TruckHouse BCT Luxury Overland Rig
The BCT from TruckHouse is a composite expedition truck built on a Toyota Tacoma TRD PRO chassis. This niche market has traditionally featured full-sized and heavy-duty trucks but the BCT bucks that trend, filling the void of mid-sized expedition vehicles. But just because the BCT is smaller doesn’t mean that it sacrifices comfort or capability. Make no mistake, this is a fully featured, four-season expedition vehicle, and it appears to be ready for your most ambitious adventures.
A Pint-sized Toyota Overlanding Rig? Yes, Please.
Inspired by the classic (and coveted) Toyota RVs of the ’80s, TruckHouse is offering something new—well, sort of. There are certainly no shortages of luxury expedition vehicles to choose from these days, but a medium-sized offering on the Tacoma chassis definitely has my attention.
“We were inspired by the idea of bringing the beloved 1980’s Sunrader 4×4 into the 21st century. Knowing we wanted to avoid traditional RV construction methods, we utilize manufacturing techniques from the marine and aerospace industries to build the BCT from the ground up. At TruckHouse, every detail matters. In order to maintain quality, we design, engineer, and fabricate all key components in house,” explains TruckHouse CEO and co-founder, Matt Linder. “The BCT is built for those who desire a similar footprint of a van, the living space of a Class C RV, the capability of a purpose-built 4×4, and the fit, finish, and dependability of a high-end yacht.”
TruckHouse aims to further stand out from the crowd thanks to their position at the “leading-edge of composites innovation.” They hint at superior strength to weight ratios, thanks to a single-piece carbon-fiber-reinforced composite cabin manufactured using a state of the art vacuum infusion processes. It sounds fancy, but more importantly, its appears to be lightweight, an important consideration when utilizing the Tacoma, which many are quick to point out has limited power. But beyond the futuristic habitat shell, and independent of it’s yet-to-be-confirmed performance, the BCT does indeed appear to be ready for the backcountry.
The camper is four-season severe-weather rated, with a pass-through from the truck, seven safari-style double-pane windows, and a massive sky-light. A U-shaped dinette in the rear of the vehicle converts to sleep two adults, and the dedicated queen-sized bed in the cab-over also sleeps two (for a total capacity of four). The truck comes standard with a 30-gallon freshwater tank, a 20-gallon gray water tank, cassette toilet, 500 amp-hour lithium Battle Born battery bank, rooftop solar array (up to 600 watts), and heated floors. And then there is the Tacoma platform, which receives a smattering of upgrades, including a 12-inch long-travel front suspension, a fully fabricated rear axle, drilled and slotted disc brakes at all four wheels, and available front and rear lockers.
“We selected the Toyota Tacoma for its modest size, maneuverability, and proven longevity. We then built a carbon-fiber-reinforced composite house to match everything we love about the truck and its utility. Toyota builds special vehicles, especially the Tacoma, so it made sense to start with that as our foundation. Every key structural component of the chassis has been reinforced to make a vehicle rugged enough for true backcountry adventure,” says COO and Co-founder Nicolo Monforte. “We started by breaking down what the perfect overland camping experience was to us, and from there, we built the most capable and livable vehicle we could imagine. This rig will effortlessly float down the longest whoop sections or rip down the highway just as easily as it will find a spot in a tight parking lot.”
It all sounds pretty good to me, and there is no denying that the BCT sounds (and looks) dreamy. But with a base price of $285,000, can it successfully bridge the gap between the big trucks and 4×4 campervans? If I get to test-drive one, I’ll be sure to let you know what I think. In the meantime, TruckHouse is wrapping up construction on its first prototype and is set to build a limited number of BCTs in 2021, which means it’s just about time to put down your deposit. Now excuse me while I go find my credit card.
To learn more about the TruckHouse BCT or begin your purchase directly, visit the TruckHouse website.
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