r e p m Ca s e r u t n e v d a l a e r real people on
$12. LE JUNE 20 2019 | ISSUE 139 | ON SA
trailer
95
MAXIMUm
australia
No road, no worries
,!3BD0A6-a hjfb!:K;q
drive
A bumper guide on
essential camper kit
G er! A M pl
plus
A red dirt adventure to end them all
m a Gascoyne s
The glorious
S T N E T CON REGULARS
52
6 EDITORIAL OUTBACK ODYSSEY
18 NUTS AND BOLTS water crossing wisdom
116 NEWS
ultimate on show, camping in china
124 LATEST & GREATEST KIT from the titan tray to an axle alarm
136 tasty tucker how to cook a yellow belly
140 events
130 she’ll be right
exciting things to do this july
a run-in with the world’s biggest roo
142 next issue
132 beneath the surface
we’re off to the kimberley, baby!
underground gas divides outback qld
134 NO FIXED ADDRESS
42
an ode to the channel country in flood
30
8
82
62
72
REVIEWS 42 RHINOMAX defender
62 TRAILBLAZERS stuart 5.5 hybrid
TRAVEL
FEATURES
30 ULURU, THE BACK WAY
10 CTOTY 2020 PREVIEW
52 GASCOYNE & PILBARA
92 MAKE YOUR BATTERIES LAST
72 CHANNEL COUNTRY
100 AWNING PEG ANSWERS
82 HYBRIDS IN HIGH PLACES
110 SILENCE YOUR WATER PUMP
A SECRET ROUTE THROUGH GREAT VICTORIA DESERT PLUS OUR PROUD HISTORY OF IMPARTIALITY A FAMILY TAKES ON AUSTRALIA’S WILD WEST A SCENIC CRUISE ALONG REMOTE BUSH TRACKS GLANCES OF THE GOLD RUSH IN BAW BAW N.P.
PRESERVE THEIR LIFE CYCLE AND SAVE DOSH WHAT WORKS AND WHAT DOESN’T?
THE PIPES, THE PIPES ARE CALLING – NO MORE!
9
Austrack at the 2019 REDARC Camper Trailer of the Year in Mudgee 10
OMING C P U E H T N O E T AN UPDA F TH E Y E AR O R E IL A R T R E P CAM We choose destinations that suit the camper lifestyle and provide testing offroad conditions
CAMPER
GEARS UP
Words Aaron Flanagan
FOR A BUMPER
CTOTY 2020 in
Production of the camper reviews that determine the composition of Camper Trailer of the Year is well underway. Here we pause, mid-year, and take an opportunity to explain how it all works. Pics MATT WILLIAMS 11
R MEANS A E Y E H T F O R E R T R AIL E P M MES A O C C F O IT N N E IO H T A W T E U T P U E “THE R E RESOL R A E W Y H W ’S CE TO N . IT E S R U E O H T D A G R IN U H O T Y D R EVE GING AN D U J R U O F O Y IT L CY ” TO T HE IMPART IA IT Y, FAIRNESS AND T R ANSPAREN EGR T IN F O S E L IP C IN PR
I
n each monthly issue of this magazine, we produce and feature reviews of the latest and greatest camper trailers available in the marketplace. Producing reviews that accurately reflect the current state of the camper trailer market underpins the substance and passion driving all content published across the Camper platforms. As a matter of course, based on the integrity of these reviews, a number of eligible campers are then invited to take part in Camper Trailer of the Year. The integrity of Camper’s review process is based on an uncompromising set of principles. These principles are the reason why we are able to produce Camper Trailer of the Year.
Under the direction of our photographers and videographers, event participants regularly find themselves immersed in beautiful Aussie scenery
12
Dave from Zone RV, Ben from BRS and the Patriot team at Mudgee
OMING C P U E H T N O E T AN UPDA F TH E Y E AR O R E IL A R T R E P CAM
Judges themselves tow the participating camper trailers
SO WHAT ARE THESE PRINCIPLES?
On top of the competitiv e asp Camper Trailer of the Yea ect, are a lot of fun for everyo r events ne involved
Since its inauguration in 2009, Camper Trailer of the Year has grown to become Australia’s most respected camper trailer awards; something of which we are rightly proud. Our reviewers are the best in the business. They are the best because, each month, they present an independent and impartial assessment of each and every camper they review. Some of our reviewers are then commissioned to be judges at Camper Trailer of the Year. It’s quite simple really: Camper commissions specialist outdoor 4WD journalists to independently assess, review and judge the campers they see before them, without fear or favour. As well as our reviewers being the best in the business, so too are our production crew of specialist adventure photographers and videographers. Upon completion of each event, all entrants into Camper Trailer of the Year are provided with an extensive multimedia package to promote their products across a range of media. The reputation of Camper Trailer of the Year means everything to us. It’s why we are resolute when it comes to the impartiality of our judging and our adherence to strict principles of integrity, fairness and transparency. All who have been involved with our review process, our event judging process, or had their product included in Camper Trailer of the Year can testify to the rigour of our principles and the quality of our multimedia outputs. 13
OMING C P U E H T N O E T AN UPDA F TH E Y E AR O R E IL A R T R E P CAM
PER M A C T A S R E P M DGE CA U J E W H IC H W N TAL LY N E M A D N U F “T HE BASIS O D E IN AS REMA H R A E Y E 09” H T 0 2 F O IN T N E V E T R AIL ER L A INAUGUR E H T E C IN S E M A THE S
The event strives to provide prospective owners, or existing owners looking to upgrade, with top quality, accurate information they can factor into their decision
THE JUDGING CRITERIA Our brand, and broader business, is built on a number of core values, one of which is transparency. Our content should always be defined by its quality, credibility and level of authority. Our judging team is chosen to reflect a wide range of industry-centric skill sets, from tradeskilled journalists who are passionate longtime camper owners to outback off-grid, offroad remote touring experts. Independent assessment of all prospective
entrants during the testing and review period of Camper Trailer of the Year is a critical aspect of each annual event. This in-magazine review period commences in early February and runs right up to the commencement of the testing and judging component, usually held in the middle of November. The basis on which we judge campers at Camper Trailer of the Year has remained fundamentally the same since the inaugural event in 2009. At each event, a team of four judges adjudicate and score the final entrants.
