Australia Is Home to an "Indestructible" Teardrop Camper!? Check Out the Fiberglass Brumby

Folks, the name Cruizy Campers is bound to mean very little to you. Heck, until recently, even I hadn't heard of them, and this is supposed to be my line of work. Nonetheless, there's so much going on with this crew that I couldn't help but bring them to light on an international level.

Now, Cruizy Campers has actually been on Australia's camper and caravan scene for quite some years. However, they didn't do it alone. Since 2009, they've been walking hand in hand with Vagabond Caravans, a South African manufacturer that crafts fiberglass teardrops for outdoor lovers and explorers. That said, Cruizy is just the team bringing these puppies to the land down under, but with a twist.

If you happen to check out Vagabond's website, you'll notice that there's no Brumby in their current lineup. This means that Cruizy has had an impact on what Australians receive. Does Vagabond whip up the Brumby as is just for Cruizy? It would appear so.

So, what the heck are we in for if we've got $43,750 AUD ($29K American at current exchange rates) in our pockets? That's precisely what we're here to find out, and all of that starts with, as I mentioned, a fiberglass shell; it's this feature alone that makes a Brumby stand apart from all other teardrops you may have seen. That shell is brought to life by yet another partner, EVOFibre (PTY) Ltd, a team with over 50 years of experience working with fiberglass.

It's that very shell that sets this camper apart from just about every other teardrop on the market, and the benefits of this sort of construction are countless, with a few drawbacks, of course; nothing is perfect. Why fiberglass? Well, being a composite material, the elements stand very little chance of actually destroying your home.

Typically, teardrops are built in layers, with the outermost one being composed of aluminum, steel, and sometimes even wood, with a clear coat on top to keep those elements out. Well, this outer layer can chip and crack, and once that starts to happen, it might be time to look for a new unit.

Fiberglass, on the other hand, is a whole lot more durable, and a properly maintained unit from this material can last years, even decades. Heck, if you've ever heard of the all-fiberglass Boler campers, you know what I'm talking about; those puppies have been found in garages after 50 years, still in working order. If the Brumby is crafted with a one-piece shell, say hello to a unit you could pass on to your children.

Once this shell has been built, Vagabond drops it onto a trailer equipped with an 8-layer leaf spring suspension with 16-inch steel rims. Sure, it's not the most off-road-worthy setup around, but with some careful navigation and working the brakes properly, you should be able to move off the tarmac with no problems.

Now, for the remainder of this introduction to the Brumby, I invite you to take a moment out of your already busy day and picture yourself with one of these babies hitched up behind your truck or 4x4. Again, this daydream - that can very possibly turn into a real experience - starts off at just $29K. Time to hit the road.

After driving for what may seem like hours, you finally reach some hidden spot no one knows about, stretch your legs for a second, and proceed to bring your campsite to life. It's at this stage that we'll be able to unfurl the rest of this flagship's magic.

What I found rather neat about this unit are all the features and systems it has in place as standard. Let's kick things off at the rear, where a classic galley boasts a 50-liter (13 gals) fridge/freezer, sink with running water, two-burner stove, and plenty of storage for your goodies, some of which are standard: the 4-place crockery set.

As for what you can't see, there's a water pump and flowing hot water too, and even an outdoor shower thrown into the mix. Basically, what you see in the image gallery is standard, folks! Yes, the annex and 270-degree awning are in there, too.

For off-grid use, the Brumby is equipped with a 4 kg gas bottle, 100 Ah lithium battery and BMS (battery management system), and solar hook-up with an Anderson plug. This might be one of the only systems aboard the Brumby that could use a bit of an upgrade. A standard solar panel would be nice, but most outdoor lovers own one of those.

Inside, a queen mattress, LED lighting, tables, storage bays, and all those features we're used to in a teardrop are present. Take a moment to lie down with both side doors open and listen to the sounds of the world around you. Let the sound of waves or birds chirping in the trees ease you into an afternoon siesta.

You wake up just in time to catch the setting sun and rising moon and stars, and with a fire ready to go, the rest of the group joins in for the evening festivities. Some brought the beer, and you brought the hot dogs, but where are the S'mores? Jake was supposed to bring those; oh well.

From here, the rest of this experience is in your hands, so go out there and get to living like our ancestors used to; it's one way to get in touch with your true self, and the Brumby lets us do just that.