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ISSUE 99 APRIL 2016 $8.95 inc GS
,
! 3 B D 0 A 6 - a a h j f b ! : K ; N
REAL CAMPERS SHARE THEIR SECRETS
Easy 12 Volt
BUDGETTOURING GUIDE
A l t i t ude ’s la t e s t t e s t e d!
BORGY’SBEST
BUSH COOKING
TIPS AND
RECIPES
ROOTHY’SSHED: MORNING
MAINTENANCE
CHECKS
5 CAMPERS REVIEWED AND RATED
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“Manu fac turers o f quali t y o f f-road, hard
floor and so f t floor camper trailers”
2011OFTHEYEAR
FINALIST!
PRESENTED TO
2013
OFFROADCAMPER
OF THE YEAR
Mountain TrailEscape
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AUSTRALIAN MADE
Mountain Trail Campers Factory838 Knight RoadAlbury NSW 2640
Phone: 02 6040 [email protected]
Opposite Lock Midland201 Great Eastern Hwy
Midland WA 6056Phone: 08 9274 7844
www.mountaintrailcampers.com.au C T G
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MOUNTAIN TRAIL CAMPERS
Live Love Explore
• Hard and soft flooroff-road camper trailers
• Press button electricopening and closing
• Effortless, fast andeasy set up
• Hot dipped galvanised
chassis and composite
FINALIST
materialss
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NSWMacarthur Caravans & RVs
1/26 Grahams Hill Rd,
Narellan, NSW 2567
1300 667 217
Houlihan’s Caravan & RV
605 Ebden St,
Albury, NSW 2640
1300 720 196
Blue Sky Griffith
1 Railway Street,
Griffith, NSW 2680
02 6964 0844
Postie’s Caravan
24 Brissett St
Inverell, NSW 2360
0417 584 155
Puma RV
142 Pacific Hwy,
Tuggerah, NSW 2259
02 4352 3333
QLDBrisbane Factory/Showroom
74 Compton Road,
Underwood, QLD 4114
07 3386 0498
Motoco Group
315 Mulgrave Road,
Cairns, QLD 4870
07 4046 6333
Cars Galore
129 Herries St,
Toowomba, QLD 4350
0418 157 586
Capricorn Caravan Centre
12 Queen Elizabeth Drive,
North Rockhampton, QLD 4701
07 4927 4826
Blue Sky Swan Hill
Shop 4/5 McNeil Court,
Swan Hill, VIC 3585
03 5033 2218
Caravan Crescent
107 Stawell Road,
Horsham VIC 3400
03 5382 4100
Gippsland Caravan Centre
35 Princes Hwy,Stratford, VIC 3862
1300 667 868
S.M.U Trailers
F6/4-6 Len Thomas Place,
Narre Warren, VIC 3805
0400 057 797
VICMelbourne Factory/Showroom
7/1695 Centre Road,
Springvale, VIC 3171
1300 667 868
Patto’s RV
166 -168 Bellarine Hwy,
Moolap, VIC 3244
03 5248 0138
RV & Caravan Centre
182 Raglan Parade,
Warrnambool, VIC 3280
03 5561 0033
Lyal Eales Stores
29 Maryborough Dunolly Rd,
Maryborough, VIC 3465
03 5461 4222
Caravans Coffs Coast
186 Pacific Hwy,
Coffs Harbour, NSW 2450
02 6652 5523
SA Matt’s Extreme Outdoors
491 Grand Junction Rd,
Wingfield, SA 5013
1300 687 155
Northern Caravans
37 Wandearah Rd,
Port Pirie, SA 5540
08 8632 3442
EP Campers
548 Western Approach Rd,
Duck Ponds, SA 5607
08 8682 4060
Contact your nearest dealer for stock availability and to book a demonstration
A us t r alia’s B es t Valu e Camp er T r ail er sA us t r alia’s B es t Valu e Camp er T r ail er s
AdventureFamily time
Peace and quiet Breathtaking viewsYear round enjoyment
AdventureFamily time
Peace and quiet Breathtaking viewsYear-round enjoyment
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1300 667 868Please visit our website for our complete range of campers
WWW.MARSCAMPERS.COM.AU
R e war d your s elf wi t h moun t ain vi e ws, mud, sand or bush...
I t is your call. Mar s Camp er s can handle i t !
CA LL NO W
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For your nearest distributor call 1300 731 137, or visit www.ironman4x4.com
I R O N N
T Y
$ 199
Features:
• Instant warning for loss of engine coolant.
• Dash warning light and alarm.
• Suits plastic or metal header tanks.• To suit 12V or 24V systems.
Low Water Alarm For 12V/24V (ILWA001)
IRONMAN 4X4
Features:
• Lights on when vehicleignition is switched on.
• 10 second delay atignition to reduce batterystarting load.
• Delay on exit. When theignition is turned off thelights will stay illuminated
for 10 seconds.
• Parking/Tail lightfunctionality.
• Override function.
• Custom delay time andVoltage cutout.
Auto Headl ht On Kit Lights on keys on 12V/24V (IALK001)
$
190
C T G
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2
2 1
3
T
P
Start Assist Booster Kit 12V kit to suit IDCDC40 DC to DC battery
charger (IDCDCSA)
$ 125
Features:
• Automatic emergencyvehicle start with IDCDC40
• Start Assist:
The Start Assist BoosterKit when used in conjunctionwith the Ironman4x4 IDCDC40, is anoverride function allowingthe vehicle to start utilisingthe auxiliary battery.
• Boosts DC to DCcharger output to 80A
• Boost Charge:
This kit will also double the40A output of the Ironman4x4 IDCDC40. Allowing up to80A for the initial fast chargeof the auxiliary battery.
Electric Brake Controller 12V Microprocessor with remote head
(IEBC001)Features:
• Compatible with electric stabilitycontrol (ESC)
• New gen microprocessor based
• Easy adjustment dashboard knob
• Dashboard LED Indicator
• Convenient override control
• Dual and single axle capability
• Remote hideaway control box
• Mountable at any angle
• Compact and rugged housing
$ 180
12V Di For single and dual battery setups
(IDBM001)
Features:
• Can be used on dualor single 12Vbattery setups
• Easy view voltages of main or auxiliary batter
• Over and under voltage indicators
• Auto-dimming display
• Mounting kit included
ies
$ 135 Prices do not include freight or fitting. Prices are subject to change without notice
POWERED SOLUTIONS
Features:
• 3-stage 12V Booster Charger
• 40A max output (80A with startassist kit)
• Charges Flooded, GEL, AGMand Lithium Batteries
• Selectable output voltage
• Over current and tempprotection
• Remote charge statusLED indicator
• Very low standby current
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66
86
CONTENTS
10 campertraileraustralia.com.au
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traderv s.com.au 11
REGULARS
12 FIELD EDITOR’S LETTER
Old vs. new
14 NEWS
Get the scoop
18 ON THE WEB
What’s happening online
21 BORGY’S BUSH MECHANICS
Creative campsite kitchen
27 ROOTHY’S SHED
Cause and effect
144 BRIGHT IDEAS
Tried tips from true campers
146 BULLDUST
The last site standing
148 NO FIXED ADDRESS
The high life
150 SHE’LL BE RIGHT
Loaded gun
152 ON THE ROAD
Real readers living the dream
154 CAMP COOKING
A welcome change
156 HOTSHOT
Wollondilly River Station, NSW
158 EVENTS
Upcoming events around Oz162 PRODUCTS
The latest gear
CAMPER TRAILERS
34 ALTITUDE ULTIMATE
Lightweight hardfloor
44 ALLIANCE WARRIOR
Softfloor with space in spades
56 BLUE TONGUE OVERLAND XR
Impressive imported rear-fold66 IVAN DAKAR
Comfortable, capable and great value
76 JAWA CRUZADER
Functional forward-fold camper
FEATURES
86 BORGY’S BUDGET TOURING GUIDE
Stay longer for less
94 DON’T LEAVE HOME WITHOUT...
10 essential items100 12V CAMPER MODIFICATIONS
Real campers show off their upgrades
TRAVEL
108 WOLLONDILLY RIVER STATION, NSW
Float on cloud nine
116 RAINBOW VALLEY, NT
Striking gold
124 SAVANNAH WAY: PART 2
Limmen NP to Borroloola134 GRAMPIANS PEAK TRAIL, VIC
Exploring on foot
124
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12 campertraileraustralia.com.au
I’ve always had a real soft spot for old
4WDs. They just seem to have a sort
of charm and character about them
that make a fella feel right at home!