These adjudications and scores are then published in the first two issues of Camper magazine for the year — January and February. In order to be deemed eligible for Camper Trailer of the Year, and for the editorial team to understand if a camper is suitable for the event, every finalist must have been independently reviewed and featured in the magazine, or independently scrutinised and deemed suitable by one of our judges, prior to the event. Above all, Camper Trailer of the Year is a fun and thrill-packed occassion intended to show off and celebrate the attributes of a unique and exciting Australian manufacturing industry. All who attend have an opportunity to reflect, network and discuss common issues and their year’s results. Our ultimate aim is to foster growth and encourage the innovative development of an industry we are proud to represent every month in these pages and across all our digital platforms. Camper is absolutely pumped for CTOTY 2020! — AF CTA
THE SCORING SYSTEM, Explained FIT FOR INTENDED PURPOSE • 3 or under would suggest the camper is not fit for its intended purpose • A score of 3.5 - 5.5 suggests the camper can do most of what it sets out to achieve, but needs refinement • 6 - 8 indicates the camper is capable for its intended purpose • 8.5 - 10 suggests the camper surpassed expectations
INNOVATION • A score of 3 or less suggests the camper is poorly designed and put together • 3.5 - 5.5 suggests a passable run-of-the-mill design that fails to excite • A score of 6 - 8 suggests an excellent upgrade to a known design or style, done well • 8.5 or more is indicative of a new design that challenges and excites expectations of what a camper can be SELF SUFFICIENCY • Anything 3 or under would suggest you wouldn’t want to, or could not, live off the beaten track • 3.5 - 5.5 suggests there is room for improvement but that the camper is liveable away from services • 6 - 8 suggests the camper is not only 14
liveable but eminently comfortable while camping off-grid • A score of 8.5 or more is indicative of a camper that makes you feel at home, comfortable and extremely confident, while off the beaten track QUALITY OF FINISH • 3 or less suggests major flaws throughout the tested product • 3.5 - 5.5 suggests the camper carrys some minor, rectifiable cosmetic flaws • A score of 6 - 8 suggests a camper with an acceptable but basic finish • A score of 8.5 or more suggests a flawless finish of an impeccable standard
BUILD QUALITY • A score of 3 or less suggests the camper has major build quality issues needing immediate attention • 3.5 - 5.5 is suggestive of a camper with average quality needing some refinement • 6 - 8 suggests the camper is well made and up to expectation • Above 8 is reserved for campers showcasing a faultless and innovative build OFFROAD ABILITY • A score of 3 or less indicates the camper felt unsafe or was extremely difficult to tow
• A score of 3.5 - 5.5 indicates some issues during testing that need attention • A score of 6 - 8 suggest the camper towed well without issue • A score of 8.5 or more suggests the camper not only towed well but exceeded expectations, setting a new benchmark in offroad towability COMFORTS • 3 or less suggests the camper is missing vital components and is uncomfortable • 3.5 - 5.5 would suggest the camper is as comfortable as expected but misses some key components • 6 - 8 suggests comfort and well-appointed features • Above 8 suggests the camper has a level of opulence not before seen in its class EASE OF USE • A score of 3 or less suggests the camper has critical useability issues • 3.5 - 5.5 suggests the layout works but has some logical flaws • A score of 6 - 8 would be for campers with a comfortable, practical and easily understandable layout • 8.5 - 10 suggests the layout is unique, that everything works with an ease and logic beyond expectations
VALUE FOR MONEY • A score of 3 or less suggests your money should be spent elsewhere • 3.5 - 5.5 suggests the camper is pricecompetitive but perhaps not great value • A score of 6 - 8 suggests the camper is fair value for money, somewhat better than its competitors • Scoring 8.5 or more suggests the camper is exceptionally priced; there few competing with it for value X-FACTOR • 3 or less suggests the camper is completely uninspiring in all aspects • 3.5 - 5.5 suggests the camper has some appeal but no more than most other campers in its class • 6 - 8 suggests the camper as something different, interesting and appealing • 8.5 or more suggests the camper is groundbreaking, a class apart and genuinely exciting. If you would like to learn more about how the judging works, about the process, or about previous winners and finalists from past Camper Trailer of the Year events, head to: camper.hemax.com
13th - 15th SEPT at Sanctuary Cove Get ready for three days of off-the-charts excitement at Australia’s newest outdoor lifestyle event, OutdoorX. If you’re up for adventure, don’t miss your chance to see, touch and explore the latest in caravans, motorhomes, 4x4’s, trailer boats, campervans, water sport and so much more at Sanctuary Cove on the Gold Coast.
visit outdoorx.com.au
T O H S R E P M CA
OUT IN THE STICKS? That’s Home Turf Photographer: Nathan Jacobs Camera: Canon EOS 5D Mark III F-Stop: f/5.6 Exposure: 1/200 ISO: 800
16
17
WATER CROSSING WISDOM
Crossing water with a camper trailer can feel like jumping into the deep end, literally. Here are a few swimming lessons to keep you afloat.
