Our friends at Soaring Eagle Campers just released a bundled option for the Adlar camper lineup that caters to the overlanding segment. Dubbed the “Overland Package,” the option includes MOLLE boards, a batwing awning, an outdoor shower with a privacy enclosure, quick-detach brackets, roof racks, and a special overland graphics package. The option is available for Soaring Eagle’s Adlar series camper only.
“While the OV-X topper has been a great camper for us at the Overland Expos the last couple of years, we have seen increasing attraction and attention on the Adlar, a lightweight, fully-enclosed, slide-in truck camper,” said Scott Tuttle, Soaring Eagle founder and CEO. “Because the Adlar is built of an all-welded aluminum and composite construction, it is also a great overland product that will provide years of carefree use, while offering owners a number of additional features and amenities not found in truck toppers. As a result, we decided it was time to offer a true overland package on our Adlar models.”
For the new Overland Package, Soaring Eagle is partnering with several big-name brands. These include RotopaX for it’s RototraX recovery boards and containers, Overland Vehicles Systems for its 270-degree batwing awning, Water Port for its outdoor shower system, and 23Zero for its outdoor shower enclosure. The roof racks and quick-detach jack brackets, Tuttle tells us, are proprietary designs by Soaring Eagle. The special graphics package is an in-house design as well.
It makes sense that Soaring Eagle is offering the Overland Package for the Adlar. The lightweight slide-in has become a big seller for the company with an amazing 500 units having been sold to date. As a matter of fact, dealers can’t keep the camper on their lots.
Part of this appeal is the variety that Soaring Eagle Campers offers. The Adlar comes in eight models: two for mid-size trucks—the Adlar 5.0 and Adlar 6.0—and six for full-size short-bed and long-bed pickups—the Adlar 5.5, the Adlar 6.5, the Adlar 6.5XL (front dinette) and Adlar 6.5XLS (side dinette), and Adlar 8.0XL (front dinette) and 8.0XLS (side dinette). As a matter of fact, the Adlar 5.5 is a brand-new model that the company just released. One thing that really makes the Adlar lineup so appealing is the camper’s incredibly low weight. The base model for the 5-foot Adlar tips the scales at only 900 pounds while the Adlar 6.5XLS weighs only 1,195 pounds. The weight of the Adlar means that any mid-size truck like the Toyota Tacoma or any full-size half-ton pickup like the Ford F-150 can safely haul the camper.
How is the Indiana-based truck camper manufacturer able to build such a light camper? Through its quality construction. While most entry-level truck campers are held together with wood and staples, Soaring Eagle employs an all-welded, tubular aluminum construction with a seamless fiberglass exterior. Not only is the camper’s construction stronger, but it’s also lighter. The camper is practically impervious to water damage, the bane of traditional truck campers. Moreover, the exterior features Soaring Eagle’s aerodynamic profile with a rear spoiler that makes hauling the Adlar a breeze. One look at the distinctive profile and you know you’re looking at a Soaring Eagle Adlar camper.
Tuttle, of course, is no stranger to building quality campers. He founded Livin Lite Campers in 2003. Through Livin Lite, he pioneered the first all-aluminum constructed camper called the Camplite, which was a hit with consumers because of the ultra-lightweight and long lasting design. Even today, Tuttle’s old Camplite campers command a premium price because of the quality.
Much of what Tuttle learned at Livin Lite has been applied at Soaring Eagle Campers. One of the most important lessons he learned was keeping his campers affordable. Today, customers can purchase the Adlar 6.5XLS model, for around $25,000, two to three times less than what the competition charges.
“We started building the Adlar in 2022 because I had a couple of truck camper dealers that I’ve known for 25 years, and they had told me that a lot of the truck camper manufacturers are leaving the entry-level market behind, and they’re leaving the small trucks behind, and even the half-ton trucks,” Tuttle explained. “We built the Adler as a very minimalist product, knowing that our customer base was most likely going to be those people who were tent camping and just enjoyed the outdoors. They weren’t looking for all the big luxury items that are found in a traditional RV. We’ve struck a chord with those people. They don’t care if it doesn’t have a big screen TV and stuff like that. They’re going camping to get away from that stuff, which is really where the overland market has come from.”
Tuttle took this feedback to heart when designing the Soaring Eagle Adlar. The interior of the Adlar 6.5XLS is surprisingly spacious for a half-ton camper. It features a large kitchen with a removable cooktop, a sink, and DC compressor refrigerator. Standards include a pull-out queen bed in the cabover, a two-person dinette which also quickly converts to a second sleeping area, an overhead storage area, a 100 amp hour lithium battery with Bluetooth heat, a MaxxAir fan with rain sensor and a remote, and a 160 watt solar power system.
Options, of course, are important too, especially for those who are looking for independence from RV parks and campgrounds. The most popular of these are Soaring Eagle’s 400 watt roof solar package, the additional 100 amp hour lithium battery, the inverter, the rooftop air conditioner, and the LP system and furnace. Additional options offered by the company include a microwave oven, a platinum gray exterior fiberglass, an air conditioner, a portable toilet, and more.
“Every Adler comes with a 160-watt solar panel and a 100 amp lithium battery with Bluetooth heat, but a lot of these Overland guys, they’re going to want more, which is fine,” Tuttle said. “We’re going to offer them enhanced solar, extra batteries, and power inverters. We didn’t put any of that standard on an Adler because everybody’s different. But we’re going to offer up to 400 watts of roof solar, 400 amp hours of lithium batteries, and either a 1,000 or 3,000-watt inverter for those guys who really want an aggressive electric package in such a tiny little unit.”
Tuttle tells us that white camper exteriors used to be the norm, but not anymore. Consumers today are gravitating towards grey with black trim instead, especially in the red-hot overlanding market. We’ve noticed this trend over the years, too.
“I don’t think we’re even going to offer the Overland Package in white because almost everybody wants the gray with black trim,” he explained.
So when will Soaring Eagle’s Overland Package be available for order? According to Tuttle, the company will be introducing it officially at the Elkhart Open House September 23-25, but customers can order it now if they want.
“Customers can definitely order an Adler right now with these features and options on it. because we’ve got guys who have done it already, just on their own. But we’ve never put it together as an overland package with the look and everything until now,” he said.
In light of the red-hot overlanding market and Soaring Eagle’s presence at the Overland Expos, offering the new Overland Package is a very smart move. Unfortunately, Soaring Eagle wasn’t able to have an Adlar with this new package at the Overland Expo Mountain West last weekend, but Tuttle promises that the company will have one on display at the Overland Expo East in October.
So what are Tuttle’s thoughts on the new Overland Package? What is Soaring Eagle Campers hoping to accomplish with this brand new offering?
“The concept is to put all the things in there that a traditional overland-type customer will be looking for like the MOLLE boards, the roof rack, the wrap around awning, the exterior shower port, and the quick release brackets for the jacks. We made the graphics package using a topographical map. It just has the feel more of what that market does and what we’ve experienced in that market with buyers. It’s really about the functions and the features. They love the one step up with the pull-out bed, the dinette, the 12-volt refrigerator, and the cabinet storage inside. But with the outside, we’re giving them some real practical features that we know that they’re going to use with the way they’re going to use the vehicle. They’re going up in the mountains. We’re just trying to accommodate that overland demographic with these features,” he said.
For more information about this or other Soaring Eagle Campers or to get a quote, email the company directly at scott.t@soaringeaglecampers.com.
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