Review: Stockman Rover 02 All Terrain Ultra pod

Towable recreational vehicles come in all shapes and sizes, and they all have their pros and cons. The Rover 02 All Terrain Ultra from Stockman is a compact, lightweight pod where the interior is pretty much just big enough to fit a queen-sized bed. Consequently, it has a strong outdoor living focus, and the external kitchen is a standout feature.

Background

Is it a caravan? Is it a hybrid? Is it a camper trailer? According to company owner and product designer, Phil Savory, the Stockman Rover 02 is in a category of its own. Phil prefers to describe his creation as a pod due to its unique characteristics that set it apart from other trailer-based RVs.

I met up with Phil at a lovely coastal spot not far from his headquarters in Carrum Downs, Victoria. Phil has a long history in industrial design and applied his skills to developing an innovative range of Stockman trailers — a world-first polymer tub and pod concept that has won prestigious awards. Launched in 2006 Stockman has produced more than 4000 of these versatile units. You can have basic setups to pick up a load of garden mulch on the weekend through to rugged camping versions for outback travel.

Phil was keen to extend his range to include a more sophisticated yet simple camping solution. He wanted a setup that you did not have to wind out, fold out or pop up anything to make up the bed. But he wanted to retain the compact, lightweight origins of his trailers. Hence the Rover series came to be. When you strip it right back, it is a trailer with a bed in it — albeit with some very clever (and fancy) features to make it an indulgent camping experience. The first Rovers were launched in 2020 and after a few years to refine the design Stockman launched the second-generation product, simply known as Rover 02.

The range is made up of three models. There’s the Rover 02 Super Lite aimed at keeping the weight to the absolute minimum (tare from 1070kg) with an aluminium chassis and leaf spring suspension. It’s aimed at owners of smaller SUVs looking to travel on sealed and gravel roads. There’s the Rover 02 Sports offroad model with galvanised steel chassis and independent suspension (tare from 1220kg) with provision to carry a toy such as a dirt bike on the A-frame. The Rover 02 All Terrain (tare from 1260kg) carries over the offroad spec but swaps out the A-frame toy carrying space for a fibreglass nose cone to increase external access storage capacity. These three models can be ordered as an ‘Intrepid’ or ‘Ultra’ with the Ultra gaining extra features such as a reverse cycle air conditioner, upgraded off-grid power capability and enhanced weather protection accessories for the 180-degree awning. As the flagship of the range, Phil brought along the All Terrain Ultra for review.

Built to roam

I mentioned the Rover 02 All Terrain Ultra sits on a galvanised steel chassis. It has a 100mm A-frame and main beams matched to an Australian-made Alpha independent coil spring suspension with dual Pedders shocks and the just about universal Cruisemaster DO35 hitch. The body comes together with a 25mm honeycomb floor and 29mm foam-filled composite panels to make up the walls and roof. Aluminium trim capping is used to help join and seal the panels. There’s a hatch-style entry door on each side of the pod to access the bed and there are conventional-style caravan windows built inside the doors for great views. The front nose cone compartment is made of fibreglass and has a large access door on either side to access the 800L storage space that’s ideal for all your bits and pieces. A slimline diesel tank sits in front of the nose cone, and it is protected with a polymer stoneguard. The rear panel is a huge fibreglass moulded door which hinges up to reveal the kitchen. The complete unit looks well put together and there are bonus points for the rugged style. In my eyes the pod’s colour scheme of contrasting blacks, greys and whites with touches of copper work really well together.

Fuss-free setup

Every style of RV has its pros and cons. Where the Stockman Rover 02 really shines is its simplicity. When you want to go to bed, simply open the big hatch access door, flop onto the genuine queen-sized inner sprung mattress, close the door, fall asleep — that’s it. It doesn’t take long to describe the rest of the interior functionality. You can enjoy watching a movie or reading a book sitting up in bed using some cushions and the bed’s comfortable backrests which are positioned on the perfect angle for relaxing. Maintaining a comfortable temperature should be a picnic because the cabin space has a Webasto 240V reverse cycle air conditioner on hand which can be powered off-grid. There are some useful storage cupboards spanning across the cabin and above the bedheads. Combined with the little nooks behind the bedheads this will accommodate ‘pack light’ travellers. I think most campers will be looking to put more of their clothes and other bits and pieces in bags that sit on the bed or find room in the tow vehicle.

If you’re not keen on setting up canvas to get into bed, then this pod is a dream come true. Campers looking to spend long periods of time sitting inside during inclement weather will find this is not the vehicle for them. But if you don’t mind stepping outdoors, there is a fully sealed weatherproof change room that clips under the awning that will keep you dry when the weather takes a turn, or you want some privacy.

The Rover 02’s quick set-up external kitchen is also pretty hard to beat. You simply open the whale tail latches, swing up the top hinged door and there is your kitchen. The hinged door has the big bonus of providing a fair degree of shelter from the elements.

Upright compressor fridges mounted for external access have become widely adopted in ute canopies and the Bushman 130L works perfectly in the Rover 02 external kitchen setup. The pantry is very refined with nice furniture cupboards and drawers. The optional wine storage rack tucked in a little nook is a great use of space and quite posh! My favourite part is the stainless-steel workspace. It looks like a very practical, easy-to-clean meal preparation area. The kitchen is completed with a swing-out sink on one side and a Swift two-burner gas cooker with cast-iron barbecue skillet on the other.

