The BR75 by Direct Cars has everything you could ask from an off-grid camper, including a home air conditioning unit
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by Thanos Pappas
4 hours ago
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by Thanos Pappas
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The majority of motorhomes and camper conversions are based on vans, but pickups can be just as good as option for those who enjoy living off-grid for a few days. This is exactly what Japan-based company Direct Cars thought when creating the BR75 SUV Adventure Camper, which is based on the Toyota Hilux.
The BR75 builds on the dual-cab pickup by Toyota, replacing the rear bed with a large structure that has a longer rear overhang and an aerodynamically-shaped extension above the cabin. As a result, the camper can still fit five passengers and sleep two adults and two children at the back.
The design of the rear add-on is well-integrated with the donor vehicle, which in this case is the rugged GR Sport trim of the Hilux. Another cool feature is that besides the regular-sized door on the side and the large tailgate, the living area can also be accessed from the cabin of the vehicle. This means you don’t have to exit for moving back and forth, which is ideal in bad weather or during the night.
Getting inside the rear compartment you come across a luxurious ambiance thanks to the wood panels, the tile-style floor, and the interior lighting. The first thing you notice is a large dining area with a foldable table and two seating benches. The pop-up portion of the roof allows you to stand still and sheds more natural light inside during the day.
The dining area can easily convert into a double bed measuring 2,300 mm (90.6 inches) long that is suitable for adults, while a second fold-out bed measuring 1,660 mm (65.3 inches) long can be deployed above the vehicle’s cabin, making room for two children. There is also a window on each side, and plenty of storage compartments above them.
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Interestingly, the living area is also equipped with a full-size home air conditioning system, which allows users to maintain the optimum temperature independently of the weather conditions. If you are wondering, the external unit of the air conditioning is neatly placed under the rear bumper. All the amenities can be controlled by a tablet-style touch panel.
Last but not least, the vehicle also comes with a second room at the back. There you can find a shower head, a waterproof floor with a drain, a sink, a mirror, a slide-out counter table, and some extra storage compartments. This small room can be accessed from both inside and outside the vehicle, while the waterproof floor means you can store wet or dirty clothing and equipment.
The good thing is that the BR75 can sustain all those features even when being off-grid. This is made possible by a large 200Ah secondary battery that can be charged during driving but also through the roof-mounted 200W solar panels. The vehicle comes equipped with an 85-liter water tank, another 20-liter clean water tank, and a 45-liter drain tank. Finally, besides the power outlets inside the living area, there are two external power outlets at the back for various electronic devices.
Direct Cars thought of a clever way of utilizing the rear bed structure that came off the original pickup, by transforming it into a separate trailer. Thus, the rear bed of the Hilux can be attached to a trailer frame with smaller-diameter wheels, in order to be towed by the BR75, offering more space for luggage and equipment. The bespoke trailer can be retrofitted with aftermarket parts designed for the Hilux, making it more practical. As reported by Autoc-one, the trailer is currently exhibited alongside the BR75 at the Japan Camping Car Show 2023, and depending on customer interest it could be offered for sale.
If you are wondering about the cost of a BR75, Direct Cars is currently offering two variants. The cheapest one is based on the Toyota Hilux Z and starts from 10,980,000 ($83,931), while the full-spec model based on the Toyota Hilux GR Sport is priced at ¥12,450,000 ($95,121). Of course, those numbers can be increased if you spec the models with optional features like the pictured off-road wheels and tires.
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