Does sound a bit far out, but Northstar Campers, a little family firm out of America's heartland are setting the woods on fire--well, as many woods as you can find in corn country. The Escape Pod in question is a heretofore Australian export, coming soon, says the company, to the big Louisville show. Specifically designed for putting on a Chevrolet Colorado, the Escape Pod is said to be a lightweight but spacious answer to high fuel prices.
The trick here is you're not looking at an "off the shelf" Colorado. Rather, the customer orders a new Chevy Colorado with a "Ute" bed, an aluminum flat bed produced by Ute, Ltd. This flatbed platform allows for a much larger truck camper floor area, allowing the little camper to act like a much bigger counterpart. Here's a photo of a Ute bed with a commercial payload on it. Chevrolet says their 2009 Colorado can attain 20 miles to the precious gallon, unloaded.If the new Escape Pod is anything like what the company markets in Australia as a "750 Side Entry" then you can expect all the standard amenities of typical truck campers: Appliances, shower, storage room, and comfortable sleeping for two. You won't be seeing a slide out on these units--the company says the design is for light weight, and the higher center of gravity inherent with a flatbed rules it out.
A phone call to the company revealed the man who 'knows all' was out of t
he office, but here's the inside dope we could pick up--and yes, we'll update as soon as we get more info: The US version of the Escape Pod is presently in "pilot model" status. RV dealers are being invited to the company manufacturing site outside of Cedar Falls to take a gander at the pilot and add their two-cents worth on how to work up the final version. Here's a photo of the Australian 750 Side Entry, and yep, "the door's on the wrong side!" because as you know, Down Under they drive on the wrong side of the road.By the way, Mate, that platform you see is a Mazda pickup ala flatbed.
3 comments:
G'day, mate! This could be the answer to our gas pains!
NO we don't drive on the wrong side of the road here...come down and try driving on the Right side and see how WRONG it is!
One problem that I see is the "escape pod" sets about 12" higher that a regular truck camper.A regular truck camper sits between the tires giving them a lower center of gravity,this is better when in high cross winds or turning corners & less wind resistence.Also,the door opens the wrong way,should it come open on the road,it will be destroyed.
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