When it comes to camping, people have widely different choices. Some prefer camping in tents, others favor a travel trailer. But there is a certain fraction of people who opt for a third alternative: a pickup camper. Unlike a trailer that requires constant hitching and unhitching, a pickup camper is always set up. Not to mention, a camper offers maneuverability in locations where one finds difficult to tow a trailer alongside. Truck campers, while offering unique advantages, also come with several drawbacks. These include limited space, potential handling issues due to weight and height, and reduced comfort compared to larger RVs. Arizona-based camper manufacturer Ovrlnd Campers decided to tackle the problem with a chubby upgrade.
To make it crystal clear, the Chubby isn’t a new pop-top camper. It’s a customizable feature available across Ovrlnd’s lineup. As penned by New Atlas, the “‘Chubby’ package flares each topper out beyond the width of the pickup bed, making space for potential east-to-west sleeping and more interior elbow room.”
In simple terms, Chubby gives campers a little extra breathing room. It widens the camper by 7 inches, increasing the interior space for side-to-side (east-west) sleeping and living. The extra 7 inches might not sound like much, but for those hassling their daily lives in a compact truck camper, it means a lot. The widened interior makes for a more comfortable night’s sleep, especially for those who prefer to sleep side-to-side rather than lengthwise. The added width also creates a roomier feel for daytime activities like cooking, hanging out, or waiting out a storm.
For midsize trucks, this translates to roughly 68 inches of bed width, while full-size trucks get a spacious 75 inches. That’s a significant boost for anyone who’s ever felt cramped in a standard truck bed camper, especially if you’re sharing the space with a partner, kids, or a furry companion.
The name ‘Chubby’ might seem funny, but those who are familiar with this notorious nomenclature Ovrlnd Campers engages in know for a fact that it sounds like the right compatible option to All You Can Eat, Bread N Butter, and The Bivy, all three models coming from the foundry of Ovrlnd Campers.
The Chubby option comes at a meagre cost of $950 on top of the base price of any Ovrlnd camper model. It adds about 30-50lbs to the camper’s weight, but Ovrlnd’s commitment to lightweight construction, using all-aluminum frames and composite materials, keeps it impressively light compared to competitors. Ovrlnd’s vertical pop-top design already maximizes headroom, and the Chubby option complements this by making the space feel less like a tunnel and more like a cozy cabin.
Also Read: Ultra-Light, Garage-Friendly Switchback Truck Camper Hosts No-Nonsense Adventurers
On a little downside, there is a small trade-off with the Chubby option. The extra width means the camper’s barn doors can only open 180 degrees instead of the full 270 degrees. However, Ovrlnd ensures the doors latch securely to prevent them from swinging in the wind, so it’s a minor inconvenience for most users compared to the benefits of the added space.
For those worrying about the extended widths, the camper aligns closely with your truck’s dimensions, so you won’t be dealing with an awkwardly oversized topper. The Chubby option is ideal for anyone who loves the idea of a lightweight, pop-top camper but wants a bit more space for comfort.
The Chubby, as aforementioned, can be added to any Ovrlnd camper model for $950. Base prices start at $7,400 for the minimalist Bivy, $8,400 for the semi-custom All You Can Eat, and $11,499 for the feature-packed Bread N Butter.
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