For 50 years, British Columbia-based TufPort has made rugged truck slide-ins for Canada’s many far-flung staff. The model’s truck shells have grow to be a go-to alternative for subject work, from emergency medical transports to distant farming.
After years of requests from prospects, the model has delivered an overlanding model of its fashionable slide-ins. Leakproof, light-weight, and aerodynamic, the TufPort Overlander is a collaboration between the Canadian firm and Wasatch Overland, based mostly in Salt Lake Metropolis, Utah.
Geared for full-size vans (and even a few mid-size ones), the TufPort Overlander is produced from a monocoque fiberglass design. With a low heart of gravity, the slide-in is sort of noiseless whereas driving and barely impacts gas economic system, Wasatch Overland co-owner Aidan Bradney advised me.
The flagship TufPort Overlander mannequin is loads pricier than many alternate options from Scout Campers and 4-Wheel Campers. However Bradney contends the higher sturdiness and low weight are price the additional bucks.
“We actually took the slide-ins and floated them down the river,” he stated. “You may’t do this with the opposite ones in the marketplace.”
TufPort Overlander: Fashions
Wasatch Overland designed three totally different inside fashions for the brand new slide-in: Extremely-Mild, Sea to Sky, and Coast to Coast. The final choice represents the “flagship” mannequin, and has to this point been the preferred.
The Coast to Coast affords an “east-to-west” sleeping format geared toward {couples}. There’s sufficient room to sit down reverse one another, a bigger mattress that converts from a dinette desk, and extra room for the bathroom. It’s “a little bit extra bougie” than the opposite fashions, Bradney stated. The $33,800 price ticket additionally suggests a bourgeois earnings.
The Sea to Sky would be the most well-liked mannequin for “the only man who desires to retailer a pair mountain bikes whereas he’s touring,” Bradney stated. It’s received a “north-to-south” sleeping association with a smaller mattress that converts from a sofa. Aside from that, it’s received most of the identical facilities and an identical price ticket at $33,600.
Lastly, there’s the Extremely-Mild mannequin. Extra compact and with fewer options than the opposite two choices, it’s additionally considerably cheaper at $24,500.
Weight & Top
TufPort and Wasatch have clearly labored arduous to trim kilos from their newest slide-ins. The Coast to Coast and Sea to Sky fashions clock in at 900 kilos. That’s a big drop from the 1,133 kilos of the $25,000 Scout Olympic camper or the whopping 1,670 kilos of 4WC’s most costly slide-in, the $38,000 Orvis Particular Version.
Nevertheless, 900 kilos continues to be heavy for many mid-size vans. In consequence, a lot of the slide-ins have bought for full-size automobiles. However Bradney stated they’ve efficiently added the Coast-to-Coast slide-in to 2 mid-size fashions as effectively: a brand new Toyota Tacoma and a Chevy Colorado. Basically, it’s going to work with any full-size truck with a 6.5-foot field or a mid-size model with a 6-foot field.
An aerodynamic construct makes for a clean trip and minimal impact on fuel mileage, in response to Bradney. A Coast to Coast mannequin constructed on his Toyota Tundra diminished his gas economic system by simply 0.6 miles per gallon, he stated.
For anybody as much as 6 toes tall, the mattress appears to be like sufficiently lengthy for an honest evening of sleep. Nevertheless, don’t count on to face up in these. They’re made for sitting or sleeping, with a 65-inch top and 72-inch width on the inside. Tremendous-tall of us could wish to take a look at different choices.
Searching for one thing even lighter? The Extremely-Mild mannequin trims much more weight and clocks in at 750 kilos.
Camper Inside
Wasatch’s inside design makes use of many high-quality parts not all the time present in different slide-in choices. As a substitute of a GoalZero energy station, as discovered within the Scout Olympic, the TufPort Overlander has an built-in 2000W REDARC electrical system. It’s additionally received R22 fiberglass insulation that’s heat- and mold-resistant, together with 4-inch-thick cushions to maintain occupants cozy in chilly climate.
However Bradney stated the design continues to be geared extra towards shorter adventures than a semi-permanent life on the highway.
“They’re meant for residing out of, not for residing in. It’s a base camp,” Bradney stated. “On the identical time, we wished the bottom camp to have indoor cooking and different facilities.”
These embrace a 7-gallon water system with a USB Dometic faucet and chrome steel sink. There’s additionally cupboard storage, a ceiling fan, inside dome lights, dual-pane home windows with bug screens, and a 150W photo voltaic panel with an enlargement port. The Coast to Coast mannequin features a fridge/freezer. Not one of the fashions embrace a bathroom, although you may add an emergency porta-potty for $200 to the Coast to Coast mannequin on a full-size truck.
Lastly, making the slide-in prepared for bedtime takes lower than a minute, in response to Bradney. “Aesthetically, it appears to be like like nothing else in the marketplace,” Bradney stated. “We saved it slim with a 75-inch width, so it’s not massively hanging over the edges on a truck.”
TufPort Overlander: Availability
Wasatch Overland is at present taking orders for the brand new line of slide-ins. A $1,000 deposit will get manufacturing began in Salt Lake Metropolis, with a 3-to-4-month turnaround time. In the event you’re in search of a slide-in that may final for years of journey in harsh climates, Bradney says that is the one for you.
“They’ll take a beating. That’s the thought,” he stated. “Put your self in freezing chilly circumstances or a rainstorm, and also you’ll see why that is the best way to go.”
Be taught extra on the Wasatch Overland or TufPort web sites.