We try to keep our camper order process pretty simple:
We require a 10% non-refundable down payment to confirm an order and assign a production slot
If you have any scheduling questions, call or email us at info@ursaminorvehicles.com
To make changes to your order please Email us at "Info@UrsaMinorVehicles.com".
Please include the name you used to place the order, your Order Number, and the change or changes you would like to make.
Example
To: Info@ursaminorvehicles.com
Subject: Joe Smith Order# 000123 Order Change Request
I would like to add Two Awning Brackets on the Driver’s Side.
Email us at "Info@UrsaMinorVehicles.com".
Please include the name you used to place the order, and your Order Number
We get questions about financing occasionally, and have looked into it. The short answer is we do not have a financing option available through Ursa Minor.
The longer answer is that because our campers go on a car, it is difficult to collateralize a loan, since there may be other loans on the vehicle that have priority. This forces the financing toward unsecured options, which usually are tied to one of the major credit cards.
In effect, the most common financing programs are essentially taking out a new credit card for just the purchase and paying it off over time. Unfortunately, that can get more expensive than if a customer uses an existing credit card, since there will be more fees for doing it through Ursa Minor and a financing company.
Our recommendation is to go with one of two approaches to finance the camper:
Some customers may prefer to make pre-payments while waiting for the camper. This not required by Ursa Minor, but if it helps to budget or plan, a customer can make pre payments by sending a check to our Chula Vista location made out to Ursa Minor Vehicles. In the memo, please note the last 4 digits of the order number and note it is a pre-payment. Any payments sent will be credited to the order, reducing the final balance due at delivery.
The Jeep Wrangler with OEM Hard Top is 71” tall (1.8 m or 5’-11”.)
Mounting a J30 will increase the height by 10" depending on options selected: A stock Jeep with either a J30 or J180 camper mounted will be 81” tall (6’-9”.) With racks (J30 Only) Thule & Yakima racks (bars/towers) are easily removed when not in use, but the mounts remain in place and are about 1” high, increasing total height of the camper to 82” (6’-10”.) With Thule or Yakima rack towers and bars in place, the camper will be from 82" to 86” (6’-9”) tall depending on specific rack. As there are a large number of attachments offered by Thule & Yakima, the best resource for total height of rack + attachments is the Thule or Yakima website.
For a rough idea, Kayak Saddles or rollers add another 3"-6” Bike Trays add 3”-6” Kayak "J-Bars " add 24” Ski Racks add 6” to 12” Many modern suburban garages are 7’-6” or more, leaving sufficient room for a Jeep with camper, but you may need to remove the racks depending on your choice of accessories. Total height can vary based on loading (passengers and gear) in addition to any changes dues to suspension or tire changes. Measure garage and Jeep before pulling in full speed!
Note that we are unable to mount racks on the J180 (Habitat) due to the impact on the torsion spring and possible interference when opening. For the J30 with optional rack mounts and rack: With the camper closed, you may carry gear on the racks subject to the load ratings specified by the rack manufacturer. Both Thule and Yakima rate their racks at 75 lbs per bar, but that rating should be taken with caution. Loading at capacity on a washboard road will likely result in issues or failures of the rack (not the camper) The more gear strapped to the racks, the more effort is needed to open the camper. We advise no more than 30lbs on the racks in order to easily raise the roof. This limitation is fairly generous in the pop-top industry. With 30 lbs or more on the racks, the opening of the camper will require increasingly more muscle power. Closing the camper will also require coordinating with a colleague to get the canvas tucked in neatly. In a practical sense, opening/closing with 2 bikes or 1 sea kayak is manageable, but 2 sea kayaks is really a struggle. Adding weight high on any vehicle impacts the center of gravity, and stability. We recommend carrying only things that won't fit in the camper on top - such as kayaks, surfboards, or bikes. Heavy items such as tires, tools and liquids (water or fuel) should be carried inside or as low as possible on the vehicle
The J30 comes in 2 series:
JK J30 fits
JL J30 fits
Notes
Ursa Minor does not have a camper that will fit 2 door Jeeps
We evaluated the potential to design a camper top for a 2 door jeep, and do not at this time expect it to be feasible.
