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TufPort Overlander: Slide-In Truck Camper Offers Lightweight, Leakproof Base Camp
TufPort Overlander: Slide-In Truck Camper Offers Lightweight, Leakproof Base Camp
Nov 13, 2024 7:44 AM

  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.

  

TufPort Overlander: Slide-In Truck Camper Offers Lightweight, Leakproof Base Camp1

  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.

  

TufPort Overlander: Slide-In Truck Camper Offers Lightweight, Leakproof Base Camp2

  (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.

  

TufPort Overlander: Slide-In Truck Camper Offers Lightweight, Leakproof Base Camp3

  (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.

  

TufPort Overlander: Slide-In Truck Camper Offers Lightweight, Leakproof Base Camp4

  (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.

  

TufPort Overlander: Slide-In Truck Camper Offers Lightweight, Leakproof Base Camp5

  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.

  

TufPort Overlander: Slide-In Truck Camper Offers Lightweight, Leakproof Base Camp6

  The Best Truck Campers of 2024Dive into the world of truck campers with us. We go over the best models and all the important info you'll want to know before buying one. Read more

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