Outpost Camper Truck Is Caravan Outfitter’s Proposal for Entry-Level Overlanding

The unprecedented developments of the previous year, whose consequences are still felt in 2021 and will continue to be felt for at least another two years (or so they say), have led to a surge in a more personalized type of tourism. Camping, glamping, and road trips came to replace hotel stays and airplane journeys, as did more encompassing solutions, like RVs, motorhomes, campers, and overlanders.

Getting out in nature is no longer only for the most adventurous because the number of options for all tastes and budgets has increased.

With the latest offer from Caravan Outfitter, an overlanding-ready truck called Outpost, getting out in nature doesn’t have to be only for the skilled or the well-off. Proper overlanding rigs are expensive, regardless of whether you buy them as they are or you built them on your own. In the latter case, they also require time, patience, and not a negligible amount of skill.

For those who have neither the inclination nor the desire to invest in one such rig but who don’t find the idea of roughing it out enjoyable, the Outpost will do as an entry-level solution. Based on a new 2021 Nissan Frontier Crew Cab, the Outpost camper truck has several good things going in its favor, including a very low price point and the fact that it comes ready to go.

The bad news is that both these things come with some caveats. They’re what you might call the fine print on any contract or offer: this is not a complete or professional rig.

The Outpost is built and sold by Washington-based Caravan Outfitters, and it’s perfect for overnight camping or even extended stays out in the wild—though you’d probably find it less perfect after a few days. It uses off-the-shelf products and has the advantage of being a turnkey camper. Make sure you pack the extra camping stuff (a kitchen, toilet, and whatever else you might need), and you can drive it off the lot.

The Frontier packs a 310-hp 3.8-liter V6 engine, mated to a 9-speed automatic transmission. There’s a Yakima bed rack system with included recovery boards in the back, on which sits a two-person iKamper Skycamp Mini tent that deploys to offer sleeping space and plenty of legroom for two adults. All-terrain tires and the Midnight Edition 4x4 package on the Frontier are meant to inspire confidence in first-time overlanders.

Caravan Outfitters throws in a bit of custom detailing meant to make the deal even more appealing if the low price point isn’t enough. The Outpost comes with custom embroidery on the leather interior, window tinting, and a Yeti Tundra cooler as a bonus. So, at the very least, you can skip that when shopping for a kitchen.

The Outpost sells at the two Campbell Nissan dealerships in Edmonds and Everett, Washington, for just a hair under $40,000, before taxes and fees, and everything else you have to buy to make your new temporary home away from home actually practical. Even with all these expenses included, you still have an entry-level rig that’s cheaper than other new models.