5 Best Truck Campers Without Kitchens
There has been an increasingly common trend amongst those searching for truck campers. While the majority of RVers interested in truck campers search for a camper that has as many amenities as possible, there
are quite a few others that are perfectly fine going without said amenities.
This section of truck camper enthusiasts is searching for campers that do not come with kitchens, campers that are as minimalistic as possible.
These truck campers are better suited to those individuals that want to explore what the great outdoors has to offer without the amenities and convenience of the modern world.
The aim of this article is to highlight 5 of these truck campers, particularly the pop-top ones, that offer you things such as a cozy bed, a decently sized storage area,
and enough standing room.
The truck campers in this list are suited to the rugged type of RVers as there are solid platforms that enable the RVers to mount their gear such as bicycles and kayaks.
This lightweight truck camper aims to fill the gap between a traditional truck camper and a top of the line slide-in, full-featured camper.
Best Truck Campers Without Kitchens
1. Four Wheel Campers Project M
The Project M from Four Wheel Campers is the latest product from a company that has been creating truck campers for over 20 years. This assures you that the brand understands how to build a product of high quality.
While Four Wheel Campers is renowned for the slide in, fully-featured truck campers, there is a large demand for a lightweight, camper in the market and it has tapped into that. The Project M is the result of this determination to branch into the market.
There are quite a lot of things that ensure the Project M stands out from the rest of the pack. Some of them include the vertical sidewalls and the large sleeping area. It is possible for the majority of people to sleep sideways in this camper, that is just how wide it is.
The Project M has two-bed sizes depending on the truck in question. You get a 65 by 80 inches bed for midsized trucks and a 73 by 80 inches for full-size trucks.
Thought has gone into this design as it fits the majority of trucks. This is a great feature as very few truck campers are able to fit the vast array of pickup beds available.
While the design might look wide and chunky on curvy and narrow trucks. Thanks to the wide design and vertical walls you get quite a lot of living space.
Project M has a massive lip in the camper where it connects to the pickup bed. This enables it to fit quite a number of trucks while also offering inbuilt benches in the camper.
The look of this truck camper can significantly change depending on the type of siding you select. You get a smooth aluminum or black diamond siding, alongside numerous color options. You get a 5-year structural warranty on the camper’s siding, frame, and roofing.
Features
- Costs $8,995 for the short bed, while the long 8 feet bed price begins at $9,495
- The 5 feet midsize truck version weighs 400 pounds
- The 6 feet midsize truck version weighs 425 pounds
- The 5.8 feet full-size truck version weighs 460 pounds
- The 8 feet full-size truck version weighs 515 pounds
- Available Options: solar power system, lighting, roof vents, side windows, awnings, camper jacks, thermal package.
2. AT Overland Habitat
The Habitat is the brainchild of AT Overland Equipment, a brand which has been known for creating high-quality products for enthusiasts in North America.The company first began its overland foray by creating adventure trailers with off-roading capabilities. Over the years, AT has entered the truck bed and rooftop living systems industry.
The very first offering is Habitat. This truck camper is unique in a seemingly one-dimensional market, thanks to its flip-over design that is reminiscent of rooftop tents. The Habitat is able to sleep, 4 people.
The Habitat is constructed with a honeycomb composite panel which is FRP skinned. This construction means that you get a low weight, high strength and great insulation.
You also get a dedicated 2 person sleeping area whilst being able to have the whole bed area in the truck act as a living area with standing height.
A wonderful feature the Habitat has is its tent design system which provides a covered compartment that can be used at the back of the truck. It can be a great place to cook as it does not come with a kitchen but it can also be useful to store any muddy and wet gear from the living area.
While this truck camper might look a little more fragile compared to other designs out there, it is able to handle almost anything the world can throw at it.
When the roof is closed, it is able to support a maximum of 350 pounds. There is also a cantilevered bed which can hold up to 600 pounds.
The Habitat’s design has two disadvantages compared to the design of other truck campers. The most important one is that the gear placed on top of the room would have to be taken off before the tent can be deployed.
The second con is that the interior of the Habitat can be very loud during windy conditions, given that the structure is not as rigid and there is more material to catch the breeze.
