From backyard prototype to production reality, the Campworks Co. NS-1 represents a bold vision for electric off-grid living. Founder Thomas shares how his Environmental Design background and Earthroamer experience led to creating an all-electric trailer that powers everything from induction cooking to emergency home backup—proving you don’t go off-grid, you carry the grid with you.
It is undeniable that electric vehicles are not going away. More companies are moving towards advancing their electric vehicle offerings. But what about electric trailers? Enter Campworks Co. This trailer company based in Dacono, Colorado, is taking the idea of off-grid living to new places.
I sat with Thomas, the Founder and CEO, and Mat, the COO, next to the NS-1 Unit as we talked about how Campworks Co. got its start and where Thomas got the idea for an all-electric trailer.
Thomas spent his college years at CU Boulder, where he was studying Environmental Design, during this time, he was always tinkering with the idea of creating a trailer.
He often spent his weekends in the mountains and loved the idea of making your base camp with a trailer but then unhitching and going out and exploring.
He was invested in learning how to make his vision a reality, so after school, he took a job at Earthroamer in their production team, and during his time there, he soaked up as much as he could about building high-end vehicles.
In 2020, during the year when some of us learned a new language or started breeding sourdough, Thomas built the first camper in the backyard of his dad’s house, and that year, he cooked the Thanksgiving dinner off the back of the first prototype.
Since then, he has watched as the company grew, slowed, and started to grow again. In the beginning, he had twelve people working on the NS-1, and things slowed; people left, and soon, he was alone trying to figure out how to scale production sustainably while not compromising on the quality of parts and materials.
Since the beginning, Thomas has been adamant that every component that goes into building the NS-1 is only the best. He has personally touched and validated each fitting, bolt, wire, and hose they utilize in these campers. He wanted to know which would last and which would be worth the investment. This involves the power system as well.
Since the camper is fully electric, it needed to be able to power everything from the induction stove to the on-demand hot water to the lighting, so he chose the Navico power systems. The Navico group contains brands like Czone and Mastervolt, which they use to bring this electric trailer to life.
Several factors played into choosing this system for the NS-1. First, they needed it to fit beneath the bed platform within the camper. They were limited in height, and the Mastervolt batteries fit perfectly, not only the fit but the operating temperature and the ventilation played a huge role in choosing this system.
The other reason for this system was the combo of output to weight. With all the power the NS-1 needs to operate, the Navico System handles it flawlessly.
As mentioned, this camper is fully electric. So, no propane for your stove, as the unit houses a 2 burner induction stove, and the heat comes from an electric heater for both climate and water.
The NS-1 Electrified model offers 4500W of output with 6kWh of storage, and the Electrified Pro model 9000W of output and 12kWh of storage. With these numbers, you can keep your trailer operating for a long time.
The team at Campworks believes that it does not matter how much battery power you have if your system is inefficient. The camper also has an integrated Type 2 EV charger. This allows the user to add more juice to their vehicle if needed.
Think of it like a Rotopax for your EV. It will not top off the vehicle, but it might be enough to get you out of a rough situation, even at home. Recently, a Campworks customer utilized their trailer to power their home for over twenty-four hours after a storm took out the power grid.
As Thomas says, “With the NS-1, you don’t go off-grid; you carry the grid with you.”
So what does the future hold for Campworks and the NS-1? First, with the move to C.F. Maier, they have the ability to increase their trailer output to double what they have been at in the past. This also allows them to grow the company and invest in the community of Lamar, Colorado, where the trailers are produced.
They want to be able to streamline production to be able to spend less time in the office and more time out using the product that they have built. The more they use the product, the more they can learn where to innovate and develop new products and accessories.
Campworks NS-1 Specs
Base weight: 2250 Lbs
Starting Price: $33,500 (no house power provided) $57,000 (Powered)
Length: 13’ trailer, 9’ body
Height: 7’ (without rooftop tent)
Width: 7’6” wheel to wheel
Interior: Queen sized mattress
URL: campworksco.com
Access More Great Stories!
This article originally appeared in OVR Issue 11. For more informative articles like this, consider subscribing to OVR Magazine in print or digital versions here. You can also find the print edition of OVR at your local newsstand by using our Magazine Finder.
No comments yet