Why I’m Building a Camper (and Why You Might Want One Too)

Hey there, I’m Kory — and I guess you could say this whole thing started way before I ever had the tools, the truck, or even the idea for a camper.

I grew up in Ontario, camping with my family in a tent trailer, then a travel trailer as I got older. Summers were spent in the woods, at the lake, or tucked into quiet seasonal sites that felt like home. As I got grew up, I traded campgrounds for the backcountry — trips with friends in tents, rough trails to hidden spots. It was always about chasing something: fresh air, new terrain, and the feeling you get when the road ends and it’s just you and the wild.

Professionally, I’ve spent over a decade in the RV world. I’ve worked with one of Canada’s largest dealership groups, and recently, held a leadership role at a Canadian off-road trailer brand that sent me all across North America. From Alberta to Arizona, Utah to the Maritimes, I’ve camped in nearly every province and corner of the U.S. I’ve sold campers, built brands, created marketing strategies — and I’ve slept in the units I helped promote. I've lived the products. I know what works and what doesn’t.

In 2024, I thought I had my dream rig: a big 1-ton diesel truck with a 90s Kodiak slide-in camper. I poured a year of time and energy into rebuilding it — electrical, plumbing, every detail. And don’t get me wrong — it worked. It carried me, my wife, my dog, and my gear anywhere. But I quickly realized it was too much. Too big. Too heavy. Too inefficient. The kind of rig that’s great for full-time travel… but kind of a pain for a weekend surf trip or chasing a snowstorm in the Rockies.

That’s when it clicked. I don’t need a all the amenities to get outside. I need something simple, durable, and ready for real adventure. A camper designed for mountain bikers, snowboarders, surfers, and explorers. One that stores your gear, keeps you warm, and doesn’t weigh as much as your truck.

So I’m building it. From scratch. A lightweight, four-season, slide-in truck camper that strips away the fluff and focuses on what actually matters: comfort, storage, and simplicity.

This blog — and the website — will document the entire build process: the ideas, the materials, the failures, and the wins. I’ll share the sourcing, the suppliers, the design thinking, and the why behind every single component. My hope is that it inspires someone to chase their own adventures — or maybe even own one of these campers one day.

Thanks for being here at the beginning.Let’s see where this thing goes.

— Kory