Real-World Review: Why the Kingstar KRUZR 8 Camper Is Turning Heads in the RV Market

In the world of premium non-slide truck campers, Kingstar has quickly carved out a reputation as one of the industry’s top manufacturers. The company’s success, however, hasn’t come from chasing trends or building campers designed simply to look good on a dealer lot. Instead, Kingstar has focused on something much harder to achieve: creating campers that combine exceptional craftsmanship, luxury accommodations, and true off-grid capability.

From the outside, Kingstar campers immediately stand apart. The bold exterior styling, stainless steel accents, and attention to detail give them a distinctive presence that is hard to ignore. Step inside, however, and the craftsmanship becomes even more apparent. The interiors are thoughtfully designed, beautifully finished, and built with the kind of quality rarely seen in today’s RV market.

Interestingly, Kingstar’s roots are not in RV manufacturing. The company originally built its reputation producing innovative horse trailers and serving the rodeo and cowboy communities. That background is important because it shaped the company’s approach to construction—build it strong, build it right, and build it to last. As Kingstar expanded into the RV and overlanding markets, it brought that same philosophy with it.

The result is the KRUZR Series, a lineup of truck campers designed for serious travelers who want to explore remote places without giving up the comforts of home.

The KRUZR is available in multiple configurations, including two widths: a standard 7-foot 7-inch model and an 8-foot-wide CA/Flatbed version. Buyers can choose from three lengths—the 6, 8, and 10 Series—as well as two rear roof designs: Fast Back and Flat Back. Each model is engineered with premium features such as stainless steel roofing, thermal-pane windows, R-13 closed-cell spray foam insulation, Victron electrical systems, lithium battery options, large freshwater capacities, and even optional K9 kennels for traveling companions.

The standard KRUZR 8 arrives ready for extended off-grid travel with a well-designed electrical and climate-control package. Standard equipment includes an Epoch 460 amp-hour self-heated lithium battery, 400 watts of solar power, and a Victron 3,000-watt inverter. The camper also includes a Truma Combi furnace and water heater, Victron Cerbo GX-50 touchscreen controller, Danby 8,000-BTU wall-mounted air conditioner, MAXXAIR 7500 Deluxe roof fan, and Vitrifrigo 5.3-cubic-foot DC compressor refrigerator/freezer.

Water and waste capacities are equally impressive, with a heated 32-gallon freshwater tank, 20-gallon gray tank, 4.75-gallon cassette toilet, and dual 20-pound propane cylinders. For many campers, this level of equipment would be considered optional. For Kingstar, it’s simply part of building a capable adventure platform.

Building Our Ultimate KRUZR 8

The standard KRUZR 8 is already an impressive camper, but we wanted to create something specifically tailored to our style of travel. At 9 feet 2 inches long and 7 feet 7 inches wide, it offers plenty of space, but we wanted to maximize its off-grid capability and comfort.

We started with the already capable 400-watt solar system and doubled it, adding another 400 watts for a total of 800 watts of rooftop solar. We also selected several premium upgrades, including Kingstar’s beautiful Luxe walnut countertop option, the entertainment package with stereo system and smart TV, Tern Overland’s Wildlands entry door, a Furrion dual induction cooktop, Kingstar’s Overland Pack with Fold-N-Go stairs, and the Communications Package featuring the Peplink 5G Mobile Internet Bundle.

Nearly every option proved to be an excellent addition. The walnut countertops add warmth and elegance, the Wildlands door has been fantastic for ventilation and security, and the additional solar capacity provides tremendous freedom when camping away from hookups. The only option we would reconsider is the Peplink system. While it works well, Starlink would have better matched our style of travel and remote adventures.

For our build, we selected Kingstar’s Fast Back model with its distinctive sloped rear roofline. This design choice dramatically improves the camper’s appearance and, in our opinion, makes it one of the best-looking non-slide campers available today.

