Northern Lite

Molded fiberglass truck campers built in Kelowna, British Columbia. The two-piece shell has no side seams to leak, which is a large part of why these stand up to real four-season use.

Founded in 1989 in Kelowna, British Columbia, Northern Lite builds hard-side slide-in truck campers using a process closer to boat building than trailer building. Each shell is molded in two complete fiberglass halves and joined, which removes the vertical seams that let water into conventionally framed campers. R7 insulation, thermal pane windows, a heated basement for the plumbing and ducted heat that reaches both the floor and the tanks are standard rather than cold-weather extras.

Ownership appeals to people who want a basecamp on a truck they already own, drive down logging roads, and camp through shoulder season and winter. Weight matters more than anything: the 610 half-ton model is the entry point, while Sportsman Plus and longer models need more truck. Match the camper's centre of gravity and dry weight to your payload sticker before anything else, then decide between a wet bath and a dry bath. A six year structural integrity warranty backs the shell.