Tune Tacoma topper adds flared camping space and glass panorama

Just when you thought the pickup camping topper market was completely saturated with every possible design and feature, another Rocky Mountain upstart came with a pretty fresh take. From a distance, his M1 topper from Denver’s Tune Outdoors looks like any other light pickup canopy with a full-length, high-popping roof.

However, this one features flared sides for added interior space and what Tune defines as the best weight-to-space ratio. You can finish off your flares for a more scenic track camping experience.

With a base weight of 360 lbs (163 kg), the M1 is light, but not uncommon for pickup toppers. For comparison, the AT Overland Atlas weighs the same 360 ​​lbs and the Harker Outdoor EDC weighs 300 lbs (136 kg).

But Tune Outdoors isn’t going to beat the competition on weight alone. Because we are trying to find the best combination of interior space and overall weight.

To achieve that goal, Tune pushes the sidewalls of the topper past the sidewalls of the pickup bed. While a typical topper extends straight out from the bed, Tune’s flared sidewall design increases interior width and overall volume. As well as creating elbow room in the pickup bed, the pop-up area allows him to lay out a 60 x 78 inch (152 x 198 cm) almost queen bed laterally.

The upper bed only extends 60 inches (152 cm) front to back, so it doesn’t take up the entire standing room on the floor of the pickup bed. Headroom ranges from 6.3 to 6.8 feet (1.9 to 2 m) depending on the M1 model.

For those looking for more sleeping space, add an optional expansion panel to create an 80 x 78 inch (203 x 198 cm) super king in a full-size pickup like the Ford F-150 , or the 80 x 72-bed of a 5-foot (1.5 m) short bed medium truck (203 x 183 cm) like the Toyota Tacoma. The standard M1 bed size for medium duty trucks is 60 x 72 inches (152 x 183 cm).

Another feature that sets the Tune M1 apart from other toppers and campers is the optional smoked tempered glass windows that create 270 degree panoramas. Openable windows run nearly the entire length of the liftgate and sidewalls, providing wide views from all angles. Panoramic glass seems to be a trending feature in camper design, and Tune does it above all.

One feature we would like to see added to the M1 package is an available lower bed. With an internal width of 72 to 78 inches, the M1 can accommodate a raised lateral bed above the pickup floor, much like what Colorado company Moonlander offers in its hard-roofed Radica camper shell. In the M1, the lower bed sits just inside his triple-glazed panorama, creating a very beautiful pair of his bunk beds.

Whether a second bed is planned or not, Tune definitely built the M1 with accessories and customization in mind. With 450 feet (137 m) of his T-tracks located throughout the interior, roof and exterior walls, owners can mount a myriad of tools, carriers and accessories.

The M1 is clearly aimed at four-season outdoor adventurers who enjoy mountain biking, rock climbing, skiing/snowboarding, paddleboarding and/or any means of exploring the wilderness in warm, cold, rainy, snowy and windy weather. is. A pop-up topper won’t be the warmest RV option for winter, but Tune says the M1 was designed with winter use in mind. The pop-up roof is constructed to withstand falling snow, and Tune plans to add insulation and heating packages in the future to make it even more winter-ready.

The M1 features an aluminum frame construction with ultra-tough composite stiffeners in the corners. To be prepared for all conditions and all seasons, Tune built its prototype for 10,000 miles (16,100 km), where he traveled “down washboard roads, over mountain passes, through desert heat, torrential rain and occasional snowstorms.” I tested it on medium. Backed by a 3-year warranty, we’ve engineered the topper’s components for easy bolt-off/bolt-on replacement.

The M1 comes standard with an LED light ring around the roof extrusion. Buyer can power it with their own power source or add on his GoalZero power station available. A roof vent is also available as an optional add-on.

The Toyota Tacoma is where this type of topper lands most often, but Tune offers the M1 for a variety of medium and heavy duty trucks. The 360 ​​lb (163 kg) weight is relative to his Tacoma-sized M1 with a 5-foot (1.5 m) bed, and the full-size pickup M1 model starts at his 450 lb (204 kg) to start. Retail prices start at his US$12,999, but as part of this week’s announcement, Tune is offering the M1 for a limited time at his US$10,999 introductory price.

Source: Tune Outdoors