It’s been a long wait, but it’s been worth it. More than a year after its official introduction, the Bruder EXP-8 off-road trailer is here in the flesh as the Australian’s company flagship and, perhaps more impressively, as the ultimate off-grid beast that makes no compromise on luxury and comfort creatures.
The Bruder EXP-8 is on the higher (highest?) spectrum of overlanding vehicles and at the opposite end of the vanlife trend, which has been luring inexperienced globetrotters with promises of an easy job and the joys of said globetrotting. It is a massive beast with incredible capabilities, and it is both these things with zero compromise to personal comfort and luxury.
The Bruder EXP-8 is what other overlanders dream of when they go to sleep at night, the ultimate off-road and off-grid luxury machine, and a pioneer in its own right. At least, that’s what Bruder says about it.
Bruder is an Australian company that’s been building trailers of this kind for almost a decade. The EXP-8 was formally introduced in September 2021 as the successor to the smaller EXP-6, with Bruder saying it hoped to present the first build by October of that same year. More than a year later, we finally have the first look at that build, as well as the rest of the details that were not published at the time, including pricing.
Photo: Bruder
You can see the EXP-8 in action in a video at the bottom of the page. Beyond the gorgeous videography, the video shows the trailer handling a variety of terrains from muddy waters to sand and snow, in all weather conditions. It also offers a proper look inside the living space, which is luxurious without verging into tacky or cluttered. Instead, the space retains the trailer’s functionality, but with a focus on high-quality materials, versatile and multi-functional areas, and extreme comfort.
The specs of the trailer remain unchanged from what Bruder announced in September 2021, but more details have been revealed. More to the point, it looks like the company has taken the trailer out for testing, and is offering potential customers who might still need convincing a good look at what they did with it. Considering its price, this video might be just the thing that tips the balance in favor of a purchase.
The EXP-8 has a body made from closed-cell quad-woven epoxy-bonded composite, so it’s lightweight, but very durable. The adjustable air suspension offers three times more wheel travel than competitors – which is just perfect, since “this isn’t an off-road caravan, it’s an EXP-8.” When you build such a beastly and luxurious machine, there’s no sense in being fake-humble. The independent suspension can also be adjusted from inside the cabin, to lower or lean the body away from overhanging tree branches, or at camp, for easier access.
Inside, the EXP-8 offers sleeping for two adults in the bedroom at one end, and up to three more people (children or average-sized adults) in convertible beds. The interior is finished in high-quality materials like fine leather and suede, combined with more sustainable options like recycled polyester and PVC, with a focus on aesthetics and durability.
Photo: Bruder
There’s a full kitchen inside, with a sink and two-burner stove, a fridge and plenty of storage space, and a bathroom opposite the entrance, with its own door that gives direct access outside. Since the bath is a wet one, it can serve as a buffer area where you can get cleaned up so you don’t drag mud or sand inside. Exterior storage is perfect for larger, bulkier items like a BBQ and even a washing machine.
The trailer is designed to be all-terrain and all-season, so it can take whatever Mother Nature has to throw at it. Bruder says it’s been tested for temperatures between 50°C / 122°F and -20°C / -4°F, icy conditions, altitudes of over 10,000 feet (3,048 meters), and other extreme environments. The chassis is fully sealed and the cabin is pressurized, with a front-mounted air filtration system ensuring comfortable passage during dusty travels. Think of the EXP-8 as your own personal bubble of comfort and luxury, which you can take wherever you want to go.
Off-grid capabilities are ensured by means of the 1,600 W solar array on the roof, a 16.7-kWh battery bank, and a 5,000 W inverter. Bruder says the setup is enough to power an entire household or to charge a fully-electric towing vehicle, in preparation for a future in which they will become standard.
“The ultimate off-road, off-grid trailer. The Bruder EXP-8 is designed and built for all seasons and all environments. A truly global adventure icon,” Bruder says.
Photo: Bruder
As you’d expect for a true icon and/or a luxury product, the EXP-8 doesn’t come cheap: pricing for it starts at AUD$ $299,000 / $190,900 / €180,000. That’s a lot of money, but then again, the Bruder EXP-8 is also a lot of trailer.
Elena has been writing for a living since 2006 and, as a journalist, she has put her double major in English and Spanish to good use. She covers automotive and mobility topics like cars and bicycles, and she always knows the shows worth watching on Netflix and friends. Full profile
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