Table of Contents Show
When access to off-road exploration and camping is important to you, a truck camper may solve your RV needs, especially if you already have a truck. Alaskan Camper has a thoughtfully designed truck camper for you, from mid-size to heavy-duty pickups.
It can withstand the rugged backroads while providing four-season dependability with high-quality amenities. The telescoping, hard-sided pop-up camper will make getting to your campsite easier and staying there much more comfortable.
Let’s take a look at this little-known recreational vehicle.
About Alaskan Campers
The uniquely-designed Alaskan Camper is a hard-sided pop-up truck camper. Unlike their competition, these slide-in campers are lighter, have little wind resistance, and travel well on rough roads.
The Alaskan Camper protects from rain and snow in some of the most inhospitable places. And with its ability to telescope down, the camper offers better gas mileage for its vehicle, with a lower center of gravity.
Where Are Alaskan Campers Made?
Surprisingly, Alaskan Campers are not made in the Land of the Midnight Sun. They are constructed in Winlock, Wash., halfway between Seattle and Portland, Ore. The company has built truck campers since 1953 due to the need for rugged trailers along the Alcan Highway.
From the beginning, Alaskan Campers used a hydraulic system that could raise and lower the top half of the camper. This provides a full-height rig when camping. And you get a compact one that fits snuggly just above the truck’s cab when traveling. The numerous benefits include less wind resistance and better gas mileage.
Are Alaskan Campers 4-Season?
These four-season Alaskan Campers have spray and block foam, and the floors also have added insulation. Combine that with solid wood framing wrapped in aluminum skin, a 20,000 BTU furnace, and an optional air conditioner. With all these features, you’ve got the makings of an excellent four-season camper.
Keep in Mind: Looking for the Best Four-Season Camper on the market? These are some of the top four-season camper brands
How Much Do Alaskan Campers Cost?
Ranging in price from just over $37,000 to $42,000, Alaskan Campers cost a bit more than the average truck camper. Most of that cost comes from the hydraulic lift system.
The unique, patented solid-wall design provides a more structurally-sound truck camper than a pop-up camper. And it makes the Alaskan camper a truly four-season RV.
Additionally, the top-of-the-line materials like the solid-maple cabinetry, Norwegian pine paneling, and leather upholstery enhance the camper’s resale value.
The Alaskan Camper Lineup
Alaskan Campers come in two designs. The various sizes have a cabover option. Or you can get the 8 and 10-foot floorplans without a bed over the truck cab. All models have real glass windows, hard-sided walls, thick insulation, and a sliding cab window. They also come in several sizes to fit different truck beds. Here’s the breakdown.
Cabover
Number of Options: 5
Dry Weight Range: 1,390 to 1,985 pounds
MSRP: $37,190 to $42,090
You can order the cabover floorplan for all five Alaskan Camper lengths, from 6.5, 7, 8, 8.5, and 10-foot. Each has a kitchen area with a two-burner propane stove, oven, sink, cabinet space, and room for an optional refrigerator.
It also has a covered area for an optional cassette toilet, furnace, and water tank. The smaller units can fit a 20-gallon tank, and the larger ones can fit up to 27 gallons. A large double bed lies over the cab.
Additionally, you get a single dinette in the 6.5-foot floorplan. And it grows to a double in the larger models, which you can use as a second bed. Finally, you can add an air conditioner to any of the floorplans.
Non-Cabover
Number of Options: 2
Dry Weight Range: 1,380 to 1,705 pounds
MSRP: $36,990 to $39,890
The two lengths of campers without the cabover extension are the 8-foot and 10-foot-long lengths. They have all of the amenities of the cabover floorplans, except for a double bed over the truck cab. The large double-size dinette in these two models converts into a bed. Optional equipment includes a cassette toilet and air conditioners.
What Type of Truck Do I Need for an Alaskan Camper?
Alaskan Campers work for trucks with beds 6.5 to 10 feet long. Even the largest Alaskan Camper weighs only 2,250 lbs wet. This means the trucks that haul them can range in size from full-size to heavy-duty vehicles.
And checking the payload capacity, some half-ton trucks can handle the weight of the smaller units. And three-quarter-ton and one-ton trucks can take on the larger cabover campers.
Where Can I Purchase an Alaskan Camper?
You can only purchase new Alaskan Campers at the factory in Winlock, Wash. You likely won’t find a used one of these highly-sought after campers for sale, as most owners hang on to them indefinitely.
But the company does have a classified ad section on its website where owners can list their rigs for sale. Their unique design and high-quality construction mean an Alaskan Camper will last longer than most when maintained properly.
Keep in Mind: Before purchasing a truck camper, make sure it’s really the right fit for you. Take a look at these Top 5 Regrets of owning a Truck Camper
Get Out There With an Alaskan Camper
Alaskan Campers have solved the problem of telescoping truck campers as true four-season rigs. Most pop-up campers use canvas, but Alaskan has hard-sided walls.
These walls provide more structure in high winds. Plus, they fold down to make an almost aerodynamic camper that gets better gas mileage and is easier to drive.
Anyone wanting a sleek, well-made truck camper with a comfortable and sensible design may appreciate the hydraulic system. And it combines all of this engineering into a stylish, high-end home that sits in the bed of your truck.
So will an Alaskan Camper fit your needs?
