Cube Series Hard-Side Pop-Up Raises Bar in Light Truck Camper Design

Providing even more evidence that the truck camper industry is vibrant and strong, yet another company, called Cube Series RV, is manufacturing lightweight truck campers, this time with a twist. The Cube Series camper is a both a hard-side and a pop-up, lofting it into the rarefied air of other hybrid truck camper manufacturers like Alaskan, Rossmonster, and Nimbl. Even though the Cube Series camper was released in 2022, the Oregon-based company has spent the last 12 months developing a host of new options for the telescoping camper that would make any truck camper owner drool.

“We put a lot of stuff into our camper,” said Randall Pozzi, Cube Series RV General Manager. “Even though it’s small, it’s packed with all of the amenities to make your outings more enjoyable including an optional inverter and a low amperage air conditioner. We surveyed all of the campers being offered in this weight class and nothing else comes close. We are particularly proud of our optional off-grid electrical system with a whopping 760 watts of solar, a 360 amp hour lithium battery, and a DC to DC Charger that charges the battery while you drive.”

Any camper worth it’s salt needs to be both rugged and strong and the Cube Series camper appears to have checked both boxes. The camper features a welded aluminum frame overlayed with a vacuum-bonded fiberglass insulated with a high density foam. Steel is used to reinforce all load-bearing lift-jack and tie-down points. This approach, Pozzi explains, not only produces a camper that is well-insulated for true, four-season use, but one that rugged and capable of being taken off-road. Moreover, the camper uses a proprietary external tie-down system that makes the camper even more off-road capable by eliminating outriggers.

“The fact that it’s hard-sided makes the camper more durable than standard pop-ups, Pozzi explained. “It’s all made out of fiberglass and aluminum. Even the cabinets are aluminum. The only wood is a little piece of plywood under the seat base. It’s a great four-season camper.”

Depending on the options, the dry weight of the Cube Series camper varies between 1,206 to 1,750 pounds, meaning it can be hauled on today’s half-ton trucks like the Ford F150 and Ram 1500 and even some of the better rated mid-size pickups like the Toyota Tacoma, Chevy Colorado, and Ford Ranger.

Being a pop-up, the Cube Series camper features a low profile that is typical of most pop-up campers. The hybrid camper features a collapsed height of 52 inches that fits in most garages even while mounted on the truck. This low-profile not only makes the camper more aerodynamic on highways, but also improves fuel mileage. Pozzi explains that the 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, improving the off-road handling characteristics of the camper even more.

The Cube Series camper features an automated, 12 volt roof lift system that makes setup a breeze. The camper’s synchronized electric actuators lift the load bearing walls and roof with the push of a single button. Then, the upper front and rear wall segments are manually lifted from their lay-flat position to create a snug, waterproof fit inside the roof molding. The entire process takes about 60 seconds and produces a full-length door—no stooping is required to enter and exit the camper.

The light and airy interior of the Cube Series camper has a modern, “European” feel. It 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.

One of the best options is the aforementioned off-grid package. As the former general manager at Host Campers, Pozzi’s expertise in this area is apparent having perfected Host’s lithium off-grid systems over several years. The Cube Series option provides an Expion360 360 amp hour Cube lithium battery, 760 watts of solar, a 50 amp MPPT solar controller, a 2,000 watt inverter, an 18 Amp DC to DC charger that charges the battery from the truck’s alternator, and a battery monitoring system. On a sunny day, this system actually has enough solar capacity to keep up with the optional LG 6,000 BTU AC air conditioner. How “cool” is that!

Some may be question Cube Series RV’s choice in a 6,000 BTU, window-mounted air conditioner, but they shouldn’t. It provides more than enough BTUs for all but the largest truck campers in the industry. It’s certainly large enough for the diminutive Cube Series camper. The size and low amp draw of the AC makes it the perfect choice for a camper of this size.

“Yeah. We really like those little LG air conditioners. They only pull about 35 amps, and we get that out of our solar. On a hot, sunny day, when you want to run this thing, you’re actually keeping up with the darn thing, which is pretty rare. All the bigger campers are using like, a 13,500 BTU or a 15,000 BTU or maybe 11,000 BTU, and they’re pulling 65, 70, 80, 90 amps on these air conditioners, and they’re not able to keep up with them. As long as the sun is out, our lithium and solar power system can keep up with our little air conditioner,” Pozzi said.

Additional options offered by the fledgling company include a 1.7 cubic foot DC compressor refrigerator, a 1 cubic foot built-in microwave, Reico-Titan manual jacks, a Thetford swiveling cassette toilet with a 2.5 gallon holding tank, and a 270 degree batwing awning.

We heartily approve of this hybrid approach to truck camper design. If we had a Toyota Tacoma or Ford Ranger, this is the truck camper we would own. With a younger, more vibrant truck camper demographic, building truck campers that are both lighter and stronger should be the focus. Cube Series RV is doing exactly that. The only drawback to the cube-shaped design is the lack of a full-time sleeping area, but hey, you can’t get everything in a tiny camper that can be hauled on mid-size truck.

We are anxious to see the Cube Series camper in person. Fortunately, we will soon get our chance. Pozzi tells us that the camper will be on display at the Overland Expo Pacific Northwest, July 7-9, in Redmond, Oregon.

For more information on this exciting new camper, visit the Cube Series RV website at www.cubeseries.com.