10 Best Lightweight Truck Campers

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Last Updated on October 13, 2023 by Paul Clayton

10 Best Lightweight Truck Campers

RVs are great, but not everybody likes to roam around in full-size RVs. Some like to keep it simple, light, and affordable. For those, lightweight truck campers are the best solution. 

However, getting a truck camper is not that simple and straightforward. There is a lot to keep in mind before picking that one perfect truck camper that will make your journeys super comfortable and memorable.

There are several lightweight campers available in the market. Not every truck camper is going to give you the experience of a lifetime. Some are good; others are not that impressive, but who’s to tell? I am. 

To make things easier for you, I have done half your work by scouring the market up and down to pick the top ten lightweight truck campers.

All you have to do is read this post thoroughly, look at the features closely, and pick the one that suits you the best.

Let’s get into it.

Top 10 Lightweight Truck Campers

1. Palomino Rogue

Crafted for the explorer at heart, the Rogue by Palomino is the quintessential partner for your adventures. It’s lightweight, sleek, and robust, providing all the comforts of home, whether you’re nestled in a bustling campground or off the grid in a secluded forest.

Our unique Electric Roof Lift System, a hearty 20,000 BTU Furnace, a practical 2 Burner Cook-top, and a stunning Dome Sky-Light are all standard—these are the hallmarks of a Palomino Truck Camper. But the Rogue offers more than just the essentials.

Consider upgrading with our exclusive Badlands Package. This provides the power to fully enjoy all these amenities, no matter where your journey takes you. And with the additional benefit of toy hauling capability, your favorite recreational gear can always come along for the ride.

Regardless of your truck’s size, there’s a Rogue model designed to match it perfectly. So, whether you’re a weekend wanderer or a long-term traveler, the Rogue is ready to elevate your outdoor experiences to new, exciting heights.

Other prominent features include:

• Lightweight aluminum frame construction.
• High-quality insulation for all-season camping.
• Solar power prep for off-grid adventures.
• Fully equipped kitchenette with a stove and refrigerator.
• Comfortable queen-size bed for restful sleep.
• Wet bath with a shower and toilet.
• Dinette that converts into additional sleeping space.
• Abundant storage compartments for camping essentials.
• Outdoor awning for additional shade.
• Propane system for heating and cooking.

You can pick the cabinetry. Options include either amber bamboo or maple. 

The water tanks’ sizes are amazing; 30-gallons fresh, 14-gallons black, and 12-gallons grey. 

Now there are many extra on-demand features that can add luxury to your adventurous, off-road experience. These features include:

• 200-watt solar power system
• Thetford cassette toilet
• North-South cabover
• Custom flooring
• Low-profile air conditioner
• Inverter with transfer relays
• Side awning
• Custom cabinet finishes

This particular model fits perfectly on both short-bed and long-bed trucks. It also has a five-year-long structural warranty. 

2. Outfitter Apex 8

The Outfitter Apex 8 is designed by the extremely-skilled Scott Mavis, president at Outfitter Manufacturing. This is not just another truck camper. There are so many features to talk about.

Starting with some basic ones, the Apex 8 flaunts a huge 44-gallon freshwater tank that is one of the largest holding tanks in a pop-up truck. However, the gray and black water tanks have a 16-gallon capacity each.

Other prominent features include:

• Dual thermopane Sietz windows
• Weblon soft-walls
• Three-way 3-cubic ft refrigerator
• Marine-grade porcelain toilet
• Progressive Dynamics 45 amplitude charger/converter
• Overhead storage cabinet
• Underbed storage
• Maple interior cabinets
• 5-gallon propane tank
• Dry weight: 1450 pounds

The Apex 8 features a large battery box. It can fit one group-27 battery quite easily. However, if you want to add more, you can. This includes a 7.5 cubic ft Nova Kool Compressor Refrigerator, Onan 2500 Generator, and a Yakima Roof Rack (with ladder). 

Furthermore, the composite foam core roof and body construction of Apex 8 is sturdy and long-lasting. It fits the short-bed, ¾ ton pickup truck quite easily. 

