The all-new TC Truck Camper was one of many actually eye-grabbing displays at this yr’s Overland Expo West. It appears fairly actually like a wheel-less teardrop trailer hoisted up right into a pickup mattress. However the brand new micro-camper is extra than simply an oddity, because it’s one of many lightest hard-sided truck campers out there, at one of many least costly value factors.
Wisconsin-based TC Teardrops has been constructing teardrops since 2008. Obtainable in a number of levels of off-road readiness, its trailers have a particular look with a Kamm tail-like mixture of sharply angled tailgate and vertical rear wall, TC’s personal spin on the enduring teardrop form.
TC Teardrops
Due to that distinctive trailer form, it was clear instantly that the corporate did not merely rip its current teardrop physique from its chassis and plant it on a pickup to create the Truck Camper. As a substitute, it developed a brand new aluminum-composite truck camper to activity.
TC’s alu-skinned composite design delivers a stable construction whereas saving weight and eliminating the corrosion-prone wooden typically utilized in teardrops and truck campers. The camper weighs in at a base of 600 lb (272 kg), lighter than any full-height, full-floored hard-sided truck camper we’re conscious of.
To realize the low weight, TC additionally eradicated the sleeper alcove nearly common on small truck campers. The ensuing upright form is a part of what grabs one’s consideration and was the one such design we laid eyes on at Overland Expo – although it isn’t the one one on the market.
TC Teardrops
In contrast to different non-alcove campers, TC’s design stands straight up contained in the truck mattress, relatively than extending out over the field partitions. The camper is supposed to face atop a mattress deck, and TC recommends the Decked drawer system that is grow to be the American commonplace for truck drawers.
Whereas the drawers will add to the whole value of the camper, additionally they enhance the general performance of the tenting system by maintaining cooking gear and different provisions readily accessible. The cooler or fridge can then retailer contained in the Truck Camper, and the pickup tailgate can double as a piece floor.
CC Weiss/New Atlas
Like an precise teardrop trailer, the Truck Camper has little house for greater than a double mattress and a few storage inside. In reality, it comes commonplace as a solo camper with a single mattress. Patrons who aren’t snug going it alone can add an optionally available cut up double mattress with slide-out. The slide-out turns into a secondary platform for the dual-mattress double mattress at evening, then slides away to clear storage and entry house throughout the day. The one mattress can work as a bench with the slide-out saved away.
CC Weiss/New Atlas
Past that, the Truck Camper features a tall rear door with window, two home windows on either side and passive air vents. We thought for positive the topographic exterior was only a particular present version so as to add additional pop, however that additionally comes as commonplace, in purchaser’s selection of white or black.
The Truck Camper begins at $10,800 for the solo mannequin and $12,000 for the double-bed mannequin, carving an area between low-priced tenting toppers (no camper ground) just like the Radica Moonlander and Go Quick Camper and bigger, extra well-equipped light-weight truck campers like these from Scout and Kimbo. Obtainable TC choices embrace a drop-down out of doors bathe room, sizzling water heater, 19-L water canister with mounting bracket, and heating port.
The Truck Camper is obtainable to order now, and events can get a customized quote by TC’s web site by coming into their truck make/mannequin and desired construct spec.
Supply: TC Teardrops