Humble Beginnings
FROM POPTOP OVERLAND TO TRUCK CAMPER GARAGE
Founded by Zach and John — two craftsmen brought together by chance, united by vision.
Before Truck Camper Garage, there was PopTop Overland. It began not with a business plan, but with a shared love for craftsmanship and the open road. Zach, from Northern California, and John, from Connecticut, met on Shelter Island in Point Loma, both behind the wheels of nearly identical trucks — each topped with green, hand-painted, slide-in campers on matching flatbeds. One was crafted from lumber hauled out of the forest on a remote island in Washington, the other, aluminum salvaged from a desert scrap yard east of San Diego. Two trucks. Two builders. Parked side by side on a little island — it was meant to be.
Their friendship quickly evolved, from shared time on the water and dinners with their families to off-road adventures. As the COVID-19 pandemic shifted daily life, the two pooled resources to rent a small warehouse — more to organize their Craigslist finds than to launch a company. But what happened next surprised them both.
“We had a little shop and a few dollars, so we started small — outboard motors, dinghies. Then came a 1958 Alaskan Camper. Then two more. I posted a photo in a Facebook group and a guy messaged me instantly, telling me how rare it was to see three vintage Alaskans in one place,” John recalls.
What started as a curiosity quickly became a calling. Vintage Alaskan Camper owners from across the country began reaching out. As Zach and John carefully restored their first campers, word spread — and fast. Sitting aboard John’s boat, the domain was bought, the logo sketched on a napkin, and the name PopTop Overland was born.
Nearly six years later, with three shop locations behind them, hundreds of vintage campers sold and restored, and thousands of happy customers, PopTop Overland was ready for its next chapter.
Forging a new path
THE BIRTH OF TRUCK CAMPER GARAGE
During the PopTop Overland years, the team discovered the size and strength of the truck camper community in Southern California. They would repeatady hear from customers how excited they were to find the shop, because there was nowhere else that focused on truck campers.
The team listened to take a cue from the customer community, and open a new space with the goal to cater to the needs of the truck camper community.
In September 2025, the doors to 5066 Santa Fe Street were opened.
We are now proud to be the regional factory service and dealer/sales partner for several top-tier truck camper brands, each chosen carefully for quality, design, & durability. As we continue to grow, the camper community will get to enjoy:
- A boutique indoor showroom with 15+ new camper models on display
- A well-equipped workshop where client builds will come to life
- A curated retail experience for overlanding gear, camper accessories, and parts
- A destination where truck camper culture is celebrated and craftsmanship is key.