TCM reviews a 2014 Palomino SS-600 Backpack Edition, a small, simple, and light-weight pop-up truck camper featuring Rieco-Titan’s all-new electric lift system.  Can truck campers be cute?

EDITORS NOTE: This review originally stated that the 2014 Palomino SS-600 was designed for full-size short-bed trucks.  In fact, the SS-600 features a 36 inch wide floor and is designed for medium-sized trucks.  For full-size short bed trucks, please refer to the Palomino SS-550.

I should probably be a little embarrassed about the first word that popped into my head when I saw the 2014 Palomino SS-600, “cute”.  I normally never use this word, much less think about it unless it’s in reference to my cat, or in response a snide remark.

Experienced truck camper industry leaders know the word, “cute” is almost always a consumer code word for, “Too small. No way. Forget it”.  Naturally this first impression had me concerned.

Then I spent half a day really looking at the SS-600 Backpack Edition at Princess Craft Campers and Trailers in Round Rock, Texas.  Yes, it’s still “cute”, but this camper is so much more.  First, it’s impossible to ignore the MSRP; just over $9,646 without options and freight.  Second, the overall fit and finish is far superior to anything we’ve seen in previous Palomino truck campers.

The more we looked at the SS-600, the more we liked it.  The value is unmistakable.  The quality is outstanding for this price class.  And the design, materials, overall aesthetic, and functionality are no less impressive.  In some ways, we could end the review right here.

Then again, that would be short changing this camper, and our mission.  We have some important criticisms for this otherwise impressive model.  It’s time to check out every square inch of this pop-up Palomino.  Let’s start with the top down.

For 2014, Palomino made an incredible transformation with their pop-up truck camper line starting with a completely new lower-profile roof and an all-new electric Rieco-Titan roof lift system designed specifically for Palomino.

With the top down, this pop-up truck camper looks low, light, and lean – just like a small pop-up truck camper should.  While the blunt shaped front nose isn’t going to cheat the wind like a Porsche 911, it’s still lower and leaner than any modern hard side truck camper.  Side-by-side with their previous generation pop-ups, this is a major improvement.

The electric Rieco-Titan roof lift system makes putting the top up quick and easy.  If traditional crank up pop-ups made you cranky, you would flip your lid over how smooth and fast the Rieco-Titan system works.  It’s dreamy.

When the roof was lowered into the down position, it never lined up 100% with the body of the camper.  Instead it was slightly crooked in the down position.  This necessitated adjusting the latches in order to secure the roof for travel.  Adjusting the latches is quite easy but, given the quality of the rest of the exterior, the misaligned roof was disappointing.

The Rieco-Titan system worked flawlessly raising and lowering the roof into the exact same position each time.  I know this because I raised and lowered the roof quite a bit trying to get the roof to line up right.  Palomino needs to make sure the roof and body of the camper are 100% lined up at the factory.  Once properly dialed in at Palomino, the Rieco-Titan lift system should nail the landing every time.

“Talk-in’ ‘bout, Hey now!  Hey now!  Rieco, Rieco, un-day!”

Okay, that’s not really how the song goes, but look how sharp these black Rieco-Titan jacks look on this camper.  This speaks to the focused vision for the SS-600; everything on the outside is black, matching not only the graphics, but the upscale vibe of this Palomino.

We also like the cream white soft-wall canvas and black window screen that matches the black and white theme of the SS-600.  Obviously this look won’t be for everyone, but it’s definitely modern.  Palomino’s new one-piece laminated sidewall should also be pointed out as yet another big step up for 2014.

Just behind the front driver side Rieco-Titan jack is a detachable 30-amp electric connection with LED light indicator, and the ten gallon fresh water fill.  Ten gallons isn’t much, but it should be plenty for a long weekend of efficient camping, supplemented with gallon jugs for drinking water.  We would prefer to see the electrical connection above the fresh water fill, just in case the water should spill.

We were immediate supporters of Palomino’s power port feature when it was announced for their 2014 truck camper line.  This port is designed to allow the owner to trickle change the batteries inside the camper without needing to remove the batteries.

As folks who have experienced the aggravation, mess, and considerable replacement cost of frozen batteries, this is a fantastic feature.  We hope power ports become an industry standard, especially on campers with interior battery compartments.

We discovered a small amount of pooled water inside the power port compartment when we opened it.  The compartment door was also a bit wonky to open and close.  Naturally, the compartment and leads should be very carefully dried (as we did before taking this photo), and an owner would likely get used to how this compartment properly opened and closed.

The propane compartment holds one twenty-gallon, five pound propane tank.  Unless you’re camping in colder temperatures (forty degrees Fahrenheit and lower), this single tank should last a week or two of continuous use in a camper of this size.

In summer temperatures, when propane will likely only be used for the refrigerator, water heater, and cooking, this tank could last much longer.  Just make sure to park the refrigerator side of your rig out of the direct sun when possible.  That goes for any truck camper, big or small.

The lower front wall and underbody of the SS-600 features black pebble fiberglass lining.  You can also see the circular vent for the enclosed battery box inside, the front bumpers, and the front wall window.  The black pebble fiberglass feels like a heavy plastic and gives the camper a more sophisticated look than you would expect for a camper in this price category.

The rear of the camper features while pebble fiberglass lining.  The rest of the camper is finished in smooth filon fiberglass.  In this photograph you can see the difference between these two materials.

We have absolutely no idea where the name “Backpack Edition” came from.  And it’s not just being placed on Palomino’s small pop-ups like the SS-600.  We have seen the “Backpack Edition” decal on their hard sides and double-slide as well.  Clearly none of these campers are going to fit into junior’s Jansport any time soon.

What we do know is that the Backpack Edition is a “mandatory” options package that includes a CO2 detector, Create-A-Breeze fan, 20,000 BTU furnace, three-way refrigerator, pre-wire for electric jacks, black Rieco-Titan convertible jacks, Serta mattress, Rieco-Titan electric roof lift, 55” one-piece door, and LED interior lighting.

While not a criticism of the camper itself, I am not exactly thrilled with the new trend of manufacturers including “mandatory” options packages.  First, how can an option be mandatory?  It’s common sense that anything that’s mandatory should be standard.

Second, does the fact that these features are part of a “mandatory” options package mean they’re not being included in the base dry weight or MSRP, even though they’re built into every truck camper that leaves the production line?

And third, many of these options are clearly items that should be standard; the CO2 detector, Rieco-Titan jacks, Serta mattress, and Rieco-Titan electric roof lift.  How can you have a pop-up truck camper without a door, jacks, mattress, or roof lift?  I may have just found a new pet peeve; mandatory options packages must go.

It doesn’t matter what truck and camper combination we’re talking about, there’s always a question about weight, and proper payload matching.  One might assume that the 2014 Palomino SS-600 might be an easier match due to its impressively light 1,233 pound sticker.

While this may be true, it’s still important to run the numbers first, even on a small pop-up like this.  Just for fun, let’s run the numbers on the SS-600 right now.

Here are our wet weight calculations for a 2014 Palomino SS-600 (without options): dry weight, 1,056 pounds + 10 gallons fresh, 83.4 pounds + 20 pound full propane tank, 20 pounds + battery, 65 pounds + stuff, 500 pounds = 1,724.4 pounds.

The camper we reviewed had an additional 73 pounds of options including an air conditioner bringing its total wet weight to 1,798 pounds.  To be fair, most folks will not take the 500 pounds of stuff we list in every wet weight calculation.  Then again, stuff weight should include people and pet weight, which brings that wet weight number back up again.  As you can see, it’s just as easy to overload a small pop-up as it is a triple-slide.

Safety first.  After that, the fun and adventure begins.

At 6’ 3”, I really appreciate the 55” one-piece door Palomino changed to for their 2014 pop-up line.  I can honestly say I didn’t bump my head once going in and out of this camper about a dozen times or more.  Adults will still need to stoop down, but it seems more natural at this height than with the shorter doors you often find on pop-up campers.

The door also opens and closes with a satisfying “clunk”.  This is a real door.  Palomino even added an entry assist handle, in black, of course.

Enormous praise goes in Palomino’s general direction for (a) putting a battery disconnect switch in every Palomino truck camper, and (b) putting that battery disconnect switch right inside the entry door on the SS-600.  If only every truck camper had their battery disconnect switch this easy to find, just inside the rear door.  Bravo, Palomino!

It’s also heartening to find the Rieco-Titan electric slide rocker just inside entry door.  No worries about losing the remote control for the electric roof lift.  Just open the door, and push the rocker up or down.  In a few seconds, the top will be up, or down.  With my nit-pick reporter hat on, I would like to see the presentation of the Rieco-Titan plate improved (click here to see Rieco-Titan’s response).

It should be noted that the SS-600 we reviewed did not come with the optional Rieco-Titan key fob.  We did see the key fob at Louisville last year.  It’s definitely neat, but Palomino has done such a good job placing the rocker switch just inside the rear door that I’m not sure it’s necessary.  Then again, you may fob differently.

With the top up, the interior of the 2014 Palomino SS-600 Backpack Edition feels much bigger than one might expect.  The floor plan is smart, simple, and well sorted.  From the right-sized sink and cooktop, to the almost shockingly ample storage, this is a camper design has been carefully thought through.

A nice touch in the SS-600 are the velcro wraps for the Rieco-Titan lift system.  Made from the same material as the soft wall, these wraps hide the aluminum lift bars giving the interior a more refined look.

Wrapping the Rieco-Titan bars was a simple process that took only a half-minute or so.  Just make sure you don’t forget to unwrap the bars before letting the top down as it may damage the velcro or wrap material.

The parts of the 2014 Palomino SS-600 Backpack Edition that actually had me think “that’s kinda backpack” were the straps that hold the rolled soft wall windows covers.  The black (of course) straps feature white stitching and velcro fasteners.  When I used these to dress the window covers, the material quality was assuring, and the overall aesthetic impressed me once again.

The first thing I saw when I walked into the SS-600 was the optional air conditioner.  I’m at odds for the need of an air conditioner in a small pop-up truck camper like the SS-600.  The camper already features a Create-A-Breeze fan and, as a pop-up, is open to the elements for air flow.

On balance, the SS-600 we reviewed was at Princess Craft in Round Rock, Texas.  Texas gets quite hot in the summer, perhaps making an air conditioner a necessary proposition.  Still, the air conditioner would likely make the SS-600 occupants into popsicles in a matter of minutes.

Unless you’re going to camp a lot in the hot, consider saving some money, saving some weight, lowering your center of gravity, and improving your aerodynamics by skipping the AC.  Besides, that’s what lakes, altitude, shade, fans, and cases of cold beer are for.

In the rear passenger side of the SS-600 is a multi-purpose cabinet with a counter top surface that smartly matched the kitchen counters.  In this cabinet there’s a drawer facing the sitting area, an outlet, coax-cable connection, a hanging wardrobe, and a lower cabinet.

The coax connection location is curious, but it would allow for a small flat-panel television to be mounted in this area.  I’m not sure that’s a good idea, but it’s possible.

The bench-sofa-sitting-area-thing in the SS-600 was surprisingly comfortable, even if it did make me want to lay down, and explain my feelings.  Unfortunately, I would be explaining how I didn’t have enough room to lay down as there’s not enough length for most full-grown adults.  I blame my parents.

Pop-up truck campers have an interesting design challenge when it comes to the upper cabinetry.  Upper cabinets are attached to the pop-up roof and must have a corresponding space for them to fit when the pop-up roof is in the down position.

In this way, pop-up interiors are like a vertical puzzle that fits together; the pop-up roof must fit into the bottom of the camper.  Almost every multi-slide is like this as well, only with dinette, sofa, and kitchen slides fitting together in a horizontal puzzle.  This is why I look at pop-up truck campers like a slide-out, only it’s the roof that “slides”.

The cabinetry in the SS-600 is of the same “Palomino Maple” as the lower cabinetry.  Yes, they actually call it Palomino Maple.  Do they call the fabric “Palomino Plaid”?  No, that would be ridiculous.  Besides, it’s more of a “Palomino Argyle”.

On the driver’s side, above the bench-sofa-sitting-area-thing there’s a single cabinet with a LED light.  The LED light is directly above the kitchen.  On the passenger’s side there’s a double door cabinet with about twice the storage area and another LED light.  This light is directly above the seating area.

Upon close inspection of these cabinets I noticed something I could hardly believe – no gimp!  Then I looked around the camper and noticed the conspicuous absence of gimp.  Could it be that this is a gimp-less camper?  Palomino has their tolerances tight enough that they don’t need that pesky plastic trim (aka trailer welt) that the RV industry has used for generations to cover less than tight tolerances.  Very, very impressive Palomino.

Speaking of “Palomino Argyle”, here it is in the SS-600.  This same fabric is used in every single 2014 Palomino truck camper.  Like Henry Ford once famously quoted himself saying, “You can have any truck camper fabric you want, so long as it’s Palomino Argyle.”  I may have confused that quote a bit, but you get the idea.  If you don’t like Palomino Argyle, too bad.

On the front wall of the camper, just under the overcab, there are two pull-down storage nooks.  With their immediate proximity to the kitchen and sitting area, these storage areas would be especially handy for cooking utensils and food items.

The driver’s side of the front wall has a GFCI outlet and the furnace thermostat.  The passenger’s side of the front wall has a 12-volt outlet.  We love the 12-volt outlet near the dinette and can’t help but point out how everything is in matching black.

We’ve seen too many campers over the years where the outside aesthetic doesn’t coordinate with the interior aesthetic, like they’re two different products entirely.  With the Palomino SS-600, the exterior look continues to the inside of the camper, giving the coach a unified look right down to the black Suburban thermostat.  Nice work.

The lower front wall has the fuse box and carbon monoxide detector.  Also notice the build quality and the tight tolerances.

The cabover is East-West and features a place to sleep and the previously mentioned Create-A-Breeze fan.  That’s it.  Nice and simple.

With the help of a central gas strut, the cabover bed lifts to reveal a large storage area.  It also reveals aluminum support material, something we found curious given the camper’s vacuum bonded wood-frame construction.

Lift-up under bed storage has long been a secret strength of pop-up truck camper design.  The only brand of hard side truck camper that we’ve seen with a similar under bed storage area is the now defunct Okanagan.  Hey industry, under bed storage might be worth exploring again for the hard side market.

When we found the table top and leg stored under the bed, we immediately looked at the floor near the dinette for the corresponding table leg mount.  There wasn’t one.  Perhaps this is a dealer installed option that had yet to be installed, or perhaps there’s giant magnet under the dinette that keeps the table leg secure.  I’m sure our bright green Palomino phone will ring with the answer as soon as this review publishes.

The kitchen in the SS-600 has a single bowl sink, a two burner propane stove, and a respectable amount of counter space.  While there’s no oven or microwave, it’s amazing how much can be made with a simple two-top propane cook-top, and a sink.  I suspect no one in the SS-600 is going to wake up without a hot beverage, or go to bed without a hot dinner, if that’s their preference.  In the world of small RV kitchens, this is efficiency exemplified.

Under the kitchen counter is the propane heater and another AC outlet.  Just be careful not to get any water on that outlet.

While it’s never going to be mistaken for real granite, or even a true solid surface, the laminate countertops in the SS-600 are quite pleasing to the eye.  We especially appreciate that Palomino used this laminate on the other surface areas continuing the coordinated interior look.

The rear driver’s side features a three-way three-cubic-foot Dometic refrigerator, three pull-out drawers, matching counter top, battery disconnect switch, and a toggle switch for the electric Rieco-Titan lift mechanism.

The three-cubic foot refrigerator should be plenty for weekend adventures.  Most folks who buy a camper this size probably won’t need much more.

Wrap It Up

Yes, the 2014 Palomino SS-600 is still “cute”.  When you see one in person, you’ll understand immediately, especially if it’s side-by-side with larger hard-side and multi-slide truck campers like the one we reviewed at Princess Craft Campers and Trailers.

I can’t help but come back to the impressive value Palomino has hit with this camper.  At just under $10,000 before options and freight, I can honestly see people purchasing this camper as an impulse buy.  They stop by the dealership on their way to somewhere, see the camper, and think to themselves, “That looks like fun. The price is right. Load it up!”  We hear a lot about such happenings with travel trailers and towable pop-tops, but never with truck campers.  We’re usually the “research for a year or two and then buy after much deliberation” crowd.

So, is this a rave review?  If you put aside our concerns about the roof and lower body alignment and the ridiculous “mandatory” options package, I suppose it is.  I’m also confident Palomino can address the alignment issue in the same way they made so many other quality improvements for their 2014 pop-up line.  You’ve raised your own bar Palomino.  Line the roof up, make the “mandatory” options standard, and you’ll have the SS-600 down.

Of course not everyone wants a small, simple, and light-weight pop-up truck camper with no bathroom.  But if that’s what you’re looking for, the 2014 Palomino SS-600 is a clear winner.  We were extremely impressed.

For more information on the SS-600 and other Palomino campers, visit their website at www.palominorv.com.

The post Palomino SS-600 Backpack Edition Review appeared first on Truck Camper Magazine.

Palomino RV debuts an all-new gelcoat fiberglass wrap-around front nose cap incorporating an industry-first automotive windshield and adhesive system.  Look out!  Here comes the future.

Keith Fisher, Lead Engineer at Palomino RV, was very excited to see us at the annual Elkhart Open House mid-September.  Having just driven past his new creation, we knew exactly what he wanted us to see.  In fact, I don’t think anyone who drove C.R. 6 that morning missed his latest creation.  Honestly, it’s a miracle no one drove off the road trying to get a better look.

On four corner jacks before us was a 2015 Palomino 2910.  We had seen this camper before, but never like this.  An all-new gelcoat fiberglass wrap-around front nose cap incorporating a huge automotive windshield made the 2910 look like no truck camper we had ever seen before.  With its new cap, the 2910 was almost something out a science fiction movie; a giant robotic praying mantis, ready to devour the habitants of Northern Indiana.  Run for your lives!

Truck campers in 2015 shouldn’t necessarily look like they did in 1975.  The advancements in material science, technology, and style have changed in ways most folks could not have imagined forty years ago.  We’re not all wearing aluminum foil ties and carbon fibre leisure suits, but we’re carrying around pocket computers that make phone calls and sharing what we ate for breakfast on the inter-webs.  It’s the future man!  So what’s here?

Keith Fisher and the Palomino RV team have served up a vision for what the future of truck campers should look like.  More importantly, their vision has form and function that advance the state of Palomino’s truck campers, and will challenge the rest of the industry to re-evaluate the concept of front windows.  The era of truck campers with automotive windshields has begun.

Above: Keith Fisher, Lead Engineer for Palomino RV

TCM: Tell us how the project for a new front nose cap began at Palomino RV.

Keith: The idea started in our war room where we develop our new product plans.  After the meeting, I contacted our industrial designer who specializes in gelcoat fiberglass caps.  We gave him some direction and sent him the 3D computer models of our truck campers.

The moment of truth came when we approved a final design.  After another meeting, we decided to bite the bullet, order the window, and get the cap and mold moving forward.

Above: The AutoCAD renderings of the 2015 Palomino Max campers with the new nose cap – click to enlarge

TCM: That must have been an exciting moment.  Tell us about developing the windshield.

Keith: The development of the windshield was one of the most challenging parts of this project because we only had one opportunity to get it right.  I had a lot of faith that it was going to come out right, but there were definitely some sleepless nights.

Once the windshield had been designed by our supplier, Guardian Custom Glass Solutions Group, they made one windshield and sent it to us for testing.  That was a very expensive windshield.  We were extremely careful while handling it.

Before we installed the windshield into the cap, we consulted with our sister Forest River company, Georgetown.  Georgetown manufactures Class A motorhomes.  They told us exactly what adhesives to use, and gave us some tips on how to properly install the windshield.  With their recommendations, we ordered a case of DOW automotive adhesives.

When it was time to actually install the new windshield into the new gelcoat fiberglass cap, Guardian sent a representative to help make sure everything worked as planned.  I was literally under the cap on a skid as they applied the sealant and dropped the window in.  It fit perfectly.

Above: The AutoCAD model of the new nose cap with windshield

TCM: The very first thing most folks are going to think is, “Wow, that’s interesting, but isn’t it going to leak like all the old-style front windows used to do?”

Keith: It’s not a RV window.  It’s an automotive windshield.  The windshield is manufactured and guaranteed to the same standards as the windshields in our cars, trucks, and SUVs.  The sealant is literally the same sealant used by GM, Ford, and Ram to install their windshields.  It’s an industrial automotive sealant that’s only available directly from DOW chemicals.

Again, this is not an RV window made by an RV supplier.  The windshield was made by Guardian Custom Glass Solutions Group.  In addition to manufacturing windshields for the Big Three, Guardian makes windshields for trains, fire trucks, and big rigs.

Above: The windshield was made by Guardian Custom Glass Solutions Group, a vendor for GM, Ram, and Ford.  The water droplets are from a passing rain shower

TCM: How did you test the windshield once it was installed?

Keith: We poured gallons of water on it and left it for twenty-four hours.  At that point, the adhesive hadn’t even fully cured, but it held.

Our units are also bubble tested on the production line.  We close all of the doors, windows, and hatches tight, pressurize the interior of the camper, and spray the outside of the unit with soapy water.  If there’s a break in any seal, anywhere on the camper, it shows up as bubbles.  If we find any seal breaks, they’re fixed at the factory before leaving the plant.

We partnered with the best companies available for this project; Guardian, Dow, and Georgetown.  These organizations know what they’re doing, and do it well.

TCM: Talk to us about designing and developing the new gelcoat fiberglass front nose cap.

Keith: Again, we partnered with the right people.  We used the same vendor that makes our gelcoat fiberglass front caps for our travel trailers.  They brought a lot of experience to the table.

Above: AutoCAD computer drawing of the Palomino 2911, double slide camper with the new nose

TCM: Were there any considerations given to aerodynamics?

Keith: I have access to computer software that simulates a wind tunnel and the new nose cap performed well.  The cap is slightly barreled perpendicular to the roof side both up and down.  That reduces turbulence.  With aerodynamics, it’s all about how you get the air around the camper.  Even subtle changes, like how we tapered the nose cap make an important difference.

Above: Six-inch overlap under the front nose, a three inch overlap on the sides, and a three-inch overlap on the roof

Above: There is a six-inch overlap under the front nose

TCM: How many inches does the cap overlap the overcab of the camper?

Keith: We designed a six-inch overlap under the front nose, a three inch overlap on the sides, and a three-inch overlap on the roof.  In addition to leak prevention, the overlap also helps with aerodynamics.

Above: Close up view of the LED strip on the front nose

TCM: The LED strip on the front nose is really neat, but owners will want the ability to turn them on and off.  How does that work?

Keith: There is an independent switch inside the camper to turn the LEDs on and off.  The switch is located on the control panel next to the front door.

TCM: Is the LED strip replaceable should it get damaged by a tree limb or a bad storm?

Keith: Yes, it’s a replaceable strip.

Above: The all-new gelcoat fiberglass wrap-around front nose cap incorporating an automotive windshield and LED light strip

TCM: Why not make the front nose out of TPO; thermoplastic olefins?

Keith: We decided to use gelcoat fiberglass rather than an automotive TPO (thermoplastic olefins).  While TPO is often used for automotive bumper facias and instrument panels, it’s not nearly as strong as gelcoat fiberglass.  If TPO is not properly braced, it can dent into itself from wind load.  Gelcoat fiberglass is a much stronger material.  It’s also more production friendly.

Above: The interior of the 2015 Palomino campers with the new nose cap and windshield – click to enlarge

TCM: How did this new nose cap and windshield affect the interior design?

Keith: We completely updated the overcab of the 2902, 2910, and 2911 based on this new nose cap and windshield.  We gained a lot of interior real estate which enabled us to design a wrap around nightstand shelf behind the bed.

The nightstand shelf gives you space for tablets, books, and even a picture frame.  Nothing on the market has anything like this.

Above: A wrap-around shelf is incorporated into the design of the new nose cap

Combined with our new for 2015 barrel roofs, the nightstand shelf, front windshield, and new cabinetry make the overcab area a much more livable space.  It feels like an open and inviting room up with more headroom and light.

TCM: Having seen it in person, we have to agree.  How does someone shade and insulate the front windshield at night?

Keith: We’re working on that right now.  We want to provide an improved R factor to insulate the front windshield.  We’re also developing a shade that will work with the shape of the windshield.  When those solutions are completed, we will send you photographs and information to publish in TCM.

Above: The new windshield and front nose cap on a 2015 Palomino 2902

TCM: Are the windshields and gelcoat fiberglass nose cabs manufactured in the United States?

Keith: Yes, they are.  The gelcoat fiberglass nose caps come from a manufacturer two hours south of us in Indiana.  They make our travel trailer caps as well.  The windshield comes from a plant about three and a half hours east of us.

Everything, including the DOW adhesive, comes here to Palomino RV in Colon, Michigan for assembly in a new clean area developed specifically for this purpose.  We also now have a trained team that specializes in installing the windshields.

Above: The new windshield and front nose cap on a 2015 Palomino 2902

TCM: On what 2015 Palomino models will the new windshield and front nose cap be available as an option?  And what will this option cost?

Keith: The front nose and windshield option will be available on the 2902, 2910, and 2911; our hard side Max series.  The front nose cap and windshield will be a $1450 option.

TCM: Since the windshield and front nose cap are new, what will the warranty be on these elements and materials?

Keith: The warranty of the windshield and front nose cap is included in your twelve month warranty.

Above: This is the first prototype of the new nose cap; the production units will be refined and ready for shipment in late November 2014

TCM: When do you expect to have this new windshield and nose cap at RV shows and dealer lots?

Keith: We are still a few weeks away from getting the first production run of nose caps and windshields.  Based on the existing schedule, we should be shipping units by late November.  You will definitely see the new front cap and windshield at the 2015 RV shows.

We are making a few more refinements from the two prototypes you saw in Elkhart.  For example, there’s a jagged edge on the sides of the front nose in the photographs.  That has been contoured to make for a smoother transition.

We are really looking forward to the public seeing these campers in person.  I think they’ll be blown away by the look, both outside, and inside.

For more information on 2015 Palomino truck campers, visit their website at http://www.palominorv.com/TruckCampers.

The post Palomino RV Debuts Windshield Nose Cap appeared first on Truck Camper Magazine.

For 2015, Palomino RV didn’t stop at the windshield nose cap.  Check out their finessed floor plans, re-worked cabinetry, enhanced Next-Gen in-wall slide mechanisms, new table tops, and much more.

Once again, Palomino RV has been silent – for months.  We would get a reply if we poked them with an email, but there was no telling what they were up to.

Over the past few years we have learned that this probably means they’re knee deep in research and development and will eventually surface with an over-the-top announcement that no one could have, or would have, predicted.

Well, cue the breaking news machine.  Right on schedule, the Palomono-ians released the windshield nose cap at Elkhart this past September.  The windshield was so completely off-the-charts that we darn near forgot to walk inside the campers to see what else they had done.  Not surprising, there’s more – a lot more.

To get to the bottom of what’s up at Palomino, we contacted Pat Hines, Director of Truck Camper Marketing at Palomino RV.

Above: The new 2015 Palomino SS-1240 is the previous SS-1225 with a north-south bed configuration; made for long or short bed full-size trucks

TCM: Are there any Palomino RV truck camper models being discontinued for 2015?

Pat: The SS-1225 is being discontinued because we are introducing the SS-1240, the same camper floor and design as the outgoing SS-1225, but with a north-south cabover.

About this time last year we introduced the SS-550, a full-size short-bed compatible pop-up truck camper with a north-south bed.  In 2014, the SS-550 quickly moved to one of our better selling pop-up truck camper models.  Much of that success can be directly attributed to the north-south bed.

For 2015, we’re debuting the SS-1240 with a north-south bed for long or short bed full-size trucks.  The north-south bed configuration offers more storage and is more comfortable to enter and exit.  The SS-1240 also offers a toilet.  I think the SS-1240 will be a strong seller, much like the SS-550.

TCM: Do you think more pop-up Palomino camper models will be transitioned to north-south bed configurations?

Pat: That is something we’re considering and continue to monitor as the market progresses.

TCM: Are there any standard feature updates for 2015?

Pat: We did a good job of cleaning up the standard and options list for 2014.  Almost every popular option from the past few years is already standard.  For 2015, nothing has really changed with our standard list.

Above: The interior wood is hand glazed Persian walnut – click to enlarge

TCM: For 2014, Palomino completely re-vamped its pop-up truck camper line including a new roof, new Rieco-Titan lift system with key fob remote, new one-piece 55” radius entry door, one-piece sidewalls, and new interior and exterior aesthetics.  Are there any further changes to the pop-up line for 2015?

