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Truck campers are great RVs for more versatile travel, since you’re not towing a large vehicle behind you or rumbling down the road in a big, Class A motorhome. But most truck campers are quite small, and can only comfortably fit two adults.

In this article, I have done the legwork to find the best ones to feature. In addition to this list, I’ll also cover key information about whether truck camper slide-outs are worth it, and why your truck camper’s center of gravity is important.

I mentioned that weight might be an issue with slide-outs in your truck camper, and it’s kind of a big deal. At minimum, a single slide-out will weigh about 300 pounds. If you’re driving a short-bed, half-ton truck, your options may be more limited for hauling a truck camper with a heavy slide-out (or two).

Even with a standard three-quarter-ton or one-ton pickup truck, your payload is limited and every single pound counts. As you’ll find in our list of the best truck campers with slide-outs below, most of the campers weigh more than 3,000 pounds, fully-loaded.

Keep in mind as well, that the weight of the slide out can also cause stress on the frame of your camper, could lead to frame failure. Another negative to consider is that slide-outs can leak, so you’ll need to take extra care to maintain the weather seals, especially if you will be traveling in a humid or rainy climate.

If you’re buying a used truck camper, always be sure to check the roof and the floors for soft spots, which can indicate water damage. Slide-outs can also make year-round camping less comfortable, because they allow drafts, even if the rubber seals are in peak condition.

Something that’s relevant to consider is that your truck camper also won’t have a very large propane tank, so the drafts may tax your furnace system beyond its capabilities. At best, you may eat through your propane store more quickly. So, if you’re planning to camp in rugged, sub-zero locations, slide-outs might not be a good choice for your truck camper.

Drawbacks aside, there’s a good reason (or three!) why some people prefer a truck camper with slide-outs. Of course, the strongest perk is the additional living space provided in your camper.

Beyond the additional space to spread out, slide-outs allow more storage areas in the camper. When the dinette is located in the slide, the camper will have even more storage capacity in the dinette seats, the fold-down bunk area, and more.

Since storage is always a premium in tiny RVs like truck campers, one with a slide-out definitely has more to offer and this may be a strong factor and reason to choose a camper with slide-outs.

With a truck camper, the center of gravity is very important. Not only do you need to be conscious of your camper’s Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR) and Cargo Carrying Capacity (Center of Gravity), you also need to be sure to distribute weight appropriately.

You don’t want your camper to cause the whole vehicle to tip over when you make a sharp turn! One thing to keep in mind is that the center of gravity may not always be in the center of the camper.

I included the manufacturer’s center of gravity for most of the campers on this list, and to find the center of gravity inside your camper, you just need to take this measurement and use it to measure the distance from the front wall of the camper.

I have done the research to find the top truck campers with slide-outs, and below, I’ll list them with important specifications about their weight restrictions, sleeping capacity, size restrictions (for short-bed trucks), and more.

Although the Adventurer 910DB truck camper is only compatible with long-bed trucks, its amenities make it worth it, with a California king-sized bed in the front of the camper, a full wall slide-out for the dinette, and tons of storage.

The Adventurer 910DB truck camper is made with two-inch aluminum framed and laminated sidewalls (three-year structural warranty) with R-13 closed cell block foam insulation and a laminated ceiling with simulated padded interior.

The roof is one-piece thermo polyolefin (TPO), with a 12 year walk-on warranty. The camper has thick framed radius four-season insulated compartment doors to keep it better insulated.

The Arctic Fox 1150 truck camper from Northwood comes with either a wet or dry bath. There’s a foot-pedal toilet, and shower pan with a shower curtain on a curved track to offer more space. The bath is at the rear of the trailer, with the dinette, a wardrobe, and a 2-way, 7 cu.ft fridge in the slide-out.

The camper’s bedroom has a comfortable NW TruRest queen bed, wardrobes and hampers on either side of the bed, and a shelf at the headboard for more storage. There’s plenty of exterior storage as well, below the slide-out.

