10 Best Pop-Up Truck Campers for 3/4-Ton F250-2500 Pickups

There’s no doubt about it. The pop-up truck camper is here to stay. Not only is it cheaper, more aerodynamic, and more fuel-efficient than a hard-side truck camper, but it weighs less, handles better off-road, and can be stored in your garage. Moreover, it’s compact size and low center of gravity also means that you can take it to places where most hard-side truck campers can’t. Sure there are negatives associated with the pop-up truck camper—its compact size, lack of amenities, and the need to raise the roof to effectively use it immediately come to mind—but the pros of having a pop-up truck camper far outweigh the cons. In this article, we rank the 10 best pop-up truck campers for 3/4-ton F250-2500 pickups.

Here’s an important tip when doing your research—the dry weight, though very important, doesn’t provide a complete picture of the camper’s true weight. The dry weight doesn’t take into account things like full tanks, batteries, gear, food, and options like air conditioners, awnings, and solar panels that were installed after the camper was built. All of this extra water and gear in a pop-up probably weighs a good 500 pounds, so a pop-up with a dry weight of 1,800 pounds will actually weigh around 2,300 pounds fully loaded. This means you’ll need to have a truck with a payload rating large enough to handle the fully loaded weight of the camper, plus passengers and anything you have stored in the truck. Unfortunately, some truck camper companies and dealers aren’t honest in divulging this important fact to customers. Only the dry weight is often mentioned by sales people. Getting the correct information on weights when shopping for a truck camper is vital. Nothing is more important, which is why a trip to the scales is needed to ensure that you’re safe.

In this article, we rank eight pop-up campers that can safely be hauled on a 3/4-ton truck. This size of truck includes the Ford F-250, the Ram 2500, and the Chevy 2500. So who makes the best pop-up truck camper for this size truck? That’s a great question. We looked at several factors to determine our camper rankings—cost, build quality, features, and tank capacities. In order to be ranked, each truck camper needed to meet two basic requirements. First, it needed to be a standard slide-in truck camper, no flatbeds or truck toppers allowed. Second, it needed to weigh less than 2,300 pounds, fully loaded, the typical payload rating for most 3/4-ton trucks on today’s streets. The eight campers that made the final cut offer the consumer a wide range of choices. Some fit on short-bed or long-bed trucks only, while others are versatile enough to fit on both. Some have wet-baths, others offer only a toilet and an outdoor shower. Significant differences between the campers are noted in the write-ups. Remember, you saw this comprehensive, well-researched list here first, well before Internet copycats with nearly identical lists publish theirs. So without further adieu, here are the 10 best pop-up truck campers for 3/4-ton F250-2500 pickups:

[Updated: September 2024]

1. Outfitter Apex 8

The best of the best, the Outfitter Apex 8 is a superb truck camper loaded with an impressive number of standard features. The construction of the Apex 8 consists of an insulated, one-piece composite fiberglass body and features an electric roof lift with a manual over-ride. One feature of the Apex 8 that we really like is the spacious, 80-inch cabover with a pull-out drawer. This drawer can be used either for storage or as a bed for the kiddies. Another thing we like is the camper’s fully enclosed, heated basement—a rarity for a pop-up truck camper. This basement houses a massive 44-gallon fresh water tank, a 16-gallon gray water tank, and a 16-gallon black water tank. The bathroom is fairly large for a pop-up, too, and features a marine-grade porcelain toilet, a full-size shower, and a small sink. The battery box in the Apex 8 is large enough for only one group-27 battery, but in the ones we’ve seen another battery box can be added quite easily. Popular options include an Onan 2500 Generator, a 7.5 cubic foot Nova Kool Compressor Refrigerator, and a Yakima Roof Rack with Ladder. Weighs 2,130-pounds dry. Made specifically for the short-bed, 3/4-ton pickup truck, the Apex 8 is also a very popular choice with off-road enthusiasts due to its low-profile, superb layout, and large tank capacities. The base price is $44,995.

