The Ride: Keep on Trucking in a NüCamp Cirrus 820

The first truck campers arrived  scene in the 1950s, changing how Americans looked at the humble pickup truck. Since, they’ve evolved in size and complexity, while staying true to a woodsy vision of travel and adventure.

The Cirrus 820 from nüCamp continues that heritage. Despite an array of modern design features and amenities, this Ohio-built unit with an avid following still resembles classic 1950s truck campers in form and function. Like its ancestors, it fits neatly into the bed of a pickup, turning an otherwise mundane vehicle into a serious overlanding rig with all-season capabilities.

Photo Credit: nüCamp

Ample solar and a lithium house battery equip the 820 for off-grid exploration. A roof-mounted air conditioning unit keeps the interior cool in the summer; an Alde hot water system doubles as a hydronic heater in the winter. The rig’s 33-gallon freshwater tank, 32-gallon gray tank and 28-gallon black tank are also fairly sizable for a truck camper. An external shower is perfect for rinsing off dirty
boots and gear.

Inside, a two-burner stove, large farmhouse sink, 12-volt refrigerator and a microwave that doubles as a convection oven give the kitchen a homey feel, as do Amish-made wooden cabinets throughout.

Photo Credit: nüCamp

When not serving as a second bed, the camper’s roomy dinette makes for a great central gathering space or remote road-warrior workstation.

For all these features, this remains a nimble beast. The Cirrus 820’s electric jacks make it easy to remove from a truck bed as needed. This allows owners to use their pickup as a daily driver, freeing up the bed for hauling cargo and improving gas mileage. The 820 slides into place quickly, completely transforming the utility of the vehicle. “We’ve had our truck camper for a while, so we’ve got it down to a science,” one Cirrus owner told us. “We can have the camper installed on the truck and fully stocked with gear and supplies in about 15 or 20 minutes.”

From the beginning, this has been the truck camper genre’s promise. This one delivers.

Dimensions

Illustration by Dee Duncan

1. Rooftop solar is one of several features that prepare the 820 for off -grid sojourns.
2. 820 owners cited an integrated Bluetooth sound system, awnings on the rear and curbside, and the rear backup camera as favorites.
3. Inside, an internal pass-through window connects the camper with the truck’s cab.
4. The rear bumper is a signature design feature, providing added protection for the camper and easy entry and exit.
5. Extendable stairs reach nearly to the ground, ensuring owners don’t have to strain tired legs after a busy day of hiking, biking or skiing.

This article originally appeared in Wildsam magazine. For more Wildsam content, sign up for our newsletter.

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