Camping is a great way to relieve daily stresses, as exploring the great outdoors and connecting with nature can recharge your batteries and prepare you for the months ahead. But there are plenty of different ways to do it. Some prefer wild tent camping in the middle of nowhere, while others choose to stay in a fancy caravan park with all the home comforts at their disposal.
Today, there are ways to strike a balance between the two, and even hardcore campers who feel the urge to go off the beaten path to explore remote areas where they can access more original vistas and experience absolute solitude can do so in a capable towable camper trailer ready to support them during their adventures.
One such rig is the new Red Gecko TDX, a versatile and reliable teardrop trailer from Cape Town-based startup Red Gecko Adventure Trailers designed to travel down tight trails, seamlessly navigate wooded areas, and offer you the mobile campsite you need while exploring beyond the treaded pastures.
The aim of the team behind Red Gecko was to bring to the market a camper that would significantly cut setup time so that individuals could focus on relaxation and recreation instead. After years of testing and development, the startup settled on a compact, lightweight design with a comfortable and secure interior. And since they also wanted it to be a rig capable of tackling rougher terrains, the off-road teardrop design was the best fit.
Photo: Red Gecko Adventure Trailers
The Red Gecko TDX all-terrain micro-camper offers those who feel the urge to explore the outdoors a quicker, more streamlined base camp setup. It can easily be hooked to an SUV or truck and taken on on-a-whim off-road trips, and since it's quite compact - it measures 12.6 feet (3.9 meters) long and weighs in under 1,000 pounds (454 kg) - it can be towed even behind small SUVs like the Suzuki Jimny.
In terms of aesthetics, Red Gecko's micro-camper looks like a rugged toolbox on wheels with a military green exterior. Built on a stainless steel rectangular tubing chassis, this is a super-basic teardrop that is easy to tow behind your vehicle and offers cooling, cooking, and sleeping in one place.
While many manufacturers now choose composite alternatives for the body of their campers, Red Gecko went for an old-school birch and spruce plywood body with a flat-end design. The plywood construction ensures not only a superior strength-to-weight ratio but also natural insulation. Moreover, instead of the typical aluminum skin used to wrap wood teardrops, the TDX's frame is sheathed with Raptor lining, which offers protection against scratches and reduces the possibility of rotting caused by moisture.
Photo: Red Gecko Adventure Trailers
Besides the tough exterior, the teardrop trailer also stands out thanks to its minimalist yet beautiful interior outfitted with wooden walls that give it a warm, homey feel. A double foam mattress offers sleeping space for two individuals, while various storage cubbies help keep the small space organized and uncluttered.
Access inside is made through two large individual left and right doors, each featuring drop-slide windows and locks.
Sleeping capacity inside the Red Gecko TDX can also be increased by using a roof-mounted tent. The manufacturer has reinforced the roof with steel in order to support a roof rack and a tent, which can be accessed via fender steps. This is a great feature, making the micro-camper suitable not only for couples but also for small families who travel with kids.
Photo: Red Gecko Adventure Trailers
The trailer's mini-tailgate accommodates a simple, functional galley that features a full-width worktop perfect for whipping up a quick meal and some under-counter drawers. One of the drawers holds the included Cadac portable dual-burner stove, while the other can be used for storing kitchen utensils. A 3-kg LPG bottle mounted on the sidewall feeds the stove.
Behind the counter, two large cubbies provide additional space for storing nitty-gritty kitchen essentials. Next to them, you will find a hinged pass-through and a collapsible basin with a gravity-fed faucet on the right-side wall.
For an additional cost, the kitchen can be outfitted with some extra features, including a fridge stand, a folding table, an exterior pantry cupboard, netting storage, and a rechargeable water dispenser.
The worktop in the galley can also serve as a trunk floor for carrying bags and boxes during travel.
Red Gecko TDX rides on 15-inch steel wheels wrapped in 195/80R15 all-terrain tires as standard, but these can be upgraded to match the tow vehicle. A 100-Ah battery, a roll-out awning, interior and exterior lighting, and USB charging ports are also part of the base version of the trailer.
Small but with a big attitude and a sturdy build, the new Red Gecko TDX camper is an impressively capable home on wheels available for under $11,000. Teardrop trailer lovers looking for a rig with great off-road capability and a bold look will find the newcomer an appealing prospect for their future adventures.
After spending a few years as a copy editor, Ancuta decided to put down the eraser and pick up the writer's pencil. Her favorites subjects are unusual car designs, travel trailers and everything related to the great outdoors. Full profile
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