The combination of the Fast Back profile, stainless steel Overland Pack, and folding rear stairs gives the KRUZR 8 a sleek, modern appearance while still maintaining a respectable departure angle for backcountry exploration.

The Fast Back design does come with one compromise: the exposed gray water tank underneath the camper. Because of this, the Fast Back is better suited for three-season camping rather than extreme winter conditions. For us, traveling primarily in Arizona, this is hardly a concern. Those who frequently camp in freezing temperatures would likely prefer Kingstar’s Flat Back models, which feature enclosed and heated gray tanks for true four-season capability.

However, the living space itself remains exceptionally well protected thanks to the camper’s heavy duty R-13 insulation, thermal-pane windows, and quality construction. In everyday use, that level of comfort matters far more than a single component limitation.

So, how much does this luxury adventure camper weigh?

Our fully equipped KRUZR 8 weighs 4,760 pounds, which is very close to Kingstar’s published wet weight rating of 4,595 pounds. That accuracy is something we appreciate. Unlike some manufacturers that advertise unrealistic weights, Kingstar’s numbers reflect the real-world camper owners actually receive.

The reality is that nearly 4,800 pounds of camper requires the right truck. While a properly equipped one-ton dually can carry the KRUZR 8, we wanted additional capacity and confidence for long-distance travel, both on- and off-road. That’s why we upgraded our truck to a super single-equipped Elevation Off Grid Black Edition Ford F-550 with an 18,000-pound GVWR. Fully loaded, our complete rig weighs approximately 16,000 pounds, leaving us with roughly 2,000 pounds of available payload.

And that extra margin makes a difference. Whether we’re carrying additional gear, extra water, or heading deep into the backcountry, the truck and camper combination feels stable, capable, and ready for whatever adventure comes next.

A Spacious Interior That Feels More Like a Tiny Luxury Cabin

Step inside the Kingstar KRUZR 8 and the first thing that stands out is the sense of space. For a non-slide truck camper, it feels remarkably open and comfortable, with plenty of room to move around without constantly bumping elbows or stepping over each other. Kingstar clearly spent a lot of time designing the interior layout to maximize livability, and it shows.

For our build, we selected the north-south sleeping configuration paired with Kingstar’s popular Lounger Layout. The interior is finished in the Clovermist color palette with the Outer Banks décor package, and we upgraded to white solid-face cabinet doors and drawer fronts. That upgrade was definitely worth it. The lighter cabinetry dramatically brightens the interior and gives the camper a modern, residential feel that is more reminiscent of a high-end tiny home than a traditional RV.

One of the biggest reasons we chose the KRUZR 8 was the Lounger Layout. After years of camping in truck campers with traditional dinettes, we wanted something different—a comfortable place where we could actually kick up our feet and relax at the end of the day. Let’s face it, most RV dinettes are great for eating and working, but they’re rarely the place you want to spend an evening after a long day exploring.

Kingstar’s Lounger Layout solves that problem perfectly. The two comfortable sofa seats provide a true living-room experience, while the clever pull-out tables give us plenty of workspace when needed. The design is simple, functional, and incredibly comfortable. It gives us the best of both worlds—a relaxing lounge area without sacrificing practicality.

The amount of usable space inside the camper is impressive. With just two adults onboard, the KRUZR 8 feels downright roomy. In fact, we’ve comfortably hosted four adults inside the camper at the same time without feeling crowded. That’s a pretty impressive accomplishment for a non-slide truck camper.

Part of that spacious feeling comes from Kingstar’s cool Fast Back roof design and the camper’s generous 7-foot 7-inch width. The additional headroom creates an open, airy atmosphere, while the large windows throughout the camper flood the interior with natural light. Sitting on the sofa, surrounded by windows, almost feels like sitting inside a panoramic viewing room. Whether parked in the mountains, desert, or forest, the scenery becomes part of the interior experience.

The attention to detail continues throughout the living area. The beautiful walnut countertop, paired with Kingstar’s signature walnut clock, adds warmth and sophistication while complementing the camper’s upscale design. These small touches are what separate the KRUZR 8 from many other campers. It doesn’t just feel functional—it feels thoughtfully designed.

