When it comes to mobility, versatility, and
drivability – you really can't go wrong with a truck bed camper. There's no need to buy
an additional RV or caravan. Your truck can convert to a mobile home and back again – with
the benefit of only paying one registration fee! Here are the 10 best you'll find in North America. To get notified when a new video
is posted hit the bell icon below, right next to the subscribe button. Thank you for watching, Mind's Eye Design! If you have a ½ or ¾ ton truck with a
5.5- or 6.5-foot bed – then the 2021 edition Camp-X has to be on your radar.
They use a proprietary aluminum/composite sandwich panel that does a better
job keeping you warm in winter and cool in summer than most others. The all-but
elimination of thermal transfer through the walls doesn't add much to the overall weight
either – it actually makes it lighter. Inside, you'll find a very
decent-sized fridge/freezer combo unit, as well as a spacious twin burner hotplate
and sink in the food prep area. A pop-up top increases headspace by 1.5 feet, revealing a comfy
bed that will more than accommodate two people. Up top, the addition of a hefty solar
panel ensures that off-grid camping is a distinct possibility. The Rogue EA EB-1 takes a
slightly different approach. It's purpose-designed for mid-sized short
bed trucks. It favors an angled elevated roof that looks like it'd be cramped
inside – but it is actually the opposite. Instead of increasing the vertical real estate
the whole way around, the roof opens up higher thanks to being cantilevered towards the bed.
The net result is more space and 4 additional inches of head height where you'll be standing
up – 7 feet 8 inches at its highest point. The addition of a vast dome-shaped
skylight right above the sleeping area helps alleviate any feelings of claustrophobia. A freshwater tank feeds an
on-demand water heater for the detachable outside hot showers. You can also stay toasty
inside with the 20,000 BTU propane furnace. Definitely, on the large side, the Mammoth 11'6" LongBed Dually turns your truck into an
RV – without a pop-top canopy in sight. It's a vision of luxury, size, and quality
that looks like the inside of a house. Once deployed and the triple slide-outs
are locked in, there is a separate bedroom with a king-sized mattress and a dual
entrance bathroom with a toilet and shower. There is a leather sofa and dedicated dining
table to overlook the electric fireplace with 32-inch TV on the mantle. The kitchen actually has an impressive
dual door 8 cubic foot refrigerator, plenty of room on the molded countertops, and
an adjacent laundry area with washing machine. The unit weighs in at a
base weight of 4,000 pounds, which goes up to 5,500 pounds when furnished. At a bare minimum, something like an F-350
truck would be needed to haul this beast around. The thing that immediately jumps out about
the Northern Lite 2021 Limited Edition is the build quality. There is a reason
they offer a 6-year warranty on the exterior of their campers. Everything
metallic is high-grade stainless steel. This genuine four-season unit has dual-pane
windows that help prevent heat loss from the 10,000 BTU A/C and 18,000
BTU auto-lighting furnace. There's even a heat duct in the cabinet
where all the water pipes connect so they won't freeze. Winter gets
serious up in Canada. Thoughtful. There is a compartment for a generator on the
outside. A 2,000 watt unit can run everything at once minus the microwave, and a pair of 20-pound
propane tanks are hidden away via a slide system. The woodgrain finishes on the inside are a nice
touch without making the camper overly heavy. The ALP Eagle Cap 1165 is another Big Bertha,
uber luxury style camper that comes in at almost 6,500 pounds fully loaded, meaning an F-450
or larger truck must cope with such a payload. Bigger is better. A 75-gallon freshwater
tank means you'll never run out – enough to last a week between fills. Additionally, the
basement compartment can hold twin 30-pound propane tanks – more than enough to handle
the cooking, hot water, and heating demands. The living space is vast, with a
room that houses sofa chairs for two and an additional lounge and
dining area that can fit four. The kitchen has an open island plan and
sits on the other side of the dry bathroom. The bedroom section is anything but pokey
and has ample room for a queen mattress and a multitude of storage. The Project M topper, opting for a
more compact and lightweight approach, makes owning a truck bed camper a
possibility on a budget. They suit both mid and full-sized trucks meaning something
like a Ranger or Tacoma is up to the challenge. They're aimed at the outdoor adventurer, with
plenty of options to pack on kayaks, stand-up paddleboards, surfboards, bikes, and anything
else you need to fully enjoy the wide-open spaces. The exterior is made from rugged, durable
materials that match the conditions it's meant to be used in. A gas-assisted system allows
you to pop up the top to retire for the night, even with gear packed on top – with only one
hand. The inside is relatively utilitarian and can be fitted with as much or
as little equipment as you fancy. For a hard-side, non-slide camper, the Cirrus
620 sure does pack a heap inside – while still retaining functionality
with a half-ton truck payload. Inside there's seating for 4 adults or
a couple and 3 kids at the dining table. A sink, hot plate, and Adle hydronic heating
system that consists of a boiler, convectors, and central control system are
all welcome creature comforts. However, the Cirrus 820 is the next
echelon up – with improvements across the board. The mattress is just 2"
shorter than a residential queen, and while thin like any RV, does sit
on a Froli system. The sprung squares allow the mattress more flex while retaining
airflow underneath to prevent condensation. However, despite outward appearances,
there is an indoor toilet – but no shower—something the 820 has over the 620. With user satisfaction at the forefront of the
design brief, the Real-Lite Hard-Side Max HS-1910 is undoubtedly one of the most comfortable
units for its size on the market right now. There is a slide-out section on one
side to internally extend the sofa area and free up more walking space. The wet bathroom
is conveniently located at the opposite end of the camper to the double mattress – a
feature uncommon with other campers. There's room for a 5-burner stovetop and oven
inside, as well as a full double sink. The TV can be swung around viewed while lying down in
bed or enjoying a meal on the kitchen table. The big draw for the HS-1910 is
the absolute abundance of storage. Every nook and cranny has been utilized as an
area to stow away your clothing and gear securely. The Hiatus Camper takes up only a
smidgeon more room than a traditional enclosed rear canopy. It's a knockout
for those traveling overland and into remote places due to its low center of
gravity, minimal footprint, and frame. The inside is very basic. An additional head
height of 3 feet is gained by extending the overly tall pop-top section. Not soft
walled, but hard sides that fold out and are weatherproof when erected. The system
is designed to be operated by a single user. A plug-and-play floor tracking system allows the
bespoke modular inserts to be arranged however you like. The standard configuration consists of
a cooking and food prep area on the driver's side and bench seating on the other – whose tops
reconfigure to form the base of the bed above. When you're done, it takes just
minutes to pack up. Too easy. As a company, Scout values being minimalistic and lightweight while having a unit that
can cope with the rigors of off-road use. The Kenai looks pretty basic from the
outside, but where it shines is on the inside. A mudroom is a smart addition. It has a heated rinse station to
rinse off dirty shoes, gear, clothing, and a stowaway cassette toilet, both concealed
by an old-fashioned privacy shower curtain. A solar panel up top and lithium
battery station onboard stores enough power to last indefinitely while off-grid. The big draw is that despite
weighing just 1,400 pounds, it can fit up to 6 people in relevant comfort. The bed is a queen size, which is notoriously
hard to fit in a camper with these dimensions.
