The Outpost 6.5 has been chosen as the 2026 Truck Camper of the Year by Truck Camper Adventure. The one thing that really sets this camper apart from the competition is the electrical system. The Outpost 6.5 features a fully-integrated 48 volt Ecoflow electrical system with a 5 kilowatt hour lithium battery as standard. In familiar 12 volt terms, that’s a 415 amp hour lithium battery. That’s huge for a camper that weighs only 1,500 pounds. The short-bed truck camper also features 250 watts of expandable rooftop solar, powder-coated aluminum cabinetry, a queen-size cabover bed, a large sink, a portable cassette toilet, a portable induction cooktop, an elegantly designed modern interior, and a lot more. There’s no doubt about it, when it comes to weight and capabilities, there isn’t a better equipped truck camper in today’s market than the Outpost 6.5.
Today’s Outpost 6.5 incorporates significant changes and upgrades compared to the 2024 debut model. So what’s new and improved about today’s Outpost 6.5 model that first debuted at the 2025 Truck Camper Adventure Quartzsite Rally? For one, the company completely redesigned the camper shell body. Outpost switched to a domestic supplier for the company’s composite panels and redesigned the shape of the camper. A lot of the camper’s dimensions remained the same, but Outpost redesigned the nose to have some curvature to it and to have a larger, more spacious cabover. It’s still an east-west orientation, but the change provides extra room with the extra bump out in the nose. The upgrade also helps with the aerodynamics because it’s got some curvature up there.
While this change to a domestic supplier for the camper shell is significant, the Outpost 6.5 still feels the same with its no-wood, composite structure. It’s still a thermal, transfer-free camper yet the difference this time is that the exterior features an aluminum exoskeleton for extra strength that also offers more shape. Today’s Outpost 6.5 also features a flat acrylic windows rather than a “bubble” style windows. According to Ripp, the 2026 version is using the same powder-coated aluminum cabinetry and the same door.
To learn more about this amazing little camper and his thoughts on winning this award, we spoke with Taylor Ripp, Outpost Camper owner and CEO.
Thanks, Taylor, for talking with us. Congratulations on the Outpost 6.5 winning this award.
Taylor Ripp: Thanks, Mike. As a small company based in a part of the country not traditionally known for camper manufacturing, this is a huge honor. When we launched the Outpost 6.5 in the summer of 2024, we knew we were onto something, but at the time, we were really just building the camper we wanted that we felt didn’t exist on the market. Since then, we’ve been blown away by the response and the enthusiasm from customers. Seeing all the hard work that went into designing and producing the Outpost 6.5 recognized by a major publication in the truck camper world is incredibly rewarding for our entire team. With over 100 Outpost 6.5 campers now on the road and some exciting new things in the pipeline, we’re just getting started.
Let’s start from the beginning, how did Outpost Campers get started?
Taylor Ripp: The company started over eight years ago literally in my driveway, building campervans. What began as a hobby evolved into a small business, eventually leading to San Juan Vans, where we built high-end 4WD Sprinter campervans. That experience taught us how to design highly capable off-grid systems and leverage new lithium battery technologies for truly independent travel.
In 2023, we began experimenting with composite camper construction and realized we could apply the same off-grid capabilities and design principles from our custom vans to a production-model truck camper, delivering the same performance at a far lower cost. We built and tested several prototypes, refined our supply chain, and launched the Outpost 6.5 in summer 2024. We honestly didn’t know how it would be received, we just knew it was the camper we wanted. Fortunately, a lot of people felt the same way!
What makes the Outpost 6.5 different from other truck campers in today’s market?
Taylor Ripp: The Outpost 6.5 is truly built from the ground up to be an off-grid adventure machine at an unbeatable value. From its composite construction to the robust off-grid electrical system that comes standard, everything is designed for people who want to pull off a Forest Service or BLM road and immediately have a comfortable, capable base camp. As adventurers ourselves exploring from our home base in southwest Colorado, we built the Outpost 6.5 for the kind of off-grid experiences we love—far from the RV parks and deep into the backcountry.
What features come standard in the Outpost 6.5?
Taylor Ripp: The Outpost 6.5 is a fully composite-constructed camper that comes standard with the industry-leading EcoFlow 5 kWh 48 volt power system, 250 watts of expandable rooftop solar, powder-coated aluminum cabinetry, a queen-size cabover bed, large sink, portable cassette toilet, portable induction cooktop, and an elegantly designed modern interior. It’s a complete, turn-key setup for extended off-grid adventure straight from the factory.
What are Outpost Camper’s best options?
Taylor Ripp: The “best” options really depend on how and where you camp. In cooler climates, the air conditioner might be unnecessary; in hot climates, it’s essential. Personally, I think the diesel heater and extra solar panel are must-haves for the type of camping I enjoy. Our most popular options are the Espar diesel heater, 48 volt off-grid air conditioner, and additional rooftop solar panel (for a total of 500 watts). We also offer MOLLE panels for exterior storage. Overall, we designed the base model to cover about 90 percent of what most users need, with options available to tailor the camper for each individual’s adventures.
What are the reasons behind the Outpost 6.5’s popularity?
Taylor Ripp: While $40,000 is still a significant investment, the Outpost 6.5 delivers the performance and comfort of a $250,000 Sprinter van or other high-end expedition rig at a fraction of the cost. The modern, clean interior design is also a huge piece of the positive feedback we get. Pair it with a capable 4×4 truck, and you’ve got a serious adventure platform offering exceptional capability, comfort, and value. It’s a simple, elegant, and attainable way to explore far beyond the pavement.
What trucks work best with the Outpost 6.5?
Taylor Ripp: The Outpost 6.5 is designed to fit standard full-size North American pickup trucks with a 6.5-foot bed or longer (with the tailgate closed). As with any truck camper, payload capacity is key. Most customers mount the Outpost 6.5 on 3/4-ton or one-ton Ford, GM, or Ram trucks, which provide plenty of capacity for the camper’s approximately 1,500-pound dry weight plus all of the additional things people like to bring on their adventures.
Can you explain how the Outpost 6.5 camper is built?
Taylor Ripp: The camper’s body is constructed from domestically sourced composite SIP (structural insulated panel) material—a “sandwich” of recycled-plastic PET foam core with fiberglass skins. The panels are bonded with a proprietary aluminum extrusion system that eliminates thermal transfer and creates a lightweight, incredibly strong, and fully weatherproof shell.
There’s no wood or steel framing to rot or corrode, and the insulation value is outstanding. This type of composite construction has long been proven in Europe and Australia and is now gaining traction in North America.
Inside, we use powder-coated aluminum cabinetry, composite sub-floors with integrated storage, and double-pane acrylic windows built specifically for this kind of structure resulting in a lightweight, durable, and four-season-ready camper.
How large is the Outpost’s workforce, and where are you located?
Taylor Ripp: We’re a growing team of 16 people based in Bayfield, Colorado, a small town near Durango. Our team is passionate, hardworking, and extremely dedicated to building a quality product. We’re expanding quickly but carefully, making sure that growth never compromises craftsmanship or quality.
Any big plans for the future?
Taylor Ripp: Absolutely! Outpost Campers is just getting started. We recently moved into a brand-new, purpose-built production facility and are scaling up our team and manufacturing capacity to meet growing demand. We’re also actively developing a larger Outpost 8.0 model based on overwhelming customer requests—more details coming soon! With new design talent and continued investment in innovation, we’re excited to keep pushing boundaries in off-grid composite camper design.
Interested in learning more about Outpost Campers or in getting a quote? Contact the company directly via email at info@outpost-campers.com.
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