Pat: The interior wood in our pop-up campers is now a hand glazed Persian walnut.  We also changed the floors to a wood grain linoleum.

Above: The floors are now a wood grain linoleum

The table top and countertops are our new pressed wood table top.  All of these material and aesthetic upgrades have been made across the board on all 2015 Palomino pop-up and hard side truck campers.

Keith: We use the same interior materials across our complex, from tent campers, to truck campers, to travel trailers.  This approach allows us to dramatically drive down costs and improve material and production quality.

Pat: The Rieco-Titan lift system has been in production for a year and a half and it’s been going very well.  This past June we made some minor engineering changes to further improve its performance.  Both the hardware and the software were improved.

Above: The interior of the 2015 Palomino 2902

TCM: With only one available interior aesthetic, how do you choose the interior?

Keith: We have a room here at Palomino RV we call the War Room.  We meet weekly in the War Room for many different reasons, including color and fabric selection days.

Pat: When choosing the interior fabrics and materials, we narrow our choices down to a select a few and get opinions from as many folks as possible – men and women – from within the office and greater Palomino RV team.  Everybody gets to voice their opinion on the new look including exterior decals, floors, valances, fabrics, and cabinetry.  Then we come to a consensus, and put it all together.

Above: The pressed wood table top – click to enlarge

TCM: Tell us about the new pressed wood table top.  Is it actually wood?

Keith: It’s a wood grained vinyl product.  Our vendor first makes a mold of the countertop or table we need.  That mold is then used to vacuum form the table and countertop.  The result is a void-less table or countertop with zero potential for water intrusion.  It looks like wood, but weighs less than wood, and will not deteriorate.

Above: The cool grey (left) and oyster pearl (right) exterior fiberglass colors

TCM: What changes have been made to Palomino’s hard side campers for 2015?

Pat: We eliminated high-gloss white exterior fiberglass.  For 2015, Palomino hard and soft side truck campers will be available in cool grey or oyster pearl exterior fiberglass colors.

Keith: The fiberglass we use is a GelCoated Color Infused sourced from Germany and Italy, both materials maintained to the highest level of quality available on the market.

Above: The frameless window in the dinette of the 2902

We have also changed to frameless windows across the board for our hard side campers including the HS-600, HS-6601, HS-8801, HS-2901, HS-2910, and HS-2911.

Frameless windows offer a more attractive look and don’t scratch and discolor like the acrylic windows we were using in the hard side Max units.  Together with the new front windshield, the frameless windows give the 2015 hard side campers a modern look.

Keith: We have eliminated the Heki skylight in the overcab and changed to a mechanical crank up vent.  The skylight was redundant with the new windshield.  The emergency escape is now through a side window.

Above: Frameless windows are now available on Palomino truck campers – click to enlarge

TCM: Some members of the truck camping community have voiced concerns about frameless windows not opening up as much as traditional windows.

Keith: Our partner supplier is producing frameless windows with the deepest available opening for frameless windows.  We think people will really like these new frameless windows when they experience them; they look amazing and are functional.

Above: The new cabover design in the 2911, 2910, and 2902 – click to enlarge

TCM: When we recently introduced the new Palomino front nose cap and windshield we touched on the new cabover design.  Is there anything else to add?

Keith: I based the new design on the 2911 cabover we introduced in late 2013.  The new design was well received, so we adapted it for the new windshield nose cap and brought it to the 2902 and 2910 models for 2015.

Pat: It’s a complete remodel with a very new aesthetic, more storage, and more headroom.  For example, the new windshield and nose cap made the wrap-around nightstand shelf possible, along with a much larger closet and drawers.

TCM: Where did that design originate from?

Keith: Somewhere deep within my mind, to be honest.  From there it flows into my PC where we use an extremely powerful modeling software to design 3D models and renderings of the truck camper.

Pat: We also collect feedback from customers, dealers, and members of our production team.  It’s like putting a puzzle together.

TCM: So it all starts in Keith’s melon.  That explains a lot.  Why did you decide to make the barrel roof standard on the 2902, 2910, and 2911?

Keith: We did that to further distinguish ourselves from our competition.  We have had great success with our barrel roofs in our travel trailers and we are confident our truck camper customers will love it too.  We are the only company doing barrel roofs for truck campers.

TCM: Are barrel roofs as strong as traditional flat truck camper roofs?

Keith: Actually, barrel roofs are stronger than traditional flat roofs.  As the Romans proved centuries ago, the arch is one of the strongest forms of architecture.  Once tied into the box of the camper, the barrel roof arch dissipates snow, rain, and other roof loads away from the roof faster and more effectively than a flat roof.

The barrel roof is also framed in aluminum and 100% laminated with a high density structured polystyrene foam.  We use Alpha Systems Superflex roof membrane for the top of the roof.  It’s a high-grade olefin-based material that’s significantly lighter than EPDM and is chalk and fade free.

Above: The barrel roof is standard on the 2902, 2910, and 2911

Pat: Not only does the barrel roof improve the structure of the camper, but it also offers about three inches of additional headroom.  You’ll really notice the additional headroom in the overcab.

TCM: I certainly did, which is saying something since I’m 6’3”.  Can you walk on the barrel roof?

Pat: Yes, you can.  Again, with the arch design, it’s stronger and more structurally sound than a traditional flat roof.

Keith: It’s quite comfortable to walk on the roof, even with the slight slope to the sides.  You’ll barely notice any difference.

TCM: For 2015, Palomino changed to a new slide-out mechanism.  Why are you making this change?

Keith: We changed because we believe this next generation slide mechanism is a “smart slide” and a better fit for truck campers.  The new slide mechanism is made from light weight aluminum extrusions.  The driveshaft is steel which gives it exceptional strength and torque.

Above: The 10′ Carefree of Colorado awning with built-in wind sensor

TCM: Tell us about the new 10’ awning with wind sensor.

Pat: The new awning is made by Carefree of Colorado.  It’s a legless design, which means there’s nothing that extends down from the awning to the camper, or to the ground.  There’s literally nothing to fold down and attach to the camper.

Additionally, it has a built-in LED light strip on the awning rail.  The neatest feature is that the awning senses wind speeds over 10 miles per hour, and automatically retracts into its box.  This means you can leave your campsite with the awning out without fearing a wind storm would damage your awning and camper.  It’s a smart awning.

Keith: It leaves no footprint on side wall of the unit which gives us more room for storage and amenities on the outside of the camper.  As a legless design, we can now offer much larger awnings.

TCM: Are there any exterior graphics changes for 2015?

Pat: The graphics are identical from 2014.  They work well with the cool grey and oyster pearl colors, and they’re fairly neutral.  The new colors and existing graphics work well with the truck designs and colors.

Above: A generator attachment for Palomino’s Landing Pad Bumper

TCM: Late in 2013, Palomino RV and Torklift International debuted the Landing Pad bumper system.  When we were at the Elkhart open house, we noticed a new attachment for the bumper.  Can you tell us about that?

Keith: We have a few things in the works with Torklift International including a secure generator box attachment for a portable generator.  Torklift International is also developing another attachment for a larger generator and a few accessories that are not yet ready to be announced.  We’ll certainly let Truck Camper Magazine know when they’re ready to go.

Above: Floor vents bring heat up from the basement

TCM: We noticed the floor vents in the 2910 and 2911.  Where those an update that we missed last year?

Keith: We added the floor vents in last year, but we never made an announcement.  We were able to find some real estate in the basement that allowed us to create the floor vents.  With the floor vents, we no longer have the air dumps within the cabinetry and can use more of the cabinetry for storage.

TCM: What should an owner do when the floor vents get dirt or sand in them?

Pat: If dirt or debris gets into the vents, pop the face of the vent off and use a vacuum cleaner to clean out the vents.  This is exactly how residential floor vents are cleaned as well.

Above: The Jensen stereo system is equipped with USB and Bluetooth

TCM: Has the weight changed for the 2015 Palomino truck campers?  You’ve certainly changed a lot of items, especially in the hard side models.

Keith: The weight is essentially the same.  We’re using approximately the same amount of aluminum framing, cabinetry, wiring, plumbing, and foam.  The overall amenities are the same as well.  We have a weight process that we utilize to keep out truck camper weights in check.

TCM: As Truck Camper Magazine, we strongly encourage Palomino RV to weigh the 2015 truck camper line, camper by camper, and adjust the posted dry weights accordingly.  Even if the changes are minimal, it’s important to our readers.  We would also like to see center of gravity stickers clearly posted on the campers as that information is equally important.

Pat: We have rolled a lot of options into the base build of our truck campers so there are not a lot of additional items customers are going to install.  Our base dry weights are accurate.

TCM: What is the warranty for 2015 Palomino campers?

Pat: The warranty is unchanged for 2015 from 2014.  There’s a one year warranty on the campers and all of the appliances.  The refrigerator, range ovens, and air conditioners, have their own warranties.  Forest River also offers a second year warranty on all of its products as an option at the dealer level.

TCM: When will 2015 Palomino truck campers be available?

Pat: They’re starting to hit the lots as we speak.  The soft sides are hitting now and the hard sides are in production now.  The new cap and windshield will start hitting production in the next few weeks and will be on dealer lots in mid to late November.

For more information on 2015 Palomino truck campers, visit their website at www.palominorv.com/TruckCampers.

The post 2015 Palomino RV Announcements appeared first on Truck Camper Magazine.

Paul Schwenzfeier took a solo trip to all the way to Prudhoe Bay in Alaska in his Palomino B1200 looking for fishing opportunities, historic sites, and natural beauty.  Here’s what Paul actually found.

Paul Schwenzfeier had the audacity to buy a used pop-up truck camper and take it to the furthest road-accessible reaches of Alaska without so much as a shake down cruise.  As might be expected, he discovered a few glitches along the way, but managed to iron things out, and make his trip a success.  In fact, he made it all the way to Prudhoe Bay – a road that’s notoriously long, unpredictable, and desolate – by himself.

From his photography, there can be no doubt that Paul’s trip north was amazing.  For anyone researching a trip to Alaska, or even thinking about the possibility of exploring the last frontier, this is required reading.

Above: Paul starting the Alaska Highway at Dawson Creek, British Columbia

TCM: How did you get into truck camping?

Paul: It all started when I bought a Palomino B1200 truck camper for a trip to Alaska in late summer of 2012.  I wanted a truck camper to be self-sufficient.  I don’t like to be tied to motel or campground reservations, or any other schedules.  I also wanted the increased protection of a camper versus a tent when traveling in remote areas.

I really enjoy having the conveniences of a built-in propane stove and refrigerator.  I prefer a pop-up because of the aerodynamics and better fuel mileage.

My 2011 Ford F350 could handle a much larger truck camper, but I am glad to have less weight than what the truck is rated for.  Having more truck was especially beneficial for the frost heaves one encounters in Alaska and parts of Canada.  I don’t want to load my truck to maximum payload.  I am glad I matched my rig this way.

Above: Paul’s 2011 Ford F350 and 1998 Palomino B-1200

TCM: Had you been to Alaska before this trip?

Paul: Yes, but this was my first trip camping in Alaska.  Prior to this trip I had flown to Alaska for one trip, taken a cruise for another, and helped my son move to Alaska for a third.  I have relatives in Anchorage and Dutch Harbor.

Above: Camping on the Homer Spit

TCM: Since you don’t like to be tied into reservations or schedules, did you make plans for your Alaska trip?

Paul: Actually, I did.  I spent several months planning the trip.  I planned out expenses, miles per day, what I wanted to see, campgrounds, provincial parks, and state campgrounds.

Going through The Milepost, which you can’t go to Alaska without, was a tremendous help.  I also spent a lot of time talking with people who had been camping in Alaska.

I had a tight itinerary in the beginning of the trip.  Then it rained almost everyday for the first week.  Along the way I stopped to take pictures or see things, and ended up staying longer than I had planned.  It didn’t take long before I was behind schedule, but I made up for it in other areas.  The plan evolved as I traveled.

Above: Paul took the route through Saskatchewan to Alaska – click to enlarge

TCM: The trip to Alaska is an adventure in an of itself.  What route did you take?

Paul: I took a route through Saskatchewan.  One of the reasons I went through Saskatchewan instead of Montana was that I wanted to see the grain elevators.  Some are being dismantled, and I like learning about the history of things.

Above: The World’s Biggest Coffee Pot is in Saskatchewan

The drive to Alaska felt very long at times, especially through Saskatchewan.  It’s like one flat long grain field, which was extremely boring some days.  One drawback of going solo is that you can’t keep eye on everything you’d like to see.  A co-pilot could look at The Milepost and make suggestions.  My head was on a swivel seeing the beauty of of the landscape from Edmonton, Alberta north.

Above: Laird River Hot Springs

Along the way, I stopped at Laird Hot Springs, north of Edmonton.  I had been there before, but it was a must stop for me.

Above: Midnight Dome above Dawson City, Yukon River, Yukon Territory

Above: Along the Sag River, Deadhorse, Alaska

Deadhorse and Prudhoe Bay were also on my itinerary.  The Prudhoe Bay area is where all the oil fields are.

Above: The oil fields on the way to and from Prudhoe Bay – click to enlarge

Dalton Highway to Prudhoe Bay travels 500 miles north from Fairbanks, one way.  95% of that road is gravel.  It was a two day trip.  Half way up is Coldfoot.  There’s fuel there.

Above: Atigun Pass, on the way to Prudhoe Bay on the Dalton Highway

You actually drive north of the Arctic Circle to get to Prudhoe Bay.   It’s a haul road, so you’ll see semi after semi.  The truck drivers drive the 500 miles much quicker than the fourteen hours it took me.

Above: About half way up to Prudhoe Bay is Coldfoot, Alaska

There’s not much in Prudhoe Bay.  It’s essentially an industrial oil production complex.  You basically say, “I’m here”, and then it’s time to go.  It’s all flat tundra at sea level.  You can see forever.  I was there in June, and nothing was green.  I took a tour on a shuttle bus around Prudhoe Bay and put my feet in the Arctic Ocean.  That was it.

Above: North of Fairbanks on the Dalton Highway

TCM: We’ve heard that report about Prudhoe Bay before.  Most folks talk about the trip there and back, and how spectacularly dirty their rig got.  Did your rig handle the roads and challenges of Alaska well?

Paul: I bought my camper specifically for this trip and didn’t use it ahead of time.  It was used and I didn’t give it a fair shake down cruise.  At first the refrigerator wasn’t working on propane mode.  It all worked out, but there were some initial kinks to work out.

Above: A pull-off on Top of the World Highway

The frost heaves in Canada and Alaska aren’t like the ones in Wisconsin.  They’re like rolling moguls.  The frost heaves were very hard on my truck’s suspension.  I had to replace my shocks when I got back.  My shocks were completely shot because of the constant suspension travel up and down.

You also encounter plenty of potholes and road construction.  Summer is the only time to work on the roads in Alaska, so construction is a constant.  If you had something other than a truck, it would be a challenge to get through certain areas.

Above: It was too early to travel on Hatchers Pass, on the southwest part of the Talkeetna Mountains

TCM: Was it a challenge to find fuel in Alaska?

Paul: I have a forty gallon tank in my truck, and six gallons of extra fuel with me.  When I would get to a half tank, I would get fuel, or I started thinking about it.  The trip to Deadhorse, Coldfoot and Prudhoe Bay only had a couple fuel stations.  I paid a lot for fuel, but I didn’t get stranded.  Once you get into Alaska, there’s a lot of distance between places.  Just keep that it in mind and plan for it accordingly.

Above: Arriving in Chicken, Alaska

TCM: What were some of the highlights from your trip?

Paul: It was really the people I met in Alaska that made the trip what it was.  For example, I met a motorcycle traveler from Africa in the Arctic Circle campground.  I saw him again in Fairbanks and then again on BLM land on Kenai.  We live half a world away, and saw each other three times in one trip.  That was kind of special.

I met a great couple twice while I was in Canada.  We shared a drink together, and the next night I saw them at Liard Hot Springs.  It’s cool to see the same people more than once.  Everybody is from somewhere else and everyone has a story.

Above: A curved wood bridge on the original Alcan Highway route

TCM: We’ve had that experience too; meeting folks on the road several times.  We have even met folks hundreds and even thousands of miles from when we first met them.  That’s another kind of road magic.  Did you see wildlife in Alaska?

Paul: Yes, there was lots of wildlife, especially in Alberta and British Columbia.  On July 7th, I left Liard Hot Springs at 4:00am.  I saw seven buffalo and seven black bear before 7:30am.  They were literally along the road.  I also saw moose, but didn’t get to see a grizzly bear.

Above: Campspot on the road back from Manly Hot Springs, Alaska

TCM: Were there any specific places that you would recommend to fellow truck campers?

Paul: There’s quaint town outside of Fairbanks called Manly Hot Springs.  I read about it in The Milepost.  I drove seventy miles on gravel to get there.  There’s nothing in between so leave with full fuel.  They had a shower, campground, fishing, and you can go in the hot springs for $5 an hour.  I highly recommend it.

On the drive back to Fairbanks, I camped on the top of a ridge because it was really windy there.  Wind is your friend because it blows the mosquitos away.

Speaking of mosquitos, you may want to put a net over your head if you spend time outside the camper.  Fairbanks and north there were mosquitoes.  It was only four days of time difference from my trip to Prudhoe Bay and back.  In that time the mosquitoes hatched tremendously.  They came on almost instantly.  I’m sure it was weather related.

I went to Bird Creek Campground, which is east of Anchorage twenty miles on the road to the Kenai Peninsula.  It’s a great state campground with hiking opportunities.

Above: Paul at the BLM Yukon River Visitor Center getting information on the area

From the Arctic Circle north there are BLM campgrounds.  The Milepost mentions most of them.  You can also go to the BLM visitor stations and national forest service visitors centers to get ideas.

Above: Paul’s catch in Seward, Alaska

In Seward, Alaska there was a municipal campground.  I went there to go fishing.  Then, in Homer, I camped on the Homer Spit for two days.

I did go on a backpacking trip in Denali.  It was with an organized group for ten days.  We took a plane ride out and back.  I parked my camper along the street in Anchorage, got on the plane with the group, and flew to a wilderness area in Denali.  We went hiking and wilderness tent camping.

Above: The Halibut Fishing Capital of the World, Homer, Alaska

TCM: That sounds like an incredible adventure.  Any other tips for folks bent on going to Alaska in a truck camper?

Paul: There is a Hilltop truck stop north of Fairbanks where I had reindeer sausage for breakfast and strawberry rhubarb pie.

There’s a town called Hope, Alaska on the Kenai Peninsula.  There’s one road down and back with a campground.  There was a nice town and restaurant there, too.

In Canada north of Edmonton, the oil boom is happening.  Some municipal campgrounds were full because of the seasonal campers who are oil workers.

Above: Entering Alaska in Hyder

Hyder is the friendliest ghost town in Alaska.  That’s a great little place.  The Tongas National Forest is there.  There are grizzly bear sightings and a boardwalk out to see them.  But, unfortunately I didn’t.  Hyder is a great town with history.

Truck: 2011 Ford F350, extended cab, long bed, four wheel drive, diesel
Camper: 1998 Palomino B1200
Tie-downs/Turnbuckles: cargo tie-downs, inside bed mounted
Suspension: N/A
Gear: FabFours front bumper and grill guard assembly, fabricated front spare tire assembly, two spare tires for this trip because of Dalton highway

The post Pop-Up to Prudhoe Bay appeared first on Truck Camper Magazine.

Ross and Anna Weber share their experiences and best recommendations for truck camping through Labrador and Newfoundland.  Look out!  Moose and icebergs ahead.

Ross and I left June 1, 2014 on an adventure through Labrador and Newfoundland.  Leaving Southern Ontario behind, we drove the less traveled highway to Quebec City.

East of Quebec City, we drove Highway 138 on the north shore of the St Lawrence River to Baie-Comeau, 260 miles.  We turned north on Road 389 and drove 350 miles to Labrador City.

There were lots of trees, hills, curves, and rocky terrain.  Eventually, we experienced almost mountainous terrain.  Along the way, the logging, hydro, mining, and transport trucks appreciated us pulling over to let them by.

From Labrador City, we drove the Trans Labrador Highway to L’Anse-au-Clair, about 750 miles.

We ferried to Newfoundland at Blanc Sablon.  Once there, we explored Newfoundland over a three week period.

Heading homeward, we ferried from Port aux Basques to North Sydney Nova Scotia and turned towards the Acadian Peninsula of New Brunswick.  Then north to Mont Joli, Quebec, and, turning westward, we traveled home along the south shore of the St. Lawrence River.  The whole of Newfoundland is steeped with history, scenery, outdoor adventure, and good food.

Above: A Basques Whaling museum

Above: St. Johns, Newfoundland

Above: The Skerwink hiking trail on Bonavista Peninsula, Newfoundland

Here are some tips and advice for anyone interested in truck camping through Newfoundland and Labrador.

1. Labrador Coastal Drive is a good website to plan the trip through Labrador.

2. Visit the tourist information centers in the towns for great local and historical information.

3. In Baie-Comeau, Quebec, stock up on all provisions including fuel and propane.  Also, ensure your equipment, including tires, operate properly.  We contacted the local services for road status even though there is a sign at the beginning of the road indicating which sections are open.  Spring was later than usual with road thaw just underway.

4. Take advantage of carrying a free satellite phone through Labrador as there is no cell service. We picked one up at the Hotel in Labrador City and turned it in at Northern Lites Inn in L’Anse-au-Claire.

5. The road through Labrador is gravel and there are very few places to pull off to rest. There are no real side roads that are accessible to anyone except ATVs or snowmobiles.  Take advantage of a widened road area or truck stop.

6. Buy the Provincial Park Pass.  These parks have quality sites, free WIFI at the offices, clean laundry, shower and washroom facilities, and very knowledgeable local staff.

7. Reserve the ferry ride to and from Newfoundland.

8. Be prepared for all types of weather.  We traveled the months of June and July.  We experienced temperatures between 24 degrees and 100 degrees Fahrenheit.  It rained for awhile every day.  Take advantage of all the sunny breaks.

9. Spend time chatting with the local people.  Everyone is so friendly and interesting.  They will tell you where to free camp, where to buy the freshest seafood, and where the best non-touristy attractions are.  Someone told us to drive on down to Point aux Choix, Newfoundland where we enjoyed the most amazing local shrimp burger ever.

10. Pay attention to the wildlife cautioning signs.  We counted seventeen moose on a fifteen mile stretch of road near St. Anthony, Newfoundland.

11. Seeing and photographing icebergs was most fun.  The locals announced 2014 to be a bumper crop.  We saw hundreds of them.  They are all so unique.  We took hundreds of pictures.

Favorite Boondocking and Camping Spots

Our favorite boondocking site was near Manicougan Crater (formed by a meteor striking the earth millions of years ago).  We found a roadway to the reservoir edge at mile 178 on Road 389, Quebec.

Our second favorite boondocking spot was at Chance Cove Provincial Park at the bottom of the Avalon Peninsula, Newfoundland.  It was three miles through the bush to great fishing and lots of laughter with the local campers.

Our favorite paid camping site was Trinity Cabins and Trailer Park, Bonavista Peninsula, Newfoundland.  It was $20 with electrical hookup and water, spotless washroom facilities.

Truck: 2012 GMC Sierra 1500 Z71, extended cab, short bed, 4×4, gas
Camper: 2013 Palomino Maverick M6601
Tie-Downs and Turnbuckles: Better Kit Chains and Turnbuckles
Jacks: Rieco-Titan wireless remote controlled electric camper jacks
Suspension: Timbren Blocks added to enhance suspension
Accessories: LED lights, Torklift Glow Step, Custom Aluminum Roof Rack

The post Labrador and Newfoundland Adventure Tips appeared first on Truck Camper Magazine.

Jeff Dean takes his Palomino pop-up truck camper to the beach almost every weekend for fishing, surfing, kayaking, bike riding, and scuba diving.  Owl right, who is this who?

Every once in a while a response to Question of the Week will turn into something much more.  For us, that’s part of the fun.  We never know who will respond to a particular question, or what they will share.  In a way, Question of the Week is story fishing, TCM style.

Jeff Dean answered the Question of the Week, “Have you ever parked somewhere overnight in pirate stealth mode?” with a confession about parking overnight at marinas.  We followed up with Jeff and learned that he spends almost every summer weekend on the truck camper friendly beaches of Long Island.  As journalists do, we kept asking questions knowing full well we had found another fun truck camping story.

Above: Jeff, Who, and his Palomino pop-up camper at Napeague, Lazy Point, Montauk, New York

TCM: Tell us how you got into camping and truck campers.

Jeff: We were big time campers when I was growing up.  My parents had a 1986 Prowler pull-behind trailer that we took on adventures every other weekend.  For the other weekends we went to Fire Island, New York and stayed in my parent’s cabin cruiser at a town called Atlantique.  So the bug was instilled in me at an early age.

I took my own adventure out west to California in 1992.  I lived most of my adult life in California before returning to New York five years ago to reconnect with my high school sweetheart, Tina.  I don’t know if I dragged her into the RV lifestyle, or if she dragged me back into it, but we are big time travelers and campers today.

I bought my truck in California and towed all of my belongings cross-country in a twelve by seven enclosed utility trailer.  Seventeen years of toys was no light haul.

I should have bought a heavier duty truck, but it featured a full carpet kit in the back that makes into a full-size bed across the width of truck.  The guy that sold me the truck lived in it for weeks as he hunted in Alaska, Montana, and Canada.  He kept all the receipts and meticulously maintained the truck.

Camping in the back of the rig across the United States and on the beaches of Long Island, I saw many types of campers.  The truck campers in particular got my attention due it being a stealth camping accessory.  With a truck camper I could camp on the beach, parking lots, taverns, campgrounds, ski resorts, etc.

Tina and I would get very excited every time we drove by a truck camper on the beach.  Ever since I was seventeen years old, I have dreamt of having a place to sleep on the beach and a place to change into wet suits in the winter.  It was destiny.  I would be a truck camper at some point.

Above: Beach camping at Democrat Point, Robert Moses, Long Island, New York

TCM: How did you finally get your Palomino?

Jeff: I saved up for a couple years.  I had a 2001 Ford F150, so I was restricted by the relatively limited payload of the truck.  Then I realized that many half-tons can carry a lighter weight pop-up truck camper.

Then I saw a pop-up truck camper on the beach and talked to the owner about it.  After that conversation, I searched for a pop-up camper I could afford.  The Palomino and the F150 have been a great rig for the past three years.  It’s the best thing I’ve ever purchased.  We love the lifestyle.

I just bought a Ford F350 and started looking for a larger camper.  I’m looking forward to having a bathroom and shower.

Above: As you can see, lots of toys come with Jeff on his truck camping adventures – Shagwong Point Outer Beach, Montauk, New York

TCM: From your photography, it’s clear that you travel with plenty of toys.  What do you bring with you when you go truck camping?

Jeff: I bring two to three surf boards, and kayaks.  If we are going to the beach I bring two bike cruisers.  We also have two mountain bikes, a Zodiak with a motor, a paddle board, fishing gear, a kite board, and scuba gear.  We do not bring everything all the time.

TCM: That’s quite a toy collection.  Where do you store it all?

Jeff: I made racks on the camper’s roof for my surfboards and kayaks.  I can also put surf boards inside the camper.  Sometimes we tow an enclosed trailer for the toys.

Above: The front rack on his truck is used for a generator and big cooler, Democrat Point, Robert Moses, New York

TCM: There’s a front rack on your truck.  What’s that used for?

Jeff: I added a hitch on the front of my truck and attached a carrier for my generator and a big cooler.  The cooler hold ice, drinks, and food for the beach.  I also have fishing rod holders on the front rack.

Above: The Point, Democrat Point, Robert Moses, New York

I am a horrible fisherman.  My grandfather was very talented and got trophies for fishing.  But, surfing and fishing are things I like to do when I go to the beach.  I like setting up the rig for the fishing experience, and it looks great on the truck.

Above: Tina sun worshipping at Democrat Point, Robert Moses, New York

TCM: What beaches do you go camping on?

Jeff: There are three beaches we go camping on – Robert Moses State Park, Montauk, and the Inlet.  We’re on the beach almost every day in the summer.  We’ll fish, surf, and camp overnight.  We also enjoy kite boarding and sitting on the beach to catch some sun.  Tina is a sun worshipper, so we’re always out there.

We live about three miles from the four wheel drive area of Robert Moses State Park.  You are allowed to camp out on beach for free, if you’re fishing.  You can also get a surfing permit and go surfing there.

I see quite a bit of truck campers at Robert Moses State Park.  Most of them caravan out to Democrat Point.  There are a lot of people there who love to hang out, fish, drink beer, and talk about camping.

