Livin Lite Legacy Lives On in Soaring Eagle Campers

One of the greatest travesties in the RV industry was the Livin Lite RV shutdown by Thor Industries in 2018. Why did Thor shutdown Livin Lite? Nobody outside of Thor really knows though various reasons have surmised. Whatever the reason, killing Livin Lite’s Camplite brand didn’t make much sense. The quality, aluminum and composite construction of the Camplite brand made them a hot commodity during the company’s heyday. Even today, the Camplite brand is highly sought after and hold their value well.

Fortunately, the legacy of Livin Lite lives on under the Soaring Eagle Campers banner, which is owned by Scott Tuttle who launched the Indiana-based company in 2022. Since then demand for Soaring Eagle campers has “soared” with a large network of dealerships now offering Tuttle’s aluminum and composite campers. To date, the Soaring Eagle catalog consists of 13 truck camper and truck topper models, all built the same way the old Livin Lite Camplite models were built though the basic shape has been updated. To learn more about Soaring Eagle Campers and what’s new with Tuttle’s fledgling company, we spoke with Scott.

Thanks for talking with us, Scott. How are things going at Soaring Eagle Campers?

Scott Tuttle: Things are hopping here at Soaring Eagle Campers. Consumers are loving what we are building and more of them are buying our campers every week as we continue to experience strong retail sales across the country and in Canada. We are receiving more retail leads than ever before as people discover the value proposition that Soaring Eagle Campers’ ultra lightweight, all-aluminum and composite built truck campers have for them. We specialize in truck campers designed for half-ton trucks as well as campers designed specifically for the small, mid-size truck market that includes the Toyota Tacoma, Ford Ranger, and Jeep Gladiator.

What shows have you attended in 2024 and what shows do you have planned in the immediate future?

Scott Tuttle: We just came out of our annual RV Open House where dealers from across the globe visited to see the latest and great products that RV manufacturers are selling. We had a great location this year and signed up a good number of new dealers, bringing our total number of dealers to right at 50 locations. In terms of retail shows, we have been at the each of the Overland Expo series of events this year, from Arizona, Oregon, Colorado, and Virginia.

What truck camper models is Soaring Eagle currently offering?

Scott Tuttle: We now have three distinct lines of campers at Soaring Eagle Campers:

• The Adlar line of fully enclosed, slide-in truck campers (for 5-foot, 5.5-foot, 6-foot, 6.5-foot and 8-foot truck beds), each designed for the truck’s tailgate to be closed with the camper in it, allowing our customers to utilize the steps built into their tailgate, as well as their rear view camera and sensors.
• The OV-X line of truck toppers for the overland market (for 5-foot, 5.5-foot, 6-foot, 6.5-foot and 8-foot truck beds). Our OV-X line has been increasing in popularity every month with our unique features and superior build characteristics.

• The new Aerie line of truck campers which have full amenities and is designed for the 3/4-ton and one-ton truck market. Our first Aerie floorplan is designed for a 8-foot truck bed with the tailgate closed, but will also fit in a 6.5-foot truck bed. The Aerie has a roomy bathroom/shower, kitchen, permanent north-south queen bed with nightstands and storage on either side, automotive grade dinette cushions with 2.8-pound density foam covered with durable faux leather fabric; 12 volt refrigerator/freezer; heated and enclosed holding tanks; electric jacks; Truma Combi water heater-furnace; and more.

We were and still are a big fan of your “old” Livin Lite Camplite campers. What happened to the company?

Scott Tuttle: I founded Livin Lite Recreational Vehicles in 2003, the year before I was part of a group that founded Heartland Recreational Vehicles.  Because Heartland RV was a much larger project than Livin Lite, I had one of my partners oversee the small tent campers that we were building at the time, while I focused on Heartland RV. In 2008, I sold my position in Heartland RV and focused solely on Livin Lite. Within just a few years, we pioneered the first all-aluminum constructed campers, which were a hit with consumers because of the ultra-lightweight and long lasting design. Dealers and consumers alike asked us to get into the truck camper market with our unique construction and we obliged. As a result, the Camplite line of truck campers was a huge hit and as you know, are still on the road today and demanding a premium when they come up for sale.

Livin Lite was purchased by Thor Corporation in 2015, and unfortunately, it got tucked under a couple of different divisions before they finally closed it down in 2018. It was disappointing because the Camplite brand had developed such an outstanding reputation for quality and producing long lasting truck campers. Today, dealers still call me up to share stories about how older Camplite truck campers are still selling for near their original MSRP sticker prices. People know how well built they are and still seek them out. I think we are starting to see some of those buyers migrating to Soaring Eagle Campers where we are utilizing all welded, tubular aluminum framing and composites to provide some of the lightest weight, longest lasting truck campers on the market.

The fact that so many Livin Lite campers are still on the road is a testament to their build quality. How exactly were they built?