2. Alaskan 7 Cabover

Can’t decide between a hard-side or a pop-up? Well, look no further. The good folks at Alaskan make a hybrid camper that’s a little of both. Unlike the traditional pop-up truck camper, which has canvas sides, the patented pop-top on an Alaskan camper features a “solid wall” design with a hydraulic mechanism that raises and lowers the entire top of the camper with a simple flip of the switch. The benefits of this telescoping design are obvious. Not only does it provide full standing room in the interior when camping, but also less wind resistance and better gas mileage. It also makes the camper more capable off-road. Inside this rugged, well-insulated camper, you’ll find a gorgeous leather dinette, a wood-paneled ceiling, and attractive maple cabinets throughout. You’ll also find a generous amount of overhead storage and counter top space inside—more than many hard-side models. Standard features in this 1,560-pound camper include a NovaKool 2600 refrigerator, a full-length door (no stooping or bending is needed to enter or exit the camper), a 5-gallon propane tank, and a 27-gallon fresh water tank. One Group-34 AGM battery comes standard, but as many as two can be added as an option. Popular options include a Thetford C-200 swivel cassette toilet, a Zamp 170 watt solar power system, a 4-gallon water heater, a Suburban 20,000 BTU furnace, and LED lighting. Easily one of the 10 best pop-up truck campers for Ford F250 and Ram Chevy GMC 2500 trucks with a numerous benefits. Fits on both short-bed and long-bed trucks. The Alaskan 7 Cabover model goes for $38,190.

3. Supertramp Campers Flagship LT

Looking for a cutting-edge pop-up with all of the amenities including the latest tech? Then the Supertramp Flagship LT is for you. The Flagship’s monocoque structure consists of a 100 percent composite fiberglass/epoxy shell using a vacuum infusion process for an optimum strength-to-weight ratio. The floorplan features a queen-size cabover bed, a full kitchenette, a dinette and a wet-bath. The camper also features a quick-disconnect jack system for serious off-roading and a pop-top that raises and lowers using four electric linear actuators in just 10 seconds. Standards for this space-age camper include a 330 watt solar power system, 24 gallon fresh water holding tank, a 5 gallon grey water holding tank, two 10-pound propane tanks, two thermopane windows with interior screens and shades, a heated basement, two Maxxair vent fans, a 65L Isotherm DC compressor refrigerator, a pull-out exterior stove, a portable cassette toilet, and a Truma Combi Eco water heater-furnace. Options of this high-end camper include a 400 amp hour lithium battery system, an interior and exterior shower, a 1,500 watt inverter, a 180-degree awning, and can be ordered in several colors and wrap combinations. The Supertramp Flagship LT is made for full-size trucks with 6.5-foot and 8-foot beds with floor length of 82-inches and 100 inches respectively. Fully optioned-out, the camper weighs only 1,350 pounds. Lists for an affordable $59,975. Sold factory-direct from the company’s Golden, Colorado factory.

4. Phoenix Level 2

Interested in a semi-custom pop-up to haul on your 3/4-ton truck? Well, the good folks at Phoenix Campers build perhaps the coolest looking truck campers in the industry. Customers start with a base model like the Level 2 and add only the options that they want. The camper’s 7-foot floorplan features an east-west 60×80-inch bed, a large dinette forward, a cassette toilet on the driver side, and a small kitchenette on the passenger side. With a dry weight of only 1,180 pounds, construction consists an all-aluminum double welded tube cage frame, stuffed with high density foam, and protected by a tough outer shell of pre-laminated thick, one piece Crane fiberglass. Level 2 highlights include an 18-gallon fresh water tank, a Thetford cassette toilet, an 8-gallon grey water holding tank, a water heater and a shower, and a Dometic 1.9 cubic foot compressor refrigerator. The standard cabinet color is birch with a clear coat finish, but more exotic cabinet materials like bamboo can be ordered. Popular options include integrated power inverters with a built-in transfer relay, solar power systems of various sizes, roof racks, a rear ladder, flood lights, a low profile air conditioner, and Rotopax fuel-water containers. They’re also one of the few companies that can paint your camper a custom color to match your truck. Easily one of the 10 best pop-up truck campers for 3/4-ton F250-2500 trucks. Comes in two versions: the Level 2 version comes with a water heater and shower, while the Level 1 does not. Previously marketed as the Mini-Max, pricing for the Phoenix Level 2 starts at a cool $37,995.

