For 50 years, British Columbia-based TufPort has made rugged truck slide-ins for Canadas many far-flung workers. The brands truck shells have become a go-to choice for field work, from emergency medical transports to remote farming.
After years of requests from customers, the brand has delivered an overlanding version of its popular slide-ins. Leakproof, lightweight, and aerodynamic, the TufPort Overlander is a collaboration between the Canadian company and Wasatch Overland, based in Salt Lake City, Utah.
Geared for full-size trucks (and even a couple of mid-size ones), the TufPort Overlander is made from a monocoque fiberglass design. With a low center of gravity, the slide-in is nearly noiseless while driving and barely impacts fuel economy, Wasatch Overland co-owner Aidan Bradney told me.
The flagship TufPort Overlander model is a lot pricier than many alternatives from Scout Campers and Four-Wheel Campers. But Bradney contends the greater durability and low weight are worth the extra bucks.
We literally took the slide-ins and floated them down the river, he said. You can’t do that with the other ones on the market.
Play TufPort Overlander: Models Wasatch Overland designed three different interior models for the new slide-in: Ultra-Light, Sea to Sky, and Coast to Coast. The last option represents the flagship model, and has so far been the most popular.
The Coast to Coastoffers an east-to-west sleeping layout aimed at couples. Theres enough room to sit opposite each other, a larger bed that converts from a dinette table, and more room for the toilet. Its a little more bougie than the other models, Bradney said. The $33,800 price tag also suggests a bourgeois income.
The Coast to Coast model includes a dinette that converts to a bed for two; (photo/Wasatch Overland) The Sea to Sky will be the preferred model for the single guy who wants to store a couple mountain bikes while he’s traveling, Bradney said. Its got a north-to-south sleeping arrangement with a smaller bed that converts from a couch. Other than that, its got many of the same amenities and a similar price tag at $33,600.
Finally, theres the Ultra-Light model. More compact and with fewer features than the other two options, its also significantly cheaper at $24,500.
Weight Height TufPort and Wasatch have clearly worked hard to trim pounds from their latest slide-ins. The Coast to Coast and Sea to Sky models clock in at 900 pounds. Thats a significant drop from the 1,133 pounds of the $25,000 Scout Olympic camper or the whopping 1,670 pounds of 4WCs most expensive slide-in, the $38,000 Orvis Special Edition.
However, 900 pounds is still heavy for most mid-size trucks. As a result, most of the slide-ins have sold for full-size vehicles. But Bradney said theyve successfully added the Coast-to-Coast slide-in to two mid-size models as well: a new Toyota Tacoma and a Chevy Colorado. In general, it will work with any full-size truck with a 6.5-foot box or a mid-size version with a 6-foot box.
(Illustration/Wasatch Overland) An aerodynamic build makes for a smooth ride and minimal effect on gas mileage, according to Bradney. A Coast to Coast model built on his Toyota Tundra reduced his fuel economy by just 0.6 miles per gallon, he said.
For anyone up to 6 feet tall, the bed looks sufficiently long for a decent night of sleep. However, dont expect to stand up in these. Theyre made for sitting or sleeping, with a 65-inch height and 72-inch width on the interior. Super-tall folks may want to look at other options.
Looking for something even lighter? The Ultra-Light model trims even more weight and clocks in at 750 pounds.
(Photo/Wasatch Overland) Camper Interior Wasatchs interior design uses many high-quality components not always found in other slide-in options. Instead of a GoalZero power station, as found in the Scout Olympic, the TufPort Overlander has an integrated 2000W REDARC electrical system. Its also got R22 fiberglass insulation thats heat- and mold-resistant, along with 4-inch-thick cushions to keep occupants cozy in cold weather.
But Bradney said the design is still geared more toward shorter adventures than a semi-permanent life on the road.
They’re meant for living out of, not for living in. It’s a base camp, Bradney said. At the same time, we wanted the base camp to have indoor cooking and other amenities.
(Photo/Wasatch Overland) Those include a 7-gallon water system with a USB Dometic faucet and stainless steel sink. Theres also cabinet storage, a ceiling fan, interior dome lights, dual-pane windows with bug screens, and a 150W solar panel with an expansion port. The Coast to Coast model includes a fridge/freezer. None of the models include a toilet, though you can add an emergency porta-potty for $200 to the Coast to Coast model on a full-size truck.
Finally, making the slide-in ready for bedtime takes less than a minute, according to Bradney. Aesthetically, it looks like nothing else on the market, Bradney said. We kept it narrow with a 75-inch width, so it’s not massively hanging over the sides on a truck.
How waterproof is the TufPort Overlander? Well, they flipped it upside down, added a motor, and floated it down a river just to prove the point; (photo/TufPort) TufPort Overlander: Availability Wasatch Overland is currently taking orders for the new line of slide-ins. A $1,000 deposit will get production started in Salt Lake City, with a 3-to-4-month turnaround time. If youre looking for a slide-in that will last for years of adventure in harsh climates, Bradney says this is the one for you.
They can take a beating. That’s the idea, he said. Put yourself in freezing cold conditions or a rainstorm, and youll see why this is the way to go.
Learn more on the Wasatch Overland or TufPort websites.
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