Deep within the heart of the highly populous city of Sevilla, Spain, lies a small camper company with a unique way of doing things. Run entirely by the owner Jose Luis de la Quadra, his wife and three other employees, Uro-Camper takes pride in performing all aspects of production in-house. As a small company they are able to make adjustments to each truck camper in order to suit the individual needs of the customer. This includes size, shape and amenities.
Uro-Camper was founded in 2010 when a close friend was looking for a camper but wasn’t happy with the quality and weight of the options available on the market. That’s when they decided to research cellulose sandwich plate construction. At the time, they had difficulty finding someone who was familiar with cellulose construction methods so they decided to take matters into their own hands learning the process and eventually perfecting it.
As an avid overlander, Jose already had a strong understanding of what was needed for a successful overland trip. He quickly went to work creating the company’s first camper which they called “Biwak”, the entire process employed Google Sketchup –a program they still use today.
In the U.S., we are used to seeing aluminum as the primary material used in the construction of high quality campers. From the chassis to the outer skin and seemingly as many components as possible, aluminum construction has been the norm. It is a strong yet light material that has served several industries well for many years. However, advances in materials have come a long way. This is where Uro-Camper sets itself apart from tradition.
Cabin Construction
Based on their unique use of cellulose panels, the company has created a strong yet lightweight product that has incredible insulative properties as well as excellent sound deadening qualities. The natural insulating values of cellulose sandwich material is so good, no further insulation is required. The panels are cut and bonded together then finished with a polyurethane polymer coating that is used in military armor applications. This coating makes the interior and exterior of the panels extremely durable and completely seals the cabin, thus eliminating all seams and with them, any chance of leaks.
The living quarters are tidy, organized and full of innovative solutions to common problems. The stowaway shower pod for one example is clever and effective.
Available Models
Uro-Camper offers three different truck camper platforms, the Biwak, Kubic, and Xplora, and the company has recently moved into customizing SUV’s and Vans with pop-tops and other innovative made to order interiors. The Biwak has the same impeccable build quality as its larger siblings only on a smaller scale. This lends well to the dimensions of steel container shipping. As light as it is compact, the Biwak weighs in at a paltry 300kg, or 600-pounds. As the entry level offering you may expect the amenities to be sparse but this just isn’t the case. Some of the options include, but are not limited to:
“Webasto auxiliary heater, Origo alcohol stove or gas, storage furniture, bed for one or two people, high amperage AGM battery for higher electric autonomy of module, solar panel, windows, outside shower, skylight, outdoor lighting, etc.”
Kubic
The company’s midsize model know as the “Kubic” is slightly larger (and comes in 3 different sizes based on truck cab configuration) and has the option to either sleep with the top up for maximum space, or down in case of severe weather. The most obvious differnce comes in the form of the extended nose above the truck cab. The Kubic’s cellulose panels are 30/40/50mm thick in comparison to the Biwak, which measure at a slimmer 24mm. This model also shares the same list of optional amenities as the Biwak and Xplora.
The Biwak
Xplora
The Xplora is the company’s latest offering and by far the largest. In order to maximize space the factory truck bed is ditched in lieu of a custom flatbed. This allows the cabin to expand all the way out to the sides of the pickup cab. The absence of a truck bed permits the use of a side entry door as well as exterior cabinet access. The Xplora has just finished extensive testing and now is available for custom order.
Other interesting projects from Uro Camper seem to suggest nothing is impossible.