Ursa Minor does not offer a conversion for Jeep Renegade, Compass, Cherokee, or Wagoneer models.
The J30 replaces any top currently on the Jeep, whether hard or soft.
J30 does not require utilizing any parts or components from the OEM Hard or Soft tops
If you are buying a new Jeep, the base Jeep comes with a soft top. You can upgrade to a hard top at purchase for about $1500. This cost can usually be recovered some by selling the hard top.
Soft tops are a bit harder to sell, but you still might get $300 - $500 for a brand new one. Check ebay, or your local craigslist to see what prices are for used tops in your area.
revised 07-08-2024
It's straightforward to remove the camper, but calling it easy relies on having the team, skills and equipment needed on hand. While the steps are similar to removing an OEM hard top, the weight and awkward size of the camper tops makes installing or removal a task that involves preparation. The J180 is much heavier than the OEM top. It is typically installed with a forklift or hoist by trained installation shops, and is intended to remain on the vehicle for the long term. It can be removed for servicing, customizing or for transfer to another Jeep, preferrably by the shop that installed it originally. The J30 is heavier than the OEM top, but can be removed/installed by hand with 3 or more people. The challenge is not the weight, which is about 250 pounds, but balancing and lifting it over the roll cage and past the rear tire carrier. If the Jeep suspension is lifted, or if larger tires are mounted, the ergonomics become difficult and we would recommend using a hoist.
We elected to go with gray as a neutral color that hides the dirt & grime that seems to accompany outdoor adventures. For the J30, we can custom sew a tent from an alternate Sunbrella color with these constraints: The color must be available in the 60" roll size (sorry, no floral prints) Order to ship time may increase while we wait for the one-off tent to be sewn At time of ordering, the non-refundable down payment will be increased by $750 There is no guarantee that a Sunbrella color will match a vehicle body color in any way, even if it looks like it does on the computer Exact price for a custom color will be quoted on request
You'd be surprised how much room we squeezed out of the Jeep. For the J30 JK pop-up: The sleeping area is 7 feet long and is 4 feet wide at the widest point. Due to the sloping roof, the height of the sleeping area changes over the length of the car. At the front of the car where your feet go, the height is 12". At the back of the car where your head goes, the height is 42". With the top raised, standing room in the access way is about 6’6”.
The Ursa Minor camper loft bed will hold up to 500 lbs
A few considerations:
Customizing with accessories such as a sleeping platform or shelf can add more sleeping capacity in the vehicle if the 2nd row is folded down, or even replaced. This will allow the camper to sleep up to 4.
Goose Gear Sleeping Platform
The Jeep as a camper base is fantastic for off road adventures, but it is not a van.
The camper has an access way to enable entry/exit from the bed and to provide standing room, but the size of this access way is limited by the OEM roll cage. We do not modify the roll cage as part of the conversion.
With limited space inside, one approach to add cooking capabilities is similar to a tear-drop trailer. A stove, refrigerator,storage drawers and table are added at the rear to create a galley, and used while standing at the open tail gate. While this is a fair-weather kitchen, it is also recommended that in bear country you cook some distance from the camper to avoid having an ursa major check out your Ursa Minor!
Installation of a rear galley can be quoted, sourced and installed on request, we work with a number of vendors such as Goose Gear and ARB, allowing us to quote and install kitchen and storage accessories for campers being installed at our shop.
As one can imagine, the backlog changes based on the season, with the impact of COVID increasing interest in camper our lead times are longer than previously. Current lead times for 2021 are typically 6 months. In other words, we'll be able to install or ship your top about months from the date the deposit is made. In high season of spring/summer this may increase. Once your installation appointment date arrives, we will need your car on-site for a full day to install a J30. If there is additional custom work being done, we will plan this out prior to installation. If the Jeep has additional accessories that must be removed or that we will need to work around, there may be more time required.
