The “light as a feather” American Aterra Truck Camper is ready for year-round life

If you read the previous paragraph correctly, you will understand that the machine in front of you today is nothing more than a transport truck that costs at least 76 thousand dollars (71,200 euros at current exchange rates), and all this is true. However, there’s so much more to this truck than that, so we really need to dedicate an entire article to it. Best of all, it uses the truck you probably own but with some heavy modifications to the chassis and bed.

Before we dive into this wheeled behemoth, let’s first take a quick look at the minds and hands behind the design, none other than AT Overland, an American crew operating out of the Sonoran Desert in Prescott, Arizona, a town I’ve spent a lot of time with. Well, all you need to do is Really knowing them is that they have been in this business for over 20 years, and looking at Aterra, it shows.

Now, the Aterra is not your typical truck camper, it requires a flat top instead of the classic setup used by slide-on units. This means you will need to modify your truck if you haven’t already. Thinking about it, you should look at more than just bed adjustments, especially if you want to get things off-road the right way; The suspension definitely needs some attention.

Photo: Into the Wild Equipment

It’s funny that you would expect a stroller this size to weigh so little. However, AT was able to manufacture a unit that weighed less than 1,150 lb (522 kg) dry. This is madness! How are these feather-light specifications possible? Using honeycomb composite construction. Best of all, this type of construction allows the Aterra to operate year-round.

Taking a look at the exterior of this unit, we can see countless windows along the sides, storage bays, and best of all, the ability to mount solar panels on the roof. The latter is essential if you want to disconnect from the grid and explore lands that very few have access to.

Furthermore, it appears that the shell can also accommodate some extras, such as recovery boards, jerry cans, and who knows what else; Just tell AT what you have in mind and maybe they can make it a reality. However, there’s not much more you could ask for; Each unit is filled with goods that we need and want.

For example, let’s head inside and check out a king-size bed mounted on the cab awaiting its future owners. Be sure to check out the bamboo countertops, fully equipped kitchen, all the storage around, and the great use of LED strips.

Photo: Into the Wild Equipment

However, the Aterra is a little different from other truck campers on the market, mainly because of that all-side entry. Now, this may not seem like a big deal, but because of this feature alone, the Aterra’s interior feels open and accommodates a modular dinette, which can be used as a wet bathroom. This space also provides a 270-degree view of the world around you.

I know it may sound strange, but try to imagine yourself in the middle of nowhere, with the window shades open, taking in the local landscape as you clean up after a long day or start over with a new day. Seems like a neat little trick.

Just remember: You’re in a camper, and sitting in the shower with the water running isn’t what you want, especially since there are only 30 gallons (114 liters) of fresh water at your disposal. It’s funny that you can eat any meal you have on the stove while showering, assuming you don’t put up a curtain.

Once you’re out of the shower, grab some clothes from any of the countless bays we see in the photo gallery, put them on, reorganize the dinette, and enjoy the meal you’ve been working on all at once. Mind the soap bubbles!

Photo: Into the Wild Equipment

Some of the basics you should be aware of are things like a 90 liter (24 gallon) refrigerator, a waterless toilet system, and the electrical system. The latter consists of a 105 Ah lithium battery, 400 watts of roof-mounted solar processing power, a Truma VarioHeat heater, and an AquaGo on-demand water heater. Like I said, the essentials.

Now, let’s say you fall in love with what you see. If that’s the case, there’s something you need to take into consideration, and part of that is the fact that the Aterra can be installed on almost any truck on the market, from 1/2-ton to 1-ton pickups; As long as the bed fits, Atira sits. Just remember to make sure your truck doesn’t need a suspension upgrade or anything like that.

At the end of the day, there’s a lot to do in this Arizona-born campervan, but I’ll leave some of the explaining to AT Overland. This is just a little thing to think about if you are looking for a different type of campervan.