TruckHouse, a new Nevada-based expedition vehicle manufacturer, has just launched the BCT, the first mid-sized composite expedition vehicle built on a Toyota Tacoma TRD Pro chassis.
By all indications, the TruckHouse BCT will have most of what endeared us to the EarthRoamer XV-LTS, only smaller and more capable off-road—a baby EarthRoamer if you will. The chassis-mounted rig will feature a single-piece, carbon fiber, reinforced composite shell, a luxury interior complete with a wet-bath, upgraded off-road components, including 12-inch-long travel front suspension, a fully-fabricated rear axle, drilled and slotted disc brakes at all four wheels, 33-inch or 35-inch tires depending on the package chosen, and front and rear lockers. TruckHouse will be building the BCT only on brand new trucks.
“We were inspired by the idea of bringing the beloved 1980’s Sunrader 4×4 into the 21st century,” explains Matt Linder, TruckHouse CEO and co-founder. “Knowing we wanted to avoid traditional RV construction methods, we utilize manufacturing techniques from the marine and aerospace industries to build the BCT from the ground up. At TruckHouse, every detail matters. In order to maintain quality, we design, engineer, and fabricate all key components in house. The BCT is built for those who desire a similar footprint of a van, the living space of a Class-C RV, the capability of a purpose-built 4×4, and the fit, finish, and dependability of a high-end yacht.”
The BCT comes with all of the amenities. It features seven safari-style double-pane windows and a massive overhead skylight. The U-shaped rear dinette provides 270 degree views and converts to a full-sized bed when the sun goes down. Above the cab is a spacious queen-sized bed with an available articulating 32-inch LED TV. Four adults can call the BCT home with two beds for sleeping and available quad captain seat configuration for driving. The pass-thru from the truck to the house allows users to move between the two without having to go outside. The BCT is four-season severe-weather rated and comes complete with a full galley and wet bath.
Other features of the TruckHouse BCT include integrated hydronic heating, a Bosch high speed oven, a two-burner induction cooktop, a DC compressor refrigerator/freezer, a wet-bath with a Thetford cassette toilet, a power management system, luxury vinyl flooring, and an optional 12 volt air conditioner.
The BCT is made to play off-grid. TruckHouse equips every BCT with 30 gallons of freshwater capacity, 20 gallons of grey water capacity, and a self-contained cassette toilet. The BCT is powered by a large BattleBorn lithium ion battery bank, available 500 amp hours of battery life, and comes standard with a rooftop solar array up to 600 watts. Camping in a snowstorm? No problem, hang out on the heated floors and start the truck to recharge the battery bank with the standard high-output alternator. The lithium ion batteries and available extended fuel tank power every system on board; eliminating the need for a supplementary generator or propane. Gasoline and water are all this rig requires.
While the exact weight of the prototype hasn’t been determined yet, TruckHouse has told us that the naked shell weighs just over 500 pounds.
“We selected the Toyota Tacoma for its modest size, maneuverability, and proven longevity,” says COO and co-founder, Nicolo Monforte. “We then built a carbon fiber reinforced composite house to match everything we love about the truck and its utility. Toyota builds special vehicles, especially the Tacoma, so it made sense to start with that as our foundation. Every key structural component of the chassis has been reinforced to make a vehicle rugged enough for true backcountry adventure. We started by breaking down what the perfect overland camping experience was to us, and from there we built the most capable and livable vehicle we could imagine. This rig will effortlessly float down the longest whoop sections or rip down the highway just as easily as it will find a spot in a tight parking lot.”
TruckHouse is based in Sparks, Nevada, and was founded by Matt Linder and Nicolo Monforte in 2019. With the launch of the mid-sized BCT, TruckHouse is poised to disrupt the overland and composited industries through innovation and craftsmanship for years to come.
TruckHouse is in the final stage of constructing its first prototype and is set to build a limited number of BCTs in 2021 with an introductory base price of $285,000. Fully optioned rigs will run customers upwards of $380,000, far less than what you’ll pay for the new EarthRoamer XV-LTi. Interested buyers can learn more and begin their purchasing process directly at www.TruckHouse.com.
TruckHouse operates on a made-to-order basis, allowing customers to select various upgrade packages for their BCT. Packages range from Stage I to Stage III and include options to select from, such as the Tacoma model, off-road capabilities, the rig’s power supply, and entertainment options. Customers are also able to select their interior finishes of their BCT, making each rig truly unique. Production spots can be reserved with a $50,000 non-refundable deposit.
I’ll admit our veteran 2007 Tacoma may not have the horsepower and torque of a new one — I haven’t looked — but given how hard it struggled to hold highway speeds on flat level ground towing a 2000-pound unloaded travel trailer, this seems a bridge too far. (We only made one trip with that trailer, years ago.) I mean, I’d love to see this be a good solution, as I’m a big fan of the Tacoma, but… gonna have to wait and see. Of course, given the price tag it’s unlikely we’ll ever buy one!
Looks pretty cool but 380k would buy a nice rig and property to park it on.
As a new vehicle presumably they’ll not get the luxury of selling over the Tacoma’s GVWR and citing ‘upgrades make it ok’ as we aftermarket camper adders do. With that in mind, they must have got everything under the 1,100 Tacoma payload, which given the specs must be some feat.
corrected.
https://www.truckhouse.co/the-bct