You readers would al ready know my old
Troopy’s a bit of a sweetheart, even if I do
say so myself, but with half a million kays
on the clock, you can rest assured she’s
taken me to some pretty awesome places
over the years. Plus my old 80 series (Uncle
Grump ) has blasted up more tracks than a
1980s logging truck.
But I’m going to call a spade a spade here– the maintenance on these old beauties will
dead-set bring a tear to your eye, and not
in the good way either. I mean, I’ve said it
before and I’ll say it again: when I’m not out
on the tracks wheeling and exploring, I’m
back in the shed, you know, fixing broken
stuff! All those grazed knuckles and greasy
fingertips have taken their toll on me lately.
In fact, I can’t believe I’m going to say this,
but I’ve been having naughty thoughts about
getting my hands on a later model 4WD. You
know – one of those flashy fandangle ones
that seem to be getting around everywhere
these days.
I don’t know if I’m getting lazier or smarter,
but there’s definitely plenty of appeal to
go with a newer vehicle. Comfort, turn-key
reliability and, in a lot of cases, improved
offroad technology are the mains benefits.
But, for me, there are still a few concerns
in the bush-ability department. I mean, are
those fancy electronics going to be more
trouble than they’re worth on the tracks?
Will a new vehicle be tough enough to carry
on the legacy of my old Cruisers? And thebiggie – can I handle scratching up a new
vehicle or will I turn into Old Fusspot on every
overgrown track I tackle?
If you’re waiting for me to give you the
answer here, you’re barking up the wrong
tree – this one’s fair dinkum got me stumped!
There’s just too much history and memories
attached to my 4WDs to even think about
selling them just yet, but I’ll tell you what,
there’s no harm in adding a new 4WD to the
crew now is there?
— Borgy
OLD VS. NEW
NEW BUSINESS ADVERTISING Tel: 1300 366 651
Email: [email protected]
DIYads.com.au
PRIVATE ADVERTISING Tel: 1300 362 272
ADVERTISER SERVICES Tel: 1300 362 355
MANAGING EDITOR Max Taylor
PRODUCTION EDITOR Laura GrayFIELD EDITOR Michael Borg
DEPUTY EDITOR Rachael Doherty
DESIGN MANAGER Danielle Beadman
DESIGNERS Claudia Moreira & Nicholas Ramsamy
EDITORIAL AND NEWS
Locked Bag 12, Oakleigh, Vic 3166
Tel: ( 03) 9567 420 0 Fax : (0 3) 95 67 4100
PHOTOGRAPHY
SENIOR PHOTOGRAPHER Ellen Dewar
STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER Nathan Jacobs
DIGITAL
DIGITAL CONTENT MANAGER Emma Krieger
VID EO P RO DUC TIO N MA NAG ER Elle Tosolini
MARKETING
BRAND COORDINATOR Dominique Maclean
CORPORATE DESIGNER Caroline Garde
CIRCULATION AND RESEARCH
CIRCULATION MANAGER Stuart Jones
ADVERTISING ENQUIRIES
GROUP SALES MANAGER Grant Manson
0417 052 819 [email protected]
BRAND SALES MANAGER Simone Thomson
(03) 9567 4155 [email protected]
STATE SALES MANAGER - NSW Matthew Rice
0404 672 196 [email protected]
STATE SALES MANAGER - QLD David Wiltshire
0466 009 383 [email protected]
AGENC Y S ALES MA NAG ER - NS W Max Kolomiiets
0415 869 176 [email protected]
AGENC Y S ALES MA NAG ER - VIC Andrea de Kauwe
0409 117 675 [email protected]
VIC CD Media (03) 9583 8377 [email protected]
QLD Bernard Raffaut
0466 776 302 [email protected]
SA Nick Lenthall
0439 485 835 [email protected]
NSW Danielle Gowan
0435 065 325 daniell [email protected]
WA Greg Boase
0408 516 176 greg.boase@bauer trader.com.au
FINANCE
GROUP REPORTING MANAGER Cain Murphy
EXECUTIVE GROUP
GENERAL MANAGER TRADER DIGITAL Nigel Dearing
GROUP FINANCE MANAGER Richard Wein
GENERAL MANAGER TRAVEL & OUTDOOR Rob
Gallagher
CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER Keith Falconer
SUBSCRIPTIONSTel: 136 116 Fax: (02 ) 9267 4363
Web: magshop.com.au
Campertrailer Australia Subscriptions
Reply Paid 4967, Sydney NSW 2001
FOR ADVERTISING TERMS
& CONDITIONS GO TO:
www.bauertrader.com.au
Camper Trailer Australia is published by Bauer Trader Media, adivision of Bauer Media Limited.
ACN 053 273 546, ABN 18 053 273 546. All material in Camper Trailer Australia is protected by the Commonwealth Copyright Act,1968. No material may be reproduced without written consent.
*Recommended maximum retail price. Distributed by Gordon & Gotch. Printedby PMP, 31-35 Heathcote Road, Moorebank, NSW. ISSN 2205-0515
THE CAMPFIRE
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BUILT TOUGH.BUILT FOR
AUSTRALIA’S BEST TRAY-BACK SOLUTIONS.
Single & double swags
C H E C K O U T O U
R R A N G E
A N D S H O W D
A T E S A T
T R A V E L A N D E R . C O M . A U
Dual and single cab models available
OF THE YEAR
EvronDC2
WINNERSlide-on
Travelander
OF THE YEAR
GeoConvert 2
FINALISTOver $45k
Travelander
Find us on Facebook
For more informationor dealer locations call1300 2 TRAVEL
With all the experience of
outdoor camping behind us
we’ll equip you for the perfect
escape! We have crossed many
roads, traveled through deserts
and viewed the true beauty
of Australia in its raw
and untouched state.
So if you’re serious aboutoutback adventure; then our
campers and products are
worth exploring!
T R A 4 9 2 2
F U L L P A G E
A D 0 2
C T G-F P - 5 1 4 4 2 2 5 - C S - 0 9 0 -X C C
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The 2016 Victorian Caravan,
Camping and Touring Supershow
was held over six days at the end of
February and, with more than 350
exhibitors showing off their wares, there
was a huge array of campers, caravans,
motorhomes and accessories on offer.
Prospective buyers browsed the more
than 60,000sqm of exhibition space at
the Melbourne Showgrounds. This is the
second year the event has been held at
Flemington and the show’s new, more
central home was well-received once
again.
The camper traile r market was, of
course, well-represented. Camper Trailer of
the Year (CTOTY) winner Patriot Campers
(Softfloors up to $50K category) had two
new models on show, with the focus on
its new entry level camper, the compact
Patriot X2 which, at $28,990, has the same
construction methods as its X1 model, but
comes in a foot shorter at only 3m-long
and weighing only 700kg. Also on display
was its X1 Limited Edition, available in
white, slate grey or green, with a slightlysmaller bed that folds up at the end for
A SUPER SHOW!CLOCKWISE FROM TOP: Punters browsed the well lai d
out displays; Northstar launched the Traveller 700SC
slide-on; Mount ain Trail had the EDX with replaceable
panels on display; Buyers inspec t the new, compact
Patriot Campers X2.
extra living area, a new drawer layout, and
additional awning space over the barbecue
area and entrance.
EzyTrail had an array of its brightly
coloured hardfloor K-Series models
set up for buyers to peruse, including a
range-topping $25,000 white Lincoln LX
complete with internal club lounge area, a
slate-grey Stirling LX, and a bright orange
Albany GT.
US-based Northstar slide-on campers
recently appointed Jeff’s Shed in Kyabram,
Vic, as national distr ibutors and took
the opportunity to launch its brand new
Northstar Traveller 700SC at the show. The
$42,990 slide-on camper fits the back of
a small extra or single cab ute, sleeps up
to four people and is fully-detachable for
freestanding use.
