven-figure adventure trucks and globe-trotting overlanders come to mind. Massive custom builds, exotic equipment, and eye-watering price tags often dominate the conversation.
Dorian Hartfield, CEO of Buckstop Truckware, has a different idea.
His latest truck camper project isn’t about spending a quarter-million dollars or more to impress people at a campground. It’s about proving a point: a well-built truck camper rig can be every bit as capable as the most expensive expedition rig on the market—and for a fraction of the cost.
After putting his prototype build through 500 miles of brutal off-road punishment across Utah, Arizona, and Nevada, Hartfield has the scars, broken parts, and test data to back up that claim.
Twenty-Five Years of Building Better Trucks
This year marks Buckstop Truckware’s 25th anniversary, and the company has spent more than a decade pioneering super single wheel conversion systems for heavy-duty trucks.
For the past 16 years, Buckstop has been a fixture at Overland Expo events, showcasing American-made products designed and manufactured largely in-house. With facilities in Oregon and Texas, the company produces everything from bumpers and suspensions to wheels, complete vehicle builds, and worldwide installations.
For Hartfield, the latest truck camper project became the perfect rolling laboratory.
“We wanted a platform that could showcase what a truck camper is truly capable of,” he explains.
The result is a highly modified 2026 Ram 5500 carrying an unexpectedly humble camper.
The $250,000 Myth
In an era where adventure trucks regularly push well beyond the quarter-million-dollar mark, Hartfield intentionally chose a much different approach. Sitting atop his cutting-edge Ram is an older Northern Lite 10-2 truck camper.
Why an older camper? His answer is refreshingly simple.
“Because Northern Lite campers last and it was cheap.”
That’s it.
No exotic carbon-fiber shell. No custom-built European habitat. No endless waiting list. Just a proven fiberglass camper with good bones.
Hartfield believes one of the biggest misconceptions in the overland world is that capability requires an enormous budget.
“You don’t have to spend $250,000 to build one of these units.”
That philosophy became the foundation of the entire project.
From Worn-Out to Showstopper
The Northern Lite 10-2 truck camper wasn’t exactly pristine when Buckstop acquired it.
The camper was tired. The structure underneath needed reinforcement. The wiring had issues. Much of it required professional attention simply to make everything function properly. But hidden beneath the wear and tear was tremendous potential.
The camper already featured a substantial solar array, a complete Renogy lithium battery system, and a brand-new Laveo waterless toilet—three upgrades that immediately transformed it into a highly capable off-grid platform.
Then Buckstop added something unexpected.
A full exterior wrap. The transformation was dramatic.
“The wrap is a show stopper,” Hartfield says.
In fact, he believes camper wraps should become far more common throughout the industry. The project was largely completed in-house using a DIY approach, but the finished product turns heads everywhere it goes.
As Hartfield jokes, “It looks great at 70 mph.”
Meet the Beast: A Ram 5500 Built for Adventure
Underneath the camper sits what may be one of the most advanced truck camper platforms currently being tested. The foundation is a 2026 Ram 5500 Crew Cab with a 60-inch cab-to-axle configuration. The truck boasts a GVWR of 19,500 pounds.
Hartfield believes the Ram platform offers several advantages for heavy camper builds, particularly when combined with Buckstop’s single-wheel conversion.
“The new eight-speed transmission really works well,” he says.
He’s also impressed with the truck’s steering characteristics.
“The front-end steering on Ram seems to control the big tires better than Ford.”
And those tires are anything but ordinary. The truck rides on massive Michelin X-Force ZL 43-inch super singles measuring 365/80R20. Despite their enormous size and 9,000-plus-pound load capacity, Hartfield says they’ve proven surprisingly refined.
“They’re quiet. They run true. They actually ride softer than some of the 41-inch tires we’ve tested.”
Suspension from the Future
Perhaps the most fascinating aspect of the build lies beneath the chassis. The truck serves as a development platform for Buckstop’s prototype Wildland Active Electronic Suspension System.
This isn’t simply a lift kit with upgraded shocks. Buckstop’s Wildland system utilizes an onboard ECU that constantly analyzes information from the truck and an inertia measurement system. Based on driving conditions, it actively adjusts shock valving in real time.
