Rock crawling in a truck camper can be a tricky proposition, but not when you marry a Jeep Gladiator with a truck topper like Four Wheel Camper’s Project M. Face it, the Gladiator doesn’t have much when it comes to payload so finding a camper that will work for extreme off-roading can be daunting. That’s where the truck topper shines. Since it doesn’t have a traditional floor like a slide-in truck camper, the truck topper is exceedingly light. How light? How does 400 pounds sound? The topper does this by being mounted on the bed rails of the truck. Doing this gets rid of a lot of weight.
One of the best truck toppers in today’s market is built by Four Wheel Campers. The Project M features the same build characteristics of it’s popular truck camper pop-ups—aluminum frame with an aluminum skin for rugged durability and light weight. We’ve always drooled of the Jeep Gladiator and the Project M so when we saw the two paired up at the recent Overland Expo West, we had to stop and take a look. Tim Clair is the proud owner of this rig and he wasn’t shy when we started asking him questions. We were so impressed with his build that we decided to publish a story on the build. This is our interview with Tim in full.
Thanks, Tim, for talking with us. Can you tell us a little bit about yourself?
Rockdog Adventures: Colleen and I have been off road camping in the southwest for the better part of 30 years. In that time, we’ve run a number of different rigs and setups. From our beginnings in a Sears tent and an ‘89 Toyota 4Runner, to a couple different trailers (M416 and AT Chaser). A short stint with a Colemen pop-up, and several rooftop tents. Land Rovers, Land Cruisers and now a Jeep Gladiator. Our latest passion project build is a Jeep Gladiator, Otis, with a Four Wheel Camper Project M. Otis, is designed based on creating an adventure truck inspired by off-road travel.
Can you tell us about your truck camper and why you chose that particular make and model?
Rockdog Adventures: Earlier this year we picked up a Four Wheel Camper Project M. Both of us can do without having to navigate ladders and rooftop tents, but we still wanted the ability to tackle some gnarly terrain and The Project M fits the bill. We also liked that the camper is a relatively open shell, meaning we could customize it how we wanted. But we wanted to also keep it simple. Water comes from a Scepter can and water pump adding to convivence and outlying to need for a fancier water system.
Does the camper have anything unique or custom about it?
Rockdog Adventures: The camper itself is not unique on its own, but the integration of the camper through the entire build sets it apart from the others as it relies on simplicity, a contrast from the current build trends. One of the other reasons why I tend to sit on the simpler side, is mechanics is not my strong suit; debugging technical issues in the middle of the desert isn’t my idea of fun, so I made our build as simple and user friendly as possible.
What are your favorite camper features?
Rockdog Adventures: One of our favorite features is the ability to comfortably escape the elements while off-road camping. The ability to quickly and comfortably shield ourselves from desert sandstorms or rain makes for a pretty good feature.
Did you perform a restoration or major modification to your camper. If not, did you make any modifications to it that are worthy of note?
Rockdog Adventures: I wouldn’t say we modified it but we did make a few changes. I started off by installing a BedRug to make the truck bed a bit more comfortable. I also added some L-Track to the floor for better storage and load management. We built a shelf that runs across the back that holds our front runner Wolf Pack boxes, and added some additional interior lighting.
Can you tell us about more about your truck?
Rockdog Adventures: Otis is a 2022 Jeep Gladiator Rubicon, currently running 37-inch Wildpeaks. An ARB stubby front bumper with a warn 12k winch accents the nose of the Jeep as well a couple ARB Solis lights to find our way. On the sides, Iron Man rock sliders line the exterior, and was built to tough tour.
Can you tell us about your camper’s electrical system including your solar power and DC-to-DC charger system?
Rockdog Adventures: We have a Group-27F Optima Yellowtop, Victron Orion Smart DC-DC Charger, and Renogy Solar Charge Controller paired with a Renogy 100 watt hard panel mounted to the roof. All packed in a NoCo Battery box and powered through a Blue Sea Fuse panel.
How do you keep your camper’s batteries charged?
Rockdog Adventures: We don’t sit in one place for very long. The DC-DC charger and solar keep things
charged.
