Lightweight, composite-structured, and built for value, Mod-Bug truck campers aim to shake up the market. Here’s how Mod-Bug is looking to redefine what an affordable, high-quality truck camper can be.
Mod-Bug is challenging the notion that value in the RV market requires compromising quality. First up, their new truck camper line features an aluminum frame and uses established composite materials throughout. The result is a 100 percent wood-free shell—floors, walls, and roof—designed for long-term durability.
So how does this relatively new manufacturer offer that level of material quality at a value price? Earl Williams, Owner of Mod-Bug, has made it a core mission. With over three decades of experience leading an RV supply company that provided everything from refrigerators to televisions to furniture, Earl brings a supplier’s perspective to camper design and manufacturing. Industry leaders often point to the purchasing manager as one of the most critical roles in their organization. With that in mind, Earl’s deep experience as a supplier is almost an unfair advantage.
In his interview, Earl shares the story behind Mod-Bug’s development—from navigating the post-COVID market shifts to refining four core truck camper models: the TC9, TC10, TC12, and TC14. He discusses how dealer feedback helped shape their floor plans, why they selected certain materials over lower-cost alternatives, and what it means to build campers with a small, specialized team.
For those interested in how an independent manufacturer is approaching a competitive market with adaptability and focus, Earl’s insights provide a thoughtful perspective.
To learn more about Mod-Bug truck campers, we spoke with Earl Williams, Owner of Mod-Bug.
Above: Matt Olds, Vice President (left), and Earl Williams, Owner (right), of Mod-Bug. All photos courtesy of Mod-Bug
Click here for a 2025 Mod-Bug truck camper brochure
What’s your backstory, and how does it lead to Mod-Bug?
For over thirty years, I was on the supply side of the RV industry, from furniture to fiberglass to faucets to sinks to shower doors and beyond. About three and a half years ago, I took a backseat and retired from that side of the business.
A friend of mine started Mod-Bug with one small, lightweight teardrop trailer. He thought he’d found an opportunity to go in that direction of the market. At the time, I needed a new challenge, so I took a look at the product. I thought it was cool, and it occupied an interesting niche. It wasn’t mainstream and wouldn’t compete with the big guys in the RV space.
I borrowed the trailer, drove it to Ohio, and showed it to a friend to get his comments. He said, “If you had brought anything else over, I wouldn’t be interested”. That was enough for me. At the beginning of 2021, I purchased Mod-Bug and became an OEM. Starting with that one floor plan, I developed a bigger model and then a stand-up version of that.
With the Covid demand surge and subsequent drop-off, 2021 was a challenging year. By May of 2021, we had so many orders. By June, everyone canceled. At that point, the RV dealers had too much inventory. That pause gave us time to refocus on quality.
Above: The Mod-Bug TC14 on a Ford F250
The full name of your company is Modern Buggy RV, but you refer to it as Mod-Bug. What is the meaning behind the name?
In our area, the workforce is predominantly Amish. Everyone touts their Amish quality. Our first logo was a horse and buggy with a circle around it. That’s where the Modern Buggy name came from.
When I bought the company, I rebranded it to Mod-Bug. The idea is that you can mod your teardrop or camper and add your own options. All of our logos now say Mod-Bug.
Above: Inside a 2025 Mod-Bug TC14 truck camper
Where does Mod-Bug fit into the truck camper marketplace?
I’m glad you asked that. Last night I got a surprise visit from a dealer. They were excited to see that we now have truck campers. Specifically, they recognized our lightweight, better build quality, and 100 percent composite structure—including Azdel walls, composite flooring, and a one-piece roof.
Above: Azdel composite panels used in Mod-Bug truck campers
One of the dealer representatives got into a unit, noticed the clean and well-finished interior, and said, “Why don’t we have these on our lots?”
Above: Inside a 2025 Mod-Bug TC12 truck camper
Where is the wood in your units?
We have some wood in our cabinetry, but the camper structure is 100 percent wood-free. We use aluminum framing and composites for the camper shell. The roof and floor are composite. The walls are Azdel. Where it matters, our campers are composite.
Above and below: Note the aluminum frame and Azdel composite material
Are you aiming to be the best value or best entry-level camper on the market?
We want to be the best value in the truck camper marketplace. We won’t be the cheapest or the most expensive option. Dealers have told us that customers want a quality build at an affordable price. That’s where we’re focused.
