Ovrlnd Camper on F350 CCLB - Overkill?

[KaiX]

Hello everyone, first post here, but long time reader. I'm finally close to making a decision on which truck camper to go with.

I have a 2024 F350 CCLB with the 7.3, that I specifically bought with the intention of getting a truck camper. I was originally planning on the FWC Grandby slide in but I've become a huge fan of the Ovrlnd Campers and build possibilities.
We are a family of 4 so maximizing space and being able to build it out specifically to our needs is most important. We also do a lot of paddle boarding, mountain biking, snowboarding and hiking... So I'm thinking it would be nice to have the large rear opening to toss our gear in and out.

Is anyone here running an Ovrlnd Camper on a F250/350 with 8ft bed or is my truck just overkill for this type of setup? Would love to hear what you all think and possibly some build photos if you are running a similar configuration.

TIA!

 

[dstefan]

Well, sure! That truck is waaaay more than you need for an Ovrlnd. BUT, so what? If you have the truck already and you like it and you like the Ovrlnds and you want maximum use of your truck bed space and you’re happy doing your own build out and customization — just go for it.

OTOH, if that’s the camper you intend and you’d rather sell the vehicle to get your money out, you can put the Ovrlnd on just about anything. Built out inside (eg, cabinets, etc., etc.) you can make them heavy, but still be fine with a 1/2 ton truck. If you need 4 doors AND an 8’ bed, you might have the right truck. You’ll have a lot of room with an 8’ bed and especially if you get the Chubby model with extra width.

 

[KaiX]

Well, sure! That truck is waaaay more than you need for an Ovrlnd. BUT, so what? If you have the truck already and you like it and you like the Ovrlnds and you want maximum use of your truck bed space and you’re happy doing your own build out and customization — just go for it.

OTOH, if that’s the camper you intend and you’d rather sell the vehicle to get your money out, you can put the Ovrlnd on just about anything. Built out inside (eg, cabinets, etc., etc.) you can make them heavy, but still be fine with a 1/2 ton truck. If you need 4 doors AND an 8’ bed, you might have the right truck. You’ll have a lot of room with an 8’ bed and especially if you get the Chubby model with extra width.

Thank you the insightful response. The reassurance helps a lot. Ovrlnd introducing the chubby feature definitely makes it that much more enticing. I have it built on their website, but I started second guessing myself but like you said, I think I'm just gonna go for it. Been researching for months and I keep coming back to them. They seem to be a great company so far with excellent quality. Ill be sure to post the build out along the way for others in my position.

 

[2025 deleted member]

Curious what’s leaning you to them over a project M? I’ve been looking at the project M, the chubby, and the tune M1- probably not in the market for 6-8 months so just researching all 3. I’ve been leaning toward the M for the built in insulation and the jack brackets or whatever you call it built on the sides as I want to remove it from truck when not in use. Thanks

 

[KaiX]

Curious what’s leaning you to them over a project M? I’ve been looking at the project M, the chubby, and the tune M1- probably not in the market for 6-8 months so just researching all 3. I’ve been leaning toward the M for the built in insulation and the jack brackets or whatever you call it built on the sides as I want to remove it from truck when not in use. Thanks

It's been a lot of back and fourth. And I'll preface that I haven't actually been able to see an Ovrlnd in person but I have toured the Project M at their headquarters in Northern CA two times, and while it is a great product, I felt like it could have been built a little better. The insulation they use feels more like lightweight Styrofoam, similar to what you would find in packaging material. So I imagine the rigid foam that I would install would provide higher R-Value.

Ovrlnd Campers uses thicker aluminum(1/8") in its framing based on the info I found online, while FWC framing is much thinner. While I understand thinner aluminum would provide more flex, which would be appealing to a certain group of off-roaders, I'm not gonna be out here flexing my F350 on Rubicon trails, so I like that the framing is more stout on the Ovrlnd.

And the biggest reason for me personally, is the rear door setup. I really like the barn doors on Ovrlnd. All of the Project Ms I've seen have a fairly large (0.5-1") gap between their hatch and the tailgate of the trucks, which seems a little difficult to weather proof. And after lurking through the Project M Facebook owners group for a while, there seems to be a lot of complaints of water intrusion at several different points through out the camper. (If any Project M owners see this and want to correct me on anything, please feel free to chime in)

The Project M is still a serious contender. I think it looks really nice, aesthetically. And I like that they are some what local to me. But I do have concerns of fitment and weather sealing methods in their build.

