MAD TITAN
Enclosed truck camper
- Seats
- 7
- Sleeps
- 6
- Toilet
- Yes
- Shower
- Yes
- Transmission
- Automatic
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Mad Campers review
A New Zealand-owned rental company whose own camper fit-outs give its range a distinctly individual character.
Profile reviewed and updated on
Background
Company overview
Mad Campers was founded in 2017 by three New Zealand locals. It develops its own camper fit-outs and has in-house mechanics, combining vehicle preparation with the rental operation. Its offer covers enclosed campers as well as a rooftop-tent vehicle, so the brand does not represent one uniform style of accommodation.
The business operates from Auckland and Christchurch. Alongside camper rentals, it offers separate car hire; those cars are not part of the six-category camper range.
Our verdict
Editorial review
Mad Campers puts more emphasis on distinct ways of living in a camper than on offering many near-identical sizes. That makes the choice worthwhile: the smallest vehicle is a genuine solo option, while the larger categories make different compromises between a ready-made bed, daytime space and onboard facilities. The range works best when the vehicle is matched carefully to the journey, rather than selected on sleeping capacity alone.
The service evidence is encouraging, with helpful communication and practical assistance recurring in a small, nonrepresentative sample of independent renter accounts. Those accounts also contain a vehicle fault and discomfort with some interior layouts.
Good points
- A solo camper with its own facilities.NoMAD provides one travel seat, one berth and a fixed cassette toilet. A solo renter can keep an onboard toilet without moving up to a two-person van.
- Practical help when a problem occurs.Several renters in the sampled accounts describe responsive communication or on-road help. One Explorer renter reported a rear-door leak followed by a repair in Christchurch and use of a loan car.
Things to consider
- Overnight heating can determine the campsite choice.MAD2+ needs mains power for continuous electric heating; its off-grid heating use is limited to roughly 10–15 minutes. NoMAD has no living-area heater. These are material differences for a cold-weather rental, even when bedding is included.
- The six-berth option has a narrower route scope.MAD TITAN must be collected and returned in Auckland and cannot go on the South Island ferry. Its capacity therefore does not make it a substitute for the smaller campers on every New Zealand itinerary.
Vehicle categories
Mad Campers fleet
MAD TRACKER
Enclosed 4WD truck camper
- Seats
- 2
- Sleeps
- 2
- Toilet
- Yes
- Shower
- Yes
- Transmission
- Automatic
MAD EXPLORER
Panel-van camper
- Seats
- 3
- Sleeps
- 2
- Toilet
- Yes
- Shower
- Yes
- Transmission
- Automatic
MAD2+
Panel-van camper
- Seats
- 3
- Sleeps
- 2
- Toilet
- Yes
- Shower
- Yes
- Transmission
- Automatic
MAD ADVENTURER
SUV with rooftop tent
- Seats
- —
- Sleeps
- 2
- Toilet
- No
- Shower
- No
- Transmission
- Automatic
NoMAD
Single-person car camper
- Seats
- 1
- Sleeps
- 1
- Toilet
- Yes
- Shower
- —
- Transmission
- Automatic
The Mad Campers range combines compact sleeping arrangements with more fully equipped vans and enclosed truck campers.
TRACKER and EXPLORER both keep a bed ready for use alongside a separate dining or seating area. TRACKER's permanent bed measures 2.10 × 1.35 m, compared with 2.00 × 1.24 m in EXPLORER. MAD2+ takes a different approach: its bed converts from the living area and measures 1.90 × 1.60 m. The wider sleeping surface comes with the daily change between lounge and bedroom. EXPLORER and MAD2+ have three travel seats but only two sleeping places.
Cooking arrangements also differ. TRACKER uses gas, while EXPLORER and MAD2+ have induction cooking. All three have mains, solar and driving-based charging, but that does not make every appliance suitable for continuous off-grid use. TRACKER's 4WD drivetrain changes the vehicle's capabilities, not the roads the rental contract permits.
At the smaller end, NoMAD has a single berth only 0.68 m wide and a house battery charged by driving. ADVENTURER moves sleeping into a rooftop tent and cooking to an outdoor kitchenette; it has no mains connection or bathroom. Those are different camping arrangements, not simply smaller versions of the enclosed vans.
TITAN is the step up to six berths, arranged as two queen beds and two singles. It adds a diesel heater, a larger kitchen with a microwave, and living-area air conditioning at a powered site. At 7.10 m long, 2.70 m wide and 3.50 m high, it also demands considerably more space than the compact categories. Mad Campers advertises one TITAN vehicle, and its Auckland-only rental route is part of the choice.
The rental agreement allows a comparable or superior substitute, so the category information does not guarantee an exact allocated chassis.
Locations
Mad Campers pickup locations
Open each country to see its pickup locations.
