Family-owned and operated 4WD motorhome hire based in Penrith, NSW. Escape Rentals was founded when the owners could not find a suitable 4WD motorhome to rent
Last Updated: May 2026Escape Rentals is a genuinely unusual company in the Australian campervan hire market — a family-owned operation out of Penrith, NSW, with a single motorhome model and an entirely adventure-focused approach to the business. Richard and Cheryl Harris founded the company after finding it impossible to rent a 4WD motorhome in Sydney that was actually suited to outback travel. They couldn't find what they wanted, so they sourced the vehicles and built the fleet themselves. That origin story tells you a lot about what Escape Rentals is, and what it isn't.
This is not a fleet operator with a dozen models and airport depots in five cities. It's a small, specialist operation with one vehicle — the Suncamper 4WD Sherwood L-Series on a Toyota Hilux chassis — kept no older than two to three years. Every person who rents comes away with not just the motorhome, but a free copy of Richard's eBook, The Adventurer's Guide To Motorhomes, and access to expert outback route knowledge that most rental companies simply don't have.
The Sherwood L-Series is a serious piece of kit. Built on the Toyota Hilux — the most proven 4WD platform in Australia — it has a 2.8L diesel engine, 76L fuel tank, and a GVM of 3,620kg. Insurance covers gazetted dirt roads at no extra cost, which immediately separates it from most campervans on the market. You're not just getting a motorhome — you're getting a vehicle built for the places most campervans can't go.
The L-Series designation matters: it's 200mm wider and 200mm longer than the previous E-Series model. Inside, that extra space is real. The queen bed (1,500mm × 2,050mm) is permanent — no converting the dinette every night. The 145L three-way fridge/freezer is the largest you'll find in a two-berth motorhome at this price point. Fresh water tanks hold 129L; waste water 45L. A diesel heater handles cold nights in the ranges and high country. Separate shower and toilet, though hot water and air conditioning require the optional generator.
Standard inclusions cover everything a couple needs for a self-sufficient trip: outdoor table and two chairs, all linen and doona, four towels, and a complete cooking kit — pots, pans, plates, cutlery, washing essentials. The battery system is 120Ah. Solar charging is not listed on the current site, but the three-way fridge operates on gas when parked off-grid.
The depot is in Penrith, NSW — the western edge of greater Sydney, roughly 55km from the CBD and 65km from the international airport. For travellers flying into Sydney, this is the main operational friction. It's manageable with an Uber or the Western Line train to Penrith station, but worth factoring into your arrival and departure planning. If you're starting your trip with a day or two in the city, the logistics are easy; if you're landing at 10pm and want the vehicle the next morning, plan the pickup carefully.
Business hours are limited. Escape Rentals is not a 24/7 operation — phone ahead and confirm pickup times before booking. This is a family-run business, not a fleet company with a reception desk. That's a feature, not a bug, for the right traveller; but if you need last-minute flexibility or weekend pickups, verify availability first.
The company's sweet spot is couples planning genuine outback travel — the Sydney to Broken Hill run, far north Queensland, Gibb River Road, the Kimberley, Cape York, or the Flinders Ranges. The 4WD capability and dirt road insurance coverage are why you'd choose Escape Rentals over a similar-priced two-berth from Hippie or Mighty. The queen bed and 145L fridge make it a comfortable long-haul vehicle for two people spending weeks on the road.
If you're looking for a city-to-city east coast run on sealed roads with multiple pickup and drop-off options, Escape Rentals is not the right fit. The single depot, single model, and outback focus mean this company serves a specific traveller very well — and everyone else, not at all.
Against the large operators (Britz, Maui, Apollo): Escape Rentals offers genuine 4WD capability that the corporate fleet operators either can't match or charge a significant premium for. The personal service is not marketing language — it's the actual business model.
Against other adventure-focused operators like Adventure Rentals: Escape Rentals operates a more modern, better-specified vehicle in a smaller fleet. Adventure Rentals has more depot locations; Escape Rentals has the more premium single vehicle.
Escape Rentals is a specialist operator for a specific kind of trip. The Suncamper 4WD Sherwood L-Series is a well-equipped, genuinely capable 4WD motorhome that earns its price. The people running it know Australian outback travel from direct experience — that knowledge is part of what you're hiring. If your trip involves dirt roads, remote campsites, and weeks away from the coast, this is a serious option that deserves comparison against the corporate alternatives.
The single depot in Penrith and single vehicle model are honest constraints for a small family business, not weaknesses to apologise for. If you need the capabilities this vehicle offers and your trip starts and ends in the Sydney basin, Escape Rentals is a strong contender — particularly if you value genuine service over corporate process.
The Suncamper 4WD Sherwood L-Series is Escape Rentals' sole model — a Toyota Hilux 4WD motorhome built specifically for Australian outback adventure. At 6,000mm long and 2,200mm wide, it's bigger than it looks, with a full queen-size bed (1,500mm × 2,050mm), a separate shower and toilet, 145L three-way fridge/freezer, and 129L fresh water. The L-Series is 200mm wider and 200mm longer than its predecessor, giving noticeably more interior space. A diesel heater handles cold nights; the bull bar and insurance coverage for gazetted dirt roads handles the outback. Generator available for A/C and microwave use. Car-licensed — no special licence required in most Australian states.
Escape Rentals operates one specialist vehicle: the Suncamper 4WD Sherwood L-Series on a Toyota Hilux 2.8L diesel automatic chassis. It sleeps 2 with a permanent queen bed (1,500mm × 2,050mm), separate shower and toilet, 145L fridge/freezer, 129L fresh water, diesel heater, and bull bar.
Escape Rentals operates from a single depot in Penrith, NSW (western Sydney). Contact: 1300 417 150. The Penrith location gives easy access to the Blue Mountains and beyond for outback-bound trips.
Every hire includes outdoor table and chairs, full linen and doona, four towels, complete cooking kit, 24/7 roadside assistance, and insurance coverage for gazetted dirt roads at no extra cost. Hirers also receive Richard's eBook The Adventurer's Guide To Motorhomes and expert outback route planning advice.
Yes — the Suncamper 4WD Sherwood is specifically built for Australian outback travel. Insurance covers gazetted dirt roads as standard, and the Toyota Hilux chassis with bull bar is one of the most capable platforms for remote Australian travel.
Escape Rentals was founded by Richard and Cheryl Harris after they couldn't find a suitable 4WD motorhome to rent in Sydney — so they built their own. That owner-operator ethos means expert outback knowledge, detailed trip planning assistance, and a vehicle genuinely built for where most rental 4WDs fear to go.
