
AOR Odyssey Series 2 Review
The crew from Australian Off Road Campers (AOR) certainly love to party. Whether it's the company itself or its customers, you can be sure that they will all live up to their motto, "Live The Dream!"
AOR’s Managing Director Steve Budden says, “When you look at any product, it will look beautiful or not so; there is no almost beautiful, no second prizes. You either nail it the first time or forget it. We are all attracted to beautiful things, we strive to create beauty in everything we do and see.” There is no doubt in my mind that AOR has achieved its goals with beautiful campers, such as the new Odyssey Series 2. In fact, the product's appeal reflects the wonderful Australian environment for which it was designed. I stepped into the AOR Odyssey Series 2 and immediately felt at home!
Masterclass in Design and Engineering
The Odyssey Series 2 is a masterclass in design and engineering, blending premium features with rugged practicality. It's a feast for the eyes, with a sleek aesthetic matched only by its exceptional livability and equipment. Whether you're embarking on a short jaunt or an extended tour, this camper trailer's got you covered.
With a tare weight of 1400kg and a generous 2000kg GVM, the Odyssey Series 2 offers a surprising payload capacity. Plus, its minimal 100kg ball weight (unladen) makes it a breeze to tow. This camper trailer's perfect for couples or small families, and its compact size makes it an excellent choice for those with larger 4WDs or a taste for serious off-road adventure.
The Odyssey Series 2's credentials are undeniably rugged, thanks to its strong, fully galvanised box-section chassis and AOR's proven independent trailing arm suspension. With twin shockers and coil springs on either side, this camper trailer is built to handle whatever terrain comes its way. And if you need more space for gear, the drawbar can be extended, and the GVM upgraded to accommodate larger items like outboard motors.
Serious Off-Road Credibility
The Odyssey Series 2's got some serious off-road cred, with 17" x 8" Dynamic steel rims and 265/70/17 Cooper All Terrain tyres. It carries a spare up front and features 12" electric brakes and 2500kg bearings. There are attractive 17” x 8” Dynamic steel rims with 265/70/17 Cooper All Terrain tyres and features 12” electric brakes and 2500kg bearings. There's a spare wheel mounted conveniently up in front.
The compact dimensions, great ground clearance, good reversing angle, and steep 30-degree recovery angle make it perfect for secluded destinations that are often difficult to access. The trailer's dimensions are spot on, with an overall length of 5.2 meters and a width of 1950mm, making it almost as wide as a Land Cruiser.
The accommodation shell is 3.6 meters long and features a thick fibreglass composite with an external gel coat finish. It is structurally insulated with core foam and a fibreglass seal. The interior is finished with white marine vinyl, providing enormous strength, temperature control, and an easily cleaned finish. The pop-up roof offers plenty of headroom, and the low towing height of 2275mm makes it easy to tow even on rough, steep climbs.
A Look at the AOR Odyssey Series 2 Interior
Internal access is made easy with a well-designed triple-lock security doorway with slip-out steps externally and a small step recess internally. Once inside, the roof pops up easily on well-weighted cantilevered springs to reveal a very light, spacious feel with plenty of available ventilation. It is well secured by over-centre catches outside.
The parquetry laminate flooring is easy to clean, and the main electrical control panel is conveniently located near the dinette seat. This is where you'll find the temperature switch for the Webasto diesel heater/hot water system and the Redarc 30 BMS "5 in one unit", which is compatible with AGM or Lithium batteries and includes a 12V/30 AMP charger, solar regulator, and 240AC charger. The Odyssey Series 2's got plenty of standard features, including 2 x 120 AMP AGM batteries, a complete switch panel, and a digital monitor for the 140-litre food-grade poly water tank. And if you need more storage, you can opt for additional water tanks.
The kitchen unit's a real showstopper, with a faux marble bench top and beautifully presented cabinetry featuring soft-close drawers and doors. You'll find an internal 3-burner gas stove with a glass top, a stainless steel sink with hot and cold mixer, and a power centre with 240 and 12-volt outlets. A Vitrifrigo 75-litre fridge freezer is conveniently located near the doorway, and there's plenty of LED lighting to boot.
One of the standout features is the 1000-watt pure sine wave inverter, which provides all the 240V power you need when off-grid. I love that the Odyssey 2 has internal and external cooking facilities—it's perfect for whipping up a meal or snack whenever you need it. The convertible dinette's a real highlight, with the Queen-size mattress and base flipping up out of the way on gas struts to reveal a comfortable dining area. The dinette is well-upholstered and trimmed, with optional leather finishes.