New Zealand
-
Auckland 19–21 Hill Street, Onehunga, Auckland 1061, New Zealand
-
Christchurch 46B Belfast Road, Belfast, Christchurch 8051, New Zealand
Before booking
Practical facts
The details below concern Mad Campers' New Zealand camper rentals.
| Topic | What to know |
|---|---|
| Driver requirements | TRACKER requires a driver aged 21 or over. EXPLORER, MAD2+, ADVENTURER and NoMAD accept drivers aged 18 or over. Drivers need a full, original, valid licence; learner, restricted, probationary, intermediate and digital-only licences are not accepted. A non-English original requires an international driving permit or certified translation. |
| Additional drivers | Additional drivers are free and must be registered through advance check-in. This does not change a vehicle's travel-seat capacity. |
| Booking payment | The advance payment is 20% of the rental cost, with the balance due 31 days before pickup. Bookings made within 31 days require full payment. This payment is part of the rental price, not an additional fee or the vehicle's security hold. |
| Cancellation | The booking deposit is refundable when cancellation is at least 32 days before pickup. The retained share of the rental cost is 20% at 31–15 days, 50% at 14–7 days and 100% at six days or fewer or for a no-show. The original card surcharge is non-refundable; unused rental days generally are not refunded. |
| Protection for TITAN, TRACKER, EXPLORER and MAD2+ | Included Risk Taker cover has a NZ$7,500 refundable card hold and a NZ$7,500 covered-damage excess per incident. The Gambler costs NZ$55 per day and reduces each to NZ$5,000. You're Good costs NZ$65 per day with no hold and zero covered-damage excess; You're Good Plus costs NZ$85 per day with the same hold/excess figures and additional inclusions. Contractual exclusions still apply. |
| Protection for ADVENTURER and NoMAD | Included Risk Taker cover has a NZ$2,500 refundable card hold but a NZ$5,000 covered-damage excess per incident. The Gambler costs NZ$30 per day, with a NZ$1,500 hold and NZ$2,500 excess. You're Good costs NZ$40 per day and You're Good Plus NZ$55 per day; both have no hold and zero covered-damage excess, subject to exclusions. A hold is not an extra rental charge. |
| Protection inclusions and external cover | You're Good and Plus include windscreen and accidental-tyre protection. Plus adds chairs, a table, requested extras and one linen exchange at Auckland or Christchurch. For the four diesel categories, Plus also includes road-user charges; the smaller group's Plus includes a gas refill. Taking separate third-party insurance does not remove Mad Campers' Risk Taker hold or liability: the renter pays the operator and then claims from the external insurer. |
| Distance and diesel charges | Mad Campers advertises unlimited distance. TITAN, TRACKER, EXPLORER and MAD2+ nevertheless incur road-user recovery charges of NZ$8 for each 100 km or part thereof, payable on return, unless included in You're Good Plus. This is a distance-linked diesel charge, not an excess-mileage allowance. |
| Northbound relocation prices | For Christchurch-to-Auckland relocations, MAD2+ is offered at NZ$50 per day for pickups from 27 August to 30 October 2026, and TRACKER at NZ$80 per day for pickups from 19 September to 29 October 2026. Each offer requires at least five days and allows up to 14 discounted days; extra days use the standard rate. Both depend on availability and enquiry. |
| One-way rentals | A NZ$400 one-way fee waiver is offered on eligible Christchurch-to-Auckland hires, subject to availability. It does not establish the price for the opposite direction or for Queenstown. TITAN is Auckland pickup and return only and cannot travel on the South Island ferry. |
| Queenstown pickup | A TRACKER-only August–September pop-up arrangement uses a third-party pickup point, with a NZ$250 location fee per booking. It requires confirmation for the intended dates and route; it is not a permanent depot or a guaranteed annual service. The collection location is provided before travel. |
| Permitted roads | Gravel-road use is conditional and ski-road access depends on conditions and chains. The contract excludes Skippers Canyon, Ball Hutt, 90 Mile Beach, beaches, water crossings and closed, restricted, 4WD or otherwise unsuitable roads. TRACKER's 4WD specification does not override these exclusions. |
| Pickup, return and airport access | Neither permanent depot provides an airport transfer. Allow roughly 10–15 minutes by car from the relevant airport, 30–45 minutes for induction and about 30 minutes for the return inspection. Collection and return hours are 09:00–15:00 Monday–Saturday and on Sundays from September to May. Sunday service from June to August requires written agreement; after-hours arrangements also require written agreement and may cost extra. |
| Holiday closures | The depots are closed on 25–26 December 2026, 1–2 January 2027 and 26 March 2027. These closures override the ordinary collection and return hours. |
| Included equipment and extras | The six camper categories include cooking utensils, linen, duvets, pillows and towels. Outside an applicable inclusion, chairs cost NZ$1 per item per day, a table NZ$3.50 per day, a chilly bin NZ$2 per day and a fleece blanket NZ$1.50 per day. |
