Ultralite TB50 Is a Great Vehicle-Based Camping Solution With Hard Walls and a Fixed Roof

While the midsized truck camping market has been largely dominated by soft-top pop-up models, Colorado-based startup High Altitude Trailer Co has come up with a different kind of truck camping solution that offers four hard walls, a fixed roof, and an above-cab bed.

Their new and innovative camping topper is called Ultralite TB50 and is designed to take truck camping to a new camper-grade level. A comfortable queen mattress, LED lighting, and a large entry door are just a few of the amenities offered to ensure adventurers fully enjoy the thrill of sleeping in the back of their truck in the middle of nature.

Blending mobility with living space, the company has created a one-piece composite truck bed camper shell with full insulation suitable for the Jeep Gladiator, Toyota Tacoma, Ford Ranger, Nissan Frontier, Chevy Colorado, or any other smaller truck bed platform.

Most camping toppers available on the market are pop-up, floor-less shells that mount to the vehicle's rails and use the truck bed itself as part of the interior. HATCo does things differently with the Ultralite TB50, as this model comes with a fixed roof and a floor of its own that is resting above the truck bed. Moreover, it forgoes the flimsy tent fabrics and replaces them with foam-insulated hard walls that provide increased security and protection through the elements. It uses seven straps for attaching to the truck bed.

Despite featuring a fixed roof, it is high enough to ensure plenty of headroom inside. The 54-inch (137 cm) height above the bed rails of the midsize pickup truck guarantees you won't feel cramped inside. Obviously, the final height of the rig will depend on the height of the truck's rails. To give you some perspective, the 2023 Toyota Tacoma's bed rails have a 19-inch (48-cm) height, so such a truck equipped with the TB50 will provide around 73 inches (185 cm) of headroom inside.

The only downside of the fixed roof configuration is that you can't tuck it down low for driving, which also means a decrease in fuel economy. The company estimates a loss of 2-3 miles per gallon.

The truck camper's base configuration is as simple as it gets, comprising just a fold-down full-size bed platform for a comfortable and relaxing night's sleep, interior LED lighting, and a 12-V roof fan. Access inside the camper is provided by a generously sized entry door at the back instead of a lift-up or swing-out tailgate.

However, High Altitude Trailer Co does offer some optional add-ons for the TB50, such as a window to peek through when you want to see what happens around your vehicle, a plush 4- or 6-inch double mattress, several Overland Vehicle Systems (OVS) awning options to extend the living space, a drop-down OVS shower tent, and custom removable side jacks.

The minimalist design means outdoor enthusiasts can equip the free interior space with whatever they see fit for their on-road or off-road adventures, like a kitchen area with a small sink and portable cooktop, a seating space, a dinette, or a portable dining table. They can even use the space for storing outdoor sports gear and equipment.

Granted, this is not the first hard-walled slide-in truck camper, but it differentiates itself in the market due to its fixed roof, low weight, and affordability. While slide-in pickup campers generally weigh between 1,000 and 5,000 pounds (450 and 2,200 kg), HATCo's TB50 tips the scales at just 448 pounds (203 kg). It does weigh more than the lightest pop-up toppers, though, mainly because of the larger high-roof construction and tall rear wall.

The manufacturer managed to keep the weight down by providing a no-frills base configuration. If you think about it, the product is essentially an empty shell with a folding alcove double-sleeper platform and just a few other amenities. But that's not necessarily a bad thing, as this means the Ultralite TB50 can serve as an almost blank canvas for adventurers to build their dream vehicle-based camping setup. The greatest appeal is that whether you plan to go on a short- or long-distance journey, you can rest assured protection and safety are guaranteed inside this rig.

As for pricing, High Altitude Trailer Co's Ultralite TB50 slide-in hard top midsize truck bed camper starts at $14,500, providing unparalleled value for the money.

Its incredible lightness and the sub-$15,000 price put the newcomer in a league of its own, as no other model available on the market even comes close to its weight and price point.