Hi All,
I saw this at the
Melbourne 4x4 Show & have been waiting for web info to be available - www.outbackcampers.com.au/tray_topper.htm
No association, but I like the direction the design is heading & would be interested in others thoughts.
To start the ball rolling - some thoughts that lead me down this path...
Two people per vehicle seems to be about right for longer trips - more people means more luggage, food etc leading to an overloaded vehicle potentially.
Having settled on two-up, no need for the extra seats - so a ute with a dust & waterproof canopy for food & gear seems logical & easier to get to said gear & food than via wagon doors.
Off-ground
camping as per CT, but no towing avoids reducing 4WD capability of the rig. (Although drum brakes & leaf springs may compare poorly with wagon spec)
"Quick set-up,
camp anywhere" is a desirable goal & the most common criticism that I have seen of roof-top tents is that once
camp is set up, the vehicle is effectively immobilised. Hard-top flip-up 'tent' on this thing, shouldn't need to be set up until bed-time, so vehicle is mobile until then (unless you in the middle of cooking!) & set-up time would be measured in seconds, it seems - bedding stays in place all the time, release two catches & struts do the rest.
I probably wouldn't bother with the awning shown.
One of the features they should be making more noise about is that you can stand up in it! It's a bit hard to tell from the picture, but the ladder leads to tray level & some of the area (behind where they have the stove) has been boxed in to create a 'foot
well' standing area - great for getting (un)dressed & leaving your boots overnight. Also means getting out of bed is a ‘swing your legs over the side’ exercise (into the foot
well) - I must be getting soft!
They have incorporated a
water tank into the thing, but I suspect this would be better under the tray (keeping weight low) along with the long-range fuel tanks!
Putting two spare
wheels on the back would clash with the rear entry, so I wonder about the practicality of mounting two spares behind the cab (which would require a shorter canopy of-course. Would these two spares, between the back of the cab & the front of the canopy be painful to load/unload? I’ve seen a couple of these set-ups but not had a chance to have a good look at them.
Kids are 9 & 11, so it will be a while before I can justify my ultimate 4WD camper – very long term planning!
All comments appreciated!
Thanks & Regards
PGK