Small but Mighty: Escapod’s Off-Road Teardrop Camper
An off-road travel trailer built for the biking community that can withstand tough terrain.
Billed as a “celebration of cycling,” the Sea Otter Classic in Monterrey, California, draws more than 70,000 spectators and more than 9,000 athletes each April. By no means is the event considered an RV show, but for one RV builder, it is a gathering of their peeps. Escapod, the Utah-based manufacturer of teardrop off-road campers, views the festival as a rich pool of potential customers.
“We typically do shows that are not traditional RV shows,” explains Chris Hudak, who founded Escapod with his wife, Jen, in 2016. “We focus on overlanding shows, and ones on camping and the activity-based type of show, and sportsman’s expos. We do shows like the Sea Otter Classic. We target places where our people are showing up. We are able to speak the language they speak, as we are also passionate bikers. We do a lot better with that type of show.”
Escapod has been busy this year fine-tuning its operations and concentrating on evolving with the market. The company is moving to vertically integrate, using capacity in its factory to perform additional tasks in-house. Vendor restructure is being reevaluated, and Chris says the goal is to use the additional capacity to gain sustainability through cost-saving measures.
“There is a general challenge right here in the RV industry, following the COVID boom and the rebalancing of demand on the backside,” Jen says. “We are trying to run our business smarter.”
Escapod also markets its products through its Ambassador program, comprised of current owners. Members, whom the Hudaks consider to be “almost employees,” allow prospective customers to take an up-close look at their trailers.
“It is the best way to really see why to buy one,” Jen says. “Our website makes it really easy to find an Escapod near you. They can be found throughout the U.S. If you are interested in learning about our trailers, you can go to escapod.us and use our trailer finder feature. It is a nice way to get the authentic feel of what this trailer is about, without having to travel to Utah or Texas to see one in person.”
Escapod’s target demographic has remained generally steady through the years: customers who value their time outdoors and are looking for ways to be self-reliant in the outdoors, with a comfortable place to sleep that is protected from the environment. What has shifted over the last few years has been centered around the structure of its trailers. Jen describes Escapod as a high-end composite trailer built to stand the test of the time. She says the longevity of the trailers exceeds that of any trailer in the category, but notes that it comes with a premium price tag.
Built To Last: The TOPO2 MTB Teardrop Camper
New this year is the TOPO2 MTB, a new trim package for the TOPO2. Chris says MTB offers customers an easier way to achieve their favorite activities.
“Our customers are not necessarily passionate about the RV industry in general, but they are passionate about mountain biking,” he says. “We created the world’s first purpose-built mountain bike-specific camper, that includes specialized mountain bike tools, a work stand and a swing-away hitch integrated with the frame. It has a customized graphics package that is louder than what we have typically done in the past, to match the mountain biking style.”
Chris says mountain biking fits well with Escapod, noting that is why he and his wife developed the company’s first trailer. In fact, he says the business is built around biking.
“Our customers may not all be into racing mountain bikes, but many of them are seeing national parks via bikes, and seeking open spaces via bikes. They like to make two wheels part of their camping experience. Now, with the advent of e-bikes, it is allowing many more people, even those who may not have ridden a bike in a long time, to be able to get back to biking, and be able to access all those special places,” Chris says.
Jen believes one of Escapod’s main selling points is the refinement of the fit and finish of its trailers. They are designed to have clean lines and maximize utilization of space. Every inch of space has a specific purpose.
“In the TOPO2, we have features such as what we call the mudroom, which is a space between the interior of the trailer and the entryway door that gives you a space to store your shoes and your coats. When you are camping in something that has a small interior capacity, it is great to be able to get out to very remote places, but at the same time, it can create challenges in terms of where to put all of your gear. We are extremely thoughtful in utilization of space.”
Another important factor is Escapod’s monocoque body.
“Our trailer is a structural body unto itself. There are no separate exterior composite panels that are attached to an interior structure,” Jen says. “This means it is going to hold up really well during all of those high frequency vibrations that you are going to get when you are off-road. These trailers are going to stay together a lot longer than other trailers on the market.”
In addition to its ruggedness and teardrop shape, the TOPO2 is known for eye-catching exterior colors. Five colors are offered, with Lost Coast Blue by far the most popular, accounting for about 40% of sales.
Connected to Customers: Escapod’s Unique Retail Approach
Escapod’s retail operations differ from typical RV manufacturers. The company has just one dealer, located near Abilene, Texas. The Lone Star State is one of its larger markets. Escapod operates its own retail store in Utah, near its factory. Direct-to-customer sales is its preferred method.
“We deal with the customers directly, and this allows us to be in touch with them and respond to their needs more quickly,” Chris says.
Escapod builds 120 to 180 units per year. Jen describes Utah, with its opportunities for outdoor recreation, as being a natural fit for its operations.
“Manufacturing in the U.S. has its challenges, but Utah is a small business-friendly state,” Jen says. “Salt Lake City is a great resource for us. It has been important to us to be close to so many of our users.”
Tariffs have been an issue, but Escapod tries to use products manufactured in the U.S. as much as possible. Batteries and water systems are made overseas. Some vendors have made price adjustments, while others have delayed raising prices to see how things shake out.
Compact Teardrop Campers With Big Capability
Crafting a teardrop requires designing effective use of a defined amount of space.
“You have to look at what has to go into that space and carve that out first,” Chris says. “One thing we do really well is to explore possibilities, such as working with Aqua-Hot to design a system to heat the water and air of a TOPO2 in a very specific way. Then that becomes part of the overall design.”
Escapod works with each of its vendors early in the design process to see how much space they need and how their product works best. Function has top priority. After that is accomplished, attention turns to how things look and how it all fits together. That’s Escapod’s approach to everything.
The MSRP for Escapod base models starts at $33,990 and range up to $53, 990. There is an array of trim packages that offer many different options, everything from 12-volt air conditioners to swing-away hitches.
Most customers use SUVs or small trucks to pull an Escapod unit. The Hudaks pull theirs with a Ford Bronco or Ford Ranger. Many customers pull their unit with a Toyota 4Runner or a Subaru Outback.
“You have a wide range of vehicles that are able to pull TOPO2, and that is one of the special things,” Chris says. “At 2,000 pounds, you have tons of options. You don’t have to go buy a large truck in order to own an RV.”
As the year winds down, the Hudaks are excited about the prospects for 2026. They believe some of this year’s economic uncertainty will gradually subside.
“We feel that some of this uncertainty will be leveling off and people will be ready to get out there and start doing some of the travel they have always dreamed of,” Chris says. “We want to be a part of that, and make sure we position Escapod to capture that interest.”