And regarding the Tune M1, I'm not sold on their construction method of everything being bolted together. I think it looks the nicest out of the three, but I'm a firm believer in welded aluminum framing vs bolted together panels.

 

[Spencer for Hire]

It's been a lot of back and fourth. And I'll preface that I haven't actually been able to see an Ovrlnd in person but I have toured the Project M at their headquarters in Northern CA two times, and while it is a great product, I felt like it could have been built a little better. The insulation they use feels more like lightweight Styrofoam, similar to what you would find in packaging material. So I imagine the rigid foam that I would install would provide higher R-Value.

Ovrlnd Campers uses thicker aluminum(1/8") in its framing based on the info I found online, while FWC framing is much thinner. While I understand thinner aluminum would provide more flex, which would be appealing to a certain group of off-roaders, I'm not gonna be out here flexing my F350 on Rubicon trails, so I like that the framing is more stout on the Ovrlnd.

And the biggest reason for me personally, is the rear door setup. I really like the barn doors on Ovrlnd. All of the Project Ms I've seen have a fairly large (0.5-1") gap between their hatch and the tailgate of the trucks, which seems a little difficult to weather proof. And after lurking through the Project M Facebook owners group for a while, there seems to be a lot of complaints of water intrusion at several different points through out the camper. (If any Project M owners see this and want to correct me on anything, please feel free to chime in)

The Project M is still a serious contender. I think it looks really nice, aesthetically. And I like that they are some what local to me. But I do have concerns of fitment and weather sealing methods in their build.

And regarding the Tune M1, I'm not sold on their construction method of everything being bolted together. I think it looks the nicest out of the three, but I'm a firm believer in welded aluminum framing vs bolted together panels.

Look at Hiatus Campers also. You can get barn doors also. https://hiatuscampers.com/

Also look at this guy's setup. It's an 8 foot bed F250 crewcab with a project M and a built out interior. See his buildout on the Oct 9, 2023 posting. the https://www.instagram.com/overlandonthefly/

 

[2025 deleted member]

Interesting- I’m not on Facebook, didn’t know about the water intrusion issues- best of luck on whatever route you go!

 

[tacollie]

If you like the truck go for it. My buddy has an OVRLND camper on his F-150. After 2 years the rear springs have started to sag. With the camper and stock size all terrains he's lucky to get 15 and he drives like a grandma. If OVRLND existed when we bought our FWC we probably would have gone that route.

 

[dstefan]

Ovrlnd Campers uses thicker aluminum(1/8") in its framing based on the info I found online

True, and the framing tubes are 2”x1” in most places, with very stout corners. The TIG welding is perfect. I’ve been in both shops, and the Ovrlnd is definitely made stouter. In 4 1/2 years with lots of use, I have had zero structural issues or concerns. You can also Rivnut into the Ovrlnd framing without concerns. I also have had zero problems using self tapping screws for lighter items/needs.

I really like the barn doors on Ovrlnd. All of the Project Ms I've seen have a fairly large (0.5-1") gap between their hatch and the tailgate of the trucks, which seems a little difficult to weather proof.

You can make the barn doors and the tailgate seal dust proof (at least on my Tundra), but it takes some additional bulb seal on the bottom of the doors and AND on top of the tailgate, which means you have to open the BDs first to lower the TG. Not a big deal. You also have to obsessively seal the TG with one of the TG sealing kits from Amazon. Bedrug helps immensely too. And you do want the positive pressure vent option. You can see some of how did my sealing in the first few pages of the Ovrlnd Owners thread.

complaints of water intrusion at several different points through out the camper

Not a drop in 4 1/2 years

But I do have concerns of fitment and weather sealing methods in their build.

Project M’s are made to fit a variety of bed sizes and manufacturer, hence the interior shelf, which can be a nice feature for selling them and for interior builds. Ovrlnds are made specifically to fit your truck exactly.

Don’t know how the PMs are, but older FWCs did have issues with the roofs "oil canning” in high winds. Jay’s roof is slightly curved to the sides and avoids that plus adds strength. The canvas stays tight and isn’t noisy in high winds.

I think it looks really nice, aestheticallys

Yep, they do, but Jay has done a lot to make the newer Ovrlnds look nicer.

 

[EX121]

I have an Ovrlnd on a F-150 Powerboost. I get about 18 mpg for the first 8K miles. I have the half barn doors. I have chosen not o build anything into the camper other than a shelf/bed on the rails in the front of the unit. My biggest reason is it takes just a few minutes to remove my camping gear and use the truck to haul brush or etc. The only thing i wish I had added is a sliding door at the front, to aid in ventilation. I have had the camper for 3 years.
I think an Ovrlnd would work well on your truck.

