Aussie-built pod camper options expand

'Teardrop’ style campers (referencing the original 1930s aerodynamic shape) used to be very basic and affordable entry points to hard-shell camping, but the latest Aussie-built pod campers are not always a teardrop shape; nor are they always super-light weight, spartan or dirt cheap.

Some of the newcomers to the market, like the OurGen Gen Pod, the Mountain Trail XVR, the Bruder EXP-4 and the Getaway Pod XTD, indicate that even the basic pod market has succumbed to the trickle-down effect of off-grid, off-road luxury RV travel.

But wait, there's more...

Also recently joining this growing group of premium pods is the NSW-built Ningaloo Tiny Camper and the G-47 from Queensland-based Goliath Campers.

The Ningaloo Tiny Camper is built by Wauchope, NSW based business Luxe Tiny Homes and Tiny Campers, which started manufacturing its upmarket compact campers in earnest last year and offers a two-model range, starting at $68,880 (plus on-road costs) for the Ningaloo Camper Reef Series.

Marketing manager Mark Cox said the camper trailer side of the business sprang up during the COVID lock-downs.

“We were manufacturing tiny homes but diversified into camper trailers during COVID; we wanted to keep everyone busy," he explained. Cox also said that high local content was important to the company. “We source everything we can locally.”

Even though the Luxe Tiny Campers are only three metres long including the A-frame (width is 1.8 metres and height is 2.2 metres), they have a Tare of around 1500kg (ATM is 2500kg), partly thanks to an "extra heavy duty" Australian made chassis and the standard fitment of some 'big van' luxury accessories and off-grid power equipment.

Underneath the Ningaloo Tiny Camper is an independent Ironman 4x4 shock suspension, with LandCruiser stud-pattern wheels shod with off-road tyres, while the body with its pronounced storage 'snout' is fibreglass.

The rear kitchen comes with a cooker, fridge and pantry space, plus there’s an outside shower with instantaneous gas hot water and the option to fit a roof-top tent to boost sleeping quarters to four.

Two 100A/h lithium batteries with a 2000W inverter and 200L water capacity are standard, while solar panels are an option (except on the upper-spec $74,880 plus ORCs Ultimate model which comes with a 300watt panel as standard).

Meanwhile, Goliath Campers is another relatively fresh pod brand out of the Gold Coast, Queensland, where it builds its robust, military style G-47 model that's available in a range of eye-catching colours.

At 4.7m long (overall), 2.0m high and 2.1m wide, the Goliath G-47 weighs around 1150kg unloaded, with an ATM of 1700kg, and boasts a starting price of $69,500 drive-away. For that you get Cruisemaster airbag suspension and 33inch off-road tyres, and a body constructed from 30mm thick foam core fibreglass.

The G-47's rear kitchen comes standard with an induction cooktop and fridge, and there's decent off-grid power (200Ah lithium battery, a 200amp fixed solar panel and 2000W inverter) and fresh water (180L).

Goliath CEO Michael Lister said that after building fibreglass boats in his native New Zealand, he moved to Australia and noticed how big the camper trailer market was here. He built the first Goliath camper prototype about four years ago, and the first production models went on sale in 2022.

“The market is definitely changing; there’s a huge market especially for campers weighing around one tonne, that don’t need a LandCruiser to tow it with," Lister explained.

He said a recent move into a new Queensland factory had resulted in the use of new moulds that will help speed up the manufacturing process to keep up with demand.

“(The Goliath G-47) has no extrusions; it's kind of like a fibreglass boat in the way it's built,” he said.

Both the Goliath G-47 and the Ningaloo Tiny Camper are currently listed for sale on caravancampingsales, or check out the Goliath Campers and Luxe Tiny Campers official websites for full details.