The Ursa MinorJ30 tent fabric is a highly durable and water resistant marine canvas called Sunbrella®.
Much thicker than traditional tent fabric, it's mold and mildew resistant and does not shrink. You may find much more information specific to Sunbrella® on the manufacturer's website.
No. The Ursa Minor was not designed to be driven with the top up or anyone in the loft while moving.
If needed to optimize for slope, shade or scenery you can move an Ursa Minor around open in a camping spot at very low speeds.
Due to changes in the engine over the course of production, the base EPA mpg rating for a particular can Jeep differ depending on year, but realistically it's in the 15 to 18 mpg range on average.
Basd on customer feedback and monitoring Ursa Minor demo vehicles, the addition of a J30 camper does not impact mileage significantly, if at all.
Yes, Ursa Minor can ship campers domestically or worldwide. There are two cost elements to shipping:
Crating up a camper involves more than a box and foam peanuts! The crate has to meet freight regulations, but you will have enough wood to build a workbench, tree-house or have a nice bonfire (after removing top!)
Transport cost from Portland (All prices are ex-works, or FOB, Sherwood 97140) across the US varies widely, especially as the price of fuel goes up or down. It also matters if the destination is a major city on the interstate or a small town off the grid.
We can ship to a business, or to a freight depot, but not to a residence. The destination must be able to unload the crate, which requires either a fork lift or a loading dock. The crate is too big for a lift gate, and too heavy to safely unload by hand (even if it is a lot of hands)
Transport costs for consideration, shipping from Portland, Oregon:
International
For international shipments, crating costs increase due to the need to use heat-treated lumber for the crate to meet regulations. Crates typically go by sea, but we have air shipped campers. The other consideration for any international shipments is that we can only ship to the Port of Entry, not to a final address. Customers must arrange in-country transport, as well as payment of duties/tariffs.
Yes, the Ursa Minor J30 will work with full or the optional half doors on both the JK and JL models.
The sealing surfaces on the J30 match the OEM hard top, allowing for the use of full doors, half doors, or even running with no doors.
The Ursa Minor J180 and the AT JK Habitat are the same camper.
Ursa Minor designs and manufactures range of composite campers, including the J180 products. Our expertise is in engineering, design and production of vehicle based campers. We do conversions and installations of our products in and ship worldwide to dealers and retail customers.
AT Overland was an Ursa Minor dealer from 2011 to 2015, and sold and installed the Ursa Minor J180 under JK Habitat name, For a couple years AT Overland sold a a completelyy diffferent camper called a JK Habitat that was not made by Ursa Minor. This package did not allow access from inside the vehicle, it was a permanently mounted roof top tent.
The J180 was discontinued in 2015 due to low sales and increasing costs. Key parts remain available on request, including the torsion bar. Please email with any parts or service requests for these older units.
Ursa Minor stopped accepting new orders for ECamper conversions in 2025, and will complete all open orders by mid 2026.
As a small manufacturing company, we asses our products regulary for improvements, growth prospects and profitability. Since launching the ECamper, sales climbed, and leveled off, and finally declined. This is not a surprise, as the value of a high-mileage Elements goes down, investing in a conversion makes less financial sense. The other challenge is that the cost of the pop top increased as volumes drop and material costs increased. With very low volumes, it becomes hard to manage unique parts as well as a maintain a trained team to build them.
Ursa Minor offers other campers that share many key parts with the ECamper. This standardization across the line helps us to continue to offer any key parts for our ECamper fleet that may be required in the future. Any factory service needed, from repairs to restoration, can be arranged by appoinment at our Portland shop.
Elements were converted into ECampers™ solely in the Ursa Minor Shop in Sherwood, Oregon (Portland Metro Area) for Element owners, and were not built for inventory.
Ursa Minor does not sell converted Elements, and there are no ECampers for sale at our facility.
