Outdoors

Off Grid caravan battles the bush to let you sleep in luxury's lap

Off Grid caravan battles the bush to let you sleep in luxury's lap
The Off Grid includes an awning and slide-out outdoor kitchen
The Off Grid includes an awning and slide-out outdoor kitchen
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Lotus Caravans launched the Off Grid back in February and has been showing it at major Australian camper shows
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Lotus Caravans launched the Off Grid back in February and has been showing it at major Australian camper shows
The Off Grid has a hard exterior and soft, cozy interior
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The Off Grid has a hard exterior and soft, cozy interior
The Off Grid includes an awning and slide-out outdoor kitchen
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The Off Grid includes an awning and slide-out outdoor kitchen
Lotus uses a wood frame, composite panels and checker-plate armor
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Lotus uses a wood frame, composite panels and checker-plate armor
Lotus Off Grid caravan
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Lotus Off Grid caravan
The Off Grid comes with a spare wheel
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The Off Grid comes with a spare wheel
Lotus custom handles
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Lotus custom handles
Lotus Off Grid caravan closeup
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Lotus Off Grid caravan closeup
Off Grid entry door
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Off Grid entry door
Thule awning
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Thule awning
The standard entertainment system includes outdoor speakers
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The standard entertainment system includes outdoor speakers
Outdoor shower
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Outdoor shower
This exterior hatch lets you mount and connect the TV outside
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This exterior hatch lets you mount and connect the TV outside
The kitchen includes a Dometic two-burner stove
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The kitchen includes a Dometic two-burner stove
Kitchen sink
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Kitchen sink
Fusion 650-based audio system
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Fusion 650-based audio system
Interior storage
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Interior storage
The drawers feature soft-close hardware
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The drawers feature soft-close hardware
An air conditioner comes standard
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An air conditioner comes standard
Lotus Off Grid caravan
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Lotus Off Grid caravan
A 12 V Waeco fridge comes standard and buyers can also add an outdoor fridge
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A 12 V Waeco fridge comes standard and buyers can also add an outdoor fridge
Storage above the queen bed
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Storage above the queen bed
Off Grid electrical system
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Off Grid electrical system
The Off Grid includes a TV and audio system
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The Off Grid includes a TV and audio system
The slide-out exterior kitchen
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The slide-out exterior kitchen 
Grilling out with the Off Grid caravan
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Grilling out with the Off Grid caravan
The Off Grid outdoor kitchen includes a Weber grill
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The Off Grid outdoor kitchen includes a Weber grill
The compartment next to the kitchen can be used for a fridge or for storage
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The compartment next to the kitchen can be used for a fridge or for storage
The kitchen tucks neatly away
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The kitchen tucks neatly away
The Off Grid has two 10-lb gas tanks
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The Off Grid has two 10-lb gas tanks
The front includes a stone guard and checker-plate toolbox
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The front includes a stone guard and checker-plate toolbox
Lotus Off Grid caravan
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Lotus Off Grid caravan
A tough, no-nonsense face
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A tough, no-nonsense face
Lotus uses a Control Rider suspension from G&S
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Lotus uses a Control Rider suspension from G&S
A look at the Off Grid's underbody armor
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A look at the Off Grid's underbody armor
Lotus Off Grid caravan
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Lotus Off Grid caravan
The Off Grid comes standard with two 95 L water tanks, a hot water heater and water pump
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The Off Grid comes standard with two 95 L water tanks, a hot water heater and water pump
The Weber grill
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The Weber grill
Slide-out kitchen
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Slide-out kitchen
The Off Grid is designed to sleep two adults or two adults and child
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The Off Grid is designed to sleep two adults or two adults and child
Kitchen and queen bed
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Kitchen and queen bed
Italian leather lounge
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Italian leather lounge
Inside the Off Grid caravan
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Inside the Off Grid caravan
Inside the Off Grid caravan
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Inside the Off Grid caravan
View gallery - 44 images

Joining the ranks of off-road camping trailers built to navigate through and shelter in the most rugged slices of Earth, the new Lotus Off Grid brings a little more luxury than most. It keeps things focused on roominess and comfort and comes standard with the types of equipment and accessories you'd expect to be optional, including air conditioning, an indoor/outdoor TV and entertainment center, and a leather-trimmed sofa. So you can get away from the everyday world ... without giving up the parts you actually like.