 

[KaiX]

I have an Ovrlnd on a F-150 Powerboost. I get about 18 mpg for the first 8K miles. I have the half barn doors. I have chosen not o build anything into the camper other than a shelf/bed on the rails in the front of the unit. My biggest reason is it takes just a few minutes to remove my camping gear and use the truck to haul brush or etc. The only thing i wish I had added is a sliding door at the front, to aid in ventilation. I have had the camper for 3 years.
I think an Ovrlnd would work well on your truck.

Great point on the ventilation. I think I'm gonna opt in for sliding windows all the way around. With 4 people inside and our German Shepherd at times, I'd imagine it could start feeling a bit stuffy. Thanks for the feedback!

 

[KaiX]

True, and the framing tubes are 2”x1” in most places, with very stout corners. The TIG welding is perfect. I’ve been in both shops, and the Ovrlnd is definitely made stouter. In 4 1/2 years with lots of use, I have had zero structural issues or concerns. You can also Rivnut into the Ovrlnd framing without concerns. I also have had zero problems using self tapping screws for lighter items/needs.

You can make the barn doors and the tailgate seal dust proof (at least on my Tundra), but it takes some additional bulb seal on the bottom of the doors and AND on top of the tailgate, which means you have to open the BDs first to lower the TG. Not a big deal. You also have to obsessively seal the TG with one of the TG sealing kits from Amazon. Bedrug helps immensely too. And you do want the positive pressure vent option. You can see some of how did my sealing in the first few pages of the Ovrlnd Owners thread.

Not a drop in 4 1/2 years

Project M’s are made to fit a variety of bed sizes and manufacturer, hence the interior shelf, which can be a nice feature for selling them and for interior builds. Ovrlnds are made specifically to fit your truck exactly.

Don’t know how the PMs are, but older FWCs did have issues with the roofs "oil canning” in high winds. Jay’s roof is slightly curved to the sides and avoids that plus adds strength. The canvas stays tight and isn’t noisy in high winds.

Yep, they do, but Jay has done a lot to make the newer Ovrlnds look nicer.

Excellent post. Thanks for confirming these details. You pretty much solidified my decision with this one. I plan on reaching out to Ovrlnd today to see what they need to get the ball rolling.

 

[dirtnsmores]

Hi! Besides the cost savings, I opted for the OVRLND/Project M style camper that sits on the bed rails instead of a slide-in camper because of the DIY floorplan. I have a family of 4 and we still wanted to use the truck as a truck... think... groceries, hockey bags (super wide and bulky), beer coolers in and out, bikes, body boards, etc. You can build it how you want it. I had them do 70/30 ratio barn doors so I only have to open the 70% door 90 percent of the time. It's wide enough for hockey bags. Not a small door opening that slide-ins have. I had OVRLND give me 3" extra cabover height and also a taller barn door entrance so I wouldn't hit my head climbing in and out. Not having the slide-in floor plan allowed me to keep the floor plan "open", even with a small bed platform in there. Right now my daughter is small so she sleeps up top with my wife and I, and my son sleeps on the platform below with our dog (german shepherd). It works for us despite being a little tight. Key is keeping that floorplan as spacious as possible. I think you guys can totally do it with a 8ft bed considering I have a 74" bed (first gen Tundra).

As for windows and ventilation... the upper windows on the top will be plenty. I got a window on the larger barn door so I can see out before getting out of the camper and also lower ventilation. We have cabside window and also passenger side window. Neither of those I open often. You'll definitely want to get at least one flip-up side hatch. That's where I put my fridge and also there's the bed platform right there I can set things on. Really try to think it all out before you order.

I think this is the way to go for the family. Since you have such a powerful truck you can add whatever "amenities" you want. Look up how van-life people build out cabinets, beds, sinks, etc. and you might be adding a pretty hefty amount of weight back there. You'll be glad your camper is light! All that adds up. You can even have a company build you something if you're not that handy. Oh and toilet... i have a nice electric flush Thetford toilet that I keep in there. Same sitting height as my toilet at home! Mainly for the ladies in my family... they love it.

I insulated my entire lower half of my camper. It stays toasty in there, but more importantly the insulation helps keep the heat out. I have a bunch of videos about all of this on my Youtube video. Here's one added below... and also a link to my "blog" that I am building specifically for this build. Let me know if you have any questions!