One of the most versatile truck campers on the market, the Eagle Cap 811 from Eagle Campers is designed for both long- and short-bed trucks, with room for the optional on-board Cummins/Onan 2500 watt generator.

The camper has aircraft-quality welded aluminum frame superstructure, with two-inch TCC® laminated aluminum framed walls with R-13 Insulation (three year structural warranty).

Some of the construction features that make this truck camper special are the channeled side roofing seal system and the all-season, six-step exterior sealing process, which makes your camper comfortable no matter what climate you’re camping in.

Inside the truck camper, the layout is similar to most on this list – after all, there’s only so many options in such a tiny space! The wet bath is in the rear of the camper on the passenger side, and the shower has a spray wand that extends outside for convenient clean-up.

The Mammoth 11’ 6” Truck Camper from Host Campers is one of the largest and most luxurious on this list. There are three slide-outs as well, significantly increasing your interior space when parked in your campsite.

One feature that’s particularly cool about this truck camper is the dual-entry bathroom, with a rolling door from the main living area and a pocket sliding door for accessing the bathroom from the bedroom.

The Mammoth Truck Camper’s kitchen is in the third slide-out on the passenger side of the vehicle, and has a double-bowl stainless steel sink, a large three-burner range with a folding stove top cover, a double-door 8 cu.ft. fridge, and lots of storage.

Host Campers builds the Mammoth Campers for durability and lightweight engineering, with ultralite 100% aluminum framing, a complete fiberglass exterior, a one-piece TPO roof, and vacuum bonded foam insulation throughout.

The sofa/dinette and two-way 8 cu.ft. fridge are located in the passenger side slide-out, with the spacious dry bath tucked into the rear of the camper.

You can also add a microwave or a combo microwave and convection oven to your camper if you choose. Host Camper also offers the option to have a fireplace and entertainment center in the center of the camper, sharing a wall with the bedroom.

As with the Mammoth series, Host Camper’s Tahoe model is made with an ultralite 100% aluminum structure, complete fiberglass exterior, one-piece TPO roof, and vacuum bonded foam insulation in the walls, floor and ceiling to make it a durable four-season camper.

At over 20 feet long, the Lance 1172 Truck Camper is probably the largest on this list. It also has two slide-outs, putting it on par with the more spacious RVs from Host Campers.

This camper also has Azdel interior walls and a laminated and insulated floor, roof (one piece), and cab-over bed. Lance offers the option for two 100-watt solar panels, in addition to a long list of extra features.

The HS-2902 hard-side truck camper from Palomino RV offers a classic floorplan with everything you need to travel and camp comfortably in any season. It has a white fiberglass or gray gel coat exterior, high-density block foam insulation, an Alpha SuperFlex membrane roof, and an aluminum-framed, fully-welded super structure.

You can haul it in a ¾-ton truck with either a 6’6” or 8’ bed, making this camper more versatile for even short-bed trucks. Inside, the HS-2902 has a 40 by 62-inch convertible dinette in the passenger side slide-out, and a wet bath in the rear driver’s side of the vehicle.

The Polar 860 truck camper from Rugged Mountain RV is the shortest camper on this list. At under 16 feet, this camper is creatively laid out to maximize space. It’s constructed with a TPO roof and a high-gloss exterior finish.

The fridge is a 5 cu.ft. refrigerator/freezer combo, across from the residential-style double-bowl sink. With Rugged Mountain RV’s Rugged package, you can get a 20-inch oven and microwave in your camper.

This camper is an excellent base for your rugged camping needs. It’s also pre-wired for extra comforts and features, including electric jacks, air conditioning, kitchen appliances, and DVD/TV/Cable/Satellite.

If you’re in the market for a truck camper with more space, I hope this article has helped you find some great options for 2023 truck campers with slide outs.

When you’re researching truck campers in general, be sure to check out our post on 12 Of The Best Small Truck Campers On The Market Right Now to browse some other great truck campers!

