EarthCruiser Express XPS 2019 Review

Most slide-on campers are designed to fit the aluminium traybacks of bare boned cab-chassis utes, but expedition truck-based camper conversion specialist EarthCruiser has come up with something a bit different with the Express XPS.

Sliding under its range of tough G-Wagen, Iveco and Unimog-based expedition trucks the Express XPS slide-on camper fits most utes with standard tubs, including dual, space and single cabs. There’s also a version that’ll attach to ute traybacks and a 178mm-wider model for American utes.

While a compact slide-on camper isn’t the most popular RV concept in Australia, it's arguably one of the best for remote touring. A roof-top tent or a camper-trailer can provide versatile bush living quarters, but neither offers the versatility of a slide-on.

If you get bogged, a slide-on won’t have to be unhitched and recovered separately like a camper-trailer might and you’ve got more comfortable living and sleeping quarters than a tent, roof-top or otherwise.

A bonus is, like a camper-trailer, the slide-on can be removed from the vehicle at base camp, leaving you free to explore in your vehicle.

Fit for purpose

The EarthCruiser Express XPS has a fully moulded one-piece fibreglass/carbon-fibre reinforced shell with separate fibreglass pop-top roof and aircraft-style two-piece clamshell access door.

EarthCruiser says high-density foam lines the walls, floors and roof; not only for strength but also heat and cold protection.

The camper we're looking at here is the pre-production development mule that EarthCruiser has used for Outback and Alpine durability testing. As a result of taking it out in the field, EarthCruiser has some changes up its sleeve for production models.

For example, the pop-top roof has undergone further development with new stainless-steel hinges designed by EarthCruiser especially for this application to allow more room in the bed area with the roof lifted. With side hinges instead of the front pinch hinges, the bed end area height is increased to 450mm.

Off and on

The Express XPS is mounted using a sub frame which is attached to the tub and secured through the floor of the tub onto the chassis at four points.

The sub frame mounts are adjustable and will fit most vehicles.

The camper is locked into the sub frame with the use of slipper shoes at the front and four eye bolts.

The EarthCruiser comes with four wind up legs (each weighing 15kg) which attach to the sides of the camper.

The unit also comes with four eyelet mounts (weighing about 200g each), which mount onto the same position as the legs and can be taken with you in case the camper needs to be removed whilst away. These would be used for service or emergency and the use of a crane or forklift would be required.

Storage options

The compact slide-on exterior has a forward tunnel storage boot with locking access hatches on both sides containing a tank to fuel the diesel heater, water and cooktop.

But while the development model has a 15-litre tank, production models will have a 70-litre tank fitted. The extra fuel capacity will not only keep up the camper’s requirements but also (via a valve-operated feeder tube running to the vehicle’s fuel inlet) enhance vehicle fuel range in remote areas.

There’s access to the water pump and water tank fill point under a hatch within the boot.

 Set up for remote camping 

Water capacity is 100 litres, with the option of adding two 50-litre side tanks to boost capacity to 200 litres.

With the optional water tanks and full diesel tank, you’re looking at about 550kg for the set-up prior to adding your gear (clothes, food, kitchenware) into it. In this case, with the Ranger XLT Super Cab Pick Up’s 1115kg payload, there’s still plenty left over for gear in the camper and within the ute.

On the passenger side there’s the optional Fiamma F35 Titanium awning  -- neatly recessed, avoiding the risk of being broken off by overgrown branches on narrow tracks. Getting the awning in and out is a bit fiddly though, as it doesn’t use a winding mechanism but simply rolls out, with the stays and legs then folding out of the awning tube recess. With practice it would become easier.

There’s nothing else adorning the passenger side except an LED light under the awning and the Seitz hinged window (with flyscreen and block-out blind).

Easy external access

On the offside, there’s another identical window and tunnel boot access, while at the rear of the camper is a locking fold-down hatch/table that reveals storage for a cooker and other items, as well as the external water hose linked to the 100-litre water tank and drawn by the electric pump.

A large slide-out for a  barbeque, underneath the existing hatch/table is slated for production models.

The rear storage bag and Maxtrax storage you see here will also be reconfigured to allow an opening shelf for more kitchen space and to allow full-size Maxtrax to be fitted. The low-mount optional shovel will also be mounted with the Maxtrax boards.

The aircraft-type clamshell, two-piece rear door is light and easy to open, although the two-step lower door might be a little far off the ground for some lifted utes. A longer lower door is being considered for production models.

A two-part flyscreen will take the place of the flyscreen strips on the development mule.

Cosy interior

Once inside the camper you simply unclip the roof tether and push open the gas-strut assisted roof. While I had to put my shoulder into it initially to get the roof lifting up, the gas struts took over the work quickly enough. This roof is nothing like as heavy as some pop-top caravans to open.

There’s no denying that the interior is cosy, but not to the point of being claustrophobic. With 1980mm of headroom (towards the rear of the angled roof) and with the windows open in the roof skirt, it actually feels like an airy space to be in.

