If you’re a serious overlander, there’s no chance you don’t know about Alaskan Campers. Since 1957, the hard-sided Alaskan truck campers have been a dream for every adventurer. Sidestepping its image of creating heavy-duty rigs for the first time, the company has engineered a hard-sided pop-up camper with reduced weight. Called the HS 640, the rig is designed from the ground up with smarter construction materials, while maintaining the durability and performance assured by an Alaskan model.
The Alaskan Campers HS 640 is a new-generation camper designed with the idea of reducing weight and creating a fit compatible with a wider range of trucks. Since it’s built from the ground up, the HS 640 does share a similar Alaskan design language, but it isn’t based on any existing model from the company. It is an entirely new platform made to be “lighter, more efficient. It’s the “most accessible Alaskan ever built, designed to fit more trucks and reach more people,” the company notes.
Designer: Alaskan Campers
For its lightweight form factor, Alaskan Campers has constructed the HS 640 using non-organic materials. The shell comprises 1.5-inch structural insulated panels paired with high-density PIR foam sandwiched between fiberglass skin, creating a robust yet lightweight body that is, of course, rot-proof and certified R-11 thermal insulation. With the integration of this new construction format, the company has managed to curtail excess mass across the entire camper structure, reducing the weight without compromising strength.
Designed for broader compatibility with a larger range of trucks, the HS 640 has a dry weight of 1,500 lbs. and measures about 6.3 feet (1.9 m) in length. The lightweight camper’s size allows the tailgate to close on most standard 6.5-foot truck beds from Ram, Ford, Toyota and more. The reduced weight of the pickup camper puts less strain on your truck, improving its drivability, while providing a comfortable living space inside.
The yacht-like interior fashioned by Alaskan for the HS 640 includes aluminum cabinetry, which can be customized to the buyer’s choice of color. The interior otherwise features bamboo trim throughout. The kitchen alongside the entry is provided with an induction cooktop, a sink, and a 90L fridge. Adjacent is the living space equipped with an L-shaped sofa paired with a detachable Lagun table in the center, transforming the space from entertainment to dining in a jiffy. The sleeping section, located behind and above the dinette, features a RoamRest 6-inch queen mattress and is finished with overhead storage and a wardrobe. HS 640, the company notes, offers campers an indoor and outdoor shower and a Trelino Evo S portable composting toilet.
On the outside, the interestingly designed camper provides for an optional 180-degree awning and a solar panel. The buyer can opt for 400 watts of rooftop solar panels and an electrical system with 324-Ah Expion 360 battery. The backup can be managed off the grid by 3,000-W inverter on board, while a 57-liter fresh water tank suffices for the water needs. Alaskan Campers is selling the HS 640 starting at $47,495.
