Echo Chobe Tec 2023 Review

South Africa is a country with a climate and bush camping opportunities similar in many ways to the land down under.

So it's no surprise that a few South African campers have found a welcome market here in Oz over the years, especially the tougher off-road models.

One of these is Echo 4x4 which has a 30-year history in South Africa of building a range of off-road camper trailers and hybrid caravans, while also being involved with tent manufacturing for more than 50 years.

One of the best known camper brands in its home market, Echo 4x4 has built more than 12,000 campers in total for a global market that includes Canada, USA, Africa, the Middle East, the UK and Australia.

New Aussie distributor for Echo 4x4

Here in Oz, the new nationwide distributor for Echo 4x4 is Everything RV, with the Sydney retail outlet offering three South African-built off-road models, including the entry-level Chobe compact bush camper and the larger Kavango and Kunene hybrid family campers.

Here we’re reviewing the Chobe Tec, and while it’s clearly a compact and lightweight camper, it has the ability to accommodate a family of four with its two double-bed sleeping quarters.

The clever design means it ticks many boxes for those who want the combination of a versatile, agile all-terrain camper trailer for towing, and the enclosed living space of a hybrid camper.

The Chobe Tec is not exactly a bargain-basement model at $59,990 (drive-away NSW), but it has plenty to offer and is decent value when you consider many of its feature-packed Aussie rivals can run well into six figures. The Chobe comes with a two-year warranty.

At just 4.3 metres travel length and a height of around 2.1 metres, the Chobe will be easy to store in most garages, as well relatively easy to drag around on tight bush tracks.

The Chobe’s body utilises a fibreglass monocoque outer shell, with stainless steel bolts, nuts and hinges for durability. Components are CNC cut and robot-welded, and the door rubbers are automotive style pinch-weld.

It all looks pretty utilitarian, and to my eye there's been no real effort to make the Chobe look anything but functional. Which will be fine for most, but some might want a little more style to go with the substance...

Outside living

The external features abound here, with an outside kitchen on the camper's nearside with an (optional) 270-degree awning for coverage when the weather turns sour. The awning can also be had with a full wall kit, at extra cost.

The kitchen area includes plenty of food prep bench space, and comes with a 12-volt compressor fridge, two-burner gas stove, a pull-out sink and drying up rack.

There’s also a dedicated crockery and cutlery storage area - with the cutlery and crockery included in the deal! Then there also power outlets and LED strip lighting fitted to this side of the camper.

The great thing here is that if you want kitchen access during a roadside lunch stop, you don’t need to open up the whole camper; just pull out the kitchen/fridge slide, drop down the fold-down table and pull-out the shade awning if you need it.

External storage

The Chobe Tec is fitted with the familiar Cruisemaster D0-35 off-road coupling, while brakes are 12in AL-KO electric and the suspension is an independent trailing arm set-up with coil springs and a single shock per wheel.

Up front there’s a a storage toolbox, with large opening hatches on each side, both with a jerry holder fitted. The offside door features a mirror and storage pockets; both very useful when the external shower is in use.

On the offside front section of the camper body is another storage locker, where the instantaneous 12volt hot water service is also fitted.

At the rear is the entry door (which also offers storage on the door’s interior wall) and the fold-down entry steps, along with the signature Echo 4x4 twist-off, spare-wheel mounted fire grille.

Off-grid camping

To keep things running there's a 135a/h AGM battery fed by 200watts of solar, along with energy efficient LED lighting.

The battery management system is a neat set up that will take in electrical charge to its 12V battery in one of three ways – via a 15 amp 240v AC to 12v DC three-stage charger (like when you're plugged in at caravan parks), via the DC-to-DC converter (via the tow vehicle and an Anderson plug) or via the solar regulator feeding in power from the solar panel.

The MultiFunction Power Panel has all sorts of party tricks on offer, such as an earth leakage switch, auto low voltage cut-out and buzzer, and a water meter to keep an eye on the 120L water tank level.

The strong C-section, 3mm galvanised chassis and sandwich construction-type poly fibreglass body suggests a heavier than usual body weight, but the Chobe Tec is actually very light with a 760kg (unloaded) Tare. That’s a great starting point considering its tough construction, and helps deliver a 740kg payload although it would be a struggle to use it all.

Room for the family

Although the Chobe Tec is a quite compact four-berth camper, its layout still allows a central open space inside for getting changed and so on.

The two canvas-covered beds fold out of the body towards the front and on the offside. The front bed sits on the front toolbox, while the offside bed has adjustable poles to set it on the ground adjacent the camper.

The set-up doesn’t take long, but is a little fiddly when pulling out the front bed. Entry height is a little tight as well, although you would get used to it.

The mattresses are high-density doubles, while the canvas sections are rip-stop two-tone 400gm material. All windows feature mosquito netting, and there’s a durable poly vinyl fly for the side bed tent.

There are multiple canvas storage pockets on the nearside interior wall, as well as a couple of storage nooks near the entry door.

Verdict

All in all this is a very good albeit compact camper trailer for 4x4 excursions in the bush for up to four people, with a few 'glamping' features to make for a comfortable Outback stay.

How much does the 2023 Echo 4x4 Chobe Tec family camper trailer cost?

Price: $59,990 (drive-away, NSW)
Options fitted: 270-degree awning, AL-KO jockey wheel, Cruisemaster D0-35 off-road hitch
Travel length: 4300mm
Body length (open length): 3300mm
External body width: 1830mm (not including side awning)
Travel height: 2080mm
Tare weight: 760kg
ATM: 1500kg
Ball weight (Tare): 115kg
Body: Fibreglass moulded
Chassis: Hot-dip galvanised 100mm C-channel
Suspension: Independent trailing arm, coil springs, single shock per wheel
Brakes: AL-KO 12-inch electric drums
Wheels: 17in steel with 265/65R17 tyres
Fresh water: 120 litres
Battery: 135Ah AGM
Solar: 200watts
Gas: 2 x 2kg bottles
Hot water: 12v electric
Cooking: Dometic twin burner
Fridge: National Luna 90-litre fridge/freezer
Toilet: Optional, portable
Shower: External
Lighting: 12v LED
Supplied by: Everything RV, Minto NSW
More info: Echo 4x4 Australia