Go-Pod Platinum 2021

Designed to allow even the smallest vehicle to tow a caravan, the micro-tourer has been around since the 1920s. Recently, this niche market has grown in popularity, with the renewed interest in smaller cars and the development of electric vehicles.

Many micro-tourers are imported into the UK, which can make parts and back-up difficult to obtain. But this is where the well-established Go-Pod pop-top scores. Manufactured in Portugal since 1964 by Pluma Caravans, the trailers – then known as the Going Cockpit – were brought to the UK in 2004 by Red Lion Caravans.

The Go-Pod is available in a choice of specification levels, but the pick of the bunch is the Platinum, with a standard spec list that includes a solar panel, Vision Plus TV with DVD player, an aerial, a gas barbecue point and even an awning.

There’s a compact kitchen and wardrobe, plus a front lounge with a pedestal table. For 2021, it also has an optional grey wood finish, for a more contemporary interior.

Pitch and set-up

The lightweight Go-Pod couldn’t be any easier to set up. Using Al-Ko running gear, it has two rear corner steadies.

The micro’s V-shaped profile provides an aerodynamic appearance and makes it very economical to tow. Steel wheels are fitted, along with a spare, and there are two grab handles at the front. In theory, that should be enough, but we think two more, at the rear, wouldn’t go amiss.

To allow you to stand up in the kitchen, an easy-to-operate pop-top roof is fitted.

The Go-Pod has no standard decals, but you can choose the design if you want to make yours a little more personalised.

A Truma water pump is fitted on the nearside, with a waste outlet. The one-piece glazed entrance door is at the rear. There’s a mains socket here, while the mains inlet is on the offside next to the gas BBQ point.

A leisure battery is also included, which is stored in the nose.

The original Cockpit had no gas locker, so any gas bottle was stored in the kitchen cupboard. Now there’s a drawbar-mounted gas locker. This does detract a little from the smooth lines of the exterior, but is far more practical, not to say safer.

The front window is sealed, but the two side windows open fully. The body is glass fibre, moulded to prevent water ingress.

Lounge

The lounge is small, but comfortable, with space to stretch out and watch the TV. The table only comes out when needed, which allows for more legroom. The seating has memory foam for good support.

The front window is adequate, but we wonder if a larger one, stretching to the roofline, might be added at some stage. There’s adjustable LED lighting here.

Outlets from the Whale heating system are at the front, while the controls for this are on the seat base by the kitchen. A mains socket has been provided, too.

Kitchen

The Go-Pod proves an excellent side kitchen that really packs in a lot for a micro-tourer. We prefer the light-grey woodgrain, which adds to the feeling of space. The big news is the combined stainless-steel sink and two-burner hob. There is no drainer, but the glass cover for the hob and sink adds some worktop, and there’s a fold-up extension. A small Dometic 12V fridge is included, and a microwave is fitted as standard.

A side window allows ventilation and has a blind and a flyscreen, and there’s an LED light. A small combined oven and grill can be ordered as an option.

Beds

Making up the bed is easy, using a roll-out slatted base in the gap between the settees. The resulting double is nearly 6 ft 5in long. If you prefer, you can make twin single beds, simply by removing the backrests.

Washroom

The Go-Pod doesn’t stretch to a washroom, but it does provide a manual-flush portable toilet, for use in the supplied awning.

Storage

Storage is another area where this micro packs a real punch. The front seat bases offer generous space for your bedding, while above the front window there’s a small but useful shelf. The kitchen has good cupboard storage and a couple of shelves, too. The wardrobe has a mirrored door and some shelving inside, so although hanging-space is restricted, we think the best has been done with the available room. The 12V and TV aerial sockets are fitted to the wardrobe’s side.

Verdict

The Go-Pod Platinum is an excellent and adaptable micro-tourer, with a surprising amount of room for two on tour, and good potential for off-grid use.

In Platinum guise, it comes with plenty of spec and a competitive price. It’s easy to tow and store – ideal if you travel light or have a smaller car. You can see why it has built up such a following in the UK.

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