Features
- Weighs 360 pounds
- Costs $8,900
- Fits 5 and 6 feet beds in midsize pickups; 5 ½ and 6 ½ beds in full-size pickups
- Available Options: skylight; roof rack; access hatches; windows; solar power; heater; cabinetry; water system; insulated tent; toilet
3. Go Fast Campers (GFC) Platform/Platform XL
If you are interested in a truck camper that has a little style and flashes then the FC Platform camper or the XL trim is perfect for you.
The Platform is a lightweight camper that has been designed for camping adventures deep in remote and off-road environments. It has been designed to fit midsize trucks, while the XL is suited for full-size pickups.
When the weather is wonderful, there is no other camper that takes advantage of it. The Platform can be fully opened just like a cabana and every one of the components found in the camper are made in-house.
The Platform has a frame consisting of steel tubing which makes it look like a roll cage. Due to this design, the truck camper is extremely rigid and the sides can be opened as well. You get an extremely strong roof hinge mechanism and latches are created from aluminum.
This Platform has a tent that is created from welded vinyl material which is snapped in place. This ensures that it remains clean and maintaining easy. It is also extremely durable.
A con, however, is the fact the welded vinyl can be condensation prone. The mattress you get with this camper is only 2 inches thick and that is not sufficiently comfortable for a lot of people. That being said GFC campers can replace or supplement that mattress using memory foam and other sleeping options.
Features
- The Platform costs $5,750 while the XL costs $6,250
- The Platform weighs 275 pounds while the Platform XL weighs 15 pounds more at 290 pounds
- Options: Racks, lights, vent fan
4. Vagabond Outdoors The Drifter
The Drifter has been a long time coming for the manufacturers who have gained knowledge and experience working under a host of other manufacturers. The Drifter has a wedge popup style that is sure to catch attention.
A feature that makes the Drifter stand out is its drop-down cab window which comes standard. This enables you to crawl through space to the truck’s cab. That being said, this only works if your truck has a rear window which is sufficiently large enough to go through.
You get a 3 inch thick bed in the camper which is a high-density mattress coupled with a waterproof lid. The bed and lip design ensure your bed area remains in place when the camper is down.
Features
- Costs $6,500
- Weighs 315 pounds
- Available Options: roof racks, side window access, additional lighting, insulation, fantastic fan.
5. AT Overland Summit
This is the second truck camper on this list from AT Overland. While the Summit takes cues from the Habitat, it still has its own design. This truck camper has been built on an architecture similar to the Habitat.
A great advantage that it has over AT Overland’s other offering is the fact that the roof can take about 100 pounds of load and can still be opened. This means you don’t need to take your things down to pop the top like you would on the Habitat.
You get a queen-sized bed which measures at 48 by 80 inches. The mattress is 2 and a half inches thick and can be moved out of sight when it is not being used. this is possible due to gas springs. You have more than enough space between the closed roof and the bed area that the bedding can be left in place.
While the Summit is large enough, some users might gripe at their feet hitting the lower end of the roof when they turn over in bed. This is not an AT Overland Summit only issue, however, it is a frustrating one that is commonplace with wedge design truck campers. That being said, if you are on the small size, this is unlikely to be an issue for you.
Features
- The Summit can be purchased for $8,900
- It weighs 380 pounds
- Fits 5 and 6 feet beds in midsize pickups; 5 ½ and 6 ½ beds in full-size pickups
- Options available: windows, skylight with lighting, solar power systems, insulated tent, water systems, toilet, roof rack, toilet.
Conclusion
There was a time when camping meant going without basic amenities and all the finer things you had in life. These truck campers harken back to that time.
While it might seem incredulous but there are campers out there that want to do away with the comforts that modern truck campers are known for.
The kitchen is one such comfort as the truck campers in this list have a focus on only bring along the essential. That being said, it is quite rare to see truck campers that weigh so little, even the supposed minimalist ones with features end up weighing at least a 1,000 pounds.
These truck campers are the perfect tool to help you get back in touch with nature, discover yourself, your limits and of course your sense of wonder. While this list only contains 5 truck campers without kitchens, there are bound to be more introductions into the market as time goes on.