After living in a truck camper full-time, we’ve come to appreciate the finer things in life like elbow room and storage space. In many truck campers being built today, these basics are lacking. Our camper is no different. As a result, we’ve had to be creative to find places to store things in our rig like in the truck bed and in the cab of our truck, but finding living space in our camper remains elusive. There simply isn’t a lot of room inside for basic things like lounging around and watching TV.

That’s why we were intrigued when we recently had the opportunity to take a closer look at a Host Mammoth 11.6 truck camper at a dealership in town, Tom’s Camperland. This long-bed truck camper not only impressed us with its luxury, size, and quality, but also had us seriously thinking about an upgrade. If a $65,000 camper has that kind of allure after a brief, 30 minute tour, you know it has to be good.

First things, first. The Host Mammoth 11.6 is big. The name fits because this camper is massive, even for a long-bed truck camper. Indeed, with a typical dry weight of 4,700 pounds, an overall length of 19 feet 3 inches, and a floor length of 11 feet 6 inches, it’s one of the largest slide-in truck campers in the industry. Part of what makes the Mammoth so big is that it features three slide-outs. Yep, you heard us right—three. These slide-outs create an enormous amount of living space—180 square feet to be exact—the equivalent of what you’ll find in an average size motorhome.

Of course, you’ll need a big truck to haul this camper. Depending on options and how much “stuff” you put in it, the Mammoth will probably weigh between 5,500 and 6,000 pounds, which means you’ll need a minimum of a 3500/F-350 dual rear wheel truck with a 5,500 pound payload to safely haul it. Some Mammoth owners have resorted to getting a 4500/F-450 or 5500/F-550 truck with an even larger payload to haul this elephant-size beast around.

Luxury is the word that comes to mind when you walk inside a Host Mammoth 11.6 truck camper. Inside, you’ll find a “host” of amenities and high-end touches not found in your typical truck camper like a leather sofa, an electric fireplace, a mantel with a 32-inch flat-screen TV, a large dry bath with a porcelain toilet and a large shower, a two-door 8 cubic foot refrigerator, molded counter tops, and a massive, four-door pantry in the kitchen. If that isn’t luxurious enough, options are also available for a king size bed, a 6 foot sofa with an adjustable high-low table, an outdoor entertainment center with a 24-inch flat screen TV, and a washer/dryer combo.

Truth be told, the lavish interior and attention to detail of the Host Mammoth camper resembles a high-end apartment more than a truck camper. The slide-outs, of course, are a large part of what makes the Mammoth so special. We were amazed at all of the elbow room, storage space, and amenities inside the camper. Full-timing in this thing would be a joy compared to the truck camper that we’re living in now.

“We’re the guys that build a camper with a comfortable living space that has more of a living room type of feel,” explained Randall Pozzi, General Manager of Host Campers based out of Bend, Oregon. “You walk in one of our campers you’ve got the two couches in there, its got the fireplace, the mantel with the TV above it, you’ve got the high-low table that goes up and down, side-to-side, and in and out, you can set it up like a coffee table, you can set it up like a dining table. Our campers make you feel like you’re in a living room set-up rather than your typical camper where the only place you have to sit is at the dinette. That’s what sets us apart from everybody else, our comfortable living space,” he added.

The Mammoth 11.6, like all Host Campers, is loaded with an impressive number of standard features. These include a Dometic two-way 8-cubic foot refrigerator, a Suburban 6 gallon DSI water heater, a Suburban 25,000 BTU propane fired furnace, a 1,000 watt inverter, and a Suburban thre-burner propane cook top with a folding cook top cover. The camper also comes standard with a U-shaped dinette, a loveseat, and a queen size bed. All of the cabinets in the Mammoth are high-end with shaker style doors and drawers with pocket screwed face frames.

If you’re into boondocking or dry camping, you’ll really like what the Mammoth has to offer. The camper has the largest holding tanks in the industry—65 gallons fresh, 51 gallons grey, and 31 gallons black. We couldn’t find a larger fresh water or grey water holding tank in a slide-in truck camper being made today, even in the larger Eagle Cap models being made by ALP (Chalet RV used to produce a camper with a 66 gallon fresh water tank capacity, but that camper is no longer being made).

