SoCalDesertRider wrote: The Callen campers are built strong and good for off road use. They use a welded steel square tube frame instead of 2x2 sticks and plywood. I have an old Callen shell that I took all the interior out of and found it to be very well built.
Check them out, they're not far from you, in El Cajon.
It seems like the OP is more interested in a pop-up style versus a hard-sided TC (which I personally think is a potentially wiser choice for more difficult off-road conditions). Unless I missed it on their website, Callen apparently makes only hard-sided campers. Additionally, while I completely agree with you that a welded metal tube frame is a better choice for strength and rigidity over wood, I prefer the use of aluminum tube over steel tube for weight saving considerations.
It was my understanding the original poster wanted a camper that was built for off-roading. It didn't appear to me from what he said that a pop-up type was a 'must'. Excuse me if I read it wrong.
A steel frame can be made just as light as an aluminum frame by using larger diamter thinner wall tube.
The OP owns a Northstar pop-up, and in his third paragraph he talks about a Four-Wheel camper and an All Terrain camper ... both which are also pop-ups. He additionally talks about an Outfitter pop-up in his original post as well as in subsequent posts in the thread. I did not indicate he said that a pop-up was a "must" as you contend. I simply said that it seemed like the OP was more interested in a pop-up versus a hard-sided style TC. Perhaps I am incorrect.
Not sure what tie down system you are looking at that reduces ground clearance. Torklifts do mount to the frame but take minimal or no ground clearance. My exhaust pipe is lower in the rear and if I ever hit a Torklift on the ground on my truck I am in deep trouble anyway.
As far as some of the campers like the 4-Wheel, etc. they are very spartan inside. They may get the 4x4 off camper roads job done but at the expense of some creature comforts.
As to the Alaskan campers mentioned, I owned one for 10 years and it will go four wheeling. That capability also comes with less amenities than those found in Outfitter/Hallmark campers. I did use the Alaskan go get into places 10-15 miles from paved roads and it worked nicely. Alaskans also require a heavy duty three-quarter ton truck and will also flatten your wallet at purchase time. But...........for what they are made for, they are very nice. The interior is not RV quality, it is cabinet maker quality. If you like quality, it is very easy to see it.
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'00 Elkhorn 10V w/basement
So...How do you define off-road? Anza-Borrego? CA State Vehicular rec areas? Baja beaches? Baja other? Rock crawling on the Rubicon or Slickrock trails in the Sierras? There are few or possibly no places in this country where you can go truly and legally off of established roads or trails.
Must/should your fantasy camper be a pop-up? If yes, hard-side like Alaskan or soft-side like others?
What size (height & width) limits, based on what you know from your prior rigs?
Wheel-base length?
Ground clearance?
If we know more, we might be able to help you more.
Thanks, but I should have pointed out I do not have unlimited funds.
I think the problem is cost. You want a unit that can take any of the abuse you throw at it, well this just has to be costly. This is why units like the earthroamer cost so much.They are built to take it and for the company to stand by it then it has to be built like a brick s house. Look at other items that do this. Compare the cost of a panasonic toughbook computer to a simalar system and you see the difference. Just my opinion, but I think you need to look at the unit that does the best to fill what you are looking for and then make alterations to get it to your specifications.Latches....easy. Extra welds, maybe not, but you could always add exterior brackets at the corners, and make your own mounting system, once again look toward the expedition vehicles for help. The 3 point system or I have even seen a 4 point diamond pattern system with videos of how the camper behaves under obscene terrain and it is absolutly amazing. But I think, based on your finances it is something you have to do on your own. JMHO
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2006 Bigfoot 25C9.4SB
Firestone Airbags
KVH inmotion Satellite
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Stable Lift
kylekai wrote: After owning several kinds of RVs, including a popup trailer camper, a small Class C, and for the last two years, a F250 with a Northstart 650 popup TC. I like the TC best because of various reasons, but mostly because I can travel to and camp in the boondocks. I don't push my truck to the off-road limits, but I do occasionally have need for low range on some of the roads I travel.
I'm planning my next truck and camper purchase, slated to happen late this year or early next year. But I can't seem to find what I want. While the Northstar is a capable camper, it could use improvement for off-road use.
After looking at many camper models, and reading many posts here and elsewhere, it appears that the only true off-road TC is the Four-Wheel Camper (or it's cousin the All Terrain Camper). But if I want, for example, an Outfitter, the usual modifications mentioned in numerous posts here have to be applied: double-latch all cabinets, strengthen various components, and so on.
And then there is attaching the TC to the truck. There's the HappiJak, which after awhile pulls up the ends of the rear bumper, or worse, breaks (mine have). Other attachments lower the ground clearance, or otherwise again do not work as well as could for off-road use. Bolting a TC to the truck seems to be the ultimate attachment method to date that I've seen.
