TASTED
Slide-On
T
he Austral slide-on pod range is made in China, but the electrical and plumbing work is done at Austral’s facility in Queensland, ensuring Australian compliance. We caught up with the 4.2-metre truckmount model at the 2021 Camping and Caravan Show in Sydney. Truck-based motorhomes are usually Big Money, but the Austral slide-on alternative costs less – fully-fitted pod $65,000 – and means that the truck tray can be used to carry freight when the camper is at home, resting on its electric legs.
PODS By Allan Whiting of OutbackTravelAustralia.com.au
tare weight of 1720kg and was mounted comfortably on a Fuso Canter 4×4 tray-bodied truck when we checked it out. The display truck was fitted with AAV4x4 wide-single 17×9 wheels and Gladiator tyres.
The real-world payload capacity of a cab/chassis would need to be around three tonnes to cover the weight of the pod, plus a tray body, two people, full fuel tank, The base can be any truck with sufficient tray length, full water tanks, camping gear, recovery gear, spare payload capacity and provision of secure mounting wheels and tyre, and other necessary kit. points. The Austral 4.2-metre pod has a claimed dry 20
