Manicured MUSCLE-MAN - Trackabout

REVIEW REVIEW

Manicured

MUSCLE-MAN
NEAT AS A PIN AND TOUGH AS NAILS, THE TRACKABOUT SAFARI OUTBACK
TOURER HAS GOT IT INSIDE AND OUT. WORDS DAVID GILCHRIST PICS NATHAN DUFF

36 campertraileraustralia.com.au The camper you want is now easier to find tradervs.com.au 37

REVIEW REVIEW

CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT: The efficient When it comes to offroad adventure, claustrophobic cold sweat. systems which can be left in the camper when CLOCKWISE FROM TOP: The 15-minute set
950kg Tare and 2t ATM provides ample finding the right camper trailer is The generous bedroom and living room space it’s packed up. That means once you’ve set up time from pulling into camp to placing out
payload for touring with toys; The OzHitch essential. For many, the right model them up the first time, they’re there for good. the chairs included laying out the solar panels
coupling is a self-aligning drop-on design; A has the space you need for your combined with substantial headroom means that and setting up the awnings; With a side
safety switch in the weathersealed toolbox outback travel kit with enough left over to provide no matter how you use this camper, there’s still A closer look at the tent won’t disappoint awning as well as the main one, there’s plenty
protects the power setup; Unloading the boat the comfort you crave at the end of a day’s journey. plenty of space for gear and the crew with whom with reinforced sewn hems around the edges of of space for everyone; The camper is easy
is optional on setup; The 2t Cruisemaster you’re travelling. walls, doors and windows. All the zips are well enough for one person to handle.
suspension is a proven offroad performer. There’s a truism among camper trailer travellers protected from bad weather, set back from the
that, on the space front, you get more bang for If that sort of space isn’t quite enough and edge of each opening and protected by trim.
MEASURING UP your buck from a softfloor rather than a hardfloor you’re still hungry for more, the camper comes
camper. Trackabout Off Road Campers might just with a well-designed 2.5m zip-on awning with The slide-out kitchen sits comfortably under
HITS have the proof to that proposition with its Safari a gable front and spreader bar kit to help stop the rear annexe and is a simple yet elegant
> Easy and light to tow on a 4WD Outback Tourer. Here’s a camper trailer with stoic water from pooling on the roof. design. It has a handy return and a three-burner
traditional looks that provides enough living space Smev stove and Smev stainless steel sink with
track to have Dr Who trading in the Tardis. Having the right amount of tent space isn’t all a 12V pump. The whole arrangement boasts
> Stylish looks and quality build about having enough room for your slippers or a built-in 60L fridge box with fridge/freezer
Seriously, if you are travelling with kids or a small whether or not the kids’ bunks will fit in the tent. included, Bluetooth/iPod stereo and a pull-out
with a retro look group, space or the need for it is king. With that Storage is vital also. From the inside, a zippered pantry/storage, all of which add up to easier
> Quick setup in mind, we took a Safari Outback Tourer for a cover allows access to the toolbox above the entertaining outdoors.
jaunt through the hills and dales of Queensland’s mudguard. There is ample kitchen storage, and
MISSES Sunshine Coast hinterland to find out if it measured the toolbox is easy to access. There are also a
> Needs more in-tent storage up to the task. Let’s start on the inside. small number of little pockets for wallets, phones
and the like. Perhaps a few more of these might
pockets SIZING UP not go astray, especially by the bed.
> No reversing camera on the
First up, the Safari Outback Tourer has a tent with On the plus side, simple LED light strips made
tailgate a healthy 7.8sqm of usable space and just over convenient, reliable, easily-assembled lighting
13sqm when you include the awning. That’s plenty
for a family with four kids, or four or five burly
mates on a fishing weekend.

As for the bedroom, the one we tried comes
complete with a queen-size, high-density foam
mattress. That means plenty of room to spread
out for a nap. What’s more, the camper tent
is 3m high at the apex and 2.2m at the outer
edge and, thanks to the straight walls and a
high tent, it’s ideal for those for whom the very
thought of tightly enclosed camping induces a

38 campertraileraustralia.com.au The camper you want is now easier to find tradervs.com.au 39

REVIEW REVIEW

CLOCKWISE FROM TOP: The L-shaped tradervs.com.au 41
kitchen pulls out from the tailgate; Extensive
benchtop space means there’s loads of room
for prep; The camper will faithfully follow your
fourbie; The pantry and utensils drawers,
fridge, sink and cooking appliances are close
at hand; Ample auxiliary supplies are out
of harm’s way, set either side of the wheel
arches.

