The HUTrv Dekpod Is an Expanding Hybrid Trailer Like Nothing You've Seen Before

An overlanding trailer is the kind of product where compromises are always apparent because size, weight, and off-road capabilities impact the list of available features. You can't haul an entire tiny home with you when you overland, which means you won't be able to travel with the entire family or get the most comfort from of your habitat. Size and weight, along with ruggedness and durability, will always have the final say in the design of such a trailer.

But what if you could still get a product with all these and the kind of space that would accommodate the entire family and all the basic features of a home? For that to happen, such a trailer would have to have a Dekpod module.

It's OK if the name is unfamiliar: the Dekpod doesn't exist as a production model just yet. Introduced officially as a concept in early 2019, it was then developed into a proof-of-concept unit and has since been struggling to arrive to market. The initial release date was set for 2020, but we all know what a terrible year that one proved to be.

The international health crisis impacted the development of the module, but it didn't kill it off. The Dekpod is still in the works, but HUTrv is now focusing on a more compact variation of the original idea. No delivery timeline is available as of the time of writing, as neither is an MRSP. Australia-based HUTrv is thinking of offering the product solely as custom units.

So, what exactly is a Dekpod? Ideally, it's a module that overlanders will be able to purchase and bolt to their existing trailers (or specially modified units). The Dekpod capitalizes on unused real estate on the tongue and drawbar of the trailer but sits flush against the unit during travel mode.

When you travel, you tow a compact dual-axle trailer measuring 18.7 feet in length and 6.6 feet in width (5.7 meters by 2 meters), but it blows up into a true family-sized basecamp for longer stays. The name HUTrv stands for Hybrid Utility Trailer recreational vehicle because the trailer is hybrid (hard walls and canvas), and the expandable area is a utilitarian one.

Once you arrive at camp and set up, the Dekpod folds down, swivels, and then closes off, creating a galley-style kitchen and a wet bathroom almost out of thin air. This means that the trailer itself can be used solely for sleeping and living, which enhances sleeping capacity.

For example, the proof-of-concept unit, created by Wilmax Aluminum Fabrications for HUTrv, can sleep as many as five people on a queen-size bed and two bunks. The trailer also features a pop-up roof that increases standing space and is specced with a slide-out dining table and a TV. It's still very compact, but it's comfortable enough.

Without a doubt, though, the highlight of the HUTrv Dekpod is the expandable area. Once you get past the fact that you’d have to go number 2 literally one step from the counter where you're cooking your food, you can't but appreciate the innovative idea.

The bathroom slides out in one simple move and is out of the way when you don't need it. It has sump floor facilities, so the water is collected underneath and sent to the gray water tank.

The Dekpod can be isolated from the main living area by a door and used with or without the two canvas walls. With the bathroom module out of the way, you have enough space to put together the family meal – though you'd still have to keep it relatively simple.

Appliances include a two-burner gas stove, a bar fridge with freezer, storage for pots and pans and foodstuffs, and even a slide-out sink with hot and cold water.

HUTrv says that, even with the Dekpod, the trailer has high clearance and can be used for overlanding. Aggregate trailer mass is 2500 kg (5,511 lbs), so you can load it up with 640 kg (1,411 lbs) of stuff, including gear and provisions.

When it was introduced in 2019, the HUTrv Dekpod was meant as a modular add-on either for existing or new, specially designed trailers. The development of the proof-of-concept unit seemed to indicate a desire to release the trailer and Dekpod as a single unit. Its current status is still listed as "in development," but specifics are lacking.

We've contacted the company for more details and will update the story when and if we hear back. Until we do, the HUTrv Dekpod remains a dream overlanding trailer, just one step from becoming a reality.