5. OEV Back Country 6.85

The Back Country 6.85 is one of Canadian-based Overland Explorer Vehicles (OEV) best selling models. This rugged, well-built, 1,350-pound camper features a proprietary composite construction with R8 insulation, and an aluminum extrusion system to help keep the weight down, while at the same time increasing the strength of the camper and nearly eliminating thermal transfer. The 6-foot 2-inch floorplan features a king-size bed, 6 feet 10 inches of headroom, a large kitchen on the driver side and an L-shape dinette on the passenger side. Features include a 20 gallon fresh water holding tank, a 20-pound propane tank, a Victron group-27 100 amp hour battery, a Dometic CFX DC compressor refrigerator, a Remo Removable Dinette Table, Redarc Manager 30 with display, a Truma AquaGo water heater, and a Truma Vario Heat furnace. The camper also comes with an outside shower enclosure bracket kit with universal adapters, four Reico Titan manual lift jacks, and four Torklift Anchor Guard Derringer tie-downs. Options include a 180 watt solar panel, a 125 amp hour lithium ion battery, and OEV light bar, OEV roof rack, and OEV king-bed extension kit with refrigerator. The Back Country 6.85 is designed specifically for short-bed 3/4-ton trucks like the Ford F250, Chevy Silverado 2500HD, and Ram 2500. The Overland Explorer Vehicles Back Country 6.85 lists for $44,888 USD for the base model.

6. BundutecUSA BunduCamp

A time-tested classic by Rory Willet, the BunduCamp was designed specifically for today’s 3/4-ton pickup truck. The standard color of the BunduCamp is an attractive gray—not your standard, everyday white—and features contrasting black trim and black accents on the exterior. The 1,700-pound camper is skinned with a smooth .040-inch aluminum that not only looks great, but also holds up better than standard fiberglass siding. The camper’s 8-foot floorplan features a split dinette with loads of storage in front, a kitchen on the driver side and a refrigerator cabinet and bathroom on the passenger side. Standard features include a north-south 56×74-inch mattress with lift up under bed storage, a 36-gallon fresh water tank, a 18-gallon grey water holding tank, a NovaKool R3000 compressor refrigerator, a stainless steel sink, and window and door screens fine enough to keep out annoying “no-see-ums” bugs. Popular options include a dual battery box, a Zamp 160 watt solar power system, the BunduAwn 270 degree wrap-around awning, and an exterior shower with a Quick-En-Suite exterior shower privacy enclosure. Another big BundutecUSA favorite is the Truma Combi, the revolutionary water heater furnace that not only saves on weight and space, but is also whisper quiet when in operation. Easily, one of the 10 best pop-up truck campers for Ford F250 Ram Chevy GM 2500 trucks. Can be ordered in a 6.5-foot and 8-foot floorplan with or without rear storage boxes. The list price for the BunduCamp is only $29,690, a real bargain when you consider all that you get for the money.

7. Four Wheel Camper Grandby

With a floor length of 8 feet and a dry weight of only 1,200 pounds, the Four Wheel Camper Grandby is a terrific match for today’s 3/4-ton, long-bed pickup. The Grandby features a 20 gallon fresh water tank, a fully equipped kitchenette, an east-west queen bed, a three-way 1.7-cubic foot reefer, and attractive yet durable interior woodwork. Customers can choose from one of three floorplans when ordering a Grandby—a rollover side couch, side dinette, or a front dinette. For those who want more amenities, a cassette toilet and an inside shower can both be added as options, but only with the front dinette floorplan. Interested in extending your time off-grid? Four Wheel Campers has that covered, too, by offering a 160 watt roof-mounted solar system, a dual battery setup, an 85-liter DC compressor refrigerator, and two 10-pound propane tanks. Four Wheel Campers uses a proprietary tie-down system consisting of four, zinc-coated eye bolts reinforced with steel backing plates that are mounted to the bed of the pickup. The advantage of having a hidden system like this is that it not only presents a clean look on the outside of the camper, but with nothing to snag on it also works great for driving off-road. Without a doubt, one of the 10 best pop-up truck campers for Ford F250 Ram Chevy GMC 2500 trucks. The Grandby lists for only $26,625, but don’t let the price fool you. This rugged, well-made camper can take you almost anywhere you want, and with its welded aluminum frame and aluminum exterior, will last for decades.