Make a splash this winter PICTURE CREDIT: Getty Images/imv
Y
Words Steve Cassano
ou wouldn’t be a true 4WD adventurer if you didn’t like a challenge or two when out on the tracks. And if that challenge can look epic at the same time, we say, why not? One of the most picturesque challenges of all is the water crossing, which you’ll inevitably face whether you hit the harder steep inclines or tour on the open roads. There are many types of water crossings you may face. They range from as simple as crossing a shallow weir, to as difficult as precariously navigating a windshield-height river crossing, such as those commonly found in northern Queensland. There are just as many names for water crossings as there are types: ‘river crossing’, ‘creek crossing’, ‘underbody wash’... the list goes on. But whatever the body of water and whatever you call it, you can’t escape the need for prior planning and correct technique. Crossing water can be considered a two-part task. First comes preparation and second comes the crossing itself. That’s a long weir. Best to be prep ared! 18
nd a s t u N
S T L O B
An even bow wave makes for smooth sailing
19
TO ULURUThrough the Words Catherine Lawson Pics David Bristow
Great Victoria Desert
Scenic wonders, historical intrigues and thriving wildlife line this secret route to Australia’s red heart 30
S ADVENTURE
greatA
VICTORI
DE SE R T
C
runching across a shimmering white saltpan, sunset walkers make tracks across Lake Ballard, lured by intriguing ironstone sculptures that beckon them towards the far horizon. On the western edge of the Great Victoria Desert, Antony Gormley’s 15-year-old outdoor gallery is one of Australia’s most striking: 51 solitary, spirit-like figures cast from reallife locals, immortalised on a white desert landscape. A stay here, camped on the lake’s gypsum, by the mulga-fringed dunes, kickstarts your red dirt adventure to Uluru – the back way. From Lake Ballard across Australia’s largest desert, the Outback Way’s remote ribbon of red dirt pushes east to Uluru, pausing at crumbling painted canyons and lost caves, indigenous art sites and starry night campsites where dingoes howl on the edge of darkness. For all its thrills, there’s nothing technical about tackling this remote offroad border run into the Red Centre that shaves more than 1000km off the sealed alternative via South Australia, but there are just enough corrugations and bulldust to let you know you’ve escaped the pack. The route is peppered with roadhouses dispensing pricey fuel and powered sites for those who don’t want to rough it, so fill your tanks in Leonora and allow four to five days of exploring before the landscape suddenly rises and Kata Tjuta and Uluru appear on the eastern horizon. 31
Stocked with bream, Malcolm Dam will waylay diehard anglers and unhurried campers
This dam 10km east of Leonora stays full long into the dry season, attracting the region’s black swans, grey herons and pelicans, and offering up bream, carp and spangled perch OUTBACK ANGLING Sunsets on this route are amazing
32
The adventure hardly begins before breamstocked Malcolm Dam tempts diehard anglers off the track to shake out their rods for one last session and steal a catch of spangled perch from the waiting pelicans. Being deeper than surrounding waterholes, this dam 10km east of Leonora stays full long into the dry season, attracting the region’s black swans, grey herons and pelicans, and offering up bream, carp and spangled perch. The spacious waterfront camping is free, dogs are permitted and there are a couple of picnic shelters, fireplaces and rubbish bins too. It’s the last really significant water you’ll find once you rattle off the bitumen at Laverton, bound for the Red Centre, so don’t miss this chance to wet a line, paddle and swim.
Lake Ballard’s outdoor gallery is one of Australia’s most striking
there’s nothing too It’s rugged and remote but Centre border run Red this ut technical abo
S ADVENTURE
great
VICTORIAT
DE SE R
AUSTRALIA’S GREATEST DESERT
Life-sustaining water ling ers at Deba Gnamma Hole in the Ada m Ranges
The desert begins in earnest on the edge of Laverton: 700 kilometres of sandhills and ancient salt lakes and colourfully painted breakaways that crumble off the edge of the desert plateau. British explorer Ernest Giles earned European naming rights when he crossed the desert back in 1875 and endeared himself to the then-reigning monarch Queen Victoria. Modern desert explorers might assume that 424,400 square kilometres of some of the oldest rock on earth – stretching from WA’s eastern goldfields to the NT and SA’s Gawler Ranges – would be a desolate place to explore. But far from being a flat, featureless landscape, the northern fringe of the Great Victoria Desert will have you marveling at its painted canyons and isolated mesas that rise steeply and suddenly above endless spinifex plains. Striped with yellow and white soft clay sandstone and rusty red lateritic soils, the breakaways paint the desert in earthy ochre tones, dazzling under every shifting sunset. If you’re not in a hurry, you can take in the startling panoramic views camped at Giles (Jindalee) Breakaway, a scenic rest area just 56km north-east of Laverton. Conditions at this and just about every bush camping spot on the track are basic and relaxed; perfect for well-stocked solitude seekers chasing starry night campfires and unbroken serenity. On this stretch, don’t miss a walk at Deba Gnamma Hole in the Adam Ranges where water lingers in rock depressions or gnammas that are large enough to sustain dingoes, kangaroos and vast, colourful flocks of iridescent green budgies throughout the dry season. You’ll find it signposted to the north of the road, a short walk from the carpark. 33
From Laverton to Uluru, this route cuts through a little-seen desert landscape
t of Tjukayirla Scramble across the spinifex wes us rock art geno indi over Roadhouse to disc
FREEDOM CAMPING West of Tjukayirla Roadhouse, a white cross marks the location of rock art caves
34