A Kitchen Worthy of a Luxury Camper

A great camper needs a great kitchen, and the KRUZR 8 delivers one of the nicest kitchen setups we’ve seen in a truck camper. In fact, it may be one of the best-looking and best-equipped kitchens currently available in the industry.

The centerpiece is the beautiful walnut countertop, which provides a warm contrast against the modern white cabinetry. Stainless steel backsplash panels add a premium touch while making cleanup easy. Cooking duties are handled by a Furrion dual induction cooktop, which provides plenty of capability without the heat and ventilation concerns of traditional propane cooking.

The kitchen also includes a deep stainless steel sink with a custom walnut cutting board cover, a microwave oven, a Vitrifrigo 5.3-cubic-foot compressor refrigerator/freezer, and a convenient pull-out spice rack. Storage is another highlight. The drawers are impressively deep and wide, built with quality hardware, and glide smoothly when opened. These aren’t the lightweight RV drawers found in many campers—they feel more like what you’d expect to find in a quality residential kitchen.

My wife especially appreciates the modern single-handle kitchen faucet with pull-out sprayer. Compared with older RV faucets that require two separate knobs and awkward adjustments, this design is easier to use and helps conserve water when boondocking.

The only downside to the kitchen design is that some storage space beneath the sink is sacrificed due to the location of the Truma Combi furnace and water heater. However, we consider this a worthwhile tradeoff. The Truma Combi replaces two separate appliances with one compact, efficient unit, saving both weight and valuable space elsewhere in the camper. We’ll discuss the Truma system in more detail later, but its benefits far outweigh the small amount of lost storage.

Windows and Lighting That Bring the Outdoors Inside

The windows and lighting system are two areas where the KRUZR 8 truly shines.

Initially, we weren’t sure how we would feel about returning to sliding glass windows after having acrylic RV windows in previous campers. Those concerns disappeared quickly. The glass windows are durable, operate smoothly, and best of all, they don’t suffer from the scratching issues common with acrylic windows.

More importantly, Kingstar nailed the placement of the windows. Sitting on the sofa, you’re surrounded by views, creating an almost 360-degree connection with the outdoors. This is something many campers overlook, but it dramatically improves the camping experience. A beautiful campsite is meant to be enjoyed, and Kingstar designed the KRUZR 8 so you can actually see it.

The Bomar marine-grade deck hatch in the cabover adds even more natural light while providing excellent ventilation. Equipped with magnetic screens and blinds, it can be opened for fresh air during pleasant weather or completely closed when darkness and privacy are needed. Even though it can be difficult to keep open, it’s a definite improvement over the Dometic Heki vent found in our other campers.

The lighting system is equally impressive. Nearly every light in the camper is adjustable, allowing you to create anything from bright task lighting for cooking to softer ambient lighting for relaxing in the evening. These small details make a big difference when living in a camper full-time or spending extended periods off-grid.

Overall, the interior of the Kingstar KRUZR 8 feels less like a traditional truck camper and more like a carefully designed adventure cabin. The combination of thoughtful layout, premium materials, abundant natural light, and genuine livability is what makes this camper stand apart. Kingstar didn’t just build a place to sleep—they built a place where you actually want to spend time.

A Functional Wet-Bath Designed for Real-World Use

For many truck camper owners, the bathroom is one of the biggest compromises. Manufacturers have to squeeze a lot of functionality into a very small footprint, and the result is often a wet bath that feels more like an afterthought than a true living space. Fortunately, Kingstar took a different approach with the KRUZR 8.

The wet-bath is surprisingly spacious for a camper of this size. While the cassette toilet occupies a significant portion of the room, there is still enough space to comfortably shower without constantly banging your elbows or feeling cramped. For a single adult, it’s one of the more usable wet baths we’ve experienced in a truck camper.

