The overland and camper/RV scenes have fully overlapped in the boom of outdoor activities in Covid times. Overlanders have always been about that DIY life. As more people want camper vans during an economically tough time, the camper vehicle community has adapted to rely heavily on DIY methods. Customization and fabrication are what make camper vans so exciting and fun. But there is a downside to constructing serious overlanding campers; time and money. Total Composites is here to help with construction time by offering a modular unit to slap onto your vehicle. 

Total Composites is a game-changer in the camper world

According to Expedition Portal, the British Columbia-based company has been making composite camper and overlanding truck bodies for over 40 years. Total Composites can also consult on subframe design, engineering services, and the custom-cut composite panel kits, which they flatpack and ship directly to your door.

Total Composites mostly works with commercial motorhome builders but they’ll make you one

The majority of what Total Composites does is design and build the cabin structures for major motorhome brands. The cool thing about them is that they will also give you a piece of that pie. Total sells camper kits for flatbeds, expedition 4×4 trucks, and even semi-trucks. They do it all. Expedition Portal says that once the kit is order and delivered to the buyer, the assembly can be done within one regular working day (depending on the kit and truck), and the kits start at just under $10,000.

Why go with a composite camper?

Composite truck bodies have several strong advantages over other traditional materials like wood and metal. One of the major advantages is they don’t allow for any thermal transfer. This is a big deal when you are spending days or weeks at a time in any extreme climate. Because of the lack of temperature transfer, the composite body’s walls are only two-inches thick because they don’t have to account for insulation. This also makes the over-all habitat weigh up to 30 percent less than the traditional ones. 

Composite campers seriously help with moisture issues 

This composite body also eliminates condensation keeping pesky RV problems like rust and mold at bay. This tends to be one of the biggest issues plaguing campers of any kind. The temperature difference between the inside and outside makes condensation, creating unwanted moisture in tight spaces. That is where rust and mold will thrive, making the longevity of any camper dramatically lower. 

Another problem solved by composites

Composites can flex, expand, and contract with movement and temperature. This may not seem that important, but people who have spent time in the desert or any dramatically shifting temperature know that in some places, a 30-40 degree shift can happen from day to night. Many materials like wood and even metal do not do well with this movement and end up fracturing. 

Total’s composite hulls and the fiber-glass connectors can flex and expand with the temperature to avoid fractures and gaps in the seams. This also contributes to keeping the body more structurally sound and more airtight. 

These are custom pieces 

The coolest part of these kits is that you can draw what you want and send it to Total Composites, and they will make it a reality. You must send any relevant information like the base vehicle you are using, interior layout, and departure angles. After all of the details have been confirmed and discussed between the customer and Total Composites, TC usually has the kit finished in around 2-3 weeks, and shipping usually takes anywhere from 8-10 weeks. This is the easiest way to grab a custom camper to fit your specifications.