Another CTOTY winner, Mountain
Trail Campers, brought along its electric
opening and closing rear folding EDX
hardfloor model that took the trophy in the
2016 hardfloor category (Up to $60K), as
well as its latest release Escalade softfloor.
Complete Campsite was also there withits hard-top Exodus range, while Southern
14 campertraileraustralia.com.au
Land Campers had its hybrid pop-top PT12
model and PT16 complete with internal
ensuite on show.
With the mercury hitting nearly 40ºC
during setup the day before the show
opened, exhibitors were relieved with the
drop in temperature in time for opening
day. A cloudy, humid morning turned into
a warm, sunny day, but plenty of shady
umbrellas and cooling stations as well as
icy refreshments helped keep energy levels
high and the overall vibe from visitors and
exhibitors was certainly positive.
— Ali Millar
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SCORPION MICRO-HYBRID SPARKS RHINOMAX MOVEQueensland RV manufacturer Rhinomax Off
Road Campers has commenced production
on the Scorpion micro-hyrbid at its new
1600sqm premises in Maroochydore.
Measuring a little more than 3m long,
the new ‘micro-hybrid’ camper features
an aluminium and reinforced fibreglass
body riding on a galvanised chassis and
independent coil suspension at just 1160kg
Tare and 80kg (unladen) on the ball. The new line offers a choice of two models,
with the range topping RX enjoying a large
storage box up front with fridge slide, alloy
wheels and a wind-out awning. The new RX
is also geared for off-the-grid touring with its
the external pop up ensuite and hot and cold
shower, a water draw facility, internal toilet,
a large suite of drawers, a comprehensive
power pack and 300W of roof-mounted solar.
Co-owner Steve Punton said Rhinomax Off
Road Campers deployed several space saving
initiatives in the Scorpion line, including the
new queen size bed that retracts into the roof.
Mr Punton said the Scorpion was
developed in nine months using Solidworks
software, with production starting immediately
due to the new two-factory plant, which hasincreased the company’s output three-fold.
In response to its increased capacity,
Rhinomax Off Road Campers launched an
interstate dealer network, welcoming Mike
and Anita Pavey from The Dirt Camper Trailer
Sales & Hires to the fold.
Visit www.rhinomaxcampers.com.au.
CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT: Rhinomax Off Road
campers takes the Scorpion micro-hybrid out for a
beach run; Cooking comforts all under cover; Raise the
queen size bed for a lounge befit ting a camper of larger
dimensions.
NEW
Scorpion Off-Road 15’ 6” with a FULL ENSUITE featuring remote control hydraulic roof lift and front slide-outThis camper trailer is suited perfectly for travelling couples due to a comfortable double innerspring mattress with bathroom and toilet amenities. The standard inclusions comprise of
galvanized chassis, 12” electric brakes, tuff rider coil independent suspension *rated 2500kg, D035 hitch, rear tool box, 16” rimes with all terrain tyres, front boot storage, front stone shield,
bumper bar spare wheel, 2 x 110amp deep cycle batteries, 12v power supply, 2 x 4kg gas bottles, 2 x 60L water tanks, step light LED, roof hatch, remote control hydraulic roof lift and front
bedroom slide-out, composite wall paneling, 1 piece fiberglass roof, double internal power points, 3 way 90L fridge, separate 3 burner stove, separate stainless steel sink, L – shape lounge
with table, rolled post form bench tops, LED lights throughout, smoke alarm, 12v electric water pump, full rear ensuite separate shower and toilet, 12v cassette toilet, hand basin, hot water
service, full block out curtains, quality fabric and vinyl seat covers, high density foam cushions, al-ko drop legs, timber or modern light weight doors, gas bayonet and picnic table.
Coming soon: Chameleon wheelchair accessible camper! Coming soon: Chameleon wheelchair accessible camper!
Melbourne Head Office
Westernport Caravans & Accessories Pty Ltd Factory 1/11 Simcock Street, Somerville VIC. 3912T (03) 5977 8194 or Chris 0429 167 103
Queensland | by appointment only
www.kakaducampers.com.au
PROUDLY MADE IN
AUSTRALIA
THE SCORPION OFF-ROAD, FULL ENSUITE CAMPER TRAILER
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RHINO-RACK ON COMMON ROOF-TOPPER TRAPS
EWS
PEACE OF MIND FOR
DOMETIC CUSTOMERS
Dometic has launched a care program for its
products, for easy access to repairs en-route.
Travellers who register selected products
under the new Dometic Care Program will
receive a unique Dometic Care number for
instant access to service and repairs. Once
they’ve enquired at www.dometiccare.
com.au or called the customer care team,travellers are directed to the closest authorised
service agent for priority service, saving time
searching for repairers in unfamiliar locations.
The free Dometic Care Program is available
for selected Dometic, Aircommand, Atwood,
Eberspacher, Truma, Milenco and WAECO
products.
07 5500 5503Call us now for more informatione: sa [email protected]
0
-
www.emucampers.com.au
V ‘R ADER DE ERT ERIE F RWARD F L XTREME 4x4
$7,450 *
$15,585 *
$9,650 *
F R
O M
F R
O M
F R
O M
FINANCE AVAILABLE
SHOP ONLINE NOW
Rooftop tents are great for remote camps
but with many being purpose built, pitfalls
are rife. Rhino-Rack urges first-time buyers
to research prior to purchase for optimalsafety, pleasure and value out on the tracks.
Many rooftop tents weigh between
40-60kg and how your 4WD will handle
it, your awning and the required support
structure varies from model and maker, so
check your vehicle manual first. The rack
system style also needs to match your 4WD
(www.rhinorack.com.au has a great guide).
Whatever system you use, its ratings should
account for a moving or ‘dynamic’ load just
as your vehicle load rating does.In many setups, the ladder doubles as
an access point and structural support, so
camp on firm ground and carry a stable
base – a few pieces of timber will do the job.
Finally, if you choose an awning like the
270° Foxwing Awning, you’ll avoid having to
constantly retreat up top in rain or the heat.
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07 3865 9999 | www.tjm.com.au | /TJM4x4
Visit your local TJM store and get equipped for on and off road, work or play.
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1 0 2 0 M M HA R D C H R O M E D
P I S T O N R O D
H I G H P R E S S U R E
T H R E S H O L D O I L S EA L
N 2 C HA R G E D
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2
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1. 6 M M O U T E R
T U B E WA L L
H I G H G RA D E
DA M P E R O I L
4 0 M M B I G B O R E P I S T O N
Q UA L I T Y BA N D E D T E F L O N
P I S T O N S EA L
C O M PA C T O U T E R
CA S E D IA M E T E R
M U L T I S TA G E D V E L O C I T Y
C O N T R O L L E D VA L V I N G
S EA M L E S S W E L D S & S T I T C H
W E L D E D C O N S T R U C T I O N
H I G H D U RA B I L I T Y B U S H E S T W I N T U
B E D E S I G N
5 9
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XS RANGEprovides improved bodycontrol and comfort for TJMLegal Lift suspension
XT RANGEprovides superior body andload control for heavy dutyTJM Legal Lift suspension
F EA T U R E S
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18 campertraileraustralia.com.au
WHAT’S HAPPENING ONLINE AT CAMPERTRAILERAUSTRALIA.COM.AU
Find us online!
CAMPER TRAI LER
DES TINA TIONSNEED INSPIRA TION FOR YOU
R NE X T
TRIP? WE’ VE GO T YOU CO VERED
WEB
ISSUE 99 APRIL 2016 $ 8 .95 inc GST
h j f b ! :
;
REAL CAMPERS SHARE T HEIR SECRET S
U ADES!Easy 12 V olt
BUDGET T OURING GUIDE
A l t i t ude ’s la t e s t t e s t e d!
BORGY ’S ROOT HY ’S
NOW i AD!CTA IS NOW AVAILABLE IN A DIGITAL EDITION.
DOWNLOAD FROM THE APP STORE TODAY
NEW VIDEOS ONLINE:
• Track Trailer Topaz Savannah •
• Cub Kamparoo Brumby •
• And more! •
LIKE US ON FACEBOOK!