Above: Mod-Bug’s aluminum frames are welded in-house
If you’re aiming for affordability and value, why did you decide to use aluminum framing and composite materials?
It’s a tough balance between building a better product and aiming for value. It would remove cost to build with wood, but we want to build a higher-quality camper that will last.
We are a family-owned company. We are debt-free. We own our own property. We don’t have the overhead that other brands have. We’re able to win in places they can’t, so we can put cost into places of value like aluminum and composites. We can balance our materials, appliances, and build process to get the right price.
Above: An aluminum framed and composite rear wall for a Mod-Bug truck camper
Are you using lamination, or are your campers hung wall?
Everything at Mod-Bug is hung wall with Sikaflex. Pinch roll lamination is faster for production, but hung wall is better for long-term repairability, and completely prevents de-laminations.
Above: Mod-Bug uses an in-house laser cutter for precision metal fabricating
How do you approach the design and development process?
The process starts with me and my designer developing physical prototypes. We’re campers ourselves, so we talk about what would work, and then lay things out with blue tape. Once we’ve found a layout that we like, we get the crew to frame it up. That process will go through many iterations until we get a final camper design. That’s when we go to the engineer and put the camper into SolidWorks. In CAD, we can make sure the camper is efficient for manufacturing.
Another part of the design and development process is gathering feedback from dealers. Matt Olds, Vice President of Mod-Bug, loaded a Mod-Bug truck camper and took it to a dealer in Montana. During his trip, he slept in the camper for a week. When he got back, engineering made a few adjustments based on the dealer’s response and his experience.
Above: A full-size 2025 Mod-Bug TC12 truck camper
Can you tell us what the dealer feedback was?
The original Mod-Bug TC12 had an east-west bed. The dealer said they loved the floor plan, but the camper needed a north-south bed. With that change, the dealer would be interested in bringing the camper on their lot. Two days later, the TC12 had a north-south bed.
Above: A one-piece Azdel-backed fiberglass roof for a Mod-Bug truck camper
Tell us about the Mod-Bug roofs. How are they built and finished?
Our roofs are all one-piece Azdel-backed fiberglass installed with Sikaflex. There are no seams. The ceiling is also one-piece fiberglass.
Are Mod-Bug truck campers basement or non-basement designs?
Our truck campers are non-basement designs. The holding tanks are under the kitchen cabinets.
Are you using external or internal tie-downs?
We use external tie-downs with heavy-duty rings. I’ve heard some less-than-favorable reports on internal ratchet straps and didn’t want to go in that direction.
Above: A 2025 Mod-Bug TC9 truck camper on a Toyota Tacoma
Right now, you’re offering four Mod-Bug truck camper models: the TC9, TC10, TC12, and TC14. What do the model numbers mean?
The numbers relate to the overall length of the interior living space; cabover nose to the rear door.
Above: Inside a 2025 Mod-Bug TC9 truck camper
Are the TC9, TC10, TC12, and TC14 essentially the same floor plan, with the addition of a wet bath and expanded to different lengths?
Yes and no. There is consistency with the three floor plans, including the same countertop. The TC9 doesn’t have a bathroom.
Above: The wet bath in the 2025 Mod-Bug TC14 truck camper
The wet bath in the TC12 and TC14 is identical and in the same location. The TC14 has a jackknife bed, and the TC12 doesn’t. All three campers share elements, but they target different trucks and customers.
Above: The jackknife bed in the Mod-Bug TC14
What trucks are you targeting with these three models?
The Mod-Bug TC9 is 950 pounds and targets full-size half-tons and mid-size trucks. We actually redesigned that camper for a dealer who wanted a truck camper for Toyota Tacomas, Ford Rangers, and Chevy Colorados.
Above: The 2025 Mod Bug TC14 truck camper
The TC12 is for full-size half-tons and up. And our TC14 is for full-size three-quarter tons and above.
About: The 2025 Mod-Bug TC10 truck camper
What type of windows are standard on the Mod-Bug campers?
We are using the same glass windows that we use in our travel trailers. They strike the right balance between quality and value. We are also using the same door to leverage volume.
Above: The Fogatti tankless water heater
Tell us about the Fogatti tankless water heater. That’s a new brand to us.
