Mercy Maud! Triple Slide Truck Camper Rollout

In our last entry we were standing their gape mawed in viewing an Arctic Fox double slideout truck camper. Well, it didn't take long, now we're open mouthing at a triple slide--this one likewise coming from an Oregon manufacturer, Host RV.

Host promoted their new 11' 6" behemoth as, 'like walking into a two-room apartment.' Under the mountain like moniker of "Everest," this big beast moves the entry door to the far right rear side of the camper. Step up inside, the first slide out is at the rear, housing a 60" wide sofa. To your right, the galley slide with stove and sink. Across from your entry point? The dinette slideout, with both dinette and refrigerator.

With a 70 gallon fresh water tank, and two 38 gallon tanks for waste water, you'll evidently need something beefy to haul this beast. The company advertises that the single slide model scales in at 3,295 pounds. How much those other two slides will add to the scales is left unsaid. Our calculator says just picking up the camper with three slides will set you back close to $38,000--and that's without any other factory available options.

Where will it end? We've seen a fifth wheel with a "second story." Truck campers may not be far behind. Check out the Everest for yourself here. By the way, if you decide to pick up one of these rigs beware: You'll have to roll out the slides before you can get in the door.

Host Campers: Truck Campers A'la Carte

There's a little truck camper firm out of Bend, Oregon that has an interesting approach to truck campers: Instead of offering customers a few minor choices ("What's your color trim package? Would you like to upgrade to a generator?") the Host line includes some major thinking: Will that be a single, double, or triple slide?

Triple slide? We recall the "old days" where a few truck campers had a "pop out" section at the rear, somewhat lined out like a fold down bed in a "pop up camper." Once we even drove two and half hours to contemplate buying one--only to find that the pop out had leaked so bad the poor rig was ready for the bone yard.

Later we ran into a "wow!" concept: A truck camper with a slide-out dinette--manufactured by a Canadian firm. We wondered how long it would take American manufacturers to follow suit--and of course, they eventually did. So when we found the Host line, it was a revelation. Available slides on both curb and street side, and a "for real" slide out on the rear. Choose your base model, add on slides and other options--and even better: Host doesn't just tell you how many more dollars you'll add-on, but how many pounds you'll add on.

I could go on and gum about this for several more graphs, but I'll let you off the hook. Go visit the Host Camper website and check out what they have to offer. You'll even find links to reviews under their "press/editorial" section, including interesting observations by a "real" RVer who doesn't hide the "pimples and warts," of his own experience.

Photos: HostCamper.com