The fierce Ford Super Duty camper is looking for adventure and lurks everywhere

As fierce and unstoppable as its namesake, the all-new Panthera overland camper is designed to push the boundaries of camping far beyond glamping resorts and National Park campsites. The all-terrain powerhouse comes from one of the most established names in the American land industry and has a rugged, well-thought-out construction to match.

In a market that welcomes new brands into the fray seemingly every week, it can be easy to overlook the true OGs and pioneers. Georgia-based Tiger Adventure Vehicles has been a celebrated name in overlanding since 1986, decades before the average American even knew overlanding was something people did. Tiger has endured for nearly four decades and has remained a trusted name in the industry during overlanding’s rapid growth from a small niche to a major industry.

While we’ve seen (and looked at with envy) the occasional tiger in the wild over the years, the last time we wrote about a new product from them was the Siberian way back in 2012. It’s clearly time to change that, and the company is giving us the perfect reason with the all-new Panthera launched at this year’s Overland Expo East.

Tiger vehicles tend to split the difference between simple alcove truck campers and larger all-out expedition vehicles, combining the approachable convenience of the former with the rugged comfort of the latter in all conditions. They also tend to be simpler and sleeker than the competition, leaving the trick trucks and over-specified bling to other builders while they focus on delivering a camper with exceptional comfort on the road and at base camp.

The new Panthera is being launched as a slightly larger and more spacious alternative to Tiger’s long-standing Bengal, currently the only other vehicle in its range. It’s not as big as the flagship Siberian we looked at a decade ago and relies on a one-ton 3500-series truck instead of the 4500 under the original Siberian. Depending on the truck chassis and equipment, the Panthera measures bumper to bumper between 22 and 26 feet (6.7 and 7.9 m), while its dry weight ranges between 10,000 and 12,000 pounds (4,535 and 5,443 kg).

That may not be the case Earth dreamer or Unikat huge, but the Panthera is still a big boy and a rugged four-berth for exploring roads and trails. The 2-meter-high interior looks like a cozy country house thanks to the neutral combination of white cabinets and walls and gray floors and upholstery. At least this is what the debut model looks like: Tiger calls its campers “semi-custom,” and while the floor plans are set, customers have their say on colors and materials. Previous models we looked at were darker and earthier.

Tiger manages the space well by placing the living room and bathroom next to each other against the back wall. Buyers can choose between the pictured dining lounge with two sofas or an L-shaped sofa, both of which can be converted into a double bed at night. The corner bathroom has a basic wet bath setup with cassette toilet, shower and sink.

Further forward, the extra-long kitchen unit takes up most of the driver’s side wall, providing traveling chefs with a two-place induction hob, microwave, 122-litre AC/DC fridge/freezer, slide-out cutting board and composite countertop.

Stepping back to the passenger side from the front of the galley, the extendable ladder emerges from a storage compartment under the top bunk for access to the alcove. The cozy sleeping alcove features a spacious double bed, 84cm of headroom and a wall-mounted TV. A power vent above the head keeps it airy and condensation-free.

The Panthera’s living space is powered by a 400 Ah lithium battery, 400 watts of solar energy, DC-DC charger, 30 A 120 V shore power connection, 2,000 W inverter and Victron touchscreen command center. The space is fully climate controlled via standard roof-mounted air conditioning and hydraulic heating system, with a full foam insulation package, Arctic Tern windows and heated tanks enhancing the weatherproof package. Available upgrades include 400 Ah of additional battery power, 200 watts of additional solar, a larger 3,000W inverter and Starlink internet connection.

Tiger’s decades of experience in the land industry are reflected in promotional materials that spend more time on the rigid unibody truck camper mounting system and aluminum/fiberglass construction than on flashy accessories like snorkels, bull bars and off-road lights. That doesn’t mean it completely ignores such add-ons, though, offering a full options list with off-road upgrades like a winch-embedded front bumper, suspension kits, and Rigid Industries lighting.

The all-new Panthera starts at $179,000 for the camper itself. Buyers can supply their own truck or purchase one through Tiger; the Panthera is built in the style of the Ford F-350, but Tiger can also work with Chevy and Ram trucks. The camper is designed to be equipped with a truck with an 8 foot bed, 4WD, high/low range and no sunroof.

Buyers can choose their own cabin configuration and whether they want to remove two rear seats, a single rear seat or an entire rear seat in favor of a flat storage platform.

Source: Tiger adventure vehicles