If the weather closed in for a few days at camp, it would be bearable, especially if you also made use of the outside shelter with the awning set up.

The L-shaped interior kitchen is compact but provides more open bench space than you expect. There’s a stainless steel sink and the pre-production camper was fitted with the optional ceramic induction stovetop.

Enlarged fridge

The Nova-Kool fridge has been especially made for EarthCruiser with an underslung compressor to allow a 70-litre capacity over the 35-litre standard configuration. The fridge is powered by the lithium battery, fed by the solar panels on the pop top roof rather than the vehicle’s battery.

The storage cubbies on the back wall and below the kitchen bench are not large, but there’s enough there for basic cooking utensils and crockery. Enclosures next to the fridge will be altered slightly in production versions and have sprung covers to keep items in the shelves.

There are also enclosures on the nearside and offside walls plus two tall, wide enclosed storage spaces on the offside rear of the camper where you’d put also put kitchenware and foodstuffs while still having them to hand.

There’s some more storage space under the dinette seats and open lockers below the bedhead for clothing and knick-knacks. A neat idea is the towel (or clothing) zipper bags fitted behind the dinette seat backs.

Indoor toilet and shower

A Port-a-potti fitted with a vinyl travel cover is fitted to an enclosure under the offside dinette seat. While it’s not a huge issue, it would be better if it tucked in more under the dinette to free up more floor space. This will be addressed with the production camper, which will allow for the toilet to turn 90 degrees and push under a further 80mm.

The shower set-up is simple but appears effective. There’s a recessed wet area with drain just as you step into the camper and a nylon shower curtain is set up on tracks on the camper’s ceiling. The kitchen mixer tap doubles as a shower rose, extending out of its base and hooks to a nylon strap sewn into the pop-top skirt.

The bed head section hinges up to allow use of the dinette seats, although a variation can be ordered with a shorter bed which is moved forward 120mm so the flip-up bed end won’t be necessary with two people sitting at the dinette.

The dinette seats can be used as a bed measuring 1150mm x 1680mm, but are a better proposition for two sub-teens rather than taller types.

The double bed measures 1350mm x 2000mm, and has storage nooks along the bedsides.

Plenty of power

The camper’s electrics are  set up for extended, remote bush free-camping. A Finscan digital controller touchscreen oversees the system, which includes a Victron 1600watt inverter/70amp charger and Stirling BC-BC 60amp charger. EarthCruiser says it uses a BC-BC charger because it doesn’t suffer the problem of throwing vehicle codes that a DC to DC charger can.

EarthCruiser also says that the US-sourced Lithionics 200amp lithium battery will allow heavy use of accessories for two days at camp, but additional battery capacity is available as an option for longer stays.

There’s a 12v accessory port and two-pole 240v GPO on the nearside wall in the living area, but it’d be nice to have at least another 12v port or USB ports in the living area as standard. However, there are two more up the front and more can be fitted at the time of order if requested.

When it comes to ordering, EarthCruiser buyers can either order the camper to slide onto their own ute as it is, or have a ute set-up for them as well.

The Ranger 'mule' shown here has been set up with a bullbar, 13,000lb Runva winch, 65mm lift kit with Kings Springs (designed to handle the 300-400kg constant load), Bilstein shocks, airbag rear suspension, aftermarket alloy wheels, Gladiator Mud-Terrains and a 140-litre long-range fuel tank.

Summing up

On the surface, EarthCruiser's Express XPS appears to be a minimalist approach to the slide-on camper.

Sure, it’s compact and light, making it easier to drive in difficult off-road terrain, but there's more depth to it thanks to its relatively sophisticated electronics/power and fuel/water storage giving the potential for extended bush stays.

Earthcruiser Express XPS 2019

Travel length: 5800mm (varies according to base vehicle)
Body length (open length): 3600mm
External body width: 1730mm
Travel height: 2300mm (varies according to base vehicle)
Interior height: 1980mm
Tare weight: 280kg (slide-on only, varies with options)
Body: One-piece fibreglass/carbon-fibre composite
Suspension: Modified (base vehicle)
Fresh water: 100L
Battery: 200a/h lithium
Solar: 2 x 135watt
Air-conditioner: Opt ()
Hot water/air heater: Eberspaecher diesel water and air heater
Gas: n/a
Cooking: Wallas 800D Ceramic Diesel
Fridge: Nova-Kool 70L
Microwave: n/a
Toilet: Port-a-potti
Shower: Internal nylon screened wet area
Lighting: 12V
TV: Opt
Price: From $49,900 ($80,000 as tested)
Options fitted: Fiamma awning, long handle shovel with holder, two Maxtrax with holder, LED front light bar, Wallas Ceramic Diesel cooktop, Sirocco fan, leather seating, flyscreen at entry door, Victron inverter/charger, BC to BC charger, Swiss BBQ, Diesel air/water heater, Finscan digital controller, internal shower curtain, Port-a-potti with cover, Sietz windows, entry assist handle
Supplied by: EarthCruiser, North Wollongong NSW