Designed as a compact, low-fuss way of traveling far away from the grid, the Ecombo trailer has cozy living quarters inside a rugged block that you tow with your 4x4. The camper from New Zealand-based Ecombo offers a panoramic-view bedroom, full kitchen and solar power system to keep you comfy in the remoteness that surrounds you when you put the car in park.
It seems like nearly every camping trailer we've covered lately has come from Oregon. High Camp, Nest and Freespirit were a few of the latest Portland- and Bend-based outfits to pretty up our site. The Ecombo breaks that trend with a vengeance, bringing us some intriguing towable hardware from the opposite side of the world.
The Ecombo was brought to life with the general idea that "you don’t need to rough it just because you are following a path less travelled." That theme is quite evident from the trailer's cozy interior and standard equipment list. The design reminds us of a smaller, lighter Southern Hemisphere answer to the ADAK Trailer.
The Ecombo's cozy cabin is secured to a rustproof aluminum off-road chassis. The teardrop-like interior consists of a full-size double bed, some cabinet storage and a large, wide side window for picturesque wilderness viewing. That window also pops open, and there is a fan/vent and secondary window on the roof for added ventilation.
The galley is on the side opposite the large bedroom window, which is a different configuration from the tailgate galleys common on small trailers. The flip-up side panel reveals a compact but well-equipped kitchen with a two-burner stove, stainless steel sink, refrigerator/freezer, countertop space and cupboards.
The Ecombo is too small for any kind of interior bathroom space, but it does offer an outdoor hot shower and space for a portable toilet. It comes standard with both fresh and waste water tanks.
One aspect of the Ecombo's design that sets it apart from other small trailers is the standard solar power. Solar is often available as an option on motorhomes and trailers, but every Ecombo rolls out of the factory with a 100-watt solar panel mounted to the roof and 130 Ah battery. That system powers the integrated LED lighting and kitchen and cabin outlets.
The Ecombo measures 13.8 x 6.9 x 8.2 feet (L x W x H, 4.2 x 2.1 x 2.5 m), when including the hitch in the length measurement. It weighs 2,425 lb (1,100 kg) when the water tanks are dry. Storage space is available in the tongue boxes, under-cabin lockers and under-bed storage. The trailer can carry a kayak up on its roof rails, and a bike rack is available as an option.
The Ecombo made its public debut last November, and prices start at a cool NZ$60,000 (US$39,000). It was designed specifically for the New Zealand market and is currently only available there. Options include a canvas extension for increasing weather-protected interior space.
Source: Ecombo