The Mammoth excels in other ways, too, with the camper capable of carrying 15 gallons of propane, a vented battery compartment large enough to house two group-31 batteries, and a 1,000 watt inverter with two dedicated AC outlets. The camper comes solar ready, but if you want Host offers three excellent Zamp solar power options that can be installed at the factory: a 160 watt, a 320 watt, and a 480 watt system. Many Mammoth owners also opt for the Onan 2500 generator to power the convection microwave, the electric fireplace, and the 11,000 BTU air conditioner while off-grid.

When you first lay eyes on the exterior of a Host Mammoth camper, “wow!” is the first word that usually comes to mind. The smooth, fiberglass exterior of the camper, tastefully accented with Host’s traditional graphics package, presents a muscular yet elegant appearance. One feature not readily apparent when you first look at the camper is the Mammoth’s crowned TPO roof. The benefit of having this feature is that it prevents water from pooling on the roof and creating leaks. We also liked the rear folding ladder, the recessed LED automotive style tail lights, and the toppers fitted above each slide-out, which keep moisture and leaves out of the camper when the slide-outs are retracted. But the one feature that really brought a smile to our faces was the basement storage tray. This easy, pull-out tray provides an enormous amount of storage that would be the envy of any RV owner, let alone a truck camper owner.

Like most of the truck camper’s being built today, the Mammoth’s frame is constructed entirely of aluminum. While many manufacturers build their truck camper frames out of aluminum, few do it right. “What really sets us apart in our framing is our walls,” Pozzi says, “we use studs throughout our walls, and every window, every door, every hatch is an actual framed-in opening, so if you took the window out of one of our campers you’d see aluminum there. Where most of the manufacturers if you take a window out of the wall, you’d see nothing there but foam. So over time the foam starts to compress and now you’ve got a compression ring window that’s squeezing nothing so you have a much higher potential for leakers.”

Frame issues have plagued some truck camper makes with multiple slide-outs, but not at Host. Most manufacturers are building campers with 4- and 5-foot wide floors below the bed rails of the truck. This approach employs the standard stair-step pattern or Z-pattern that is difficult to make strong enough to carry big slides because of the wings and the narrower floor. Host uses a better, completely different approach and backs it up with a three-year structural warranty.

The Host Mammoth is a true, four-season camper. Even though the exterior walls are only 1-inch thick, Pozzi explains that the walls are insulated with a 2-pound high density foam with a high R-rating. This higher density foam insulates just as well as the 2-inch thick walls found in other high-end truck campers. In order to keep the camper toasty warm, the Mammoth is heated with a Suburban high-efficiency 25,000 BTU furnace with full ducting throughout the camper. Most campers have only one vent for the furnace, which is a common complaint we hear hear at Truck Camper Adventure. Moreover, the basement, which houses the battery compartment, all of the camper’s holding tanks, the storage tray, and a good portion of the camper’s plumbing, is also heated. Even the exterior doors and hatches are insulated to ensure that the camper stays warm in winter.

A big concern for many consumers shopping for a truck camper with multiple slide-outs is the slide-out reliability. While some truck camper companies have been having problems with these mechanisms, Host hasn’t had any issues at all. The reason is Host uses Power Gear heavy-duty steel mounting hardware underneath their slide-outs rather than the less reliable Schwintek aluminum hardware, which is mounted on the side. Host’s Power Gear slide-out mechanisms have robust rolling assemblies that simply don’t fail. Yes, these assemblies are heavier than those found in other makes of truck campers, but they hold up better over time. When you consider where most of us like to take our truck campers—off-road excursions on rough forest roads and rutted desert trails are the norm—it makes a lot of sense to have a stronger, more robust slide-out assembly. Who wants to have a breakdown on an outing? We sure as heck wouldn’t.

