Until a few years ago, Australia was the nation best known for crafting some of the world’s most amazing campers. Well, it’s about time that America started pumping out affordable and overland campers for the masses, and one team achieving this is none other than Tribe Trailers.
Well, this time around, we shed light upon another one of their toys, the Basecamp, a little $25,000 (€23,300 at current exchange rates) solution to camping in some of America’s wildest places. Again, $25,000 is all you need to get your hands on a standard model, and that means quite a whole lot. Heck, even Australia may have a hard time selling a unit for this sort of cash, and that’s saying something.
Now, kicking things off for this travel trailer, take note of the fact that it’s all built around a heavy-duty and galvanized chassis with an independent trailing A-arm suspension with the works. Part two of the story is the relatively small dimensions of the camper, a result of stacking a tent on top of what is essentially a gear closet with wheels. Yeah, but it’s one hell of a gear closet.
Furthermore, it’s a complete camping solution, ready with a galley, the tent I mentioned, and all the waterworks and electrical you could ask for to stay alive for days at a time. All that’s crammed into a unit that weighs as little as 1,654 lbs (750 kg) but can be packed up to 3,307 lbs (1,500 kg), so double its initial weight.
Starting with the more important off-grid features like electrical and water, future owners can look forward to features like a 100 Ah battery array with a 1,000 W inverter and solar power manager, but the panels themselves are not included in your purchase. As for water, 17 gals (64 liters) are protected by an alloy cover and have a built-in pump. If you need any extra life-giving juice, feel free to pack any tanks in any of the storage bays tattered along the unit’s shell or simply throw them under the tent. Be sure to use water-safe jugs and containers when out there.
Photo: Tribe Trailers
Then there’s the galley, which is found near the nose cone storage box along the left side of the trailer. While in transit or when it’s not in use, your kitchen will lie hidden from view and protected by waterproof and lockable cabinets. But, the moment it’s time to whip up a meal, unlock the bay hatch and pull your mobile kitchen into view. There’s a countertop, sink and facet, and a two-burner cooktop. Neatly enough, the bay door acts as a windscreen, too.
As for the rest of this puppy, it’s all about providing you with the necessary space to bring along all the goodies you may need on adventures. There’s interior space for things like clothing and food and exterior storage for tents, jumper cables, tools, or anything else that doesn’t mind being exposed to the elements.
Yet, my favorite trick that Basecamp can pull is leaving the roof-top tent at home. This ability opens up new venues for the Basecamp and your adventures. Let’s say you own a truck camper and already have a place to sleep. Since you won’t need the roof-top tent, you can use this space for bike or kayak racks, fishing gear, shovels, you name it. The same is true if you’re bringing along a ground-level tent to camp out of.
Photo: Tribe Trailers
Finally, I do need to point out a bit about the Basecamp that just can’t be overlooked: people are absolutely loving this thing! Frankly, I can’t blame them. Even with the fact that you’ll need to pick up solar panels as extra and a tent too, it’s still one hell of a deal and one that you’ll rarely find on North American territory.
I’m not saying there aren’t any manufacturers that bring such campers to the unit on US soil – there are and some we’ve covered – but just like the Basecamp, they’re few and far between, and that my fellow readers is a reason to consider Tribe for your next or first camper purchase.
All that’s left to do now is either find a dealership that has one of these babies sitting around waiting just for you or give Tribe a call and go from there. Be sure to ask them about any optional features they may have because you may not need to go elsewhere for solar panels or the tent. Happy travels out there, and I invite you to comment on what you think of this beauty.
