New Supertramp Hardtop Camper

[Spencer for Hire]

The new Supertramp Hardtop Camper is coming out this week. From what I have seen from some pre-release photos it has lots of windows and the pricing I saw was under 70k. The market is getting crowded so do you folks think it will sell well?

 

[Bergger]

I don't think it will. I'm not a fan of the way it looks with that tall flat front end. Pretty much just an one of their LT campers with a hard top. Same layout with a few upper cabinets. Like you said the market is very crowded not and I think there are certainly better options out there for a hardtop camper. I think they have the best pop top and should keep focused on that.

 

[Steve_382]

I think it may do OK. If you get one of the Bowen custom utility beds and all the camper options, power, etc. you have 80% of the functions of the Megatron/Truckhouse rigs for less than half the money.

 

[rruff]

I don't think it will. I'm not a fan of the way it looks with that tall flat front end.

Form should follow function, and for a camper a box shape is simple and gives you the maximum space.

Large radius edges added to a plain box will also give low aero resistance. That would be superior to a 45 deg angle on top of the sleeping berth. The ST HT doesn't have radiuses, but at least they added a bevel to the edges. A molded aero piece added to the nose would have been worth it if aero drag was an important consideration. It doesn't have to be fancy, just a flat nose with 6" radiused edges would be sufficient.

The bottom line is that I think it's likely fine aerodynamically compared to most similar alternatives, and the extra room in the berth will trump any esthetic misgivings.

 

[sn_85]

I think it may do OK. If you get one of the Bowen custom utility beds and all the camper options, power, etc. you have 80% of the functions of the Megatron/Truckhouse rigs for less than half the money.

However to keep that in perspective, an HT plus Bowen Camper bed is at the very least an $88K endeavor base price. I think the harder thing to replicate is the Bowen camper bed. To play devils advocate you can get an Outpost 6.5 camper + Bowen Camper bed for $58K base. Not cheap either but an extra $30K in my pocket for 95% of the features sounds appealing to me.

 

[rruff]

^Yes, but lots of overland equipment is marketed to people who are not very price sensitive. I guess the comments indicate that some are failing to see any point in paying more at all, which is fair.

 

[calameda]

^Yes, but lots of overland equipment is marketed to people who are not very price sensitive. I guess the comments indicate that some are failing to see any point in paying more at all, which is fair.

Not that 50-80k is cheap (!) but it is relatively speaking at the low end of the new camper market. Thus more price sensitive.

count me among those who don’t see the point of this offering from ST. It just seems poorly differentiated from competing models AND is more expensive. Plus the can of Spam look doesn’t help. Seems they’re doing it just bc they could easily add a lid to the LT and call it done. A flatbed model w telescoping hard side would have much more appeal if they could get in at $130-150k. Fill the Nimbl void at a better price point. But maybe not possible.

 

[ruadhrigh]

It seems like they missed the opportunity to capitalize on all that added volume. Would be better to see more cabinets and overhead storage (even a shelf would help).

 

[Steve_382]

It seems like they missed the opportunity to capitalize on all that added volume. Would be better to see more cabinets and overhead storage (even a shelf would help).

Maybe they are just trying to keep the weight and price down. Does seem like there is room for more storage options if they decide to add them. Or perhaps they just like the open feel.

 

[rruff]

Would be better to see more cabinets and overhead storage (even a shelf would help).

They'd have to get rid of windows... which I'd favor anyway.

I don't understand the obsession with so much window area in campers. I can see why it would make it easier to sell; makes it feel roomy and you can look at the view!

But if I want a good view, I'll go outside. If I'm in the camper, I'm not looking out the windows, and just enough to let a little light in is fine.

 

[sn_85]

Maybe they are just trying to keep the weight and price down. Does seem like there is room for more storage options if they decide to add them. Or perhaps they just like the open feel.

I don’t think a few larger cabinets would be too much weight especially since it’s geared towards 3/4 and 1 ton trucks. Supertramps MO isn’t really about keeping price down. They definitely appeal to a more premium full featured camper market as reflected by component choice and price. Again, not a bad thing but I don’t think taller or a few more aluminum cabinets would have impacted weight or price all that much.

 

[sn_85]

They'd have to get rid of windows... which I'd favor anyway.

I don't understand the obsession with so much window area in campers. I can see why it would make it easier to sell; makes it feel roomy and you can look at the view!

But if I want a good view, I'll go outside. If I'm in the camper, I'm not looking out the windows, and just enough to let a little light in is fine.

I love windows and my camper has plenty of them. But I also don’t need 360 degree view with the largest windows possible. What I’ve found in my total composite camper is that all of the condensation and heat transfer is coming from the aluminum frame of the tern overland windows. The camper body, corners and pultrusion are bone dry but the windows definitely get some condensation.