Picture the last time you walked through a caravan yard looking for a toy hauler. Every van seemed to be 20 feet or more, full ensuite, king bed, home theatre — impressive, but not really what you needed for a weekend chasing a trail with the bike in the back. And to tow it, you'd need a heavy-duty ute you don't own.
That's the gap Fluide was built to close.
How toy haulers got so big
The toy hauler started as a simple idea about 25 years ago: a mobile garage, built to carry your gear and get you somewhere worth going. Over time, the industry drifted. Vans got longer, heavier, and packed with features — great for long-term travellers, but increasingly out of reach for someone who just wants a light, capable weekend rig. Bigger became the default, even when bigger wasn't what most people actually needed.
Periple didn't think that had to be the only option. So we built Fluide: a 13ft toy hauler designed around real weekends, not brochure specs.
Why 13ft was the right call, not a compromise
At 13ft, Fluide keeps the wheelbase short and the weight light enough to handle a genuine light off-road track, not just a smooth caravan park driveway. It's easy to store, easy to reverse, and easy to live with — a toy hauler built for using, not just owning.
Here's what that actually looks like once you get into the details.
Off-grid power that lasts.A 314Ah lithium battery bank, 400W of solar and a Renogy 2000W inverter support off-grid travel as standard; the battery and solar can be upgraded to 628Ah and 600W.
Real comfort in a compact footprint. Instant hot water, a rooftop reverse-cycle air conditioner you can control from your phone, and a diesel heater for cold mornings — the kind of comfort you'd expect from a much bigger van, not a 13-footer.
A chassis built for real off-road use, not just the name. Independent coil-spring suspension, Pedders 4x4 shocks, a Cruisemaster DO35 V3 Plus off-road coupling, mud-terrain tyres, and US-made Timken bearings. This isn't a badge — it's the same calibre of gear serious off-road caravan builders use.
Tow it with the car you already own.With an ATM of approximately 2,500kg and a tare of approximately 1,900kg, Fluide offers about 600kg of payload. Always confirm the exact compliance-plate ratings and your tow vehicle's limits before travel.
A garage that actually works like one.Inside, the layout can be configured as a 2000 x 2000 mm king bed or two single beds, with an indoor lounge seating area for daytime use.
Safety and compliance, done properly. ADR-approved lighting, an Australian gas compliance certificate, emergency braking, smoke, carbon monoxide and gas alarms, and a reverse camera as standard — not extras you have to ask for.
The bottom line
Most vans this size cut corners to hit a lower weight. Fluide doesn't. You get genuine off-road running gear, full off-grid living, and real toy-hauler functionality, all while staying light enough to tow with the vehicle you already have. That combination — capable, comfortable, and actually towable — is hard to find anywhere else in this size class.
More than one van
Fluide is the first build on Periple's platform, not the only one. The same chassis and systems can be configured into smaller, custom living caravans for people who want less garage and more living space. One platform, built to fit different lives — because we don't believe in one-size-fits-all.
Ready to see it in person?
If you've been putting off buying a toy hauler because everything on the market felt too big, too heavy, or too far out of reach for your current tow vehicle, Fluide was built for exactly that moment. Get in touch with Periple to book a walkthrough or check availability.