Today’s RV review is sort of an RV kit. Or, kind of like planting seeds of an RV. What I’m talking about is the Super Pacific USA’s X1 camper. This is a fairly basic pickup camper, and the company shared some information with me about the fact that their camper will fit on the newer Toyota Tacoma pickups that are now making the scene.
It’s probably a good thing that the same camper will fit on the older Tacomas that were strong sellers, because apparently numbers for this newer model aren’t quite as strong.
What is the Super Pacific USA X1 camper
Essentially, this is a pickup camper with a front-hinged pop-up roof that is designed to fit both mid-sized trucks, like that new Toyota Tacoma, and also full-sized trucks. Not the same model, mind you, but the same design—just in appropriate sizes for the various trucks.
The camper itself is almost like a blank canvas made up of aircraft-like materials with zero wood used in the build. There are provisions for some wiring, including the ability to charge devices through USB ports.
Once the top is popped, the fun begins—kind of like a beer. The camper forms a wedge shape and a bed is revealed along the same line where the top was when down.
Canvas sides make up the walls and you get a full standing height in here with the top up.
The best part of this camper is that there are panels where you can hang things to utilize while camping or just to keep stationary while driving.
How would you make the Super Pacific USA X1 camper work?
Funny you should ask. I have built a camper myself on my Ram 2500 4X4 but used a Flated Air Topper. So, in some ways, it’s the same idea.
I think any new RV is going to get the scrutiny of the owner after the first trip and, by the third trip, you’re making changes. With the flexible wall panels and, essentially, blank canvas of this rig, now you can tailor the camper to how you’re going to camp this weekend. Or just use it to haul the stuff your spouse made you buy for that honey-do home project.
But here’s what we did with our own off-road camper:
The biggest question we get is, “What about the toilet?” Well, we’ve got that covered, quite literally, with the SylvanSport Privy Bivy that my wife wrote about a while back. We use that to encapsulate our Camco portable toilet.
Interestingly, we recently ran across the folks from the Geyser Systems portable shower. I liked this device so much I also put one in our house. The one in our house is not the fully self-contained model, but we can use the portable self-contained model also in that Privy Bivy tent. Plus, since this comes with three different sponges, one has now found kitchen duty. Nifty.
Speaking of the kitchen—what we have been doing with our truck camper setup is powering our induction cook top on the tailgate of the truck with the Bluetti portable power station. We also use this battery pack to operate our 12-volt cooler.
As for water supply, I use the Dometic Go Hydration Water Jug. This thing lives in the back seat of our truck as it is for longer journeys, so it’s always on hand anyway.
What are you, crazy?
Why do you have to keep repeating what my wife asks me? Hehe.
Seriously, though, the off-road camper isn’t designed as our main camper. We have a travel trailer for that, but we wanted to have a vehicle that we could take further off the grid. The idea is that we can take the travel trailer to an RV park or even boondocking but not that far into the wild. Then leave it for a day or two and go somewhere that is further off.
One of those destinations is the mining “ghost” town of Cerro Gordo. I wouldn’t drag our nice trailer up that road, but I would have no issue taking the truck camper.
Conclusions
I like the idea of this, as you can tell. A highly flexible camper shell with wide-opening rear and side doors and an interior designed to accommodate camping the way you want to is something that really appeals to me.
I think Super Pacific USA has done a good job with this, and I know others have done videos about this model.
But I’m also curious: Would you be interested in sort of a “second” camper? Tow your fancy-pants camper somewhere and then wander off to places that aren’t quite places? I love reading your comments.
[There’s no chart for this, BTW.]
More about these RV reviews
These RV reviews are written based on information provided by the manufacturers along with our writer’s own research. They are based on information from a single unit and may not reflect your actual experience. Shop your RV and dealership carefully before making a buying decision. We receive no money or other financial benefits from these reviews. They are intended only as a brief overview of the vehicle, not a comprehensive critique, which would require a thorough inspection and/or test drive.
Tony comes to RVtravel.com having worked at an RV dealership and been a life long RV enthusiast. He also has written the syndicated Curbside column about cars. He also works closely with a number of RV manufacturers to get an inside look at how things are done and is a brand ambassador for Rockwood Mini Lite with his wife, Peggy.
You can also check out his RV podcast with his wife, Peggy.
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Great article Tony, but your articles always are. I am a solo female camper, and have a Lance 1475S that is perfect for my dog and me. I take the Lance when I am spending a week or more in one spot.
I got a wild hare, and bought a “retired” FedEx van in November 2022. I have built it out and now I have a great van to do short trips (if you can consider 4500 miles short) in the van. I can pull the Lance with the van. Next winter the plan is to pull the Lance to Homosassa Florida, where I’ll be for several months. I’ll be able to base out of the campground and take the van exploring Florida. There are a lot of Walmarts down there, if I can’t find a campsite.
NOT FAIR! 😂 I wanted to pull our trailer with a van and was looking at GM and Nissan vans and never even considered a retired delivery van. I supposed my wife is happy that I didn’t read this before we got the new truck.
Lance makes some pretty good stuff and the idea of upfitting a delivery van as a camper also really appeals to me. You saw my list of gadgets – is that similar to how you’ve done yours?
Thank you, also, for the very kind words.
I have often thought about a used U-Haul truck built into a camper to tow a long travel trailer or boat trailer. They have a no-rust aluminum box, a small cabover, a low load floor, and a Class 5 receiver that can tow a loaded car hauler. They are built on E-350 to F-550 chassis-cabs with common Ford V-8 or V-10 engines, so can be serviced and repaired everywhere–including Canada and Mexico! But I have no idea where, when, or how they are sold as used trucks.
Thank you, Tony! 🙂 I wandered around their website a bit and, as you described, the “camper” is a shell and every aspect inside it is “extra,” however, wherever you get it. And they will also sell you all that “extra” stuff. I certainly can see this camper having a robust market among 20-somethings keen to “experience” life. Thanks for the review and broadening my RV horizon! 🙂 Safe travels! 🙂
Tony, there is no byline on your recent reviews, but I knew the X1 was yours as soon as read “Once the top is popped, . . . . like a can of beer”, I knew it was you!
Like Neal, I looked at the SPUSA website, mainly for a price. For about the same price, I would take a 4-Wheel Project M over the X1 because the entire top pops up, not just the back. But I can also see a great advantage to the X1 slanted top for snowbirding in the desert. Cover that top with lightweight flexible solar panels and orient the roof to the south for optimum solar angle. Then the X1 would produce far more amps to Li batteries or a power station than flat panels would. Or you might recharge your electric truck!
Sorry, Steve (and Tony). I neglected to put his byline on his review blurb in the newsletter. I’ve added it. Thanks for the reminder! Have a great day. 😀 –Diane at RVtravel.com
We used a car top tent built by “Air Camping” of Indianapolis back in the eighties. It is really nice up there, better breeze, less dust, and very private.