Above: The Sore Thumb, Robert Moses State Park, New York

TCM: Sounds like fun.  How do you get access to these beaches?

Jeff: They only sell beach passes for Robert Moses State Park before April 30th, or after Labor Day in September.  You can’t buy beach passes between that time.

From May 24th until September 3rd you are not allowed to drive on the beach from 7:00am until 5:00pm.  It’s brutal because you have to get up early.  You can be on the beach, they just don’t want vehicles running over beach goers.  I go out the night before or early in the morning.  Then my family parks the truck and walks to where I am on the beach.

Above: Bella, their mascot and guard dog, Robert Moses State Park, New York

You also have to have a registered four wheel drive truck.  I air down my truck tires to 15 psi when I go on the beach.  They have an air facility, but you have to bring your own hose.

Above: Montauk Point Lighthouse, Montauk, New York

We also do a lot of camping on Montauk on Long Island.  There’s great free camping out there.  But, Montauk does not have shower and bathroom facilities.  This is one reason why we’re looking at bigger truck campers.  We want a built-in bathroom and shower in our next camper.

Out on Montauk, it used to be first come, first serve.  That’s for regular campers, not truck campers.  We can camp anywhere.  There are only so many spaces.

Above: Beach camping at Gilgo Beach, Babylon, New York

We also go to the inlet.  They have a reservation system for truck campers to stay overnight.  There are no facilities there either, but there is air.

Above: Surfing at Democrat Point, New York – click to enlarge

TCM: Tell us about your surfing.

Jeff: I competed in surfing competitions a couple of times, but it took away from the enjoyment.  Now surfing is 100% a hobby.  All of our trips are around surfing.

Above: Camping and surfing at Port Jefferson, New York

I moved out to California at age twenty-five for surfing.  I have surfed in Hawaii and the Caribbean.  For me, it’s all about surfing and the lifestyle.  That’s what got me into truck camping.  To wake up on the beach is the best thing in the world.  I wish I had owned the truck camper when I was in California.

Above: The Pink Cadillac Diner, Natural Bridge, Virginia

TCM: Where have you been in your Palomino over the past three years?

Jeff: In 2013, we went to North Carolina taking the coast down from New York through Maryland, Delaware, the coast of Virginia to Hatteras.  The ride home was brutal because we stayed an extra day and I had to drive seventeen hours straight.  I learned my lesson on that trip.

Our last adventure took us from New York to West Virginia, Kentucky, Nashville, Tennessee, South Carolina, North Carolina, Virginia, and Maryland.  That trip was a loop.

The trip to Tennessee was the one trip we didn’t go to the beach.

I said, “Tina, pick out where you want to go”.

She said, “Nashville.”

I said, “But, there are no beaches there”.

She replied, “I want to check out the inner part of the East Coast”.

We took a round about route to Nashville.  I can’t stand country music, but Nashville is a great place.  The live music was unbelievable.  It was a great trip and experience.  I would do it again.

One of my best friends lives in Asheville, North Carolina.  So, we stayed in our camper at his house for a few days.

Above: Jeff’s Google Map for their trip to Tennessee – click to enlarge

TCM: The smaller size of truck camper rigs make them perfect for visiting friends and family.  Tell us about your trip planning.

Jeff: I’m a bit of a nerd, so I detail our trip plans before we go anywhere.  I want to take full advantage of our vacation time.  We don’t usually stick to the plan, but it’s a good guide and gives us peace of mind.  At least we know where we are going to stay.

I make trip maps with Google maps.  I add a bubble caption with miles, dates, and the forecasted temperature.  I’ll also put campgrounds and pricing into the map.  About a day in advance, I will call ahead to make sure there is availability at the campground.

When you don’t plan, or you just look at the map, you don’t realize how far away things are located.  I don’t want to drive 700 miles in a day.  We don’t want to be stressed out when we reach our destination because we drove too much.  350 miles is the amount we like to travel in a day.

Above: Chesapeake Beach, Delaware, marina camping

TCM: We know that drove-too-much feeling.  Been there, done that, many times.  Your response to our stealth camping Question of the Week was quite interesting.  Tell us more about how you find your urban stealth camping sites.

Jeff: A lot of the marinas we go to allow us to camp in the parking areas.  The boaters are already camping in their boats overnight.  We also stay in restaurant parking lots.

Above: Gosman’s Restaurant, Montauk, New York

For example, we’ve gone to Secrets in Ocean City.  It’s one of the best restaurants because they have tables out in the middle of the water.  We park in the parking lot and stay overnight.  I ask them if it’s okay, and tell them we’ll park in the back of the lot.  Every single time they’ve said okay.

Above: Who loves Walmart, North Carolina somewhere

We have also camped at concert venues.  Another pirate place for us is hotel parking lots.  A lot of our friends will meet us in Maryland.  They will stay at the hotel, and we’ll park our camper outside in the parking area.  We’ve also stayed at Walmart and truck stops.

TCM: Do you stealth camp with the pop-up down?

Jeff: It depends on the situation and the feeling I get.  Most of the time we pop it up.  If we’re at a fancy hotel or a place where security guards are, we’ve kept it down.

It almost looks like a shell on the back when we’re popped down.  If we’re stealth camping and have the kayaks on top, the roof is hard to pop up with extra weight on the top, so we’ll keep the top down.  We are more stealth than most campers with a shorter pop-up on a F150.

Above: Who in Kentucky, Tennessee, and West Virginia – click to enlarge

TCM: What’s up with the owl?

Jeff: That’s Who.  We got him at a Montauk yard sale.  He was staring at me and he’s been with us ever since.  We’ll post on Facebook things like, Who loves this place?  Who’s in Kentucky today?  Who even has his own Facebook page.

Above: Harris Crab House, Grasonville, Maryland

TCM: You’ll have to find a baseball diamond and post, “Who’s on First?”  What are your truck camping plans for the future?

Jeff: This summer I am hoping to convince Tina to go back up to Maine.  I love that new History Channel show Down East Dickering.  I’d love to make it a goal to sell them something as a goof.

I am a picker, collector, and salesman, so I think I have something they want.  Maybe we barter for a few nights on their land plugged into their electricity for something.

Above: The Deck Crab House and Bar, Edgewood, Maryland, our buddy Carl’s favorite place for crabs

TCM: That would be fun.  Is there anything else you would like to share?

Jeff: We love to go to the beach and surf.  We like to go on long trips that have stops, so we that get to see the country.  I love to talk about my adventures in our truck camper.  Look for us on the road!  I might even give away some of my pirate secrets.

Rig Information
Truck: 2001 Ford F150 XL 4×4, Regular Cab, Long Bed, Single Rear Wheel, 4×4, Gasoline
Camper: 1999 Palomino Pop-up
Tie-Downs and Turnbuckles: Standard, I welded a steel pipe to the frame and connected it to the front of the camper with chains for extra stability
Suspension: Firestone Ride-Rite Air Helper Springs
Gear: I made racks on top for my surfboards and kayaks, put a hitch on front of the truck to attach a carrier for my generator and a cooler

The post Who Goes Camping With Jeff Dean appeared first on Truck Camper Magazine.

 
 
Palomino SS-1500 – MSRP $12,578
The Palomino SS-1500 is a pop-up truck camper.

*Palomino SS-1500: dry weight, 1,678 pounds + 22 gallons fresh, 183.5 pounds + 6 gallon water heater, 50 pounds + 2x 20 pound full propane tank, 40 pounds + battery, 65 pounds + stuff, 500 pounds = 2,816.5 pounds

Palomino SS-1251 – MSRP $11,926
The Palomino SS-1251 is a pop-up truck camper.

*Palomino SS-1251: dry weight, 1,737 pounds + 22 gallons fresh, 183.5 pounds + 6 gallon water heater, 50 pounds + 20 pound full propane tank, 20 pounds + battery, 65 pounds + stuff, 500 pounds = 2,555.5 pounds

Palomino SS-1240 – MSRP $11,940
The Palomino SS-1240 is a pop-up truck camper.

*Palomino SS-1240: dry weight, 1,623 pounds + 22 gallons fresh, 183.5 pounds + 20 pound full propane tank, 20 pounds + battery, 65 pounds + stuff, 500 pounds = 2,391.5 pounds

Palomino SS-1200 – MSRP $10,258
The Palomino SS-1200 is a pop-up truck camper.

*Palomino SS-1200: dry weight, 1,614 pounds + 16 gallons fresh, 133.4 pounds + 20 pound full propane tank, 20 pounds + battery, 65 pounds + stuff, 500 pounds = 2,332.4 pounds

Palomino SS-800 – MSRP $9,823
The Palomino SS-800 is a pop-up truck camper.

*Palomino SS-800: dry weight, 1,447 pounds + 16 gallons fresh, 133.4 pounds + 20 pound full propane tank, 20 pounds + battery, 65 pounds + stuff, 500 pounds = 2,165.4 pounds

Palomino SS-600 – MSRP $9,243
The Palomino SS-600 is a pop-up truck camper.

*Palomino SS-600: dry weight, 1,056 pounds + 10 gallons fresh, 83.4 pounds + 20 pound full propane tank, 20 pounds + battery, 65 pounds + stuff, 500 pounds = 1,724.4 pounds

Palomino SS-550 – MSRP $9,823
The Palomino SS-550 is a pop-up truck camper.

*Palomino SS-550: dry weight, 1,518 pounds + 16 gallons fresh, 133.4 pounds + 20 pound full propane tank, 20 pounds + battery, 65 pounds + stuff, 500 pounds = 2,236.4 pounds

All dry weights, specifications, capacities, and photographs were provided by Palomino RV.

The post Palomino Pop Up Camper Buyers Guide appeared first on Truck Camper Magazine.

PHONE: 269-432-3271  |  WEB: www.palominorv.com

 
 
Palomino HS-2911 Max – MSRP $25,462
The Palomino HS-2911 Max is a hard-side, wet bath, double-slide truck camper.

*Palomino HS-2911 Max: dry weight, 3,497 pounds + 45 gallons fresh, 375.3 pounds + 6 gallons hot water heater, 50 pounds + 1x 30 pound full propane tank, 27 pounds + batteries, 130 pounds + stuff, 500 pounds = 4,579.3 pounds

Palomino HS-2910 Max – MSRP $23,729
The Palomino HS-2910 Max is a hard-side, wet bath, single-slide truck camper.

*Palomino HS-2910 Max: dry weight, 3,140 pounds + 45 gallons fresh, 375.3 pounds + 6 gallons hot water heater, 50 pounds + 1x 30 pound full propane tank, 27 pounds + batteries, 130 pounds + stuff, 500 pounds = 4,222.3 pounds

Palomino HS-2902 Max – MSRP $22,949
The Palomino HS-2902 Max is a hard-side, wet bath, single-slide truck camper.

*Palomino HS-2902 Max: dry weight, 2,927 pounds + 45 gallons fresh, 375.3 pounds + 6 gallons hot water heater, 50 pounds + 1x 30 pound full propane tank, 27 pounds + batteries, 130 pounds + stuff, 500 pounds = 4,059.3 pounds

Palomino HS-8801 – MSRP $17,581
The Palomino HS-8801 is a hard side, wet bath, non-slide truck camper.

*Palomino HS-8801: dry weight, 2,388 pounds + 31 gallons fresh, 258.5 pounds + 6 gallons hot water heater, 50 pounds + 2x 20 pound full propane tank, 40 pounds + battery, 65 pounds + stuff, 500 pounds = 3,301.5 pounds

Palomino HS-6601 – MSRP $16,811
The Palomino HS-6601 is a hard side, wet bath, non-slide truck camper.

*Palomino HS-6601: dry weight, 1,771 pounds + 31 gallons fresh, 258.5 pounds + 6 gallons hot water heater, 50 pounds + 20 pound full propane tank, 20 pounds + battery, 65 pounds + stuff, 500 pounds = 2,664.5 pounds

Palomino HS-800 – MSRP $15,215
The Palomino HS-800 is a hard side, non-slide truck camper.

*Palomino HS-800: dry weight, 1,675 pounds + 27 gallons fresh, 258.5 pounds + 6 gallons hot water heater, 50 pounds + 20 pound full propane tank, 20 pounds + battery, 65 pounds + stuff, 500 pounds = 2,568.5 pounds

All dry weights, specifications, capacities, and photographs were provided by Palomino RV.

The post Palomino Buyers Guide appeared first on Truck Camper Magazine.

Palomino RV applies Line-X spray-on bed liner to the roof, sides, and underbody of a 2016 SS-550 pop-up truck camper and teases a possible future of protective truck camper coatings.

As a magazine, we purchased our own truck camper last Summer.  The camper is an eleven year old hard side non-slide manufactured by a company that is no longer in business.  As such, the camper is a politically neutral vessel, perfect for our ongoing personal use and published upgrades, modifications, and travel reports.

About a year ago, we caulked, sealed, and SealTech tested our used truck camper to make sure it was free of leaks.  Less than a year later, we noticed that a few visible seal breaks had appeared, and we inspected and repaired the seals once more.  It was a bit disheartening to see how much a few of the seals had deteriorated but, in all fairness, we had driven the camper coast-to-coast, into Canada, and back again.

As we completed the task of sealing the rig once more, I had an idea that’s been burning in my mind ever since:

Why can’t we do better than these ridiculous toothpaste-like sealants?  It’s 2015 for goodness sake.  It’s not like I have to caulk and seal my truck.  Why can’t we use an advanced coating and seal this entire unit in 360 degrees?

In essence, I want to “bullet proof” our camper.  No, I don’t mean make our rig impervious to Uzis and Winchesters.  I mean make it completely water proof – roof, sides, and underbody – with long-lasting coatings.  One of the coatings I had in mind for this idea was a bed liner.

About that time we found out that Palomino was preparing a Line-X treated camper to display at the annual industry open house in Elkhart, Indiana.  According to the initial reports, the camper was literally Line-X treated on the roof, sides, and underbody.

Obviously I was very excited that they had taken this concept and run with it, and a little freaked out that they might be listening to my thoughts.  Hey Palomino, how many monkeys am I thinking of?

All monkeys aside (it was five), we called Pat Hines, Director of Truck Camper Marketing at Palomino RV to ask about the new Line-X treated Body Armor Editions.  Naturally, he knew I was calling before I did.

Above: The new Line-X treated Body Armor Edition SS-550 – click to enlarge

TCM: What is the concept behind the Line-X treated Body Armor Editions?

Pat: As an exterior coating, Line-X is extremely durable.  For that reason, we have been Line-X coating the front caps of our Solaire travel trailer line and the undercarriage of our hard side Palomino Max Elite truck campers for the past four years.

Both applications have been exceptionally popular with our dealers and customers.  More importantly, we have had virtually no warranty issues with Line-X coated front caps.  It’s almost rock proof.

Above: The Line-X treated Body Armor Edition SS-550 at the Elkhart show – click to enlarge

No group would better appreciate the off-road durability of Line-X more than pop-up truck camper owners.  That is why we are launching a new Body Armor Edition on one of our most successful pop-up truck camper models, the SS-550.

To test the interest in the Line-X treated Body Armor Edition SS-550, we brought a prototype to the RV industry open-house in Elkhart, Indiana.  Dealers had a lot of positive feedback, both on the concept and the final result, and placed a number of orders at the event.  The real proof will be in the customer reactions, and sales.

Above: The underbody is coated with black Line-X – click to enlarge

TCM: Why Line-X?  Why not use another brand of bed liner?

Pat: We believe Line-X is the best coating in the business.  In fact, we have invested in a dedicated Line-X booth here at Palomino RV.  We use Line-X exclusively.

Above: The photo on the left is Palomino’s pebble fiberglass without Line-X.  The photo on the right is Palomino’s pebble fiberglass coated with Line-X – click to enlarge

TCM: Do the exterior materials – one piece fiberglass roof, high gloss gel-coat fiberglass sides, and pebble fiberglass underbody – need to be prepared prior to applying the Line-X?

Pat: Yes, the surfaces need to be scuffed to ensure proper adhesion of the Line-X.  In particular, need to remove the sheen from the smooth fiberglass sides so the Line-X will bond.  We use essentially the same scuffing process for the side walls, underbelly, and roof.

TCM: When during the manufacturing process is Line X applied?

Pat: Line-X is applied before the camper is assembled.  We build and vacuum bond laminate the side walls, wing walls, and floors separately.  Then those components are scuffed and brought to the in-house Line-X booth to be sprayed.  When dry, the Line-X treated components are then brought to the truck camper production line where they are assembled.

Above: Currently the Body Armor Edition is only offered on the 2016 Palomino SS-550 model (shown) – click to enlarge

TCM: Will Palomino be making Body Armor Editions of both pop-up and hard side Palomino models?

Pat: If the 2016 Palomino SS-550 Body Armor Edition is well received, we will extend the number of Palomino models available as Body Armor Editions.  Right now we are focused on the SS-550, and plan to branch out into our pop-up models.  It is possible that we could offer a hard side Body Armor Edition, but we are starting with the SS-550.

Above: The Line-X treatment added about 18-pounds to the SS-550 – click to enlarge

TCM: Does the Rieco-Titan electric roof lift system work well with the additional roof weight of the Line-X?

Pat: Believe it or not, the Line-X treatment only adds about 18-pounds to the total weight of the SS-550.  Line-X does not require a thick and heavy coating to be 100% effective.

The Rieco-Titan electric roof lift system is rated for 300 pounds for each of the four individual lifts, so the additional few pounds added to the roof by the Line-X application are not an issue.

Above: The Body Armor Editions feature minimal graphics – click to enlarge

TCM: Other than the Line-X treatment, is there anything else that distinguishes a Body Armor edition?

Pat: The Line-X coating and minimal graphics package differentiate the Body Armor package.  That’s it.

Above: The seams and external features of the Body Armor Editions are caulked and sealed – click to enlarge

TCM: Why not Line-X everything but the windows and, in theory, get rid of the need to caulk and seal?

Pat: That’s an interesting concept, but there are a number of production logistics that prevent us from doing that.  There are also problems with coating items like compartments, refrigerator vents, and other exterior features with Line-X.

The only way to truly eliminate water intrusion is to have no holes in the exterior structure at all.  Since no one wants a camper without windows and a door, that’s not likely to happen.

Above: Olive green is the color of the Body Armor Edition campers – click to enlarge

TCM: Will olive drab be the only color of Line-X for the Body Armor editions?

Pat: Yes, the Body Armor Edition is only offered in olive drab green.

TCM: Does the Line-X affect the center of gravity of a Body Armor Edition?

Pat: No.  The center of gravity is unaffected because the weight of the Line-X is distributed evenly throughout the entire exterior of the camper.

TCM: Will the Body Armor editions be special order only, or in-stock at Palomino dealerships?

Pat: Some dealers will stock the 2016 Palomino SS-550 Body Armor Edition, and others will offer it as a special order.  It really depends on the dealership, and the market their geographic area offers for pop-up truck campers.

TCM: What will the Body Armor Editions cost compared to a standard build?

Pat: The Body Armor Edition option is $3,600 MSRP for the 2016 Palomino SS-550.

TCM: Wow, that seems expensive.

Pat: Line-X an expensive option.  Just ask anyone who has Line-X treated their truck beds.  Of course the quality and durability of the Line-X is well known.

TCM: Will the Body Armor Edition option be the same price if and when it’s offered on other Palomino models?

Pat: No, it will have different cost depending on the model.  Right now we have calculated the cost for the SS-550.  When the other models become available as Body Armor Editions, we will send you the option prices.

TCM: What is the warranty Body Armor Edition campers?

Pat: The Body Armor Editions are covered by Palomino RV’s one year bumper-to-bumper warranty.

TCM: When will the Body Armor Editions be available?

Pat: You can get a Body Armor Edition in late 2015/early 2016.

For more information on 2016 Palomino truck campers, visit their website at www.palominorv.com/TruckCampers.

The post Palomino Launches Line-X Body Armor Editions appeared first on Truck Camper Magazine.

Palomino RV updates their 2016 line with a new north-south cabover, radius dinette seating, LED ambient lighting, new wall treatments, and a trip through the shine bay.

For the past few years, Palomino RV has been on a roll.  In 2013, they debuted the 2911 double-slide and partnered with Torklift International to develop the Landing Pad extended rear storage bumper.

In 2014, Palomino RV launched two new truck camper models and completely redesigned their pop-up camper line.  The creme de la creme of 2014 was an innovative new electric pop-up roof mechanism from Rieco-Titan, complete with a key fob remote control.

Last October, Palomino RV set their truck camping design on stun and launched a large automotive-style front windshield and wrap-around fiberglass nose cap that took just about everyone in the truck camper community – including us – by surprise.  Then they re-worked their floor plans, finessed their cabinetry, updated their table tops, and debuted a next-generation in-wall slide mechanism.

For 2016, the news is, quite understandably, not quite as ground breaking.  Beyond their pioneering Line-X coated Body Armor Edition, the 2016 Palomino truck camper announcements are mostly about making their existing models better.   A pop-up camper gets a north-south cabover, cabinetry and storage has been enhanced, and wall treatments and fabrics have been updated.  And yes, Palomino RV got the memo on the interior LED ambient lighting trend.

The most exciting news is what Palomino RV is working on to push their quality control forward.  The shine bay, as they call it, promises to make Palomino truck campers not just a value leader, but also a more competitive product based on quality.  Clearly we need to get into the Palomino factory and see this shine bay for ourselves, but we are already thrilled with the concept.

To find out exactly what has changed for 2016, including the shine bay, we contacted Pat Hines, Director of Truck Camper Marketing for Palomino RV.

TCM: Are there any Palomino RV truck camper models being discontinued for 2016?

Pat: No, we are not currently discontinuing any truck camper models for 2016.

Above: The Palomino SS-1251 pop-up model is now offered in a north-south overcab configuration – click to enlarge

TCM: Other than the new Body Armor Edition, are there any new Palomino truck camper models for 2016?

Pat: No, we are not introducing any new models for 2016.  2016 is mostly a refinement year for our truck campers.

We are debuting a significant revision one of our most popular pop-up truck camper models, the SS-1251.  We have changed the SS-1251 from an east-west cabover to a north-south cabover.  This follows the success of the north-south configured SS-550 and the SS-1240.

Dealers and customers have asked us to change the SS-1251 to north-south, and we are excited to offer that change for the 2016 model year.

To accommodate the longer cabover, we went to a stronger and thicker laminated cabover structure.  The north-south cabover change eliminated the under bed storage, but added two large hampers running the length of the cabover on either side of the bed.  The hampers offer about the same amount of storage as the under bed storage area and are accessible without needing to lift the bed.

Above: Cabinetry and a netted cubby hole was added to the Palomino SS-1251 pop-up model – click to enlarge

Additionally, we extended the overhead cabinetry in the SS-1251.  We also added an additional netted cubby hole.  Obviously, storage is king with truck campers.  We found some unused real estate so we added some new storage areas.

TCM: How much weight did the north-south cabover and new cabinetry add to the SS-1251?

Pat: The north-south cabover and cabinetry added about 86 pounds.  The change also moved the center of gravity forward X-inches.  The center of gravity on the 2016 Palomino SS-1251 is now XX-inches from the front wall.

TCM: Do you think you’ll change any other pop-up models to a north-south cabover?

Pat: The other Palomino pop-up models will likely stay east-west for the near future, but we are considering further north-south changes.

Above: The automotive-style front windshield on the Palomino Max truck campers – click to enlarge

TCM: Last year Palomino stunned the truck camper community with a large automotive-style front windshield.  How has that been received since the debut?

Pat: The front windshield and nose cap has been very popular.  I don’t believe we have shipped any Palomino Hard Side Max models without the front windshield and nose cap since we made the announcement.  I also don’t know of any complaints or issues with the front windshields.  It’s an automotive-style glass and adhesive, so it’s built to last.

Above: The dedicated roll-up fabric shade featuring Astro-Foil reflective bubble foil insulation on the interior of the windshield – click to enlarge

TCM: It appears that the interior surrounding the front windshield area has been changed.

Pat: The windshield we debuted at the Elkhart open house last year was a prototype.  Since then we have made many refinements including improvements to the interior materials and finish around the windshield itself.  For example, the valances now match the interior fabrics and there’s a dedicated roll-up fabric shade featuring Astro-Foil reflective bubble foil insulation.

Above: Key fob remote for the Rieco-Titan electric pop-up roof lift system – click to enlarge

TCM: Now that you have had the Rieco-Titan electric pop-up roof lift system for two years, how has that system been received?

Pat: The Rieco-Titan electric pop-up roof lift system has been a tremendous success.  Rieco-Titan is a great partner.  Doug Bakker from Rieco-Titan is here at least once a month to make sure things are going smoothly.  He also talks to dealers, and takes our feedback to make an even better product.

TCM: Have there been any changes or updates to the Rieco-Titan electric pop-up roof lift system in that time?

Pat: There have been a handful of refinements.  We went from not having a manual on-off switch to now having one.  There have been some tweaks that Rieco-Titan has done to upgrade the electronics.

With our total pop-up redesign in 2014, we went from an entry-level pop-up truck camper to the top-of-the-line overnight.  The Rieco-Titan electric pop-up roof lift system was an important part of that successful effort.  We have definitely seen an increase in truck camper pop-up sales since the launch of the Rieco-Titan lift system.

There’s no doubt that Palomino offers the best bang for the buck in the pop-up and hard side truck camper industry.

Above: Radius dinette seats are standard in 2016 Palomino Max truck campers – click to enlarge

TCM: What’s the idea behind the new radius dinette seats?

Pat: The new radius dinette seats trickled down from our travel trailer line.  We want to have the same aesthetic across the board, so we brought the radius seats from our travel trailers into our hard side Max truck campers.

TCM: While we certainly appreciate the radius look, some might miss the interior storage that was available with the more traditional dinette seats.

Pat: We did remove the cabinetry doors on the front of the dinette benches.  You can access that storage area by removing the dinette seat cushion.  We are also planning on adding an exterior door to access this storage area.  In the future we hope to give customers better access to this storage area with interior swinging doors.

Above: The bead board accent wall – click to enlarge

TCM: When we were exploring the 2016 Palomino line, we noticed the new wall treatments and fabrics.  Tell us about these new interiors, and how they came to be.

Pat: We upgraded the interior aesthetics by using three different colored wall boards throughout the camper.  The sides and front are one color, the rear wall is another color, and the slide-out has a bead board accent wall.  We’re using the same three wall boards throughout our entire product line.

Above: The Palomino interior fabrics for 2016 campers – click to enlarge

Nate Nickell, General Manager for Palomino RV, handles the product design and aesthetics. With Palomino’s buying power and KISS (Keep It Simple Stupid) philosophy, we are successful and keep our products very competitively priced.

Above: The LED ambient lighting throughout the Palomino Max campers – click to enlarge

TCM: There’s no missing the blue LED ambient lighting under the kitchen counter, under the slide room, and on top of cabinetry.  Will both the pop-up and hard side lines get ambient lighting for 2016?

Pat: That started with our Solaire and Palomini travel trailer line.  Rob Foster, our Production Manager, was tasked with putting LED ambient lighting under the kitchen countertops and slide-outs.

Above: The open air pantry is available on the 2910 and 2911 – click to enlarge

We have also added a gigantic open air pantry in the 2910 and 2911 with some lighting there.  The LED ambient lighting is the ultimate night light.

Above: The LED ambient sliding under the slide-out – click to enlarge

TCM: Why did Palomino go with blue?

Pat: Actually, we introduced LED ambient lighting in both blue and white at the dealer open house to gauge dealer reaction and will make our color choice soon.

TCM: Where’s the on-off switch for the LED ambient lighting?

Pat: There is a switch right at the cabover entrance to turn it on and off.  LED ambient lighting is a standard feature for the hard side Max models; 2902, 2910, and 2911.

Above: The new glass top Suburban range top and oven – click to enlarge

TCM: The new glass top Suburban range top and oven is quite attractive.  Is that a standard or an option on the hard side models?

Pat: That’s a standard feature for 2016 on the hard side Max line.  The glass top is flush with the counter top creating additional usable counter space when you’re not using the range.  It’s a tempered glass material, so it’s easy to clean.

Above: Pull-down roller window shades – click to enlarge

TCM: The new pull-down interior window shades are interesting.

Pat: The roller shade is featured on our Elite package as standard.  The roller shades offer superior functionality, ease of use, and improved black-out shading.  They all look good.

Above: The new shelf behind the dinette – click to enlarge

TCM: What is the purpose of the new shelf behind the dinette?

Pat: It covers the box which contains the wiring for the taillights.  We decided it would look better as a small shelf.

Above: The camper jack controls and battery disconnect switch immediately inside the rear entry door – click to enlarge

We also moved the jack control switch and battery disconnect to the passenger’s side to make it more user friendly.

