Written by Craig Seckerson
What Makes Offline Campers So Special?
I was welcomed at the factory reception by Steven “Tuck” Tuckey, who heads up Sales and Marketing for Offline Campers. I am standing in the old Holden factory, an automotive name synonymous with manufacturing some of Australia’s finest cars such as the Monaro and Torana. Holden is a General Motors owned company, but manufacturing ceased back in 2017, when the last Australian made Holden rolled off the production line. I am pleased to say that manufacturing life has once again brightened the factory floor, Offline Campers currently utilize 1000 square meters of the building, however, this will be ramped up to 3000 square meters as their sales grow.
After a brief introduction, Tuck guided me into the showroom to explore the full range of campers in person. Offline currently offer four rigs, starting with their original creation, the Raker. Don’t be deceived by its compact appearance, it boasts the longest hard floor in its class while maintaining the shortest towing length, making it both practical and easy to maneuver.
Next up is the highly specialized Ryder, a unique camper designed to combine camping and motorbike storage in one streamlined package, perfect for adventurers who like to take their bikes along for the ride without compromising on comfort. Moving along, we came to the largest model in the lineup, the Solitaire. This full-sized off-road hybrid van features clever, space-efficient design, delivering a lightweight, compact, and highly capable off-road experience, while still providing the comfort and feel of a much larger van.
We arrived at the camper I was here to see, the Domino, a micro-hybrid camper that proves big things really can come in small packages, despite its compact size, there is far more to this van than first meets the eye. You can tell that Sam, the founder of Offline Campers has an engineering background, the quality and attention to detail is phenomenal. As I walked around the Domino, you could tell that everything had been thoroughly thought through by someone that doesn’t just build campers, he uses them, a family man that has camped and understands the niggles and the little things that annoy a person while camping or touring. My first impressions are that the Domino is a fantastically engineered camper with clever design to aid and help the user not hinder.
Tuck took me through the reasoning behind the Offline ‘sweet spot’ ethos, firstly they look at and deliver on capacity, this means giving you the tools and facility to keep you camping for longer. Second is capability, this means getting you to your destination with ease and minimal fuss. Third on their sweet spot list is comfort, which I can see is delivered in bucket loads in the Domino and the other campers Offline offer, and lastly is simplicity, which was demonstrated in a multitude of areas as we worked our way around the Domino.
The final point about simplicity aligns perfectly with my thinking, why overcomplicate things? There is no need for a computer screen or a complex user interface when a sturdy and robust rocker switch can do the job more effectively. Sometimes, simple really is better.
So, the Domino has two configurations or modes, touring mode, for people who are continually on the move, and there is the camp configuration where the camper extends out allowing for a larger living space. Some of you experienced overlanders will understand that rocking up to an overnight stop late into the night and having to set up the camper is a real drag after a long drive. Well, this is one of the Domino’s party pieces, just open the rear doors in tour configuration and slide into the full-sized queen bed for a fantastic night sleep (I would recommend putting down the rear legs for extra stability, a 30 second job). Tour mode is great for also getting a quick start in the morning, as in this configuration, there is no canvas exposed so no need to wait for it to dry off, in this mode the camper is a 100% solid shell, so you can slide the kitchen away after a morning coffee and away you go, it is so very simple and well thought out.
What I very quickly recognized is the attention to detail you see on an Offline Camper, you can tell from areas such as the amenities being accessible in any configuration, that this camper has been designed by someone who has been there, done it and is currently wearing the camping T-shirt. This camper has been designed for serious off-grid camping adventures by someone who lives and breathes camping, for example, it has 180 litres of stored water as standard, 105 for your washing, showering and general living requirements, and 75 litres of clean drinking water.
Clever touches include the ability to transfer the drinking water over to the stored water to extend your time off grid, the water tanks are also positioned so if you have spare water at the end of your trip it doesn’t unbalance the camper when towing on the homeward journey. The pull out kitchen area also has a very unique feature, it is fully plumbed and ready to go, not just the sink and water, but the gas is also ready for action as soon as you pull out the drawer, Tuck explained this feature was not easy to develop as it required lots of planning to pass the correct certification, but it was seen as a requirement to make the Offline campers truly unique and user friendly. There is no fiddling with any connections, just pull out and go, I am reliably informed that this is the only camper on the market that offers this feature.
The Domino Camper is certainly robust and compact, designed to go into the wilderness and take it full on the chin. This all begins from the ground up, the chassis is constructed from the very best Australian steel engineered and galvanised in house, I see firsthand evidence of this on the production line, with a Solitaire chassis being constructed in the factory jig. The suspension system consists of class leading XT Cruisemaster G35, a rugged shock absorber filled with nitrogen gas, with a bigger bore and a 14mm piston rod offering a robust and superior damping control off-road.
The secondary arc welds on the Cruisemaster shocks provide additional mount strength added to the enhanced heat control achieved from the bulged body giving the Domino fantastic off-road capability. Offline stand by their manufacturing processes and back this up with a peace of mind 5-year Chassis and Suspension Warranty.
With clever design and use of advanced materials, only 10% of the overall weight of the Domino camper is above the waistline, this helps provide the Domino with an extremely low centre of gravity. To take it one step further, all Offline Campers are designed in a way that all major weight is distributed over the axle to improve the handling when being towed, Sam and the team really have lived off-road and understand the pitfalls and niggles that are associated with off-grid camping, as far as I can see they have manufactured a camper that makes every trip as enjoyable as it can be.
It is without doubt that the Domino offers a true luxury feel when you slip into bed, as a part of the purchasing package, Offline Campers invite you to the local mattress store to choose your full-sized pocket sprung queen mattress. There is a reasonable budget to work within, however, if you have your eye on a specific luxury mattress there is the option to put a little extra towards the one you want. There really is no substitute for a good night’s sleep, and what better way than a home from home mattress.
You will find lots of light in the Domino from the 2 large side and the slightly smaller front window, again these have black out blinds and insect mesh to aid a restful night sleep. There is heating available for the colder nights and a fan to help cycle the air on the warmer ones, although the breeze through the windows is pretty good. Should you require air conditioning, there is the facility to add it as an option to the Domino, where Offline will install the Truma Sapphir reverse cycle air conditioning unit.
I have witnessed the van being packed up in a little over 3 minutes, that includes the canvas section, the awning, the kitchen and the rear hard floor section. What makes this van particularly special, pack-up is even quicker if you are in the touring configuration, which in turn allows more opportunity to enjoy your time away.
Just as I was finalising this article, Tuck contacted me and mentioned that the Solitaire had just received an International Good Design Award in the Automotive and Transport category (https://good-design.org/projects/solitaire-hybrid-camper/). It is a well-deserved recognition, and I have no doubt there will be many more accolades to come as the company continues to grow. When I asked Sam about his vision for the future of Offline Campers, he said that “With the recent launch of Offline Solitaire our focus is on refining current models, expanding our manufacturing, increasing production and further testing. I know that doesn’t sound sexy, but it’s the crucial next step for our business to meet demand. There’s also plenty of camping trips planned in there too”. – Sam Reynolds.
The Domino is pretty much engineered to follow a Land Cruiser into battle against the Australian Outback and come out the other side with some amazing stories, but don’t take my word for it, take a look at the Offline Campers range on their website offlinecampers.com.au or visit Tuck, Sam and the team at their showroom facility located at 180 Philip Hwy, Elizabeth in South Australia.