Follow our touring exploits and get theheads-up on awesome camper contentby liking Camper Trailer Australia onFacebook!
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TO ENTER, VISIT WWW.CAMPERTRAILERAUSTRALIA.
COM.AU/COMPETITIONS AND TELL US, IN 25 WORDS OR
LESS, WHAT YOU LOVE MOST ABOUT CAMPERTRAILER
AUSTRALIA, AND WHY?
* Terms and conditions apply. Competition opens on 24 February 2016 and closes 23 March
2016. Visit campertraileraustralia.com.au/competitions for full terms and conditions.
COMPE TI TIONWE’RE GI VING AWA Y FIVE CAMPERTRAILER
AUSTRALIA SIX-MONTH MAGAZINE SUBSCRIPTIONS.
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3 MONTH ROAD TRIP
2014 Follow the Sun Ambassadors
Kellie, Corey & Zac Stephenson
For more information about the competition, the
Pink Minnie and to enter, visit the website today!
www.dometicfollowthesun.com.au* Conditions apply. See website for full Terms and Conditions. 151204R
ENTRIES CLOSE8 MAY 2016
CRUISE IN COMFORT FOR A GOOD CAUSE
The 3 winners also receive up to $10K travel
package for accommodation and fuel.
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trad ervs.c om.a u 21The camper you want is now easier to find
IT’S TIME TO STRIP THINGS BACKTO BASICSAT YOUR NEXT CAMP COOKING
SESSION. WORDS MICHAEL BORGPICSMATT FEHLBERG
If we need something these days, anythingat all, we head straight to the shop and
buy it. Whatever happened to the good
old days when we got a bit hands-on and
made stuff for ourselves? Sure, a store-bought
item usually looks flashier but, seriously, when
did we campers attain the need for the fanciest
gear? Making your own stuff is all part of the
charm on a camping trip and it keeps the kids
entertained as well.
So let’s take a look at a few creative ways
you can make do with what you’ve got, in
order to cook up a feed out in the bush. It’s all
about letting your creativity take the stage, andshowcasing your ingenuity to, well, yourself.
Plus, with some simple and easy camp recipes
using nothing more than some aluminium
foil and a fire as cooking implements, I can
guarantee you’ll be dead-set drooling in no time
at all. Heck, you’ll be wondering why you bought
half of your cooking gear after trying these DIYs.
So if all of the above sounds good, and you
don’t mind a few quirky yet handy hints along
the way, then it’s time to sit down, relax and
take it all in as we run you through creative
camp cooking 101.
CREATIVE
CAMPSITE KITCHEN
BUSH MECHANIC
ABOVE: Camping is the perfect environment
to enjoy life without all of our modern
conveniences.
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If you’ve got two empty soft drink or beer
cans, you can make a stove using the two
bottom halves. Simply cut both of them in half,
insert a bit of cloth or cotton wool inside one
of the cans and fit the other half a can (bottom
up) inside the first can.
Thenpoke a hole or two inthecentre of
the top can soyou can fill the stove upwith
methylated spirits and poke several more
holes around the top outside diameter of the
can for the burners.
To light it, simply pour some of the fuel on
top and light it up. Once it starts to boil, it will
ignite the fuel inside and, hey presto, you’re in
business!
DIY CAN STOVE
Every now and then desperate timescall for desperate measures, like when
you forget your spoon and it’s time for a
coffee! Granted, you’d have to be pretty
desperate for a spoon to actually do this,
but you never know.
Simply grab an empty soft drink bottle
(1.25L works well), and cut it in half. Then
cut your spoon out down towards the
bottom of the bottle. Try and cut as close
into the bases centre as possible as this
area is thicker, and gives the spoon a bit
more rigidity. It also gives it a nice curve.
FORGOT YOUR SPOON?
Kick this one off by cutting an old toilet roll or
similar into 3-4 pieces. Then grab a few cotton
buds or even lint from your clothes dryer, and
smear a decent chunk of petroleum jelly into
them before jamming them into the cardboard
toilet roll pieces. And that’s it, they’re ready
to go!
These things will put a flame out a good 2in
high, and will burn for up to 15 minutes.
For easy lighting, ignite it from a bit of cotton
bud that’s not covered in petroleum jelly. Keep
a few of these bad boys ready to go and they’ll
make you look like a pro the next time you go
to light a fire in front of your friends and family.
DIY FIRE STARTERS
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BUSH MECHANIC
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Sick of losing your tongs? This one’s a
cracker! Simply grab an old belt or strap,
and wrap it around a trunk or log. Adjust
it tight, and hang a few wire hooks from it.
If you choose a pre-cut log you can move
it around. Hang pots, pans, tongs or any
cooking utensil you can think of, and the
top ofthe log can evenact asa bench or
chopping board! How’s that for fancy?
HANDY UTENSILS
This one’s more for fun than anything,
but the kids will love it – for the first few
minutes, anyway. Simply curl a bit of
fencing wire up at the end so the snagcan
fit through. Make sure the handle is long
enough so it doesn’t burn your hand, but
you’ll need fairly heavy gauge wire to ensure
it doesn’t sag too much. Another idea is to
stick the ends in a log and givethem a turn
every few minutes.
SNAG ROASTERS
There’s nothing worse than having the spice
jars rattling around in the back, plus those
old round jars aren’t exactly space efficient.
One simple and insanely cost effective
alternative is to simply empty the spices into
plastic resealable sandwich bags. They’ll
take up less than half the original space, they
won’t rattle and you can carry as much as
you want.
SILENT SPICE STORAGE
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TAMEYOUR ADVENTURE-FUELLEDHUNGERWITH THESE BORGY-APPROVED
FLAME-KISSED SNACKS. WORDS MICHAEL BORGPICS MATTFEHLBERG
TASTY TANTALISERS
Some of my favourite campsite recipes
require next to no cooking utensils at all.
So why have a crack yourself? You’ll be
camping back-to-basics in no time.
UNTIL NEXT TIME, EH? After feasting on some (or all) of these recipes
using my dead-simple cooking methods, I reckon
you’ll know why it’s worth taking a walk on the
creative side the next time you head for the scrub.
Sure, you can probably buy bigger and better
things down the local shop but where’s the fun in
that? The next time you’re out camping, give some
of these a crack, I guarantee you’ll love it!ABOVE: Flame-kissed dinners out on the
tracks. It doesn’t get better than this.
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tra derv s.c om.a u 25
BUSH MECHANIC
The camper you want is now easier to find
12 large baby mushrooms
150g cream cheese
CHEESY MUSHROOM BALLS
150g blue cheese
Salt and pepper
Parsley
Hot barbecue sauce (if desired)
Bacon (6 slices)
Start by cleaning the mushies and
removing the stems. Then, add the
cheeses, salt and pepper, parsley and
sauce into a container and mix well
together before stuffing it into your
mushrooms.
Slice a piece of bacon in half and wrap
the mushroom up securing it with a tooth
pick through the side so it still sits evenly
on the grill.
Cook it for about 4-6 minutes each side
or until the bacon is just starting to crisp.
Then enjoy the hell out of it! Oranges Chocolate brownie mix (cake mix works, too)
Aluminium foil
Vanilla ice cream
Start by cutting the top off the orange
about a quarter of the way down, and
remove most the actual orange from
the skin, leaving a bit on the bottom
and up the sides for added flavour.
Mix up your brownie mix, and pour
it into the orange skin. Now to keep
this quick and easy, you can just
use a brownie mix ready to from the
store. Or to go one step further, grab
a few of those self-saucing pre-made
brownies and use those instead.
Wrap the orange in 2-3 layers of
heavy duty aluminium foil and place
on a bed of hot coals for roughly
15-25 minutes. The orange flavour will
blend in with the chocolate sauce and
brownie. Serve with ice cream and it’s
guaranteed to be a hit!
ORANGE CAMPFIRE
BROWNIES
Ice cream cones
Banana
Dried fruit
Peanut butter
CAMPFIRE CHOC CONES
Cadbury Caramello chocolate
Mini marshmellows
Choc chips
This one’s as simple as they come. Simply
stuff those ice cream cones with enough
sweet stuff to sink a battle ship and you’re
just about done. One tried and tested list
of ingredients is mentioned above, but
don’t limit yourself to that.
