Echo 4x4 tames every terrain

With a similar and challenging landscape found in both continents, any camper that has proven itself in Africa is eminently capable of taking on the rugged Australian Outback.

That ethos is at the heart of Everything RV’s new range of Echo 4x4 campers, which were conceived in South Africa and have a pedigree that can be traced back over 30 years.

These are off-road campers capable of going deep into the bush right off the showroom floor. They have the right credentials in being compact, light and strong, yet they also offer a roomy and clever camping set-up with a comprehensive standard equipment list.

Everything RV has just launched three Echo 4x4 models here in Australia: the Chobe Tec, the Kavango and the Kunene. Let’s take a closer look at each…

The four-berth Chobe Tec really is an impressive all-round camper trailer for couples or small families.

With a tare weight of just 760kg, the Echo 4x4 Chobe Tec is not only very light for a comprehensively equipped camper, but it has the bonus of an ample 840kg payload.

The Chobe Tec also has a large front locker to store gear (complete with a jerry holder on each side), and a multitude of storage nooks inside the camper itself. Importantly, like all the Echo 4x4 range, automotive-type door seals keep the Outback dust at bay and all windows are screen-meshed to keep out bugs.

Dimensions are promising for tight bush tracks at 1880mm wide and just less than 2.1 metres high, while garage storage should not be an issue either, with an overall length of roughly a small car at 4150mm.

Getting out to the bush camp is easy with the Chobe Tec’s dedicated off-road independent suspension, electric drum brakes and D035 off-road coupling.

Having a good kitchen can make or break the camping experience, and here the Chobe Tec is well covered. The large slide-out fridge/freezer and two-burner cooker, slide-out basin and drying rack, large fold-down counter, slide-out table and pantry – with crockery and cutlery supplied as standard – provide all you need for enjoyable meals in the bush. And shielding you from the elements, should it be necessary, is a 270-degree awning.

Not only is the on-board water tank, high pressure water pump and instant hot water service great for food prep at the kitchen sink, but also for supplying water to the external shower – standard with its own privacy curtain, of course.

A comprehensive yet rugged power panel monitors the electrical system that features an AGM battery and 200W of solar. Ample LED lighting covers off the illumination inside and out.

The next step up the model walk is the Echo 4x4 Kavango. This model offers the best of both worlds, being a relatively compact camper trailer yet having all the trappings of a full-height caravan.

The innovative, insulated monocoque fibreglass body is light and flexible, with no corners or end joins. The Kavango body sits on a hot-dipped galvanised chassis underpinned by a strong leaf-spring suspension. A skid plate under the A-frame, the D035 off-road coupling and upswept rear design (for better departure angle) all give extra peace of mind when the tracks get gnarly. And when folded up and ready to tow, the Kavango has about the same footprint as a large SUV wagon.

Hybrids can end up being very heavy but the Kavango has a light tare weight of just 1150kg and a generous 850kg payload.

Many of the features on the Chobe Tec extend to the Kavango, such as twin jerry holders, a large water tank, electric hot water, dedicated power panel, cooker, fridge/freezer and cutlery, crockery, basin and drying rack and a large drop-down table that reveals further pantry storage. If it’s too hot – or wet – there’s an 180-degree PVC awning over the slide-out kitchen to keep you covered.

The Kavango takes around two minutes to convert from towing to sleeping mode, but it will cater for up to three children or another two adults when converting the dinette to a second double bed.

One of the more ingenious elements of the Kavango is the slide-out shower and toilet, which extends with its full privacy tent out of the offside door.

Meanwhile, the Kavango’s lithium battery is fed by 200W of solar panels to keep the power going at camp.

In all, the Kavango represents great value for money with great ‘bushability’ in a clever camping package.

The Kunene is at the premium end of the Echo 4x4 range, offering off-the-grid camping with a sleeping capacity of up to five people in a lightweight, sturdy yet luxurious compact pop-top.

The Kunene isn’t the type of pop-top camper that needs to be parked in town when you want to travel deep into the bush. It is light (with just a 1450kg tare weight) and nimble. With the D035 off-road coupling, independent off-road suspension, front stone guard and upswept rear body design, the Kunene will follow your 4WD just about wherever you point it.

The Kunene has ample storage space inside and out, and with a 900kg payload it can handle plenty of gear for an extended bush stay. The Kunene’s large internal space offers myriad features such as high-quality block-out insulated roller blinds, large side windows and reverse-cycle air conditioning. There’s provision for not only sleeping and dining quarters inside the pop-top camper but, like the Kavango, the Kunene has a large, enclosed slide-out bathroom too.

Power is well supplied by the lithium battery that, when off-grid, is fed by 200W of solar. A large external slide-out kitchen offers a stove, large fridge, drawers, a crockery and cutlery set and drying up rack – plus a 180-degree awning to protect you from the elements.

The Kunene is one camper that will take you deep into the bush without leaving behind the comforts of home.

Each of these Echo 4x4 campers is fully assembled right here in Australia by Everything RV, which backs these products with a full two-year warranty.

The Everything RV service centre offers a team of expert technicians who are fully Echo 4x4 factory trained. This in-depth training covers every facet of the campers.

The Everything RV Service Centre is centrally located in Girraween, Sydney, just off the Great Western Highway and minutes from the Cumberland Highway exit on the M4. It is equipped with state-of-the-art facilities, tools and equipment to cover not only any servicing requirements but also warranty, insurance and retail repairs.

Everything RV technicians are caravan and camper servicing specialists and together boast more than 30 years’ experience, so you can be sure your pride and joy is in safe hands.

So whether it’s advice, sales, servicing, or even finance, the Everything RV team is standing by, ready to help you achieve your RV dreams. And with a new Echo 4x4 camper, the Australian bush is your playground to discover.

For more information, and to download a brochure, head to the Echo 4x4 page of the Everything RV website.