Every once in a while I come across a camper that I can’t help but bring out. Well, that’s exactly the case with the Highway Deluxe from Hiker Trailers, a small bedroom on wheels that’s making quite a stir with its price tag.
Guys, you only need $6,000 to get your hands on the machine you see in the image gallery; if you were thinking about buying a camper but never had tens of thousands of dollars, this could be the model for you.
First, let me point out a thing or two about the minds and hands behind Highway Deluxe (HD): Hiker Trailers. Now, this is a team we’ve talked about before, and since they’ve been in this business for over a decade, it’s clear they’re doing something right; according to their website, they’ve built over 4,000 RVs for Americans.
Photo: Hiker Trailers
Well, one of those “well done“things are HD, so let's take a trip through life with one of these little gems. It all starts with you picking up the phone, contacting Hiker, and following the steps to create the unit of your dreams. That's because Hiker creates each camper to the tastes of the future owner – “custom” units, they call them.
That means no two HDs or other Hiker units are the same. Sure, they may look similar, but each is as unique as the people who own them. Oh, and for good measure, Hiker says the average completed unit, the 5×8-foot one, typically doesn’t top $10,000. While that number is based on data collected in 2022, a full HD should still run around $10,000, give or take a couple hundred, maybe a thousand more.
Let's say you shelled out $10,000, waited for your unit to be completed, and just hooked it up to your truck or 4×4. Overall, you'll be hauling a unit with an average build weight of up to 1,300 lbs and boasting a Gross weight of 1,900 lbs. A 2,000 lb. leaf spring suspension with a straight axle underpins the action.
Photo: Hiker Trailers
From there, Hiker builds the frame with in-house welded steel, which carries your home on wheels. Oh, that shell you see, like most other teardrop campers, is made using a blend of wood, insulation, and aluminum. Waterproofing is also part of the process, and the construction process is one that requires tons of elbow grease; it’s assembled by hand.
Now, a standard model doesn’t have much to offer; even the galley only includes a couple of shelves, but it’s equipped beyond belief to hold all the gear you’ll need for off-grid travel. This galley hides behind that back door, which, unlike traditional teardrops (we can tell you that Hiker doesn’t make teardrops, but they kind of are), opens sideways instead of vertically. One nifty trick the galley has up its sleeve is that it has a pass-through to the cabin.
Continuing with the exterior, stand-on fenders, a manual roof vent, and stabilizer jacks have been installed, but from the looks of it, we could add a kayak rack, a cargo area, or maybe even a roof tent. If the latter is possible, then we could have what can be considered “America's Best Affordable, Family-Friendly RV.” Make sure you compare your ideas with Hiker and go from there; you will clearly need some extra money.
Photo: Hiker Trailers
But taking the family in an HD will definitely require more gear, and that will always cost more, especially when you factor in the larger appliances on the market, refrigerators and stoves, and let’s not forget solar power, a must if you’re traveling with a small battery pack or plan on boondocking until you can stand your own body odor. With an awning and attached tent, you can set up a full-blown campsite just about anywhere you can find flat ground.
One thing I noticed on the HD product page is that the manufacturer features this unit in landscapes ranging from dry, dusty deserts to snow-capped mountains, but it’s clear that you’ll need to consider a heater and air conditioner if you want to be able to camp year-round; it looks like Hiker is giving us a solid base to work from.
As for the interior, you won’t find many pictures on the manufacturer’s social media pages, and it makes sense; not everyone wants you to see the inside of their home. However, the few images we did find reveal a rough-hewn, wood-paneled look. After all, how much did you expect for $6,000? But again, it’s a nice canvas to paint your off-the-grid dreams on. Grab your sweetie and make some memories.