Cruising down the highway? The suspension remains soft and comfortable.
Charging through desert terrain? The shocks automatically stiffen to improve control.
Turning a corner? The system reacts accordingly.
Buckstop pairs the active damping technology with softer, more progressive rear leaf springs that improve ride quality while allowing the electronic shocks to handle body control duties.
Drivers can also choose from three different suspension algorithms tailored for:
- Highway travel
- Technical off-road trails
- High-speed desert driving
The result is a truck that adapts to wildly different terrain without requiring manual adjustments.
A Prototype Bed with a Big Goal
The truck’s suspension isn’t the only prototype onboard. The flatbed itself is also a future Buckstop product currently undergoing testing.
Constructed from aluminum, the bed features a low-profile design and free-floating frame mounting intended to improve durability and ride quality.
The goal is to simplify the entire truck camper build process. Instead of sourcing components from multiple vendors and transporting a truck across several shops, customers could eventually arrive at Buckstop with a stock truck and leave with a fully integrated adventure vehicle.
“It’s a one-stop solution,” Hartfield says.
Trial by Fire: The Trail Hero Expedition
Every prototype eventually faces a moment of truth. For this build, that moment came during the 2026 Trail Hero Expedition.
Over five days, the truck tackled roughly 500 miles of relentless off-road terrain throughout southern Utah, Arizona, and Nevada. This wasn’t a casual camping trip spent at campgrounds and RV parks.
The route included:
- Rock crawling
- Desert racing terrain
- Water crossings
- Technical obstacles
- Long-distance overland travel
And yes—the Northern Lite truck camper was on the back the entire time.
“We took it over places that you’d never think you’d see a truck camper.”
The team intentionally pushed the vehicle to its limits.
Things broke. But that was the point. Testing exposes weaknesses. Development refines them. By the end of the 500-mile expedition, Hartfield felt the overall concept had proven itself.
“The basic plan was great. We’re really just fine-tuning at this point.”
Expedition Capability Without Expedition Pricing
The truck’s biggest achievement may be the argument it makes for truck campers as a whole. Hartfield believes many adventurers overlook slide-in truck campers because purpose-built expedition vehicles receive so much attention. Yet he argues that modern truck campers offer a compelling alternative.
The camper itself can be purchased independently, allowing owners to select anything from a used model costing around $15,000 to premium new units exceeding $100,000. Add a capable truck, a single-wheel conversion, and the right upgrades, and buyers can create an expedition-ready platform for roughly $150,000.
Yes that’s still significant money, but compared to many custom adventure trucks, it’s often one-third—or even one-quarter—the cost. And according to Hartfield, the capability gap is far smaller than many assume.
“The truck itself has equal or more capability than anything out there—from EarthRoamer to GXV to any other adventure truck.”
It’s a bold statement.
After surviving five days of punishment across some of the toughest terrain in the Southwest, his truck has certainly earned the right to make it.
“This rig can go anywhere you want in comfort—we’ve proven that,” Hartfield said. “But the kicker is the house part of it. A camper that is available as a stand-alone unit, can be purchased anywhere from $15,000 used to over $100,000 new. They are available immediately—no waiting for orders to be built. A person can get a nice, low mileage truck, bring it to Buckstop for a single wheel conversion, and mount a quality camper for $150,000 all-in. Granted, that’s still a big number, but three to four times less and equally capable as a purpose built adventure truck. It’s a great way to go.”
What’s Next?
For now, the truck serves primarily as Buckstop’s rolling showcase and development platform. Visitors can expect to see it at Overland Expo events, off-road races, industry gatherings, and adventure vehicle exhibitions throughout the coming year.
Meanwhile, Buckstop engineers will continue refining the prototype suspension, bed system, and other components before bringing them to market.
The mission remains the same as it was when the project started: Build a truck camper rig that can go anywhere. Prove that capability doesn’t require spending a fortune. And inspire more people to get off pavement.
Hartfield’s final advice couldn’t be simpler:
“Join the growing group of truck camper adventurers and get off-road!”
To learn more about Buckstop Truckware and Trail Ready products or to get a quote, email Dorian Hartfield at Buckstop directly at dorian@buckstop.biz.
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