Scott Tuttle: At Livin Lite we used all aluminum framing with composite back fiberglass and composite backed interior wall and ceiling boards. We also build aluminum cabinetry in a lot of the Camplite models. While we don’t do aluminum cabinetry in the our Soaring Eagle Campers, we do use the same basic overall construction, to which we have added all composite dinette bases with built-in battery compartments.  You will not find any pine and paneling stapled together in a Soaring Eagle Camper.

Did you leverage your experiences with Livin Lite to create the Soaring Eagle brand?

Scott Tuttle: Absolutely, and why wouldn’t I? If someone sets out to build a camper the best possible way, offering the longest lasting, lightest weight camper on the market, they are going to use all-welded, tubular aluminum—not wood or thin aluminum C-channel that is notched out to make it radiused. They are also going to use composite in place of wood-based backers on their fiberglass and interior panels in order to make their unit impervious to moisture. That is what Livin Lite was all about years ago and That is what Soaring Eagle Campers is all about today.

What are the similarities and differences between the Camplite and Soaring Eagle brands?

Scott Tuttle: I would say that the biggest difference is the market has continued to develop new materials and composites which allow us to make our campers even lighter and stronger than we could ten years ago. We have also found  a nice balance of introducing wood cabinets inside an all-aluminum and composite structure, giving our Soaring Eagle Campers a much more residential look on the interior. The other big differences are probably in the battery and roof solar technologies that we have today are so much more advanced and affordable than in the past.

Compared to the Camplite brand, it seems like Soaring Eagle is building lighter campers for lower-rated pickup trucks. Was this done on purpose?

Scott Tuttle: Yes, we definitely targeted both the half-ton truck market and the mid-size truck market because a lot of dealers and consumers had told us that most of today’s truck camper manufacturers had kind of left those markets behind as their models continued to get bigger, heavier and more expensive each year. We wanted to offer campers that were well built, were lightweight enough to easily ride on a half-ton truck without the need for suspension assistance, and which were Affordable. Our Adlar models retail sell for between $17,000 and $24,000 all day long.

Soaring Eagle Campers is focused on offering the best value proposition possible for our customers and thankfully, a lot of consumers are choosing us over other entry level camper options.

What kind of impact is Soaring Eagle having on the truck camper industry and on RVs in general?

Scott Tuttle: Soaring Eagle Campers is really starting to make an impact on the entry level camping market. Note that I didn’t say just the entry level “truck camping” market—but the entire entry level camping market. How are we doing this specifically? At most traditional RV Dealerships around the country, they sell mostly traditional RVs. While the pop-up tent camper was the traditional entry way or gateway into the RVing lifestyle in the 1970s, 1980s and 1990s—their popularity has declined significantly. In the place of the pop up camper has come a litany of tear drop and smaller, “boxy” trailers. The problem with most of today’s tear drop and boxy trailers is that they are designed to sleep only two people comfortably. By definition then, they are NOT “family friendly”.

By offering campers that are well built, ultra lightweight and affordable—and which can sleep two adults and two children (“family friendly”)—the Adlar series of half-ton truck focused truck campers has proven to be a great fit for families who love camping, but have not interest in a traditional, luxury RV, or cramming into a small teardrop of boxy trailer that cannot accommodate both them and their kids.

When you combine this fact with the fact that half-ton trucks have been the number one selling vehicles in North America for decades—you have the intersection of two sizable markets—outdoorsmen and their families who drive half-ton pickup trucks,  and smaller, lightweight, well-built campers that fit both their family and their vehicle well.

What are the primary differences between the Adlar full-size camper models?

Scott Tuttle: The Adlar 6.5 is our most basic unit and our smallest, simplest, model for a full-size truck. It basically offers a place to sleep and eat a meal and that is it. It features a 48-inch wide dinette which quickly and easily transitions to a nice sized bed that can sleep two adults comfortable. There is some storage available in the 6.5. but it is designed for minimalists like those hunting, fishing, pulling their horse trailer, etc. This model fits in a 6.5-foot truck bed with the tailgate closed, and on a 5.5-foot truck bed with the tailgate open.

The Adlar 6.5XL is a larger camper, which is wider and taller than the 6.5 model. Like the 6.5 model, however, the 6.5XL model fits in a 6.5-foot truck bed with the tailgate closed so customers can use their built-in steps, rear camera and sensors, or in a 5.5-foot truck bed with the tailgate open. The 6.5XL features a pull-out north-south queen bed, two-person dinette which easily converts to a secondary sleeping area, a 12 volt refrigerator, MaxxAir Fan with remote and rain sensor, sleeping for two adults and two kids, a 100 amp hour Lithium battery that is Bluetooth heated, electric jack prep, and solar prep. Popular options include a rooftop air conditioner with heat pump, microwave oven, roof solar panels, roof racks, batwing awning and more.

The Adlar 6.5XLS is the same size box as the 6.5XL model and fits in a 6.5-foot truck bed with the tailgate closed so customers can use their built-in steps, rear camera and sensors, or in a 5.5-foot truck bed with the tailgate open. The 6.5XLS features more of a kitchen layout with portable cooktop stove and sink for washing your hands or dishes.  Other features include a pull-out north-south queen bed, a two-person dinette which quickly converts to an additional sleeping area, a 12 volt refrigerator, MaxxAir Fan with remote and rain sensor, sleeping for two adults and two kids, a 100 amp Bluetooth-heated Lithium battery, electric jack prep, and solar prep. The options are the same as those offered in the Adlar 6.5XL model.