Another concern that many have with such a large camper is how it will handle on and off pavement. With three slide-outs and the floor mounted above the bed rails of the truck, you’d think that there would be issues, but that hasn’t been the case. The Mammoth actually handles exceptionally well on a one-ton dually with the requisite payload.

“If you look at the design, where the axles hit and you look at what’s forward of the axle, our fresh water tank, our grey water tank, our black water tank, our pantry, our refrigerator, everything that’s really heavy that you’re going to load into this camper, your food, your water and all of these kind of things is all forward of the axle where so many campers are designed where you’re loading the back-end and that’s why the Mammoth drives so well for a big camper because it’s designed to be loaded front-end,” Pozzi explained.

The Host Mammoth 11.6 appears to have everything that one would want in a truck camper. Pozzi tells us that the Mammoth is by far the best-selling camper at Host. That’s no surprise, but because of its size the Host Mammoth isn’t for everybody. If you’re looking for an extreme 4×4 truck camper to take off-road, this elephant-size beast isn’t it. But if you’re looking for a camper to travel in or to use as a base camp to use your other toys, then the Mammoth will fill that need rather nicely. At $65,000 for the base model, there are certainly cheaper options, but they aren’t necessarily better. The high quality frame and slide-out mechanisms, not to mention the lavish, high end features of the interior provide ample evidence of that fact. There’s no doubt about it, the Host Mammoth 11.5 is the undisputed king of the mountain when it comes to the multiple slide-out truck camper market. It doesn’t appear likely that the Mammoth will be pushed off its lofty perch anytime soon.

Truck Camper Magazine reviews a 2022 Cirrus 620, a hard side, non-slide short bed truck camper intended for half-ton trucks.  Did nuCamp RV hit the half-ton target with a compelling camper?  Here’s our verdict.

Their first attempt debuted at the 2018 Hershey RV Show and Elkhart Open House as the Cirrus 670 prototype.  The camper was teeming with exciting and innovative design concepts and earned high praise from the attendees.  Unfortunately, it also overshot the half-ton weight mark by hundreds of pounds.

Undeterred, nuCamp returned to their Sugarcreek, Ohio skunkworks, drew a 1,500-pound line in the design sand, and publicly vowed to hold it.  With everything they had learned from the 670 prototypes, 720 prototypes, and vanquished 720 production units, they were going to build a true half-ton possible truck camper.

The moment we saw the Cirrus 620, we knew nuCamp meant business.  For starters, the camper was 2.5-feet shorter than the 720 and eliminated the wet bath for a hide-a-way cassette toilet.  As a result of these design decisions and many others, the Cirrus 620 prototype weighed in at 1,491-pounds.

After the congratulations comes the question that has thrown so many truck camper leadership teams and design teams off the half-ton hunt.  Does a hard-side truck camper that eschews popular features in order to hit a half-ton compatible weight go on to find success in the marketplace?

All suspense aside, the answer is yes.  The 620 was a strong seller in 2021 with orders reaching well into 2022.  That’s impressive, and undoubtedly a relief in Ohio, but now it’s time to put the 620 through yet another grueling challenge; a formal Truck Camper Magazine review.

The question remains the same with a twist; Does a hard side truck camper that eschews popular features in order to hit a half-ton compatible weight result in well made, well-designed, well-executed truck camper?  Let’s find out.

Under the cassette compartment is the grey water dump and valve.  Note the fresh water tank drain is also located in this compartment.  Dump facilities located inside campers make me a bit nervous.  Owners will need to be very careful to secure the dump hose to this connection before pulling the grey knife valve.

The configuration instructions appear like an Arthur Murray dance step diagram.  Thankfully for my two left feet, the four corresponding color-coded handles are easy to follow and light years ahead of the scattered hodge-podge that most other campers and RVs present.  One, two, three… sanitize.  And one, two, three… winterize.  One, two, three… city water.  See, it’s easy!