The 500 kilometres of mulga and spinifex scrub that stretch on to a civilisation of sorts at Warburton Roadhouse are dotted with especially scenic free camps. Choose Limestone Well (56km past Giles Breakaway) or Minnie Creek Road rest area (another 85km east), and just over an hour’s drive beyond Tjukayirla Roadhouse, Camp Paradise or Manunda Rockhole. For power and showers, Tjukayirla Roadhouse charges $35 per vehicle ($30 for unpowered sites), which is a good deal for those with a crew onboard because kids and dogs stay for free. A camp kitchen and free gas barbecues keep things civilised and the roadhouse serves meals too. Current fuel prices are $2.25 per litre for both Opal and diesel, a little more than Warburton roadhouse up the track. West of Tjukayirla Roadhouse you can’t miss the enormous white cross, erected by Indigenous Christians on the hillside back in 1991 and marking the location of some rock art caves. Eroded into the edge of the escarpment, the caves are easily accessed via short
S ADVENTURE
great
VICTORIAT
DE SE R
More than a million camels roam throughout Central Australia, and for days on this trip they easily outnumbered the cars we passed
A ménage à trois in the sanctity of the bush
35
pathways carved through the spinifex. Sunsets on this stretch are amazing so if you’re ready to end the day, shoot for the auspiciously named Camp Paradise or the uber scenic Manunda Rockhole (92km and 122km from the roadhouse). A few kilometres past the rockhole, Desert Breakaway showcases lofty views south over a colourful panorama of crumbling sandstone. Warburton Roadhouse provides a mid-trip top-up – current advertised fuel prices are $2.10 per litre for diesel and $2.15 for Opal, plus well priced camps for pet-free travellers ($15 per person, $10 per child, and free for those under six years). East of here the corrugations deepen all the way to the NT border, but
Campsites are basic, free and perfect for well-stocked solitude seekers
36
the abruptly changing landscape is a helpful distraction. An hour’s drive past Warburton at Yarla Kutjarra Rest Area, we scaled a flattop rise above our protected camp, climbing past the kind of caves that dingoes call home. Rambling easily across the top, our hike afforded us grand sunset views of distant ranges beyond the mulga scrub and it was here than we stumbled upon a pair of camel resting places, unusual cleared patches on the rocky ground. At the edge of this mesa where a cairn overlooks the Great Central Road, we unearthed a tiny geocache, one of 35 hidden for hunters along the entire Outback Way. For top views and dingoes that sing you to sleep,
the camp at Yarla Kutjarra is one of the best, with a toilet, bin, information board and a couple of nice clearings with fireplaces. It’s been said that more than a million camels roam throughout Central Australia, and for days on this trip they easily outnumbered the cars we passed. They were solitary souls that stopped to stare, and big herds that stopped us in our tracks – females batting eyelids, following big bucks. Though you probably wont see them, a bunch of rare desert dwellers thrive in the Great Victoria Desert as well: a water-holding frog that burrows into the sand, the sandhill dunnart, and the endangered southern marsupial mole – one of the most unusual looking creatures in Australia.
S ADVENTURE
great
This remote offroad border run into the Red Centre shaves more than 1000km off the sealed alternative via South Australia, but there are just enough corrugations and bulldust to let you know you’ve escaped the pack
VICTORIAT
DE SE R
FACTS
GETTING THERE From Laverton to the NT border where the Great Central Road becomes Tjukaruru Road, and onto Uluru National Park, expect to cover around 1126km of dirt. 4WD vehicles and high clearance camper trailers are recommended. Allow four to five days. CAMPING Travelling east, basic roadside rest areas are located at Giles Breakaway, Limestone Well, Minnie Creek Road, Camp Paradise, Manunda Rockhole and Yarla Kutjarra. For power and showers, check into roadhouse campgrounds at Warakurna ($15/adult, free for kids under seven), Warburton ($15/adult, $10/child) or Tjukayirla ($30/vehicle for unpowered, $35/vehicle for power). TIMING Travel from April to September. FUEL Diesel and Opal (unleaded) fuel is available at Laverton, Cosmo Newberry, Tjukayirla, Warburton, Warakurna, Kaltukatjara/Docker River and Yulara. PERMITS Free transit permits to cross indigenous lands are required and available instantly online. To arrange, visit dplh.wa.gov.au for the Great Central Road and clc.org.au for Tjukaruru Road. Entry to Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park costs $25/adult ($65/family, $12.50/kid aged 5-15 years; valid three days and extendable at entry gate); see parksaustralia.gov.au. DON’T MISS Beanie Festival (June 28-July 1), Alice Springs Camel Cup (July 20), or the Henley-on-Todd waterless boating regatta (August 17). CONTACT For road conditions, weather reports and trip planning visit the Warburton Roadhouse web page, outbackway. org.au and australiasgoldenoutback.com. 37
Sandhills, ancient salt lakes and spinifex – this desert scenery is startling
We collected a mound of fallen timber and kicked back beside the campfire as an outback orchestra of dingo howls, bird calls and fire crackle warmed up the night INTO THE RED CENTRE Although the corrugations deepen as you bump and rattle towards Docker River and the NT border, the trip’s best scenery rises dramatically to the north and east where the rusty red peaks of the Rawlinson Range and Schwerin Mural Crescent create a dramatic spectacle at sunset. Detour north along skinny dirt tracks to discover some wonderfully scenic camping areas at the base of the crescent. Here we collected a mound of fallen timber and kicked back beside the campfire as an outback orchestra of dingo howls, bird calls and fire crackle warmed up the night. Except for the stealthy dingo whose footprints revealed a night-time visit, we were blissfully alone under a starry sky. Across the NT border lies a tiny riverside cave with a stellar story to tell. After finding a fabled vein of gold back in 1897 and losing it again, Lewis Harold Bell Lasseter set out 34 years later on an expedition to rediscover his reef.
