In response to rising demand for lighter, more affordable, and more agile vehicle-based camping solutions, Tune Outdoor today unveiled the Tune M1Lite (M1L)—a streamlined pop-up truck camper built for solo travelers and couples seeking more mobility in backcountry terrain.
The M1L offers a lean and capable take on Tune’s inaugural launch model, the Tune M1, retaining its hallmark functionality and durability while minimizing weight and cost.
With a base weight of 322 pounds—20% lighter than the original—the M1L is engineered with the same lightweight aluminum extrusions and injected composite corner brackets, representing cutting-edge innovations in camper design and production. Its interior volume is about 20% less than the M1 and the 72” x 60” north-south sleeping platform prioritizes compact efficiency while maintaining real-world usability. The M1L is offered at a base price of $8,999.
“With the M1L, we set out to capture the core benefits of the M1 in a more compact, accessible form—without compromising on quality or experience,” said Tune Outdoor co-founder and president Sean Kepler. “It’s designed for people who want to move faster, travel lighter, and spend less, so they can adventure more.”
The Tune M1L arrives at a pivotal time for the outdoor and vehicle-based adventure market. The overlanding community—those who believe the journey matters as much as the destination—now exceeds 12 million Americans, up from 8 million in 2024, according to the 2025 Camping and Outdoor Hospitality Survey.
As inflation-conscious travelers turn to road-based adventure and avoid high-cost lodging and crowded campgrounds, more are embracing boondocking and remote, dispersed camping. The continued growth in midsize truck sales makes lightweight, low-profile campers more practical and appealing to younger buyers and urban dwellers alike.
The Tune M1L was designed for practical versatility, like stowing gear for backpacking, biking, fishing, hunting, kayaking, and staying connected off-grid for prolonged periods, and its lighter weight contributes to better fuel efficiency and easier handling on rugged trails—critical advantages as more adventurers seek to go further with less. Additionally, the pop-up canopy and awning doors offer much more usable interior space than wedge campers provide.
“We found that some customers love the M1 but it offered more room than they truly needed and also came at a higher price, often leading them to consider wedge-style alternatives,” said co-founder and chief product officer Kristian Arnold. “The M1L is smartly designed, highly engineered, and competitively priced, and we see it quickly becoming a standout choice for customers in this segment.”
Tune is currently accepting $500 refundable deposits for the Tune M1Lite on its website, with installations beginning Christmas 2025.
Tune will be unveiling the M1L protype at Overland Expo PNW June 27 – 29 in Redmond, Ore., and a first production model will be on display at Overland Expo Mtn. West in Loveland, Colo. Aug. 22-24.
About Tune Outdoor
Founded by a team of outdoor industry and engineering veterans, Tune Outdoor is a direct-to-consumer brand offering premium, highly innovative, lightweight pickup truck campers to a growing market hungry for innovation, value, and evolved performance. Focused on function, modularity, and a clean, modern aesthetic, Tune empowers the aspirations of outdoor enthusiasts who live to be out in their natural environments. With an aluminum frame, ultra-strong composite corner brackets, and a clean polyester pop-top canopy extension, the Tune M1 and new M1Lite offer unparalleled performance and comfort while helping bring humans closer to their natural state. For more information, visit www.tuneoutdoor.com.
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