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Our review of the Aliner Switchback

Our review of the Aliner Switchback

Tony Barthel
RV Review, Overlanding RV

What is the Aliner Switchback and what trucks is it compatible with?

Today’s RV review takes a look at the new-for-2026 Aliner Switchback pickup camper. Wait, you might be surprised to see Aliner and pickup camper in the same sentence but this is something very different and totally new from a company known for making unique pop-up campers - a pop-up pickup camper.

This unique new RV is going to either be a home run for you or a pass - I don’t think this is a mainstream product but for those whom it will work for, it will work very, very well for.

What is the Aliner Switchback pickup camper

Essentially the Aliner Switchback is a unique pickup camper that is designed for any full-sized and even many mid-sized pickup truck of essentially any bed length. However this is more of a place to sleep than anything - there is no bathroom nor is there a kitchen. But that’s an easy thing to remedy.

Like their pop-up trailers, the Aliner Switchback folds down into a tidy package when not being camped in.

To get into camp mode you simply tilt one side, then the other and the camper pops up with a full 70” interior height at the peak. Like their trailers, this has sort of a Swiss chalet look when deployed so it fits well into the Aliner family.

What you do get inside are two beds - one on either side - but you can also drop-in a center piece that converts the space to a single large bed. I would imagine this would work great with our favorite RV sleeping solution the RV Superbag.

What’s in the Aliner Switchback

This is a pretty simple affair which is essentially a bedroom on the back of your truck. But there is also a connection to the truck which provides 12 volt power to the little camper. You can also employ shore power to it which enables the 120vac household outlets inside the unit.

There is a window at the front of the camper which opens and, of course, lights inside.

Another thing this has are two very long lockable drawers that draw out and provide space for a lot of gear. This can include fishing and hunting gear and the like or just some of that camping gear you might want to bring with you.

Building the Aliner Switchback

One of the things that is a hallmark of Aliner products is how they’re built. This camper uses no wood whatsoever in the structure of the camper - it’s basically all aluminum. Aliner also uses computer-controlled tools for things like window cutouts and other places where precision is important. This is highly unusual in the RV industry.

Being aluminum this is also light weight coming in at about 375 pounds. That means it’s really not a big deal even to lighter-duty trucks so you still have capacity for cargo. That’s a good thing.

Another nice thing about this camper is that, when it’s folded down, the truck doesn’t exceed the height of most garages in the US so you could put the whole truck in the garage. That’s assuming you’re not like most Americans and have that garage stuffed with all sorts of junk that seemed important at the time and have really turned out to be something that’ll end-up in a garage sale eventually.

What about more camping functionality?

If you don’t already know we have a Flated Truck Topper which is an inflatable camper shell. But that is simply a top for the bed of the truck - the Aliner Switchback does have beds, insulation and even provision for power.

But we have taken our truck camping with that Flated truck topper and we wrote an article about how we fashioned a kitchen and bathroom on that adventure here.

My thoughts on the Aliner Switchback

I think Aliner has done a good job addressing the overlanding market here with something you can drop onto most pickups and use for camping. In fact I considered getting one of these and turning it into an office when we’re on the road.

Another thing to consider is that this is light enough that, if you do want to tow something behind your truck, you can do so (always know your truck’s true capacity - here is our complete RV towing guide). So let’s say you bought a couples’ trailer and now the grandchildren want to come along, or you have that friend that wants to come with you. This could be that second bedroom enabling full privacy, for example.

Or you can still bring something like a boat, or ATVs, or whatever. I like the flexibility.

And, at under $10,000 MSRP this compares favorably to just an empty camper shell. If you haven’t priced those recently, they can be $5,000-7,000. No, seriously. Why do you think we bought the Flated and why do you think this is on our list as a consideration?

As always I appreciate your feedback and how you might use this - or not. I know Aliner is watching as well but I think they’ve got a solution that will work very well for some people.

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