Four Wheel Campers Hawk Flatbed vs Palomino Backpack SS-550
The difference that matters
Truck fit is the first question. The Hawk Flatbed is built for full-size trucks running a flatbed tray in place of a 6 to 6.7 ft bed. The Backpack SS-550 slides into a regular half-ton bed of 5.5 to 8 ft. The Hawk is the lighter camper at 1,325 lb dry against 1,611 lb, and it is lower closed, about 5.2 ft against 6 ft.
The Palomino comes with more standard equipment: 200 W of solar with a Bluetooth controller, a 100 Ah lithium battery, a 20,000 BTU furnace, a 3.3 cu ft 12 V fridge and an electric roof lift with remote. The Hawk has a lithium battery, a 2-way 65 L fridge, a two-burner stove and solar pre-wiring, with furnace, water heater, toilet, solar and A/C all optional. Its welded aluminum Flex-Frame and aluminum roof suit rough use.
Each sleeps three. The Hawk carries 20 gal fresh against 15.
- Four Wheel Campers Hawk Flatbed
- An overlanding couple with a flatbed truck who want a light, low aluminum camper they can build out with options.
- Palomino Backpack SS-550
- Half-ton owners with a standard bed who want heat, solar and lithium included and a powered roof lift.
Weights
Weights
2027 maker figures
- Dry weight
- 1,325 lb
- Counts against
- your truck's payload
Weights
2027 maker figures
- Dry weight
- 1,611 lb
- Counts against
- your truck's payload
Spec for spec
| Four Wheel Campers Hawk Flatbed | Palomino Backpack SS-550 | |
|---|---|---|
| Dry weight (UVW) | 1,325 lb | 1,611 lb |
| Exterior length | 12.5 ft | 13.67 ft |
| Exterior height | 5.2 ft | 6 ft |
| Sleeps | 3 | 3 |
| Slide-outs | 0 | 0 |
| Fresh water | 20 gal | 15 gal |
| Gray water | — | 0 gal |
| Black water | — | 0 gal |
| Factory solar | None | 200 W |
| House battery | Lithium battery (standard; capacity not stated); dual/triple lithium optional | 100Ah lithium (standard); 2nd 100Ah optional |
Bold is the lighter or larger figure. A dash means the maker does not publish it.
To scale
- Four Wheel Campers Hawk Flatbed · 12.5 ft long · 5′2″ tall
- Palomino Backpack SS-550 · 13.67 ft long · 6′ tall
Four Wheel Campers Hawk Flatbed
Full spec sheet, sources and what owners report →
Palomino Backpack SS-550
Full spec sheet, sources →