Outdoors

Brutish off-grid pop-up camper brings Outback flavor to UK hinterlands

Brutish off-grid pop-up camper brings Outback flavor to UK hinterlands
With its pop-up roof, awning and tailgate galley, the Valkari X1 expands into a comfortable two- to five-person base camp
With its pop-up roof, awning and tailgate galley, the Valkari X1 expands into a comfortable two- to five-person base camp
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Valkari was founded by Nevil Slade, also the founder and CEO of racing simulator brand Vesaro
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Valkari was founded by Nevil Slade, also the founder and CEO of racing simulator brand Vesaro
In place of the common transverse kitchen common in squaredrop trailers, Valkari adds a combination of full-width counter and slide-out equipment
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In place of the transverse kitchen common in squaredrop trailers, Valkari adds a combination of full-width counter and slide-out equipment
Upon first glance, the Valkari Overland X1 looks completely like the latest Australian camper trailer, but this one actually comes from Great Britain
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Upon first glance, the Valkari Overland X1 looks completely like the latest Australian camper trailer, but this one actually comes from Great Britain
Jerry can holders come standard for buyers to fill themselves or with the optional jerry cans Valkari offers
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Jerry can holders come standard for buyers to fill themselves or with the optional jerry cans Valkari offers
With its pop-up roof, awning and tailgate galley, the Valkari X1 expands into a comfortable two- to five-person base camp
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With its pop-up roof, awning and tailgate galley, the Valkari X1 expands into a comfortable two- to five-person base camp
The left- and right-side doors include mosquito screens
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The left- and right-side doors include mosquito screens
Ready for adventure ... whether following the path or blazing the trail
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Ready for adventure ... whether following the path or blazing the trail
Fully set up Valkari X1 camper trailer
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Fully set up Valkari X1 camper trailer
The front window adds extra
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The front window adds extra views outside
The folding steps make it easier for children to hop aboard
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The folding steps make it easier for children to hop aboard
Underbody stainless steel water tank
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Underbody stainless steel water tank
The interior includes a convertible dining lounge and an A/V system
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The interior includes a convertible dining lounge and an A/V system
Valkari X1 converted over into sleeping configuration with main bed and rooftop sleeper platform and
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Valkari X1 converted over into sleeping configuration with main bed and rooftop sleeper platform and
The kitchen comes with dual burners, a sink, worktop and storage space and a slide-out for an available fridge
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The kitchen comes with dual burners, a sink, worktop and storage space and a slide-out for an available fridge
The roof rack holds up to 220 lb of static load, 110 lb of dynamic load
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The roof rack holds up to 220 lb of static load, 110 lb of dynamic load
The standard pop-up roof adds standing height inside the X1 and can also sleep two adults or up to four children with the optional three-piece sleeping platform
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The standard pop-up roof adds standing height inside the X1 and can also sleep two adults or up to four children with the optional three-piece sleeping platform
With a hot-dipped chassis, off-road tires and an aluminum-composite body, the Valkari X1 is built to revel in rough, bumpy conditions
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With a hot-dipped chassis, off-road tires and an aluminum-composite body, the Valkari X1 is built to revel in rough, bumpy conditions
View of the X1 floor plan
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View of the X1 floor plan
Valkari Overland X1 ready for bed
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Valkari Overland X1 ready for bed
View gallery - 19 images

The photos and spec sheet of the new X1 "micro habitat" trailer from Valkari Overland scream "Australia's latest off-road camper trailer!" But this overbuilt brute is more likely to be found roaming the highlands and moors of the British Isles than the Outback of Australia. No matter where it roams, the go-anywhere squaredrop brings some comforts and luxuries from home, growing into a roomy base camp with dining lounge, sleeping space for the whole family, plenty of cooking power and a full entertainment system.

Not only do Valkari X1 features, like the hot-dipped galvanized chassis and dual-shock independent suspension, sound straight out of Australia, but the shape of the 16-foot (490-cm) X1 looks very much like it could be the latest offering from Bruder, a high-popping, more axle-centered alternative to the EXP-4. However, the company was founded in Great Britain in 2020 by entrepreneur Nevil Slade, also the founder and CEO of racing simulator manufacturer Vesaro.