Once you’ve filled the cones up, simply
wrap them in a few layers of foil and place
on the coals. Now these won’t take long
at all, seeing as you’re literally just melting
the chocolate inside. So keep a close eye
on them or you’ll end up burning the cone.
Get it right, and you’ll be the king of the
camp kitchen!
HAM AND CHEESE LOAF
1½ tbsp of Dijon mustard
Poppy seeds
¾ 3/4 cup melted butter
1½ tsp of Worcestershire sauce
1 tablespoon dried minced onion
Unsliced loaf of bread
Shaved ham off the bone
Cheese (pick something tasty like Swiss cheese)
Mix mustard, poppy seeds, melted butter,
Worcestershire sauce and minced onion
in a bowl. Slice the loaf evenly all the way
through, and line with cheese and ham. Pour
a thin layer of the liquid mix over the top and
wrap 2-3 times in aluminium foil. You can put
this straight in the coals but you’ll lower the
chances of burning it in a camp oven. Cook
for about 15 minutes with the majority of coals
on the lid and remove when the cheese is
melted and the bread is lightly toasted.
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tra derv s.c om.a u 27The camper you want is now easier to find
NIP THE PREDICTABLE CONSEQUENCES OF TOWING OFFROAD IN THE
BUD WITH COMMON SENSE, THE RIGHT GEAR AND A RESPECT FOR
ROUTINE. WORDS JOHN ‘ROOTHY’ ROOTH PICS ANTHONY WARRY/LOWRANGE
ROOTHY’S SHE
Chooka brought it up the other night
during our weekly training session for
the Australian Olympic darts team down
at the Mudflats Hotel. Yes, you’re right,
none of us have actually made it to the Olympics
but then half of us are lucky just to hit the board.
It just sounds so much better when you’re
explaining Thursday night to your wife, though...
Chooka and Loretta are planning another big
trip bush for the winter season and, with a brandnew Goldstream RV in tow, things have kicked
up a notch from the old blanket-under-the-trees
travel of their cour ting days. He’s done plenty
of adventuring in his time but, while there are
no worries the Goldstream will handle the job,
Chooka’s main concern was what might change
given the extra work involved towing.
Of course, Kevvy chimed in with his own
advice, mostly centred around how much more
food and beer they’ll be able to enjoy with all that
extra space. And Porker Baton had a bit to say
about it, too, like how much more quality fishing
time a bloke could enjoy knowing his wife was
comfortable back at camp.
Yep, my mates are pretty useful if you need
a hand with a big plate of prawns or knocking
over a free keg, but when it comes to the more
serious stuff, well, they’re prepared for it but are
pretty good at avoiding it, too.
And that is pretty much the crux of towing
big-time offroad – be prepared for trouble but
go out of your way to avoid it! There are alwaysplenty of detailed reports in these pages on
the same subject but seeing as I had to get my
head around it for Chooka, I figured it’d be easy
to share it with you as well. Some of it, anyway,
at least as much as I can fit on these beer
coasters...
DAILY RITUAL
Towing anything means the vehicle is working
harder than normal so the first thing to do is a
fluid check each morning. That means lifting the
bonnet. On most modern cars, you can eyeball
TOP: Even a mild creek bed can put twice the
strain on a vehicle with a caravan or camper
strapped on the back. No problem, but you do
need to allow for it!
CAUSE & EFFECT
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the brake fluid and it’s not hard to dip for the
oil and steering fluids. The biggie, of course, is
the transmission fluid in an auto because it’s
responsible for powering the torque converter
and tightening the bands as well as lubrication.
And more load means more work.
So if the transmission fluid is down a tad then
there’s less oil doing the work which translates
to the heat that kills an auto. You probably
know that and have fitted a transmission cooler
already but it doesn’t matter whether we’re
talking a few kilometres up a Fraser beach or
climbing out of the Finke – once you add a soft
surface and a few dips, you’ve got a recipe for
cooking more than fish!
Fluid checks should be right up there first
thing with a look at the wheel nuts, a check of
the hitch and wiring, and a shake of the safety
chains. But the biggie once you’re doing a bit
of offroading is to have a good look underneath
the entire rig. You’re looking for oil leaks onthe ground that tell their own story, depending
what they’re under and also any sticks jammed
up under the chassis. It doesn’t take much of
a stick to rip out a brake or fuel line and they
have a habit of doing nothing for ages until they
suddenly decide to pole vault off a rock.
Tyre pressures are important on-road, but
absolutely crucial offroad. A decade ago,
nobody ever considered letting the pressures on
the trailer tyres down but now most of us realise
a flatter footprint reduces load when you’re
travelling on sand or loose gravel.
ABOVE: With a good snorkel setup and a
modern engine with hydrostatic fan, there’s
not a lot to fear from water crossings but
the golden rule is to keep the motor running
afterwards to dry things out. Either lift the
bonnet and let it idle the steam off or do a
few more miles.
ABOVE RIGHT:The most common si tuationtowing up a beach is to get bogged in soft
sand. However, it’s vital you use quality
recovery gear – not the cheap polyester
stuff – and make sure you at tach it to
genuine recovery points on the vehicle and
not the lightweight loops used to tie them
down on transporters.
CENTRE LEFT: It’s not just traction that’s
directly related to tyre pressure, modern
tyres with a bit of deflation will ride over
stakes and sharp rocks, too. But remember
to do the trailer’s tyres as well, aiming for a
similar footprint right around your rig.
CENTRE RIGHT: Towing through softersurfaces puts a big strain on the motor
which, in turn, stretches the cooling
capacity to its limits. No problems if your
radiator, hoses, pump and coolant are all in
good condition but any weak link will turn
Old Faithful into a St anley Steamer.
FAR RIGHT:Daily checks on everything
fluid-wise are the cheapest form of
insurance you can have. Diffs and
gearboxes can be checked just by looking
for puddles under the vehicle.
28 campertraileraustralia.com.au
Plus, we’ve gone a long way from the old
belief that the harder a tyre was, the less chance
there was of a puncture. That furphy has been
reversed (mind you, Kevvy still reckons you’ll getfurther after a puncture if there’s more air to leak
out and pumps his up accordingly).
It’d be possible to fill a ute with tools and still
not have the one you need, so the trick is a bit
of versatility and no doubling up. My own golden
rule – based on a lifetime of ‘do-it-yourselfing’ –
is to always carry whatever’s required to fix the
last thing I fixed. But hopefully you’re leaving
home in something a tad more modern, eh?
A SAFE RETURNOh boy, I’m in deep water here, and not just
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because it’s after closing time and I forgot to
call my wife. I’ve opened up topics here that
could take books to address and we’re running
out of space! But the one thing I absolutelyhave to mention was the first thing Chooka and
I covered.
If you’re adventuring, you need to be
prepared to recover the vehicle. And after this
last year of LowRange DVDs where Kenno
either towed a camper or a van on all the trips,
it’s pretty obvious that the first vehicle to get
stuck will be the one pulling a trailer.
So two things are required – one, the
common sense not to go travel stupidly
impossible tracks (not always a big component
of making good television!) and two, really good
The camper you want is now easier to findThe camper you want is now easier to find tradervs.com.au 29
ROOTHY’S SHE
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recovery gear. You don’t need a winch with the
lot – although it’s almost mandatory if you’re
travelling on your own – but you do need quality
gear. Given the extra strain of a trailer, the most
dangerous thing on earth can be a recovery
involving stuck vehicles and big weights.
Given the cotton-wool-wrapped nature of
life under a government trying hard to outlaw
common sense, you’d think snatch straps,
shackles and things would have to be covered
by legislation. They are, but bureaucratic
laziness and general lack of real-life
experience mean that legislation comes under
the ‘crane slings’ standards. Now there’s a
world of difference between static lifting a few
tonnes and twanging the same out of a creek
bed bog!
