Overlander's 590 Custom Camper Is Like a Petite Mansion on Wheels With Off-Roading Gusto

Folks, the chances that you know who Overlander is are actually pretty slim simply because this crew is based in South Africa, and with under 1,000 followers on Facebook, you can understand why. However, their biggest and baddest habitat, the 590 Custom, comes across like a little mini mansion on wheels.

Now, kicking things off for the 590, I invite you to explore the images in the gallery. That way, you'll have something to relate this text to. Oh, and as you do so, try a little exercise: place yourself in the center of all that you see and pretend you own this home on off-roading wheels.

As you do, you'll be towing along a 7.3 m (24 ft) unit built upon a galvanized steel chassis. But the real hot-ticket item here is the double axle and independent suspension setup. This is how you know this thing means business, and if I do say so myself, this thing reminds me a tad of a Bruder; if only Bruder had a slide-out integrated into its design and exploded into nearly double its size.

If you picked up on that little apropos, you understood that the 590 also comes equipped with a slide-out, and by placing the bedroom in this space, Overlander was able to create a large and roomy interior that doesn't lack the features we need in any way.

For example, the 590 is one of the floorplans that Overlander considers as a "luxury" unit. This means we can find a massive bathroom situated at the front of the camper, ready with a separate toilet, shower, and vanity, and toward the rear, an indoor galley block, fridge, the bedroom I mentioned, and a bar-like surface along the port wall of the unit that spans almost the entire length of the 590. And I haven't even gotten to talking about things like electrical or plumbing.

Actually, this is the best time to get a feel for this monster's off-grid abilities. For starters, Overlander throws in one 105 Ah battery, but that number can be extended to a total of three, and there's a Victron DC to DC car charger and an electrical board. Solar panels and a controller are extra. For waterworks, 170 liters (45 gals) of fresh water can be accessed. LP tanks are also part of the mix.

But, what I enjoyed most about the interior of this unit and something that also carries us to the exterior, is the way the shell is made. Overall, good old GRP is used to bring this puppy to life, and 2 cm closed-cell foam ensures a cool interior as you romp around the world's deserts; a Raptor finish is then applied for an element-free experience.

Now, once we find ourselves outside this unit, we can really begin to understand why I chose to bring it to light. If you've checked out the image gallery, then you know what we're in for. I'm talking about a lifestyle immersed in the natural world around you.

All this starts off with nothing more than you and your significant other hanging out under an awning with something sizzling over on the integrated outdoor galley found along the left side of the unit. It's here you'll find me most of the time. Or, maybe unloading some kayaks or e-bikes from the 590.

But, there's a tad more to the 590 than I had initially thought. One thing I noticed on Overlander's Facebook page is a number of 590's with expansive tent annexes added to them. This means that family-oriented traveling is also possible as long as they're willing to spend the night outdoors.

Take all that, roam the list of options and add-ons, and what do you have? One hell of a machine and one that boasts an interior that really can be considered luxury. But just how much is all this going to cost us? For that, we need to do some quick calculations. This is where things get interesting.

Overall, Overlander is selling these babies for a starting price of 845,600 South African Rands, but that's without taxes, so it's actually going to cost 972,440 Rands, the equivalent of around $52,300 (at current exchange rates). Not bad, considering how this rugged travel trailer presents itself.

But here's the catch. This is a unit crafted for roads found in South Africa, so if you do happen to fall in love with it, you'll have to move out there because this one doesn't abide by North American road laws and regulations. Still, it's one hell of a framework to use as inspiration.

Side note: Anyone else get the feeling that we're looking at an Australian-born camper? Feel free to comment.