Above: Torklift’s Space Dock receiver and Lock and Load SideKick generator tray on Palomino’s Landing Pad bumper – click to enlarge

TCM: We saw the Torklift International Space Dock receiver and Lock and Load SideKick generator tray on display at the Elkhart open house.  The display showed a 2,400 watt Yamaha generator installed.  Are these Palomino Landing Pad accessories now available?

Pat: The Space Dock receiver and Lock and Load SideKick is a great application and accessory for our Landing Pad bumper.  It was well received by our dealer partners at the show, and we believe customers will like it.  It’s not necessarily in stock and on display at dealerships, but it is readily available.  It is currently in production and ready to sell.

Above: LED lighting is now included on the Palomino Landing Pad – click to enlarge

TCM: What is the warranty for 2016 Palomino truck campers?

Pat: There is a one year bumper-to-bumper warranty, and the individual appliances have their own warranties.

TCM: When will the 2016 Palomino truck campers be available?

Pat: 2016 Palomino truck campers are on dealer lots as we speak.

TCM: Is there a price increase for 2016?

Pat: Currently there is no price increase on truck campers for 2016.

Above: The Shine Bay is a new quality control initiative at Palomino RV – click to enlarge

TCM: When we were at the Elkhart open house, we heard about a new quality control initiative at the Palomino factory.  What can you tell us about that?

Pat: We want to build a better product for the end consumer.  The 2016 Body Armor Edition and camper upgrades are great, but we are more excited about the new quality control processes that have been put in place.

Specifically, we have implemented what we call a shine bay.  The shine bay is a dedicated facility that every Palomino RV product, including all hard side and pop-up truck campers, has to pass through before it can leave the factory.  Inside the shine bay, every camper undergoes a full PDI including checking all systems and flooding the holding tanks.  Campers are also inspected visually.

TCM: Do the Palomino team members in the shine bay have the authority to prevent a unit from shipping if they find a problem?

Pat: Absolutely.  The shine bay team can stop a unit from shipping if it does not pass the PDI or visual inspection.  They can and have flagged campers.  When that happens, the production manager is brought to the shine bay along with the production line leader.  Then they review why that unit did not pass, fix the problems, and educate the production line about what needs to be done better.  The shine bay is teaching our team how to build higher quality Palomino campers.

TCM: As a magazine, we strongly believe that quality, quality control, and customer service are the biggest and most important opportunities in front of the truck camper industry for 2016.  We applaud Palomino for taking this effort on, and look forward to the results.

Pat: More than anything else we are doing, the shine bay is what I am most excited about.  Of course we are also working on some exciting announcements for next year.  We are not resting on our laurels.

For more information on 2016 Palomino truck campers, visit their website at www.palominorv.com/TruckCampers.

The post TCM EXCLUSIVE: 2016 Palomino RV Announcements appeared first on Truck Camper Magazine.

Eddie and Pat Hayden take their Palomino pop-up truck camper deep into western Canada and the national parks of The West to capture the wildlife, landscapes, and stars.  Stunning photos ahead.

As a magazine, we have worked our fair share of RV shows.  Talking to attendees all day, you quickly learn that the general RVing public wouldn’t go truck camping if you paid them.  They look at truck campers as too small and old fashioned to even consider.  That’s why the RV industry invented travel trailers, fifth wheels, and motorhomes.

Then there are the truck camper folks.  They practically run toward the truck campers on display and couldn’t be more excited to talk all-things trucks, campers, and truck camping.  They think they won the lottery just thinking about all the freedom and adventure they’ll be having.  In fact, if they won the lottery, they would just immediately buy a truck and camper, or two.  Their enthusiasm is truly infectious.

Where does this excitement come from?  Why do some people avoid truck campers and others celebrate them?  It all comes down to the unique versatility of truck campers and how they allow you to fully pursue your outdoor passions.  Put another way, the “go anywhere, camp anywhere, tow anything” capability of a truck camper rig amplifies outdoor hobbies and interests into dreams come true.  Want a few hundred compelling examples proving this theory?  Start with our Lifestyle Stories.

One of the latest, and perhaps best, examples of a hobby amplified by truck camping is the story of Eddie and Pat Hayden.  For the Haydens, their passion for wildlife, landscape, and night sky photography was taken to an entirely new level with the addition of a Palomino pop-up truck camper.  The Haydens’ “go anywhere, camp anywhere” rig puts them on location, at the right time, to capture images that are going to roll your socks up and down.  In fact, you may have already voted for a few as winning photographs of the Truck Camper Magazine calendar contest.

Above: Eddie and Pat at Goose Island State Park in Rockport, Texas

TCM: What brought you to truck camping?

Pat: When we were young, we both tent camped with our families.  When we married, we bought a fiberglass camper shell for our truck and used that for a camper.  Towards our retirement we decided to drive more, and fly less.  As we researched the different types of RVs, we knew we did not want to pull a trailer.  Eddie always had a truck, so a truck camper was a logical choice.

We have a very nomadic style of travel.  If we see something, we want to be able to go there without hesitation.  A pop-up truck camper seemed to best fit our needs.  We selected the Palomino Bronco because of the price and the low profile.  We went with a lower priced model because we also do international travel and did not want to spend all of our money on the camper.

TCM: What do you enjoy doing while truck camping?

Pat: Our number one hobby is photography.  We also like exploring the National Parks, bird watching, and hiking.

Eddie: We’re very nomadic.  If we stay at a spot more than two to three days, the photography must be exceptional in that area.  Our camper life gets us closer to the places we want to go for photography.

Above: Laguna Seca Ranch near Edinburg, Texas

TCM: Do you both enjoy photography?

Eddie: Yes, we do.  I started photography in high school, continued for several years, burnt out, and got away from it.  About seven years ago when we started contemplating retirement, I convinced Pat she needed a hobby.  I led her towards photography and she took the bait.  She got excited and involved.  That also drew me back to it.

I’ve been using Nikon equipment since early 1970s.  Today we carry professional Nikon DSLR cameras and lenses designed for the types of photography we enjoy.

Above: Bisti Wilderness, New Mexico

Pat: I’m more into wildlife photography, and Eddie is more into landscape and night time photography.  We bring more equipment than clothes.

Above: White Sands, New Mexico

TCM: Tell us how you get your amazing shots.

Eddie: Photography for us is purely recreational and for enjoyment.  I love sharing the photos and I don’t mind at all helping people who are new to photography.

Pat: For Eddie’s night time photography, we look for campgrounds located far from city lights that obscure the stars.  We always dry camp, and stay at provincial and state parks.  We stay away from big campgrounds.

Eddie: My camera has a very high ISO capability for night time photography.  ISO is the measure of sensitivity the camera sensor has to light.

Above: The image that won in the 2016 calendar contest

The image that’s in the Truck Camper Magazine Calendar this year was shot at ISO 3200, aperture of 2.8, and a shutter speed of 20 seconds.  Those settings allow a lot of light to reach the sensor to reveal the star fields.  Essentially, I’m shooting as wide open as the lens and camera will allow.  That’s the key to the night photography.

Normal consumer lenses won’t open to 2.8.  Consumer lenses will open to maybe 4.5, which means you can’t get enough light in to pick up the stars and small points of light.  To capture night photography at this level, the quality of your equipment is key.

TCM: You also left your camper lights on during the photo.  Was that done on purpose?

Eddie: Yes, I left the lights on because I like the warm glow and homey feel.  The winning photo this year has a blue cast to it.  If you photograph something within an hour of sundown, you are in the blue hour.  That photo was shot during the blue hour.  It’s not a spectrum of light you can see with your eye, but the camera really picks up on the blue.

TCM: Are you taking the darker photos in the middle of the night?

Eddie: I’ll stay up all night.

Pat: The nice thing about the camper is that I can climb in and go to sleep while he stays up and gets photos.

Eddie: When we were in Canada this past year, we could see the stars within 30 to 40 minutes of sundown.  That’s normally not the case for night photography.  Usually I have to wait a couple hours after sundown.  I usually go to sleep and set the alarm for 2:00am and then do my night photography to get shots of the Milky Way.

Pat: He’s out there freezing.

Above: The Northern Lights in Hinton, Alberta

Eddie: When we were in Canada, I got up at 2:00am it was 26 degrees outside, but I got a photo of the northern lights.  It was pretty cold, but I can run into the camper and get warmed up.

TCM: And it makes for a great story behind the photographs.  How often do you go out truck camping?  It looks like you have been to a lot of places.

Pat: We try to avoid truck camping in the summer.  April, May, September, and October are our primary camping months.

Eddie: Yellowstone National Park is a premier destination for wildlife photography.  We usually go there twice a year.  To avoid the tremendous traffic in the park, our rule of thumb is to stay out after Memorial Day and not go back before Labor Day.

We also like to go to places in Canada to photograph wildlife where there’s peace and quiet.  We have traveled to Canada twice.  Our first trip with our Palomino was in 2013.  We drove up through British Columbia to Haines, Alaska.  From there we took the Alaskan ferry to Prince Rupert, and then headed east to the Canadian Rockies, and then back to the Lower 48.

Above: Bristlecone Pine forest night time sky

TCM: Where have you been with your truck camper that you would recommend to other truck campers?

Pat and Eddie: Near Bishop, California we’ve enjoyed the Patriarch Grove in the Ancient Bristlecone Pine National Forest.  The Patriarch Grove is at 12,000 feet.  They have a primitive campground between the entrance and the visitor center that is first come, first serve, and very remote and quiet.  It’s a dirt road and offers a vault toilet.  When we were there, the majority of people had tents.

Above: Milky Way, White Mountains near Big Pine, California, Calendar Winner

The picture from the 2013 Calendar contest is from there.  We took White Mountain Road past the visitor center.  The Patriarch Grove is a rough twelve mile gravel road that goes into the grove.  It took us two hours to get there.  I asked the people at the visitors center if there was camping allowed up there, and they said no, but there is no curfew.

Above: Camping at Jedediah Smith Redwoods State Park, California

Jedediah Smith Redwoods State Park in northern California is a little crowded, but beautiful with all the large redwoods.  Redwoods are difficult to photograph.  I normally try to avoid getting people in my photos, but if you want to show the scope and size of the trees, you need to include something to show scale.  If you don’t include a person, then you don’t have that.

You can’t get back away from the trees in Jedediah Smith to get a profile, you are in the middle of the forest.  Shooting straight up is about your only option.

Above: Wolves in Hyder, Alaska

Hyder, Alaska is a little spot in the far southern part of Alaska.  It borders Stewart, Canada, and then crosses over into Hyder.

Above: Eddie taking pictures of bears on a platform in Hyder, Alaska

There are thirteen miles of road in Hyder, Alaska, and that’s where we photographed the bears.

Above: Haines, Alaska bear cub

If you drive on, you are back into Canada, and it dead ends at Salmon Glacier.  Haines, Alaska is further north.  You can then go up through Whitehorse and then Haines Junction and then go west.  There is one road in and one road out.  Those are destinations that we feel you really have to visit.

Above: Their camper on an Alaskan Ferry

We took the Alaska Marine Highway so we didn’t have to drive it twice.  Haines is a fishing village which is known for bears.  Late in the season, eagles roost along the river, which attracts photographers in the winter months.

Above: Jasper National Park, Whistler Campground

In Canada, we enjoyed Whistler Campground in Jasper National Park.

Above: Jasper National Park during elk rut

We went there during the elk rut, which is the elk’s breeding season.  It’s when the males are fighting and getting to the females for breeding purposes.

Above: Peyto Lake in Banff National Park

Peyto Lake is in between Icefield Parkway and Banff.  If you continue towards Jasper, you drive along the Atabasca River.  We went past the Icefields Parkway to a little campground called Mosquito Creek.  It’s on the way to Jasper, and it’s another campground with a vault toilet, no electric, and no running water.

William A Switzer Provincial Park in Alberta is a beautiful park with lots of hiking trails.  With luck you can see the auroras there.  That is northeast of Jasper and is a smaller, quieter campground.  We found it on All Stays.  We have fallen in love with All Stays.  It has helped us find BLM land, State Parks, and forested areas.  A lot of the game reserves have places where you can overnight camp and a lot of those are free.  We seek those places out.

Above: Waterfalls in Glacier National Park

Glacier National Park in Montana is a great place to do lots of hiking.  Glacier is difficult for wildlife, but great for waterfalls.  We have found mountain goats and bighorn sheep on the hike at the visitors center on Going to the Sun road.  It’s not a destination that we go to for wildlife.  It’s more of a landscape photographers type of place.  Take your bear spray on the hikes.  We carry it with us whenever there is a remote chance of a bear attack.

Above: Moose at Grand Teton National Park, Wyoming

Grand Teton National Park in Wyoming is our second favorite park after Yellowstone.  We stay at Gros Vente campground.  It is a wonderful experience and has lots of places for wildlife and landscape photography.  We normally go in October when moose are in breeding season.  It’s not unusual to have a moose in your campsite.  It’s been a breeding area for moose for hundreds of years.  It’s more of an inconvenience for them that we’re there, so we give them plenty of space.

Above: Bisti Wilderness, New Mexico is a fun place to explore

Bisti/De-Na-Zin Wilderness is in New Mexico.  We camped in the parking lot and had the place pretty much to ourselves at night.  One of the photos from this year was in the parking lot.  It was a spot we’re going back to, but I’m going to be equipped with a GPS next time.

Above: Camping at Bisti/De-Na-Zin Wilderness, New Mexico

We are also going to target the night photography.  I’ll go out and set up the camera and get the composition right.  I also want to experiment with different light sources and do light painting.  I use a flashlight to illuminate the foreground so it pops out during long exposure.  It’s definitely a place to re-visit.

North of Bisti towards Farmington, photographers say the Valley of Dreams is like Bisti with formations, but it’s down a dirt road and on BLM land.  It’s a popular spot for night photographers.

Above: Monument Valley, Utah also has camping opportunities

We enjoyed a quick visit to Monument Valley, Utah and we want to go back and spend more time in all the Utah parks. We have flown over Monument Valley going to Salt Lake City, so that was a place we wanted to stop.  We will go back and spend time in Utah.

Above; Goose Island State Park, Rockport, Texas

We also like Goose Island, Texas, outside of Rockport, Texas.  It’s great for spring bird watching.  The wooded campground is very nice.  It’s a good place for bird watching in spring when migration is happening.  Texas is a birders paradise.  Ninety percent of all migratory song birds come through Texas.

South Padre Island is also great for bird watching.  Most of the birds there you would see in the western states.  We are not birders by nature, but our photography is how we identify them.  I take the photo and then look the bird up in the book to see what it was.

Above: Bird photography from Laguna Seca Ranch near Edinburg, Texas

We know some private ranchers near McAllen and Edinburg, Texas who let us park at their ranch.  They have blinds built so we are hidden in a blind in the ground.

Above: Bird photography from Laguna Seca Ranch near Edinburg, Texas

We are at eye level to where the birds land.  They charge a daily fee to photograph there.  You can go even go there if you’re not a photographer.

Above: Bird photography from Laguna Seca Ranch near Edinburg, Texas

Since it’s so dry in south Texas, they’ve built water holes so that the birds will come in.

Above: Palomino 1251 pop-up camper off the truck at Glacier National Park, Montana

TCM: I see that you take your camper off your truck.  Do you do that often?

Eddie: We take it off if we’re going to be somewhere for more than two nights.  The primary reason is, with wildlife photography, we get up before daylight and want to get into a position where we can see wildlife when the sun is just coming up.  It is inconvenient to eat, crank the camper down, and pack up in the dark.  We like the lifestyle of taking it off almost everywhere we stop.

Pat: We can get the camper off and on in under 30 minutes.  It’s very easy to do. If we get the camper where it’s not too far off the ground, it feels comfortable off the truck.

Eddie: We are going to buy aluminum jack stands and put a couple under the center rib of the camper for support.

TCM: Have you made any modifications to your truck or camper?

Pat: Yes, we modified the truck by removing the back seat and adding a platform so we could easily store our camera gear.

We also added a PVC grey water tank to increase our grey water capacity.

We changed the dining area to have a wider seat to make it more comfortable.  We also removed the built-in table and now use a small foldable table that can be stored under the bed.  The folding table can also be used outside the camper.

We added shelves to one of the cabinets to make it easier to store food.  We added hooks to the outside of the cabinets to hang items like jackets.

Above: Bathroom storage in their Palomino pop-up bathroom

We also added a rear camera that we can turn on and off as needed.

TCM: Does anyone travel with you?

Pat: We usually only travel with the two of us.  If we are staying in Texas, we will bring our eight year old Border Collie.  She loves to go camping with us and has her bed in the camper for nights.

A lot of the places we camp it’s not great to have dog with us, so a friend watches her.  For example, with all the wildlife activity in Yellowstone, she would have to stay in the truck.

Above: Amanita Lake Campground, McGregor, British Columbia

TCM: What are your truck camping plans for the future?

Pat: We want to spend several weeks in Utah visiting all the parks there, and we want to spend more time in British Columbia and Alberta.  We have taken two very long trips visiting several different areas and want to now modify our travels to pick out one or two specific areas and spend longer times in those spots.

Eddie: A lot of friends don’t understand how we can stay in a small place and be comfortable.  I sleep better in the camper than at home.  It’s like being in a cocoon.  We are comfortable.

Pat: We’ve been retired for three years.  To not have to fly or stay in hotels makes our vacations so much more enjoyable and relaxing.  I couldn’t think of any other way of doing it.

In 2013 when we were gone six weeks, I made Eddie promise that we would stay in hotels every four or five nights.  This past year we went for five weeks and I wanted to be in the truck camper the whole time.  To camp in quiet places is the best way to travel.

Rig Information
Truck: 2005 Dodge 2500 , Extended Cab, Short Bed, Single Rear Wheel, 4×4, Diesel
Camper: 2013 Palomino Bronco 1251
Tie-Downs and Turnbuckles: Torklift tie-downs, Happijac turnbuckles
Suspension: N/A
Gear: Built a grey water tank and mounted it inside the bed of the truck, the rear seat has been removed and a platform built for storage of camera gear

The post Retired to the Wildlife appeared first on Truck Camper Magazine.

The ultra-light hard side market heats up even hotter with the 2016 Palomino HS-650, a hard side non-slide truck camper targeting half-ton short bed trucks.  What’s this solar port?

Over the past year, the greater truck camper industry got serious about payload matching half-ton trucks.  In the past, “half-ton compatible” often meant, “Technically this camper could match a half-ton truck, if you special ordered the highest capacity half-ton truck currently available, and didn’t load the unit with water, batteries, propane, food, or stuff”.  In other words, these units were half-ton compatible on paper, but not in reality.

Thankfully, this shell game is ending as manufacturers retire these older units and introduce all-new truck camper models designed to hit the weight and center of gravity numbers of real world half-ton trucks.

This doesn’t mean you can run out and match one of these new lighter-weight campers with any old half ton.  That’s not how matching a truck and camper of any size and weight works.  While the new ultra-light hard sides are significantly lighter than their predecessors, you still need to run the numbers outlined in our Newbie Corner article, “Matching A Truck and Camper”.  Always do the math.

The latest example of the ultra-light hard side trend is the all-new 2016 Palomino HS-650, a compelling option for half-ton trucks that’s literally hundreds of pounds lighter than the model it replaces.  Even better, Palomino has included an impressive list of standard features including what we believe is a truck camper industry first; a solar port for portable solar panels.  The Palomino HS-650 may be a light weight, but it clearly has some heavy weight thinking behind it.

To find out more about the 2016 Palomino HS-650 we talked to Pat Hines, Truck Camper Product Manager for Palomino RV.

Palomino HS-650 Specifications

The 2016 Palomino HS-650 is a hard-side, non-slide truck camper for short bed trucks.  The interior floor length of the Palomino HS-650 is 6’5” and the interior height is 6’6”.  Palomino RV is reporting the standard build dry weight of the HS-650 at 1,547 pounds.

The 2016 Palomino HS-650 has a 15 gallon fresh tank, porta-potti storage, and no grey tank.  The camper accommodates one battery and one vertical twenty-pound propane tank.  The MSRP for a standard build Palomino HS-650 is $16,300.

Above: A computer rendering of the 2016 Palomino HS-650 on a short bed Chevy truck

All renderings and photography were supplied by Palomino RV.

TCM: Does the new 2016 Palomino HS-650 replace any older models in the Palomino truck camper line?

Pat: The HS-650 replaces the HS-800.  The outgoing HS-800 was our half-ton targeted camper, but it was really not half-ton compatible.  At about 2,000 pounds dry, the HS-800 was only acceptable for a few late-model half-tons.

We wanted a camper to be truly half-ton compatible.  Our truck target was 5 to 6.5-foot short bed trucks.  The target weight of the camper was in the 1,500 to 1,600 pound range.  The final unit is compatible with 5-foot beds, and weighs 1,540 pounds dry.

Above: A computer rendering of the 2016 Palomino HS-650 interior

TCM: That’s an impressive weight.  Is that a base model stripped of features?

Pat: The 1,540 weight includes almost everything as standard including a water heater, exterior shower, interior sink, two burner range, 5-cubic foot refrigerator, some nice storage, a U-shaped dinette, queen size bed, porta-potti storage, Fantastic Fan, and an AM/FM, CD, DVD, USB, and Bluetooth-equipped stereo system.  All Palominos have pretty much everything standard now.

Above: An AM/FM, CD, DVD, USB, and Bluetooth-equipped stereo system is standard

The only options on the HS-650 are a 19-inch LED television, electric jacks, an entry step system, air conditioner, and rear awning.

TCM: Why did Palomino decide on an east-west cabover?

Pat: That was a weight and center of gravity decision.  Had we gone with a north-south cabover, the center of gravity would have been too far forward for a 1,540-pound camper with a 6-foot 5-inch floor.

Selecting a east-west cabover moved the center of gravity back to where it should be.  The east-west bed is queen-size; 60-inches by 80-inches.

TCM: Why was it a problem for the center of gravity to be too far forward?  Usually manufacturers are trying to get their center of gravity as far forward as possible.

Pat: If the center of gravity is too far forward on a light weight truck camper, the unit could potentially tip if demounted off the truck.  Having the center of gravity further back keeps the unit steady on its jacks.  There’s definitely a fine line between light weight, center of gravity, and tipping over.

TCM: What is the center of gravity for the HS-650?

Pat: The HS-650’s center of gravity is 29.5-inches from the front wall of the camper.

Above: A porta-potti will fit in this storage compartment

TCM: Why was the decision made to not include a bathroom?

Pat: Once again, that was a weight decision.  To keep the HS-650 weight and center of gravity compatible with the widest possible number of short bed trucks, we did not include a bathroom.

Above: Exterior showers are standard in the Palomino HS-650

The HS-650 offers ample storage for a porta-potti, and an exterior shower is standard.

Above: The 2016 Palomino HS-650 features a fully-laminated barrel roof

TCM: Palomino has used a barrel roof – a unique feature of Palomino truck campers – in the design for the HS-650.  If weight is a priority, wouldn’t a traditional straight roof have saved some weight from this unit?

Pat: As you can see in the photography, the HS-650 features our full-laminated barrel roof giving the camper 3-4 inches of additional headroom.  The barrel roof is standard on all of our Palomino truck campers and really opens up the cabover.

Due to our lamination process, the weight difference between our barrel roof and a straight roof is minimal.  The benefits of interior height outweighs the minimal weight difference.

TCM: Is the barrel roof on the HS-650 a full walk-on roof?

Pat: Yes, the HS-650 has a full walk-on roof.  It’s very important to be able to walk on your camper roof to inspect for damage, check the seals, and remove snow or debris.  Our customers also like the ability to mount a storage pod or kayaks on the roof.  For this reason, every hard side Palomino truck camper has a full walk-on roof.  You and ten of your friends can walk on our barrel roofs.

Above: The fresh water tank is under the step up to the cabover

TCM: The HS-650 has a 15 gallon fresh water tank and a kitchen sink, but no grey water tank.  What is the recommended way to handle grey water with the HS-650?

Pat: Not having a grey tank was another weight decision.  The owner of the HS-650 can handle grey water the same way our soft side camper owners do.  We provide an exterior grey water drain where you can attach a hose that goes into a bucket.  You can also attach a blue buddy and then dump it at a dump station.
We carefully considered adding a grey tank, but it adds too much weight.  Plus, with the HS-650 being a non-basement model, there’s not a lot of real estate to put a grey water tank.

Above: To reduce weight, bungee material is used instead of wood cabinet doors

TCM: After the first prototype was completed, were there any adjustments made to the design of the camper to make it production ready?

Pat: We made a handful of minor changes.  As prototype was being made, we spent a lot of time inside the camper at numerous stages.  We made changes during the prototype process.  The production manager, Rob Foster, myself, and the sales team all had input.  By the time the prototype was finished, it was ready for production.

Above: Another example of bungee material being used instead of cabinet doors

TCM: Can you give us an example of the changes you made during the prototype build?

Pat: During the process, we decided to make the cabinet faces out of bungee material instead of having cabinet doors.  By making that change, we were able to eliminate 20 to 30 pounds.  That’s considerable when you’re targeting 1,500-1,600 pounds.

Above: The U-shaped dinette converts into a bed

We also made a front facing U-shaped dinette in the main seating area.  That seating area will accommodate three to four adults comfortably.  A step-up into the bed was integrated into the dinette for easier cabover entry and exit.

TCM: The front dinette is unique in the Palomino truck camper line.

Pat: This has been the first front dinette camper that we have built here at Palomino, at least that I can remember.  We decided on the front dinette to move the center of gravity.  Usually, the refrigerator and stove are in front for center of gravity, but we needed it in the back to bring the center of gravity back.  Plus, the front dinette really opens up the main living area.

TCM: Tell us about the framing material, lamination, and other construction details.

Pat: The Palomino HS-650 is built same way as other Palomino truck campers.  We didn’t reinvent the wheel.  The HS-650 features vacuum bonded lamination and is wood framed.

Above: The kitchen features a two-burner range top and single bowl sink

TCM: Tell us about the cabinetry, counter tops, and fabrics in the Palomino HS-650.

Pat: We used the same materials that we use for all Palomino truck campers.  This goes back to our KISS (keep it simple stupid) production theory that enables us to sell an extremely affordable camper using the same construction materials and appliances across all of our production units.

Above: The 5-cubic foot 2-way refrigerator-freezer combo unit

TCM: Did you select appliances for the HS-650 based on weight considerations?

Pat: Yes, we did.  First, we eliminated the microwave.  A microwave is standard on our other hard side truck campers, but we needed to delete the microwave on the HS-650 to save weight and provide extra room for storage!

For the refrigerator, we opted for a 5-cubic foot 2-way refrigerator-freezer combo unit.  That also saved weight while offering the right amount of food storage for a unit this size.

Above: Single pane frameless windows and Rieco-Titan manual jacks are standard

TCM: What type of windows are standard?

Pat: Single pane frameless windows.  The frameless windows give the HS-650 a modern aesthetic and weigh about the same as the outgoing framed windows.  Thermal pane windows are not available.

Above: The vented battery box allows for a single Group 24 battery

TCM: How many batteries does the Palomino HS-650 have, and where are they located?

Pat: One Group 24 battery will fit in the vented case under the cabover transition step.  There is room for two batteries, but we provide the one case.

Above: The exterior battery charge port means you don’t need to remove the batteries for trickle charging

An exterior battery charge port is standard on the HS-650, as is a battery disconnect.  These two features allow the owner to keep the batteries in the HS-650 charged without removing them.  The battery disconnect is located just inside the rear door.

Above: Solar ports are a new Palomino feature for 2016.  Solar ports allow the owner to connect up to a 90-watt portable solar panel

For 2016, we are introducing solar ports.  Solar ports allow the owner to connect a portable solar panel up to 90 watts.  The solar ports and solar port pre-wiring are included as standard giving every Palomino truck camper owner the option to use a portable solar panel.

Above: The HS-650 comes with one vertical 20-pound propane tank

TCM: That’s a fantastic idea.  Portable solar panels can be quickly placed and angled for the best sunlight, and moved to charge boat and other towed toy batteries.  In many ways, portable solar panels are more practical than roof-mounted solar panels.  What are the propane tank sizes in the HS-650?

Pat: A single vertical 20-pound propane tank is located at the rear of the driver’s side of the camper.  You can exchange 20-pound vertical tanks any of the thousands of exchangeable propane vendors across the United States and Canada.

TCM: Does the HS-650 offer hot water heater access, hot water heater bypass, and low water drain for winterization?

Pat: We include all of those convenience features as standard including a water heater bypass and easily accessible low point drains.  The HS-650 has everything you need to properly winterize.

TCM: Can you get an air conditioner with the HS-650?