Not that long ago there were only a few
companies supplying offroad recovery
equipment and they all had reputations toconsider and customers they wanted to
come back. These days, you can buy stuff
that’s often half the price from all sorts of
online shops and the like, and while it looks
the goods, if it’s cheap it’s probably not. The
reason is polyester – cheap to make, looks the
part but has exactly the same flexing charac-
teristics as those nasty blue plastic tarps and
the same horrible habit of losing its integrity
with a bit of sunlight and age. The real things
are made with nylon – much more expensive
but with built-in flex and longevity, too. Pay
TOP: Of course, the most recoveries you’ll
probably have to handle will be after a bit too
much effort around happy hour. Here, I’m
working up to a great recovery with Dave,
the sole inhabitant of Restoration Island.
His home-brewed beer didn’t leave much to
restore, I can tell you...
ABOVE: Few tools have as many potential
uses as a butane-powered soldering iron.
Apart from joining wires – often an issue when
towing in rough country – they’re pretty good
at welding plastic radiator tanks, loosening old
nuts and, err, hollowing out didgeridoos, too.
more, but live to come home!
Phew, and I haven’t even got around to the
difference between genuine recovery points
on a vehicle and the ones welded on at the
factory to facilitate tying said vehicles down
on transporters. Maybe we’ll look at that next
time, eh? If I’m still alive at any rate. I can hear
my wife and her Morry outside, not too hard,
seeing as I still haven’t fixed the tail pipe, and
both of them are roaring.
See what happens when you try and help a
few mates?
OOTHY’S SHED
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The camper you want is now easier to find tradervs.com.au 35
LIGHTER AND
ALTITUDE CAMPERS’ NEW ALUMINIUM-BODIED ULTIMATE DELIVERS
A LOT OF BANG ON AND OFFROAD FOR ITS SUB-TONNE TARE.
WORDS DAVID GILCHRIST PICS NATHAN DUFF
BRIGHTER
REVIE
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MEASURING UP
> Hinged kitchen and large pantry
> Storage drawer with under-bed
access
> Easy-clean fibreglass floor
> Genuine queen-size bed
> Tropical roof
> Diesel heater
HITS
MISSES
> Could do with bedside storage
pockets
> No LED lights for annexe
CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT: At less than 1tTare, the Ultimate promises manoeuvrability
on the tracks; Goodrich Grabber AT2
tyres instil confidence on and offroad; We
could have thrown a lot more at this rig;
Auxiliary fuels up front are encased for
added protection; Riding on proven Vehicle
Components suspension.
When you think of altitude, images
of high forest-clad peaks by deep,
dark valleys spring to mind. So
Queensland’s Sunshine Coast
hinterland, south-west of Gympie, was a
fitting place to test the new Ultimate by
Altitude Campers.
Director Brian Johnston launched Altitude
Campers a little more than two years ago on
the back of previous manufacturing and camper
hire businesses, with the view to establishing the
Maryborough facility as a source of high quality,
value-packed, Aussie-made camper trailers.
So, with that lofty ambition, my chance to playwith this camper came with great expectations.
AROUND THE OUTSIDE
If first impressions are anything to go by, the
Ultimate makes the grade. It wasn’t shiny
and brash, instead it came across as a very
functional, tidy camper.
It looked easy to use, with a few nice comforts
plus all the essentials such as storage, gas,
lighting and cooking close at hand.
So, with all those boxes ticked, we got around
to setting it up and having a closer look at a little
hideaway called Cedar Grove, 12km west from
the peaceful country village of Amamoor.
We hitched the camper to our tow vehicle
with the Ultimate’s Vehicle Components
Hitchmaster DO35 hitch. That’s the right sort of
kit for the job, considering it has a load rating
of 3.5t, which is ample for most camper trailers
including this one. It was part of the equipment
list that also included Vehicle Components
Cruisemaster coil-sprung suspension and a
sturdy construction which convinced me it could
cope on tracks a little bit tougher than those it
conquered on our test run.
Everything looked very promising when wearrived at camp, as the main tent was easy
to set up in a matter of minutes. In next to no
time, we had the tent unfurled were opening
up the windows and doors – this is great news
for anyone travelling with kids or just doing an
overnight stop en-route.
Camping in Queensland’s Sunshine Coast
hinterland comes with the potential for hot,
humid days, so airflow around the tent is
important. Consequently, it was great to see the
camper’s tropical roof, which was set as a fixture
on the roof of the tent, automatically deployed
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The camper you want is now easier to find tradervs.com.au 37
REVIE
“When you consider the camper’s low Tare of just under atonne, it’s unlikely you’ll ever overload it”
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38 campertraileraustralia.com.au
CLOCKWISE FROM ABOVE: Setting up for an
overnight camp is easy; Sheltered access to
the large storage box and the entire kitchen;
Orient the kitchen parallel or at 90 °; External
access to storage under the bed is relatively
deep; The spare wheel swings away for easy
rear access; Dedicated storage for small and
large pantry items; Monitor your battery, fuses
and water storage from a single point.
without fuss as we rolled the tent off the trailer.
While the speed and ease of the basic setup
was a big plus for those wanting to swiftly
settle the kids in the shade, establishing a more
elaborate camp is a slightly different story. On
the plus side, the Altitude Ultimate has a large
awning that more than doubles the living space
but its size means it chews up time getting it set
up, with many poles and struts required to get it
looking right.
TOUGH STUFFBuild-wise, Altitude’s Ultimate is a model of
quality. The camper has a sturdy chassis of
50x50x2.5mm RHS galvanised steel. Up front,
where you might expect to most wear and tearduring travel, Altitude chose 100x50x4mm RHS
galvanised steel for a strong drawbar ready for
all the twists and turns of offroad or back-road
travel. All up, the entire chassis and drawbar
construction looks sound.
Under the chassis, Altitude selected ideal
riding gear for its Ultimate: 2t-rated Vehicle
Components Cruisemaster suspension. And
when you consider the camper’s low Tare of just
under 1t, it’s unlikely you’ll ever overload it – even
with the two 80L water tanks filled. (I reckon any
owner who can weigh down a small camper
CTA RATING
1. FIT FOR INTENDED PURPOSE
2. INNOVATION
3. SELF-SUFFICIENCY
4. QUALITY OF FINISH
5. BUILD QUALITY
6. OFFROAD-ABILITY
7. COMFORTS
8. EASE OF USE
9. VALUE FOR MONEY
10. X-FACTOR
with more than a tonne of extra baggage oughtto stay at home and phone a friend).
Maximising the strength-to-weight ratio in
the Ultimate was a priority for Altitude and the
company deftly achieved this through the use of
composite aluminium panels for the body and a
honeycomb-insulated fibreglass floor.
ON THE INSIDEWith the structure and suspension sorted,
high on the wish list for any camper trailer owner
is to have ample storage. And Altitude has
provided plenty in the Ultimate in three well-
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The camper you want is now easier to find
orchestrated ways. The first is an enormous drawer that is
accessible from the rear when the camper is still
packed away and from inside the tent after it’s
unfurled. For those that like to carry a wardrobe
full of clothes and other gear, this drawer is
almost the full width of the trailer and very deep.
The great thing about this massive drawer
is that it’s also accessible by lifting up the
genuine queen-size bed, allowing you to fully
utilise the adjacent area for a card table or
bunk beds. This storage access also reveals
two smaller storage compartments; one is
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really a plumbing maintenance hatch, while the
other is a small hide-away storage hatch.
The bedroom has reading lamps for the bed
and general purpose lighting courtesy of a
central LED strip.
The internal dimensions are within the scope
of a typical hardfloor camper, although a strip
of vinyl below the innerspring mattress allows
for a bit more room under the canvas, making
it a comfortable space for two or a few. The
main annexe has Velcro on the walls for an
optional room if you need more.
In terms of external storage, the camper has
a front boot for the jerr y cans, diesel heater
and gas bottles and behind that on the driver
side a huge open hatch for wet camping gear.
CONVERTIBLE KITCHEN The sl ide-out kitchen, with a Thetford Spinflo
cooktop triple-burner gas stove and sink, is
the third surprise, as it opens out on a hinged
mount. This allows the chef to change the
position of the kitchen, locking it parallel to the
tent or at 90° to suit the weather or their needs.