And let's not forget the storage – there are tonnes of drawers, lockers, and shelves to stash all your gear. Other notable features include a rear shelf for nighttime access to small items, an internal fan, marine-standard dust-proof seals, a sound system, and loads of internal and external lighting (including white and yellow bug-proof options). A recessed fire extinguisher is included in the package for added peace of mind. Overall, the Odyssey 2's interior is roomy, inviting, and attractive, making it perfect for overnight stops or quick breaks on the road. It's designed to be easy to set up and use, so you can focus on enjoying your adventure.
Outdoor Living Features
The AOR Odyssey's exterior is a stunner, with a premium build that's sure to turn heads. You'll get plenty of admiring glances from fellow travellers, and for good reason – this camper's a top-notch, fully Australian-made product.
When it comes to annexes, AOR offers a slide-in type canvas option, but I reckon the Thule Omnistor wind-out option is the way to go – it's just so quick and easy to use. The boot up front is a real highlight, with openings on both sides of the camper providing easy access to a vast storage space. And if you're looking for a serious cooking setup, the optional stainless steel slide-out kitchen is an absolute ripper. It's incredibly well-designed, with a three-burner gas stove, large sink, and plenty of storage space. The unit's got plenty of clever touches, like a huge utensils and equipment drawer with a divider that slides out on quality fittings.
However, I did feel that the standard 75-litre fridge/freezer might be a bit limiting for some users – although many campers will already have a portable chiller in their towing vehicle to assist. Fortunately, there are options to upgrade to a 130-litre Vitrifrigo or even an 82-litre fridge freezer fitted into a dust-proof box on a slightly extended drawer bar.
The external PVC shower/toilet tent is an excellent addition out the back, providing a spacious private area for personal business. The porta potty stores easily in the van and can be taken inside for added convenience and discretion. Overall, the AOR Odyssey's a top-notch camper that's well-designed and built to last.
The Drawbar
The Odyssey's drawbar is a beast. It is made from strong 150 x 50mm galvanised steel and finished with a Vehicle Components DO35 off-road coupling and hand brake. The drawbar also has a heavy-duty jockey wheel, a handy checker plate platform, and a spare wheel mount with cover. Twin 4.5kg gas bottles, twin jerry cans, and the diesel tank for the Webasto diesel HWS are all securely mounted up front.
Security For Any Journey
You can feel secure in rough terrain with the protection of dual alloy stone deflectors up front, plus large mud flaps and underside shrouding. AOR say, “Our trailers are designed to conquer the punishing conditions of the outback. From the chassis and suspension to the vents on the roof – this is where they excel.” In my mind, that should be amended to “exploring and enjoying the punishing conditions of the outback" with the rugged reliability, amenity, facilities and comfort of your premium AOR Odyssey Series 2 hybrid camper”
It will certainly serve as an experienced and very capable friend to rely on—and oh, I just love seeing proudly Australian-designed and made products!
AOR Owners Group
Incidentally, by becoming an AOR owner, you may enjoy the dedicated owners' group's communication, camaraderie, and adventures. I attended one such outing, where nearly 100 vehicles combined to enjoy Fries Hut camping grounds in the Victorian High Country, and I must say the friendship, experience, hospitality, and entertainment were terrific—well done, AOR!
Hits & Misses
I Liked
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Everything!
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Beautiful, tough, practical, precision engineering
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Sensible features and high level comfort
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Tonnes of power and water
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Compact and reasonable towing weight
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Ease of use
I Would Have Liked
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More cold storage
Specifications
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Tare: 1400kg
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ATM: 2000kg
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Suspension: AOR’s own independent trailing arm suspension with twin shockers and coil springs on either side
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Brakes: 12” electric
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Coupling: Vehicle Components DO35
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Chassis: Full box section and galvanised
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Drawbar: 150 x 50 Galvanised A-frame
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Body: laminate of alloy and foam insulation
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Wheel/tyre: 17” x 8” Dynamic steel rims with 265/70/17 All Terrain tyres
Dimensions
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Box size: 3600 x 1950 mm
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Length: 5200(hitch to tail lights) mm
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Tent size: N/A
Accessories
Gas cylinders: 2 x 4.5 kg
Water: 140-litre food-grade poly water tank that is well shielded underneath. (Note – further 140l, 60l and grey water tanks are optional)
Cooktop: 3 burner gas with folding glass top internally, with another in the outside kitchen option
Kitchen: Three-burner gas with wok burner, folding glass top, and S/S sink with hot/cold mixer internally. Plus, optional outdoor kitchen, including sliding top and clip-in bench, pantry, large utensils drawer, three-burner gas stove with wok burner, and large sink with hot/cold mixer.
Battery: 2 x 120amp AGM
Manufactured and Distributed By Australian Off Road (AOR), Caloundra, QLD.
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