CTA RATING

1. FIT FOR INTENDED PURPOSE

2. INNOVATION

3. SELF-SUFFICIENCY

4. QUALITY OF FINISH Holding it together is a user-friendly tent frame. LONG TERM
5. BUILD QUALITY The whole kit and caboodle is simple to erect
6. OFFROAD-ABILITY as Trackabout’s Dave Adams demonstrated In my view, some of the best design features of the
7. COMFORTS in around 15 minutes flat, from the time he Safari Outback Tourer were not the spacious tent
8. EASE OF USE selected the campsite to when he broke out with its 12oz canvas walls and 15oz canvas roof,
9. VALUE FOR MONEY the camp chairs ready for a cool drink in the six large full length windows and air vents providing
10. X-FACTOR forest under the awning near Kenilworth. It was superb ventilation. Nor was it the tropical roof set
clear that, with a few simple tips, even a camper atop the tent further helping maintain a restful
trailer novice could set up camp with the Safari atmosphere inside and minimising condensation
Outback Tourer without a ladder to reach the on cold morning pack-ups, it was, in fact, a well
higher parts. thought out array of features for the exterior.

The durable PVC floor of the camper can My favourite included an innovative boat rack
be unzipped to allow for more economical with gas struts and mesh under-sheeting. Given
alterations, not to mention easy cleaning in the the ensuing frustration of removing a tinnie to
event you’re unfortunate enough to watch your set up at an overnighter en route to a favourite
mate spill slimy burley all over the interior in his barramundi waterhole, a boat rack that tilts to the
haste to go fishing. side leaving the tinnie undisturbed at camp is a
brilliant, long-standing option and feature in the

40 campertraileraustralia.com.au The camper you want is now easier to find

REVIEW REVIEW

CTA SPECS Trackabout range. Tourer’s Vehicle Components 2t Cruisemaster a little on the pricey side, given it tipped a little CLOCKWISE FROM ABOVE: The Safari Out-
Also topping the list of worthwhile external independent suspension as tested was more more $30K, as shown. But if you take a look at back Tourer’s short dimensions are an asset
TRACKABOUT than suitable for rugged offroad touring. In the quality, inclusions, the finish, and the space out on the tracks; The tent has a 3m apex,
SAFARI OUTBACK TOURER features on the test camper are the easy short, after a good look around the outside, it you get for your dollar, you’ll certainly be well allowing for a spacious, cool interior in warm
mount outboard motor carrier, external hot was difficult to find any negative aspect of equipped in your next adventure. weather; The Smarttek 6 hot water system
> TRAILER water system, solar panels, integrated power this camper. delivers 6L/minute water flow; Straight walls
Tare 950kg management for AC/DC monitoring in the The Trackabout Safari Outback Tourer is allow campers to make full use of the tent’s
ATM 2000kg storage box on the drawbar, purpose built THE VERDICT set to go the distance and that’s exactly what interior; The hi-lift jack is close at hand.
Suspension Cruisemaster 2t coil storage for poles, pegs and jerry cans together you need in any camper. It’s really hard to
Brakes 12in electric with a convenient external tap. The whole When you look at the specifications list for point to something significant that needs to
Coupling Ozhitch Off Road thing is wrapped in a powder-coated trailer tub the tested camper, it’s hard not to love this change with this camper. And that makes it a
Chassis Hot-dipped galvanised with good high sides and ample clearance for Trackabout. Some might argue this camper is worthwhile package.
steel 100x50x3mm rattling along an outback track.
Drawbar 2m triple rail hot-dipped IntroTodwuictSiuwnpigtehr-tlaihgshemtwaalelmihgaahttzch1inb0a5gc0kkngweAiwthTMjOus(P8t 0aU0sSktagAnTdalalr-erRd) otoawdhitch
galvanised steel The camper has certain off-the-grid
Body Double-pressed 2mm laser capabilities, too, with the ability to make its
cut Zincanneal panels own 240V power via its on-board inverter and
Wheels/tyres 285/75R 16 MT impressive battery capacity, not to mention the
Style Side-fold softfloor ability to plug in a generator should the solar
panels need a boost.
> DIMENSIONS
Box size 1200x2100mm Essential to a worthwhile outback camper
Length (hitch to tail lights) 4800mm beyond its fully galvanised hot-dipped chassis
Tent size 3650x2100mm is good suspension, and the Safari Outback

> ACCESSORIES 2x Gas Bottles Swing-over boat rack Spare Wheel Smev three-burner Stove
Gas cylinders 2x4.5kg Batteries
Water 85L Queen Size Bed Fridge
Cooktop Smev three-burner
Kitchen Drifta stainless steel with Storage Bench
laminex top
Battery 2x120Ah Storage

> PRICE AS SHOWN 2x Jerry Cans CTG-HH-5195679-CS-094-XCC
$32,990 plus on-road costs
Mudguard Storage
> ENQUIRIES Box Door Main Floor Space Door
To enquire about this camper, visit
www.campertraileraustralia.com. Awning
au/spec or phone (07) 3073 3743 Door

> CAMPERTRAILERAUSTRALIA.COM.AU
> More pictures
> Specs to compare

design...innovate...improve nemesis kojack®
saracen

42 campertraileraustralia.com.au The camper you want is now easier to find tradervs.com.au 43

www.purpleline.com.au - (03) 9588 2959 - www.opuscamper.com.au