38
Dust is no stranger on this route
Winter rains lure noisy pink Major Mitchells to waterholes beside Lasseter’s Cave
S ADVENTURE
great
VICTORIAT
DE SE R
Unfortunately for Lasseter, his luck ran out near the Hull River after his camels bolted, taking his food with them. Lasseter hunkered down for 25 days in a cave until, near to starving, he made a last-minute run for his life. It was too little, too late, because when Lasseter finally set out to walk east to Kata Tjuta, he covered just 55km before he died. There’s much speculation about whether Lasseter’s Lost Reef ever really existed, but you can decide for yourself with a wander to the cave where this infamous character spent his final days. After rains, screeching flocks of lurid pink Major Mitchells colour the still pools on the Hull River, and there’s a small picnic area signposted off Tjukaruru Road, 40km east of Docker River. n The rusty red peaks of the Rawlinso Range and Schwerin Mural Crescent glow at sunset
39
S ADVENTURE
At journey’s end, Uluru appears on the eastern horizon
great
VICTORIAT
DE SE R
First-time visitors to Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park will definitely want to spend at least a few days exploring ULURU Once Kata Tjuta appears on the horizon, the silence as wheels glide onto the bitumen is as startling as the heady scent of the squeakyclean tourists you’ll pass as you explore Kata Tjuta’s Valley of the Winds. This highly recommended trail winds a breathtaking path between soaring sandstone walls and weathered red rock monoliths towering 200 metres above Uluru (7km/2hrs). At Uluru, another 50km east, the easy Base Walk is a popular choice for those who prefer to stay grounded, leading to rock caves layered with art and seasonal waterholes (9.4km/3hrs). First-time visitors to Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park will definitely want to spend at least a few days exploring the park’s trails, interpretive centres, art galleries and all the free activities and talks on offer to campers staying at Ayers Rock Resort. Because you won’t pass through the national park’s toll gate by entering from the west, your first day exploring is free and, after that, a three-day extendable pass is worth every cent at $25 per person. CTA
40
Tread a breathtaking path between soaring sandstone walls at Kata Tjuta’s Valle y of the Winds
Explore a new frontier ON & OFF ROAD NAVIGATION
$688
ADVENTURE PACK Experience the breadth of Australia’s wide open spaces. The Adventure Pack includes: HX-1 Navigator, HX-1 Sun Visor, 4WD Adventures.
$54.95 4WD TRACK SEEKER PACK The 4WD Seeker Pack includes: Great Desert Tracks Simpson Desert , Cape York Map, The Kimberly Map, High Country Victoria Map.
$99.99
$99 HEMA GREAT DESERT TRACKS MAP PACK The GDT Map Pack presents Hema’s iconic Great Desert Tracks series in a soft and durable map wallet. Explore the arid centre with these comprehensive maps that traverse Australia’s desert regions — each map waterproof and tear proof.
4WD MAPS APP Utilise offline mapping and your device’s own in-built GPS receiver to see where you on detailed Hema maps, which feature roads, 4WD tracks, topographic information and points of interest to guide your travels off the beaten track.
shop.hemamaps.com NOW AVAILABLE
FREE SHIPPING OVER $50
MA X
r e p m a C
T S E T x DEFENDER RhinoMa
CAMPING capability England. Home to McLaren, Bentley, Rolls Royce, Jaguar and Aston Martin — some of the most refined automotive marques on the planet. It’s no wonder, then, that the creative force behind RhinoMax, a super-refined collection of hybrid campers, hails from old Blighty. A few days testing their Defender certainly left no doubt in Matt Williams’ mind. WORDS & Pics matt Williams
42
A
onto the bitumen — via a quick detour to the Kenilworth Bakery (if you’re in the area check out the 1kg donut challenge!) — before finally arriving at the Bluff Creek Campground. While it was the start of school holidays and there were already quite a few campers set up, there was plenty of room to spread out and find a spot of our own. A creek flows through the property, so if you’re staying for longer, remember to bring your boardies.
s we ventured along Booloumba Creek road, the sun low in the sky, a reddish cloak of dust trailing the LandCruiser and clouding the Rhino Max Defender Hybrid on tow, it dawned on me: it was school holiday time and I hadn’t booked a campsite. Our chances of finding a nice place were suddenly cast into doubt. Through one creek crossing and then another we arrived at the site and had our fears confirmed. A full camp. “Not to worry,” said Steve Punton, Director of Rhino Max, “I know another spot on the other side of Kenilworth.” Back through the creek crossings we went, down dirt tracks, past various horses, back
GETTING SET UP To say that setting up the Defender Hybrid is a quick and simple task would probably be the biggest understatement in this issue of Camper. I
Twizzling out the awning
Pop top raised, awning out, slide-outs slid. Time to kick back 43
The Defender certainly got immersed a few times on this trip, during our hunt for a campsite
HITS Extremely quick set up with automatic actuators to raise and lower roof Plenty of storage, both inside and out Two year manufacturer’s warranty plus an extended five year chassis and suspension warranty Narrow width Offroad ability
MISSES Water tank filler hoses running through electrical cupboard Fridge should be standard Location of fire extinguisher
Externally accessed storage, of which there is plenty
44
Cruisemaster XT independent coil spring suspension with twin shocks
didn’t have a stop watch on me, but even if I did, it would have been barely worth the effort. Drop down the stabiliser legs, unclip the roof, press the button for the electric automatic roof (raised by two internal rams), then wind out the massive awning and you’re done. Grab your chairs, kick back and relax. When the tummy starts to rumble and the worms start biting, it’s good to know that the gourmet kitchen is but the releasing of a few clips away. Appearing from a hatch in front of the wheel arch, the stainless steel kitchen first slides out, then an expandable bench top extends along the side of the camper, creating a fantastic cooking and food preparation area. A three burner gas cooktop and a stainless steel sink with a hot and cold mixer tap completes the package. Storage is also abundant, with a cutlery/utensil drawer and a utility space beneath the work area, and two pantry drawers above. Pull out the fridge slide located on the left of the kitchen to reveal a clever storage unit for pots and pans. The fridge slide will handle up to an 85L EvaKool fridge/freezer. Unfortunately, a fridge is not part of the standard inclusions, and will have to be purchased separately, or added as an option.
