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TVAN YULARA
BASICS With its new entry-level Tvan Yulara, Track Trailer is breaking into a new camper trailer market. WORDS MICHAEL BROWNING PICS MICHAEL BROWNING AND PETER WATKINS
HITS AND MISSES I LIKED
• The overall concept • Engineering and quality •C ompetitive pricing
I WOULD HAVE LIKED •H igher mounting for spare wheel •A dditional front stone protection 50
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TVAN YULARA
W
ith its almost sci-fi styling, which still draws almost as many curious looks today as when it first surprised the camper trailer market in 2000, Track Trailer’s innovative Tvan always looks at home in the most inhospitable places. The ongoing attraction of the Tvan can, at least in part, be attributed to its innovative features, such as its snaillike design — a hard-shell cocoon that keeps you dry, off the ground at night and allows a quick set-up — and an advanced offroad suspension system designed to follow the most capable 4WDs almost anywhere. Initially, the range simply included the one Tvan, which came with a mattress, basic water supply, deep-cycle battery and plenty of storage space. But things quickly expanded. Finding many buyers were optioning their Tvans with similar equipment from their extensive options list, Track Trailer packaged its second series of Tvans in 2004 as two separate models, the Canning and Murranji. These were followed by the more basically-equipped Tanami. Now, from early 2012, the range has grown to four. The new Yulara, priced from $39,700, kicks off the Tvan range that now grows — in $4000 increments — up to the comprehensively-equipped Murranji, priced at $51,400. All of the models are quickly identifiable by their highlight colours: blue (Yulara); green (Tanami); red (Canning); and orange (Murranji). But the Yulara eco-camper is designed to appeal to a different type of buyer than its up-specced brothers.
OFF THE GROUND
Tvans have historically been aspirational purchases; people with lower-spec, tent-based campers often dream of owning one. But the ultralight Yulara, with its relatively sparse level of equipment, is also designed primarily to get basic tent campers off the ground and into something waterproof, high tech and more comfortable. While as standard it includes a high-density queen-sized mattress, 70lt water tank with a hand pump, 105Ah AGM battery and an independently-fused power box with volt meter, Track Trailer expects these experienced campers to bring their existing equipment, such as gas bottles, stoves, etc. to the party. Even more importantly, these travellers won’t need to upgrade their tow vehicle to haul the Yulara. With a Tare 52
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Caption
CTA RATINGS 1. Offroad Ability 2. Tourability 3. Setup/Ease of Use 4. Electrics/Lighting N/A of 890kg and ball weight of just 75kg, it can be towed comfortably by vehicles like the Nissan X-Trail, Toyota RAV4, Subaru Forester, and more. But for these buyers, the real attraction of the Yulara is that it shares the same durable riveted steel and aluminium body construction, clever fold-away drop-down tent, hot-dipped offroad chassis, MC2 military-grade suspension, electric brakes and DO-35 coupling that have proven so capable on other Tvans. What is missing is much of the added bling, like a kitchen, gas bottles, ensuite tent, A-frame-mounted storage and other equipment and comfort items. But you can easily tick these boxes from the lengthy option list when ordering your Yulara, or, as is the case with many buyers, retrofit them. When this entry-level Tvan was initially launched as the Tvan Sport a few years ago, it wore the narrower MkII Tvan body, which featured an outer fibreglass skin over a glued marine ply and plywood superstructure. In its new guise, however, the Yulara boasts the same all-metal shell as other Tvans, with high-density, closed-
“Now, from early 2012 the range has grown to four.” Camper Trailer says
5. Layout liveability 6. Comforts 7. Kitchen
N/A
8. Build quality 9. Fit and finish 10. Value for money
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TVAN YULARA cell foam sandwiched by an aluminium skin. The standardisation of this body across the full range has freed up internal space and created a stronger, more efficient shell that is also more resistant to exterior damage.
