R.A.D Campers
Photo: R.A.D Campers
What is R.A.D Campers?
R.A.D Campers, a family-run builder in Dunbarton, New Hampshire founded in 2023, makes lightweight pop-up truck cap campers in aluminum and fiberglass starting at $6,900 for midsize trucks.
About R.A.D Campers
R.A.D Campers was born in 2023 in Dunbarton, New Hampshire from a simple premise: the typical truck camper costs too much, weighs too much, and locks you into features you may never use. Recreation Adventure Designs set out to build a lighter, simpler pop-up truck cap that starts at a price most overlanders can actually reach without financing a mortgage. The result is a small-batch, build-to-order camper shell manufactured with 5051 aluminum siding and roofing, a T-slot aluminum extrusion frame, and stainless steel hardware throughout, a combination the company describes as 100-percent submersible with marine-grade components.
The basic architecture is a hard-sided topper base with a fabric pop-up roof: gas-assist struts raise the roof approximately three feet to deliver around six feet four inches of interior headroom, while 18-oz vinyl-coated polyester sides with no-see-um screen windows seal the living space. Inside, a 72-by-47-inch marine foam bunk sits over the truck bed, and removable bunk panels let the bed function as a standard truck bed when the camper is collapsed. The base lineup splits into two fitments: a Universal Short Bed model sized for most midsize trucks in aluminum, and a Toyota Tacoma Short Bed model in fiberglass covering 2005 to 2023 Tacoma year ranges.
R.A.D operates by appointment only, and every camper is custom-ordered with a 6-to-8-week lead time and a $500 deposit. The customization catalog covers black anodized framing, vinyl wraps, sliding and fixed window upgrades, MaxxFan roof vents, R5 XPS foam insulation, interior lighting, roof racks, and a solar entry port, so buyers can spec the camper to their needs rather than pay for a pre-loaded feature list. At $6,900 for midsize trucks and $7,900 for full-size platforms, R.A.D sits well below the $15,000 to $30,000 range that most purpose-built pop-top toppers carry, making it one of the most accessible entry points in the category.
Key Features
- Base price of $6,900 for midsize truck fitment and $7,900 for full-size platforms puts R.A.D among the most affordable purpose-built pop-up truck caps available
- 5051 aluminum siding, T-slot aluminum extrusion frame, and stainless steel hardware throughout, with marine-grade component spec and a submersible build standard
- Gas-assist struts raise the roof approximately 3 feet to deliver around 6'4" of interior headroom, with 18-oz vinyl-coated polyester sides and no-see-um screen windows
- Removable bunk panels preserve full truck bed access when the camper is closed, keeping the rig functional as a daily driver
- Build-to-order with a published customization menu covering insulation, roof vents, window upgrades, roof racks, solar entry, and interior lighting
Models & Specs
Photo: R.A.D Campers
R.A.D Universal Short Bed Camper
R.A.D's universal midsize fitment in 5051 aluminum siding on a T-slot extrusion frame, with gas-assist pop-up roof, 18-oz vinyl-coated polyester sides, and a 72 x 47 in marine foam bunk.
Photo: R.A.D Campers
R.A.D Toyota Tacoma Short Bed Camper
The Tacoma-specific fitment swaps aluminum for a fiberglass siding shell, tailored precisely to 2005 to 2023 Tacoma bed dimensions for a tighter fit than the universal aluminum build.
Specs
Pricing
- Starting price
- 6,900 USD
- Full-size upcharge
- +1,000 USD
Dimensions
- Interior headroom (open)
- 76 in
- Roof dimensions
- 96 x 48 in
- Clearance below cab-over
- 24 in
- Bunk dimensions
- 72 x 47 in
- Cab-over height
- 6.5 in
Build
- Exterior siding
- 5051 aluminum
- Frame
- T-slot aluminum extrusion
- Hardware
- Stainless steel
- Tent fabric
- 18-oz vinyl-coated polyester
- Roof struts
- Gas-assist
- Marine carpeting
- Bunk surface (standard)
- Build time
- 6-8 weeks
- Country of manufacture
- USA (Dunbarton, NH)
Specs
Pricing
- Starting price
- 6,900 USD
Dimensions
- Interior headroom (open)
- 76 in
- Bunk dimensions
- 72 x 47 in
Build
- Exterior siding
- Fiberglass
- Frame
- T-slot aluminum extrusion
- Hardware
- Stainless steel
- Tent fabric
- 18-oz vinyl-coated polyester
- Roof struts
- Gas-assist
- Compatible years
- 2005-2023
- Build time
- 6-8 weeks
- Country of manufacture
- USA (Dunbarton, NH)
Contact
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Entry price of $6,900 is among the lowest of any purpose-built pop-up truck cap on the market, making the category accessible without a large loan
- Marine-grade component spec with 5051 aluminum siding, stainless hardware, and a submersible build standard is unusually robust for the price point
- Build-to-order model lets buyers add only the features they need, keeping weight and cost down compared to pre-loaded competitors
- Two fitment options cover the most common short-bed midsize trucks (Universal) and specifically the Toyota Tacoma 2005 to 2023
- Removable bunk panels mean the camper converts back to a functional truck bed for hauling gear or equipment
Cons
- No published weight specifications anywhere on the manufacturer site; payload planning requires contacting the company directly
- Very small operation with a 6-to-8-week custom lead time and by-appointment-only access; no dealer network or walk-in showroom
- Vinyl-coated polyester fabric pop-up sides provide limited insulation in cold weather compared to hard-sided competitors
- Contact email is a Hotmail address and phone has a 469 area code (Dallas, TX), while the listed address is in New Hampshire; buyers should verify current operating details before ordering
- No independent owner reviews, press coverage, or YouTube walkthroughs available as of mid-2026, making it difficult to assess real-world quality
- Customization menu is a la carte and requires emailing for a final price on anything beyond the base build
