Sure, if a truck camper will fit dimensionally into whatever electric pickup you have, and weighs in at below the payload of the truck, it will work. But, most traditional slide-in truck campers are quite heavy, not all that aerodynamic, and use a wide range of fuel sources for onboard systems. This combo is not optimal for electric trucks.
The slide-in truck camper that EarthCruiser is currently working on aims to address these issues, and better integrate with the wide range of electric trucks hitting the market. The company has been working on this project for over 2 years, has a number of prototypes being evaluated, and is already working with some auto manufacturers to best integrate the camper with the latest electric trucks.
“We have been keenly following the evolution of EV vehicles and have been waiting until the time is right and the time is now. We are a company that loves to discover, innovate, and test, over and over until we get it right. Our deep expertise in building world-renowned expedition vehicles makes it easier for us to roll into electric platforms compared to competitors,” said Lance Gillies, founder of EarthCruiser.
EarthCruiser Slide-In Truck Camper
EarthCruiser showed off its GZL European-style composite slide-in truck camper about 5 years ago now, but the product never went into full production. Due to a number of factors, like the pandemic and the FUSO 4×4 being taken off the market, the company had to redirect its focus back to its core products. But, this latest venture into EV campers is a resurrection of the lessons learned through the GZL.
The GZL camper is being fully renovated to best work in electric pickups. While specifics are thin, the main gist is that the camper will be aerodynamically efficient, lightweight, and running fully on its own electricity. This combo of features will help retain the best possible range of the electric truck. Less range anxiety equals more fun overland adventures.
From the renderings shown so far, we can see that it will be a full-pop expanding roof design, which should offer tons of comfortable living space with a small aerodynamic footprint. We can also see that built-in solar panels on many surfaces of the camper will help charge up the camper’s electrical systems.