Have you made any modifications to your Gladiator to carry your truck camper or improve its ride?
Rockdog Adventures: We’ve made several changes to the Gladiator’s suspension setup to not only accommodate the camper but also to improve its off-road ability. What started as an AEV 2.5 DualSport lift system has been changed to include Cayton 3.5 rear springs, and Clayton Overland front control arms. I have to give a shout out to Off-Grid 4×4 in Fredrick, Colorado for the build advice as well as much of the installation.
Does your rig feature any other accessories or features worthy of note?
Rockdog Adventures: Otis is currently running 37×12.5 in Wildpeak AT4WS tires on AEV Salta rims; re-geared to 5.13s. An ARB stubby front bumper with a warn 12k winch, and a couple ARB Solis lights at the front. On the outside of the camper, I have installed an Ironman 270 awning with the help of a Mule Expeditions awning bracket. Added a molle panel to hold a couple Rotopax until the long range fuel tank gets added. In the cab, we added another overhead molle panel to hold the HAM radio. The MOLLE also has a storage pocket for little stuff. We customized a Sherpa roof rack, cutting it down to size, and works to also hold our recovery boards. As an added bonus, it works as a wind fairing. We removed the back seats and installed the Cargo Dog storage boxes; this added storge but more importantly it provides more space for our three dogs. Can’t go far without them.
Do you have any plans for future upgrades or modifications?
Rockdog Adventures: The next thing on our build list is a larger fuel tank, most likely from Long Range America. I’d like to get my range from 300 to 750 miles. We are also looking at improving the shocks; with the added weight, we could use a better shock set up. As of now, what this new set up will look like is unknown. Have any suggestions?
Do you have any regrets in your choices? Anything you wished that you had done differently?
Rockdog Adventures: There are always things that could have been done differently. Had I known Otis would end up with a camper, the suspension set up would have been different from the start. On the other hand, we enjoy building and changing stuff around, so, no real regrets. I am beyond happy with the progress of the build, and I look forward to continuing the process…you’re never truly done with a build.
What kind of mileage do you get when hauling your truck camper?
Rockdog Adventures: Getting a bit over 16 MPGs. Little better if it’s all downhill.
What tires do you have on your truck and what inflation values do you typically run when driving on and off-road?
Rockdog Adventures: Like we mentioned earlier, we are currently running with Falken Wildpeak AT4WS tires. On the street, pressures are 39 front and 35-37 PSI in the rear. Off-road, we drop pressures to around 20-25 PSI. It gives me a much nicer ride and adds traction when we need it.
Where have you taken your rig thus far?
Rockdog Adventures: We live outside of Denver which opens up the Colorado Rocky Mountains as well as Utah and Wyoming. Otis has many miles exploring the back roads and trails all around the surrounding areas. This past spring we did a trip from Expo in Flagstaff to northern Utah, which was mostly off-road. In the early spring we followed the San Rafael swell from north to south, ending at Lake Powell. When planning our trips, we aim to be as off-road much as possible, leaving plenty of room for dirt and rock.
Where are you planning to take your rig in the future?
Rockdog Adventures: Next planned trip is a few days camping outside of Moab, exact location TBD. Looking at a trip to the Pacific Northwest next spring. And I’m sure a bunch of trips will pop-up in between.
Is there anything else you’d like to tell us about your truck camper rig that would interest our readers?
Rockdog Adventures: As of now, all of the interesting information has already been laid out, but the intrigue lies in the smaller hidden details, only noticed by those who enjoy Otis on a day to day basis. I have to keep some secrets close to my chest.
Do you have any social media channels where our readers can follow you?
Rockdog Adventures: You can find us on Instagram : @rockdogadventures
This has been great talking to you. Thanks again for taking the time to talk with us. Do you have any final advice for our readers?
Rockdog Adventures: Don’t be afraid to follow your nose, as you never know where you’ll end up. Life is about adventure and the exploration of the world around us.
For more information about the Project M and other Four Wheel Campers, email the company direct at sales@fourwh.com.
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