Australia's Echidna Rear-Access Teardrop Is the Sort of Camper the World Needs To Copy

Folks, the name Gumnut Campers may not sound familiar to most of us, and that's perfectly fine. After all, this travel trailer and camper manufacturer is from the land down under, or Australia, to be precise. But, they deserve our attention for one particular reason: their Echidna camper.

Why bring this crew and this camper to light? Well, for starters, Gumnut is one of those family-owned teams, and as such, are able to operate outside established industry norms, allowing them to play around with designs until they've found that sweet spot, and oh, how sweet the Echidna is!

For starters, the Echidna is a rear-access camper, meaning there are no side doors, and clearly, there's no galley at the rear of this beefed-up teardrop. Secondly, it'll only cost interested buyers as little as $38K Australian just to own. That's a tad under $25K (at current exchange rates).

While that price is definitely sweet, that's not what makes this camper so attractive. What I loved most about the Echidna and how it functions is the fact that Gumnut really put some thought into things; by moving the entrance to the rear, the forward bedding is never disrupted, and the remainder of the rear is reserved for a little workspace and a galley block with countertop, fridge, and even a microwave.

This layout also affects the way storage options are placed throughout the unit. We can see cabinets lining the upper level of the Echidna, much like they do in larger RVs and travel trailers. That cabinetry is laminated, and with a pair of Dometic side windows thrown in, we've basically covered the interior of this box on wheels.

Now, down in Australia, they like to experience outdoor living a tad differently than people in other nations. Not only do folks like going deep into the proverbial bush, but the landscape also demands they use units that can handle some of the wildest terrains on Earth. This has had a clear effect on what the Echidna can achieve.

While we're not looking at an independent suspension setup like other units from Gumnut, the Echidna is still rocking a heavy-duty leaf spring suspension. Sure, you won't be rock-crawling your way to any destination on the planet, but you'll still be able to use dirt roads and tackle small streams to make it to your destination.

Once we do, the Echidna shows us yet another aspect of Australian glamping: immersion into the greater outdoors. Sure, the interior of this unit is neat and all, but Australians love hanging around outside and soaking up the local sights and sounds, so Gumnut built this puppy with just that purpose in mind.

Not only will owners be able to unfurl a side awning, providing precious shade on sunny days, but countless storage bays tattered all over the unit hide space for toys, tools, and gear, but most importantly, an outdoor galley.

Starting with the front of the trailer, gas can and nosecone storage are there for necessities and things that don't need as much protection as other essentials. For those goodies, the integrated bays are in place. Here, we can find a slideout with a cooktop and sink, underbody access for things like tents, extra water, and other outdoor essentials, and a rear tabletop.

But what about a bathroom? For this space, you'll need to grab a privacy tent, connect it to the rear hatch, and pick up a porta-potty and a shower, too. The water pump is thrown in by Gumnut, along with all the extras needed to make it work.

I'm talking about things like a 100 Ah AGM battery, a battery management system (BMS), an Anderson charging connection, and even a 200 W solar panel. If you need more power, grab an extra panel and maybe a battery; you'll have plenty of cash left over to do so.

Now, there's just one catch to looking into scooping up an Australian-born camper; they're designed according to the rules and regulations of the land down under. Typically, these buggers have a left-side entrance, and the electrical is tuned to run 220-240V, among others.

The loophole here is the fact that this camper is built around rear access, so if you manage to strip and swap the electrical setup with one that's tuned to your country, you might just be able to get away with operating an Echidna wherever you are in the world. Then there's the matter of shipping one to wherever you are.

At the end of the day, it may simply be cheaper, less time-consuming, and more effective to simply copy what this crew has achieved here and run wild. Personally, I'd take things a bit further and amp up that suspension system. Independent trailing arms, anyone? Other than that, Gumnut is onto something here, and it wouldn't surprise me to see more manufacturers copying this layout and design. G.G., Gumnut!