Valkari was founded by Nevil Slade, also the founder and CEO of racing simulator brand Vesaro
Valkari was founded by Nevil Slade, also the founder and CEO of racing simulator brand Vesaro

Above its chassis and 265/75 R16 off-road tires, the X1 has a welded aluminum alloy frame skinned out in 25-mm aluminum-composite panels sandwiched around insulation. That rugged, weatherproof shell protects a cozy interior designed to sleep an entire family, with dual doors and foldaway steps providing convenient entry and exit.

Like some of the latest American off-road trailers, the X1 relies on a pop-top design to expand livable interior space beyond the simple two-adult mattress found in many an off-road tear or squaredrop. Valkari fills out the standing-height space with a dining lounge with wraparound seating and a bench-style sofa.

View of the X1 floor plan
View of the X1 floor plan

At night, the table drops down and the cushions rearrange into a wall-to-wall 75 x 57-in (190 x 145-cm) bed that Valkari suggests will fit a child and two parents. The available pop-up roof sleeping platform helps sleep a larger family, adding a 44 x 81-in (112 x 206-cm) bed good for a pair of adults or three to four children. The modular three-piece platform allows for access down to the main floor of the trailer.

Valkari takes amenities to the next level with a 14-in LCD TV and stereo speakers. Two outside speakers pull music from the DVD/CD/Bluetooth/radio media player to the other side of the walls.

Valkari X1 converted over into sleeping configuration with main bed and rooftop sleeper platform and
Valkari X1 converted over into sleeping configuration with main bed and rooftop sleeper platform and

Cooks will have to step outside and around back, where the tailgate galley houses dual slide-outs below a full-width worktop. One multi-level slide-out houses the sink and the independent dual burners, and the other slide carves out dedicated space for the optional 30-L fridge. A standard water heater pushes hot water to the sink for cleaning dishes and also to the outdoor shower. An optional fold-out shower room can be used with the shower sprayer as well as the available portable toilet.

In place of the common transverse kitchen common in squaredrop trailers, Valkari adds a combination of full-width counter and slide-out equipment
In place of the transverse kitchen common in squaredrop trailers, Valkari adds a combination of full-width counter and slide-out equipment

A pair of 100-Ah deep-cycle lead-acid batteries wired to a 2,000-W inverter powers onboard equipment like the audio/video gear, 12-V water pump and LED lighting. Solar panels can be added on optionally. Fresh water gets distributed out from a 120-L underbody steel tank with digital monitoring and drains into an 80-L gray water tank. Air conditioning and diesel heat are available as options.

The X1 comes standard with a retractable awning and a full-size roof rack that holds dynamic loads up to 110 lb (50 kg). Off-road electric brakes with electronic management help bring the 2,425-lb (1,100-kg) camper trailer to stop.

Upon first glance, the Valkari Overland X1 looks completely like the latest Australian camper trailer, but this one actually comes from Great Britain
Upon first glance, the Valkari Overland X1 looks completely like the latest Australian camper trailer, but this one actually comes from Great Britain

According to its website, Valkari is working to get the X1 certified for use on UK roads. It plans to sell it for a starting price of £16,999 (approx. US$23,475) or £17,498 ($24,150) with the three-piece removable upper sleeping platform. Interested parties can sign up for more info and updates, and uninterested parties may or may not gain a little more interest after watching the 3.5-minute simulation below.

Valkari X1 Off-Road and Off-Grid overland and Expedition camper trailer

Source: Valkari Overland

View gallery - 19 images
2 comments
2 comments
Dirk Scott
The UK is a very developed country full of tarmac roads and useful facilities like camping sites. In fact camping sites with toilets and showers are pretty much the only legal place to stop in the UK. Therefore, this product is almost useless here. Save your money and buy a little traditional caravan.
Uncle Anonymous
Very nice design. I would be interested in getting one of these if they are ever exported to Canada providing the cost stays reasonable. Unlike the UK, we still have a lot of places to go off-road exploring.