Pat: The optional air conditioner is a Dometic 11,000 BTU unit.  The Dometic runs off a Honda EU2000i portable generator.

Above: For maximum short bed length compatibility, the 2016 Palomino HS-650 does not feature a bumper.  Torklift International GlowSteps are a factory option.

TCM: Tell us about the standard bumper and entry step system for the 2016 Palomino HS-650.

Pat: There is no bumper on the HS-650, but Torklift International GlowSteps are available through Palomino.  The GlowSteps are a factory available option that most dealers order.

TCM: What does the 2016 Palomino HS-650 weigh with standard build features?

Pat: A standard build camper is 1,547 pounds.  Standard build includes everything except our five options; 19-inch LED television, electric jacks, an entry step system, air conditioner, and rear awning.  All together, those six options would add about 350 pounds to the unit (1,890 pounds dry).

TCM: Is the center of gravity marked on the side of the camper?

Pat: Palomino is still not marking center of gravity.  Center of gravity changes as you add options and your stuff, so we don’t mark it on the production line.

We do measure center of gravity by rolling a bar under a production unit.  We are also now putting that center of gravity information in our brochures.

TCM: That’s an excellent step in the right direction.  And you’re right about center of gravity moving depending on added options, holding tank levels, and cargo, but we still encourage Palomino to mark the dry weight center of gravity.  How does Palomino weigh their truck campers?

Pat: We have certified scales that we use for our travel trailers.  A tractor driver at Palomino uses what we call a “miracle cart” to slide under a truck camper and bring it to our certified scales.  Then we subtract the weight of the miracle cart to get the camper’s weight.

TCM: What is the MSRP for the 2016 Palomino HS-650 with standard build features?

Pat: Before options, the MSRP is $16,300.

TCM: That’s a very aggressive price.

Pat: Palomino RV is a division of Forest River, itself owned by Berkshire Hathaway.  Forest River’s buying power and scale of production drives down Palominos material and appliance costs beyond what any other truck camper manufacturer can achieve.

With Palomino, you’re also not paying a premium for the brand sticker on the unit.  You get all the material, appliance, and production quality and none of the low-volume, high-brand fees.  In fact, many of our materials and appliances are better than our more-expensive competition.

We also now have an automotive-style shine bay for final-finishing quality control and have put in extra quality control processes throughout the production line.

We put out a fantastic product, and will continue to improve on a daily basis.  Our campers are shipping to dealers ready to go.  For our dealers and customers, our quality offers piece of mind.

Finally, Palomino now has a dedicated Truck Camper Product Manager – yours truly.  My responsibility is to keep a pulse on the truck camper community, to see what other manufacturers are doing, and to stay on the cutting edge.

Above: A 2016 Palomino HS-650 at the end of the assembly line

TCM: We are looking forward to seeing the shine bay in action.  What is the warranty for the 2016 Palomino HS-650?

Pat: Palomino RV offers a one year bumper-to-bumper warranty.  All components have their own manufacturer warranties.

TCM: When will the 2016 Palomino HS-650 be available?

Pat: It is arriving on dealer lots now and we are in full scale production.

TCM: Any other news from Palomino?

Pat: We’ve got a lot of stuff on the drawing board and some prototype ideas.  We’re thinking about a long bed version of the HS-650.  We’re working on a prototype that could possibly replace the 6601.  It will be lightweight with a wet bath, and will probably be good for three-quarter ton.  There will also be a brand new soft side and some nicer revisions to existing floor plans for 2017.  Stay tuned!

For more information on the HS-650, visit Palomino’s website at www.palominorv.com.

The post TCM EXCLUSIVE: 2016 Palomino HS-650 appeared first on Truck Camper Magazine.

Truck Camper Magazine reviews a 2016 Palomino SS-550, a pop-up, north-south cabover truck camper targeting super short bed, four-door, half-ton trucks.  Debuted as an all-new design with Palomino’s sweeping pop-up update, does the SS-550 measure up?

Palomino debuted the SS-550 in Truck Camper Magazine on January 3rd, 2014.  The SS-550 was the first all-new Palomino pop-up to incorporate the sweeping build quality and feature upgrades the manufacturer introduced for that year.  The significant construction improvements included a lower-profile one-piece vacuum bonded roof, one-piece seamless vacuum bonded sidewalls, and a 55-inch one-piece entry door.

Another significant advancement was made with the all-new Rieco-Titan electric remote roof lift system, a revolutionary new product designed and tested in concert with the development of the Palomino SS-550. In fact, the Rieco-Titan electric roof lift system was featured in Truck Camper Magazine on the very same day as the SS-550 debut.

Finally, Palomino produced a list of further enhancements to complete their 2014 pop-up transformation including Line-X coating the camper’s underbody, an improved heavy duty vinyl soft-wall with tighter tolerances, a new power port for battery trickle charging, a new power cord with LED indicator, standard battery disconnect, and all-LED lighting. In essence, Palomino reinvented its already popular line of pop-up truck campers for the 2014 model year.

These upgrades alone would have made the SS-550 a compelling new addition to the Palomino pop-up line, but the design team didn’t stop there. Starting with a clean slate, the team developed Palomino’s first north-south pop-up cabover and the first small Palomino pop-up model with a water heater and an outside shower.

When we interviewed Pat Hines, Truck Camper Product Manager for Palomino RV, about the SS-550, he was particularly excited and proud of the new SS-550. As Pat explained, “The SS-550 isn’t really like anything else in our line.  From layout, to design, to the round versus rectangular table, the 2014 Palomino SS-550 is unique.”

For this review we poured over a 2016 Palomino SS-550 at D&H RV Center in Apex, North Carolina. Review hats affixed, we closely inspected the unit and thought carefully about how this floor plan and its feature set would work in real life truck camping situations. If it doesn’t add up to a great truck camping product, all the inspired changes and upgrades don’t matter. Let’s get started.

The Palomino SS-550: Type One, or Type Two?

For our personal truck camping, we prefer a non-slide hard side truck camper. That stated, we have enjoyed many adventures in pop-up truck campers and fully understand the inherent advantages of a pop-up design; lower wind-resistance, lower weight, lower center of gravity, better fuel economy, better off-road performance, and more overall versatility. If we could have a Jay Leno style truck camper garage, there would be at least a half dozen pop-up truck camper rigs on tap and ready to rock. Wouldn’t that be fun?

Above: 2016 Palomino pop-up truck campers in lower-profile travel position (left) and ready to camp (right)

To get a grip on the SS-550 design and purpose, it’s important to understand the two types of pop-up truck campers. Type one, the more traditional pop-up, features a basic dinette, simple kitchenette, propane heat, and an east-west cabover bed. Type one pop-up campers generally appeal to folks looking to step-up from tenting on the ground, have a minimum of camping luxuries (propane heat, fresh water tank, inside seating, and privacy), and travel further off-road.

Type two, a more modern invention, starts with the type one concept and adds a separate bathroom and toilet and increases the size and feature set to be more in line with non-slide hard side truck campers. When you see a pop-up truck camper with a bathroom or a north-south cabover, you’re generally looking at a modern type two design.

Without a bathroom and featuring a north-south cabover, the 2016 Palomino SS-550 is a compelling hybrid of these two pop-up truck camper types. Not having a bathroom will still be a deal breaker for most type two pop-up camper customers, but the traditional type one pop-up buyer will likely be tempted by the type two-style extended cabover, luxury materials, and generous standard feature set of the SS-550.

Floor Plan Evaluation

For the floor plan evaluation, we will start at the rear entry door and work our way forward.

Immediately inside the entry door and underneath the dinette is the standard battery disconnect, Rieco-Titan roof lift system switches, the Rieco-Titan jack activation switch, and two large under seat storage compartments.  Having the battery disconnect and the Rieco-Titan switches right at the back door is absolutely perfect.

Above: Rieco-Titan electric jacks are an option on the Palomino SS-550

Stepping into the camper and turning to the passenger’s side, the U-shape dinette and round table presents an attractive seating opportunity with just enough leg and feet room for three adults. The placement and position of the table makes entering and exiting the dinette relatively easy, and the wall-mounted back cushions make the seating fairly comfortable.

As a single post table, the table top could be more stable, and some may wish for more surface area for cups, plates, food, laptops, etc. We would also love the option of a more traditional rectangular table that would attach to the side wall for increased stability and offer more eating and working space. Most folks using this camper will be singles and couples anyway, so why not offer a booth-style table option?

Turning the dinette into a bed requires removing the table top, removing the table leg, installing the included plywood bed piece, and arranging the cushions as a bed.

The first time we did this, the process took less than a minute. The table top and leg can be stored under the cabover bed – if you haven’t already filled that space with your stuff. Otherwise, the table top and leg could be placed on the floor for the night.

If the person sleeping in the dinette bed is tall, they will likely need to lie towards the rear wall and stretch their lower leg and feet into the narrow strip next to the central wardrobe (see above photo). Anyone who will be using this lower bed for tall adults may want to audition this sleeping position prior to purchase.

Above the dinette is a two-door storage cabinet, AM/FM CD stereo system with speakers, and a LED light.

Having the stereo and LED light within reach of the dinette and kitchen area makes sense.

The forward dinette also features the thermostat, 12-volt outlet, coax connection, and a 110-volt outlet. Having the outlets in a mid-camper location is excellent for charging cell phones and devices and plugging in laptops while on shore power. The only thing missing here is a USB outlet.

These outlets are installed into a passenger’s side lower cabinet. This cabinet has two storage areas and offers a table top.

Not only does the SS-550 have an impressive amount of storage areas, but the storage areas come in a multitude of sizes and shapes.

Across from the dinette is a straight kitchen with a single bowl porcelain sink, two-burner propane cooktop, three cubic foot three-way refrigerator, and a surprising amount of upper and lower cabinet storage opportunities.

At first blush the counter space is minimal, but the space to the left and right of the sink is just right for washing a small amount of dishes or preparing simple meals. One can also use the elevated table top space over the refrigerator.

Unless you plan to host parties of eight, or insist on complex gourmet meal preparations on the road, the countertop, sink, and cooktop are well proportioned for a short bed pop-up truck camper.

The lower kitchen cabinetry includes six shallow cabinet areas for pantry-style food storage, and one deeper cabinet for larger items. The shallow pantry shelves are a smart and an efficient use of space. I wish we had these in our camper.

The face of the lower cabinetry contains the water pump, water heater switch, a 110-volt outlet, and the heater. Having the water pump and water heater switch in this location is excellent for meal prep and washing dishes. An owner will need to be careful not to allow water to drip down to the 110-volt outlet (from the sink above), or food to spill into the heater heater (from the cooktop above).

Above: The bright LED light under the upper kitchen cabinet is perfectly located.

The upper kitchen cabinetry offers to medium-sized cabinets and – just to the right – a smaller netted storage cabinet. The front of the medium-sized upper cabinets is one third door, one third blocked, and one third door. It would benefit the customer to have either one more door in the center, or two wider doors to give better access and visibility to the middle storage area.

The central location of the standard three cubic foot three-way Dometic refrigerator could not be more convenient when preparing meals or sitting in the dinette.

The size of the refrigerator is generous for a short bed pop-up camper and plenty for two people getting away for a long weekend.

The north-south cabover bedroom in the 2016 Palomino SS-550 is all about comfort, storage, and simplicity. The north-south bed means you don’t have to climb over your spouse to get out of bed. It’s bad enough that she puts up with your snoring, grumpy behavior, and belief that not showering for three days doesn’t make you stink. With the north-south bed, you can at least let her sleep.

 
On either side of the 60 by 80-inch queen-size bed are large two-door hampers; excellent for day-to-day clothing storage. In our camper, storage equality – having the same amount of storage opportunities on both sides of the bed – is very important. By putting exactly the same large hampers on both sides of the bed, Palomino has avoided this potential marital disharmony.

Looking closer, I would prefer the hamper openings and doors to be significantly larger, especially since the available storage area is exceptionally deep and wide. Speaking from experience, it’s good to open a cabover hamper and quickly see that you have ample socks, underpants, and T-shirts ready to go. With the SS-550 set-up, some of these items could hide under the cabinet face.

But wait… there’s more! The queen size bed lifts up with the help of a gas strut to reveal a huge under bed storage area. This is when hard side truck camper owners say, “Hey, that’s not fair! We want that too!”

The under bed storage is begging for more clothing items, camping gear, and even food items. Unless you might need it when someone is in the bed, why not store it in this location? The single gas strut makes lifting and lowering the bed a cinch. Love it!

Immediately under the lift handle for the bed is a two door drop-down storage nook. The central location of the cabinets makes them extremely versatile. In fact, I couldn’t help but be impressed and impressed again with the quantity and quality of the storage in the SS-550.

Specifications

Palomino RV weighs units at the factory, but does not weight each truck camper as it leaves the production line. That said, they do have scales at the factory and a team that pulls and weighs units on a semi-regular basis. As a magazine, we encourage Palomino RV to weigh and mark every truck camper with its exact weight and center of gravity.

Palomino reports the dry weight of the 2016 Palomino SS-550 at 1,580 pounds. This represents a base camper without options. If you want a Palomino SS-550 at this dry weight, you may need to special order the unit from a Palomino dealer.

Above: The floor length of the SS-550 is 6’9″

The 6’9” floor length of the SS-550 is shortest pop-up floor length Palomino offers. Only the east-west Palomino SS-800 has the same floor length and a slightly lower weight. The short floor length and lower weight formula is what makes the SS-550 and SS-800 potentially well suited for short bed half-ton trucks.

Above: The width of the SS-550 is 7’2”

The 7’2” width of the SS-550 is the same as Palomino’s larger pop-up floor plans helping it look and feel like a full-size truck camper inside. At 6’9”, the SS-550 interior height with the pop-up in the raised position is also the same as Palomino’s larger pop-up campers, and full-size.

The low weight of the unit, shorter floor length, and extended north-south cabover put the center of gravity at 22-inches. This is a dream for matching the SS-550 to a truck and, if properly payload matched, having the resulting rig handle well.

Capacities

The Palomino SS-550 has a 16 gallon fresh tank and a 6-gallon water heater. As the camper does not have a toilet, shower, or bathroom, the only draw on this fresh water supply will be the kitchen sink, and the exterior shower.

Above: The exterior amenities are mainly on the driver’s side; water heater, power port, cable television connection, 110-volt outlet, city water, and exterior shower.

From that perspective, 16 gallons of fresh water with a 6-gallon water heater is more than enough fresh water unless you take extended outside showers, or have some other need for fresh water (watering horses, washing surf boards, etc.). Someone who wanted to travel and camp off-the-grid for extended periods of time might also appreciate this ample water supply.

Above: The cabinet under the dinette seating that may fit a small porta-potti

The SS-550 does not have a toilet so there’s no black tank. If you’re considering this camper, you will either need to bring a porta-potti, use campground toilets, or water the trees. The under dinette storage cabinets are designed to fit a porta-potti but I would try fitting your preferred porta-potti model in this location before purchasing the unit.

It should be no surprise that a short bed pop-up truck camper targeting half-ton trucks has provisions for a single battery and a single vertical 20-pound propane tank. When you’re designing a camper to a low weight target, adding another 50-plus pound battery and a 37 pound propane tank (tank weight plus 20 pounds of propane) is not on the menu.

With all-LED lighting, the single battery (located under the front cabover step in a sealed box) is certainly sufficient for the SS-550. The only caveat would be if you regularly camp in cold weather and need to run the furnace over night, or have other power requirements (inverter use for coffee makers, hair dryers, etc.).

In that case, you may want to consider a 100-watt solar panel (or more), and/or a second battery with a Torklift International Hidden Power under your truck, and/or a portable generator. No matter what, I’d recommend adding the 100-watt solar panel.

The single 20-pound vertical propane tank is excellent for exchanging at WalMart, Home Depot, or any number of box stores, gas stations, and grocery stores coast-to-coast. This single tank feeds the propane heater, refrigerator, cook top, and water heater and presents the chance to unexpectedly run out of propane in the middle of a camping trip. To avoid this, pay attention to your propane level, and fill or exchange the single tank before it runs dry.

Wet Weight Calculation

Using the standardized Truck Camper Magazine wet weight calculation, let’s run the wet weight on the 2016 Palomino SS-550.

Base Dry Weight – special factory order only

Palomino SS-550: dry weight, 1,580 pounds + 16 gallons fresh, 133.4 pounds + 6 gallon water heater, 50 pounds + 20 pound full propane tank, 20 pounds + battery, 65 pounds + stuff, 500 pounds = 2,348.4 pounds

Standard Build Options – most dealer orders

The only available options for the 2016 Palomino SS-550 are an air conditioner, high-gloss exterior fiberglass, entry step system, microwave, and a wireless key fob remote for the Rieco-Titan roof lift. That’s it.

As such, many SS-550 models will be ordered by dealers fully-loaded adding approximately 120 pounds to the unit. Adding 120 pounds to the 1,580 dry weight of the SS-550 puts the weight of the SS-550 at 1,700 pounds. Using this weight, let’s run the numbers again.

Palomino SS-550: dry weight, 1,700 pounds + 16 gallons fresh, 133.4 pounds + 6 gallon water heater, 50 pounds + 20 pound full propane tank, 20 pounds + battery, 65 pounds + stuff, 500 pounds = 2,468.4

Truck Recommendations

The wet weight calculations above include 500 pounds of stuff weight from Truck Camper Magazine’s standard weight weight calculation. This weight represents the gear, food, and clothing cargo we all bring to go camping – minimalist starving nudist campers excluded.

The 500 pounds of stuff weight is likely to be too high for short bed pop-up like the SS-550. To be fair, and yet still conservative, we are going to limit the stuff weight to 250 pounds for the following truck recommendations. This puts the base wet weight of the SS-550 at 2,098.4 pounds and the standard build wet weight (fully loaded) at 2,218.4 pounds.

Most typical half-ton trucks – the ones that you find on dealer lots and in most driveways – have less than 1,500 pounds of payload. Even the aluminum-bodied 2016 Ford F150 usually tops out around 1,800 pounds of payload if it’s not properly ordered to maximize payload. Many aluminum-bodied F150s actually hover around 1,500 pounds of payload. We have seen dozens of these trucks on Ford lots and not one has exceeded 1,800 pounds of payload on the door.

As the industry throws more darts at my already hole-y portrait (I felt that) there is a way forward. 2016 half-ton trucks with 2,500 pounds of payload are available, but you have to special order them. This is as simple as going to your local truck dealer and asking them to spec-out a half-ton with the most possible payload. A few minutes later you’ll be on your way to honest-to-goodness payload match making. Best of all, special ordering lets you pick the color along with every other facet of your soon to be perfect truck camping truck.

For our most serious recommendation, we suggest you purchase a three-quarter or one-ton truck so you can upgrade to an even bigger truck camper down the road, or have the option to safely tow horses, boats, snow machines, sail planes, or whatever your heart desires. Save your future self a lot of money and buy the biggest most payload capable truck you can.

The Verdict

Often viewed strictly as an entry-level and value-oriented brand, Palomino pop-ups have struggled over the years to get traction and respect from the core truck camper marketplace. In short, Palomino was the brand that people turned to for cheap truck campers, used for weekend hunting and fishing trips, and with minimal expectation for product quality or longevity.

Well, that tired old stigma needs to be thrown out, right now. In concert with their vacuum bonded sidewalls and roof construction, Palomino made a remarkably competitive advance with their 2014 pop-up redesign. For the past two years, Palomino pop-up truck campers have no longer just been entry-level units, but campers ready to compare feature-for-feature, quality-for-quality, with any RV manufacturer on the market. To be clear, we found no significant quality control issues on the SS-550 under review. Not one.

That doesn’t mean the Palomino SS-550 is perfect. The unit under review had a few signs of a camper that was built by a production line eager to move units out the door. Specifically, there were a handful of seams that didn’t quite line up and materials that could have been more carefully handled and placed. Maybe had the production line slowed just a little, these items could be given a touch more attention sending Palomino campers into an even higher quality category. Then again, slowing down may also increase their prices. Always trade offs.

For the pop-up truck camper buyer who doesn’t need a bathroom and wants to match his camper with a half-ton, short bed, four door truck, the Palomino SS-550 should be on his must-see list. There are more luxurious, more refined, and lighter weight pop-up models on the market, but few offer a better value than the SS-550.

Pros
Half-ton compatible if carefully matched
One-piece vacuum bonded side walls and roof
North-South cabover for storage and easy entry/exit
Push-button electric roof lift by Rieco-Titan
Dinette easily converts into a nearly 7-foot bed
Excellent number and variety of storage opportunities

Cons
No bathroom, toilet, or shower – porta-potti is optional
Single post dinette table could be more stable
110 outlet and heater could get splashed under countertop
Cabover hamper openings and doors could be bigger
Single battery and propane tank require conservation
Some seams and materials could be lined up better

Model Information
2016 Palomino SS-550
MSRP: $12,578
Warranty: One year bumper-to-bumper. Individual appliances have their own warranties.

Phone: 269-432-3271
Contact Palomino RV about the 2016 Palomino SS-550
Web: www.palominorv.com

The post 2016 Palomino SS-550 Review appeared first on Truck Camper Magazine.

Palomino pushes the lightweight envelope with an all-new pop-up, non-bath truck camper specifically designed for compact trucks.

When it comes to the collective attitude of the pop-up truck camper marketplace, the consumers say, “Hey industry, lighten up the campers already.”  It’s not that the pop-up folks don’t appreciate a little luxury, but keeping the weight down is generally their number one priority.  Weight, weight, or forget it.

Making things even more challenging for the truck camper design teams, the pop-up consumers also want as little truck as possible.  For many, compact trucks like the all-new for 2016 Chevrolet Colorado and GMC Canyon, the all-new for 2017 Honda Ridgeline, the ever-popular and recently redesigned Toyota Tacoma, and the Nissan Frontier are all they want.

Adding fuel to this compact truck fire are the rumored return of the Ford Ranger in 2018 and a Jeep Wrangler-based pickup also due that year.  Other companies are toying with entering or re-entering the compact truck market include Ram, Hyundai, and even Mercedes-Benz.  Things could get real interesting in the compact truck segment very soon.

Since size and payload is sacrificed at the compact truck alter, the truck camper industry has been forced to scale-down, miniaturize, and otherwise think big about going small.  Fortunately, the truck camper industry has already gone through much of this process as it developed half-ton compatible campers like the Palomino HS-650 hard side introduced earlier this year, and the SS-550 pop-up introduced in 2014.

Putting this all together, Palomino is introducing the 2017 Palomino SS-500, an impressively appointed pop-up truck camper for compact trucks.  It’s been light-weighted to an extreme, with some luxury features added back for comfort.  A refrigerator, sink, cooktop, face-to-face dinette, and a north-south bed on the back of a Canyon or Tacoma?  That’s impressive.

What will be more impressive will be properly matching this camper to a compact truck.  That calculation will have to be saved for a future review.  In the mean time, we are intrigued with Palomino’s new offering, and the aggressive dry weight they are reporting.

To find out more about the 2017 Palomino SS-500, we talked to Pat Hines, Truck Camper Product Manager for Palomino RV.

2017 Palomino SS-500 Specifications:

The 2017 Palomino SS-500 is a pop-up truck camper made for compact  trucks.  The interior floor length of the 2017 Palomino SS-500 is 6’0”, the interior height is 7’0” and the center of gravity is 19”.  The 2017 Palomino SS-500 has a 16 gallon fresh tank, an optional 6 gallon hot water heater, and no grey or black tank.  It can accommodate one battery and has one twenty-pound propane tank.  Palomino RV is reporting the base weight of the Palomino SS-500 to be 1,299 pounds.  The base MSRP for the 2017 Palomino SS-500 is $11,712.

Above: The SS-500 with Palomino’s new 2017 exterior graphics

TCM: Palomino already has a pop-up truck camper that’s compatible with the compact truck market, the SS-600.  What does the new SS-500 offer the compact truck market that the SS-600 does not?

Pat: A few years ago we redesigned our SS-600 to fit compact trucks, but it was still too heavy, too tall, and it didn’t look right when mounted on some compact truck models.  With the SS-600, we were missing the mark for compact trucks, an increasingly important segment of the truck camper marketplace.

The SS-500 has been designed from the ground up to properly fit and payload match the most popular compact trucks.  We get a lot of dealer phone calls and asking about for Toyota Tacoma, Chevy Colorado, and GMC Canyon.  We believe there’s a large market for these compact trucks, and are excited to finally offer a proper pop-up camper for this segment.

TCM: How did you set the design parameters for the SS-500?

Pat: We went out and measured every compact truck and set the specifications for SS-500 around those measurements.  The SS-500 will fit a Tacoma, Colorado, Canyon, and essentially every compact truck currently available.

Beyond the fit, weight was also a significant concern for the SS-500.  To accommodate the payload capacity of the most compact trucks, the SS-500 needed to be under 1,300 pounds dry.  We met that goal.

Another design parameter of the SS-500 was to offer a water heater.  Our SS-600 and SS-800 pop-up models lack a water heater, a limiting factor for those units.  The SS-500 has an optional water heater.  We actually designed the SS-500 around the compact truck measurements and the water heater.  People want a hot water heater for washing their hands and dishes in the kitchen sink, and for the standard optional exterior shower.

Above: The SS-500 is 6-foot 4-inches wide to accommodate compact trucks

TCM: At 6-foot 4-inches wide, the SS-500 is a full 10-inches narrower than the rest of Palomino’s pop-up truck camper line.  Why build the SS-500 that narrow?

Pat: Compared to full-size trucks, compact trucks require a significantly narrower width.  Our extensive compact truck measurements told us the exact dimensions the SS-500 needed to be for maximum compact truck compatibility.

TCM: Does the SS-500 fit the various short bed lengths compact trucks offer?

Pat: Yes, the SS-500 is designed for 5-foot, 5.5-foot, and 6-foot short beds.  The exterior floor length is 6.5-feet.  Despite its smaller dimensions, it’s a very comfortable truck camper inside.

Above: One change from the camper above will be that the taillights will be notched out, like Palomino’s SS-1200 and SS-500 models

TCM: Have any changes been made to the SS-500 since completing the first prototype?

Pat: The SS-500 we debuted at the Elkhart Open House was the first prototype.  With dealer feedback from that Open House, we are making a few changes to reduce weight and make the unit even more appealing to customers.

The back wall on the prototype was a full back wall with taillights built-in.  To save weight, we are going to notch out the back wall like our SS-1200 and SS-550 models.  The SS-500 doesn’t need the back wall and taillights as the truck taillights will be fully visible when mounted.  That change will save a lot of weight from the unit.

We also changed the water heater from standard to optional.  Dealers suggested that not everyone wants a water heater, or the weight and cost they add to the unit.  Finally, there’s a short list of minor cosmetic improvements we want to make before the SS-500 is production ready.

Above: The Palomino SS-500 features the Rieco-Titan electric roof lift system

TCM: Is the SS-500 built the same way, with the same materials as the rest of Palomino’s pop-up truck camper line?

Pat: Yes, the Palomino SS-500 is built the same as our other pop-up campers.  The SS-500 is wood framed to save weight, vacuum bonded for strength, and features our one-piece front-to-back laminated and crowned roof.

Of course the SS-500 also comes standard with our electric Rieco-Titan roof lift, an extremely popular feature of Palomino pop-up truck campers.  For 2017, the Rieco-Titan lift has an on-off switch and the optional remote key fob has been updated.  It’s also a little smaller, neater, and user friendly.  The Rieco-Titan lift has been a huge success for us.

Overall, we believe Palomino has the best made, most fully-featured, and highest-value pop-up truck campers in the marketplace.  No one can touch the bang for the buck that Palomino offers.

Above: European flush mount sink and two-burner range in the Palomino SS-500

TCM: Are there any appliance or material differences between the SS-500 and the rest of the Palomino pop-up line?

Pat: The SS-500 has a European glass top range and a European sink with folding faucet.

As flush-top appliances, the range and sink give the SS-500 more counter space, a very important feature in a camper like the SS-500.

Above: The Palomino SS-500 has a north-south cabover bed

TCM: Why did you decide to make the SS-500 with a North-South bed rather than a weight saving and length shortening East-West bed?

Pat: We did a lot of homework when designing the SS-500.  One of the things we discovered is that most of the compact trucks are sold as extended and quad cabs.  More often than not, compact trucks are quad cabs.

Not only does a North-South bed orientation better fit and balance a quad cab truck, but most of our customers prefer North-South cabovers.  With a North-South cabover, you’re not climbing over your significant other to get out of bed.  You can enter and exit the cabover directly.

To offset the weight of the North-South design, we placed some of the heavier appliances and features towards to back of the camper.  That’s why the standard refrigerator, 20-pound propane tank, and optional hot water heater are located toward the rear of the unit.

