The truth is, there are a few countries in the world that excel at manufacturing off-grid, off-road travel trailers, including North America, Australia, and even Germany and the UK. But there is also an emerging country on the scene: South Africa.
While South Africa’s mass production of travel trailers isn’t necessarily new, the country has seen more and more activity in recent years. Now, while exploring the growing off-grid scene, we stumbled across AlphaGo and the S6 Air, a hybrid inflatable bi-folding home perfect for an adventurous family of six.
Now, whenever we talk about a camper, we like to shed a little light on the crew behind the magic, and since this unit is so interesting, we’ll just quickly point out that AlphaGo is a relatively new crew on the scene, only coming into existence in 2022, and currently only offering the S6 Air as its only camper option. But you don’t need a lot to get things right. And that seems to be what AlphaGo is counting on. And when I say “not much,” I’m serious. Prices for the S6 Air start at 450,000 South African Rand, which is less than 25,000 US dollars. If that’s not a bargain, I don’t know what is.
But I’m not going to leave things “up in the air” as they are. Rather, I’m going to take you on a short weekend (at the time of writing) journey into life with an S6. So grab the family and your 4×4, pull up the S6, and hit the road (or not). The S6 is a fully off-road capable unit built around a galvanized steel chassis and 10 leaf spring suspension. So go ahead and take that rough road off the paved road. Make sure you know how to handle the leaf spring setup.
Photo: AlphaGo
Once you’ve reached your hidden haven in the middle of nowhere or a trailer park, it’s time to unleash the magic of your S6, but first gather around the family, take in the views around you, and listen to the birds chirping and the wind rustling through the treetops.
After a short break, it’s time to assign tasks to the group and set up the campsite. Get the kids to collect firewood while your partner helps unload the camping essentials from the aluminum body of the S6. Your job is to pitch the giant tent overhead.
Now, one of the great things about the S6 is that at this stage all you have to do is unfold the two sections of the roof to transform it into a bed platform, and then you can watch the S6 take on its final form with the press of a button. Five minutes later you’re done and you sit down in a nearby seat. As your partner peers over, you smile knowing you’ve drawn the longest draw.
Photo: AlphaGo
Feeling a little sorry for the rest of my crew, I decide to carry on preparing S6 for its temporary rest. I help set up the sleeping areas at either end of S6, get the dining area in the middle ready, and peel back the blinds on the enormous windows to allow an unobstructed view of the outside world. Note that the dinette is also modular and can be used as a third bedroom.
Once you’re back outdoors, you may want to unload the unit and load up the S6’s shell with an outdoor dining area, gear for tomorrow’s adventure, and finally, the slide-out galley. You have access to 75 liters (20 gallons) of fresh water, two burner tops, and a 90 liter fridge/freezer. Prepare the outdoor shower annex, prep the toilets, and bring your borrowed items (food and drink) back to earth.
In terms of the electrical system, AlphaGo offers some basic features like a charging system and 100 Ah battery power, but everything else you might need while traveling, like an inverter or solar panels, is extra. AlphaGo offers a variety of upgrades and options, making it a one-stop shop.
Photo: AlphaGo
Once you’re ready, the kids will come out with bundles of firewood for tonight’s bonfire and ghost stories to add to the fun. We recommend having a telescope and some s’mores ready to listen to the stories. When was the last time you saw the stars without the distraction of city lights?
There is just one drawback to the S6 Air – it is a South African made unit and is therefore adapted to local laws and road regulations. So if you live outside of South Africa you will need to look elsewhere to get this unit. Oddly enough, some countries such as Australia and if I remember correctly, parts of Europe too, have such units available. If your local road laws and regulations don’t allow you to live with the S6, this unit could be an inspiration as a cheap, sturdy, family friendly campervan.
Last but not least, you might feel like you’re looking at a camper built by another world-famous team: the Opus Camper. The reason the S6 looks like one of their units is because Opus licensed the design to AlphaGo. So, for $25,000, you’re actually buying an Opus unit, in a sense. Enjoy the journey.