Launched earlier this year, the Off Grid is one of the newest models from Australia's Lotus Caravans, an off-road caravan specialist. It is the company's most compact trailer, measuring 14 ft (4.3 m) in length, and was designed to meet the demand for a small but burly trailer. Like other off-road trailers from down under, such as the Bruder EXP-6 and Ecombo, the Off Grid is made to venture out to the most remote parts of the outback without a hitch (figuratively speaking, of course, you will need to hitch it to the tow vehicle).

The Off Grid starts off with a G&S SupaGal steel chassis and Control Rider independent suspension system cushioning the 17-in wheels. Those wheels are wrapped up in Cooper STT Pro mud terrain tires. The meranti wood frame is concealed behind composite paneling and checker-plate armor.

Unlike the cramped, spartan interiors common in some off-road trailers, the Off Grid looks like a stylish, roomy motorhome inside, offering space for a couple or two parents with small child. The insulated interior also comes fully loaded with a variety of amenities and comforts.

The Off Grid is designed to sleep two adults or two adults and child
The Off Grid is designed to sleep two adults or two adults and child

Up front, the innerspring bed sleeps two across the width of the cabin. Behind the bed, an Italian leather couch will accommodate that small sleeping child but is a bit too snug to sleep an adult. The kitchen has a Dometic two-burner stove, 80 L Waeco 12 V fridge/freezer and sink. Next to the kitchen, a corner bathroom comes packaged with Thetford toilet and fiberglass shower. The interior also has a wide storage unit and roof-mounted air conditioner.

Campers may be reluctant to leave that comfy interior, but the well-equipped outdoor living layout will give them a reason. A slide-out kitchen stored neatly inside a compartment under the bed pulls out to get you cooking on a Weber grill. Next to the slide-out, a wide storage hatch can accommodate an optional outdoor fridge/freezer, keeping food and drink handy.

A Thule awning casts some shade over the chef and his crew, and outdoor speakers provide entertainment. The standard 24-in TV from inside can also be mounted on the bracket in the small storage hatch outside, letting campers enjoy their favorite programming under the blue skies. Exterior LED lighting keeps the fun going into the night.

The slide-out exterior kitchen
The slide-out exterior kitchen 

Many trailers and campers offer solar panels as an option, but the Off Grid lives up to its name by rolling through the world with two standard 150-watt panels feeding the dual 120 Ah batteries through a 25 A battery charger. Along with the aforementioned electrical equipment, that system powers things like the interior LED lighting, Fusion 650 audio system and 12 V fan.

Lotus also equips the Off Grid with dual 95 L fresh water tanks, a hot water system and water pump, dual 10-lb (4.5-kg) gas tanks and a Winegard HD antenna. The checker-plate tool box up front offers some heavy-duty external storage, and a stone guard with rock deflectors fends off flying debris. Dual jerry can holders and a spare wheel fill out the rear-end.

The Off Grid starts at AU$70,000 (approx. US$53,000). Given the extensive list of specs and features, we double-checked with Lotus on whether that list comes standard or includes a mix of standards and options. Lotus assured us that all the specs listed on its website are indeed standard, which is why the word "optional" appears so few times above. The Off Grid certainly isn't cheap, but it's an interesting package for those who don't want to do without life's comforts and luxuries, no matter where they're headed.

Source: Lotus

View gallery - 44 images
3 comments
3 comments
Wolf0579
It almost looks like it could stand up to an assault by Sasquatch...almost.
WhoCares
Very cool. If you got a 100,000 + to burn.....
TomBateman
would be interesting to see a side-by-side value comparison with the Kimberley Kamper (Ballina) equivalent