The bathroom combines stainless steel and ABS wall panels, creating a clean, durable, and easy-to-maintain space. One of the more clever design features is the integrated sink built into the exterior bathroom wall. Not only does it save space, but it also doubles as a convenient shelf. My wife especially appreciates this feature when drying her hair or applying makeup since it provides a practical place to set items without cluttering the rest of the camper.

The toilet itself is mounted at a comfortable residential height, which is something taller campers will appreciate. However, the bathroom does have one minor drawback. Because of the cassette toilet enclosure and the proximity of the surrounding walls, the space can feel a little tight when seated. It’s certainly functional, but a little extra room around the toilet would make it even better.

Kingstar also included a dedicated spot for a toilet paper roll inside the wet-bath, although additional storage is available near the entryway for extra rolls and bathroom supplies.

The KRUZR 8 uses a 4.75-gallon Thetford C224-CW swivel cassette toilet. The freshwater reservoir holds 2.7 gallons, and a convenient green-to-red indicator makes it easy to know when the cassette is nearing capacity. Emptying the cassette is simple thanks to the built-in wheels on one end and pull-out handle on the other, making transportation to a dump station almost effortless.

The only unusual aspect of Kingstar’s installation is that cassette access is located inside the camper rather than through an exterior compartment. Initially, we weren’t sure how we would feel about that arrangement, but after using it, it really hasn’t been a problem. That said, if we were ordering another KRUZR 8, we would likely choose the optional outside-access cassette toilet simply because it keeps the process completely outside the living space.

Storage: Small Camper, Big Capacity

Storage is one area where many truck campers struggle, but Kingstar did an excellent job maximizing every available inch in the KRUZR 8.

Inside, storage is everywhere. There are coffin lockers above the cabover, roof lockers, pull-out drawers beneath the sofa, hidden floor compartments, overhead kitchen cabinets, and numerous smaller storage areas throughout the camper. Even small details were considered—there’s even a dedicated nook in the kitchen perfectly sized for a roll of paper towels.

The one area where the KRUZR 8 gives up some capability is exterior storage. Unlike many traditional campers, there are no large outside compartments built into the camper body. However, Kingstar has a solution for that. Adding the Overland Pack provides additional exterior carrying capacity, and pairing the camper with a Bowen Customs camper bed with seven air tight storage compartments—as we did—creates even more room for gear.

For an adventure camper, this setup actually works extremely well. Instead of forcing everything into small exterior compartments, the truck bed system becomes part of the overall expedition platform.

Climate Control Built for True Four-Season Comfort

The climate control system is one of the strongest features of the KRUZR 8, and the Truma Combi is the star of the show.

After using a Truma Combi in our previous camper, we knew exactly what we wanted when ordering the KRUZR 8. This compact appliance combines both the furnace and water heater into one efficient unit, saving valuable space and reducing weight. Compared with separate systems, the Truma Combi is approximately 20 pounds lighter while taking up about half the space.

More importantly, it works exceptionally well. The distributed ducting throughout the camper provides even heat, keeping the entire interior comfortable during cold-weather camping.

Air conditioning is handled by a Danby 8,000-BTU wall-mounted unit. While it produces slightly more noise than some rooftop RV air conditioners, it offers a major advantage—it uses significantly less power than a typical 13,500-BTU RV air conditioner. When camping off-grid, efficiency matters.

The wall-mounted design also frees up valuable roof space for additional solar panels, which is a smart and uncommon feature. In a camper designed for extended off-grid travel, preserving roof real estate for solar is a major advantage.

A Serious Off-Grid Electrical System

The KRUZR 8’s electrical system is exactly what you would expect from a premium expedition camper.

Although there is plenty of room for two batteries, we opted for a single Epoch 460 amp-hour self-heated lithium battery, and it has proven to be more than adequate for our needs. Combined with our upgraded 800-watt solar array, the battery charges quickly and efficiently even during extended boondocking trips.

