For many overlanders, less truly is more—especially when a vehicle is used primarily to explore remote trails and carry essential outdoor gear. Yet for too long, the industry has prioritized comfort and luxury to the point where many now expect a camper to cost nearly as much as the truck carrying it, if not more. For those hardy, outdoorsy, sand-in-the-hair types who would rather allocate their budget to actual travel, an affordable, basic, bare-bones camper remains the most practical and appealing choice.
Tune Outdoor understands the market and has expanded its pop-up truck camper lineup with the introduction of the Tune M1Lite (M1L), a deliberately pared-back and lighter alternative to the company’s flagship Tune M1 (which was favorably reviewed by our Contributing Editor Stephan Edwards back in 2023). Unveiled in Denver, Colorado, the M1Lite is positioned as a response to growing demand for more affordable, agile, and weight-conscious vehicle-based camping solutions, particularly among solo travelers and couples who prioritize mobility over interior volume.
Sean Kepler, Co-Founder and President of Tune Outdoor said,
“With the M1L, we set out to capture the core benefits of the M1 in a more compact, accessible form—without compromising on quality or experience. It’s designed for people who want to move faster, travel lighter, and spend less, so they can adventure more.”
The base camper is offered at an accessible price point, with a range of upgrades available on the Tune Outdoor website’s build page. Some additions will be necessary, as the base configuration does not even include a mattress. For hands-on DIY builders, however, the base model provides an excellent starting point for tailoring the camper to specific needs. It is available for both short- and long-bed pickups, with corresponding short- and long-cab-overhang options. Prototypes of Tune’s new custom interior options have been completed, with direct sales scheduled to begin in May.
At its core, the Tune M1Lite is designed to deliver the essential benefits that defined the original M1 while removing excess mass, complexity, and cost. With a published base weight of just 322 pounds, the M1Lite is approximately 20 percent lighter than its predecessor, making it one of the lightest hard-sided pop-up truck campers currently offered in the segment. This reduction in weight has direct implications for real-world usability, especially for owners of midsize trucks, where payload capacity, handling, and fuel efficiency are constant considerations.
Despite its leaner footprint, the M1Lite retains the same fundamental construction principles that underpin Tune Outdoor’s approach to camper design. The structure relies on lightweight aluminum extrusions combined with injected composite corner brackets, a manufacturing strategy intended to balance strength, durability, and reduced mass. These materials and production methods, first introduced with the M1, have become a defining feature of Tune’s products and remain central to the M1Lite’s design philosophy.
Internally, the camper offers approximately 20 percent less volume than the M1, a trade-off that Tune Outdoor describes as intentional rather than limiting. The M1L features more than 330 feet of adjustable T-track across the interior, exterior, and roof, making customization and installing a wide range of accessories straightforward. The north-south sleeping platform measures 72 by 60 inches, prioritizing sleeping comfort while maintaining a compact overall package. The layout is aimed at users who spend most of their time outdoors and view the camper primarily as a weather-protected sleeping and gear-storage solution rather than a full living space. The result is a camper that emphasizes efficiency and simplicity without abandoning core comfort.
Pricing further reinforces the M1Lite’s role as a more accessible entry point into Tune’s ecosystem. With a base price of $8,999, it undercuts the flagship M1 while remaining positioned as a premium, engineered product rather than a budget compromise. Tune Outdoor is currently accepting refundable deposits of $500 for the M1Lite through its website.
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