I believe traveling compact yet being able to camp with conviction, comfort, and peace of mind is of the utmost essentialness. Pick-up campers have become a go-to choice for adventurers with a similar frame of mind. But not all truck campers have to have a sleeper alcove; they can be just as comfortable without the extension, if designed right. This is essentially what the Arctos Sport from Grumpy Bear Campers intends to prove.
The Akron, Ohio-based manufacturer already has a cab-over alcove model in the first Arctos launched in 2024. The company has now trimmed the extension and defined the camper well within the parameters of the truck bed itself. The camping solution may look small and cramped, but from how the space has been developed, the transformable interior should be an all-weather eating, relaxing, and sleeping space for up to three people. Yes, that’s right.
Designer:
The Grumpy Bear Campers’ Arctos Sport has a standing (75-inch) interior height and features a marine-grade Gel Coat exterior for all-weather protection from the elements. The entire fully hard-sided camper is built on top of a truck bed extending slightly (well within the rear-view mirrors, so you don’t get the judgment wrong when driving) outside on the sides. Visually like a flat-back teardrop trailer on the back of the truck, the Arctos Sport should ride stable on the back and, owing to its sub-700 lb dead weight, shouldn’t add much to the drag. How much that is specifically, we are unsure at the time of writing.
For the user’s convenience, the Arctos Sport pick-up truck camper is available in two variants. If you like to customize your own lifestyle; the Arctos Sport DIY base model should be your pick. It comes entirely empty within the shell. Priced at $12,000 the model has a sturdy fiberglass body but lacks any furnishing, understandably. The body is provided with an entrance door, two windows on the sides, 2,000-lb manual jack stands and ratchet straps for tying the body to the truck.
If you like a complete feel where little is required from your end, and you can camp from day one, go for the Arctos Sport Standard Package. Within the standard package, the camper’s cabin is equipped with a 16,000-BTU furnace, a two-bench lounge area with a removable Lagun table in between. The setup can easily transform into a 53 x 74-inch bed at night. The vertically tall sidewalls are fitted with windows that open up for light, making the space feel bigger than it actually is. Besides storage options in laminated plywood cabinetry, the cabin is also outfitted with a Disc-O-Bed cot. It’s makeshift, but it exists as an option for a family of three, if you may.
While the basic DIY model costs only $12,000, the 1200 lb Standard Package with a roof vent (air-conditioning optional) and 110v & 12v USB power out, starts at $20,000. Grumpy Bear Campers also makes provision for portable toilet, solar power, and a 53L fridge, but these are all add-ons and priced separately.
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