Above: 2017 Palominos have dark walnut cabinets and new countertops

TCM: Tell us about the cabinetry and counter tops in the Palomino SS-500.

Pat: For 2017, Palomino has debuted a darker walnut cabinetry.  We also updated the floors, countertops, and fabrics for 2017.

Above: Palomino is also debuting new floor and fabrics for 2017, note the 2-cubic foot refrigerator

For cost, efficiency, and quality, Palomino uses one interior for everything we produce including all of our truck campers and travel trailers.  As I like to say, we use the KISS method of interior design; Keep It Simple Stupid.  For Palomino, one interior fits all.

Above: The 16 gallon fresh water capacity is only used for the kitchen sink

TCM: What size are the holding tanks in the SS-500, and why did you make them that size?

Pat: There is a 16 gallon fresh water in the SS-500, and no grey tank or black tank.  The fresh tanks in most of our pop-up truck campers are 16-gallons, again for efficiency and cost.  We standardize everything we can for production.  That’s how we are able to build the highest quality for the lowest price.

As is the standard in the pop-up marketplace, none of our pop-up truck campers have grey tanks.  Grey water from the SS-500 is collected outside the unit in a portable container.  The only grey water from the SS-500 is coming from the kitchen sink.

Above: The Palomino SS-500 has one vertical 20-pound propane tank

TCM: You’re right that most pop-up truck campers don’t have grey tanks.  It’s something that pop-up users take for granted to save weight.  Plus, you never need a dump station if you don’t have a grey tank or black tank.  Tell us about the battery and propane capacity of the SS-500.

Pat: The SS-500 has one 20-pound vertical propane tank located in the driver’s side rear.  For battery power, the SS-500 has a vented battery compartment under the cabover step.  It fits a Group 24 battery.

Earlier I mentioned that we made the SS-500 fresh tank size identical to most of the rest of our pop-up camper line.  We also made the battery and propane tank size on the SS-500 identical to our larger pop-up campers.  This was a huge challenge since the SS-500 is smaller than our other pop-ups.  I need to praise Rob Foster and Josh Tyler on our production team for making this possible.  You really lose nothing with the smaller form factor of the SS-500.

We really didn’t do anything different than what we do anyway with our pop-ups.  We want our campers to be as production friendly as possible, so we keep the same elements for all our pop-ups consistent.

Above: Palomino SS-500 front wall power ports; solar charge, exterior charge port, umbilical cord from truck to camper, and pre-wire for electric jacks

TCM: Does the SS-500 also have the winterization features that are standard on the other Palomino pop-ups?

Pat: Yes, the SS-500 has the same battery disconnect, low water drains, water heater bypass, anti-freeze tube, and charge port.  It’s a fully-featured Palomino pop-up, just in a smaller size and weight class to match compact trucks.

Above: The front seating area in the Palomino SS-500

TCM: Can you get an optional air conditioner on the SS-500?

Pat: A Dometic 13.5 BTU air conditioner is an option.  The Dometic will run on a 2,000 watt portable generator like the popular Honda EU2000i.

TCM: Tell us about the standard bumper and entry step system for the 2017 Palomino SS-500.

Pat: For those who want something more than a step stool, we offer a set of optional Torklift International GlowSteps.  You can order them with the SS-500 directly from the Palomino factory, or have them installed at a Palomino dealership.

TCM: So far we have learned about the optional hot water heater, air conditioner, and Torklift GlowSteps.  Are there any other options for the SS-500?

Pat: In addition to those items, you can get remote control Rieco-Titan camper electric jacks and a side awning.  Those are pretty much the only options available for our pop-up truck camper models.  Over the years we made most of the popular options standard features.

TCM: Can you give us some examples of standard features that were once options?

Pat: The Rieco-Titan electric roof lift didn’t even exist a few years ago, but now it’s standard on all Palomino pop-up truck campers.  We also made LED lighting standard on all Palomino pop-up units.

TCM: What is the center of gravity for the SS-500?

Pat: The center of gravity is 19-inches from front to back.  That’s where the center of gravity needed to be to keep it forward of the rear axle for the majority compact truck configurations.

TCM: What does the 2017 Palomino SS-500 weigh with standard build features?

Pat: The prototype weighed 1,299 pounds and we’re changing some things to make it even lighter.  When the production unit is completed, it should weigh about 1,200 pounds.  That’s our goal.

TCM: What is the MSRP for the 2017 Palomino SS-500 with standard build features?

Pat: The MSRP is $11,712 for a base SS-500, which is about the same as the other pop-ups.

TCM: How can you charge essentially the same MSRP for the SS-500 as your larger pop-up models?

Pat: Since we’re using the same materials, components, and interiors across the board, there are no penalties for longer or shorter models.  The SS-500 is a shorter camper, so there are less building materials.  On balance, we are putting some higher-end features in the SS-500, like the European appliances.  We use these factors to price the unit.  We don’t charge extra because of our brand recognition.  As a result, our customers get a great product at an affordable price.

TCM: What is the warranty for the 2017 Palomino SS-500?

Pat: Customers get a one year nose-to-tail warranty.  There is a five year warranty on the soft side material, and a five year warranty on the roof and roof lift.  The appliances all have their own warranties from the manufacturers.

TCM: When will the 2017 Palomino SS-500 be available?

Pat: The SS-500 should be on dealer lots on or before in January of 2017.

TCM: Thanks Pat.  Is there anything else readers should know about the SS-500?

Pat: None of the other manufacturers are as big or as production focused at Palomino.  For the past year, our main focus campus-wide has been cleaning up production, becoming even more efficient, and building a better quality truck camper.

For quality control, we have successfully implemented a shine bay.  The shine bay team conducts a complete systems check and goes over every inch of every unit before it’s allowed to ship.  The shine bay has paid dividends.

We also have a weekly team meeting with the production managers, sales, engineers, warranty, and purchasing agents.  It’s a round table and we talk about production, efficiency, and quality control.  The warranty manager flags what has come up as recurring warranty issues.  The shine bay reports also show us where we can improve our designs, and production.  We all have the same production, efficiency, and quality goals in mind, and do what’s needed to be done to move those goals forward.

There has been a culture shift at Palomino.  From a product, production, and quality control perspective, we are night and day better than we were just two years ago.  Quality has become our number one concern.  In years’ past, Palomino had a stigma of being cheap.  We are still very affordable, but we don’t take a backseat to anyone anymore for quality.

For more information about the SS-500 and other Palomino truck campers, visit their website at www.palominorv.com.  To request a brochure, click here.

The post TCM EXCLUSIVE: 2017 Palomino SS-500 appeared first on Truck Camper Magazine.

Palomino RV debuts a new hard side, non-slide, wet bath truck camper to its popular Max series. Kick it up a notch with the Elite Package and you’ve got a serious non-slide luxury truck camper contender.

High-end luxury truck campers are not hard to find. Non-slide truck campers are not hard to find either. But high-end luxury non-slide truck campers? Now those can be hard to find. Over the past decade, most companies have all-but abandoned luxury non-slides as the consumer interest moved towards slide-outs.

Or did it? This year we have seen strong interest in the luxury non-slide category. Some folks are simply not interested in slides, but want to step up into more luxury. Others have had a slide-out truck camper and now want to return to the simplicity, lower maintenance, and lower weight of a non-slide – but they too want a luxury camper.

As dyed-in-the-wool non-slide truck camper folks, this is all music to us. With any luck, this trend will continue and we’ll have more non-slide luxury truck camper options in the marketplace. Speaking of which…

Palomino RV has just announced an all-new luxury non-slide truck camper, the HS-2901. The camper is part of their high-end Max series that includes Rieco-Titan remote control electric jacks, insulated windows, an HD-television, outside shower, and all-LED lighting.

Add Palomino’s Elite Package and the HS-2901 gets solid surface counter tops (similar to Corian), wireless backup camera, motion detector exterior light, and a Line-X sprayed underbelly. That’s a serious luxury feature list from a company that almost entirely focused on the entry-level truck camper market just five years ago.

To find out more about the 2017 Palomino HS-2901, we talked to Pat Hines, Truck Camper Product Manager for Palomino RV.

Palomino HS-2901 Specifications

The 2017 Palomino HS-2901 is a hard-side, non-slide, wet bath truck camper for short or long bed trucks.  The interior floor length of the Palomino HS-2901 is 9’0” and the interior height is 6’8”.  Palomino RV is reporting the standard build dry weight of the HS-2901 at 3,034 pounds.

The 2017 Palomino HS-2901 has a 45 gallon fresh tank, 6 gallon water heater, 20 gallon grey tank, and 20 gallon black tank.  The camper accommodates two batteries and one vertical thirty-pound propane tank.  The MSRP for a standard build Palomino HS-2901 is $25,200.

TCM: Before we talk about the new HS-2901, we want to ask you about the HS-2911 double-slide.  That model seems to have disappeared from Palomino’s 2017 line-up.  Has that camper been discontinued?

Pat: If we introduce a new model we typically eliminate one existing model.  To find out which model to eliminate, we evaluate how many of each model were manufactured and sold at the end of the year.  This year the HS-2911 had the fewest number of sales, so we chose to eliminate it.  For 2017, our new model is the HS-2901.

TCM: That makes sense.  At first blush, the new HS-2901 has a very similar floor plan to the HS-8801.  Is the HS-2901 floor plan based on the HS-8801?

Pat: On paper the HS-2901 does have a very similar floor plan to the HS-8801, but the HS-2901 is a Max model and offers a boat load of features that the HS-8801 does not.  For example, the HS-2901 is a four-season ready camper with an enclosed and insulated basement and insulated windows.  In contrast, the HS-8801 is a non-basement model with single-pane windows.

A better comparison for the HS-2901 would be the HS-2902.  Essentially, the HS-2901 is a HS-2902 as a non-slide.

We like to give our dealers and consumers what they ask for.  Over the past year we had a lot of requests for a four season ready, non-slide truck camper model with a wet bath.  With the HS-2901 being a Max model, it also has a lot of luxury features.

Above: The HS-2901 has a 6’10” height and 9’0″ interior floor length

TCM: Does the HS-2901 share the specifications of the HS-2902?

Pat: Yes, it does.  The HS-2901 has the same 9-foot floor length, the same interior height of 6-feet 10-inches, and so on.  All of the HS-2901 specifications are the same, minus the slide-out on the HS-2902.  It was actually a very simple truck camper to design.

Above: As a non-slide the HS-2901 gains additional rear storage

TCM: Since the HS-2901 is a non-slide version of the HS-2902, does the non-slide HS-2901 gain storage in the dinette area that the HS-2902 sacrificed for the slide-out area?

Pat: You gain quite a bit of storage by not having the slide-out including a storage area at the rear entry, a pantry, and closet space.

Above: The L-shaped dinette of the HS-2901 gives you quite a bit of room and storage underneath

You also gain a significant amount of seating area with storage underneath.  The HS-2902 is a couple’s dinette at best.  The HS-2901 dinette would be more comfortable for three or even four adults to sit.

The HS-2901 also has a larger dinette-area window because the slide-out room isn’t taking up the wall space.  However, you lose the floor space that the HS-2902 slide presents when pushed out.  Do you want more floor space, or more storage?  That’s the big difference between the two units.

Above: The optional fiberglass front nose cap and windshield for the Palomino HS-2901

TCM: Is there anything unique about how the Palomino Max models are constructed?

Pat: The Max line is constructed the same way as all of our hard side models.  First, they are 100-percent aluminum framed.  Second, all six sides of the campers are vacuum bond laminated including the side walls, floors, and roof.  Our pop-up models feature the same vacuum bond lamination, but are wood framed.

What separates the Max line are a short list of important design elements, and standard features.  As I stated earlier, the Max campers have heated and enclosed holding tanks in a wheel-well height basement.  They are four-season units.  The Max series also features insulated windows standard, and are 4-inches wider than non-Max hard-side truck campers.  Lastly, the Max series can also come with the optional fiberglass front nose cap and windshield.

Above: The rear awning is part of the Elite Package

TCM: How does the Elite Package fit into the Max series?

Pat: The Elite Package is an option available for the Max series.  The Elite Package includes solid surface kitchen countertops, backup camera system, motion detector porch lite, Line-X treated underbody panels, and a rear awning.  About 40-percent of Palomino Max truck campers feature the Elite Package.

TCM: While we’re on the topic of brand names, what is the Palomino Backpack Edition?

Pat: All Palomino brand truck campers are Backpack Edition truck campers.  Backpack Edition is part of the name of Palomino truck campers.

Above: New decor elements in 2017 Palomino truck campers

TCM: Tell us about the cabinetry and counter tops in the Palomino HS-2901.

Pat: Palomino has debuted an all-new new decor for 2017 with darker walnut cabinetry and new fabrics, countertops, and flooring.

By offering only one interior across all Palomino truck campers, we can offer our customers the best value in the RV industry.  It also helps us to maximize efficiency and continuously improve quality control.

Above: The wet bath in the Palomino HS-2901

TCM: The tank sizes on the HS-2901 are the same as the other two Max-series truck campers?

Pat: Again, for efficiency of production and quality control, all Palomino Max-series campers feature the same 45 gallon fresh tank, 20 gallon grey tank, and 20 gallon black tank.  The basement designs are identical for the HS-2901, HS-2902, and HS-2910.  It’s all part of our Keep It Simple Stupid (KISS) philosophy.

Above: Two vented battery boxes are housed under the step up to the cabover

TCM: How many batteries does the Palomino HS-2901 have, and where are they located?

Pat: Two vented battery boxes are located under the cabover step.  The battery boxes can fit Group 24 batteries.

TCM: Why does the HS-2901 come with one 30-pound vertical propane tank rather than the industry standard two 20-pound vertical propane tanks?

Pat: A single 30-pound propane tank offers 75-percent of the propane capacity as two 20-pound tanks, while taking up a lot less potential floor space.  Having one 30-pound propane tank gives our design team more flexibility.  For these reasons, all of our Max-series campers have one 30-pound propane tank.

Above: The battery disconnect and Rieco-Titan electric jack remote are right next to the entry door

TCM: What considerations are given for winterization on the HS-2901?

Pat: It has low water drains, water heater bypass, anti-freeze tube, battery disconnect, and an exterior charge port.  The HS-2901 is a fully-featured Palomino, and has all the standard winterization features all of our Palomino truck campers offer.

TCM: Does the Torklift International designed Palomino Landing Pad bumper step system come standard with the HS-2901?

Pat: The Landing Pad is standard for the Max series.  It’s been received well.  It’s a nice 16-inch bumper with good storage opportunities.

That said, Torklift International is currently designing an all-new bumper for the Max line.  We will probably use the new bumper across the board for all Palomino truck campers; hard-side and pop-up.  Keeping with our KISS methodology, we don’t want more than one bumper system.

TCM: That’s exciting news.  We certainly look forward to learning more about the new bumper.  Looking at the floor plan of the HS-2901, the dinette area looks like an L-shape sofa with a small table.  What led you to use this design rather than a more traditional U-shape or face-to-face dinette?

Pat: Real estate.  With a non-slide truck camper, there is not a whole lot of floor space.  With a face-to-face or U-shape dinette, you use a lot of the available floor space.  The L-shape dinette gives you the best use of space.  You can sit on the end and be somewhat face-to-face.

Above: A Jensen HD-television is standard

TCM: Are there any new options that are available for the 2017 Palomino HS-2901?

Pat: The front nose cap and windshield, an air conditioner, and a rear awning are options.  The Max series is really loaded with standard equipment.

As standard, you get Rieco-Titan remote control electric jacks, insulated windows, HD-television, outside shower, and all-LED lighting.  It’s a darn nice truck camper for an affordable price.

TCM: What does the 2017 Palomino HS-2901 weigh with standard build features?

Pat: The base weight without options is 3,034 pounds.

TCM: Where is the center of gravity on the 2017 Palomino HS-2901?

Pat: It’s 36-inches front to back.

TCM: What is the MSRP for the 2017 Palomino HS-2901 with standard build features?

Pat: The Max base price is $25,200.  Loaded with the Elite and windshield nose cap, the MSRP is about $29,500.

TCM: What is the warranty for the 2017 Palomino HS-2901?

Pat: We have the same Palomino warranty across the board for all of our truck campers; one year nose-to-tail.  The appliances have their own warranties from the manufacturers.

TCM: When will the 2017 Palomino HS-2901 be available?

Pat: The HS-2901 should be on dealer lots January of 2017.

TCM: Are there any other new model announcements coming from Palomino in 2017?

Pat: We are currently working on redesigning one of our old models that went away years ago, and we will be re-introducing it.  That model will be ready in December.  It’s going to be a hard side, half-ton camper with a toilet.  We will be debut it here in Truck Camper Magazine.

For more information about Palomino truck campers, visit their website at www.palominorv.com.  To request a brochure for the Palomino HS-2901, click here.

The post TCM EXCLUSIVE: 2017 Palomino HS-2901 appeared first on Truck Camper Magazine.

Torklift International reveals the research and development story for the new Palomino Dura-Trak, the first bumper and step system designed to work on both pop-up and hard side truck campers.

What’s the first thing most folks see when they approach a truck camper?  The entry step and bumper set-up.  This makes sense as most of us also don’t want to fall over.  We like to see where we’re about to plant our feet, and judge whether that approach is safe and steady.  It’s not unusual for folks to dismiss a truck camper because they visually judge the entry step system to be unsafe.

Torklift International recognized this opportunity back in 2007 when they debuted the GlowStep, a double-hinged and bolted T6061 aluminum scissor step system designed from the ground up to be safer and sturdier than competing scissor step systems.  It didn’t take long for Torklift’s GlowStep to become the industry standard.

Following the success of the GlowStep, Torklift International developed a series of aluminum storage bumper and step systems for hard side truck campers.  In 2013, Torklift International and Palomino RV debuted the aluminum Palomino Landing Pad bumper.  With its deep platform, dual lockable storage compartments, LED taillights, and single pull-down GlowStep, it became a huge hit for Palomino hard side truck campers.

After conquering the scissor step marketplace, and redefining the very concept of an OEM bumper step system, Torklift International is back with another innovative first; an aluminum bumper step system designed to fit both pop-up and hard side truck campers.

Until now, pop-up truck campers have been stuck with scissor steps, a hitch mount step, or a step stool for getting into their units. These solutions are lightweight and work well, but don’t offer the safe and steady approach of an aluminum bumper step system. With Torklift International’s new Palomino Dura-Trak, that’s about to change. Even better, the Dura-Trak also works with with Palomino hard side models creating multiple manufacturing, inventory, and production efficiencies.

To get the full story on the Palomino Dura-Trak, we contacted Jay Taylor, General Manager, and Jack Kay, President at Torklift International.

Above: The SS-1251 pop-up truck camper with the new Dura-Trak bumper

TCM: How did the Palomino Dura-Trak project get started?

Jack: On December 7th, 2015 at 7:50am, we were at the annual RVIA (RV Industry Association) show in Louisville, Kentucky when Pat Hines of Palomino RV pulled me over.

TCM: Wait a minute!  December 7th, 2015 at 7:50am?  You’re kidding, right?

Jack: No, I have the date and time-stamped notes on my iPhone from that conversation right here.  Pat asked us to design a bumper and step system for their smaller pop-up and hard side truck campers.  He also had a short list of requirements for the new bumper.

Beyond that list, he left it up to the creative team at Torklift International to come up with a great bumper.  The resulting Dura-Trak was a big hit when they saw the first prototype.

TCM: What were the design objectives that Pat needed?

Jack: He wanted a lightweight non-storage bumper design with aggressive lighting.  He wanted something visually unique that would mount accessories.

Above: The backlit Palomino logo is built into the bumper

We wanted to design a bumper that would be both innovative and efficient to manufacture.  We also wanted it to be visually aggressive, which is why it features the backlit Palomino logo.  This bumper is on fire.

TCM: For the past few years, Torklift International’s aluminum storage bumpers have been very popular.  Why did Palomino not want a bumper system with storage?

Jack: The new bumper needed to be universal for both pop-up and hard side campers.  For pop-up truck campers, weight is critical.  Pop-up truck camper owners are very weight conscious, and would not want a larger and heavier storage bumper.  We worked hard on designing a universal aluminum bumper that weighs about 75 pounds.

Cost was another consideration.  A more complex storage bumper system would add cost to the pop-up and hard side models.  The Torklift Landing Pad storage bumper is still optional on hard side models for those who want a storage bumper.

TCM: Is the Dura-Trak made exclusively out of aluminum?

Jack: The Dura-Trak uses 6000 and 5000-series aluminum for the structure of the bumper.

TCM: How about the mounting brackets?

Jack: The mounting brackets are made from the same quality of aluminum.

TCM: How is the Dura-Trak compatible with both hard side and pop-up models when some Palomino models are wider than others?

Jay: We have designed and built two versions of the Dura-Trak.  Any Palomino model that features a full-width rear wall now has a compatible Dura-Trak bumper.  Some bed-length Palomino pop-up models are notched out to expose the truck tail lights and are not applicable to the Dura-Trak bumper system.

TCM: Can someone with an older Palomino pop-up install the Dura-Trak?

Jay: It should be compatible with many Palomino models from the past two to three years.  This camper was designed for Palomino’s 2017 production models, so compatibility with older units will need to be carefully verified before a consumer proceeds.

TCM: Is Torklift International manufacturing the Dura-Trak for Palomino?  Made in USA?

Jack: Absolutely!  The Dura-Trak is 100-percent made in the USA at Torklift International in Sumner, Washington.

Above: The Dura-Trak sewer hose compartment is located on the passenger side

TCM: What features does the Dura-Trak have?

Jay: The Dura-Trak does feature a sewer hose tube on the passenger’s side.  There are also mounting holes to incorporate an accessory mount to accommodate an optional swing-out barbecue, tool boxes, spare tires, and generator trays.  The sky is the limit to what you can mount on a Dura-Trak bumper.

By incorporating tail lights into the bumper, Palomino can eliminate the tail lights on their units.  That saves time and cost for the manufacturer.  On the production line, the Dura-Trak is plug and play.  Torklift International bumpers open up a whole new world for both the truck camper manufacturer and consumer.

TCM: They certainly offer new possibilities.  Why not add some tread to the top of the Dura-Trak for better traction?

Jay: The Dura-Trak bumper is powder coated with a matte black anti-skid material.  The coating grips like sand paper tape, but the material is actually in the powder coat and will last significantly longer.  It’s also applied to the entire bumper, not just a single area.

Above: The 36-inch by 8-inch step can double as a bench-style seat

Having a 36-inch wide step also provides stability, safety, and comfort as you go in and out of your camper.  The step is also 8-inches deep.  At 36-inches wide, you get a comfortable step that doesn’t need to be moved to the left or right to accommodate entry doors that are off-center.

At 8-inches deep, you can also sit on the step, depending on how high off the ground the rig is.  The Dura-Trak step becomes a short bench seat.

Above: A 36-inch step is included with the Dura-Trak, and GlowStep products can be used in conjunction with this bumper system

TCM: Are Torklift International GlowSteps and GlowStep accessories compatible with the Dura-Trak?

Jack: You can attach GlowSteps to the Dura-Trak if you need additional steps.  No drilling is required for the installation.

The Torklift International All-Terrain Landing Gear, GlowGuide Handrail, DirtDestroyer, and SafeStep can also be used in conjunction with a Dura-Trak and GlowStep set-up.

TCM: Are there any considerations with using the Dura-Trak and Torklift International’s SuperHitch and SuperTruss towing extension?

Jack: The Dura-Trak was specifically designed to work with our SuperHitch and SuperTruss extension.

Above: Dura-Track mounting brackets are installed over Rieco-Titan jack brackets

TCM: Talk to us about what’s involved in installing the Dura-Trak.

Jack: The Dura-Trak is installed over the Rieco-Titan jack brackets.  To install the bumper, you remove the jack bracket fasteners, attach the mounts, and then put the bumper on with another series of bolts.  Once it’s aligned correctly, the bumper is tightened up, the tail lights are connected, and you’re done.  It’s straight forward for a trained installer.

TCM: Is the Dura-Trak something a consumer with an older Palomino could consider installing?

Jay: Technically, a consumer could install a Dura-Trak, but we strongly advise that the system be installed by a Torklift International certified dealer.  There are critical variables, especially if you’re installing the bumper on an older truck camper.  Without taking these variables into account, you could get yourself into trouble.

TCM: Does the Dura-Trak carry Torklift International’s lifetime warranty?

Jay: Of course.  We strive for a legendary lifetime warranty for every product we manufacture.

TCM: That’s all the questions we have on the Dura-Trak.  What’s going on with the Summit bumper project that was announced last December?

Jack: We got an extensive amount of feedback from TCM readers when the Summit prototype was introduced.  Over the past year we have incorporated a lot of what Truck Camper Magazine readers asked for, and subsequently redesigned the Summit.

The Summit is also going to incorporate a lot of the same design elements of the Dura-Trak including recessed halo LED lighting and 100-percent aluminum construction.

TCM: What kinds of things did Truck Camper Magazine readers suggest for the Summit?

Jack: One reader jokingly suggested a mechanism to drop tire tacks from the bumper while driving to thwart tailgaters, but we’re not going to do that.

TCM: Beyond learning that at least one of our readers is a knucklehead, did any usable suggestions come in?

Jack: Other TCM readers suggested mounts for barbecues and generators, backup lights, a spot for a bicycle rack, a better non-skid surface, a place to attach tie-downs, a spare tire attachment, a step that folds down into a bench, and lockable storage.

TCM: We wrote about the challenges of mounting the Summit to our bumper with the announcement article.  Those challenges were overcome, but how did you make the new Summit a better universal fit for older campers?

Jay: We have been taking a lot of camper measurements.  Most of our concerns now are centered around the structure of a given camper, and the condition of that structure whether it be aluminum framed, or wood framed.  Consumers are going to need to be very careful when considering if they should install a Summit bumper.

Mounting the Summit to the camper jack brackets ties the bumper system into the structural frame of the unit.  We will strongly recommend talking to a Torklift International certified dealer and showing them your truck camper before proceeding with a Summit bumper install.

TCM: Is there any other news from Torklift International?

Jack: 2016 is Torklift International’s 40th anniversary.  In 1976, my father, Jon Kay, started Torklift Central in Kent, Washington as a one-man, single-bay retail shop specializing in trailer repair, custom hitches, and automotive work.

Today, Torklift International has over 100 employees manufacturing and shipping aftermarket RV and automotive products worldwide from a football-sized factory in Sumner, Washington.  In 2013, we were named the Best Mid-Sized Company to work for in Washington State.  We have come a long way since 1976.

My father always looks at business and product decisions like he is the customer.  “There’s nothing more important than the customer” – that’s his motto.  As he’ll tell you, “Give the customer a good product at a fair price.  That’s what they want.”  From his leadership, the customer first business fundamentals of Torklift International have been the same from the beginning.

TCM: Congratulations on 40 years.  As TCM comes up on 10 years, we truly appreciate what it takes to stay in business that long.  It’s no small feat.

To see more Torklift International bumpers, visit their website at www.torklift.com.  To request information on Torklift products, click here.

The post Torklift International on the Palomino Dura-Trak Bumper appeared first on Truck Camper Magazine.

The Hagens take their Palomino pop-up truck camper deep into the Oregon and Idaho wilderness.  Don’t miss their BLM and National Forest tips, and stunning photography.

The Bureau of Land Management administers approximately 256 million acres of public lands in the United States.  According to Wikipedia, that’s one-eighth of the landmass in the United States.  Much of this BLM land is available to the public for free.  Boondocking anyone?

Unlike national and state parks, most BLM land doesn’t appear on your typical map or GPS database.  In fact, you could be driving past hundreds of miles of BLM lands and not even know it.  So how do you go about finding and using BLM lands?

To learn about the opportunities of BLM and National Forests, we talked to Brian and Chris Hagen.  The Hagens are passionate off-road and off-the-grid enthusiasts with years of BLM and National Forest experience.

Now on their second Palomino pop-up truck camper, the Hagens share their knowledge about finding, accessing, and using BLM and National Forest land, and reveal some of their favorite destinations.  Get your bucket list out and a pen.  You’re going to need it.

TCM: How did you get into camping on Bureau of Land Management (BLM) areas?

Brian: For me, camping away from campgrounds, called dispersed camping or boondocking, started with my parents.  When I was a kid, we would go camping in the backcountry.  As adults, Chris and I like solitude.

Chris: My dad was a Boy Scout leader.  He didn’t want to be around people when he was camping.

TCM: That’s understandable.  How do you find BLM camping opportunities for truck camping?

