Kingstar's Open Range Truck Camper Unlocks RV-Like Off-Grid Living but Isn't Cheap

Folks, Kingstar is a truck camper manufacturer from Michigan, and while they've only been around since 2018, what makes them an attractive brand is the fact that they work outside established industry norms and, best of all, craft each unit by hand, giving each one a unique and one-of-a-kind signature.

Now, the Open Range (OR) is a bit cheaper than the Command Center we've featured before, but not by much. That said, expect to dish out at least $50,190 (€47,000 at current exchange rates) for what you see in the image gallery. By the way, if you haven't checked out that section of the article, I recommend doing so before moving on.

In comparison to other truck campers on the market, that's quite the premium price, so why are we being asked to pay this much for a new standard unit? Well, that's the purpose of this article, so get ready to whip out those checkbooks because you might find it all worth it in the end.

For starters, I mentioned that this bugger is hand-built and that alone costs time, attention, and money. From here, it's how the OR is built that matters. Overall, each unit is covered with a stainless steel roof and includes 2 in (5 cm) of closed-cell spray foam insulation for preserving precious energy. It's why you'll often see these babies rocking it around in colder weather.

The result is a rather rudimentary-looking unit, but behind the looks is a whole lot of functionality. For example, the roof can not only house solar panels but a rack, too, perfect for carrying around some kayaks, skis, snowboards, and whatever else you feel like. And it's not just the roof that's sturdy; just take a look at all the gear hanging off the shell.

However, there is a bit of a downside: this thing is heavy! I'm talking about 3,200 lbs (1,451 kg) of dry camper, so by the time you're done loading it up, you may need to check the owner's manual of your truck to ensure it's all okay. Oh, and definitely explore the modifications you'll need to make to portions of your vehicle, including the bed.

Once you do all that, you'll be looking at a wheeled turtle shell that's not only good for nice extended weekends, but because it's filled with everything you'd ever need, including a wet bath, you can live out of one of these babies for as long as your supplies and seasons allow.

For instance, once you first step inside your OR, you'll first encounter the wet bath to your right. This alone is a feature rarely found in a truck camper, and very few are able to pull it off to the level of standards we see here. After passing this space, you'll begin to really understand why you're getting to know the OR right now.

What attracted me the most to this truck-mounted mobile home is the lounge sitting on the right side of the unit. Elevated, this space isn't just suitable for enjoying the meals you just cooked, but by the looks of it, it serves as an amazing space to just kick back and listen to the sounds of the world outside. If you rotate the seating to face the window, it's the perfect place to enjoy your coffee before undertaking the day's tasks.

However, there's more to it than this. An ingenious tabletop system hides not one but two floating tops for each guest. I find this a neat trick as it allows each person to carry out whatever activity they'd like. Oh, there's also a TV that can be swung out from the bedding area so that you can catch the game on a Sunday.

Across from this space, Kingstar mounts the galley block. Here, future owners can look forward to a three-burner cooktop and oven, a Formica countertop with a stainless steel sink, and a fridge that's sure to do the trick for a few days at a time. All that's then fed with water from a 32 gal (121 l) tank and heated by a 6 gal (23 l) heater.

As for storage, there's more than enough in the galley, some overhead, at ground level, and even integrated under the dining area. If we consider exterior storage bays and any extra lockers you opt for, your truck and OR might end up looking like you're headed on an expedition.

Speaking of expeditions, Kingstar does take the time to add crucial electrical gear, including batteries, BMS, inverter, and charger, but they seem to have left out the solar panels, so you'll need to pay extra for those.

If you do want to take your unit to the next level and money doesn't matter to you, the manufacturer places a list twice as long as the standard features list with which you can add things like 600 W of solar panel power, add more batteries, mess around with the wet bath, add those roof racks I mentioned, and quite a bit more.

As a curiosity, I worked out the math for my dream unit, and I was looking at a beast of around $78K. Yes, it sounds like quite a bit, but to find motorhome-like living in a truck camper is something that is rarely encountered. Just imagine what your campsite will end up looking like when things are in full swing.