> More pictures> Specs to compare
> CAMPERTRAILERAUSTRALIA.COM.AU
Gas cylinders 2x4kgWater 2x80LCooktop Three-burner cooktop on aslide-out drawerKitchen StainlessBattery 2x120Ah AGM
> ACCESSORIES
$39,990 (plus on-road costs)
> PRICE AS SHOWN
To enquire about this camper, visitwww.campertraileraustralia.com.
au/spec or phone (07) 3073 8480
> ENQUIRIES
Box size 3450x1900mmLength (hitch to tail lights) 4850mmTent size 4650x1800mm
> DIMENSIONS
Tare 980kg
ATM 2000kgSuspension Vehicle Components2T Cruisemaster independent withsprings and trailing armsBrakes 12in electric with handbrakeCoupling Vehicle ComponentsHitchmaster DO35Chassis 50x50x2.5mm hot-dipgalvanised RHSDrawbar 100x50x4mm hot-dipgalvanised RHSBody Aluminium compositeWheel/tyre 16in alloy 265/75 R16Style Rear-fold hardfloor
> TRAILER
CTA SPECSALTITUDE CAMPERS
ULTIMATE
2x Gas bottles
Fridge
Queen Bed w/ storage
ink Awning
Three-burner stove
2x err Cans1 each side
Main Floor
F i r e w o
d
r a c
k
Pantry draws
Hot water & Heating
Diesel
Shower set Heater
Ensuite
Optional Kids room
ABOVE: There’s hot and cold water plumbed
to the shower. RIGHT: Stork lights by the
bedhead and internal canvas flaps typify the
Ultimate’s user-friendly design.
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Immediately beside the slide-out kitchen
is a generous twin drawer pantry and next
to that is a fridge slide with an 80L Waeco
fridge-freezer on board. Weighing in at around
29kg and drawing something like 2A, this
fridge is a worthwhile inclusion. The pantry
hatch also provides access to the battery
management system. This makes this kitchen
area feel much like a general utility hub where
you can turn your snags, switch on the heater
and make sure your batteries are charged
within reach of a cool beer.
The camper’s elec trica l system runs off
two 120Ah AGM batteries and a Redarc 1230
Battery Management System which, like the
fridge, are accounted for in the 980kg Tare. For
my money, the nice thing about this system is
that it’s got a bit of a green preference. Thatis, if 12V solar power input is available, solar
power will be chosen to top up the batteries
before relying on a mains source or DC
vehicle power.
With the power sorted, LED strip lighting
helps you find your way around at night and
you can plug your gadgets in any one of three
easily accessible 12V.
While the diesel heater keeps the interior
of the camper cosy on cold winter nights,
the back side of the camper will keep you
clean with an external hot and cold shower.
Now here’s the kicker – you can enclose the
external shower with the ensuite annexe;
simply pick up some rubber mats from anycamping supplies retailer and you’ll have a
proper little indoor bathroom.
THE VERDICT
The Ulti mate by Alti tude Campers is a grea t
camper for two people or a small family and is
equally suitable for an outback long-haul or a
quick getaway on the weekend.
The degree of fi tout belie the simple yet
strong and lightweight design.
Solar panels and annexe walls would
complete it for me.
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CLOCKWISE FROM TOP RIGHT: Stepping up
to a genuine queen-size bed; There are three
points of access to the drawer system under
the bed; The hot and cold water plumbing isaccessible from inside.
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INSTANT EMPIRE
QUICKLY STAKE YOUR CLAIM AT CAMP WITH THE ALLIANCE
CAMPERS WARRIOR SOFTFLOOR CAMPER.
WORDS AND PICS DAVID GILCHRIST
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MEASURING UP
> A sizeable tent with ample storage
around trailer
> A quality kitchen with large pantry
> Sturdy 14oz canvas, double
stitching throughout
> Easy set up
HITS
MISSES
> Powder-coating finish could be
better around some drawers
> Inconsistency in the qualit y of the
welded joins
> Placement of pantry above the
slide-out kitchen
> Heavy Tare weight
CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT: The dampers
and coils ride as one; Six-stud LandCruiser
style wheels; The Warrior has the goods for
rough road travel; Ample external storage;
The wheel carrier pivots on two points for
easier handling; A 25A charger tops up two
100Ah batteries; Extra safety chains up front;
Multiple access points on the toolbox.
There’s a lot said about the quality of
internationally-sourced camper trailers
and how they compare to those
made here. And, after 12 months of
manufacturing offshore, Alliance Campers
reckons it has made the right strides in terms
of design, style and build quality. So I took a
look at the top-of-the-range softfloor camper,
the Warrior, to see if it was a bantamweight or
a true contender.
LOCAL DESIGNWhile Alliance campers are imported, they are
manufactured in the Alliance’s own factory in
China and built to an Australian design. The Warr ior i s the resul t of e ight months
of research in Australia, during which time
All iance produced four prototypes, each
a refinement of the previous one, before
arriving at the current design, which is now in
production.
FROM THE GROUND UP All iance Campers touts its Warrior
step-through softfloor camper as an offroad
camper. That suggests it should have
adequate suspension and a chassis and body
construction ready to handle the tough stuff
that the Australian bush can dish up.
A look around underneath revealed a
chassis of 60x40x4mm hot-dip galvanised
RHS attached to a drawbar of 100x50x4mm
hot-dip galvanised RHS. The body panels
are powder-coated aluminium to protect
against corrosion and to keep the camper
weight down.
Suspension-wise, the camper has shock
absorbers, heavy duty coil springs and trailingarms, which is a common setup in offroad
camper trailers.
Crawling underneath, my first impression
was that this camper was sturdy enough, but
I did wonder if one of the drawbar members
was cut as precisely as it should be. However,
All iance offers a five-year structural warranty
on the trailer, which put my mind at ease.
There was an enormous amount of storage
space with every available nook and cranny
utilised in powder-coated aluminium drawers.
On the downside, the finish of some drawers
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was uneven, with the paint skin having
bubbled slightly in areas. At the time of this
review, Alliance was outsourcing its hot-dip
galvanising and power-coating processes
but, the good news is that, since this review,
All iance has brought its powder-coating
inhouse to its own factory in order to have
greater quality control.
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COMFORT AND EASE
As for the question of design, A lliance
Campers’ Warrior had the right stuff with
storage in the bedroom, under the steps in
the main tent and around the trailer including
a large front end storage box. The main
tent storage is quite remarkable with a large
slide-out drawer ample enough to keep most
of your camping bric-a-brac.
One of the camper’s most standout features
CTA RATING
1. FIT FOR INTENDED PURPOSE
2. INNOVATION
3. SELF-SUFFICIENCY
4. QUALITY OF FINISH
5. BUILD QUALITY
6. OFFROAD-ABILITY
7. COMFORTS
8. EASE OF USE
9. VALUE FOR MONEY
10. X-FACTOR
CLOCKWISE FROM ABOVE: Elastic and hooks
help keep the canvas taut and operating at its
best; Two pairs of hands make light work ofthe awning, which rides attached; The awning
covers the entire kitchen area; There’s enough
room to fit camp cots under awning, even
when you take into account the size of the
door; There’s self-supporting benchtop either
side of the four-burner cooktop; The fridge
slides out to reveal even more storage space;
The kitchen pulls out from the camper’s rear.
is the speed with which we went from arr iving
on-site to having the main tent up and ready
to use. It’s an ingenious, graceful system
for a softfloor camper that may even leave
some hardfloor enthusiasts green with envy. It
involves rolling the tent up and over, adjusting
a few of the internal pre-fitted poles then
hauling the floor out from underneath. It’s fast
and simple and that’s just what you want.
While the main tent took only one or two
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minutes to establish, the annexe setup took,
perhaps, another five. However, that’s still a
lot faster than many other softfloor campers
I‘ve seen. The effort to erect the annexe is
definitely worthwhile as it almost doubles the
living space and provides coverage for the
slide-out kitchen. It’s worth considering that
the combination of the annexe together with
the main tent probably provides enough living
and sleeping space for a family of five.
The cook ing area includes a useful stainless
steel kitchen slide-out with a sink and drainer,
hose and electric pump and a four-burner
stove. Then there is a fridge slide-out with a
food fridge and enough space for a second
fridge to keep your bait or beer cold, plus
a large slide-out pantry that has heaps of
storage space.