The superb layout, low-profile, and the amazing tank capacities have made this camper a great choice among the overlanders.

3. Alaskan 7 Cabover

Next on this list is a hybrid camper from Alaskan that brings you a little bit of both types: pop-up and hard-side. That’s right. The Alaskan 7 Cabover’s pop-top has a solid wall construction and a hydraulic mechanism that lowers and raises the camper’s top with a simple switch-flip.

This telescoping design is super-beneficial as it provides a full-length room with classic interior during camping. On the other hand, it offers better gas mileage and less wind resistance when traveling.

The most prominent features of this camper’s interior include:

• Leather dinette
• Maple cabinets
• Wood-paneled ceiling
• Large countertop
• Overhead storage

This overhead storage and the countertop space is a lot more than what I have seen in most hard-side campers.

Some other standard features include:

• NovaKool 2600 refrigerator
• 5-gallon propane tank
• Full-length door (no need to bend or stoop to enter the camper)
• 27-gallon freshwater tank
• Dry weight: 1560 pounds
• One group-34 AGM battery

You can add more batteries if you want. Most popular choices include:

• Zamp 170 watts solar power system
• Thetford C-200 swivel cassette toilet
• 4-gallon water heater
• LED lighting
• Suburban 20,000 BTU furnace

The Alaskan 7 Cabover fits perfectly on long-bed and short-bed trucks. 

4. Capri Retreat

Situated in Bluff Dale, Texas, Capri is leading the camper industry by making out-of-the-box designs, ideal for ½-ton and ¾ ton pick-ups.

The Capri Retreat is no less.  With an entire construction of high-quality wood, wrapped in aluminum, this camper is built to last. 

Furthermore, you can order a Capri Retreat as a lightweight shell (with a bed) or a fully-equipped and decorated camper. I personally liked the option “The Works” that Capri offers for this camper. It includes:

• A shower
• A Polar Cub 9200 air conditioner
• 30-gallon freshwater tank
• 4-gallon DSI water heater
• A microwave
• Two-way Domestic 3-cubic ft refrigerator
• A cooktop
• An audio/video package
• A sink and faucet
• A dinette table
• 12-volt electrical system
• Blackout shades
• Manual jacks

Now, you can also get some other products as single choices. This includes:

• A furnace
• A vent fan
• Portable toilet
• Large dinette window
• Remote-operated electric jacks

This Capri camper features an attractive, diamond-pattern aluminum exterior. This exterior is available in 10 different base colors with various colored strips and accents. 

Capri also offers four different yet elegant interior wood paneling options. This includes:

• Ridge Pine
• Weathered Cedar
• Pecan
• Cypress

Furthermore, you can order this camper according to different bed lengths. Options include 5.5-foot, 6.5-foot, and 8-foot. This makes the Capri Retreat a great choice for various types of trucks. It only weighs 1,750 pounds dry.

5. Four-Wheel Camper Flatbed Hawk

California’s Four Wheel Campers brings you one of a kind, highly durable pop-up campers. One such example is the Flatbed Hawk. No matter how extreme the off-road environment is, the Flatbed Hawk, with its distinct rear kick back and narrow girth, is built to last.

Its features are quite interesting. Firstly, the Flatbed Hawk is only 59 inches tall with the pop-up down. Secondly, it weighs only 1,325 pounds dry and 2,100 pounds when fully loaded. 

Furthermore, it’s super-lightweight, the one-piece aluminum roof is highly durable and waterproof, designed to last decades. Other prominent features of this extraordinary camper include:

• A small kitchenette
• East-West 72 x 78 inches bed
• Isotherm 1.7 Cubic ft three-way refrigerator
• Huge dinette at the backside

Other popular add-ons include:

• Wrappon Green 12 volt portable toilet
• 14 interior fabric choices
• Dual battery box
• Isotherm 65, 85, or 130 l DC compressor refrigerator
• Indoor shower
• 320-watt solar power option 

The only downside of this otherwise amazing camper is the small size of its freshwater tank that is only 20 gallons. However, you can always install another water tank in the tray to increase its water capacity. 

