Built in Pennsylvania: Aliner’s Switchback Truck Camper Delivers Affordable, Garage-Friendly RVing

Manufacturing is part of the heart of Pennsylvania — and the western part of the state in particular. One in 10 people in Pennsylvania work in manufacturing, and the sector brings $111 billion to the state economy annually, according to the state’s Department of Community and Economic Development.

It’s no surprise, then, that RV manufacturing is part of the mix, and Aliner has been a part of that mix since 1984, building compact A-frame campers outside of Pittsburgh for just over 40 years.

“I think the advantages are [that] western Pennsylvania is a good manufacturing hub, so we’re able to source a lot of things locally,” says Brett Randall, Aliner president and CEO. “I think we have some supply chain flexibility there … as we all know, Elkhart is the RV capital of the world, so we’re not necessarily competing for the same labor and other types of things. I think that’s an advantage for us.”

The company is known for its A-frame lightweight travel trailers, and now they’ve used the design to create the new for 2026 Switchback — a truck camper that pairs with midsize or full-size trucks.

“We’re always looking at expanding the product portfolio and we wanted to do it in a complementary way,” Randall says. “So the idea of taking our pop-up, A-frame technology and utilizing it in the truck camper is complementary, and we want it to be lightweight and affordable. [It’s] definitely that we think can be very attractive to outdoors folks and hunters, fishermen.”

When the camper pops up in the cab of the truck, the interior height is just under 6 feet. The interior includes a 60-by-72-inch bed and dual 60-inch lockable drawers for storage. When mounted, the unit can fit in a garage with a 7-foot door.

The Switchback is built with 375 pounds of aluminum, according to the Aliner website, and includes a 30-amp converter with interior 12-volt electric outlets. Setup takes 30 seconds; the MSRP is $9,950, the company says.

“At this point, we decided to make it small to be able to fit into almost any truck bed that’s out there,” Randall says. “We’ve got designs in the future to be able to expand it for larger truck beds so people can get a little bit more space.”

An A-List Lineup

Other Aliner A-frame models vary from the Scout Lite and Ranger 10 with a 10-foot box and 7-foot interior, to the three largest offerings — the Expedition, Evolution 15 and Evolution LG, which have a 15-foot box and interior of 8 feet, 3 inches. Aliner also offers three teardrop models, including the new for 2026 Ascape ST, which weighs 1,650 pounds, has an interior height of 6 feet, 4 inches and offers a 77-by-72-inch bed and an interior shower.

Randall says it’s a priority at Aliner to be “good corporate citizens” and manufacture their products with sustainability in mind. The company builds two all-electric models: the Aliner Amp and Ascape Amp. The Aliner Amp is equipped with a 5kWh EcoFlow lithium battery and 3,600-watt inverter with two 400-watt solar panels. The Aliner Ascape has a 5kWh lithium battery, a 48-volt EcoFlow Plug and Play Power System, plus two 400-watt solar panels and a 185-watt flexible solar panel.

“We look at recyclable materials — we try to optimize so that from a scrap standpoint, we’re not throwing a lot of stuff in the dumpster,” Randall says.

Their products are built with a fiberglass exterior and foam core with Azdel on the interior. Randall says they offer options to add a furnace or AC so it can be used for three seasons (or four, he says, depending on where an owner is located).

Facing Challenges Head-On

Aliner, which has its office in Mount Pleasant about 50 miles east of Pittsburgh, is no stranger to the struggles RV companies faced in 2007 during a tumultuous time for the U.S. economy.

“The RV industry got hit pretty hard, and I got involved in 2013 and did some consulting,” Randall says. “They asked me to take over as CEO in 2014, and I ended up buying out the majority in 2019. So, I’m 11 years in the game.”

It was a natural fit for him, he says, as he grew up camping and his family enjoyed the lifestyle.

Since joining the industry, Randall has gotten involved in the RV Industry Association and in September was elected to the board of directors for the RV manufacturer segment.

“I want to work together with everybody else in the industry to create the best possible experiences that we can for consumers,” Randall says. “And that means working not only with just as OEMs but with suppliers, with dealers, with campground owners. We can work together to deliver awesome experiences out there for families and individuals and couples — whoever wants to enjoy the lifestyle.”

Commenting on how the RV industry has “leveled off” since the surge of purchases during the COVID-19 pandemic, Randall says there’s been the tariff situation that has caused some supply chain issues, and he is hopeful for the day that they “know the final rules because then we’ll figure out how to play the game.”

“We just need to know what it’s going to be, and there is clarity coming,” he says. “Obviously the industry as a whole does import a lot of components. We get things from Asia. So that’s been a bit of a challenge for Aliner and I think for others in the industry. We’re working through those challenges.”

Looking Ahead

Keeping on trend with what many RVers or those interested in getting into RVing are looking for right now, Randall says he thinks Aliner’s lightweight, affordable truck camper, travel trailers and teardrops fit the bill.

“The average age of new RV purchasers is now down into the 30s, whereas pre-COVID it was in the 40s,” Randall says. “I think you’re seeing younger families and they’re looking for not only a product they can afford, but they also have different types of tow vehicles, so they’re looking for something lightweight. I definitely see that as an industry trend.”