Internal ratchet straps have been successfully employed on other camper rigs, but we have yet to load a camper with this system.  Like the cassette toilet system, we recommend getting a ratchet tie-down lesson or two at your nuCamp Cirrus dealer before leaving the lot.

Normally I don’t comment on camper door locks but this beefy number could solve a daily situation in Casa Blanca.  If the lock indicator simply had an (admittedly strong) glow-in-the-dark sticker, I would be able to see if it was up (locked) or down (unlocked) from the cabover.

When Angela invariably asks, “Is the door locked?” moments before I fall asleep, I could see it from the bed; “Yes, dear.”  Call it, “Glow Lock” and list it as a feature for 2022.  I bet I’m not the only one who would appreciate the cross-camper visible lock check.

“Hey, Gordon!  Team nuCamp here.  Don’t you know the smartCamp app activates the camper’s built-in smartCamp system allowing you to turn on the interior, exterior, and accent lights as well as the fan from your smartphone?”

For one of the smaller truck campers, the Cirrus 620 has one of the most generous built-in spice racks we’ve ever seen.  Far beyond mere salt and pepper, this could host quite the McCormick collection.  Of course, these cubbies would work well for anything from vitamin bottles to utensils to napkins.  And they look fantastic.

Under the sink are two panels for access to the Alde hydronic heat and hot water system, the water pump, and electrical and plumbing.  If this particular camper hadn’t been sold, I would have retrieved my tools and opened this area for a look.  To see what’s behind doors number one and two, check out the Cirrus 620 announcement.

Opening this seat compartment reveals a built-in 4.75-gallon Thetford C-223S cassette toilet system.  This feature alone sets the 620 apart from many competing half-ton targeting truck camper models and adds a degree of convenience and versatility that many will find irresistible.

We know a lot of cassette toilet owners who wouldn’t even consider a standard RV black tank and the required dump stations.  They’re weekend campers and dump when they return home.  They’re winter campers and camp where dump stations are closed for the season.  They just prefer being able to dump their cassette into any residential toilet.  If your truck camping lifestyle requires that level of convenience and versatility, a cassette toilet is unbeatable.

Inside the cabinets reveal an impressive volume of storage.  Fully utilizing this space could be tricky as the space curves up and out and lacks any provision for shelving.  Solutions like plastic containers and possibly netting come to mind, but I’d be curious to see what other nuCamp owners have done.  nuCamp could even hold a contest for the best storage ideas in a nuCamp truck camper, if they only had a way to announce it.

Cleverness and quality abound.  Note how the cabinet dividers are CNC cut to pull weight out the structure while adding to the modern design.  The inside of the cabinets are finished to the same level as the exterior, and the stainless steel hinges feature springs to hold the doors up.  This is a company that cares about how their campers hold up and present themselves long after the sale.

The neutral cushion color, modern style, and clean stitch patterns are also big improvements from where the company seating began.  One sit and your posterior will confirm it.  If only every truck camper were this comfy.

The Lagun table system has become the premium table system for small spaces; campers, RVs, boats, and beyond.  The reason is its inherent sturdiness, position flexibility and ability to be locked down.

It takes a bit of practice to learn the two Lagun hand locks but, once that becomes familiar, you can quickly unlock, move and re-lock the table almost anywhere you need it.  The leg also mounts to the camper structure itself avoiding a table leg post that consumes valuable floor space.  In a camper like the 620, it’s the best available system.

This might be the best-labeled breaker and fuse box we have ever seen.  This may seem like a small detail to some but will save Cirrus camper owners a huge amount of time when troubleshooting becomes necessary.  Bravo, nuCamp!  I wish our electrical system looked like this.

Remove the passenger side dinette cushions and you’ll discover two white plastic access panels.  These snap off with a little pressure.  These same removable white plastic panels are used in other places in the unit and provide quick and easy access to vital systems.  This kind of access can be make or break when camper systems inevitably need maintenance.

I applaud nuCamp for providing access where ever possible.  Having lived with campers that lack this kind of access, these panels will be worth their weight in gold when the turnbuckles hit the fan.  It happens.

