Pop-up camper tows like a sports car

MOTORING NEWS - The iCamp from Dutch company Udo Camp rides to the campground as a flat trailer with a rear-end that looks like it belongs on a sports coupé.

At the campsite, the electric pop-top quickly sheds any resemblance to a car, rising into a 2,4-metre shelter that sleeps and feeds up to four people. Multifunctional equipment throughout creates a comfortable, versatile space for camping and travel.

The trailer is sure to turn heads from the time it rolls out into the street. The rear is quite clearly inspired by passenger cars, curvaceous with wraparound taillights, a central badge and the outline of a 60-litre trunk. Below, there's a clearly cut bumper area and even some contrast bodywork that resembles a rear diffuser.

It was introduced recently at the Düsseldorf Caravan Salon.

Once set up, the iCamp is quite boxy in its camper form. The length of the slender 4,4-metre body eliminates the need for the extension rooms seen on many pop-up trailers, allowing the walls to rise straight up and create a large living box with 2 metres of standing room inside.

The iCamp roof is electrically activated, rising into form in under 30 seconds at the push of a remote control button. Final set-up entails dropping down the interior cabinets near the ceiling and arranging the interior furniture and cushions as desired for day or night.

Once inside, campers can let light and breeze in. Fabric panels on the entrance wall roll up to leave the entire front completely open or covered only by mosquito netting. Large screen windows on every other side further increase ventilation, as does the air-permeable but weatherproof fabric. In bad weather, campers can batten down the hatches, ensuring the entire space is protected by fabric.

The iCamp interior looks simple but comfy, filled out with a 6+2 seating arrangement with a main wraparound sofa and a day bed. The sofa sweeps around the two-panel table providing plenty of space to eat, work, chat or play games. At night, the tabletops drop down to serve as part of the convertible 162cm x 200cm bed, sleeping two adults. The longitudinal bed orientation lets each sleeper get up individually.

The other side of the tent houses a second bed measuring up to 197cm x 110cm, with a little extra length on one side.

Udo says the second bed is best for an adult and child or two children, making the iCamp perfectly suited for a family of four.

Adding to the spacious feel of the interior is the lack of a standalone kitchen block. Instead, the clever indoor / outdoor kitchen is set below the front cushions on the second bed. Lift these cushions and the kitchen lids and you can cook inside. You can also slide the kitchen out through the external hatch, support it with a drop-down leg and cook outside. Kitchen equipment includes a four-burner gas stove, sink with 12V pump-fed tap and 40-litre compressor cool box.

The kitchen's slide-out capability allows easy access to food and kitchen equipment without having to erect the entire camper.

The iCamp includes an on-board 50-Ah 12V battery, trickle charger, 20-A 230V inverter and a series of 230V outlets and USB ports. Two interior LED lights and an exterior kitchen area LED keep things well lit when the sun goes down.

With an empty weight of 538kg which excludes the stove, fridge and cushions, the iCamp can be towed by a lot of vehicles, not just big, powerful trucks and SUVs.

Udo says it's light enough to be pulled and positioned by hand before it's hitched onto the tow vehicle. The total payload is 212kg, putting gross vehicle weight rating at 750kg.

The iCamp starts at R219 800 and available extras include a front awning with available sidewalls and floor, an electric heater, extra storage cabinets and a bike carrier.