The Adlar 8.0XL and the Adlar 8.0XLS offer the same layouts, with the same features and designs as the 6.5XL and 6.5XLS—the primary difference is that they are designed to fit inside an 8-foot truck bed with the tailgate down.

Due to the sheer number of mid-size trucks on today’s streets, offering a mid-size camper was a wise decision on your part. We assume this was done to meet customer demand.

Scott Tuttle: Yes, our very popular Adlar 5.0 and Adlar 6.0 models are making a lot of small truck owners happy!  No longer do small truck owners driving Tacoma’s, Rangers, Gladiators, Ridgelines, etc. have to settle for roof top tents. They can get a full enclosed, slide-in truck camper that not only fits their 5-foot and 6-foot beds, but does so with their tailgate closed. These Adlar models are changing the landscape of small truck camping.

We agree. What is Soaring Eagle’s best selling camper?

Scott Tuttle: That is a hard question to answer. In our first year, it was the Adlar 6.5XL, but now that we have the Adlar 5.0 and the 8-foot models and the XLS models, it has been a pretty good spread over all of those models. If I had to say which sells the most I would probably have to say it is the Adlar 5.0 because there are just so many of them going out the door at dealerships because there are not a lot of camper options like it for the 14 million small truck owners in North America and they are loving what they camper offers them.

Do you have any plans on building a larger, heavier camper for higher-rated one-ton trucks?

Scott Tuttle: Yes, this is what we have done with the brand new Aerie model. It weighs 2,250 pounds and was designed with 3/4-ton and one-ton trucks in mind. We are really excited about this new truck camper, mainly because our dealers and the magazines that have examined it are really high on it. It has a 10-inch basement that houses the camper’s 28 gallon fresh water holding tank, the 13 gallon grey water holding tank, and a slide-out storage tray. There is no black water holding tank in the camper, it comes with a 5-gallon Dometic CTW410 cassette toilet mounted in the wet-bath. Some of the comments we have received are, “this interior is so spacious and open. I can’t get over how room this camper feels inside—the bathroom is stunning. Not only is it large and more spacious than a lot of truck camper bathrooms, it just looks great as well—the combination of colors and textures and surfaces in this camper are outstanding. A lot of truck campers just look the same, but the Aerie has a level of style that just a cut above, and the fit and finish to match—you are going to sell a lot of these!”

That’s terrific. Do you have any plans to offer a flatbed camper in the future?

Scott Tuttle: We haven’t designed a flatbed camper yet, but we have talked about it. I guess if we get enough interest, we will take a more serious look at building one. Consumer interest is what has driven all of our product designs and if enough people tell us that they would like us to build a flat bed model we will.

How have your OV-X truck toppers been selling?

Scott Tuttle: We are seeing increased interest in our OV-X models all across North America, and are building more of them every month. Overland customers are telling us that they like our attention to detail as well as our unique product features that most of the other truck topper models do not offer. Our proprietary lift system is strong and easy to use and allows each OV-X to have windows on the ends of the camper, something that the competition does not offer. Our built-in under-bed storage for guns and bows has been very popular, as has our built-in, composite constructed electrical center, the build in composite headboards, standard windows, MOLLE boards, and MaxxAir fans with remotes and rain sensors.

In addition, our proprietary quick-detach jack brackets have been very well received by customers. Other manufacturers are actually starting to copy some of our unique OV-X features, which is a hug compliment considering we just got into this product type recently. It seems that the popularity of these truck toppers is moving from west to east in North America. A lot of traditional RV Dealers don’t really understand them, but we just signed up a dealer in Virginia who took four OV-X models to start out with and has already sold two of them, and ordered even more!

Nice! Any plans for a new model in the near future?

Scott Tuttle: With the introduction of the new Adlar 6.0 model, the OV-X 6.0 model (both for the small truck market), and the Aerie full-size, fully-equipped model, I think we are good to go into the 2025 selling season. As always, we believe in continuous product improvement so we will continue to listen to our customers and the market and add things that will improve the camping experience for all of our customers. We have every size truck covered with our current camper lineup, but as we move into the middle of 2025, we are looking to possibly add a second Aerie floorplan.

Thanks for talking with us, Scott. Is there anything you’d like to tell us about Soaring Eagle Campers in general?

Scott Tuttle: Just that for customers who are unsure about who Soaring Eagle Campers is all about, I would like to tell them that we are focused on doing it right, and it shows in the materials we use and the care we give to building each camper. We are not perfect. We have real people building these campers so they are going to be some missteps, but if we do make a mistake, you can trust that we are going to stand behind it and make it right. We now have more than two years under our belts at making customers happy and if people do their research on me personally, they will find that the products I have built in the past and which I am a part of building now have been really well received by consumers and have performed admirably for thousands of owners over the years. Soaring Eagle Campers is here to stay.