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This All-Aluminum Camper Just Flipped the Script On Rooftop Tent Design

The SKL reimagines the rooftop tent with a novel, ultra-durable new construction method.

Red Chevrolet pickup truck with a white Mammoth Overland rooftop tent mounted on the bed, parked at dusk.Mammoth Overland
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By Hayley Helms

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Lauded for its portability, minimal weight and convenient set-up, the now-ubiquitous rooftop tent is an appealing alternative to campers who don’t have the space for a trailer, yet still want to get off grid and stay there.

But, much like anything else in life, there are sacrifices involved with a rooftop tent: most RTTs are made from canvas and lack the durability and amenities of a trailer or hardsided camper shell.

Mammoth Overland’s new release, the all-aluminum SKL, aims to combine the rugged construction of hardsided campers with the minimal footprint of RTTs — and from the looks of the thing, it has succeeded. Just don’t call this thing a tent: it’s way more than that.

Orange rooftop tent with open windows mounted on a white pickup truck with a ladder and red fuel container.
Something about this image makes me want to drop everything and go camping right now.
Mammoth Overland

From road to roof

The SKL (short for “Skull”) is Mammoth Overland’s first rooftop design, and utilizes the company’s expertise in crafting rugged off-road teardrop trailers.

Constructed entirely from painted high-strength aluminum, the SKL is just 300 pounds and boasts an R5 insulation rating, far above the R0 rating of traditional rooftop campers and tents.

White rooftop camper shell with open side and rear windows mounted on a vehicle in a forested area.
The all-aluminum construction of the SKL fixes one of the dirty little secrets of canvas rooftop tents: the constant flapping of the material if there is even a whisper of a breeze, which makes sleeping almost impossible.
Mammoth Overland

Aluminum’s use in trailers and campers is growing in popularity thanks to it being significantly lighter than steel, its excellent corrosion-resistance and its durability — but the SKL marks the first time a RTT has been constructed using the hardworking metal alone.

In fact, aluminum’s mix of strength and minimal weight allows for greater fuel efficiency and higher payloads — which essentially make it perfect for use in a rooftop design. 

Interior view of a compact camper with a bed, orange plaid blanket, and open side windows showing a rugged outdoor setting.
A sneak peek into the interior of the SKL: note the integrated, bi-directional fan, the dual light strips and plenty of sleeping space.
Mammoth Overland

Measuring 89 inches long, 59 inches wide and 18 inches tall, the SKL has an interior width in-between a queen and full mattress (and the length of a king) and can sleep two adults comfortably.

Amenities galore

Spacious sleeping accommodations and novel use of aluminum aside, the SKL has plenty more to brag about.

Two people opening a silver Mammoth Overland rooftop tent mounted on a red pickup truck under a blue sky.
The SKL takes about 30 seconds to deploy, borrowing another convenient trait from rooftop tents.
Mammoth Overland

The interior features a bi-directional three-speed roof-mounted electric fan, which helps with airflow. Dual interior light strips and six porthole windows provide plenty of light, and two optional auxiliary flood lights can be mounted to either side of the camper for external illumination.

All lights are powered by a standard 6-Amp-hour Renogy battery pack mounted into the camper’s roof structure. An optional 104- or 208-Ah battery pack upgrade ($1,500-$3000) provides additional power storage.

White pickup truck with black off-road tires and an orange rooftop tent with open windows and a ladder in a dry, grassy landscape.
At just 300 pounds, the all-aluminum SKL won’t put a damper on fuel efficiency quite like a camper would.
Mammoth Overland

All SKLs come pre-wired for solar and can be recharged by shore power, as well. If you need more storage, optional roof racks ($500) can hold up to 500 pounds of gear.

Availability and pricing

Interested parties can reserve a SKL rooftop camper now on Mammoth Overland’s official website, starting at $11,500.

About the Author: Hayley Helms is an associate editor at Gear Patrol specializing in outdoor gear. Once upon a time, she wrote for Men’s Journal, Gearjunkie and Shape. Whether it’s testing a new rain shell or putting a pair of hiking boots through its paces, she leaves no stone unturned (however, she always Leaves No Trace).

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