Used ECampers can be found via the internet on:
No. Unfortunately when we designed the ECamper there were not a lot of awnings out there, so it wasn’t a consideration The side walls where a bracket would go are not strong enough to hold a an awning. We would recommend some of the lighter weight ones like the dragonfly or the moon for awnings.
The Ursa Minor Ecamper™ design was specific to the Honda Element.
It will not fit other Honda models like the Odyssey or Pilot, or other manufacturer's vehicles. It's like trying to fit an Element fender on another car!
We can convert a Jeep Wrangler Unlimited or Ford Bronco into a pop-up camper but that's the only other vehicles we are working with at this time.
As we develop other pop-up camper conversions, don't worry - it'll be big news on our website!
No. Ursa Minor does not offer the ECamper as a kit for other shops to install, or Do It Yourself conversion.
We considered shipping as a kit some time ago but here’s what our thinking was:
Our conclusion was it’s easier to maintain our focus on offering conversions only in our facility, which is normal for the conversion/RV industry,
This does mean that we have customers who have to travel some distance to reach us.
No, the Ecamper™ is designed to be a permanent installation.
A number of fasteners are mounted into the roof of the vehicle, sealed and bonded. Should you have an accident, the parts could be removed for access or replacement by a qualified automotive service shop. While some customers are quite talented with automotive customization and would be capable of returning the Element to the original condition, there would likely be considerable time and expense involved that would exceed the value of the original conversion.
You'd be surprised how much room we squeezed out of the Element!
The Ursa Minor ECamper sleeping area is 7 feet long and is 50 incheas wide. This is about the size of standard US Single Mattress and most double backpacking tents. It's best if you know your fellow camper well as you'll be cozy up there.
Due to the sloping roof, the height of the sleeping area changes over the length of the car. At the front of the car where your feet go, the height is 18". At the back of the car where your head goes, the height is 42". With the top raised, standing room in the access way is about 6’6”.
No, The National Highway & Transportation Safety Administration standard FMVSS216 requires that the roof must withstand 1.5 times the weight of the car. This requirement is to insure the vehicle will withstand roll-overs and the resulting shock loads should you be that unfortunate. The roof of the Element® is quite strong enough for two adults and the lightweight composite parts of the pop-top. The base of our assembly spreads the load from the bed to the welded stringers that form the structural backbone of the car. We should state the obvious here that the sleeper is only for use when the vehicle is not moving.
The ECamper™ conversion lowers the load capacity of the Element by 130 lbs. Honda rates the Element at 4450 lbs Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR) in the service manual. This amount is determined by the manufacturer based on chassis, axle and tire design choices. It can only be increased if Honda redesigns these components. The Honda Curb Weight according to the marketing materials ranges from 3468 for a 2003 DX MT up to 3661 for a 2008 EX AT. This figure includes a full tank of gas and fluids (oil/radiator water) according to the common definition of curb weight The National Highway Transportation Administration (NHTA) measured the vehicle curb weight of the 2008 Honda a little less at 3446 lbs when crash tested. The NHTA calculates curb weight using a full tank and standard equipment, including air conditioning, stereo, etc Calculation of load rating is: (GVWR - Curb Weight) = Load Capacity Depending on year and options, the Honda Element appears to have between 789 and 982 pounds capacity for you, your friends, and cargo. Honda however states a load capacity of 650 to 675 in the service and owners manuals for the various years. It’s not clear why the Honda stated load capacity differs from the calculated load capacity. Curiously, the Element increased in weight over the years with the addition of side airbags, ABS and other options, and the load rating increased 25 lbs but the GVRW remained the same. The ECamper™ conversion adds about 130 lbs net, leaving decent capacity for two campers and their gear, though we also recommend removing the rear seats on big trips, which takes 86 pounds out of the car, as they weigh about 43 lbs each.
The Honda Element (unconverted) is 70.4” tall (1.788 mm/(5’-10.4”)) tall, not including the antenna stalk.