The Victron 3,000-watt inverter provides plenty of power for everything onboard, including the induction cooktop and other high-demand appliances. Monitoring the entire system is simple thanks to the Victron Cerbo GX-50 touchscreen controller. The display provides an easy-to-understand overview of battery state-of-charge, power consumption, charging input, and overall system performance.

In real-world use, the system performs exactly as hoped. Running the refrigerator overnight typically consumes about 10 percent of the battery capacity during summer conditions. The Danby air conditioner can operate for five to six hours on battery power alone, and normal induction cooking during mealtime usually lowers battery state-of-charge by only 2 to 3 percent.

That kind of electrical independence changes the way you camp. Instead of constantly thinking about conserving power, you simply enjoy the adventure.

Living With the Multi-Level Floor Design

One unique feature of the KRUZR 8 Fast Back is its multi-level interior floor design. Unlike most truck campers that have a single floor level with one large step into the cabover, the Kingstar uses three distinct levels throughout the camper.

We’ll admit, there was a short learning curve. During the first few trips, we occasionally found ourselves stubbing a toe or forgetting where the steps were. Eventually, however, the layout became second nature.

And the benefits are significant.

By raising portions of the floor, Kingstar created additional storage space while also providing a heated, insulated basement area for critical components. The freshwater tank, lithium battery, inverter, and water pump all live inside the camper’s protected interior space, keeping them safe from freezing temperatures.

This design improves cold-weather capability while also making better use of the available space. It’s a smart engineering solution that adds functionality without making the camper feel cramped.

A Few Minor Things We Would Change

As much as we love the KRUZR 8, no camper is perfect.

Our biggest wish would be a factory-installed freshwater level monitor. Currently, checking the water level requires opening an access hatch and using a flashlight to visually inspect the tank. Since the Victron Cerbo GX-50 already provides so much system monitoring capability, integrating a tank sensor would be a natural improvement.

The second item on our wish list would be an exterior vent option for the refrigerator. Because the Vitrifrigo vents heat into the cabin, that heat is helpful during winter camping but adds an extra cooling demand during hot summer conditions. An exterior vent that could be opened or closed depending on the season would be ideal.

That said, these are minor criticisms of an otherwise exceptional camper. Neither issue would prevent us from recommending the KRUZR 8—or ordering another Kingstar camper in the future.

And ultimately, that’s the most important test of any RV: Would you buy it again?

For the Kingstar KRUZR 8, the answer is an easy yes.

The Verdict

After thousands of miles and countless nights camping in our KRUZR 8, one thing has become abundantly clear: Kingstar didn’t build this camper to win the lightweight race. They built it to last.

Yes, it’s heavier than many competitors. Yes, you’ll need a properly equipped one-ton dually—or better yet, a heavy-duty truck like our Ford F-550—to carry it safely. But weight is the price you pay for solid construction, premium materials, generous insulation, and an off-grid electrical system that simply works.

More importantly, the KRUZR 8 has proven to be a joy to live in. The Lounger floorplan has become our favorite place to relax after a long day on the trail. The off-grid electrical system, air conditioner, and refrigerator have all performed flawlessly. The craftsmanship continues to impress every time we open a cabinet or remove an access panel. And after showing the camper to hundreds of curious people at rallies and campgrounds, we’ve yet to find anyone who wasn’t impressed.

At the end of the day, Kingstar has succeeded because it refuses to chase marketing trends. Rather than building the lightest camper possible, the company focuses on building one of the best. That’s a philosophy we can get behind.

If you’re looking for a luxury, four-season truck camper that combines outstanding craftsmanship with genuine off-grid capability—and you have the truck to carry it—the Kingstar KRUZR 8 deserves a place at the very top of your shopping list.

Sometimes the best camper isn’t the one with the longest feature list or the lowest weight. Sometimes it’s simply the one that makes you smile every time you open the door. For us, that’s exactly what the Kingstar KRUZR 8 has done.

To learn more about this and other Kingstar Campers or to get a quote, email the company at marcus@kingstar.net.