STORAGE FOR DAYS. WEEKS EVEN! There’s no denying that these days, we have a lot of ‘stuff’. And that when we head away for a weekend, a week or longer, we take a lot of this ‘stuff’ with us. Well, you’ll be happy to know the Defender has lots of places for you to put your ‘stuff!’ There are storage compartments and hatches all over the place. Perched up front is a mass of black powder coated aluminium. There’s spots for a couple of 20L jerry cans and a lockable box for two 4kg gas bottles (that are plumbed into the kitchen and hot water system). Behind these is a full width storage box with drop-down access doors on both ends. This is a space that could quite easily handle an extra fridge and slide or a generator, if required. If not, then it’s only left to your own imagination. Did someone say golf clubs? This camper has been optioned up with the diesel cab heater, so on the off side of the front storage box, you’ll find the diesel tank neatly tucked in and protected behind an aluminium shroud. Sitting on top of the big black box is an open storage unit, just perfect for when you need to collect a bit of firewood for the night. At the front of the camper, on the off side,
C amper
T TES D E F END E R RhinoMax
DER N E F E D E H T P U G IN “ T O S AY T H A T S E T T L E TA S K W O U L D SIMP D N A K IC U Q A IS ID HYBR EMEN T T A T S R E D N U T S E G IG PROBABLY BE T HE B A MPER” IN T HIS ISSUE OF C
Storage over the drawbar, for jerry cans, gas bottles, firewood and other goods 45
THE N O S D W 4 T S O M CKS OF A R T E H T IN INE� W H O C L A L O M F G L IN IL K W A T M A DREAM BRID T H T Y X H E E N N R O U O IS Y IS E H B T L “ RY WEL E V D L U O C D N A M A R K E T T O D AY Door unclipped, commence the smooth glide of the kitchen
there are three more storage compartments, all with bottom-hinged doors making it very easy to store stuff, and then take said stuff out again. The front box takes up the void behind the fridge compartment from the other side, and is designed to take a Baby Q or a small generator. Behind door number two is pretty much a cave. Camp chairs and tables, ground sheets and even a spare kitchen sink would all fit in there with room left over. The smaller of the three hatches houses the electrical hub of the hybrid. In there you will find a 200Ah lithium battery (upgraded from the standard 2 x 120Ah AGM units), an Enerdrive 40amp battery management system in both DC and AC variations, along with all fuses and the 240V/12V changeover switch. Mounted on the roof are a pair of 160W solar panels to keep your off-grid exploits fully charged. One thing I did notice while poking my head inside the electrical cabinet was the location of the water tank filling hoses. They run right through, over and past all the electrical gadgetry contained within this compartment. A damaged, cracked or loose filler hose may cause of some pretty expensive consequences. The last hatch at the back of the camper is where the removable waste holding tank for the Thetford Cassette toilet lives. Its operation is, as much as such a thing can be, pleasingly efficient.
46
Three burners, a sink and prep space on the slide-out kitchen
C amper
The relatively narrow hybrid following behind the tow tug on the secure DO35 coupling
T TES D E F END E R RhinoMax
CTA RATINGS RHINOMAX DEFENDER
MATT WILLIAMS
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
The 265/70R17 ATs getting wet, while the two 160W solar panels stay dry up top
47
CTA SPECS
RHINOMAX DEFENDER TRAILER Tare Weight 1740kg ATM 2500kg Payload 760kg Ball Weight 145kg Suspension Cruisemaster XT All Terrain 2600kg independent coil spring suspension with twin shocks Brakes 12” electric drum brakes Coupling DO35 3500kg coupling Chassis 150 x 50 x 3mm hot-dipped fully galvanised chassis with integrated draw bar Body 30mm insulated fibreglass composite panel construction (frameless) Wheels/tyres 265/70R17 All Terrains on 17in 6-stud Alloy Rims (can be matched to tow vehicle as an option) with single spare Style Hybrid camper trailer
DIMENSIONS Length (Hybrid) 15 feet 1 inch (4.6m) Length (Overall) 22 feet 8 inches (6.9m) including rear mounted spare wheel Width 6 feet 6 inches (1.97m) Travel Height 8 feet (2.44m) Internal Height 6 feet 11 inches (2.1m)
ACCESSORIES Water 1 x 125L and 1 x 85L tanks (fresh); 1 x 85L tank (grey). Truma gas hot water service and internal vanity sink with hot/cold water Kitchen External slide out with 3 burner gas stove, s/s sink with hot/cold mixer Fridge EvaKool 85L Gas 2 x 4kg Battery 200Ah Lithium battery system Solar 2 x 160W panels Options fitted 200Ah lithium battery; diesel cabin heater 2000W inverter; multimedia entertainment system (HD digital TV with integrated DVD/USB player plus external Winegard antenna); EvaKool 85L Fridge; electric automatic roof opening system; Sirocco 12V internal fan; cargo/wood basket on front storage box; rear view camera PRICE AS SHOWN $97,990 ENQUIRIES Rhinomax Campers Address 9 Kerryl St, Kunda Park QLD 4556 Phone 07 5338 7240 Email sales@rhinomax.com.au Web rhinomaxcampers.com.au camper.hemax.com More pictures
48
Specs to compare
Forget breakfast in bed; how about the much more practical breakfast one step from bed?
