Host Campers: Truck Campers A'la Carte

There's a little truck camper firm out of Bend, Oregon that has an interesting approach to truck campers: Instead of offering customers a few minor choices ("What's your color trim package? Would you like to upgrade to a generator?") the Host line includes some major thinking: Will that be a single, double, or triple slide?

Triple slide? We recall the "old days" where a few truck campers had a "pop out" section at the rear, somewhat lined out like a fold down bed in a "pop up camper." Once we even drove two and half hours to contemplate buying one--only to find that the pop out had leaked so bad the poor rig was ready for the bone yard.

Later we ran into a "wow!" concept: A truck camper with a slide-out dinette--manufactured by a Canadian firm. We wondered how long it would take American manufacturers to follow suit--and of course, they eventually did. So when we found the Host line, it was a revelation. Available slides on both curb and street side, and a "for real" slide out on the rear. Choose your base model, add on slides and other options--and even better: Host doesn't just tell you how many more dollars you'll add-on, but how many pounds you'll add on.

I could go on and gum about this for several more graphs, but I'll let you off the hook. Go visit the Host Camper website and check out what they have to offer. You'll even find links to reviews under their "press/editorial" section, including interesting observations by a "real" RVer who doesn't hide the "pimples and warts," of his own experience.

Photos: HostCamper.com