Lastly, this camper is designed for full-size trucks with a 6.5 ft tray. T

6. NuCamp Cirrus 920

Based in Ohio, NuCamp is a pioneer in making high-quality, innovative truck campers in the campers industry. The Cirrus 920 is the highlight of NuCamp’s camper line due to its various features that are hard to find otherwise.

Some of these uncommon features are:

• Whisper-quiet water heater furnace (saves weight and space)
• Alde hydronic heating system
• Froli modular sleep system
• Space-saving folding bathroom sink
• Heated floors

Similarly, the prominent features of its spacious 10’1’’ floor plan include:

• A large cabover
• A large wet-bath
• North-South queen-sized bed
• Huge storage space
• Massive wardrobe
• Face-to-face dinette
• Thetford three-way five cubic ft refrigerator
• A large kitchenette with a two-burner cooktop

Likewise, other noteworthy highlights of this off-road beast include:

• Dual battery compartment
• Custom diamond-plated rear bumper with hose storage
• An 8-foot side awning
• Two 20-pound propane tanks
• Dual thermopane windows
• 32-gallon grey water holding tank
• 38-gallon fresh water tank
• 18-gallon black water holding tank
• Dry weight: 3,530 pounds

You have plenty of great options to add too, including:

• Maggie roof rack
• Torklift Glow Steps
• 160-watt solar power system
• Lagun swing away table
• Motorized rear awning

Furthermore,  you will have numerous color choices while ordering a Cirrus camper. You can also choose a white or silver exterior with ten different color accents. Get the one that matches your truck. 

All these great features make this truck one of my personal favorites. Hands down, this is one of the top truck campers available in the market in 2020. 

7. Lance 855s

Lance manufacturers aren’t new in town. They are one of the most trusted truck campers’ manufacturers with nine high-class models. I liked the 855s, the most. Why? Because it is a great choice when it comes to lightweight truck campers.

The Lance 855s has a perfect short bed truck camper design. It has a slideout dinette where four people can eat easily. This dinette also converts into a 2-person bed. 

Likewise, other features include aerodynamic nose cap, LED lighting, a bathroom, deluxe innerspring mattress, and carpeted bed-base.

Most importantly, the construction of Lance 855s is super-sturdy with the aluminum-framed floor, walls, roof, and cabover. Furthermore, the floors are insulated and laminated. Also, the roof consists of a one-piece design.

To summarize, the significant features of the Lance 855s include:

• Dry Weight of 2997 pounds
• Sleeping capacity of four to five-person
• Dining capacity of four-person
• Sturdy construction
• Maple interior
• 8’ 11’’ long floor
• LED lighting
• A bathroom

8. Lance 825

Keeping the trend alive, the Lance 825 is a proud production of Lance Campers. Needless to say that Lance Campers is one of the leading camper manufacturers in the industry. Probably, this is the reason why this list has two from Lance Campers.

The good folks at Lance Campers have worked hard for several years to build the most durable and lightest truck campers. These efforts resulted in the construction of the 825, a terrific, extraordinary short-bed camper.

Believe it or not, the dry weight of this camper is only 1,832 pounds. Even when fully-loaded, this camper is a great choice for 3/4 -ton trucks. 

The Lance 825’s 8’6’’ floor plan provides you with all the best features, including:

• North-South queen-size bed
• Classy interior with cherry-stained cabinets
• Well-equipped kitchenette
• Full-size dinette
• Small wet-bath with a shower
• Large wardrobe

Likewise, other prominent features of this aluminum-framed camper include:

• Two-burner stainless steel cook-top
• Dometic three-way 3-cubic foot refrigerator 
• 5-gallon propane tank
• Atwood 18,000 BTU propane fired furnace
• 30-gallons freshwater tank
• Atwood 6-gallon water heater
• 14-gallon black water tank 
• 13-gallons grey water tank

Now, the best options are quite overwhelming too. These include:

• Rear and side awnings
• 100-watt rooftop solar power system
• Lance’s own roof rack system
• Removable carpet kit

Furthermore, this camper has a one-piece TPO nose cap that gives it an aerodynamic and sleek look. 