THE HIDDEN UNDERBELLY There is no use having a fancy camper with a heap of bells and whistles if what’s underneath isn’t up to the challenge. Thanks to the design and engineering team at Rhino Max, they’ve got you covered. Or should that be, “Got your under covered?” First up there is the one piece chassis and drawbar constructed from heavy duty 150 x 50 x 3mm galvanised steel. This runs all the way through to the rear of the camper where a pair of recovery points are located. This one piece chassis also provides the mounting point for the powder-coated steel rear bumper with recessed LED tail lights and single spare wheel carrier. Soaking up the bumps and helping to keep everything on an even keel when the going gets tough is the Cruisemaster XT independent coil spring suspension with twin shocks. For those wanting even more under their trailer, option up to the airbags for full ride height and levelling control. So the chassis and suspension get the tick of approval, but there’s something else that’s required in my books to prove a trailer’s true offroad credentials.
Underseat storage, eaten into a bit here by the wheel arch
C amper
T TES D E F END E R RhinoMax
GO O T T IL U ‘B E R A S CAMPER IR E H T T A H T REE” IM “RHINOMA X CL A WHAT I’VE SEEN, I’D T END TO AG ROM F ’ . E C N A T IS D E H T Are all those wires, hoses and gas lines that are run underneath the trailer mounted nice and high? Are filler points, water tanks, fittings and connections protected from flying rocks and the like? The RhinoMax Defender gets another tick here too. Wiring has been run high and out of the way and through chassis rails where possible. Gas lines the same, with convoluted split tubing giving a bit of extra protection and water lines following suit. The twin water tanks and grey water tank are made from heavy duty roto-moulded polyethylene with all vulnerable fittings mounted high or protected by stainless shrouds. Up the pointy end, a DO35 hitch keeps you attached to the tow vehicle, while a swingaway ARK jockey wheel is there for when you disconnect. There’s a handbrake to stop the
49
C amper
T TES D E F END E R RhinoMax
To the right of the entry is the TV, sink and drawers; straight ahead, the shower and loo
camper from rolling off down the hill and a breakaway brake safe system if things go pearshaped while on the road, as well as safety chains.
IT'S BIGGER THAN YOU THINK When it’s time to head inside for a snooze or a shower (that’s right ladies and gentlemen, this baby’s got a shower inside!) it might be a good idea to first grab a small portable step to help you get in. You see, with a camper that has this much clearance and offroad potential, there’s going to have to be a few compromises here or there. If that means less chance of getting hung up when entering or exiting a gnarly creek crossing, then hand me that plastic step. Once inside, I think you’ll agree with me and be quite impressed by just how roomy it feels. It’s light and bright and doesn’t feel cramped at all. The two double glazed front windows (with fly screens and blockout blinds), along with the four windows located in the top expandable skirt (also with fly screens) allow for plenty of light and ventilation. The 30mm thick fibreglass composite body and roof panels help to provide insulation and strength while keeping the weight down. A full size queen bed runs north-south at the front of the camper. Handy 12V charging sockets are located at the foot of the bed, allowing you to have your phone or the like charging while in bed, or if you are relaxing in the four seater lounge. If the weather’s a bit nasty outside, there’s reading lights either side of the bed, or
50
ADE M N IA L A R T S U A GE THE D E L W O N K C A O T FIT F OR IS IT L L E “YOU’VE GOT W W O H IT AND N U IS H T F O RING” Y U O IT T L ID R G F F O BUIL D QUA , FFROAD O S U IO R E S F O E THE PURPOS you can kick back and watch the tele (available as an optional extra). If not, pop some tunes on the stereo, crank up the volume and boogie the night away. Continuing on the theme from outside, there’s more storage inside than you can poke a stick at. Under the bed there are two deep drawers just perfect for your clothes, while running across the back of the camper is a storage unit with four more drawers and a pair of little cupboards. Above the drawers is where you’ll find the internal sink unit with hot and cold water, 240V sockets, USB outlets, as well as battery and water monitors. Hiding beneath the lounge cushions on the off side is the upgraded 2000W inverter (1000W standard), the Truma hot water unit, the water tank change-over valves and 12V pump. Under the seat cushions on the near side is where I have a couple of issues with the interior. First up is the rear of the switch panel, which is located The internal ensuite, with mountable showerhead and cassette
on your left as you enter the camper; it controls the internal and external lights, the water pump and the raising and lowering of the roof. Even though all terminals, wiring and connections are insulated, the wiring looks untidy and really needs to be fitted behind a shroud for protection. Under this seat is also where you will find the fire extinguisher. Not the most convenient of places when you need to access it in a hurry. It appears that I may have left the best ’til last. For those that don’t mind ridding themselves of the day’s grit and grime, there’s a little something just for you. A full size internal ensuite takes pride of place in the rear off side corner, complete with a Thetford cassette toilet and shower. The best thing is, even for all you tall folk out there, you can mount the shower to the roof and get the top of your head wet.
THE BOTTOM LINE I’m not going to deny that a 15ft hybrid camper at just a shade under $100k (with options) is a lot of money. But at the same time you’ve got to acknowledge the Australian-made build quality of this unit and how well it is fit for the purpose of serious offroad, off-grid touring. At 2500kg max and with a pretty healthy payload of 760kg, this is one hybrid that will follow in the tracks of most 4WDs on the market today and could very well be your next dream making machine. RhinoMax claim that their campers are “Built to go the Distance.” From what I’ve seen, I’d tend to agree. CTA
Explore Australia your way WITH HEMA’S GO-TO GUIDE
$39.95 Camper trailer touring is one of the most liberating ways to travel, allowing adventurous souls to push into some of Australia’s most remote and picturesque locations. Produced in collaboration with Camper Trailer Australia, the Go-To Guide for Campers covers everything you’ll need to know, presented in an easy-to-read format with plenty of pictures and, of course, a handful of Hema maps.
