OurGen RV Gen Pod Leo 2023 Review

Teardrop campers have been popular choice for decades as an affordable option, offering lightweight living quarters for those on the move.

But more recently, we've seen slightly more spacious versions of these compact hard-walled campers hit the market, including Australia's biggest RV manufacturer getting in on the act with its J-POD.

One of the newest Aussie-built pod campers to go on sale is from Melbourne-based OurGen RV, which is offering a growing number of variants in its Gen Pod range.

The Gen Pod line-up kicks off at around $30,000 or less, with our 'camo green' review camper, a range-topping Leo model supplied by Queensland dealer Lawrence RV, boasting a sticker price of $44,990 drive-away.

An RV electrician by trade, OurGen RV co-founder Zane Williams said the original idea for the Gen Pod was to build a competitor for Jayco's J-POD. And while it's a similar weight and size, he says the latest Gen Pod has evolved through customer feedback to make it a different proposition in many ways to the Jayco camper which currently retails from $24,490.

In business for two years, OurGen RV also produces larger vans as well as custom builds at its Somerton, Victoria factory, and there's certainly a 'mini caravan' vibe about the boxy Gen Pod camper.

It starts off with the sturdy-looking ARV galvanised steel chassis with extended drawbar, and boxy timber framed body clad with smooth aluminium composite panels, along with some black checker plate front protection. OurGen RV also use builders foil and a carpet interior lining to help with acoustic and thermal insulation.

The range-topping Gen Pod Leo is fitted with a basic 50mm ball coupling, leaf spring/beam axle suspension, and 15in alloy wheels with all terrain tyres, but there's enough ground clearance and rear departure angle to avoid damage if you do venture off the beaten track to access more remote camp sites.

There's no extra stone shielding for the underbody poly water tanks, but it's the low-slung battery box, mounted externally on the rear offside, that looks most vulnerable to off-road knocks.

With a Tare of just 940kg and an ATM of 1600kg, the Gen Pod Leo is a breeze to tow behind many vehicles, and we could hardly feel it behind a 3500kg tow rated Ford Ranger ute.

It's also light enough to be pushed around by hand at the campsite, with its single axle and removable jockey wheel, and there are some wind-down corner stabilisers to make it more stable when sleeping.

If you're after more of an off-road set-up, OurGen is working on a rugged new Noah model with 2800kg rated coil independent suspension. It also recently built a Gen X toy hauler version, with the motorbike mounted on the drawbar, and is also planning an empty-nester or man-cave model called the Snip.

The Gen Pod Leo is arguably more user-friendly than some other other pod campers on the market, particularly when it comes to pulling over and hopping straight into bed, thanks to its unique, multi-door rear entry.

The gas strut-assisted, lift-up rear door is secured by two catches and doubles as an overhead shelter when fully open. It can also be left open on warmer nights with a full-width flyscreen built into the camper that pulls down to stop the bugs getting in.

Alternatively, you can keep the main door shut and get inside using the side-opening ‘doggie door’ which incorporates a sliding window with built-in flyscreen so you can also open that up from inside to generate a breeze.

The only issue we found was that the sliding window on the 'doggie door' had a tendency to drop down by itself when towing, if it wasn't secured properly.

External storage is pretty good for a pod camper, and to help make the most of the 640kg payload, there's a large front checker plate toolbox. The slide-out kitchen takes up about two thirds of the space in the LED-lit tunnel boot, while the roof racks are fitted with rear rollers to assist loading and unloading a kayak or other bulky items.

The Dometic slide-out kitchen incorporates a sink with cold water tap, three gas burner cooktop, and a wooden chopping board. There's a Dune 4WD awning with two supporting poles to provide some outside cover, although it doesn't fully cover the kitchen area.

The Gen Pod Leo also comes standard with a 200W rooftop solar panel, that feeds an externally mounted 100Ah lithium battery, with two underslung 60 litre tanks to hold the drinking water.

There's a spare wheel, 9kg gas bottle and brass tap on the drawbar, with a mains pressure inlet located along the offside wall. A drop-down shower tent is located along the rear offside, with the option of connecting up a portable gas powered hot water unit for outside showers.

There's enough floorspace inside the camper to carry a portable toilet.

The Leo camper also comes with outside LED lighting, a 240V inlet and outlet, and a drop-down picnic table.

There's a pull-out entry step at the back, and once inside it doesn't have the claustrophobic feel you get in many teardrop and pod campers, thanks to decent headroom, a large roof hatch above the bed, and big opening windows with screens and blinds on both sides. There's also a 12V fan that faces the bed.

There’s a ledge up front that's big enough for two people to sit and eat, or you can kick back on the double innerspring mattress which wasn't quite long enough for my 188cm frame to fully stretch out on. While not fitted to the review camper, you can also get a table that slides out from the side cupboard to rest your food, drinks or laptop.

Internal storage is pretty good, with some cavities under the bed, a side cupboard and overhead cupboards running along both sides. It's all nicely finished too, from the light timber benchtop to the overhead cupboards with hidden catches and ambient lighting, to go with LED reading and ceiling lights.

Another cupboard near the floor as you enter contains battery related items including the battery manager, battery and water monitor and a 1000 watt inverter so you can run or charge up small appliances like a laptop or coffee machine.

You'll need to plug into mains power to run larger onboard appliances for extended periods, like the microwave and 80 litre compressor fridge located along the wall opposite, or there's the option to upgrade to a second 100Ah lithium battery and 2000W inverter.

A number of 12V and 240V sockets, a display panel for the inverter, an extendable arm for the 23in TV, and a portable Bluetooth speaker, are also located around the side bench near the entry door.

There's a lot to like about the Gen Pod Leo. While it's not a rugged off-roader it's a good all-rounder for week-end trips as well as longer excursions to bushy campsites, with just enough 'glamping' features to keep everyone happy for a few days at least.

It would be a great option for first-time caravanners, as well as those looking to downsize from a larger van, or just anyone after a fuss-free, relatively affordable mini-caravan that's easy to tow and store.

Price: $44,990 (drive-away, Qld)
Travel length: 4350mm
Body length: 2900mm
Body width: 1920mm
Travel height: 2250mm (including rack)
Tare weight: 940kg
ATM: 1600kg
Ball weight (Tare): 80kg
Body: Insulated timber frame with aluminium composite panels
Chassis: Galvanized steel
Suspension: Leaf spring, beam axle
Brakes: 10-inch electric drums
Wheels: Alloy 15-inch with 235/75 R15 AT tyres
Fresh water: 2 x 60L
Battery: 1 x 100Ah lithium
Solar: 200W rooftop panel
Gas: 1 x 9kg
Cooking: External three gas burner cooktop, microwave
Fridge:  80L upright compressor
Shower: External tent and optional portable hot/cold shower
TV: 23in LED
Audio: Portable Bluetooth speaker
Lighting: LED throughout
Supplied by: Lawrence RV, Burpengary, Queensland
More info: OurGen RV, Somerton, Victoria