LeisurePod targets chilled Kiwi campers

The Kiwi designer behind a successful range of off-road kiddy prams has come up with another nifty invention, for the RV industry.

Allan Croad, who designed the popular Mountain Buggy strollers in the early 1990s before selling the multi-million dollar, export business in 2004, has launched a lightweight, all-in-one-camper made from composite fibreglass with canvas walls that fits into an open box trailer.

Described as “the best of a caravan and tent”, the 3.6m long LeisurePod was unveiled in final prototype form at last month’s Covi Motorhom, Caravan and Outdoor Supershow in Wellington, New Zealand.

Weighing just 230kg before gear is added (gross trailer mass is 1000kg), the LeisurePod sets up in minutes and also easily converts from a work or storage trailer to a two-berth, week-end camper.

"You can store gear safe and dry when not in use, take garden rubbish in the open box trailer or transport luggage in the LeisurePod,” Croad said. “With the sofa-bed in place you can sleep overnight in the great outdoors or have a picnic day at a favourite location.”

"It only weighs 230kg which means it’s easy to hook up and tow with a medium size car," he said.

The Leisurepod was designed in conjunction with Netherlands-based industrial designer Harm Coenen, whose designs include a range of products for noted Dutch camp goods manufacturer De Waard.

The pair met in New Zealand and decided in 2006 to develop the new product, after spotting a gap in the market for a lightweight, versatile camper. The LeisurePod is aimed at those with limited storage space and smaller tow vehicles, and who don't want to spend a lot on camping equipment or sleep on the ground in a tent.

The sleek, moulded fibreglass canopy and base is fitted with a removable, pop-up tent and sits on a standard, 7 x 4ft galvanised trailer. The 1200mm wide, foam, fold-out sofa bed fits snuggly in the trailer and converts from seating to bedding in seconds.

While in transit, the bed remains in the day position, leaving room for other goods and supplies. Further storage for items like fishing roads, barbeques, gas bottles, or the fabric awning and tent pegs is available in a lockable compartment in the moulded body above the tow bar.

The composite body and trailer are made in New Zealand, while the brightly coloured, polyester/cotton fabric walls, awnings and vestibule tent are manufactured in China.

The Leisurepod is priced from NZ$7249 (A$5714) for the basic camping trailer, with a range of options available including awning protector, external, zip-on tent, side shelter, clip-on table, sofa bed and roof racks. The price rises to NZ$10,550 (A$8317) with the options fitted.

Although currently only available in New Zealand, Croad has plans to export the LeisurePod to markets including Australia, as he did with the Mountain Buggy.

See the LeisurePod website for more, or check out the video below...