What if the future of caravanning is smarter, not bigger?

With diesel pushing past $3 per litre across most parts of Australia, the economics of touring are changing quickly. Families who once happily towed 20-foot caravans across the country are now recalculating the real cost of a weekend escape. Fuel consumption, campsite fees, storage, insurance, maintenance and purchase price all add up, and suddenly the simple idea of hooking up and heading bush starts to feel less like a relaxing lifestyle choice and more like a budgeting exercise.

Which raises a bigger question.

“Do you actually need a large caravan to enjoy the caravanning lifestyle, or have we all quietly convinced ourselves that bigger automatically equals better?”

Or have we, like fish attracted to bright shiny lures, been gently steered toward ever larger vans by glossy brochures featuring impossibly happy couples drinking red wine in remote locations that mysteriously also have perfect mobile reception?

After a long weekend with the X-Series RV X-Pulse POD, I am beginning to suspect we may have been. Because if there is one thing glossy brochures excel at, it is convincing otherwise sensible adults that towing a small block of waterfront real estate behind a dual cab ute is a perfectly rational lifestyle decision.

Compact Camper

This is not just another compact camper story. It is a genuinely compelling case for a different way of touring. One that makes sense not only at the point of purchase, but every time you turn the key, watch the fuel gauge, and decide whether that next trip is worth it.

This is not about going smaller. It is about going further, more often, for less.

Because there are camper trailers, and then there are camper trailers that look like they were designed by someone who owns a torque wrench, subscribes to four-wheel-drive magazines, and occasionally watches Grand Designs for relaxation.

The X-Series RV X-Pulse POD sits squarely in that second category.

It is compact, purposeful, and comes with such a long list of standard inclusions that you start to wonder whether someone at the factory accidentally ticked the ‘include everything’ option on the production sheet.

Rather than spending three weeks planning the perfect test itinerary, we did what any sensible Australian would do. We picked it up on a Thursday afternoon and went camping.

Coastal Caravans Burnie

We rolled into Coastal Caravans Burnie at 1:30pm, where Nathan King gave us a quick walkthrough of the setup process. Half an hour later, we were heading west with the POD in tow and a growing sense that weekend plans had just improved significantly.

The packing list was refreshingly short:

• Bedding
• Food
• Coffee, non-negotiable
• A vague sense of adventure

By 3:45 p.m., the awning was rolled out, chairs unfolded, and a table deployed with the kind of efficiency normally reserved for Formula One pit crews. Happy hour was achieved on schedule.

Importantly, we had not even opened the instruction manual yet.

Independent off-road suspension

Underneath, the X-Pulse POD rides on a 100 x 50 x 4mm hot-dip galvanised chassis, which is engineering speak for this thing is not afraid of corrugations. Independent off-road suspension with coil springs and shock absorbers keeps everything composed once the bitumen ends, while 16-inch alloy wheels wrapped in mud tyres give the POD a stance that suggests it is quite comfortable following your ute down tracks normally reserved for blokes named Darren with diff locks.

The spare wheel is sensibly mounted underneath on a wind-up carrier. When the time comes to wrestle with a 29kg wheel, yes, we weighed it, your spine will appreciate the mechanical assistance far more than any off-road fashion statement bolted dramatically to the side.

Coupling duties are handled by the well-regarded DO35 hitch, paired with 10-inch electric brakes and a manual handbrake. It connects with reassuring mechanical confidence and feels like it was designed by someone who understands how Australians actually use camper trailers.

A mesh stone guard protects the front, which also houses mounts for a 4.5kg gas bottle and a 20-litre jerry can. The fibreglass body features a durable protective coating along the lower sections to defend against stone flicks and gravel rash.

Lockable access doors are fitted on both sides, complete with mesh secondary doors to allow airflow without inviting every insect within a five-kilometre radius to join you overnight.

Storage Flexibility

Cargo rails on the roof provide additional storage flexibility, while the 2.5 x 2.5 metre awning creates a comfortable outdoor living space that deploys in about the time it takes to pour a drink.

The front storage box demonstrates that someone at X-Series actually goes camping. One side houses a fridge slide capable of holding an 80-litre Engel, along with a pull-out table and power supply. The opposite compartment contains the Redarc Manager 30 system, with additional space for hoses, leads and the mysterious collection of just-in-case items every camper accumulates.

Everything is accessible and logically arranged, which makes setup quick and pack-up marginally less argumentative.

At the rear, the kitchen reveals a compact but practical layout designed for more than simply boiling water for noodles. Storage is generous, with cupboards and drawers capable of supporting extended weekends away. A stainless slide-out drawer houses a two-burner gas cooktop and sink, complemented by light woodgrain cabinetry that would not look out of place in a Scandinavian apartment.

Quick Connect

Hot and cold water is supplied via an external hot water unit with tripod and quick-connect fittings, while a 65-litre fresh water tank sits underneath the van. Wastewater collection is handled via a bucket under the outlet. Not glamorous, but simple and effective.

Inside, the X-Pulse POD provides a comfortable double bed with a standard 100mm mattress. Adding a 75mm bamboo topper transformed the sleeping experience from perfectly acceptable to surprisingly difficult to leave.

Ventilation is excellent, thanks to screened windows, blackout panels and a wall-mounted fan that keeps air moving on warmer evenings. LED lighting is well-positioned, with reading lights and USB charging points conveniently located.