Fogatti is a good name in the after-market business. The Fogatti InstaShower 7 tankless water heater has a great track record and tests well. It’s definitely a premium step up from the traditional Suburban, Atwood, or Dometic water heater. It has freeze protection for winter use, outputs 48,000 BTU, and supplies endless hot water. We believe it’s the best choice for Mod-Bug truck campers.
What make and model of furnace did you choose for Mod-Bug?
Right now, we are using Suburban furnaces, but I’m hoping to switch to a Fogatti model by late summer.
What make and model of refrigerator did you choose for Mod-Bug campers?
We use Rvision. I founded Rvision years ago as a supplier. The refrigerator we’re using is a 3.9 cubic foot 12-volt compressor model. It has both a refrigerator and a freezer.
What brand of air conditioner did you choose?
Right now we’re using Dometic, but I’m working on using other brands as well. Air conditioners are a high-ticket item, and we’re still pushing to find the best value on the market for our customers.
Above: The lithium battery location in the TC9
Tell us about the standard battery bank in the Mod-Bug models.
In the TC9, a 100Ah lithium battery is standard. We needed to make a lithium battery standard on the TC9 because of the limited available space. In the TC12 and TC14, one 100Ah AGM battery is standard with the option for a second AGM battery. The TC12 and TC14 have the capacity for additional batteries.
What size are the propane tanks in the three models?
All three models have one 20 pound vertical propane tank.
How many watts of solar are standard on a Mod-Bug truck camper?
A 200-watt RLUX solar panel and a solar controller are standard. There is the option to add an additional 200-watt panel for all three models.
What options are available for the 2025 Mod-Bug truck camper line?
There are only a few options; electric jacks, more batteries, awnings, more solar, and an air conditioner. We designed Mod-Bug campers to come with everything you need to go camping.
“We designed Mod-Bug campers to come with everything you need to go camping.”
Are Mod-Bug truck campers currently on dealer lots?
Yes. We currently have eight dealers carrying Mod-Bug truck campers on thirty lots.
Are you looking to expand the Mod-Bug dealer base?
Absolutely. We’re looking to add six to seven more quality dealers. Every dealer will tell you we’re the easiest OEM to work with.
Right now, we have an eight person production team dedicated to just truck campers. I’m hoping to add more and create a dedicated truck camper production line.
Will you be debuting additional models in the future, or are you focusing exclusively on the TC9, TC10, TC12, and TC14?
We want to focus on getting our models dialed to perfection. Then we’ll see what we’re missing. For example, do we need a TC14 with a slide? We want to focus on three or four floor plans that offer the best quality and value.
Above: The TC10’s weight with optional air conditioner (76 pounds), electric jacks (29 pounds), power awning (47 pounds) and Group 24 battery (39 pounds) is 1,457 pounds. The TC10 base weight is 1,266 pounds.
Above: The TC14’s weight with optional air conditioner (76 pounds), electric jacks (29 pounds), power awning (47 pounds) and Group 24 battery (39 pounds) is 2,140 pounds. The TC14 base weight is 1,949 pounds.
What are the base dry weights of the TC9, TC12, and TC14?
The base weight of the TC9 is 950 pounds, the TC 10 is 1,266 pounds, the TC12 is 1,750 pounds, and the TC14 is 1,949 pounds.
What are the base MSRP’s for the TC9, TC12, and TC14?
The TC9 is $29,850, the TC10 is $29,850, the TC12 is $32,850, and the TC14 is $41,500.
What is the Mod-Bug warranty?
Mod-Bug has a one-year structural warranty. In addition, you get the appliance warranties, which are typically three years from purchase.
My pledge and promise—for the life of your unit—is that, if you bring it to us, we’ll help you. We don’t see many issues with composites and aluminum. Most issues are vendor-related, like with the refrigerator or solar panels. Because of the way we build, we don’t see much in the way of warranty.
“My pledge and promise—for the life of your unit—is that, if you bring it to us, we’ll help you.”
What is your vision for Mod-Bug three or even five years from now?
We will be growing. I have a limit to how far I want to grow. I don’t want to grow so big that we lose our identity. My son and daughter work here. I want a nice company that values customers and quality. I want to be a valuable asset to our dealers. I want to be double where we’re at in terms of production, but that’s not even close to where the big companies are.
For more information on Mod-Bug, visit their website at ModernBuggyRV.com. Click here for a free Mod-Bug brochure.
