Camper Trailer Australia celebrates the off-road touring lifestyle, and is the ‘go-to’ for independent reviews of new camper trailers and hybrid caravans. Our trusted reviewers leave no stone unturned, helping you find the right camper trailer for your needs — from affordable entry-level trailers, to high-end, no-expenses-spared RVs. Camper Trailer Australia is full of reviews of 4WD and SUV tow-vehicles written by leading automotive journalists, and we’re serious about bringing you the very best aftermarket 4WD gear and camping gadgets for your off-road adventures. Camper Trailer Australia will inspire you with stunning Australian destinations both near and far, while providing technical advice, camping tips and recipes to make life on (and off) the road easier.
A LONG, HOT SUMMER • LET’S MAKE 2020 THE BEST AND BIGGEST YEAR FOR AUSTRALIAN-BASED ADVENTURE
Camper Trailer Australia
A grand PARADE to the BATTLE GROUNDS
DOUBLE UP WITH LITHIUM D.I.Y. 4WD DUAL BATTERY INSTALL • HAVING A DUAL BATTERY IN YOUR CAR LETS YOU RUN A FRIDGE AND ALL MANNER OF OTHER ELECTRICAL ACCESSORIES. STEVE CASSANO TALKS YOU THROUGH THE INSTALLATION OF A LITHIUM AUXILIARY BATTERY AND A REDARC 1225D BCDC CHARGER. BUY THE PARTS, ROUTE THE WIRING AND MOUNT THE THING, ALL WITH YOUR OWN TWO HANDS.
EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW • THE REDARC CAMPER TRAILER OF THE YEAR 2020 RESULTS ARE IN. THIS ISSUE, YOU’LL FIND THE JUDGES’ COMMENTS AND SCORING ON SIX OF THE BEST CAMPER TRAILERS AUSTRALIA HAS TO OFFER WITHIN THE UNDER $25,000 AND HYBRID CATEGORIES. IN THIS ARTICLE, WE EXPLAIN HOW THE EVENT WORKS AND EXPLORE THE INS AND OUTS OF WHAT WAS A FASCINATING 2020 COMPETITION.
MEET THE JUDGES • Every year, we carefully select the team of four judges to attend the REDARC Camper Trailer of the Year event. As a prerequisite, no judge is allowed to be sponsored by the industry in any way. Firstly, we elect on the basis of experience. That means our judges have been camping and travelling for a bulk of their life and that they’ve established themselves as rigorous reviewers with a wealth of industry knowledge. Secondly, we choose our judging team so that it reflects a range of different approaches, perspectives and industry-specific skill sets. That way, we can achieve a more balanced outcome than would be possible with a single reviewer. Here is a closer look at the four who adjudicated this year:
SCORING EXPLAINED
SECONDARY AWARDS
The BEST OF BUDGET CAMPING • MARS, MARLIN AND LUMBERJACK TOOK TO THE STAGE FOR THE CATEGORY OF CAMPERS UNDER $25,000. ALL THREE OF THESE MANUFACTURERS ASPIRE TO DELIVER THE ESSENTIALS OF CAMPING WITHOUT BREAKING THE BANK, THAT IS, TO GET AUSSIE MATES AND FAMILIES OUT ONTO THE ROAD FOR LESS. WHAT CAN BE INCLUDED FOR SUCH SUMS MAY SURPRISE YOU. BUT THE DIFFERENCES IN STYLE BETWEEN THE THREE — NO TWO OF THEM WERE EVEN REMOTELY THE SAME — MADE FOR A FASCINATING CONTEST.
THE BIG FISH • THE MARLIN ESCAPE DELUXE WOWED OUR JUDGES WITH ITS REFRESHING SIMPLICITY. A DEPENDABLE SIDE-FOLD, SOFT-FLOOR BASE, EXPANDED UPON WITH QUALITY COMPONENTRY TAILORED TO SUIT THE CUSTOMER’S EVERY NEED, THIS FEATHERWEIGHT TRAILER COSTS JUST OVER 10K, BUT IS SET TO GENERATE MEMORIES YOU’D PAY MILLIONS FOR.
CAMPER SPECS MARLIN ESCAPE DELUXE
CTA RATINGS
WHAT YOU NEED AND NOTHING MORE
FAMILY FORTRESS • WHEN YOU UNFOLD AND SLIDE THE TWO ENDS FROM THE STURDY BASE OF THE MARS ENDURANCE, A PALACE ON WHEELS IS REVEALED, EQUIPPED TO HOST YOUR WHOLE FAMILY IN COMFORT, CLASS AND GOOD CHEER, WITHIN A HOLIDAY PARK OR A REMOTE BUSH SETTING OF YOUR CHOICE, ALL FOR AN APPETISING $21,990
MARS ENDURANCE
OUT OF THIS WORLD CUSTOMER SERVICE
POWER TO THE POD • TIPPING THE SCALES AT 1,320KG ATM, THE LUMBERJACK SHEOAK IS A LIGHTWEIGHT POD CAMPER, REQUIRING VIRTUALLY NO SET UP, THAT OPERATES AS A MOBILE...