The conversion will increase the height by at least 6" depending on options selected: The ECamper™ is 76” tall, (6’-4”) including antenna.
Thule & Yakima racks are easily removed when not in use, but the Thule or Yakima mounts remain in place and are about 1” high, increasing total height of the ECamper™ to 77” (6’-5”)
With Thule or Yakima rack towers and bars in place, the ECamper™ is 86” (6’-9”)
As there are a large number of attachments offered by Thule & Yakima, the best resource for total height of rack + attachments is Thule and Yakima websites.
For a rough idea, Kayak Saddles or rollers add another 3"-6” Bike Trays add 3”-6” Kayak "J-Bars " add 24” Ski Racks add 6” to 12”
Most modern suburban garages are 7’-6” or more, leaving sufficient room for the ECamper™, but you may need to remove the racks depending on your choice of accessories.
No. Ursa Minor Vehicles does not have any additional options or plans at this time for adding RV features to the ECamper™. The Element is a mid-size SUV, and does not really have the load rating or volume to contain a kitchen or bath. If one considers these features essential, it is recommended that consideration be given to a much larger full-featured Recreational Vehicle rather than the ECamper™.
The ECamper™ was a fun product that filled a market need for a small fuel-efficient camper vehicle. There are two factors that impact how fast we build an ECamper.
1. Our backlog changes based on the season. Due to seasonal demand for campers, our current lead times can change but expect several months between when an order is placed and when we need the car at the shop.
2. Once your installation appointment date arrives, we will need your car on-site for 5 days to complete the conversion.
3. We begin conversions on Monday, and usualy complete them by end of day on Friday, cars can be dropped off outside of business hours using our drop box. We highly recommend picking up in person during business hours (Mon - Friday) so we can walk you through everything.
4. We do not schedule weekend pick up except under unique circumstances. If a customer must pick up on the weekend we will charge a minimum of 2 shop hours @ $120/hr to open the shop for delivery and demo due to the overtime for the staff required.
The tent fabric is a highly durable and water resistant marine canvas called Sunbrella®. Much thicker than traditional tent fabric and definitely overkill for this application. You may find much more information specific to Sunbrella® on the manufacturer's website Will the conversion change how the inside of the car ceiling looks? No, the inside, including the headliner of the car, looks the same after conversion. The hardware securing the camper assembly to the car is not visible from the inside of the car. However, the skylight glass is permanently removed to allow access into the camper assembly. The glass is replaced with two removable composite panels. These panels allow you to lie down over the skylight hole, or to close off the camper assembly while the cap is down for a clean internal appearance. For models without a sunroof, an access way is fitted in the same location as the original sunroof using OEM Honda parts.
No. C'mon, seriously guys....
MPG estimates for the various Honda Element® models may be found on the Honda website. The biggest determinant of MPG is actually your own driving habits. Did you know that reducing your highway speed to 65mph and eliminating aggressive starts and heavy braking can also help increase your MPG by up to 20%? That's pretty significant with rising fuel costs. That being said, in our ECamper™ demo fleet we get an estimated 23 MPG with roof racks if sticking to sane driving habits. This figure is right in spec with the Honda estimates, however your mileage may vary according to your own driving style.
With the camper closed, you may carry as much gear on the racks as you did before the conversion, subject to the load ratings specified by the rack manufacturer. Both Thule and Yakima rate their racks at 75 lbs per bar, but that rating should be taken with caution. The total load is then rated at 150 lbs, but we recommend staying below 100 lbs and using front and rear tie downs for any load beyond the bars such as kayaks, canoes or surfboards
Loading at capacity on a washboard road will likely result in issues or failures, and the rack companies have noted that use off-road is not recommended or warrantied.
Stating the obvious, the more gear put on the racks, the more effort needed to open the camper. We advise no more than 30lbs on the racks in order to easily raise the roof. This limitation is fairly generous in the pop-top industry. Above 30 lbs or more on the racks, while it is possible to pop the top, opening of the camper will require increasingly more muscle power. Any load must be centered on the top, or the camper will slump/twist when open on that side. One consideration is that if a box is centered on the roof, it can be difficult to reach without a step stool.
