Introducing the RipTide: Our Newest Innovation in a Hard-Sided Shells

I firmly believe that if you’re going to stand behind a product, you need to use it yourself. This principle resonates not just with me but also with Rory and our dedicated team in South Africa. When you immerse yourself in your own product, you gain invaluable insight into what customers experience—both the highs and the lows. While we all hope for a flawless experience, the reality is that challenges often arise at the most inconvenient times.

Having enjoyed the BunduTop and BunduAwn configuration for the past five years on both our company Jeep and my personal Tacoma, I’ve developed a deep appreciation for the product, its ingenious design, and its overall concept. However, I’ve learned that nature doesn’t always play nice when you’re out camping for leisure or showcasing the product at events. There’s nothing quite like being caught in a downpour while stuck outside—trust me, you start craving a dry, cozy space in a hurry!

To accommodate unpredictable weather, I’ve incorporated Bundutec accessories, including the privacy room for the BunduTop and various panels for the BunduAwn. While they served their purpose to some extent, they didn’t provide the complete dryness you receive in our Truck Camper Models. So, I brought this “challenge” to Rory and asked if he had any creative solutions to transform my Tacoma into a haven that still embraced everything I love about the BunduTop and BunduAwn, while offering some shelter when the weather turns sour—both for Dozer and for me.

True to form, Rory listened carefully and took some time to consider my thoughts. A few months later, reflecting on his experiences in South Africa and the insights he’d gathered from our customers, he proposed reviving a custom unit we had crafted early in our journey. Always excited to explore new concepts, I was intrigued when Rory mentioned this unique project, originally designed for surfer enthusiasts, and said, “Let’s give it a shot!”

The result? After some brainstorming and sketches, we’re thrilled to unveil our latest creation, launching in 2026—the RipTide. This innovative unit is the only shell-style unit that we’ve created. While this prototype unit is designed for my Tacoma or comparablesized trucks, it can be scaled up to maintain the same concept for fitment on a full-sized truck.

This hard-sided shell beautifully merges convenience and functionality. It not only offers ample space for all your gear but also encompasses the essence of the BunduTop and BunduAwn, all in one stylish package. While it’s not a full-fledged truck camper, it’s designed to serve as an equipment and gear hauler, but this is also my oasis, fulfilling my request for a reliable retreat when the weather takes a turn. I look forward to seeing how this new model resonates with our customers and enhances their outdoor adventures!

The RipTide is designed to be either a full-time addition to your truck or an easily removable full topper, rather than a traditional truck camper. It is a full slide-in model that eliminates air gaps and temperature transfer issues common with standard toppers. The RipTide has an interior height of only 56 inches, which helps keep it lightweight but makes it difficult for most people to stand upright. Since it is not designed to be a true truck camper, I don’t expectthis to be an issue, and most people can still move around the interior as needed.

One notable feature is the 36-inch cabover area, designed for long-term storage and bins, ideal for bulky items. It can also be used as a sleeper for a child! On this unit, the interior is equipped with a sidewall-mounted exhaust fan, a few drawers, and other interior storage cabinets, all with our secure pushbutton latches.

The TraxTab will be an option for the RipTide and is one I requested for this prototype. It is an innovative product from QuickPitch South Africa, combining a lockable carrier for MaxTrax Recovery Trax with a fold-down table. Located on the passenger side, it’s covered by the Half Wing BunduAwn for shade and rain protection. A lift-up access door allows for easy retrieval of kitchen items stored inside from the outside. Additionally, the RipTide includes the option to add a small cold-water package with an interior sink, a 10-gallon tank, and a water pump. There is a spray port with a coil hose above the TraxTab for cooking or washing, as well as a gravity waterfill location.

The RipTide will also include a 57-liter 12V chest fridge mounted on a raised front shelf. Lifting it off the floor makes access easy, plus allows for an open floor. In extreme weather or when stealth camping is required, a 75-inch roll-out sleeping pad can be placed on the floor. However, the primary sleeping area will be the BunduTop, located on the roof, with a custom ladder cover and a privacy area for dressing.

When the BunduTop is added to the RipTide, it will include a custom privacy area, as it will be the main sleeping quarters. This custom privacy area features a deeper side projection, so you do not lose any space when deployed with the BunduTop inset on the RipTide’s Roof. With or without the BunduTop, the RipTide will feature a convenient exterior storage door that opens to reveal space for clothing, toiletries, or whatever you find suitable for your use.

Just like in our full line of hard-sided truck campers, the roof of the RipTide will be fully decked with ½ in plywood and rubber roofing. This ensures that the BunduTop and any roof load are supported without the risk of sagging or exposure to the elements. We added an additional foam seal beneath the BunduTop to ensure it remains weather-resistant. The standard BunduTop is inset by about 10 inches on each side of the roof, so I can easily access all sides to close latches or clean the solar panel as needed. A King tent can be ordered that is 10” wider than the standard, if you wish, with no side overhang.

The RipTide is standard with a 50Ah lithium battery from Epoch, adequate to run the 12v chest fridge, BunduTop, and LED lighting. We have installed the optional 200-Watt Solar panel on the roof of the BunduTop. With the solar panel and the standard RedArc BCDC Charging unit in the RipTide, I shouldn’t need any additional components. Rory added a 115V shore power connection and one outlet to this RipTide, just in case I have access to power. It also has ducting installed for my diesel heater, which runs up into the BunduTop, with a diverter for the base unit's interior. Rory has extended the control wiring so the heater can be controlled from inside the tent or RipTide. I hope I never need it, but it will be great if the weather turns cold!

Like all our prototype models, this RipTide has been thoughtfully designed for how I intend to use it and tailored to meet my specific requests. You can have yours built smaller or larger, with features tailored to your needs. Just ask!

To make it easy and versatile, I've put together an exciting package called the BunduPackage that includes the main features I wanted to showcase in the prototype. The RipTide will also have an à la carte selection of customizable options you can add to build a setup that perfectly aligns with your own requirements and preferences! It can also be customized by contacting us directly. The RipTide is set to make its grand debut in the 2026 show circuit! As this is our first RipTide build, we know there will be a few quirks to iron out and plenty of adjustments to make, just like we do with our beloved line of truck campers. I see the RipTide as a unit that I’ll grow into, as it continues to evolve over time. We can’t wait to ride the wave and offer a new era of backpacking-style camping to our customer base that blends both luxury and simplicity for every type of adventurer.