Gear Designer Tom Dempsey Discusses Inspiration For Multi-Functional Hauler Made For Outdoor Adventurer
Over the years, pop up campers have evolved away from their compact, lightweight nature that initially bred a foundation of appeal for outdoors enthusiasts seeking adventure in the great outdoors. Many have become heavier, more complicated, less utilitarian and less durable. Determined to offer an alternative for the more adventure driven traveler, Tom Dempsey, creator of the SylvanSport Go and fervent whitewater kayaker, set out to reset the idea of an old school pop up camper to meet the needs of a new generation of adventurers that value functionality and quality in products that facilitate their lifestyle.
As an avid outdoorsmen and gear junkie himself, Dempsey saw an opportunity to connect what he deemed a missing link between the outdoor industry and the RV industry, “The RV industry attempted to create a living room [with the pop up camper]. [Whereas] I looked at it from the perspective of my peers who were kayakers and adventure sport enthusiasts [with a lot of gear].”
From a designer’s mindset, Dempsey was, “looking for a way to haul [his] kayaking gear in the most efficient way.” Being part of the niche kayaking community and having worked for prominent outdoor manufacturers like Coleman and kayak manufacturer LiquidLogic, Dempsey had the know-how and saw an opportunity to, “blend a lifestyle and work as much as possible.”
He envisioned an intuitive product engineered for high-performance, durability, and versatility that offered the shelter and compactness of a pop up trailer, but the functionality and mobility of a toy hauler. “The first idea that came to me was the idea of an exoskeleton and not flat panels,” explained Dempsey. “It’s designed around having the final user be able to attach the basics of the exoskeleton to customize [the Go] to fit their personal needs whether they’re bikers or kayakers and so on.”
This lightweight, aluminum exoskeleton became the framework of what has been referred to as the Swiss Army Knife of pop up campers, and it can be hauled virtually anywhere. Only weighing 840 pounds, the utilitarian style SylvanSport Go can be easily pulled by an economical car while it’s clever design allows it to quickly transform from a utility trailer capable of hauling up to 800 pounds to a customized Kelty tent camper by the simple crank of a handle.
As a utility trailer, the Go has 39-cubic feet of storage space on the deck that’s able to hold any type of gear from bikes and kayaks or even ATVs and motorcycles. There’s also an additional rack on the roof for extra hauling space or the option to remove the roof completely for hauling larger items like a refrigerator or lumber. To ensure a smooth ride, the Go has been thoughtfully engineered with 13” ground clearance and torsion axle suspension system with wide tires to absorb those off-roading bumps.
When the user is ready to utilize the camper mode, they simply expand the four corner support columns to full height, fold out the aluminum frame sides and securely lock them into place horizontally. Then, the bottom of the hard, pod-shaped roof releases and out tumbles the tent. From there, the final touches are reflective of setting up a tent – attach the corners to the platform frame and slide in the poles. Underneath the tent, there’s still plenty of cargo room for storage, and it even includes a canopy extension for shady relief on those hot summer days. Altogether the set up process takes about 10 minutes and no additional tools are required.
The inside of the tent offers 64-square feet of total livable space and a spacious 87-inches vertically. The weatherproof roof has an additional table panel that slides out to seat four adults. There are also several other high-strength lightweight panels and plush two-inch inflatable mattress pads used to configure different set up options such as a center table with double benches or a king size bed and a half to comfortably sleep a family of four. When these aren’t being used, they can be stored in the roof and out of sight.
As it’s name insinuates, the SylvanSport Go is designed to be ready for use whenever inclination strikes. “I wanted this to be for the ultimate weekend warrior where all of a person’s gear could be stored on the Go without having to find, pack and load gear,” stated Dempsey of the literalness of the name as it applies to the usage. “It’s a piece of performance gear that facilitates [a person’s] passions.”
From an engineering perspective, Dempsey concedes he left no stone unturned spending countless hours designing and engineering the details of a product intended to ‘deliver delight’. “We wanted to deliver certain hidden bonus features that always cause the wow factor,” stated Dempsey referring to unique engineering aspects like the rear gate of the trailer folding down to serve as steps and the 9-cubic foot lockable, weatherproof storage pod on the front of the trailer that doubles as a cooler. “As you’re engineering a product, you’re guiding [the user] through a journey, and it’s fun to be able to embed and [then] foresee that experience in the end user as you’re engineering it.”
Although the engineering details and high-quality end product were of utmost importance to Dempsey, another top priority was having not only a product made in the USA but sourced locally, which made the manufacturing process a task in itself. “About 80 percent of the cost of the material parts that go into the Go come within 100 miles radius of Brevard [North Carolina] or in our immediate local as close as possible,” explained Dempsey elaborating that the company has even gone as far as to cultivate local suppliers in a form of cooperative manufacturing even though the supplier might not be as experienced in the product.
“We’re going this for reasons that are far beyond business reasons,” stated Dempsey. “We’re doing it because we believe in what we’re doing. It’s an extension of our lifestyle and our belief system.”
Jannie Schaffer
A graduate of the Fashion Institute Of Technology in New York City with a degree in Interactive Marketing, Jannie has worked both for FOX and ASA Electronics. She enjoys traveling and whitewater rafting.
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The GO, designed from the frame out to be a opne-of-a-kind mobile adventure trailer that is more versatile than a Swiss Army Knife. Sylvan Sport aims to redefine the way we think about camping