Brian: On BLM lands and in the National Forests you are pretty much allowed to camp anywhere you want.  In some National Forests there are “No Camping” signs, but that tends to be the exception, and they are usually there due to environmental concerns and wildlife protection.

When we’re in the National Forests we usually camp in the National Forest campgrounds.  We try to go on weekdays so that we have the campgrounds mostly to ourselves.

Above: Northfork campground on Owhyee River, Idaho

The National Forests have quite a few developed campgrounds.  Some have campground hosts and take reservations.  They are very basic with a fire pit, picnic table, outhouse, and campsite.  You pay at a self-serve kiosk by the honor system.  Some forest service campgrounds are free.

BLM camping is even less organized.  Very rarely will there be formal campgrounds on BLM lands.  Most of the time, it’s just land.  We have never found a BLM campground that charges fees.

Above: BLM camping in the middle of nowhere

You can camp pretty much anywhere you want on BLM lands.  The legal limit for camping is fourteen days on both BLM and National Forest lands.  After that, you need to move on.

Chris: You also need to pack in and pack out when camping on BLM and National Forest lands.  What you bring with you, you take out with you.  Some fee campgrounds have garbage service.  And now you have to stay on the roads.  Many roads are logging roads or mining roads and they can be quite rough.

Above: Logging road after a recent forest fire

Brian: That is the law now.  You can’t make your own road.  You have to stay on the designated roads.  If you see an ATV in the brush, that person is breaking the law and could be fined.

You are permitted to pull off the road to camp there, but you can’t drive a half-mile through the sage brush to camp.

TCM: What resources do you recommend for finding National Forest and BLM camping opportunities?

Brian: The Bureau of Land Management has section maps; land ownership maps that show the state, federal, and private lands.  These maps are really handy and detailed. You can purchase them at BLM offices or you can order them through the BLM website; blm.gov.  They are called ‘Surface Management Status Maps’.  Two good websites are www.publiclands.org and www.rv-camping.org/boondocking.

Above: A road to a hot spring in Oregon

Chris: Brian and I have been out enough to know the areas we want to explore further.  We’ll travel into a certain area, come across a road and say, “Let’s go there and find what we can find”.  It’s almost like we spin a bottle and find out where we want to go.

Above: Camp in the Lost Forest in Oregon

Brian: We also find areas by word of mouth.  For example, the Lost Forest in Oregon.  I had heard about it for years.  It’s a ponderosa pine forest in the desert.

There is no water there.  They get eight inches of rain a year, but the ground holds the water. There are sand dunes amongst trees and 11,000 acres of adjacent public sand dunes.

Above: Entering eastern Oregon’s Lost Forest in Christmas Valley

To be honest, we probably won’t go back there.  It’s extremely dusty.  I’m glad we went because it was different, but it’s not really exciting.  If we had a dune buggy, it would be a great place to visit.

TCM: That does sound interesting, or maybe just odd.  Are there any other resources you recommend?

Brian: One thing we always take with us is the Delorme and Benchmark state atlases.  In my opinion, the Benchmark maps are the best.  They have a good basic set of maps for each state.

If you want to get more detail, carry a USGS topo map.  Those are put out by the federal government and are available online.  I’m more of a map person.  We have a GPS, but I don’t use it that much.

It is also amazing what you can find on YouTube.  You can see many of these roads ahead of time.  It will show you the true condition of the roads.  For example, we were wondering if the Magruder Corridor in Idaho was a camper road, and YouTube shows much of it.

Above: French Creek grade dropping into Idaho’s Salmon River

TCM: In one of your pictures you show a very rough and narrow road.  Is this a common condition you find, or the exception to the rule?

Chris: We come across a lot of narrow roads high up in the mountains.  A lot of the forest service roads are old logging roads, so they are not very wide.  Then other roads aren’t bad at all.  A road can go from great to horrible very quickly.  That’s why you need to research the roads ahead as much as possible.

Above: Warren to Big Creek Road, Idaho

Brian: The roads we travel are not maintained very often, maybe once every three or four years, and sometimes not at all.  The BLM and forest service often hire private contractors to maintain the roads.

We were out in the desert in eastern Oregon and came across a road grader.  He was staying in a sleeping bag at night and improving the roads during the day.  He was working for the Bureau.   He spent seven or eight days on the grader.

TCM: Have you ever gotten into a bad situation?

Brian: There have been a few times when we realized we had gone as far we were going to go, even with four wheel drive, and turned around.  This last May we were boondocking in the desert and had camp set up.  There was no cell service and no people.  A heavy thundershower during the night turned the road to mud.  It was late afternoon the next day before it dried out enough to leave.

Above: Chris will scout out an area on foot before they proceed

Chris: We have to watch for ruts in the road from hard rain and sharp rocks.  A couple of times we have come face-to-face with other vehicles and needed to back up.  The roads are often supposed to be two-way roads, but sometimes there’s only room for one vehicle.

Brian: Part of the etiquette in that situation is that the person going uphill has the right of way, and the person going downhill has to pull over.  Sometimes that doesn’t work out.  Usually there are turn-outs.  If you look ahead and see a vehicle coming, pull off when you have a chance.

Above: Gooding City of Rocks, Idaho

TCM: What recommendations do you have for driving on these roads?

Chris: We have 10-ply tires on the truck and we use four-wheel drive.  We also go really slow in first gear on steep downgrades.  That way our truck won’t automatically speed up.

In the mountains, your vehicle wants to push you downhill.  It’s the law of inertia and the weight of the camper compounds that.  Get into a lower gear so that you’re not on the brakes as much.  You can also pull over to cool off the brakes.

Brian: Use four-wheel drive low range on steep roads.  Otherwise, I use four-wheel drive high on rough dirt roads.

Be warned that in BLM land sometimes there are no signs to indicate a steep grade.  About a half mile in you may realize that it is steeper than you thought, and you need to put your truck into a lower gear.

One road that comes to mind was Kleinschmidt grade on the Idaho side of Hells Canyon.  That is a white knuckle windy one lane road.  One section drops 2,200 feet in 4.9 miles.  Without a low gear to help slow us down, our brakes would overheat in no time.

Above: Old road at the bottom of Owhyee Reservoir, eastern Oregon

Going into the Owyhee River Canyon in eastern Oregon’s desert there is a 12-percent grade.  Just be aware that the terrain can change rapidly.

TCM: Just to be clear, do you ever need to make reservations or register anywhere to use National Forest or BLM land?

Brian: I can’t speak for the entire National Forest and BLM land system, but we have never needed to register or make reservations.  Some improved forest service fee campgrounds do take reservations.

We do a lot of hiking, and there is often a registration box at the trailhead where you sign your name.  In some of the campgrounds you will have to register.  I have a Senior Pass for National Park campgrounds, which includes the National Forest campgrounds.

Above: Camping spot in Gooding City of Rocks, Idaho

TCM: Are there any other rules that folks should be aware of before venturing into National Forest and BLM lands?

Brian: Since they don’t have outhouses on BLM land, you need to dig at least a 6-inch hole that’s no less than 200 feet from a water source to dispose of your human waste.

If you’re camping in a dispersed area or boondocking on BLM lands, leave it as though no one has been there.  The rule is to leave no trace.  Pack it in and pack it out, including your garbage.   The law requires your campfire to be dead out.  Douse it with water and dirt.  Many national forests require you to carry an axe, shovel, and bucket if you have a fire.

Chris: You have to use fire ring if you want to burn anything.

Brian: Also, watch for fire restrictions in the area you are traveling.  On the National Forest and BLM websites there are bulletins.  We always check those before we go somewhere.

Chris: The fire incident Information website, inciweb.nwcg.gov, has all current fires listed in the region.

TCM: That’s a great tip, especially for safety.  You don’t want to venture into an area that has an active fire situation nearby.  Speaking of safety, do you take any precautions given that you’re often traveling and camping beyond cell range?

Chris: We always have a backup party.  We call Brian’s brother or a friend before we are going out of cell range.  Someone always knows where we are going.  If we don’t show up when we’re supposed to, they will send someone out.  We also have two first aid kits.

Brian: Chris used to be a first aid and CPR instructor.  I went to her courses.

For recovery situations, I carry a 12,000 pound tow rope.  I’ve only used it once, and that was to pull someone else out.

I wish I had a winch.  I’d feel a lot safer.  I did upgrade my truck’s tire jack.  We have gotten flat tires on those roads way back in the backcountry.  Make sure you have a good spare.

The truck has 10-ply load range E all-terrain tires, which are good tires for this type of driving.  I immediately got the 10-ply tires after upgrading my truck.  We started with a half-ton but now have a three-quarter ton.

In addition, we carry spare belts, hoses and a fold-up shovel.  I used to carry a high lift jack, but it’s tough to find space now.  Of course we always have a complete tool kit.  And there’s always duct tape.

Above: The west side of Steen’s Mountain, Oregon

TCM: Duct tape is essential!  What are some of your favorite BLM spots?

Brian: One of our favorite BLM areas is the Steen’s Mountains in eastern Oregon.  On the east side is the Alvord Desert.

Above: Crossing the Alvord desert in Oregon

Above: Camp overlooking the Alvord desert, Oregon

Above: Same camp overlooking the Alvord desert (different angle)

Above: Alvord Hot Springs has all the modern amenities; an indoor and outdoor pool, and even a dressing room.

Above: Chris and Brian enjoy the hot springs in the Oregon desert

We like primitive hot springs, so this is one of my favorite areas.  The west side is totally different country.  I’ve been there with my brothers and want to take Chris.

Above: Camping on the Oregon side of the Hells Canyon National Recreation area

Hells Canyon National Recreation area is beautiful country.  The east side is in Idaho and the west side is Oregon.

Above: Heaven’s Gate in the Seven Devils Mountains

In the Seven Devils Mountains, you can go to Heaven’s Gate for beautiful views.  It’s gorgeous!

Above: Exploring the Seven Devils Mountains

You can take a bigger truck camper up there.  It’s narrow and steep, but it’s a good road.  It climbs up from 2,000 feet in Riggins, Idaho to 8,000 feet at the summit.  It’s a good road and there are two nice campgrounds up top.  They are National Forest campgrounds and no fees.

Above: Driving the Magruder Road Corridor

This past August we went to the Magruder Road Corridor from Idaho to Montana for the first time.  The Magruder Road Corridor is 100 miles long and sandwiched between two wilderness areas.  If you are looking for a true wilderness experience in a truck camper, this would be a great trip but don’t attempt it in one day.

Above: Camping along the Magruder Road Corridor

The Magruder Road Corridor goes to over 7,000 feet.  There are a lot of historical sites and gorgeous views.  It’s a narrow dirt road, so you may need to back up if someone is coming in the other direction.  We went Labor Day weekend and met only a few other vehicles.

Above: Magruder Corridor in Idaho

We saw a large Lance camper with a slide-out on a dually and he had no problem.  The Magruder Road Corridor is narrow and steep in some places, but the road itself isn’t bad.  It’s not recommended for passenger cars or trailers but you don’t need four wheel drive.  It could be a little scary for people not familiar with driving off pavement.  Check road conditions before going.  It is usually blocked by snow until July 1st.  You can Google “Magruder Road” and find lots of good information.

Above: Exploring Oregon’s Leslie Gulch

We also like Leslie Gulch in Malheur County, Oregon.  We go there a lot because we live only two hours away.  The BLM has a no fee campground there.

Chris: Leslie Gulch and the surrounding area is a good rock hounding country.

Brian: On most BLM land, you can take up to 250 pounds of rocks per year without getting a permit.  The law varies for petrified wood.  You have to check at local BLM offices in your area.

Chris: I recommend you check the BLM website because I know the laws are different in other states.  You can’t take historical artifacts, like arrowheads.  You can get into trouble.

Above: Chris and Brian’s Palomino SS-1251 on Succor Creek Road in Oregon

TCM: In your email to TCM, you stated, “Our first camper was a 2012 Palomino and we traded it in for a 2014 Palomino because of the upgrades they made.”  What were the upgrades that got your attention?

Brian: We had a pop-up trailer that we took to Alaska in 2011.  Along the way, we discovered that we wanted to go on roads that weren’t practical for a trailer.

We looked at quite a few truck campers and got the Palomino partly because of the price, and partly because we didn’t know if we’d like truck camping.  We liked the floor plan of the Palomino SS-1251.  We had it for two years.

In 2014 Palomino came out with redesigned pop-up campers.  They added electric roof lifts and replaced the folding door with a single door.  The single door is more convenient because you don’t have to raise the roof to get into the camper.

Our first Palomino was really good and we were happy with it.  We have taken our new Palomino on washboard and rough roads and the camper has held up well.  The toilet and refrigerator each had one problem but that’s possibly because of the challenging roads we’ve been on.  That’s not a Palomino problem.  We have never had a problem with the electric roof lift.  We love it.

Above: Their camp on Idaho’s Salmon river

TCM: How is your camper outfitted for off-grid camping?

Brian: Two batteries are an absolute must.  Palomino pop-ups only come with one.  I have installed a second battery outside in front of the passenger’s side wheel well.

We have portable solar panels that open up like a suitcase and are set outside.  The portable solar panel works well but, if I had a choice, I think I’d put a permanent solar panel on the roof.  You don’t have to worry about them and while you are driving you are charging your batteries.

Fresh water capacity in the Palomino is only twenty-two gallons.  We carry an extra seven gallon water can.

We have gone five days off-the-grid.  If it gets rainy, we have to conserve power and be careful.  We love the LED lighting.  In our first Palomino we didn’t have it.

The toilet in the Palomino SS-1251 has a black water tank, but I’d rather have a cassette toilet because then I wouldn’t need to carry a sewer hose.  The way we do camping, a cassette would be more convenient.

Above: Brian’s auxiliary grey tank for the sink only, not the shower

The Palomino pop-ups do not come with grey water tanks so I added an 11-gallon auxiliary grey tank for the kitchen sink.  When we pull over and want to make lunch, we don’t have to get out a five gallon container and a hose.

Above: The 11-gallon auxiliary grey tank’s dump valve

The grey tank is long and narrow.  It’s attached to the outside of the camper.  It fits above the wheel well on the driver’s side, so it doesn’t change the clearances for loading and unloading process.  To make it work, a few modifications had to be made to the sink drain.

We mainly use the outside shower.  About half the time we’re totally by ourselves in the wilderness, so we don’t worry.

In eastern Oregon the roads will take us to gorgeous places that most people don’t know exist.  Chris and I really like the desert.  We also like explore ghost towns in Nevada.

TCM: As you talk about your favorite BLM spots, you can almost hear the readers writing destinations on their bucket lists.  The Alvord Desert is now on our list.

Brian: One thing about traveling on these roads is that screws and cabinet hinges will work their way loose.  I’ve done the old wood glue and little piece of toothpick trick and never had a problem since.  Just put a little piece of a toothpick and some wood glue in the hole.  Then put the screw back and it holds forever.

We’ve got a 35 gallon fuel tank in our new diesel truck.  You can get into areas where there’s no fuel for 150 miles.  Extra gas or a large gas tank is important.  We carried an auxiliary fuel tank with our old truck.  Gas stations in sparse areas can unexpectedly close.  We had planned on gassing up in Denio, Nevada, on one trip but found it closed and had to drive north to Fields, Oregon to get gas

Chris and Brian’s Rig
Truck: 2004 Ram 2500
Camper: 2014 Palomino SS-1251
Tie-Downs/Turnbuckles: Torklift
Suspension: Firestone airbags, Torklift StableLoads
Gear: Portable solar panel, auxiliary grey tank, extra battery

The post Diving Deeper Into BLM appeared first on Truck Camper Magazine.

After a frustrating camping experience in Moab, Utah, Keith and Teresa Evans envisioned the ultimate base camp for their Polaris RZR adventures; a goose camper!  This is the story behind the construction and assembly of their Cram-A-Lot Inn.

The path to a truck camper often starts with a vision.  There’s something you want to do that a typical motorhome or towable RV cannot achieve.  After considerable research, the only viable RV solution is a specific pickup truck, a specific truck camper, and – more often than not – a specific towable.  Put that all together and your vision turns into reality.

This approach works for the majority of truck campers, but isn’t the only path to truck camper ownership.  For example, we have seen truck campers mounted to any number of unusual vehicles, sometimes even positioned backwards to fit the available platform.  In these situations, a truck camper was the right piece to complete the puzzle.

Even further out-of-the-box, truck campers are sometimes mounted on trailers.  We first reported on this approach in 2014 with an article titled, “Truck Camper On A Gooseneck”.  Since then the truck camper on a gooseneck trailer idea has started to catch on, especially with the desert-bound off-road ATV enthusiasts.

Further outside the box is exactly where we discovered Keith and Teresa Evans and their Cram-A-Lot Inn.  A trip to Moab, Utah left the Evans unsatisfied with their set-up and imagining what the right solution could be.  That vision led them beyond the possibilities of motorhomes and toy haulers, and even beyond the normal configuration for a pickup truck and camper.

As it turns out, they wanted a goose-camper; part gooseneck trailer, part truck camper, part toy hauler, with something of a party deck out back.  The final result of their efforts is something you have to see to fully appreciate.

Speaking of appreciating goose-campers, it would be interesting if truck camper dealers began showcasing gooseneck trailers with truck campers.  Imagine a truck, gooseneck, truck camper, and RZR set-up out front of a truck camper dealership with highway traffic.  Kick it up a notch with a big sign that reads: Goose Campers Beat Toy Haulers!

I bet a lot of folks who would never otherwise consider a truck camper would pull off, turn in, and turn onto a goose-camper set-up.  Compared to similarly capable toy haulers, the affordability and versatility is unbeatable.  Even better, dealers get to sell the camper and gooseneck trailer.

Goose-camping?  Yeah, it’s a thing.

TCM: What brought you to truck camping?  Did you start as tent campers?

Teresa: We both grew up tent camping with our families.  Then we raised our own families with a lot of camping trips.  Those trips began with tents and then we worked our way up to truck campers and RVs.

We wanted a Palomino pop-up truck camper because they are lightweight, low-profile, and low cost.  We also liked the utilitarian design and how the pop-up offers a tent camping feel without being on the ground.

TCM: Why did you set up your truck camper as a towed trailer?

Keith: After we bought the Palomino, we took our RZR to Moab, got off the beaten path on a dirt road, and set up camp.  Once we leveled up, we realized that we no longer had access to our vehicle, if we needed it.  We finished up that trip and headed to Montana.

During that fourteen hour drive we thought, “What would be the perfect set up?  What would be better?”  A toy hauler came to mind, but there aren’t many available for a four seater RZR.  We thought, “Why not put a camper on a gooseneck trailer and then we would have the truck once we leveled up?”

We did find one or two toy haulers that would probably fit the RZR, but they were approaching $75,000.  Plus, they’re so big and heavy to pull.

Teresa: A truck camper is perfect for how we camp.  We like to feel like we’re in the outdoors.  Plus, I don’t want to clean a big space while I’m out camping.  Our camper has a refrigerator, sink, a bed, and a potty.  It’s perfect.

TCM: How did you put the rig together from that point?

Keith: I didn’t have a written plan.  We made a few sketches, but it was mainly in my head.  First we had to find a trailer that met our length and construction requirements.

I measured the camper with the entrance door open.  Then I measured the length of the RZR.  From those measurements I knew I needed 25-feet of deck space.  I ended up with a PJ Gooseneck trailer because of its construction and safety.

Then, we upgraded the tires and wheels.

We started the project last August.  The camper was on the trailer and the deck was built by mid-September.  We’ve been tweaking it ever since.

Above: The camper on the trailer before the deck was under construction

TCM: Did you assemble the truck and trailer yourselves?

Keith: We actually already had our truck, bought the trailer and mounted the camper onto the trailer with the help of our good friend, Jerry Barton.  Jerry had a heavy duty jack lift that he brought over and was able to lift the camper onto the trailer.

Above: Materials are out for the deck railing to be assembled

TCM: Where did you get the skills to put this rig together?

Keith: I am a Gold Miner by trade.  I work at a big gold mine in Crescent Valley and Teresa is a retired high school secretary, so we don’t have a background in construction.  My dad taught me quite a bit about problem solving and woodworking, which helped a lot when completing this project.

Teresa: We built the entire deck together.  Keith is super crafty and thinks about everything ahead of time.

For this project we bought a table saw and Keith taught me how to use it.  I cut each board for the deck railing and screwed them on with a power drill.

TCM: The final deck is quite elaborate.  Where did those ideas come from?

Keith: You know how you come up with one idea and that triggers a butterfly effect?  As we assembled the rig, one idea led to another.

What if we have a deck on the back?  We love to dance, so a porch would be great.  And what if we put up a cool gate like on a house?  We’re still adding to it and making it better.  There’s always a better mousetrap.

Teresa: When we thought about dancing on the deck, we realized we could fall off.  That’s where we got the idea to put up a railing.  I didn’t want it to look like a hayride, so we put up a yard fence.  The fence isn’t too tall so we can see out when we’re sitting in our lawn chairs.

Keith: We were not the first to think of putting a truck camper on a gooseneck trailer.  I believe we are the first to put a railing around the trailer with a truck camper.

TCM: You also put a mini railing between the cabover and the gooseneck.  What’s the purpose of that railing?

Keith: The cabover and the gooseneck looked a bit detached.  I wanted to make it look more connected and aesthetically pleasing.  The wood railing makes that area match the deck.

People sometimes ask why the railing doesn’t come all the way down to the deck.  That’s because after loading the RZR on the trailer I have to have room under the railing to attach the tie-downs to the trailer tie-down points.

TCM: What’s in the storage boxes under the camper?

Keith: Those are stainless steel flatbed storage boxes.  Inside I have tools, a Weber barbecue, lawn chairs, and more.  We don’t like to put too much stuff in the camper because it can rub on the cabinetry while traveling.  We also want to have access to our refrigerator.  We’re always brainstorming new storage ideas.

On the gooseneck part of the trailer where I added the mini railing between the cabover and the gooseneck I built an area where we can store three extra 20-pound propane tanks.  We also have a propane fire pit made by Camp Chef for our deck.  It can be used even when regular fires aren’t allowed due to fire danger.  It gives us great ambience on cool evenings.

We also wanted an umbrella for shade and for when it rains, so I built a bracket that I mounted on the floor of the trailer.  The nine-foot umbrella is adjustable and sturdy so the wind won’t take it.

Teresa: There are large PVC conduit pipes mounted under the trailer on each side to store our fishing poles, RZR flags, and the umbrella when we’re traveling.

Keith: We built the storage tubes from conduit kits we purchased from Northern Tool. The PVC pipes themselves were found in a scrap yard.  They are Schedule 80 PVC pipes and are very expensive to purchase, so we got lucky to have found them in the scrap yard for free.  One pipe is 6” x 7.5’ for the flag poles and fishing poles, and other pipe is 8” x 7’ for the umbrella.

Recently I mounted extra dinette table pedestal bases on the left and right side of the deck for use of the camp stove on our Palomino’s table.  That way we can use the dinette table on either side depending on our camping situation.  That gives us a lot of versatility with the table.

For light at night, we installed solar lighting on the railing.  The lights have on and off switches on them so that we can leave them on during the day to charge, but when traveling at night they can be turned off.  It is illegal to travel with them on since they are white lights.

TCM: This camper and deck is quite the party on wheels.  Now that you’ve completed the majority of the trailer, what might have you done differently?

Keith: I would make the uprights for the railing out of steel.  The wood fencing moves in strange ways with the heat and humidity.  If the uprights were steel, that would not be a problem.  Other than that, I wouldn’t change a thing.

TCM: How is the Palomino camper connected to the trailer?

Keith: We used traditional truck camper turnbuckles to tie-down the truck camper to the trailer.  I put the eye bolts into the main frame of the trailer, not in the decking.

Instead of the camper tie-down points, I took the bolts out of the jack brackets and used the corner braces.  These braces are much stronger than the camper tie-down points.

To keep the camper still, I bought a half-inch rubber mat and put the mat underneath the camper.  It doesn’t slide and the rubber mat cushions the bottom of the camper.  I then put treated 4x4s on the front, left and right through the main frame so the camper can’t slide side to side.

Above: The camper being loaded for the first time on the trailer

TCM: Is the camper still removable?

Keith: The camper is still removable.  The whole deck is reversible meaning it can be taken apart and returned to the original trailer.  The deck of the gooseneck is 102-inches, which is much wider than our camper.  It’s definitely a challenge to get the camper off and on.

TCM: Does the camper and trailer set-up handle well on the road?

Keith: Yes, it does.  With the pop-up in the down position, the trailer has low drag at high speeds.  And the trailer looks cool with a pop-up truck camper.  A hard side camper would have a lot more wind resistance.

TCM: Do you have trouble fitting into camping spots?

Keith: Sometimes we can leave the truck and trailer hooked up.  In most places we unhook the truck so the overall length isn’t a big deal.  The trailer itself is 33-feet long from the tail lights to the gooseneck.

Teresa: When we get to a campground we ask for a 40-foot spot to be safe.

TCM: You said earlier that the rig is still a work in progress.  What does it need to be complete?

Keith: The overall construction is done.  As I described, I may swap the wood uprights to metal.  We are still looking for better solar panel deck lights with switches.

From this point there will be little tweaks.  We upgraded ramps for the RZR because the original steel set was too heavy.  We now have aluminum ramps.  It’s almost sad that it’s done.

The Torklift GlowSteps that came with camper have been repurposed.  They are now pinned to the trailer and we use them to enter and exit.

Teresa: We actually put gates on both sides so the stairs can attach on either side.  You don’t know which side you may need to enter at a campsite, so this leaves it flexible.

TCM: Where did the name Cram-A-Lot come from?

Keith: That was Teresa’s idea.  We were getting ready to go camping.  You know pop-ups don’t have a lot of storage.  She said, “We’ve got to cram a lot in here.”  That’s where it came from and that’s the perfect name.  So, we call it, “The Cram-A-Lot Inn”.

TCM: The name is perfect.  Where are you going next with The Cram-A-Lot Inn?

Keith: We use the rig every chance we can.  We have to go to Reno this month for a doctor’s appointment.   My hands are starting to give out due to over twenty years of operating an electric 4100 XPC Shovel with an 88 yard bucket at the gold mine.  When we go to Reno, we stay at The Grand Sierra Resort which has an RV park so we can stay in our camper instead of a hotel room.  We take it everywhere we go.

TCM: Is there anything else you’d like to add?

Keith: Our rig draws a lot of people to it.  Some people get it, and then other people say, “What is that?” or “That’s redneck!”.  My boss saw it and said it was redneck and I said, “Awesome! That’s the look we were going for”.

We’ve had cops stop to take pictures.  A waitress at a restaurant went out to take pictures.  It draws a crowd.  We enjoy having something unique.  We couldn’t rob a bank with it.  They’d find us easily.  We’re the ones in the Cram-A-Lot.

This rig puts smiles on people’s faces.  We go down the highway and we get a lot of thumbs ups.  People will walk by and just smile at us.  Most everyone who sees it grins.

Teresa: We’ve met some unique and amazing people since we built this rig.  They will even offer their own ideas for Cram-A-Lot.  It’s a lot of fun.

As you can see, we’re spontaneous people.  We live outside the box.  We don’t like the norm.  We prefer a truck camper for its size and weight and we like that we can go pretty much anywhere with our truck, trailer, and RZR.

Keith: With this project we wanted to see how far out of the box we could go.  We did it to mainly to suit our needs to haul our RZR, but it’s also been a lot of fun putting it together.

Keith and Teresa’s Rig
Truck: 2016 Ram 3500, Crew Cab, 4×4, Diesel, Single Rear Wheel, Long Bed
Camper: 2015 Palomino SS-1240 Backpack Edition
Tie-Downs/Turnbuckles: Torklift
Suspension: Factory Auto-Leveling Rear Suspension
Gear: 16 foot party deck/XP Turbo RZR parking/hauler
Gooseneck Trailer: PJ Trailers

The post Goose Camping at the Cram-A-Lot Inn appeared first on Truck Camper Magazine.

Eddie and Pat Hayden take their Palomino pop-up truck camper deep into western Canada and the national parks of The West to capture the wildlife, landscapes, and stars.  Stunning photos ahead.

As a magazine, we have worked our fair share of RV shows.  Talking to attendees all day, you quickly learn that the general RVing public wouldn’t go truck camping if you paid them.  They look at truck campers as too small and old fashioned to even consider.  That’s why the RV industry invented travel trailers, fifth wheels, and motorhomes.

Then there are the truck camper folks.  They practically run toward the truck campers on display and couldn’t be more excited to talk all-things trucks, campers, and truck camping.  They think they won the lottery just thinking about all the freedom and adventure they’ll be having.  In fact, if they won the lottery, they would just immediately buy a truck and camper, or two.  Their enthusiasm is truly infectious.

