Kamparoo Cub Review
07/06/05


Too many cold, wet, uncomfortable nights in the tent motivated my wife and me to adopt a new approach to family camping. We decided it was time to upgrade to something "off the ground."  Our criteria were:

- Sleeping for 4
- Enough room for two adults and 2 kids to hang out in during a rain storm
- Compact, light weight, and easily storablle
- Offroad capable (not extreme 4x4 stuff buut multi-day backcountry trips)
- Rapid set-up and take-down
- Comfortable

We considered roof top tents and a variety of off-road trailers.  After a month or so of research and valued advice from the crew at 4wdtrips.net, we decided on the Kamparoo Cub.  The Cub is made in Australia and there are only two distributors in North America.  Fortunately for us, one of them is located only two hours away from relatives in PA.

We picked up the '04 Cub in November of 2004.  We added an awning and folding stabilizer legs to the order.  Price after tax was around $3,800.  For more info on the Cub and other Kamparoo models, check out www.cubcampers.com.au,  www.kamparoo.com (Canada), and www.outbackkamping.com (US). 

We've prepared this review after using the Cub on four trips.  Overall we are very pleased with the Cub and look forward to our next outing.  My wife actually asks when we're going to go camping now.  :)  The true test for the Cub will be over time, so consider this report a living document.

Our Favorite Campsite in WI
The Cub on Lake Superior, Michigan UP

The Cub - An Overview
The Cub is a small, flip-over camper trailer.  This style is very popular in Australia.  They are very uncommon in the US and are much lighter and off-road capable than a typical pop-up camper.  The Cub is a very basic model that is really just a canvas tent and bed with wheels.  It is leaf sprung and doesn't come with shocks.  The rack can hold 400 pounds of stuff.  The underbed storage has enough room to hold a camping table, the awning, and a few misc items.

Kamparoo Cub Specifications

On the Road
The Cub pulls very easily.  We barely notice it's there most of the time.  We haven't seen any negative impacts on fuel economy with our 3.4 L V6 4Runner.
 

Off the Road
While this trailer is not Rubicon ready, it is more than capable for most backcountry trips.  It pulls fine on gravel roads, although the leaf springs offer very limited travel.  The stock  tires give a good amount of ground clearance.  Switch backs are always a little challenging with trailers, but because the Cub only weighs 500 lbs, it can be easily lifted and moved on the hitch.  We've taken the Cub on hundreds of miles of dirt roads and so far no dust has contaminated our bedding.  Mainly because it's so light, it seems to float on the sand and gravel beaches of Lake Superior.  For enhanced off-road ability, corner armor, a better hitch, and larger tires would be very nice.
         

Set Up
Set up is very, very fast.  All you really need to do is find a spot, attach the stabilizer legs (or flip them down if you have the folding legs), flip it open, and secure the ring of snaps at the base of the tent.  You need a relatively flat space of around 5' X 13' to get the bed and floor level.  Your bedding is stored in the Cub, so it's ready for sleeping as soon as the snaps are secured.  Set-up takes less than five minutes or so.  The awning zips to the Cub and uses three poles for support.
            

Living in the Cub
When flipped open, the upper level has a padded mattress and the bottom level is a linolium floor.  In other words, parents up above and kids down below.  Both areas are 4'2"X6'3", which is equal to about two full-sized beds.  The mattress is a moderately-firm 3" foam pad.  We use two sets of sleeping bags and keep them in the Cub at all time.  We also get to use full-sized pillows when camping!  The kids get thermarest mattresses and sleeping bags.  The dog sleeps in the back of the truck. 

Ceiling height is around 7', so there's plenty of room to stand and .  In bad weather, the floor space is large enough for a small table and two chairs.  The edge of the bed serves as a bench seat.  So Uno or Skip-bo for 4 is always an option.

We've been through two rain storms in the Cub and stayed dry.  No high winds yet, but I suspect it would do fine.

The one flaw we've discovered so far is the seal at the base of the doors - there is none.  The bottom of the door just rests against the edge of the floor.  One morning my 9-yr-old's feet were hanging outside the Cub.  A couple mosquitos found there way into the Cub that night.

  Sleeping quarters
  Can you find the two sleeping children in this picture?
  Sorry about the ugly mugs
  The gap at the base of the doors can let in mosquitos - this is not good in the midwest

Take Down
Take down is a bit more involved because the tent has to be tucked carefully to avoid pinching the canvas in the sides of the trailer.  Also make sure you clean out all the sand and debris on the floor or it will end up on your bed.  We learned that one the hard way.
     

Modifications
I've added a Pelican 1650 to the tongue for waterproof storage, third wheel, and ABS tube for awning pole storage.


Planned Improvements
Hanging gear loft for nightime clothes storage
Better door sealing - I have some ideas that should work
Larger tires for better ground clearance
Improved suspension
Treg hitch
Bicycle racks
Corner Armor (may not be necessary after lift/tires)

In Closing
The Cub is a comfortable, light-weight, camping trailer.  It keeps us off the ground and in the boonies.  I still get to use my tent for backpacking and motorcycle camping, but for back-country family camping, the Cub suits our needs so far - assuming I can keep the mosquitos out.