Nothing feels gimmicky. Everything feels considered.

Redarc Manager 30

One of the biggest surprises is the inclusion of a Diesel Heater and the Redarc Manager 30 paired with a 120Ah lithium battery as standard equipment. Charging options include 240V shore power, Anderson plug connection to the tow vehicle and solar input. The system intelligently manages power and can be controlled via a smartphone, allowing lights and electrical systems to be operated without leaving the comfort of the bed.

A small luxury, but a very welcome one.

The multimedia system technically includes a stereo and a smart TV. In the same way, instant coffee is technically coffee. The TV is enthusiastically basic, reminiscent of the televisions many of us watched as Neil Armstrong walked on the moon back in 1969. Only this one is in colour.

Most buyers will likely connect a tablet or laptop anyway, or simply enjoy the reason they went camping in the first place.

Tasmania is an excellent test environment for any camper trailer. Steep climbs, tight corners and constantly changing surfaces quickly reveal whether a trailer behaves itself or becomes an additional workload.

Lightweight

Behind the Isuzu D-Max, the X-Pulse POD proved impressively composed. It’s relatively lightweight, and its sensible dimensions allowed it to track confidently through winding sections without pushing wide or unsettling the vehicle. The independent suspension kept everything stable over uneven surfaces, while the electric brakes delivered smooth and predictable control on descents.

Driver fatigue was noticeably reduced compared to towing a larger van. There was less need for constant steering correction and far less awareness of the trailer dictating the pace of travel. It simply followed along obediently, kilometre after kilometre.

Fuel economy was one of the biggest surprises of the entire test.

Rising cost of Fuel

Just three weeks earlier, diesel had been $1.569 per litre. When refuelling after our test, the price had climbed to $3.029 per litre. At those prices, you start wondering if the bowser now includes a complimentary financial adviser.

The rising cost of fuel is having a real impact on touring decisions. What was once a spontaneous weekend away is increasingly becoming a carefully calculated exercise involving fuel apps and mental arithmetic.

Towing the X-Pulse POD had minimal impact on fuel consumption compared to running solo. That stands in stark contrast to towing our larger 19-foot 6 tandem axle caravan, where fuel economy in hilly terrain can drop to around 6.6 kilometres per litre.

That sort of consumption tends to make long-distance touring feel less like a holiday and more like a financial endurance event.

By comparison, the X-Pulse POD sits neatly in the slipstream of the tow vehicle, helping keep fuel use far closer to everyday driving figures. In practical terms, that means fewer fuel stops, less stress watching the gauge fall, and more flexibility to take spontaneous trips.

Compelling case

With fuel prices increasingly unpredictable, compact campers like the X-Pulse POD make a compelling case for travellers wanting to continue touring without feeling like every kilometre is being deducted from the children’s inheritance.

After a long weekend towing the X-Pulse POD through steep terrain and coastal winds, the most surprising takeaway was not what we had to give up. It was how little we actually missed.

Yes, our larger van includes an internal ensuite. But with the X-Pulse’s external hot water system combined with a porta-loo housed in an ensuite tent, the practical outcome is remarkably similar.

You can still shower.
You can still cook properly.
You can still sleep comfortably.
You can still head off-grid.

The difference is that each kilometre travelled costs noticeably less.

Appealing Balance

The X-Series RV X-Pulse POD delivers an appealing balance between purchase price, towing efficiency, comfort and simplicity. It removes many of the barriers that increasingly prevent people from using their caravans as often as they would like. Because a camper that is easier to tow, easier on fuel, easier to store and ready to go at short notice is far more likely to be used regularly rather than occasionally.

Which ultimately brings us back to the original question. Do we really need bigger caravans, or do we simply need smarter ones? The X-Pulse POD makes a very strong case for the latter. It is not about going smaller. It is about going further, more often, for less.

And in the current economic climate, that may well be the smartest touring decision of all. By the end of the test, the conclusion was simple. We bought one.

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X-Series RV                         9’ X-Pulse Specifications

Price:                                      RRP $34,990

Travel length:                          4.800mm (15’7”)
External body length:             2800mm (19’1”)

External Body width:              1520mm (5’)
Travel width:                           2250mm (7’4”)
Travel height:                          2200mm (7’2”)
Tare:                                        1000kg
ATM:                                       1500kg
Ball weight (Tare):                   90kg
Body:                                      Fibreglass/Alloy

Chassis:                                  Hot dip galvanised chassis with 100mm x 50mm drawbar

Suspension:                            Independent coil spring trailing arm suspension with Single shock absorbers

Brakes:                                    10″ Electric drum brakes

Wheels:                                   16″ Alloy wheels with 265/75R16 Goodride LT tyres

Water:                                     1 x 65L Fresh
Battery:                                   120Ah lithium
Solar:                                      Inlet plug supplied
Gas:                                        1 x 4.5kg
Hot water:                               External Hot Water (Firefly)

Cooking:                                 2 Burner gas cooktop

Fridge Slide:                           Capacity 80litre Engle

Lighting:                                  12V LED

TV:                                           12V TV (4.3 ratio)

Audio:                                     60WX4 JSD-520 (internal speakers only)

Awning:                                   Flirefly 2.5 x 2.5m

Heater:                                    Aufocus 2Kw

Power Management:              Redarc Manager 30

Redarc TVMS Rogue control module