What I want is a factory-modified version of an existing truck camper. While car manufactures produce different models of vehicles for their customers, I don't see that for truck campers. The one model fits all concept does not work. I would like to see (and purchase) an Outfitter FX4 or Northstar TRD, for example. These modified campers would come from the factor already fitted for more off-road use than the existing models. Maybe the cabinets would be double-latched, stronger welds where needed, and other modifications. And don't forget the truck to camper attachment. Virtually every camper manufacture seems to rely on the same old technology, the same one-size-fits-all concept. How about a HappiJak Z71, a heavy duty model modified for off-road use?
Truck camper manufactures, are you listening? Surely I'm not the only person who would like what I'm requesting. Bring us a model that can really be used off-road, attachments and all.
I think you'll most likely have to build your own.
it takes time and you have to be handy with tools and bit innovative but its the cheapest way to go.
in my case I have more time then money,and am carpenter so after getting all the info here and other sites I built mine using 3/4 inch plywood for the lower part-slide box and 1/4 inch plywood for the sides and roof,coated the top and walls with Cold cure epoxy and then high glass paint,so theres no seams anywhere and its completely waterproof and plenty tough for any off roading.
not strong enough to dance on the roof, but then I dont intend to,
although it did survived some pretty heavy hail and snow without a scratch.
so far I spent about 500$ on the TC shell.
am still working on the interior,it takes long time as I also work full time regular job,
one of these days Ill have to buy a camera and post some pics.
the idea of building special super tough and also lightweight campers did cross my mind,but then with so many campers out there already I think its very hard to compete if you also want to have a reasonable price.
heres a site where I got the idea for plywood camper from:
You are kind of comparing apples-to-oranges with your examples. The 4Wheelcamper (and its kissing cousin) are VERY bare bones units with no bathrooms. In reality they are simply a slight (though greatly appreciated) step up from a tent. They are also appreciably smaller then the MUCH better quipped models from Outfitter, Northstar and hallmark you are comparing them to. I (and others) have had our Outfitter's over some pretty gnarly terrain with minimal (if any at all) preparation. What exactly are you wanting the manufacturers to do to make their camper an off-road version? What do you want them to reinforce? Bob at Outfitter would be more then happy to entertain any ideas you have for custom options that you feel would give you a right-from-the-factory-off-road-camper. Your Outfitter TRD version is as close as your wallet.
You mention "double latched drawers" a couple of times. Is there an incident this is in reference to or just a general idea? If you got this from the Baja trip Brian took in his Outfitter (as detailed on their site) you should be aware that the drawer incident he mentions came about due to a couple of unlikely to be repeated things. First, those were a new style drawer slide they were trying out (and decided against) and second he was on a high-speed run down a rough dirt road (that resulted in the entire rig getting airborne several times) which is something no normal owner would seriously contemplate (though he does report no structural damage was done). I personally know that when I had my previous Apex8 in Baja and hit an unseen whoop on a washboard road at 40mph that my drawers didn't move (even though my seat cover sure did LOL).
How much more off-road are you looking to go then what has been detailed in the recent trip reports of various Outfitter owners? Your description of occasionally needing low range while on dirt roads would seem to indicate a pretty tame usage on your part. Something that even a stock Outfitter would handle with ease. As a serious off-roader (have run the Hammers in my Early Bronco) I can truthfully say that your choice of truck and not the camper will be the limiting factor in where you can go.
As to the tie-down issue, while I originally had TL tiedowns my recent experiences and conversations with some expedition camper makers have led me to believe that the HJ system is a better way to go for a lighter (up to Outfitter size) camper for off-road use and I have converted to it. The front mounts allow the camper to flex with the truck bed instead of against it. The rear bumper issue is easily handled by an aftermarket bumper ($550 and sell your old bumper to recoup some of the cost). The weakness you note about the HJ system is totally due to the truck manufacturers and not the TC or tie-down maker.
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2007 Outfitter Apex9.5,270W solar,SolarBoost2000e,2 H2K's,2KW inverter,2 20lb LP on slide out tray,4 Lifeline AGM bats,Tundra fridge
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Steve_in_29 wrote: YThe weakness you note about the HJ system is totally due to the truck manufacturers and not the TC or tie-down maker.
Except in my case one time it was the tie-down maker. Both universal rear tiedowns bent after going across a railroad crossing on a major highway. This is the part: .
It's one of the weak links I'd like to get rid of.
DonCurley wrote: ..... (and if I may be so bold to say, considerably more than Hallmark will ever entertain).
I would agree that would be a bold statement Given the opportunity I believe Hallmark would also modify their product to the customers specification- within reason and without loss of integrity to the product
Note really such a bold statement when hallmark has in fact told several recent prospective buyers that they WOULDN'T do some of the same mods that Outfitter is known for.
Steve_in_29 wrote: YThe weakness you note about the HJ system is totally due to the truck manufacturers and not the TC or tie-down maker.
Except in my case one time it was the tie-down maker. Both universal rear tiedowns bent after going across a railroad crossing on a major highway. This is the part: .
It's one of the weak links I'd like to get rid of.
OK, easy enough to do with an after market bumper. Simply mount an eyebolt or even possibly just drill a hole in the bumper for the tiedown's hook to go in.
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Given the opportunity I believe Hallmark would also modify their product to the customers specification- within reason and without loss of integrity to the product