Where does this excitement come from?  Why do some people avoid truck campers and others celebrate them?  It all comes down to the unique versatility of truck campers and how they allow you to fully pursue your outdoor passions.  Put another way, the “go anywhere, camp anywhere, tow anything” capability of a truck camper rig amplifies outdoor hobbies and interests into dreams come true.  Want a few hundred compelling examples proving this theory?  Start with our Lifestyle Stories.

One of the latest, and perhaps best, examples of a hobby amplified by truck camping is the story of Eddie and Pat Hayden.  For the Haydens, their passion for wildlife, landscape, and night sky photography was taken to an entirely new level with the addition of a Palomino pop-up truck camper.  The Haydens’ “go anywhere, camp anywhere” rig puts them on location, at the right time, to capture images that are going to roll your socks up and down.  In fact, you may have already voted for a few as winning photographs of the Truck Camper Magazine calendar contest.

Above: Eddie and Pat at Goose Island State Park in Rockport, Texas

TCM: What brought you to truck camping?

Pat: When we were young, we both tent camped with our families.  When we married, we bought a fiberglass camper shell for our truck and used that for a camper.  Towards our retirement we decided to drive more, and fly less.  As we researched the different types of RVs, we knew we did not want to pull a trailer.  Eddie always had a truck, so a truck camper was a logical choice.

We have a very nomadic style of travel.  If we see something, we want to be able to go there without hesitation.  A pop-up truck camper seemed to best fit our needs.  We selected the Palomino Bronco because of the price and the low profile.  We went with a lower priced model because we also do international travel and did not want to spend all of our money on the camper.

TCM: What do you enjoy doing while truck camping?

Pat: Our number one hobby is photography.  We also like exploring the National Parks, bird watching, and hiking.

Eddie: We’re very nomadic.  If we stay at a spot more than two to three days, the photography must be exceptional in that area.  Our camper life gets us closer to the places we want to go for photography.

Above: Laguna Seca Ranch near Edinburg, Texas

TCM: Do you both enjoy photography?

Eddie: Yes, we do.  I started photography in high school, continued for several years, burnt out, and got away from it.  About seven years ago when we started contemplating retirement, I convinced Pat she needed a hobby.  I led her towards photography and she took the bait.  She got excited and involved.  That also drew me back to it.

I’ve been using Nikon equipment since early 1970s.  Today we carry professional Nikon DSLR cameras and lenses designed for the types of photography we enjoy.

Above: Bisti Wilderness, New Mexico

Pat: I’m more into wildlife photography, and Eddie is more into landscape and night time photography.  We bring more equipment than clothes.

Above: White Sands, New Mexico

TCM: Tell us how you get your amazing shots.

Eddie: Photography for us is purely recreational and for enjoyment.  I love sharing the photos and I don’t mind at all helping people who are new to photography.

Pat: For Eddie’s night time photography, we look for campgrounds located far from city lights that obscure the stars.  We always dry camp, and stay at provincial and state parks.  We stay away from big campgrounds.

Eddie: My camera has a very high ISO capability for night time photography.  ISO is the measure of sensitivity the camera sensor has to light.

Above: The image that won in the 2016 calendar contest

The image that’s in the Truck Camper Magazine Calendar this year was shot at ISO 3200, aperture of 2.8, and a shutter speed of 20 seconds.  Those settings allow a lot of light to reach the sensor to reveal the star fields.  Essentially, I’m shooting as wide open as the lens and camera will allow.  That’s the key to the night photography.

Normal consumer lenses won’t open to 2.8.  Consumer lenses will open to maybe 4.5, which means you can’t get enough light in to pick up the stars and small points of light.  To capture night photography at this level, the quality of your equipment is key.

TCM: You also left your camper lights on during the photo.  Was that done on purpose?

Eddie: Yes, I left the lights on because I like the warm glow and homey feel.  The winning photo this year has a blue cast to it.  If you photograph something within an hour of sundown, you are in the blue hour.  That photo was shot during the blue hour.  It’s not a spectrum of light you can see with your eye, but the camera really picks up on the blue.

TCM: Are you taking the darker photos in the middle of the night?

Eddie: I’ll stay up all night.

Pat: The nice thing about the camper is that I can climb in and go to sleep while he stays up and gets photos.

Eddie: When we were in Canada this past year, we could see the stars within 30 to 40 minutes of sundown.  That’s normally not the case for night photography.  Usually I have to wait a couple hours after sundown.  I usually go to sleep and set the alarm for 2:00am and then do my night photography to get shots of the Milky Way.

Pat: He’s out there freezing.

Above: The Northern Lights in Hinton, Alberta

Eddie: When we were in Canada, I got up at 2:00am it was 26 degrees outside, but I got a photo of the northern lights.  It was pretty cold, but I can run into the camper and get warmed up.

TCM: And it makes for a great story behind the photographs.  How often do you go out truck camping?  It looks like you have been to a lot of places.

Pat: We try to avoid truck camping in the summer.  April, May, September, and October are our primary camping months.

Eddie: Yellowstone National Park is a premier destination for wildlife photography.  We usually go there twice a year.  To avoid the tremendous traffic in the park, our rule of thumb is to stay out after Memorial Day and not go back before Labor Day.

We also like to go to places in Canada to photograph wildlife where there’s peace and quiet.  We have traveled to Canada twice.  Our first trip with our Palomino was in 2013.  We drove up through British Columbia to Haines, Alaska.  From there we took the Alaskan ferry to Prince Rupert, and then headed east to the Canadian Rockies, and then back to the Lower 48.

Above: Bristlecone Pine forest night time sky

TCM: Where have you been with your truck camper that you would recommend to other truck campers?

Pat and Eddie: Near Bishop, California we’ve enjoyed the Patriarch Grove in the Ancient Bristlecone Pine National Forest.  The Patriarch Grove is at 12,000 feet.  They have a primitive campground between the entrance and the visitor center that is first come, first serve, and very remote and quiet.  It’s a dirt road and offers a vault toilet.  When we were there, the majority of people had tents.

Above: Milky Way, White Mountains near Big Pine, California, Calendar Winner

The picture from the 2013 Calendar contest is from there.  We took White Mountain Road past the visitor center.  The Patriarch Grove is a rough twelve mile gravel road that goes into the grove.  It took us two hours to get there.  I asked the people at the visitors center if there was camping allowed up there, and they said no, but there is no curfew.

Above: Camping at Jedediah Smith Redwoods State Park, California

Jedediah Smith Redwoods State Park in northern California is a little crowded, but beautiful with all the large redwoods.  Redwoods are difficult to photograph.  I normally try to avoid getting people in my photos, but if you want to show the scope and size of the trees, you need to include something to show scale.  If you don’t include a person, then you don’t have that.

You can’t get back away from the trees in Jedediah Smith to get a profile, you are in the middle of the forest.  Shooting straight up is about your only option.

Above: Wolves in Hyder, Alaska

Hyder, Alaska is a little spot in the far southern part of Alaska.  It borders Stewart, Canada, and then crosses over into Hyder.

Above: Eddie taking pictures of bears on a platform in Hyder, Alaska

There are thirteen miles of road in Hyder, Alaska, and that’s where we photographed the bears.

Above: Haines, Alaska bear cub

If you drive on, you are back into Canada, and it dead ends at Salmon Glacier.  Haines, Alaska is further north.  You can then go up through Whitehorse and then Haines Junction and then go west.  There is one road in and one road out.  Those are destinations that we feel you really have to visit.

Above: Their camper on an Alaskan Ferry

We took the Alaska Marine Highway so we didn’t have to drive it twice.  Haines is a fishing village which is known for bears.  Late in the season, eagles roost along the river, which attracts photographers in the winter months.

Above: Jasper National Park, Whistler Campground

In Canada, we enjoyed Whistler Campground in Jasper National Park.

Above: Jasper National Park during elk rut

We went there during the elk rut, which is the elk’s breeding season.  It’s when the males are fighting and getting to the females for breeding purposes.

Above: Peyto Lake in Banff National Park

Peyto Lake is in between Icefield Parkway and Banff.  If you continue towards Jasper, you drive along the Atabasca River.  We went past the Icefields Parkway to a little campground called Mosquito Creek.  It’s on the way to Jasper, and it’s another campground with a vault toilet, no electric, and no running water.

William A Switzer Provincial Park in Alberta is a beautiful park with lots of hiking trails.  With luck you can see the auroras there.  That is northeast of Jasper and is a smaller, quieter campground.  We found it on All Stays.  We have fallen in love with All Stays.  It has helped us find BLM land, State Parks, and forested areas.  A lot of the game reserves have places where you can overnight camp and a lot of those are free.  We seek those places out.

Above: Waterfalls in Glacier National Park

Glacier National Park in Montana is a great place to do lots of hiking.  Glacier is difficult for wildlife, but great for waterfalls.  We have found mountain goats and bighorn sheep on the hike at the visitors center on Going to the Sun road.  It’s not a destination that we go to for wildlife.  It’s more of a landscape photographers type of place.  Take your bear spray on the hikes.  We carry it with us whenever there is a remote chance of a bear attack.

Above: Moose at Grand Teton National Park, Wyoming

Grand Teton National Park in Wyoming is our second favorite park after Yellowstone.  We stay at Gros Vente campground.  It is a wonderful experience and has lots of places for wildlife and landscape photography.  We normally go in October when moose are in breeding season.  It’s not unusual to have a moose in your campsite.  It’s been a breeding area for moose for hundreds of years.  It’s more of an inconvenience for them that we’re there, so we give them plenty of space.

Above: Bisti Wilderness, New Mexico is a fun place to explore

Bisti/De-Na-Zin Wilderness is in New Mexico.  We camped in the parking lot and had the place pretty much to ourselves at night.  One of the photos from this year was in the parking lot.  It was a spot we’re going back to, but I’m going to be equipped with a GPS next time.

Above: Camping at Bisti/De-Na-Zin Wilderness, New Mexico

We are also going to target the night photography.  I’ll go out and set up the camera and get the composition right.  I also want to experiment with different light sources and do light painting.  I use a flashlight to illuminate the foreground so it pops out during long exposure.  It’s definitely a place to re-visit.

North of Bisti towards Farmington, photographers say the Valley of Dreams is like Bisti with formations, but it’s down a dirt road and on BLM land.  It’s a popular spot for night photographers.

Above: Monument Valley, Utah also has camping opportunities

We enjoyed a quick visit to Monument Valley, Utah and we want to go back and spend more time in all the Utah parks. We have flown over Monument Valley going to Salt Lake City, so that was a place we wanted to stop.  We will go back and spend time in Utah.

Above; Goose Island State Park, Rockport, Texas

We also like Goose Island, Texas, outside of Rockport, Texas.  It’s great for spring bird watching.  The wooded campground is very nice.  It’s a good place for bird watching in spring when migration is happening.  Texas is a birders paradise.  Ninety percent of all migratory song birds come through Texas.

South Padre Island is also great for bird watching.  Most of the birds there you would see in the western states.  We are not birders by nature, but our photography is how we identify them.  I take the photo and then look the bird up in the book to see what it was.

Above: Bird photography from Laguna Seca Ranch near Edinburg, Texas

We know some private ranchers near McAllen and Edinburg, Texas who let us park at their ranch.  They have blinds built so we are hidden in a blind in the ground.

Above: Bird photography from Laguna Seca Ranch near Edinburg, Texas

We are at eye level to where the birds land.  They charge a daily fee to photograph there.  You can go even go there if you’re not a photographer.

Above: Bird photography from Laguna Seca Ranch near Edinburg, Texas

Since it’s so dry in south Texas, they’ve built water holes so that the birds will come in.

Above: Palomino 1251 pop-up camper off the truck at Glacier National Park, Montana

TCM: I see that you take your camper off your truck.  Do you do that often?

Eddie: We take it off if we’re going to be somewhere for more than two nights.  The primary reason is, with wildlife photography, we get up before daylight and want to get into a position where we can see wildlife when the sun is just coming up.  It is inconvenient to eat, crank the camper down, and pack up in the dark.  We like the lifestyle of taking it off almost everywhere we stop.

Pat: We can get the camper off and on in under 30 minutes.  It’s very easy to do. If we get the camper where it’s not too far off the ground, it feels comfortable off the truck.

Eddie: We are going to buy aluminum jack stands and put a couple under the center rib of the camper for support.

TCM: Have you made any modifications to your truck or camper?

Pat: Yes, we modified the truck by removing the back seat and adding a platform so we could easily store our camera gear.

We also added a PVC grey water tank to increase our grey water capacity.

We changed the dining area to have a wider seat to make it more comfortable.  We also removed the built-in table and now use a small foldable table that can be stored under the bed.  The folding table can also be used outside the camper.

We added shelves to one of the cabinets to make it easier to store food.  We added hooks to the outside of the cabinets to hang items like jackets.

Above: Bathroom storage in their Palomino pop-up bathroom

We also added a rear camera that we can turn on and off as needed.

TCM: Does anyone travel with you?

Pat: We usually only travel with the two of us.  If we are staying in Texas, we will bring our eight year old Border Collie.  She loves to go camping with us and has her bed in the camper for nights.

A lot of the places we camp it’s not great to have dog with us, so a friend watches her.  For example, with all the wildlife activity in Yellowstone, she would have to stay in the truck.

Above: Amanita Lake Campground, McGregor, British Columbia

TCM: What are your truck camping plans for the future?

Pat: We want to spend several weeks in Utah visiting all the parks there, and we want to spend more time in British Columbia and Alberta.  We have taken two very long trips visiting several different areas and want to now modify our travels to pick out one or two specific areas and spend longer times in those spots.

Eddie: A lot of friends don’t understand how we can stay in a small place and be comfortable.  I sleep better in the camper than at home.  It’s like being in a cocoon.  We are comfortable.

Pat: We’ve been retired for three years.  To not have to fly or stay in hotels makes our vacations so much more enjoyable and relaxing.  I couldn’t think of any other way of doing it.

In 2013 when we were gone six weeks, I made Eddie promise that we would stay in hotels every four or five nights.  This past year we went for five weeks and I wanted to be in the truck camper the whole time.  To camp in quiet places is the best way to travel.

Rig Information
Truck: 2005 Dodge 2500 , Extended Cab, Short Bed, Single Rear Wheel, 4×4, Diesel
Camper: 2013 Palomino Bronco 1251
Tie-Downs and Turnbuckles: Torklift tie-downs, Happijac turnbuckles
Suspension: N/A
Gear: Built a grey water tank and mounted it inside the bed of the truck, the rear seat has been removed and a platform built for storage of camera gear

The post Retired to the Wildlife appeared first on Truck Camper Magazine.

The ultra-light hard side market heats up even hotter with the 2016 Palomino HS-650, a hard side non-slide truck camper targeting half-ton short bed trucks.  What’s this solar port?

Over the past year, the greater truck camper industry got serious about payload matching half-ton trucks.  In the past, “half-ton compatible” often meant, “Technically this camper could match a half-ton truck, if you special ordered the highest capacity half-ton truck currently available, and didn’t load the unit with water, batteries, propane, food, or stuff”.  In other words, these units were half-ton compatible on paper, but not in reality.

Thankfully, this shell game is ending as manufacturers retire these older units and introduce all-new truck camper models designed to hit the weight and center of gravity numbers of real world half-ton trucks.

This doesn’t mean you can run out and match one of these new lighter-weight campers with any old half ton.  That’s not how matching a truck and camper of any size and weight works.  While the new ultra-light hard sides are significantly lighter than their predecessors, you still need to run the numbers outlined in our Newbie Corner article, “Matching A Truck and Camper”.  Always do the math.

The latest example of the ultra-light hard side trend is the all-new 2016 Palomino HS-650, a compelling option for half-ton trucks that’s literally hundreds of pounds lighter than the model it replaces.  Even better, Palomino has included an impressive list of standard features including what we believe is a truck camper industry first; a solar port for portable solar panels.  The Palomino HS-650 may be a light weight, but it clearly has some heavy weight thinking behind it.

To find out more about the 2016 Palomino HS-650 we talked to Pat Hines, Truck Camper Product Manager for Palomino RV.

Palomino HS-650 Specifications

The 2016 Palomino HS-650 is a hard-side, non-slide truck camper for short bed trucks.  The interior floor length of the Palomino HS-650 is 6’5” and the interior height is 6’6”.  Palomino RV is reporting the standard build dry weight of the HS-650 at 1,547 pounds.

The 2016 Palomino HS-650 has a 15 gallon fresh tank, porta-potti storage, and no grey tank.  The camper accommodates one battery and one vertical twenty-pound propane tank.  The MSRP for a standard build Palomino HS-650 is $16,300.

Above: A computer rendering of the 2016 Palomino HS-650 on a short bed Chevy truck

All renderings and photography were supplied by Palomino RV.

TCM: Does the new 2016 Palomino HS-650 replace any older models in the Palomino truck camper line?

Pat: The HS-650 replaces the HS-800.  The outgoing HS-800 was our half-ton targeted camper, but it was really not half-ton compatible.  At about 2,000 pounds dry, the HS-800 was only acceptable for a few late-model half-tons.

We wanted a camper to be truly half-ton compatible.  Our truck target was 5 to 6.5-foot short bed trucks.  The target weight of the camper was in the 1,500 to 1,600 pound range.  The final unit is compatible with 5-foot beds, and weighs 1,540 pounds dry.

Above: A computer rendering of the 2016 Palomino HS-650 interior

TCM: That’s an impressive weight.  Is that a base model stripped of features?

Pat: The 1,540 weight includes almost everything as standard including a water heater, exterior shower, interior sink, two burner range, 5-cubic foot refrigerator, some nice storage, a U-shaped dinette, queen size bed, porta-potti storage, Fantastic Fan, and an AM/FM, CD, DVD, USB, and Bluetooth-equipped stereo system.  All Palominos have pretty much everything standard now.

Above: An AM/FM, CD, DVD, USB, and Bluetooth-equipped stereo system is standard

The only options on the HS-650 are a 19-inch LED television, electric jacks, an entry step system, air conditioner, and rear awning.

TCM: Why did Palomino decide on an east-west cabover?

Pat: That was a weight and center of gravity decision.  Had we gone with a north-south cabover, the center of gravity would have been too far forward for a 1,540-pound camper with a 6-foot 5-inch floor.

Selecting a east-west cabover moved the center of gravity back to where it should be.  The east-west bed is queen-size; 60-inches by 80-inches.

TCM: Why was it a problem for the center of gravity to be too far forward?  Usually manufacturers are trying to get their center of gravity as far forward as possible.

Pat: If the center of gravity is too far forward on a light weight truck camper, the unit could potentially tip if demounted off the truck.  Having the center of gravity further back keeps the unit steady on its jacks.  There’s definitely a fine line between light weight, center of gravity, and tipping over.

TCM: What is the center of gravity for the HS-650?

Pat: The HS-650’s center of gravity is 29.5-inches from the front wall of the camper.

Above: A porta-potti will fit in this storage compartment

TCM: Why was the decision made to not include a bathroom?

Pat: Once again, that was a weight decision.  To keep the HS-650 weight and center of gravity compatible with the widest possible number of short bed trucks, we did not include a bathroom.

Above: Exterior showers are standard in the Palomino HS-650

The HS-650 offers ample storage for a porta-potti, and an exterior shower is standard.

Above: The 2016 Palomino HS-650 features a fully-laminated barrel roof

TCM: Palomino has used a barrel roof – a unique feature of Palomino truck campers – in the design for the HS-650.  If weight is a priority, wouldn’t a traditional straight roof have saved some weight from this unit?

Pat: As you can see in the photography, the HS-650 features our full-laminated barrel roof giving the camper 3-4 inches of additional headroom.  The barrel roof is standard on all of our Palomino truck campers and really opens up the cabover.

Due to our lamination process, the weight difference between our barrel roof and a straight roof is minimal.  The benefits of interior height outweighs the minimal weight difference.

TCM: Is the barrel roof on the HS-650 a full walk-on roof?

Pat: Yes, the HS-650 has a full walk-on roof.  It’s very important to be able to walk on your camper roof to inspect for damage, check the seals, and remove snow or debris.  Our customers also like the ability to mount a storage pod or kayaks on the roof.  For this reason, every hard side Palomino truck camper has a full walk-on roof.  You and ten of your friends can walk on our barrel roofs.

Above: The fresh water tank is under the step up to the cabover

TCM: The HS-650 has a 15 gallon fresh water tank and a kitchen sink, but no grey water tank.  What is the recommended way to handle grey water with the HS-650?

Pat: Not having a grey tank was another weight decision.  The owner of the HS-650 can handle grey water the same way our soft side camper owners do.  We provide an exterior grey water drain where you can attach a hose that goes into a bucket.  You can also attach a blue buddy and then dump it at a dump station.
We carefully considered adding a grey tank, but it adds too much weight.  Plus, with the HS-650 being a non-basement model, there’s not a lot of real estate to put a grey water tank.

Above: To reduce weight, bungee material is used instead of wood cabinet doors

TCM: After the first prototype was completed, were there any adjustments made to the design of the camper to make it production ready?

Pat: We made a handful of minor changes.  As prototype was being made, we spent a lot of time inside the camper at numerous stages.  We made changes during the prototype process.  The production manager, Rob Foster, myself, and the sales team all had input.  By the time the prototype was finished, it was ready for production.

Above: Another example of bungee material being used instead of cabinet doors

TCM: Can you give us an example of the changes you made during the prototype build?

Pat: During the process, we decided to make the cabinet faces out of bungee material instead of having cabinet doors.  By making that change, we were able to eliminate 20 to 30 pounds.  That’s considerable when you’re targeting 1,500-1,600 pounds.

Above: The U-shaped dinette converts into a bed

We also made a front facing U-shaped dinette in the main seating area.  That seating area will accommodate three to four adults comfortably.  A step-up into the bed was integrated into the dinette for easier cabover entry and exit.

TCM: The front dinette is unique in the Palomino truck camper line.

Pat: This has been the first front dinette camper that we have built here at Palomino, at least that I can remember.  We decided on the front dinette to move the center of gravity.  Usually, the refrigerator and stove are in front for center of gravity, but we needed it in the back to bring the center of gravity back.  Plus, the front dinette really opens up the main living area.

TCM: Tell us about the framing material, lamination, and other construction details.

Pat: The Palomino HS-650 is built same way as other Palomino truck campers.  We didn’t reinvent the wheel.  The HS-650 features vacuum bonded lamination and is wood framed.

Above: The kitchen features a two-burner range top and single bowl sink

TCM: Tell us about the cabinetry, counter tops, and fabrics in the Palomino HS-650.

Pat: We used the same materials that we use for all Palomino truck campers.  This goes back to our KISS (keep it simple stupid) production theory that enables us to sell an extremely affordable camper using the same construction materials and appliances across all of our production units.

Above: The 5-cubic foot 2-way refrigerator-freezer combo unit

TCM: Did you select appliances for the HS-650 based on weight considerations?

Pat: Yes, we did.  First, we eliminated the microwave.  A microwave is standard on our other hard side truck campers, but we needed to delete the microwave on the HS-650 to save weight and provide extra room for storage!

For the refrigerator, we opted for a 5-cubic foot 2-way refrigerator-freezer combo unit.  That also saved weight while offering the right amount of food storage for a unit this size.

Above: Single pane frameless windows and Rieco-Titan manual jacks are standard

TCM: What type of windows are standard?

Pat: Single pane frameless windows.  The frameless windows give the HS-650 a modern aesthetic and weigh about the same as the outgoing framed windows.  Thermal pane windows are not available.

Above: The vented battery box allows for a single Group 24 battery

TCM: How many batteries does the Palomino HS-650 have, and where are they located?

Pat: One Group 24 battery will fit in the vented case under the cabover transition step.  There is room for two batteries, but we provide the one case.

Above: The exterior battery charge port means you don’t need to remove the batteries for trickle charging

An exterior battery charge port is standard on the HS-650, as is a battery disconnect.  These two features allow the owner to keep the batteries in the HS-650 charged without removing them.  The battery disconnect is located just inside the rear door.

Above: Solar ports are a new Palomino feature for 2016.  Solar ports allow the owner to connect up to a 90-watt portable solar panel

For 2016, we are introducing solar ports.  Solar ports allow the owner to connect a portable solar panel up to 90 watts.  The solar ports and solar port pre-wiring are included as standard giving every Palomino truck camper owner the option to use a portable solar panel.

Above: The HS-650 comes with one vertical 20-pound propane tank

TCM: That’s a fantastic idea.  Portable solar panels can be quickly placed and angled for the best sunlight, and moved to charge boat and other towed toy batteries.  In many ways, portable solar panels are more practical than roof-mounted solar panels.  What are the propane tank sizes in the HS-650?

Pat: A single vertical 20-pound propane tank is located at the rear of the driver’s side of the camper.  You can exchange 20-pound vertical tanks any of the thousands of exchangeable propane vendors across the United States and Canada.

TCM: Does the HS-650 offer hot water heater access, hot water heater bypass, and low water drain for winterization?

Pat: We include all of those convenience features as standard including a water heater bypass and easily accessible low point drains.  The HS-650 has everything you need to properly winterize.

TCM: Can you get an air conditioner with the HS-650?

Pat: The optional air conditioner is a Dometic 11,000 BTU unit.  The Dometic runs off a Honda EU2000i portable generator.

Above: For maximum short bed length compatibility, the 2016 Palomino HS-650 does not feature a bumper.  Torklift International GlowSteps are a factory option.

TCM: Tell us about the standard bumper and entry step system for the 2016 Palomino HS-650.

Pat: There is no bumper on the HS-650, but Torklift International GlowSteps are available through Palomino.  The GlowSteps are a factory available option that most dealers order.

TCM: What does the 2016 Palomino HS-650 weigh with standard build features?

Pat: A standard build camper is 1,547 pounds.  Standard build includes everything except our five options; 19-inch LED television, electric jacks, an entry step system, air conditioner, and rear awning.  All together, those six options would add about 350 pounds to the unit (1,890 pounds dry).

TCM: Is the center of gravity marked on the side of the camper?

Pat: Palomino is still not marking center of gravity.  Center of gravity changes as you add options and your stuff, so we don’t mark it on the production line.

We do measure center of gravity by rolling a bar under a production unit.  We are also now putting that center of gravity information in our brochures.

TCM: That’s an excellent step in the right direction.  And you’re right about center of gravity moving depending on added options, holding tank levels, and cargo, but we still encourage Palomino to mark the dry weight center of gravity.  How does Palomino weigh their truck campers?

Pat: We have certified scales that we use for our travel trailers.  A tractor driver at Palomino uses what we call a “miracle cart” to slide under a truck camper and bring it to our certified scales.  Then we subtract the weight of the miracle cart to get the camper’s weight.

TCM: What is the MSRP for the 2016 Palomino HS-650 with standard build features?

Pat: Before options, the MSRP is $16,300.

TCM: That’s a very aggressive price.

Pat: Palomino RV is a division of Forest River, itself owned by Berkshire Hathaway.  Forest River’s buying power and scale of production drives down Palominos material and appliance costs beyond what any other truck camper manufacturer can achieve.

With Palomino, you’re also not paying a premium for the brand sticker on the unit.  You get all the material, appliance, and production quality and none of the low-volume, high-brand fees.  In fact, many of our materials and appliances are better than our more-expensive competition.

We also now have an automotive-style shine bay for final-finishing quality control and have put in extra quality control processes throughout the production line.

We put out a fantastic product, and will continue to improve on a daily basis.  Our campers are shipping to dealers ready to go.  For our dealers and customers, our quality offers piece of mind.

Finally, Palomino now has a dedicated Truck Camper Product Manager – yours truly.  My responsibility is to keep a pulse on the truck camper community, to see what other manufacturers are doing, and to stay on the cutting edge.

Above: A 2016 Palomino HS-650 at the end of the assembly line

TCM: We are looking forward to seeing the shine bay in action.  What is the warranty for the 2016 Palomino HS-650?

Pat: Palomino RV offers a one year bumper-to-bumper warranty.  All components have their own manufacturer warranties.

TCM: When will the 2016 Palomino HS-650 be available?

Pat: It is arriving on dealer lots now and we are in full scale production.

TCM: Any other news from Palomino?

Pat: We’ve got a lot of stuff on the drawing board and some prototype ideas.  We’re thinking about a long bed version of the HS-650.  We’re working on a prototype that could possibly replace the 6601.  It will be lightweight with a wet bath, and will probably be good for three-quarter ton.  There will also be a brand new soft side and some nicer revisions to existing floor plans for 2017.  Stay tuned!

For more information on the HS-650, visit Palomino’s website at www.palominorv.com.

The post TCM EXCLUSIVE: 2016 Palomino HS-650 appeared first on Truck Camper Magazine.