As there is virtually no indoor living space the external shelters are critical. The Darche 180 awning is a premium piece of kit that sets up and packs up quickly and includes slide-on polyester weather protection walls for the back door. The 02 Ultra version includes a choice of awning walls or a fully sealed change room annex that attaches to the awning for increased shelter and privacy which is a nice touch. The external shower has a hard-mounted Darche tent above it for some bush privacy. A Porta Potti is not supplied but stowing one in the front storage hatch would complete the bathroom amenities. The front hatch is critical on this unit as it is your only significant storage point. It is well thought out with big doors that swing right out of the way for good access. The inside is carpet-lined and has a few handy anchor loops to secure your load.

Roughing it

The kitchen prep space pivots up to reveal a Perception 200Ah lithium battery and 16L Webasto diesel water heater. Like all good off-grid electrical systems, the battery can be charged via multiple sources. A 100W roof-mounted solar panel can be backed up with the 200W portable solar blanket supplied. Portable panels are great because they can be placed in the sun while the pod is parked in the shade. Charging while driving is bolstered by a REDARC 30A DC to DC charger. The battery power is directed to 12V appliances plus a REDARC RS3 2000W pure sine wave inverter, all of which is managed by a REDARC TVMS Rogue and RedVision system. The inverter sends 240V power to a couple of power points in the external kitchen and inside the cabin. Plus, the inverter has enough juice to run the air conditioner for short periods. As mentioned earlier, the tiny cabin space means the air-con won’t have to work very hard.

The 150L of freshwater in a stainless-steel tank is nice but the lack of a grey water tank may be limiting at some camp locations. A single 4.5kg gas bottle is a practical solution to keep the weight down, as it is only used for cooking and energy demands can be supplemented by running an induction cooker off the inverter.

Towability

The roofline of the Rover 02 sat not much higher than the roof of the Land Rover Defender tow vehicle we used during our tow test. That’s always a plus as the pod is going to create very little wind drag compared to a full-height caravan or even a pop-top caravan/hybrid. And of course, less drag equals less fuel consumption. It also means there’s less chance of hitting tree branches and the like.

Fuel consumption is also helped by its light 1329kg tare and 1800kg ATM. Those numbers give us a payload of 471kg. If you fill up with 150L of water, you will have 321kg of payload left to play with. Given the limited storage capacity of the pod, I don’t think this payload is likely to be fully used up.

The bottom line

A pod-style camper will suit some and not others. If you prioritise a go-anywhere, lightweight trailer with a very low-profile ride height and you want hassle free preparation for bed, then pods are in the mix for you. The Rover 02 All Terrain Ultra is an excellent example of a well-designed and built pod. It has great offroad credentials, a very clever external kitchen and great sleeping quarters.

Measuring up

Pros

• Beats a pop-top or most campers when it comes to getting ready for bed
• The outdoor kitchen is incredibly quick to set up and is well thought out
• Easy to tow and very fuel efficient

Cons

• By its nature, a pod has very limited dedicated storage capacity compared to a conventional caravan
• You can’t sit at a table or stand in a pod

STOCKMAN ROVER 02 ALL TERRAIN ULTRA RATINGS

VALUE FOR MONEY

In its top-of-the-range, fully optioned guise the Rover 02 is more expensive than some basic full-size caravans, but this pod is a premium offering from an established Australian company

TOWABILITY

Pods are as good as they get

SUITABILITY FOR INTENDED TOURING

Well set up for a travel light tourer or short stay holiday maker

BUILD QUALITY

Exemplary

LIVEABILITY

For outdoor-focused people, it’s great

SELF SUFFICIENCY

The Rover 02 has everything you need

CUSTOMER CARE

A five-year structural warranty is among the best. A one-year warranty on everything else is below industry average

INNOVATION

The Rover 02 leads the way in the emerging pod category

X-FACTOR

It’s a very classy looking unit and backs it up with great design

STOCKMAN ROVER 02 ALL TERRAIN ULTRA SPECS

WEIGHTS AND MEASURES

EXTERNAL

EXTERNAL AMENITIES

Stockman Rover 02 All Terrain Ultra price from $55,990 (Intrepid model)

• Rover 2 Sports Intrepid $55,990, Ultra $69,990
• Rover 2 Super Lite Intrepid $59,990, Ultra $73,990
• Rover 2 All Terrain Intrepid $59,990, Ultra $73,990

OPTIONS FITTED

• 2000W REDARC RS3 pure sine wave inverter
• 24in smart TV
• Wine bottle soft storage cupboard
• Wooden cutting board
• Webasto 16L diesel HWS
• Bullfrog shower mixer with Darche drop-down shower tent
• 200A Perception lithium battery
• REDARC PMS with 30A DC and 240V
• smart charger
• Webasto 240V reverse cycle air-con/heater
• Darche 180 awning — including slide-on polyester weather protection walls for back door and either a fully sealed change room or all awning walls
• Perception lighting 100W fixed solar and 200W portable solar

Stockman Rover 02 All Terrain Ultra price as seen $77,260

MORE INFORMATION

Stockman Products

13 Sahra Grove

Carrum Downs Vic 3201

P:1300 725 712

E: sales@stockmanproducts.com

THE NEXT STEP

If you want to learn the latest caravan news, find the most innovative new caravans and camping gear or get inspired to plan your next adventure to some of the best getaway destinations in this great country, whether its on or off the beaten track, subscribe to our weekly newsletter. We promise to send you only the best content.

Related articles:

A guide to tow vehicle GVM upgrades

DIY: How to repair a Cruisemaster DO35 hitch

A guide to choosing a dual cab ute for towing