Not to forget that it includes Lance’s most innovative Easy Charge exterior charging center. This allows the user to connect a generator or a portable solar panel for quick and easy battery charging.

This helps especially since the 825 has only one group-27 battery box. However, the battery compartment is big enough to hold two larger group-31 batteries if needed. 

9. Northern Lite 8-11EX WET

Who makes the most luxurious camper trucks? I will say, it’s Northern Lite. While there are so many reasons for this claim, the most prominent one is Northern Lite’s fiberglass clamshell exterior.

This molded fiberglass construction makes these campers look super stylish and aerodynamic. They also ensure high durability and zero leakages. 

From all the classics of Northern Lite, I have picked 8-11EX WET for this list. It’s 9 ft floor plan offers a variety of features, including:

• Spacious wet-bath
• North-South queen-size bed
• Plenty of storage
• Face-to-face dinette
• A large kitchenette

Similarly, other prominent features are:

• A mirrored, three-way 6.3-cubic foot refrigerator
• All-wood cabinets with Sapele veneer paneling
• Dual battery compartment
• 6-gallon DSI water heater
• Three-burner propane cooktop
• Seitz windows
• 18,000 BTU furnace
• 9,200 BTU air conditioner
• Dry weight: 2,650 pounds
• Two 20-pound propane tanks
• LED lighting
• 95-watt solar power system
• 45 Amplitude Progressive Dynamics converter/charger with three-stage Charge Wizard
• Side and rear awnings
• 33-gallons freshwater tank
• 24-gallons grey water tank
• 13-gallons black water tank

You can also order an 8-11EX WET with a dry bath. 

Another amazing thing about this camper is that it comes with a six-year warranty. As far as the cost is concerned, the hefty price might sound a little steep at first, but the features are surely worth it.

10. Arctic Fox 811

Northwood Manufacturing’s Arctic Fox 811 delivers fully on features and quality. Before I talk about its awesome features, I should tell you that this off-road beast weighs a hefty 3,468 pounds.

Although Northwood’s website has mentioned only 2,873 pounds as of this camper’s dry weight, it’s not the case. The company offers a mandatory Fox Package that weighs around 595 pounds. This adds to the camper’s initial dry weight.

Now, the fully-loaded version of this bad boy will be around 4,500 pounds or more. But don’t worry. Once I will talk about its features, you will understand the excessive weight of the Arctic Fox 811. 

Built like a Sherman tank, the 811 has some extraordinary features to talk about. Here are some highlights:

• Sturdy, full walk-on cathedral arched ceiling
• A large basement
• 2-inch thick heavily insulated walls
• Two huge 30-pound propane tanks
• 20,000 BTU propane-fired furnace
• 45 amplitude Progressive Dynamics converter/charger with a three-stage Charge Wizard
• 6-gallon DSI water heater
• Huge two-way 7-cubic foot refrigerator

Similarly, the Arctic Fox 811’s floor plan is quite spacious, with a full nine feet long. Other prominent features include:

• 50-gallon fresh water tank
• 38-gallon grey water tank
• 23-gallon black water tank
• 4-feet high cab over

Furthermore, Northwood offers many other best options, including:

• Thermal pane windows
• Tork lift’s Fox Landing Step
• 170-watt solar power system

Although it is designed for one-ton, short-bed trucks, I personally believe it is great for a DRW truck because of its weight. Finally, the base price of Arctic Fox 811 is not too bad making it a great camper to invest in.

Final Words

Buying a truck camper isn’t something you will do quite often. It is a once-in-a-decade kind of purchase. 

Spending thousands of dollars on something that is not worth the price is definitely not what you and I would like to do. Hence, it is better to make an informed decision. 

This review gives you the top ten lightweight truck campers so that you don’t have to look further. So, pick the one that you like the most, look closely at the features, and if the price suits you, go for it.

Finally, I will recommend considering the features and the price at the same time. This simply means that you should buy something with high-class features at a price that’s affordable.

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