Age-old wisdom says that you can't have it all in life, but we'd be damned if we didn't try! U.S.-based company Aliner, which self-identifies as "your trusted camper brand since 1984," is trying to prove that you can have your cake and eat it, regardless of what others cliches will have you believe.
Aliner makes "the original A-frame camper," and that's not just a marketing phrase thrown in there to get attention. It's a design that's been copied, replicated, and used as inspiration by countless other camper makers, for the sole reason that it seems to offer the best you'd want in a camper.
It's lightweight and very compact, with a low profile that earns it extra points for towability and garageability, yet it lives like a proper camper once you've reached your destination. It's not a pop-up-style camper but an expandable one, so you build it up once at camp, expanding it to standing height and allowing access to all the basic creature comforts you'll need.
Aliner makes teardrop campers and electric models, but it's earned its place in history with the A-frame campers. The 2025 Aliner Expedition, one of the latest models to arrive on the nationwide network of dealers, is proof of the irresistible appeal of the A-frame campers they make. The video available below is a complete tour of the new unit, including a handy tutorial at the end on how to set it up.
Photo: Aliner
The Aliner Expedition is a nice camper in standard spec, offering the basics for as many as three people for a comfortable stay at camp. Add optionals, and you increase the level of comfort, the autonomy of the unit, and its capability to stray off the beaten path. You will also increase the final asking price, but that much goes without saying.
Measuring 18 feet (5.5 meters) in total length and riding on a single-axle chassis, the Aliner Expedition presents a surprisingly low profile in travel mode. That's because the entire upper section folds into itself and secures with latches and will only come up once you've reached the campsite and are ready to settle down.
Dry weight is 1,985 lbs (900 kg), with a maximum permissible weight of 3,500 lbs (1,587 kg), which makes it towable by an SUV or even an CUV. It rides on 14-inch wheels, upgradable with the Offroad Package, and is built on a tubular steel frame with Azdel composite walls.
Photo: Aliner
For a camper of this size, the Aliner Expedition packs a lot of convenience. It features a 16,000 BTU furnace, a ducted AC system with heat pump, a two-burner propane stove, a microwave, a sink, a decent-sized fridge with a freezer compartment, an exterior shower, bare bathroom facilities, and an on-demand water heater. It also has LED lighting throughout, power outlets, and is prepped for solar.
Just as importantly, it can offer comfortable sleeping and living facilities for as many as three people, though we'd assume it'd be a squeeze in this case. It's ideal for a couple or a solo traveler, with the layout allowing to have separate sleeping and dining spaces. With a 3-person occupancy, transitioning from daytime to nighttime mode would imply a bit more time and effort.
The layout is similar to what you get in the Aliner Evolution, with a convertible dinette to the right of the entrance, the bedroom slash lounge on the left, and the kitchen in the middle. Storage is available under the benches at both ends and in the kitchen.
Photo: Aliner
The "bathroom" is a cassette toilet tucked in a cupboard across from the kitchen, next to another cupboard where you can stow pots and pans. It's not much, but it's probably more than what you'd get with a similarly-sized camper – and it will definitely do for shorter getaways.
The highest selling point of the Aliner Expedition is, without a doubt, its expanding form factor. In road mode, it keeps a very low profile that makes for easy towing and just as easy storing in the family garage. In camp mode, it expands upwards. The unit shown in the video below has hardwall dormers, but you can opt for canvas dormers, with or without extra headroom inside.
Aliner says that assembly is a walk in the park, and it's definitely an easy task, though it will take some time. Once you pop open and secure the A-frame structure, you simply click the lateral walls into place and then do the same for the dormers. All moving sections are weatherproofed, so a unit like the Expedition can be used in cold or humid weather without a problem.
Photo: Princess RVs
The Expedition comes with a freshwater tank of 11 gallons (41.6 liters), room on the tongue for the battery box and the propane tanks, four leveling jacks on all corners, and a manual tongue jack, which can be upgraded as an option. Other optionals include an outdoor grill, a portable rack for a pair of bikes, and a portable solar panel.
Designed to "handle any adventure" with the right add-ons, the Expedition promises double the living space, 30% more storage space, taller countertops, larger and more comfy beds, and the highest-capacity chassis compared to the other Aliner models. As such, it's perfect for couples and small families looking to camp in total comfort without the hassle of a larger towable.
Pricing for the 2025 Aliner expedition depends on options and the dealer you're working with, but it will usually start at around $28,000.
Elena has been writing for a living since 2006 and, as a journalist, she has put her double major in English and Spanish to good use. She covers automotive and mobility topics like cars and bicycles, and she always knows the shows worth watching on Netflix and friends. Full profile
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