Custom Truck Campers: OVRLND Campers "secret menu" - The Rambling Truck Camper

If you're looking to have a custom made truck camper, OVRLND Campers is a great choice. Take a look at this "secret menu" I've compiled.

ramblingtruckcamper.com

My truck camper is not just for camping - The Rambling Truck Camper

Truck Campers that sit on bed rails make it easy for your truck to be used not just for camping, but for daily truck activities and hauling.

ramblingtruckcamper.com

One last thing... I picked OVRLND over Project M because of build quality, reputation, and custom options. Happy Camping!

 

[KaiX]

View attachment 886866


Hi! Besides the cost savings, I opted for the OVRLND/Project M style camper that sits on the bed rails instead of a slide-in camper because of the DIY floorplan. I have a family of 4 and we still wanted to use the truck as a truck... think... groceries, hockey bags (super wide and bulky), beer coolers in and out, bikes, body boards, etc. You can build it how you want it. I had them do 70/30 ratio barn doors so I only have to open the 70% door 90 percent of the time. It's wide enough for hockey bags. Not a small door opening that slide-ins have. I had OVRLND give me 3" extra cabover height and also a taller barn door entrance so I wouldn't hit my head climbing in and out. Not having the slide-in floor plan allowed me to keep the floor plan "open", even with a small bed platform in there. Right now my daughter is small so she sleeps up top with my wife and I, and my son sleeps on the platform below with our dog (german shepherd). It works for us despite being a little tight. Key is keeping that floorplan as spacious as possible. I think you guys can totally do it with a 8ft bed considering I have a 74" bed (first gen Tundra).

As for windows and ventilation... the upper windows on the top will be plenty. I got a window on the larger barn door so I can see out before getting out of the camper and also lower ventilation. We have cabside window and also passenger side window. Neither of those I open often. You'll definitely want to get at least one flip-up side hatch. That's where I put my fridge and also there's the bed platform right there I can set things on. Really try to think it all out before you order.

I think this is the way to go for the family. Since you have such a powerful truck you can add whatever "amenities" you want. Look up how van-life people build out cabinets, beds, sinks, etc. and you might be adding a pretty hefty amount of weight back there. You'll be glad your camper is light! All that adds up. You can even have a company build you something if you're not that handy. Oh and toilet... i have a nice electric flush Thetford toilet that I keep in there. Same sitting height as my toilet at home! Mainly for the ladies in my family... they love it.

I insulated my entire lower half of my camper. It stays toasty in there, but more importantly the insulation helps keep the heat out. I have a bunch of videos about all of this on my Youtube video. Here's one added below... and also a link to my "blog" that I am building specifically for this build. Let me know if you have any questions!

Custom Truck Campers: OVRLND Campers "secret menu" - The Rambling Truck Camper

If you're looking to have a custom made truck camper, OVRLND Campers is a great choice. Take a look at this "secret menu" I've compiled.

ramblingtruckcamper.com

My truck camper is not just for camping - The Rambling Truck Camper

Truck Campers that sit on bed rails make it easy for your truck to be used not just for camping, but for daily truck activities and hauling.

ramblingtruckcamper.com

One last thing... I picked OVRLND over Project M because of build quality, reputation, and custom options. Happy Camping!

I love this! Thank you for sharing, I actually came across your YouTube channel and watched your videos over the past week. Very inspiring.

With that said, it's official! I paid my deposit yesterday and the contract has been signed with Ovrlnd.

I'm stoked for all of the reasons that you stated. I went with many of the same options as you...

I went with the Chubby
Painted Black
11" cabover height
2" taller barn doors
Asymmetrical barn doors(mounting propane tank on driver side with sliding window on the larger passenger door)
Sliding windows all around
Popup/canvas insulation pack
Roof liner with insulation
Maxxair deluxe 7500k fan
Positive Pressure vent
3" diesel heater port
Full length Unistrut rails on roof
Half rails on driver side

I didn't go with any side hatches because my truck bedrails are a little tall from the ground level and I wasn't sure how often I'd actually try to reach in to grab anything. I may end up adding a slide off the tailgate for our cooler.

Our interior build out will be similar to yours. Me, my wife and my 2 year old daughter up top with my 11 year old son in the bunk below.

Thanks again for sharing your experiences and making youtube videos. Your channel is very helpful!

 

[wanderer-rrorc]

I am handy so I built this one and started a company called amble campers. It’s a 68 bed but quite comfortable with two people in it.

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