My current camper: Outfitter Caribou Lite 6.5

Built by Outfitter Manufacturing just North of Denver, Colorado, in Longmont, this camper is for a short-bed full sized truck.  The dry weight of the camper is about 850 pounds.

The camper features: 3-way fridge, stove, sink with cold water, fresh water tank, forced air heater, LED cabin lights, two roof vents (one with a powered fan) and dinette seating.  The sleeping quarters are a full-sized bed (that can be expanded to a queen) over the truck’s cab.

The sleeping quarters can be expanded to a queen. I use it as 'unexpanded' and the size is a very wide full. you can also see to the sink and the pass through window to the truck cab.

The sleeping quarters can be expanded to a queen. I use it ‘unexpanded’ as a very wide full. You can also see to the sink, heater and the pass through window to the truck cab.

the camper's left (or port) side has the kitchen and the controllers for the electrics.

The camper’s left (or port) side has the kitchen, vanity and the controllers for the electrics.

the right (starboard) side has the seating around a table. under the forward seat is the water tank (20 gallons) and the aft (rear) seat is where the porta-potti is located. As my traveling partner is Momma Kitty the aft seat is the location where her litter box is kept.

The right (starboard) side has the seating around a table. Under the aft (rear) seat is where the porta-potti is located. As my traveling partner is Momma Kitty the aft seat is the location where her litter box is kept.

The forward seat on the right (starboard) side of the camper. The water tank, 20 gallons, is under this seat. You can also see the pass through window to the truck's cab.

This is the forward seat on the right (starboard) side of the camper. The water tank, 20 gallons, is under this seat. You can also see the pass through window to the truck’s cab.  The white ‘hatch’ is where the battery is located.

This camper is used on to Toyota Tundras: 2007 and 2016 (the older is the work truck, the younger is the personal truck).  To level the camper’s weight, and items towed by the trucks, Firestone air bags have been installed on both rigs’ rear axle.

Firestone airbags under the Tundra's rear axle.

Firestone airbags under the Tundra’s rear axle.

45 thoughts on “My current camper: Outfitter Caribou Lite 6.5”

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  24. Enjoyed your bog. How well built and reliable have you found the caribou lite. Reviews are mixed and old. Thank you for responding in advance.

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    • Well I must say I’m sorry and taking so long to respond to your question Bill. Like all things you ‘get what you pay for’. An Outfitter is OK for what I paid … an equally equipped Four Wheel Camper would have cost $26,000. Most of the issues I’ve had were easily corrected. To be honest the greatest problem at this moment is leaking softwall windows. I’m putting together a post that covers the problem and the solutions I’ve tried. The Christmas and New Year holidays 2016 will allow me to work on this BLOG and detail my activities and how the Outfitter is performing!

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  29. Just found your blog and enjoyed it all in one sitting! I see you stopped in March of 2017, so wondering if you are ok or just need a break? Have a few questions about your Outfitter Caribou camper…What is the inside height when top is up? Any other camper in that price range that you see and like now? Thanks, and all the best…Mark.

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    • Mark:

      Thanks for reading! I’ve been very busy with work and travel. Currently on the road and also many weeks on the road prior months. More posts to come (as I find time).

      I’m 5’11” and can stand upright no problem. my guess is the ceiling height is around 6’3″ or 4″.

      The Outfitter for its price has a lot of options. She is a ‘price point’ camper and there are a half-dozen items that i’ve had concerns and a few I still have problems. Posts on some items have been shared (like the camper door dead bolt no aligning) and many more will be shared as I find solutions.

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      • Thanks for your response! I’m 6’3″ and a bit and always worried about hitting my head. Tried the inside of a FWC Fleet model that was supposed to be 6’4″ inside height and it sure wasn’t. Parts hanging down that were maybe 6’2″ and max height was 6’3″. Look forward to your reports. Thanks again, Mark….

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  30. I do recommend you stand in one Mark. I doubt if the Outfitter is any ‘taller than a FWC. the roof also has wood ‘bars’ that are part of the system to raise/lower the roof that cut across the middle of the camper.

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  33. I am planning to get a caribou lite this summer. Would you get this camper again given the problems Encountered? What are the worst Issues? I travel with 3 springer spaniels. Is there room?

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    • Roni:

      The camper is OK. Most recently I was a boat builder and my expectations for build quality are very high – NO camper on the market, including Four Wheel, is built to the specification I expect and many times I am a frustrated/scared by the corners that are cut (by ALL builders of campers, not just Bob at Outfitter). My greatest frustrations with the camper have been the leaking softwall windows (details: https://truckpopupcamper.wordpress.com/2018/04/03/less-dampness/) and the fridge (though this is more a Dometic issue that Outfitter’s; details: https://truckpopupcamper.wordpress.com/2015/08/07/battle-of-the-fridge-part-2/). There are other issues but I see them as endemic to the camper industry using cheaply built parts (ie, overseas sourcing to the lowest quality/price) If I had the money I would have purchased a Four Wheel. Overall I feel that I ‘got what I payed for’ as the equivalent Four Wheel would have been close to $30K … I payed half that to Bob.

      There is not a lot of storage space in a popup camper because the roof limits the size and number of cabinets. This limits folks and makes it difficult for more than one person to stay/live in the unit for extended periods. It is just me and a cat so I’ve gone up to three weeks living in the camper. I use the truck’s back seat for storage and even then many bags and bins are on the camper floor when traveling, then put on the bed when I in camp, and then when I sleep all that stuff needs to go back onto the camper floor (usually artfully stacked under the dinette table).

      Three dogs … I don’t know many truck campers that would make this comfortable – even a large 11′ or 12′ unit. I don’t believe I would be comfortable with three dogs and me in a 6′ camper. Maybe if the hounds are only allowed to be in the truck cab.

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  34. thanks for responding! I notice some campers have the ability to turn dining areas into another bed./sleeping space. does the caribou have that ablity? I know its alot of dogs! but we have all been sleeping in my truck bed on a padded platforn, so I hope we figure it out.

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  35. Hi scoobie, hopefully, last question. Talked to Bob on Saturday. He said you need to lift 40 lbs. Over your head to get the top up. What is your Thought? I am 5’3″ , 105 lbs. Easy, moderate, Hard? Can you use a drill to help Lift? Thanks for your input.

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    • you can’t use a drill on my camper as you just push to lever bars up, in a sequence, to raise the roof. the standard roof lift system doesn’t use a geared system (I believe it is an option if I remember correctly). with your height I recommend you try it yourself as you may have difficulty pushing the levers fully up. there are times I have difficulty raising the roof: when it is cold the soft sidewall doesn’t want to stretch and makes it difficult to lock the roof in the up condition, and when there is snow on the roof. I’ve also had a couple of times the roof was frozen down because water settled in the folded soft sidewall (ie, part of the leaking problem) and it required some effort to ‘break it free’. when lowering the roof if there is snow it is heavy and care must be taken. it is also a bit of work when it is cold to ‘unlock’ the lifting bars because the soft walls don’t stretch. i’ll write it again – you need to try it yourself and see if you can do it.

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