For the last decade, rooftop tents, ute canopies and slide-on campers have dominated the ute camping scene. Every now and then, though, something comes along that makes you stop and look twice. The Wild Land Wingman is one of those products.
Although it has been around for a little while, the Wingman has recently exploded in popularity after launching in the United States through Cinch Outdoors, putting the innovative dual-level camping system in front of a much wider audience.
Australian campers may already recognise it. Drifta Campers has had the Wingman on display and has already published several walkthrough videos – including an in-depth 40-minute review. You can visit the Drifta Camping & 4WD website for enquiries and orders.
So what exactly is it, and why is everyone suddenly talking about it?
The Wild Land Wingman is best described as a two-storey ute camping system.
Rather than mounting a traditional rooftop tent on a tub rack or canopy, the Wingman replaces the canopy itself with a fully integrated hard-shell camping system.
When travelling, it sits neatly over the ute tub, much like a conventional canopy. At camp, a fully automatic remote-controlled lifting system raises the structure, creating two separate levels.
The lower level transforms into an enclosed living and utility space inside the ute tub, while the upper level becomes the sleeping area complete with a full-size mattress, panoramic windows and a transparent skylight.
The result is something that sits somewhere between a rooftop tent, a canopy and a compact slide-on camper.
The clever part of the Wingman isn’t simply that it has two levels… it’s how those levels are used.
The lower level remains connected to the pickup tub, providing a sheltered area that can be used for changing clothes, relaxing out of the weather, preparing meals or storing equipment while camped. You can deck this area out however you like.
Above it sits the second-floor bedroom, which sleeps two adults comfortably – or up to three people, according to Wild Land. The upper level includes a high-density mattress, panoramic mesh windows, ambient LED lighting and a transparent skylight that doubles as a viewing hatch.
The dual-level independent X-scissor lift system allows the camper to deploy automatically using a remote control or an app, while integrated safety locks, ladder support, radar sensors and a one-touch power-off function are designed to keep it all safe during operation.
| Specification | Wild Land Wingman |
|---|---|
| Capacity | 2-3 people |
| Installation | Non-destructive quick-mount & quick-release |
| Vehicle compatibility | Pickup trucks / utes |
| Weight | 279kg (manufacturer specification) |
| Lift system | Dual-level independent X-scissor lift |
| Operation | Fully automatic remote-controlled lifting |
| Closed dimensions | 1870 × 1570 × 705mm |
| Lower level | 1500 × 1360 × 980mm |
| Upper level | 2250 × 1460 × 1060mm |
| Skylight | 690 × 625mm |
| Roof rack capacity | Up to 30kg |
| Mattress | High-density mattress with thermal cover |
Note: Some distributor specifications differ slightly from the manufacturer’s figures. The dimensions and weight above are taken from Wild Land’s latest published specifications.
The biggest difference is that the Wingman creates a cosy indoor living space out of the weather.
Traditional rooftop tents generally provide an elevated bed while leaving cooking, relaxing and changing clothes to happen outside or under an awning. The Wingman instead separates the sleeping area from the living area by giving each its own level.
The system also includes practical features such as integrated MOLLE panels, a folding bamboo utility table, detachable magnetic LED lighting and an integrated roof rack. Cinch’s US version also incorporates Bluetooth speakers controlled via the same remote or smartphone app used to operate the lighting and lifting system.
Another advantage is that the elevated mounting system allows owners to retain usable storage space within the ute tub when the camper is closed, rather than consuming the entire cargo area.
Despite the recent attention surrounding its US launch, Australians don’t necessarily have to wait.
Drifta Campers already showcases the Wild Land Wingman on its website, where it is listed with pricing and an enquiry option for ordering and installation. The company has also produced multiple videos demonstrating the system in Australian conditions, including K’gari (Fraser Island), Barrington Tops and Seals Rocks.
If you’re curious to see how the camper works in the real world, Drifta’s 40-minute walkthrough is well worth watching before making an enquiry.
The Wingman won’t suit every ute owner, but it could appeal to travellers looking for something beyond a conventional rooftop tent.
It seems particularly well suited to:
At the same time, it isn’t a lightweight setup. At around 279kg before adding camping gear, buyers will need to carefully consider payload, suspension and overall vehicle setup before committing.
Although, if this ute-tub camper is right up your alley, potentially a GVM upgrade could help with a more usable payload.
The Wild Land Wingman isn’t just another rooftop tent or canopy camper.
It combines elements of a ute canopy, hard-shell rooftop tent and compact camper into a package that’s unlike almost anything else currently on the market. While the recent US launch has helped bring it to a global audience, Australian campers have actually had the chance to check it out for some time thanks to Drifta Camping & 4WD.
I haven’t tested the Wingman myself yet, so I can’t comment on how it performs in real life. But what I can say is that it’s refreshing to see something innovative in the ute camping space. As for the pricing? Well, Drifta lists it at under $9,000, but USA sites put it around the same price, which, when converted to AUD, is around $13,000. Either way, it’s more affordable than some of the canopy/roof top tent combos on the market that don’t raise up at the push of a button for extra height.