HOME IN THE DESERT
All of these design features made the Yulara the perfect vehicle for our recent trip across the Simpson Desert, performing a dual role as an equipment carrier and sleeping quarters for Marg and Doug Sprigg. Since we were accompanied by a full outback catering service, we didn’t need a kitchen, sink, or a bank of batteries and fridges. But we did need cavernous storage space for bulky swags, sleeping bags, folding chairs and tables, plus firewood for our party of 19 and space for a large fridge. The Yulara was ideal for the task, and when its load was disgorged each evening it became a comfortable and spacious sleeping space. The camper’s insulated body and mattress on a thermally-efficient plywood base (the only timber in the Tvan) were much appreciated as temperatures regularly dropped below zero. Quick set-up has been one of the Tvan’s strong suits from the outset, and nothing has changed with the Yulara. After unfolding the hinged
tent floor by releasing four over-centre clamps, plug in the stablising feet, unzip the tent from the bag located inside the rear hatch lid and ‘peg’ it out around the metal floor base, using the built-in elastic perimeter cord. Tensioning is achieved by a simple swing-over arm that drops into two corner pockets in the tent, while a laminated timber shelf and two expandable poles support and tension the canvas. In experienced hands, the whole process will take fewer than five minutes for one person, and about three minutes for a couple. Once you learn a few tricks of how to get the canvas back into its hatch lid bag, packing up is nearly as easy. If you are only planning an overnight stop, you can simply zip the optional fly screen onto the back of the camper once the hatch is open and forget about the tent. The Yulara also gets the same thick automotive seals and compression catches as other Tvans, so the cabin and side storage lockers remained dust and water free throughout our trip, which included hundreds of kilometres on very dusty roads.
IN TOW
For the majority of the 5000km Melbourne-Simpson Desert-Birdsville-
Melbourne round trip, the Yulara was towed by a 4.8lt six cylinder (petrol) Nissan Y61 GU Patrol and, to be honest, it was easy to forget it was attached. The only reminder was the underslung spare wheel that is the Yulara’s lowest point, which occasionally dragged on the crest of sandy tracks which the Patrol cleared easily. For such applications, the Yulara would have been better equipped with the optional A-frame-mounted spare wheel. However, Track Trailer points out that when towed behind a light 4WD, the ground clearance of the Yulara with the under-slung spare would still be greater than the tow vehicle. But based on the potential to expand the Yulara to take on heavier duties, we’d be happier to see it either located higher between the chassis frame cross-members or on the A-frame. The standard flexible stone mesh did a good job of minimising damage to the Yulara’s facade and provided a workable storage space for a couple of spare-tyre carcasses and a bag of firewood. But despite the protection, some stones inevitably deflected higher, peppering the exposed powder-coated aluminium panel immediately above. The solution is either slower speeds, or perhaps some additional stone cushioning in
“All of these design features made the Yulara the perfect vehicle for our recent trip across the Simpson Desert”
the form of a neoprene panel.
SUMMING UP
It the Yulara was ours, we would also probably have ticked another couple of option boxes: a second 70lt water tank; front storage, which incorporates a higher mounting for the spare wheel and a storage box to hold a portable fridge / freezer; second 105Ah battery, with a management system; and a rear insect screen for quick overnight stops. But that’s the beauty of the Yulara. Everyone will bring their equipment — and ideas — to the party.
Caption:
TVAN YULARA SPECS TRAILER
Tare 890kg ATM 1600kg Suspension MC2 with Koni telescopic shock absorbers Brakes Electric Coupling DO-35 Chassis Galvanised hotdipped steel Drawbar Galvanised steel box section Body Galvanised steel panels Wheel/tyre 16x8in wheels with 265/75R16 offroad tyres Style Hybrid
DIMENSIONS
Box size 1700x2800mm Length (hitch to tail lights) 4900mm Tent size 1700x2000mm
ACCESSORIES
Gas cylinders Optional Water 1x70lt Cooktop Option Kitchen Option Battery 105Ah AGM
PRICE AS SHOWN $39,700
SUPPLIED BY:
Track Trailer, 403 Dorset Rd, Vic 3153, (03) 8727 6100, www.tracktrailer.com.au 54
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