| Winter equipment | The offer for 1 May–30 September 2026 includes a diesel heater and heavier bedding in TRACKER and EXPLORER, an electric heater and bedding in MAD2+, and bedding in ADVENTURER and NoMAD. Chains and hot-water bottles are available on request. MAD2+ needs mains power for sustained electric heating; NoMAD has no living-area heater. |
| Return condition | Contract charges are the replacement fuel cost plus NZ$40 for a fuel shortfall, NZ$35 for an LPG shortfall, NZ$150 for excessive dirt and NZ$300 for a toilet not emptied and sanitised. These contract amounts exclude GST unless otherwise stated; they are conditional return charges, not routine rental fees. |
| Handover and assistance | Online check-in is sent a week before collection, followed by an in-person induction. WhatsApp support operates during office hours, with telephone help after hours. Mechanical roadside assistance is available, subject to callout exclusions; breakdown replacements depend on availability and accident replacements are discretionary. Luggage can be stored when returning to the same depot. |
| Pets | Ordinary pets are not permitted. An approved service animal requires prior arrangement with Mad Campers. |
More about the company
Explore Mad Campers
Mad Challenge
Mad Campers offers a 5% refund on the rental daily-rate component to eligible bookings of at least seven days that complete its Mad Challenge. Extras and protection premiums are excluded from the refund.
Participation means completing nine specified activities and publishing tagged photos through an established social account, with the camper or branded clothing included. The activities include a waterfall swim, a mountain above 500 m, thermal pools and food stops. The posts or their links must be shown at return, and entry includes permission for promotional reuse of the images. The benefit is therefore most relevant to travellers who want to complete and share the challenge, rather than an automatic reduction in the hire price.
Quick answers
Mad Campers FAQ
Which Mad Campers vehicle can I hire on my own?
NoMAD is the dedicated solo camper: it has one travel seat, one sleeping berth and a fixed cassette toilet. Its berth is 0.68 m wide, and the house battery charges while driving. It cannot carry a second person.
How do MAD EXPLORER and MAD2+ differ?
EXPLORER keeps a 2.00 × 1.24 m bed permanently set up alongside a separate seating area. MAD2+ uses a convertible 1.90 × 1.60 m bed, giving more sleeping width but requiring the living area to be rearranged. Both have three travel seats, two berths, a cassette toilet, an indoor shower and induction cooking.
Are all Mad Campers vehicles self-contained?
No. MAD ADVENTURER is a non-self-contained rooftop-tent vehicle with no toilet or shower. NoMAD has a fixed cassette toilet, but its rinse tap should not be mistaken for an onboard shower.
Can I collect a Mad Campers vehicle in Queenstown?
Only through the conditional TRACKER pop-up arrangement for August–September. It uses a third-party pickup point and carries a NZ$250 location fee per booking. Confirm the dates and intended route with Mad Campers; Queenstown is not one of its two permanent depots and the offer is not guaranteed to repeat each year.
Can MAD TITAN travel between the North and South Islands?
No. TITAN is restricted to Auckland pickup and return and cannot be taken on the South Island ferry. A journey involving both islands requires a different eligible vehicle and a confirmed rental route.
Does MAD TRACKER's 4WD allow off-road driving?
No. The rental restrictions still exclude 4WD or unsuitable roads, beaches and water crossings, as well as named routes such as Skippers Canyon and 90 Mile Beach. Gravel and ski access are conditional; the drivetrain does not grant unrestricted access.
Is there a mileage charge on a Mad Campers rental?
The company advertises unlimited distance, but its four diesel categories carry a separate road-user charge: NZ$8 per 100 km or part thereof, paid on return. You're Good Plus includes that charge for TITAN, TRACKER, EXPLORER and MAD2+. It is separate from the daily rental price.
How much is the security hold for NoMAD?
With included Risk Taker cover, the refundable card hold is NZ$2,500, while covered-damage liability is up to NZ$5,000 per incident. The Gambler reduces those figures to NZ$1,500 and NZ$2,500 respectively. You're Good and Plus remove the hold and covered-damage excess, but contractual exclusions still apply.
Can MAD2+ keep the living area heated overnight without a powered site?
Its electric heater needs mains power for continuous use. Off-grid heating is limited to about 10–15 minutes, so it does not provide sustained overnight heat away from a hookup. The 1 May–30 September 2026 winter offer includes an electric heater and bedding, but does not change that power requirement.
Does Mad Campers collect renters from the airport?
No airport transfer is provided. Renters make their own way to the Auckland or Christchurch depot, each approximately 10–15 minutes away by car from the relevant airport. Allow a further 30–45 minutes for the vehicle induction.
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