Outdoors

Gecko camper flips and folds to make your truck home

Gecko camper flips and folds to make your truck home
Gecko Campers shows truck-mounted and standalone flavors at the Australian 4x4 Outdoors Expo
Gecko Campers shows truck-mounted and standalone flavors at the Australian 4x4 Outdoors Expo
View 19 Images
Gecko Campers shows truck-mounted and standalone flavors at the Australian 4x4 Outdoors Expo
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Gecko Campers shows truck-mounted and standalone flavors at the Australian 4x4 Outdoors Expo
The Gecko Camper looks particularly compact when standing on its legs
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The Gecko Camper looks particularly compact when standing on its legs
A look at the Gecko Camper's kitchen area
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A look at the Gecko Camper's kitchen area
Gecko Campers at the Australian 4x4 Outdoors Expo in Melbourne
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Gecko Campers at the Australian 4x4 Outdoors Expo in Melbourne
The fold-out roof tent provides sleeping space for two
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The fold-out roof tent provides sleeping space for two
The Gecko fits standard ute trays, making for a rugged, off-road-ready camper
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The Gecko fits standard ute trays, making for a rugged, off-road-ready camper
Gecko offers an available kitchen enclosure
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Gecko offers an available kitchen enclosure
The Gecko Camper is designed and built in Australia
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The Gecko Camper is designed and built in Australia
Prices start at AU$27,000, and Gecko offers a variety of options to help buyers customize their campers
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Prices start at AU$27,000, and Gecko offers a variety of options to help buyers customize their campers
A scenic place to camp
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A scenic place to camp
Gecko has created a two-story living structure with upper tent sleeping and lower lounge area
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Gecko has created a two-story living structure with upper tent sleeping and lower lounge area
The stove slides out, and the refrigerator slides out and drops down
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The stove slides out, and the refrigerator slides out and drops down
The side opposite the kitchen includes access to electrical and water equipment
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The side opposite the kitchen includes access to electrical and water equipment
The Gecko Camper packed up and ready to explore
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The Gecko Camper packed up and ready to explore
The rear door drops down to provide steps inside
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The rear door drops down to provide steps inside
Setting up the kitchen
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Setting up the kitchen
Ready to cook
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Ready to cook
The interior offers access to the refrigerator and clothes storage areas
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The interior offers access to the refrigerator and clothes storage areas
The Gecko Camper includes a screen door for ventilation
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The Gecko Camper includes a screen door for ventilation 
View gallery - 19 images

One of the head turners at the recent Australian 4x4 Outdoors Expo, the Gecko Camper rides to camp looking like an inconspicuous delivery truck, but instead of packages, it delivers a comfortable stay in the wilderness. Combining elements from roof-top tents, pop-up campers and truck canopies, the Gecko flips and folds into a two-story abode with all the amenities you need for temporary backcountry living. And if you're not going anywhere for a while, it also works as a standalone living module.

Designed for single- and dual-cab truck trays, the Gecko slide-on is a neatly framed block with a departure angle-boosting cut-out along the lower rear edge. It features a monocoque structure fabricated from 6062 and 5052 plate aluminum sourced for a combination of low weight and high ruggedness.

In place of the straight or hinge pop-tops often seen on slide-on campers like this one, the Gecko's roof folds out into a full, A-frame-style roof-top tent with sleeping space for two. A cover keeps the bedding in place so that all you have to do is flip and retire to bed.

The interior offers access to the refrigerator and clothes storage areas
The interior offers access to the refrigerator and clothes storage areas

The interior of the camper shell serves as the "downstairs" and features an L-shaped sofa with room for four adults. Gecko also offers a dual-cab model with an added alcove-style children's sleeping area over top the truck cab.

Instead of trying to stuff a kitchen into the small camper box interior, as in truck campers like the EarthCruiser GZL and Quantis Marq, Gecko has built a trailer/canopy-style kitchen outside. The driver-side panel flips up and serves as a bit of cover, providing access to a simple kitchen with slide-out dual-burner gas stove with grill, drop-down countertop and available slide-out, drop-down refrigerator.

The stove slides out, and the refrigerator slides out and drops down
The stove slides out, and the refrigerator slides out and drops down

The refrigerator locker is accessible from the inside, as well as out, as is a clothes storage compartment, so you don't have to walk out through the aluminum fly screen door to grab a drink or throw on a sweater.

The passenger-side exterior wall has a similar flip-up panel, providing access to storage and equipment. The standard electrical package includes a 105Ah AGM battery, three 12V outlets, a fuse panel, and LED lighting in the kitchen and storage areas. Buyers can also upgrade with options like a dual battery system and solar power. The 75L water tank and self-priming pump deliver water, and an available shower package supplies a hot outdoor shower.

While most of Gecko's materials focus on its use as a truck camper, it can also be removed and stood on four legs, as the company demonstrated at the Melbourne-based 4x4 show. This creates the cool mobile living pod below.

Gecko Campers at the Australian 4x4 Outdoors Expo in Melbourne
Gecko Campers at the Australian 4x4 Outdoors Expo in Melbourne

The Gecko is a slick, little slide-out that does a lot within a compact structure, exemplifying what we find fascinating about small camper modules and trailers. It starts at AU$27,000 (approx. US$21,500), and Gecko offers a variety of additional options such as a 60L Engel fridge, canvas enclosure around the kitchen and portable toilet.

Source: Gecko Campers

View gallery - 19 images
2 comments
2 comments
Wolf0579
I'd prefer a model without soft fabric sides. Take a que from the Japanese coffin hotels as far as sleeping arrangements go.
trestlehed
Attention RV manufacturers: Will someone please produce a modern Toyota truck based Pop-top Chinook? My 1977 Toyota Chinook camper was the easiest, simplest weekend-warrior vehicle. Small, easy to drive, park, camp. Do it with a V6 4x4 Tacoma and watch 'em sell like hotcakes.