Outdoor enthusiasts seeking the most flexibility and maneuverability on where they can set up camp, be self-contained and comfortable, and have the freedom to tow a boat, or trailer should take a close look at the 2022 Super Lite 770RSL Truck Camper at Bish’s RV.
This Super Lite 1/2-ton pickup camper from world renown, and innovative truck camper and travel trailer manufacturer, Travel Lite RV, is one of the newest of those. It’s affordably priced, built tough, designed for four-season use, yet it’s lightweight enough to be paired with a wide range of today’s ½- and ¾-ton full-size pickup offerings.
That’s my take after stopping in at Bish’s RV in Twin Falls, Idaho to review Travel Lite RVs flagship model in their Super Lite line-up. This beautiful four-season camper is built with generational longevity in mind.
Travel Lite 770 RSL Build Quality
While many slide-in camper manufacturers focus on construction speed and cost-savings using aluminum and one-inch foam glued to composite walls, the 2022 SuperLite 1/2-ton pickup camperuses a special tropical Central American hardwood called Banak to build the frame and hung walls of their campers. Banak is known for its straight grain, light weight and strength.
“Foam and glue manufacturing may add speed to an assembly line and cost less to produce,” explained Keith Lessner, TL RV’s National Sales Manager. “But wood offers the best solution for strength, durability, weight savings and ease of repair. Because we choose to use the best products, our customers can take any trail knowing that their Travel Lite will withstand the abuse.”
Travel Lite also insulates the SuperLite 1/2-ton pickup camper floor, walls and roof of their campers with R7 material to maximize the heating and cooling properties, which maximizes seasonal comfort and helps reduce RVers costs during outings.
When heat is needed, the 12,000BTU furnace gets the interior toasty in a heartbeat, while an optional 13.5k BTU roof-mounted AC will quickly put the chill on a hot, summer day.
770RSL Comforts of Home
While the rugged and durable framework of Travel Lite RV’s 2022 Super Lite 770RSL campers is hidden from view, the thought that went into the interior design and amenities is not.
The first thing I noticed was the bright interior with white oak cabinetry, flat panel doors and soft-shade window coverings. There are two storage cabinets and small shirt closet on the street side, and another small overhead cabinet next to the Greystone microwave above the galley counter.
This 2022 Super Lite 770RSL truck camper uses a solid Corian dinette table and countertop with a Suburban stainless steel, two-burner cooktop and a nice sized deep stainless sink with residential-style high-rise faucet.
A three-way, three-cubic-foot stainless fridge is on the opposite side.
This street-side arrangement provides a decent amount of galley prep space in the small confines of the typical slide-in pickup camper.
Travel Lite Camper Special Features
Opposite the galley is the one feature that sets the 770 RSL apart from its smaller stablemates—a wet bath. While the smaller units use a Port-A-Potty, the Super Lite 1/2-ton 770 RSL has a flushable toilet/shower combo (five-gallon black water tank) just inside the entry door on the curb side.
This is a great feature much appreciated by those RVers who prefer the comfort and privacy aspects of having an indoor toilet.
TL RV uses SHURflow water pumps in all of their campers, as well as Truma On-Demand tankless water heaters, so instant hot showers with a good head of pressure takes the edge off long days enjoying the outdoors, or for starting a new day off on the right track.
This compact slide-in pickup camper comes with a nine-gallon fresh water tank, which should be more than adequate for several days of boondocking. There’s also an outside shower just in case your favorite pet or person needs a quick rinse before coming inside.
A Pickup Camper Fit For Two
Two functions all slide-in pickup campers provide is a comfortable space to rest, relax and refresh. The 770 Super Lite 1/2-ton pickup camper dinette easily converts into a twin bed to supplement the custom 49”x85” mattress in the cab-over section.
The eating and relaxing area of the 770’s 7’7” floor is a cozy arrangement, which is typical of slide-in pickup campers that are designed to fit the shorter pickup beds.
This is a good RV package for a couple, or a young family just dipping their toes into the world of enjoying and exploring the outdoors in a pickup/camper combo.
Good Pickup Camper Options
Another aspect that makes the Travel Lite slide-in a smart choice is a nice list of convenience options that make life RVing off-the-grid even nicer. One option is the Brophy Camper Hold-Down system, sold at many Bish’s RV stores, makes securing the camper in the pickup bed quick and easy.
The Brophy system uses extra-wide tie-downs that clamp over and under the pickup’s bed rails. This provides a very secure attaching point between the turn-buckle-style hold-down chains and the camper.
These hold-downs don’t intrude into the bed when the camper is slid out of the bed, and the mounts can be removed quickly if needed. (Other tie-down systems may require special brackets that require attaching to the frame rails or drilling and bolting into the bed side.)
Power Camper Jacks
Another great option Travel Lite offers for the Super Lite pickup campers is replacing the manual camper jacks with their electric camper jacks.
This really helps ease the process of dropping the camper at a camp site, leaving the pickup free to use exploring the area or other hauling needs.
If you’ve ever owned a slide-in camper, you really appreciate being able to flip a switch or push a button to raise/lower the camper instead of manually cranking each of the four jacks, or using a cordless drill like we used when setting the camper down on the ground.
The Travel Lite RV 770RSL can also be upgraded with a 13.5k roof-mounted A/C, aluminum scissor steps to make entry/egress easier, a Fantastic electric vent fan in the bathroom, and a stereo system with speakers indoors and out.
My take on the 2022 Travel Lite RV 770 RSL is it’s a solid, lower-priced light-duty 1/2-ton pickup camper that will last many years, while providing the comforts and convenience necessary to make weekend and week-long outings enjoyable.
Check them out at a Bish’s RV center location near you.
Does This Camper Fit My Pickup
One aspect of purchasing any pickup camper is making sure it fits the vehicle carrying it. It’s a safety issue, pure and simple.
That means making sure the slide-in camper’s Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (the maximum weight of the camper and cargo it carries) is less than the maximum payload capacity that’s listed on the driver’s door frame of the pickup carrying it. Bish’s RV has a link to Trailer Life Magazine’s annual towing guide.
But it doesn’t cover slide-in pickup campers. The Super Lite 770 RSL I looked at weighs 1,822 pounds loaded with water and propane. Add in the weight of food and other basic supplies typical of a camping trip, and the loaded weight will probably be closer to 2,000 pounds.
That loaded weight would weight place Travel Lite RV’s 11’11” camper within the load capacity of most full-size, long bed, ½-ton 2WD pickups, but at the upper limits of most 4×4 ½-ton four-door pickups. So be sure to take a close look at your pickup’s load carrying capacity to make sure it’s suited to carry the 770 RSL.
To find out more about matching a pickup camper with a pickup, Ford, GM and Ram Truck all have detailed information on their “fleet” websites’ RV & Trailer Towing Guides. Look in the section about slide-in camper installations. – Bruce W. Smith
SPECIFICATIONS
Make/Model: Travel Lite Super Lite 770 RSL
• Overall Length: 11’11”
• Sleeps: 3
• Exterior Width: 7’2”
• Exterior Height: 7’4”
• Interior Height: 6’6”
• Weight: 1,822 lbs.
• LP Tank: 20 lbs.
• Fresh Water: 9 gals.
• Black Water: 5 gals.
• Furnace: 13,000 BTU
• Electrical Service: 30 amp