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Camping kitchen on wheels Photo by Bob Pennell Steve, left, and Bruce Albert with neighbor Lynn Folley, center, try out X-cape, the outdoor cooking trailer the two Grants Pass brothers designed and built. X-cape will debut to the public Friday at the Jackson County Expo during the Southern Oregon Sports, RV and Boat Show, which continues through Sunday. Brothers' trailer could take some hassle out of setting up camp By PAUL FATTIG Steve and Bruce Albert know about the hassles of car camping after you've packed in the gear, kids and family dog. And the brothers know that everyone -- not just the mutt -- will be growling to eat immediately after the campsite is reached. That's why they have created the X-cape, a small trailer that offers both a handy kitchen and storage unit for camping gear. See for yourself What: X-cape, a new outdoor cooking trailer designed by brothers Steve and Bruce Albert of Josephine County Debuts to the public: Friday at the Southern Oregon Sports, RV and Boat Show Show hours: 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday Where: Jackson County Exposition Center For more information: Call X-treme Trailers, (541) 471-2714 "People always have vehicles that are jam-packed with gear, kids and dogs," Steve said. "When they finally get to the campsite, it takes them a long time to unpack and set up camp to start cooking." Not so with the X-cape trailer, with its compact kitchen, which includes a stove and sink, he said. "We think it fills a great niche that has been heretofore undeveloped," Bruce said. "It's a niche between a car top carrier and a camp trailer and a small RV." The brothers -- Steve, 52, of Grants Pass, is a retired industrial designer; Bruce, 50, of Merlin, is retired from the federal government -- and a silent partner have formed X-Treme Trailers, a Grants Pass-based firm which will build the vehicles. The X-cape will be presented to the public for the first time beginning Friday at the Jackson County Expo during the Southern Oregon Sports, RV and Boat Show, which continues through Sunday. The brothers Albert figure the X-cape not only will accommodate car campers but come in handy for caterers, tailgate parties at sporting events, rental car companies and for those who like to hunt and fish. It also can be used as a light utility trailer. The X-cape price tag is $4,495. Steve began thinking about creating such a rig about a decade ago. "I like car camping a lot," he said. "The thing about car camping that I didn't like was the cooking and cleanup, as well as the packing and unpacking." He designed a small trailer that would answer his needs and used it for a few years. "We had good success with it, but there were a few things we found we would have done differently," he said. Upon his retirement, the former president of a company in Palo Alto, Calif., that designed products for Fortune 100 firms was given the rights to the trailer. He has applied for a patent for the X-cape trailer. "As an industrial designer, I was always looking for a product that would perform a necessary function for some part of the population," Steve said. "Once you had that answer, you have to decide how to design it. A part of that is ergonomics and aesthetics." He designed it on a computer, making the measurements accurate to 1/1000th of an inch. The brothers order the parts from manufacturers then put the trailers together in Grants Pass at a shop owned by the third partner in the enterprise. The prototype is a sleek-looking rig with bright red automotive paint and an exterior black frame. It weighs about 600 pounds empty and can be towed behind "just about anything out on the market," Steve said. The X-cape comes with several options, including a two-burner propane cook top that is installed upon purchase. There is also a stainless steel countertop and sink equipped with a water pump drawing from a six-gallon portable container. There is even a spice rack and a holder for paper towels along with storage for groceries. Another option includes a portable hot shower -- with a curtain -- that can be added to it, Bruce said. Because you don't sleep in the trailer, there is a lot of room for storage -- 32 cubic feet. Bicycles can be strapped on the rack on top, he added. The 14-inch tires allow it to go wherever most vehicles, including four-wheel-drive, would venture, Bruce said. The fledgling firm has raised enough capital to build six X-cape trailers, Bruce said. "We've already sold one sight unseen, and we have the parts for five more right now," Bruce said. "We think there'll be a demand for it. We're excited about it." Today's Edition : News | Sports | Business | Weather | Tempo | Classifieds Mail Tribune Copyright � The Mail Tribune 2000, Medford, Oregon USA