There’s no doubt about it. The flatbed truck camper is here to stay. Not only is the flatbed truck camper larger and more spacious than the standard slide-in truck camper, but it also offers more interior floor space and storage. Towing and entry in a flatbed camper with a side entry is much easier too. Perhaps the biggest benefit of all is the aluminum or steel flatbed tray upon which the camper rests. This custom tray can include all kinds of implements like lockable storage boxes, additional batteries, a spare tire mount, an air compressor, and extra holding tanks to increase the range of your rig even more. The choices and options are almost limitless. Because of these benefits, the flatbed camper has experienced an explosion in popularity recently with several companies offering their own unique model for overlanding. The choices and costs of these flatbed campers vary quite a bit. Remember, you saw this comprehensive, well-researched list here first, well before Internet copycats with nearly identical lists publish theirs. So without further adieu, here are our top 6 flatbed truck campers for overlanding and for off-road exploration:
1. Nimbl Vehicles Evolution
2. Four Wheel Camper Hawk
3. AT Overland Aterra XL
Engineered by David Soza of Tern Overland and collaboratively built by AT Overland, the Aterra XL features an innovative, lightweight fiber reinforced thermoplastic honeycomb composite construction as well as Tern Overland acrylic windows and hatches and doors. With a dry weight of only 1,100 pounds dry, the AT Overland Aterra XL was designed specifically for full-size trucks with the requisite payload rating including, half-ton, 3/4-ton, and one-ton pickup and cab chassis trucks with 6.5-foot and 8-foot or longer flatbed trays. With a floorlength of 6-feet 5-inches, the Aterra will universally fit any 80×80-inch tray, including those made by SherpTek, Overland Explorer Vehicles, and Alum-lite. The flatbed camper features a side-door on the passenger side with a rear dinette, a driver side kitchenette, and a 78×60-inch queen-size mattress cushioned with the excellent Froli Travel Sleep System. The features a comfortable living space with convenient and practical storage solutions that include 10 Step 22 Stingray Cabinet Storage Cubes, two Step 22 Stingray Cabinet Storage Half Cubes, three under-bed storage drawers, three hidden under-bed compartments, a wardrobe closet, and dinette seat storage. Standard features of this full-size flatbed include a 20-pound propane tank, a 30 gallon fresh water holding tank, a Wrappon waterless toilet, inside and outside showers, a 105 amp hour lithium battery, a 400 watt solar power system, and a National Luna NLDC 40 amp DC to DC charging system with an integrated MPPT solar charge controller. Pricing for the AT Overland Aterra XL starts at $69,000.
4. Hallmark Nevada
Coming in at number three is another impressive flatbed, the Hallmark Nevada. Constructed of a rugged fiberglass composite exterior framed entirely with wood, the Nevada 8.5 was designed with long-term, off-road excursions in mind. It features an east-west 60×80-inch queen size bed, a large wet-bath with a Thetford cassette toilet, a massive dinette, and a large kitchen with plentiful amounts of storage. It’s also equipped with two 27 gallon fresh water tanks, a 12 gallon and a 14 gallon grey water tank, two 20-pound propane tanks, and a battery compartment large enough to house two or three group-27 AGM or Battle Born lithium batteries. We particularly like the high-quality cabinets, the molded fiberglass countertops, and the molded fiberglass storage area underneath the bed. We also like the desert tan, military-style soft wall fabric used in the pop-up. Hallmark campers come standard with Oak or Amber Bamboo cabinets. Cherry, Blond Bamboo, Maple, and Hickory cabinetry are also available for an additional $1,200. Coosa composite cabinetry is available for an additional $2,000 if it’s wanted. Weighs only 2,400 pounds. Hallmark campers come with a 5-year structural warranty, one of the best in the entire industry. Easily, one of the top 6 flatbed truck campers for overlanding and for off-road exploration, the base MSRP for the Hallmark Nevada 8.5 is $62,000.
5. Overland Explorer Camp-HBE
The only Canadian-built entry, the Overland Explorer Vehicles Camp-HBE offers a rock solid build using high-quality components and materials. The exterior features composite 1.5 inch panels with steel edging for extra strength and durability while the interior cabinets are made of a durable, powder coated aluminum with attractive polymer doors. The soft walls are fire-rated and insulated for four season use. The camper weighs 1,550 pounds dry, is 156 inches long, 84 inches wide, and 82 inches tall with the top open. Standard features of the Camp-HBE include a 35 gallon fresh water tank, a 15 gallon grey water waste tank, a Bullfinch outside shower, a glass top stainless steel sink, a 65L DC compressor refrigerator, a 170 watt solar panel, a Victron 12 volt AGM battery, a cassette toilet, and a Redarc 30 power management system. Buyers have the choice between either the Truma Combi water heater-furnace or the Truma Aqua Go and Truma Vario Heat. The camper can also be ordered with Overland Explorer Vehicle’s Aluma Tray which comes with four under-deck locking cabinets, a set of folding stairs, a rear bumper, and DOT LED lighting. Pricing starts at $59,995, which includes the custom aluminum camper tray and outfitting.
6. Alaskan 8.5 Flatbed
Honorable Mention: Phoenix Pop-Up



Phoenix Pop-up Campers is one of the top builders in the industry. Why not give them a ranking? Because they don’t offer a specific flatbed model to rank. Phoenix Pop-Up Campers is a completely custom builder. Owned by Rob and Cari Rowe, Phoenix Campers has built pop-up (and hard-side) truck campers for every type of truck from German Unimogs and Ford F-550s to Japanese Fusos and Jeep Wranglers. This particular 4×4 flatbed camper, called Terra Ops II, was built for a Ram 2500. The camper was outfitted with a slide-out room for the RV style couch, a 400 watt solar power system, four 6 volt batteries, a 3,000 watt pure sine wave inverter, a microwave, side entry door, a bunk bed, interior shower and cassette toilet, and a crawl through from the cab of the truck to the camper. As you can see, some of these features can’t be found in other makes and models of flatbed truck campers. That’s what makes the company unique. Phoenix Pop-Up Campers deals factory direct from Commerce City, Colorado only. The process starts with an email and a simple wish list. After solidifying the size and features, a purchase order is sent to the prospective buyer. If the buyer is happy with the camper (on paper), the buyer signs the purchase order and delivers a down payment.
Flatbed Service Tray Options
Your flatbed camper will, of course, require a service tray or flatbed to be mounted on your truck. A few companies, like Nimbl Vehicles and Overland Explorer Vehicles, offer their own service tray with their campers, but most owners will have to have a third party build a custom tray for them. SherpTek sells one of the best flatbeds in today’s market. All SherpTek truck beds are made from aircraft-grade aluminum, using aerospace construction techniques for the strongest and lightest structure possible. Each bed is custom built to match a customer’s truck and lifestyle, and often weigh less than the OEM truck bed. Each bed is mounted within an 1/2-inch of stock bed height, and comes with modular structural attachment points on top and bottom, so accessories can be added, removed, and swapped at will. SherpTek beds come standard with DOT lighting and fuel fills, and can add up to 60 cubic feet of storage. Pricing, of course, depends on options, but you can get a basic SherpTek truck bed with a fuel fill, lighting, and flanks for around $10,000.
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