The position of the generous pantry over the
kitchen slide-out would force me to be more
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EVIEW
organised than I’m normally am before starting
to cook but, just the same, the kitchen areaand the overall storage space were among the
best aspects of this thoughtful design.
SETTING UP CAMP The Warrior of fers owners two key ingredients:
easy, quick set up and plenty of space. Easy
set up means you’re getting down to camping
quicker and that’s better for everyone. More
space in this instance, among other things,
comes with better access to the bed thanks to
side steps. The internal staircase is a popular
feature in softfloor campers but poor access
CLOCKWISE FROM TOP: A walkway provides both partners access of the bed, note the DVD player and sound
system; Poles are sewn in to reduce setup times at camp; The flyscreens allow light and air to circulate through
the tent.
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www.southernlandcampers.com.au
Live your Dream
to Explore Australia In Your Southern Land Camper
Unit 6, 36 Barry St,
Bayswater. VIC 3153
03 9720 [email protected]
to best suit your needs!
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EVIEW
RIGHT: The tent is high and has large windows
to bring the best of the weather in.
BELOW RIGHT: There’s plenty of room for the
kids’ beds in the softfloor tent.
> More pictures> Specs to compare
Gas cylinders 2x9kg holdersWater135L tank with lockable waterfiller and electric water pumpCooktop Four-burnerKitchen StainlessBattery 2x100Ah
> ACCESSORIES
$24,999 (plus on-road costs)
> PRICE AS SHOWN
To enquire about this camper, visitwww.campertraileraustralia.com.
au/spec or phone (07) 3085 2830
> ENQUIRIES
> CAMPERTRAILERAUSTRALIA.COM.AU
Box size 2800x1800mmLength (hitch to tail lights) 4700mmTent size 2800x5200mm
> DIMENSIONS
Tare 1390kg
ATM 2000kgSuspension Heavy duty independentwith dual shock absorbers, coilsprings and trailing armsBrakes 12in electricCoupling Polyblock offroadChassis 60x40x4mm hot-dipgalvanised RHSDrawbar 100x50x4mm hot-dipgalvanised RHSBody Powder-coated aluminiumWheel/tyre 235/75R15 tyres, six-stud LandCruiser stud patternStyle Softfloor step through
> TRAILER
CTA SPECSALLIANCE CAMPERS
WARRIOR
Sink Four-burner stove
Queen bed
Under sleepdraw
2 x Gas bottles
Jerry Can
2 x Spare whee s
Main floor Awning
fridge
is the sort of thing that can turn a camping
weekend sour very quickly, so this is important.
Although it arguably means a larger trai ler, as I
have more generous proportions, I’d rather thespace than something with a compact design.
The downside is that in th is case, extra space
means more weight to tow. And a Tare weight
of a smidge under 1400kg is getting a bit on
the high side for a softfloor camper trailer.
Power-wise, the Warrior looks to have the
right stuff with two 100Ah batteries, a 25A
seven-stage Projecta Battery Charger and a
1000W pure sine wave inverter to help meet
your needs. For those who like to travel with an
array of electrical entertainment gadgets, there
is a DVD player and plenty of USB and power
outlets. Pick up some portable solar panels and
you really would have a decent power system.
THE VERDICT The Alliance Campers has all the hallmarks of
a brand on the move. While there was some
room for improvement in terms of fit and finish of
the Warrior, it was easy to set up and provided
plenty of living space.
A commitment to development, an impressive
determination to listen to customers and a
substantial structural warranty all show Alliance
Campers’ willingness to join the game for the
long-term.
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THE BLUE TONGUE OVERLAND XR IS COMFORTABLE
AND EASY TO USE OUT ON THE TRACKS.
WORDS DAVID COOK PICS MATTHEW FEHLBERG
KNOWHOW
REVIE
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MEASURING UP
> Good design and engineering
> Comprehensive fine-tuning of all
areas
> Excellent electrical system
> Huge fridge capacity
> Good range of options on the
canvas
HITS
MISSES
> Restricted access to pole storage
when set up
> Ensuite wall issue interfering with
essentials
> Carpet in jerry can storage area
> Limited access to the Redarc
battery monitor panel
CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT: Coated metal
stoneguards protect your auxiliary supplies up
front; The internal lockers are carpeted ; Two
awnings allow for wall-to-wall coverage on
extended stays or fuss-free shade at a quick
stop; Two stainless steel tanks provide 150L
water capacity for extended st ays out on the
tracks; Your choice of gas ring sizes to suit yourgas consumption.
In the past decade, the Australian camper
trailer industry underwent a significant
changes when it went from having an almost
exclusively local manufacturing base to one
where many models are now produced abroad.
The quality of the imported offerings varied
greatly in those early years, but the standard of
workmanship and design in recent years has
steeply improved. Now, in line with some of the
brands seen at Camper Trailer of the Year 2016,
along with the release of other new modelssuch as the Blue Tongue Overland XR, the gap
appears to be closing.
Blue Tongue has established itself as a local
manufacturer of high quality side-fold softfloor
camper trailers but, as interest in competitively-
priced rear-fold and forward-fold hardlfoors
increased, the company sought an overseas
supplier. After trialling several sources in 2015,
Blue Tongue began shipping in three designs
from China for assembly and customisation in
its workshop in Kirrawee, NSW, and haven’t
looked back since.
WHAT IT’S GOT
The Blue Tongue Overland XR rear-fold camper
on review doesn’t break any new ground in
camper design, but it has made some great steps
forward in quality and functionality.
The basic design follows that of a traditional
rear-fold camper. It is built on a solid chassis
and drawbar made from 100x50x4mm hot-dip
galvanised tube. The drawbar runs back to the
front spring hangers and arrives in Australia in one
piece for optimal strength, as opposed to beingbolted together during assembly which can form a
weak point under the chassis.
Also under the floor are 100L and 50L
stainless steel water tanks, each complete with
checkerplate stone shield.
The suspension is a fully-adjustable dual shock
trailing arm independent setup with 12in electric
brakes and high-load 16in alloy rims. A front winch
assists in opening and closing if you feel the need,
but the guys from Blue Tongue recommend, and
easily demonstrated, the old fashioned lift and pull
approach, which places less strain on
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CLOCKWISE FROM TOP: The new boat rack;
Lift and pull or use a winch; Optional solar
panel up top; A good depth for an easy pack-up.
the tent bows.
The fully welded steel body is smar tly finished
in a two-pack off-white with grey highlights and
stainless steel trim. It is 590mm deep, which
is more than enough to provide for plenty of
internal storage and easy pack-up, saving a lot
of straining and fiddling around to get the canvas
in on the mattress. The side awning can remain
attached during pack-up to save the need for its
removal and reattachment each time you break
and make camp.
COOKING
The kitchen is all stainless steel and includes a
three-burner Smev stove, sink, mixer tap, with a
pull-out extension at the end for additional prep
space. The kitchen and the extension both require
a supporting leg under the end. Under the bench
are cutlery and utensils drawers and a smallstorage space around the base of the sink.
Immediately adjacent to the kitchen is the fridge
slide that’s big enough for an optional fridge up
to 110L. Next to that is the pantry, consisting of
a long 560x150x145mm drawer and two shorter
drawers at 400 and 175mm deep, suitable for
items such as bottles. All drawers are carpeted
and the top of the longer drawer’s cabinet can be
used for additional prep space during cooking.
Lighting here is provided by an LED stork light
and a smaller side light which provides some
illumination in the general area.
CTA RATING
1. FIT FOR INTENDED PURPOSE
2. INNOVATION
3. BUSHABILITY
4. QUALITY OF FINISH
5. BUILD QUALITY
6. OFFROAD-ABILITY
7. COMFORTS
8. EASE OF USE
9. VALUE FOR MONEY
10. X-FACTOR
Setting up the tent is easy, and only requires
you to insert and extend the two front vertical
poles and two spreader bars at the rear. This sort
of adjustment is expected in a rear-fold camper
trailer tent with vertical front and rear walls. The
camper comes standard with a full-length side
awning which runs from the front, adjacent to the
hitch, to the back, but also with a shorter shade
awning which Velcroes