Closing the camper will also require coordinating with a colleague to get the canvas tucked in neatly.
The Ursa Minor Transit Connect Camper is 79" tall (6 feet 7 inches), this is an increase of 7 inches over the stock Ford Transit Connect height of 72".
Due to the design of the Camper sloping down toward the front of the van, if just rack mounts are added it does not change the total height. While rack mounts alone do not impact the total height, adding the rack and towers will add another 6" or more depending on components
If the height of the camper is close to the maximum height of a garage, use caution as loading may impact height (fuel, passengers, cargo)
Ursa Minor does not convert Ford Transit Connect wagons with the OEM Ford OEM vista roof (commonly called a moonroof). This large glass is part of the body structure due to the bonding and different sheetmetal surrounding it.
Most aftermarket sunroofs or moonroofs will have also required cutting/modifiying the roof, and while the camper would cover a smaller sunroof, it might also require replacing the OEM headliner, adding significant additional costs to the conversion.
Only If a smaller sunroof or vent were installed at the rear of the camper where the Ursa Minor access way is cut, then the conversion might be feasible. Some non-pop top van companies add vents like this. If a Trasit Connect is modified, Ursa Minor would need to review photos or the van to determine if conversion was still feasible.
No, we are not able to provide this type of modification. The challenges to building a swivel seat are:
No, the Ford Transit Connect was only avalible in Front Wheel Drive.
The Transit Connect was based on a smaller unibody platform. Ford's thinking behind this design choice was to keep the load floor flat to maximize cargo loading for in-city courier and freight use. This low and flat floor makes it harder to add a drive shaft to the rear wheels. The ground clearance of the Transit Connect is low, and we are not aware of any lift kits.
Since 2020, The Ford Transit (the "big" Ford van) is available with an AWD option. We do not currently offer or installl a pop-top that fits the Transit.
The Ursa Minor Transit Connect loft bed is 84" long by 44" wide when the access hatch panels are closed. If the panels are open/removed, the forward mattress area is 54" long by 43" wide. This shorter bed can be usefull for children sleeping above, and parents down below.
The access way is covered b 2 panels to allow a person to exit while leaving the other in place for another person sleeping.
When the Ursa Minor Transit Connect pop top is open, there is standing room at the rear that is 41 inches wide x 26 inches long when both hatch panels are removed. The standing room height varies due to the taper of the top, but ranges from 6 to 7 feet.
We evaluated offering the Transit Connect Pop Top as a kit for Do-It-Yourself or for other shops to install some time ago, but decided it was not feasible.
Here’s what our thinking was:
Our conclusion was it’s easier to maintain our focus on offering conversions only in our facility (which is pretty standard for the conversion/RV industry.) We understand that this decision may impact interested customers that are a long way from our shop or located outside of North America.
We hope you'll consider a vacation to Portland, Oregon as a bonus part of the process
We install our Transit Connect tops in our Portland Oregon facility.
Yes, Ursa Minor Campers are designed to be sealed when closed and can go through a car wash or the regular downpours experienced in Oregon.
Keep in mind a few key things:
Ursa Minor did not mark serial numbers in the early days, as any conversion was tied to the VIN of the Honda Element. Once we started building Jeep campers, many of those shipped out and there was no VIN available. This created a need for a unique serial number for tracking/service/warranty purposes, and was also implemented for our Element conversions.
Locating a serial number depends on the camper/conversion
Element
Jeep JK J30, JK J180, Jeep JL J30, Bronco B30
Transit Connect
All serial numbers begin UMV followed by a number, a letter and the production number. Trivia for those curious...
For purchase of parts and accessories we accept the following credit cards:
For purchase of campers and conversions, we only accept credit cards for
All card payments for campers inclur a 3% credit card surcharge for the fees incurred.
For down payment or final balances of custom order campers, we only accept payment
