Australian Pod Campers
The Australian Pod Campers Market
The market for Australian Pod Campers grew quickly after interstate and international travel was hit in 2020 due to Covid-19. We have seen a huge swathe of travelers turn to Australian Pod Campers, and the camper trailer market in general.
Of the five distinct camper trailer segments we promote, Pod Campers has easily been the leading segment, with the most interest in 2021/2022.
How can you choose the best Pod Camper?
Finding the best Pod Camper is quite easy. Visit our powerful advanced search tool and type in the must-have details, for example, number of beds, TARE weight, kitchen, off-road vs on-road.
Once you have narrowed down your search, hit the Compare feature and a table will populate for you. This makes the comparison process much easier, especially when looking for Australian Pod Campers.
Visit Trade Shows
I always suggest visiting your local Caravan and Camper Trailer Show. Companies like Australian Events host shows across the country. There is nothing better than seeing your ideal camper up close. Make sure you take the time to try everything out.
We’ve seen people buy a Pod Camper and sell it within a few weeks, because they never tried lying on the bed. They found the sleeping quarters too small. This is often the case with offshore models brought into Australia. The Australian Pod Campers usually have a much larger sleeping area, and are built to accommodate our rough terrain.
Our Experience with Pod Campers
As owners of this website, we thought long and hard about what our ideal camper, or hybrid was going to be. We certainly liked the prices and inclusions of the offshore built hybrids. Conversely, we liked the Aussie-built campers, but we knew quality comes with a price tag. There is no right or wrong when it comes to buying your first, or forever camper trailer or pod camper.
Our advice is to buy what you can afford. Do your research. Join owner groups on Facebook and ask questions. See the camper up-close at an RV show, and finally, understand that ultimately you get what you pay for.
Be prepared for small issues along the way. It’s part of the RV owner’s journey. No camper is 100% bullet-proof. I’ve seen campers at all price points have issues.
We own a custom-made Australian Pod Camper. A local engineer took two years to build his dream Pod Camper. He built it in 2016, and it was road-registered in 2018. The TARE is 1200kg, and ATM 1900kg. This gives me a 700kg payload. I’ll put some photos below of our camper. The upside is we don’t offend or align with any of our advertisers. We are truly independent with our views and recommendations.
For several years we were looking at several different makes and models but none ticked the boxes we wanted at the time. In recent times, the closest Australian Pod Camper I’ve seen on the market to ours is the Canning, made by Hitch Campers.
What is the difference between a pod camper, and square-drop camper?
It depends on who you talk to. Manufacturers have come up with terminology to differentiate their models in a crowded marketplace. Some manufacturers call their campers “pods”, while others call them “square-drop campers”, or just “campers”?
For example, Stockman, Lumberjack, and Smidge use the terminology pods, or square-back campers for some of their trailers, while Hitch Campers calls them campers. Whether they are pods, campers, or square-drop, we class them all under Pods.
Pod Camper Trailers come in different shapes and sizes. In the main, they are meant for a couple who want the comforts of a hybrid camper, without the weight. They are suited to people who value comfort, simplicity, ruggedness, and their fuel budget.
You’ll see what I mean when you view the gallery below.
Why are Australian Pod Campers so expensive?
Other than the cost of labour being so much higher, manufacturers of Australian Pod Campers tend to use a better grade of steel for the chassis, upgraded suspension and trailer components, a higher grade of composite material, and quality fixtures and fittings to deliver a better product. Some of the accessories added will also add to the overall cost, such as solar, lithium batteries, battery management systems, suspension, air conditioning, and more.
In most cases, it will be cheaper to buy an imported brand, however cheaper doesn’t mean better. Weigh up your investment vs on-going costs, parts availability, service centres, warranty headaches, and resale value.
Pros and Cons of owning a Pod Camper
We’ve owned our Pod Camper for over 6 months now (March 2022). In the past six months I can say we’ve experienced both the ups and downs of the pod camper lifestyle. Here’s our thoughts:
Pros
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Lightweight and easy to tow
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Great fuel economy
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Easy to maneuver
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Fully functional kitchen
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Easy to add modifications
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Affordable luxury
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Super fast setup
Cons
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No internal dining area
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No changing area
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No on-board toilet/shower
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Not ideal for families
Our Conclusion
We love our Pod Camper. For the record, we are both in our mid 50’s and we love the simplicity, value, and comfort our Pod brings us. I can’t see us selling it anytime soon, however, when it does come time to sell our Australian Pod Camper, we know the next owners will enjoy the lifestyle it brings.
