Innovan May Be Lost to Space and Time, but Its XS Truck Camper Will Live on Nearly Forever

Ladies and gents, the rather odd truck camper before us is nothing more than Innovan's Xpedition XS, and while the chances of you ever hearing about Innovan are rather small - they only build and cater to Australia - it doesn't make the work they do any less meaningful. But there is a catch to what we're exploring today.

As I looked into Innovan, I realized that this crew hasn't been active on any of their social media pages since 2015, and even their product webpage is still up and running. I looked into calling the land down under to see if anyone's still around, but the time zones are not in my favor.

Now, whether or not Innovan is still around doesn't even matter; the breadcrumbs they left behind are more than enough to give us an idea of what this crew is or was all about. Heck, in the right hands, the manufacturer's website could easily be disassembled, and an XS could be brought to life—as long as you're into fiberglass manufacturing.

That's because the XS' shell and even the shape of the interior are crafted from good old fiberglass, the one and the same that's been used for decades in this industry. Why this sort of makeup? Not only is fiberglass great at fighting off the elements, with units still in working order after 50 years, but it's also light and rather malleable or fluid, allowing you to create monocoque structures with interiors that are virtually sealed off from the world outside.

During the construction process, one neat trait of the Innovan is that its interior furniture and walls are bonded together, similar to other fiberglass campers that have stood the test of time. As for the roof, this one's completed with two layers of fiberglass and a layer of honeycomb insulation between the two.

As a result of this method of building a habitat, Innovan also prides itself on the fact that its units have experienced no structural failures even after being hauled around for over 100,000 km (62,137 mi), and if you know how Australia is built, you know that means something. Be sure to look into the changes your truck needs to go through to support one of these babies.

One thing you need to understand is that Innovan's website takes us through a complete tour of how every inch of this bugger works, but if I was to do the same, we really would be here for the next few hours. Trust me; I scrolled and scrolled to reach the bottom of the construction and features list, and by the time I was done, it felt as though I just read a friggin 40-page research paper. I can safely say that Innovan surely knows how to tell its future owners precisely what's in store.

Now, we can clearly deduce that the XS is one of those mobile habitats that's filled to the brim with the goods needed to survive off-grid, and it is. It has all the water you need, batteries, solar power, shower, toilet, you name it, but the real hot-ticket item is the interior and all its gimmicks and tricks. You will, however, need a tent annex for some of the features I mentioned.

Once you've found that place away from it all and finally have your campsite up and running, you'll probably want to head inside to take a little rest. With the upper half of the shell lifted in place, the interior of the XS is now ready to house just two adults. Yes, it's a couples camper with two split beds that can be transformed into one large option. For now, close those eyes and rest.

Upon waking up, it's still daylight, and birds can be heard in the nearby treetops. With both feet on the floor, you turn around to shift the bed back into day mode. This means taking out that center mattress to reveal two single beds once again, but it's what's underneath those two beds that I care about.

The beds I mentioned are set up on air springs that help owners raise the beds up and out of the way. In the process, the XS reveals a dinette with seating for up to four, and best of all, countless storage bays are now accessible. It's here you'll be storing not only clothes and the like but Innovan also integrated a fridge/freezer into the shell. This is also where you can squeeze in a tad of work, hang out with friends, and enjoy meals when the weather outside won't permit.

From here, we head back outside, where one of my favorite spaces lies in wait. What I enjoy most about Australian RV, camper, and caravan manufacturers is their love of the outdoors, so most units are also equipped with an outdoor galley, and the Innovan XS is as well. Whip up your favorite meals and enjoy them, watching the sunset, the true magic of mobile and off-grid living.

With all that in mind, take note of the fact that Innovan advertised the XS, and still does, as selling for as little as $47,000 Australian, which is roughly $31K American (at current exchange rates). That's one hell of a sweet deal. If you or anyone you know has been in an Innovan camper over the course of their life, please leave a comment below. Gems like these should never be lost.