Available from mid August
shop.hemamaps.com
NOW AVAILABLE
FREE SHIPPING OVER $50
HIDDEN Words Georgina Burden Pics The Burden Family
OA SI S
The Burdens venture deep into the remote Gascoyne and Pilbara regions of WA as they continue their adventurous lap of Australia
L
ike a lot of Camper readers, my family likes to explore the parts of Australia that many people don’t see or skim over on their big lap. So naturally we decided to head inland from Carnarvon and take a few weeks to explore Gascoyne and Pilbara – two vast, thinly populated mid-northern regions, out of the nine that make up WA. These areas are full of natural rock formations, huge gorges and hidden treasures. Knowing what was ahead, we were just busting to get the tyres onto some red dirt!
Our mascot for the trip; this little fella has seen more of Australia than most
52
Cleaverville Exploring the rock pools at
Leave the 2WD at home
S ADVENTURE
GASCOYNEA & PILBAR
The colour scheme of these two WA regions is perfectly captured here!
53
OFFROADER, - MADE
to
Equipped for long stays off the grid, built to get you there, and comfortable enough for you to want to linger, the Trailblazers Stuart sets the bar high for hybrids. WORDS Sam Richards PICS Philip Cerbu
62
ORDER
r e p m a C
T S E T BLAZERS TRAIL RT 5.5 STUA
Putting out the awning; note the external pod kitchen on its far side and the firewood holder bel ow the two spare tyres
‘T
railblazers’. According to the Oxford Dictionary, ‘Trailblazer’ refers to... Just kidding. Trailblazers RV couldn’t give a stuff about conventions. They’ve thrown them out the window with their Trailblazers Stuart, which demonstrates originality par excellence. This brand isn’t about selling one-size-fits-all RVs; its focus is on developing a scaled-down number of high quality, individualised trailers. Their team has put in the hard yards to make their hybrids customisable, by modularising components, such they fit and slot into many possible combinations. Despite this yogi-like flexibility, the Stuart we saw in front of us in the Victorian High Country was one set-in-stone, decidedly staunch hybrid, with clear intentions: to get the user across tough terrain, sustain them away from resources, and keep them cosy into the bargain.
63
Red sand hills contrast with the deep blue sky on the Desert Drive, Welford National Park 72
S ADVENTURE
L C HANNE
COUNTRY
CHANNEL
COUNTRY
CRUISING
If you’re going to Queensland to see the folks, why not make the most of it by venturing out into the bright reds and vast azures of the Channel Country? Words & Pics Chris and Sandra Davis
73
GOING FO R G O L D
Part 1
Camper ventures into the lesser known Mt Baw Baw region of the Victorian High Country, in pursuit of golden content and pursued at every step by gold mining history
R
Words Sam Richards Pics Philip Cerbu
eal or fool’s gold? It’s a question everyone has to answer all the time, particularly us here at Camper magazine, where we continually try to tell apart the good, the bad, and the ugly of camper trailers. Figuring it out requires a hands-on approach. You can’t really tell if you’re dealing with genuine sparkle or false lustre when you’re looking from afar. That’s why we like to test camper trailers in the field. Of course, the field itself – that is, the testing grounds – can be real or fool’s gold too. In terms of how challenging the landscape is, but also in terms of how well suited it is to camping and adventurous travel. We like to ask, is this a place our readers would like to travel, and can we help
82
Parked on the main street of Walh alla
them experience it? Back in March, we had two hybrid campers ready to roll for a trip through the major destinations in the Victorian High Country. These were the Goldstream 1500 Series Remote RK ST and the Trailblazers Stuart 5.5. Our route included all the famous places with established reputations. Think Dargo, Mt Hotham, Mt Terrible. To us, as to many, this course already had GOLD stamped on it in big shining letters. Then, at the last minute, the area caught fire. The maps showed the extent of the uncontrolled and expanding blaze. On the cusp of our adventure, our planned itinerary became too dangerous, perhaps flat-out impossible. But we all had our hearts set on adventure.
Ah, but this picture is jum ping the gun!
Crossing the Thomson River
S ADVENTURE
VIC
HINGTHRY
COU
part 1
in shot, and high spec camper If it weren’t for the could’ve been in the 1880s s the plastic bins, thi
83
O T E B I R SUBSC
r e p m Ca r e p m a C r e p m a C ISSUE 139
real people on real adventures
ISSUE 139
real people on
real adventures
trailer
ISSUE 139 | ON SALE JUNE 20 2019 | $12.95
trailer
5 JUNE 20 2019 | $12.9
MAXIMUm
No road, no worries
,!3BD0A6-a hjfb!:K;q
plus
A red dirt adventure to end them all
The glorious
Gascoyne
7/06/2019 11:12:04 AM
www.campertraile raus
www.campertraileraustralia.com.au
CTA 139 000-000 COVER.indd 1
essential camper kit
No road, no worries
d r iv e
Camper
Camper
dr iv e
A bumper guide on
MAXIMUm
australia
tralia.com.au
,!3BD0A6-a hjfb!:K;q
ISSUE 139 | ON SALE
australia
CTA 139 000-000 COVER
.indd 1
A bumper guide on
essential camper kit
A red dirt adventure to end them all
plus
The glorious
Gascoyne
7/06/2019 11:12:04 AM
To subscribe, visit www.campertraileraustralia.com.au/subscribe 14