Most campers anywhere near the half-ton hard side category go with an East-West cabover to save weight.  The fact that we’re looking at a North-South cabover in the 620 further sets this design apart in an increasingly crowded field.  Of course, it also adds weight.

The cabover reminds us that this camper was built to a weight point.  First, there are no penguins.  Penguins, for those who don’t obsess over industry jargon, are the cabinets you often see on the forward-most driver’s and passenger’s sides of a cabover.  You also don’t see any upper cabinets, but nuCamp has made ample provisions for long hampers with split lids.  With a little laundry origami, you should be able to fit your shirts, pants, socks, and skivvies in these dueling bedside chutes.

Since day one, Cirrus campers have come standard with a Froli bed system.  As you can see above, the Froli bed system is comprised of interlocking spring “flowers” that create something of a box spring mattress.  By suspending the top mattress, the Froli system allows airflow to warm the mattress and prevent under bed condensation.

We literally bought the exact Froli system and mattress that was in the Cirrus 920 we borrowed and put it into our personal camper.  It’s the most comfortable sleeping situation we’ve ever had in a truck camper.  The Froli system also solved an under bed condensation issue.  Another benefit is that the total height of the Froli system and the Cirrus supplied mattress was about 25-percent less than our previous mattress creating more cabover headroom.

Like all nuCamp and Cirrus products, the Cirrus 620 employs the Alde hydronic heating system for heat and hot water.  The Alde system uses heated glycol and a series of convectors located throughout a unit to heat the camper and provide hot water.  In this photo, you see the system’s glycol reservoir tucked into a cabinet immediately inside the cabover.

In 2019, we reviewed the Alde system during a long-term test in a Cirrus 920.  If you are considering a camper equipped with an Alde system, I highly recommend checking out the Alde review and Alde’s manufacturer response.  It’s an incredible system.

That stated, the Cirrus 920 (and 820) have the aforementioned front penguins cabinets, a small headboard cabinet, and a considerable overhead drivers’ side cabinet.  None of those are present in the 620.  This painstakingly calculated omission is exactly the kind of leadership, design, and marketing decision that results in a truck camper that truly meets a half-ton possible weight category.  So many truck camper manufacturers fail this test and give in to the temptation and pressure to add back what’s been removed.  Well done, nuCamp.  Hold the line.

I once got into quite the kerfuffle with a manufacturer when I publicly called out how silly it is to have cup holders in a camper cabover.  When I first saw the cup holders in the 620, I paused to consider my options; and promptly dug in my admittedly stubborn heels.  I still believe the idea of open liquid containers in a camper cabover is asking for trouble.  Of course, so is driving in an age where humans have been all but enslaved by their rectangular cellphone overloads.  We found that one out the hard way.

Having experienced thermal pane acrylic windows in multiple camper designs, we can confirm their exceptional performance in the temperature extremes.  They really help to hold in the heat in cold weather, and air conditioning in the summer.

The built-in black-out shade feature is very useful for both privacy and low-profile boondocking.  Traditional Venetian blinds never block all of the light, but the blackout shades are almost perfect in this regard.  Dim your nighttime lights to comfortable levels and your camper will be dark outside.

This is all on target with the prevailing trends in the hard-side truck camper marketplace.  From various surveys and personal experience, truck campers simultaneously want more features, more versatility, and more flexibility.  By loading the 620 from the factory and making the included options more removable and portable, nuCamp is on point for this niche.

For both the Cirrus 920 and Cirrus 720 reviews, we have publicly asked nuCamp to share with us how and where they weigh truck campers.  We haven’t seen scales on their camper line, nor have we ever seen a certified scale ticket presented with their camper weights.

In all fairness, their stated camper weights are well within the realm of expectation and they have often reported weights higher than they had wished.  They are also great about responding to our reviews and are open about their successes and various challenges along the way.  Still, we would like to know how they weigh truck campers at nuCamp HQ.