8. Outfitter Juno 8.5 Hybrid

Looking for a truck camper that breaks the mold with extra room for sleeping? The Outfitter Juno 8.5 hybrid pop-up is one such camper. It’s not everyday that you see a standard slide-in pop-up with a side-door, a tip-out tent, a north-south bed, and a large wet-bath, yet that’s exactly what you get with the Outfitter Juno 8.5, a pop-up made for full-size, short-bed trucks. Still not convinced? How does a 44 gallon fresh water holding tank, a 16 gallon grey water holding tank, and a 16 gallon black water holding tank sound? Or how about a porcelain toilet, molded countertops, insulated Weblon softwalls, along with a 3 cubic foot DC compressor refrigerator, a three-burner cooktop, a 20,000 BTU furnace, and a robust solar power system? Standard features of the Outfitter Juno 8.5 include an electric roof lift with a manual override, a 20-pound propane tank, a Progressive Dynamics 45 amp converter/charger, under bed storage, overhead storage cabinets, and attractive maple cabinets. Popular options include an 80-inch Hide-A-Bed extended cabover bunk, a microwave oven with a 2,000 watt inverter, An 8-foot or 10-foot side awning, lithium batteries, and a Yakima Roof Rack. Constructed of a true composite foam core roof and body, the Juno 8.5 is rugged and built to last. Weighs only 2,380-pounds dry. Sleeps up to five with the optional “Hide-A-Bed” pull-out bunk. Made specifically for short-bed, three-quarter-ton and one-ton trucks with the requisite payload rating. A long-bed version is also available called the Juno 10. Comes with a 5-year warranty, the base price of the Outfitter Juno 8.5 is $46,995.

9. Hallmark Guanella Overland

Based out of Lupton, Colorado, Hallmark RV offers a complete line of high-quality pop-up truck campers. The Guanella Overland is Hallmark’s best-selling model. Constructed of a surprisingly strong composite fiberglass with a balsa wood core, the Guanella Overland weighs only 1,262 pounds dry and boasts a width of only 6 feet 9 inches. The 8-foot floorplan features a 60×80-inch east-west queen-size bed with underbed storage, a large kitchen on the driver’s side, and a U-shaped dinette and toilet on the passenger side. Standard features of this low-profile pop-up include a 30-gallon fresh water holding tank, a Progressive Dynamics 45 amp “Mighty Mini” Power Center, molded one-piece counter tops, big view double windows, a 4-gallon DSI water heater, a dual battery compartment, a Lagun swing-away table, and amber bamboo or maple cabinetry. Unfortunately, the camper doesn’t have a complete wet-bath—though the Overland option includes either a mini-shower enclosure or a cassette toilet in rear passenger side corner. Hallmark’s best options include a 200 watt solar power system, a north-south cabover, a 12 gallon grey water holding tank, a Thetford cassette toilet, side storage boxes, and several choices in cabinet finishes. Easily one of the 10 best pop-up truck campers for Ford F250 Ram Chevy GM 2500 trucks. Fits on both long-bed and short-bed full-size trucks and comes with a five-year structural warranty, one of the best in the industry. A great looking camper, one of the best. The base price is $53,995.

10. Cube Series Pop-Up

A hybrid design from Cube Series RV, a brand-new company based out of Oregon. What makes the Cube Series camper unique, is that it’s both a hard-side AND a pop-up. Collapsed, the camper is only 52 inches high, meaning it will fit in most garages even while mounted on the truck. One thing that sets the Cube Series apart from the competition is the basement where the furnace, the holding tanks, and most of the electronics can be found. This approach saves of topside space and keeps the weight down low, thus improving the off-road handling characteristics of the camper even more. Depending on options, the dry weight of the Cube Series camper varies between 1,206 to 1,750 pounds, meaning it can be hauled on a 3/4-ton truck with no problem. The camper features an automated, 12 volt roof lift system that makes setup quick and easy. The entire set-up process takes about 60 seconds and provides 6 feet 5 inches of height inside. The Cube Series camper features 100 percent aluminum cabinetry, thermo-foil counter tops, synthetic leather upholstery, an opposing dinette that converts into a 75-inch sleeper, a two-burner range and sink with a glass top, LED lighting, and 110 volt outlets and 12 volt USB ports. Amenities include 21 gallons of fresh water, 10 gallons grey, a 1.7 gallon 12 volt water heater, a 16,000 BTU furnace, Torklift Stow N- Go Steps, an AGM battery, an electric water pump, and a battery monitoring system. Pricing for the Cube Series camper starts at $43,090.