The MSJ Vanguard and Topo Toppers Rincon solve the same basic problem in two very different ways.
Topo emphasizes interior volume with its vertical-wall pop-up design. Vanguard stays closer to a traditional wedge profile to keep the camper simpler, lighter and less expensive.
Neither approach is inherently better.
It comes down to what you value most.
Why Consider the Topo Rincon?
The biggest argument for the Rincon is simple: space.
Its vertical sidewall design creates substantially more usable interior volume than a traditional wedge camper. Taller campers may especially appreciate the additional room.
If you spend extended periods living out of your truck rather than simply sleeping in it, that extra space can be genuinely useful.
The tradeoff is price and weight.
The Rincon starts around $9,750 for midsize applications in the comparison used for our video, with installation and some equipment increasing the finished cost further.
Why Consider the Vanguard?
The Vanguard takes the opposite approach.
Rather than maximizing interior volume, it focuses on creating a relatively simple integrated camper that provides the core things most truck campers need: a protected truck bed, integrated sleeping area, lighting, mattress, ladders and weather protection.
The Vanguard starts around $6,500 and includes equipment that may be optional on competing campers.
The Price Difference
Once installation and comparable equipment are considered, the difference becomes substantial.
Our video comparison puts a similarly equipped Rincon in roughly the $12,000–$13,000 range, versus approximately $6,800 for an installed Vanguard.
That doesn't automatically make the Vanguard better.
It means you're paying considerably more for what the Rincon does particularly well: interior space.
Who Should Buy the Rincon?
Choose the Rincon if you spend a lot of time inside your camper, you're particularly tall, or you simply want as much interior room as possible.
For longer trips, that additional living space may easily justify the additional cost.
Who Should Buy the Vanguard?
Choose the Vanguard if you're more concerned with keeping the truck relatively lightweight and simple while getting a complete camper for substantially less money.
For weekend camping, hunting, fishing and multi-week trips where the camper is primarily your sleeping and gear-storage system, you may not benefit enough from the additional interior volume to justify paying for it.
Final Verdict
The Rincon gives you more room.
The Vanguard gives you more value.
Figure out which of those actually matters more to the way you camp, and the decision becomes much easier.