As we encourage the industry to do, the center of gravity is marked on the 620 with a red arrow sticker, but the sticker is located on the lower part of the camper where it can’t be seen once the unit is loaded.  We would like to see Cirrus move this sticker to the sidewall where it will be visible once the camper is loaded.

Unless you are traveling alone and are extremely efficient in your tank use, the 620 tank capacities will probably need to be dumped and replenished about twice a week.  As many of the competing campers in this size and weight category do not have holding tanks or cassette toilet systems, the given capacity is actually fantastic.

The batteries need a special comment.  First, the camper does not come with batteries.  There is a 7.5-inch wide, 12-inch deep, and 23-inch long storage space under the left seating area for two Group 24 batteries, possibly bigger.

Using our standardized Truck Camper Magazine wet weight calculation, let’s run the numbers on the 2021 Cirrus 620.  As noted previously, the base dry weight is loaded but does not include three specific options; an air conditioner, a 7-foot motorized side awning, and a microwave.  The Cirrus 620 we reviewed did not have these options.  If you select all three options, add approximately 120-pounds to the dry weight below.

The great majority of half-ton trucks, new or used, late model or vintage, have 1,500-pounds of payload or less.  Unless you plan on taking a camper out minus water, clothing, food, or any other belongings, the 620 requires a particularly stout version of the half-ton type.

Note that the T-shape of the 620 allows it to be loaded into long or short bed trucks.  Basically, any full-size truck is a potential fit, if not a payload match.  For trucks with 6-foot or longer beds, you can even close the tailgate and then use it as a porch.  Very few truck campers offer this kind of truck fit versatility.

No matter what truck and camper you choose, always follow the truck and camper matching calculations and paths outlined in the article, “How To Match A Truck and Camper”.

Without a doubt, the 620 is the Cirrus model the truck camper marketplace and community needed.  More than any previously presented Cirrus prototype or production model, the 620 succeeds in bringing the winning simplicity, elegance, style, and versatility of nuCamp’s celebrated teardrop trailer line to the truck camper category.

Most importantly, they hit the half-ton weight range.  No, you can’t take your tired 1999 half-ton and payload match it to this camper.  What you can do is design and order a half-ton that will more than handle this camper, even fully wet and optioned to the hilt.  What’s even more impressive is that the 620 has a North-South cabover, decent holding tanks, a cassette toilet system, an Alde heating system, and a long list of standard features.  This is no stripped bare shell.  It’s a full-blooded camper.

And finally, we can’t look past the rather high price; $38,591 USD is a lot for a 6-foot floor-length camper, even if it is peppered with high-end appliances and luxury appointments.  I know everything has gone up in price of late due to the rising cost of materials and parts.  Even so, the Cirrus 620 is a luxury camper with a luxury price.

All of that aside, the 620 is a stunning truck camper.  It’s easy to forget it includes the remarkable Alde hydronic heating system, West Marine Isotherm 12-volt compressor refrigerator, Froli bed system, electric Rieco-Titan jacks, Nautilus water management system, Thetford cassette toilet, 210-watts of solar and essentially every other forward-thinking feature nuCamp truck campers are known for; all standard.

For the person who wants a half-ton truck and demands the built-in features modern truck campers provide, the 620 belongs on your very short list.  If I had to bet, the Cirrus 620 will quickly become their leading truck camper product.

Truck Camper Magazine inspects all reviewed truck campers for design, material, and quality issues and reports what we find.  However, since Truck Camper Magazine reviews only brand new truck campers, our reviews do not address long-term quality, customer service, or reliability.

To learn about a brand’s long-term quality, customer service, and reliability, Truck Camper Magazine recommends talking directly with truck camper owners at truck camper rallies and online via truck camper forums and truck camper owners groups.

Please be sure to balance your gathered feedback across multiple sources including direct correspondence with the truck camper manufacturers and your closest truck camper dealers.  If you are new to truck campers, please start in the Newbie Corner.

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