Adventure Grand Tourer

WHAT WE LIKED
>> Innovative design and top-notch build quality
>> Loads of storage soace 
>> Low height king sized bed

NOT SO MUCH
>> Traditional leaf spring suspension
>> Welded tub-style PVC floor in the main tent living area would have been nice

Isn’t it uncanny how things work out! During March I was down at the Redarc factory in Adelaide and spied a different looking camper trailer both in design and dress, raising my curiosity levels...

Time was not on my side so it was left at that. But about a week later, as I lifted the lid on the electronics storage area on the Grand Tourer for this review, recognition was instant; both had come off the same assembly line.

Getting a camper trailer with a lot of bolt-on and fold-out features as well as storage space for goods and chattels, which on a mega trek are many, is a tall order.

South Australia’s Adventure Offroad Campers seems to have nailed this down with its range-topping Grand Tourer as we discovered on closer inspection...

OFF TO A FLYING START

The main box on this bush camper is a little bit different in that it features wing-style doors each side that comprise two sections; a top lid and a front door.

The offside door opens to reveal a large storage compartment ideal for stashing annexes, poles and other gear, plus a Webasto diesel heating unit and water storage vat.

The floor of this compartment is carpet over a sealed marine type ply and the front third for the full length is a hatch that opens to the technical hub of the trailer.

Fixed to the end wall, the Webasto heating unit is fed by a purpose-built alloy fuel tank. This in turn is filled from a port outside, preventing any diesel spills or smells permeating goods stored here.

A heat conversion fluid tank also sits here and both vessels have content indicators which are easily read with the hatch opened. Sitting separately in the front section is a Redarc battery charging system and house battery.

A corresponding door on the nearside opens to the galley, which has more bench space than you’ll find in many caravans.

COOK’S DELIGHT

The galley swings out on an arm and lowers to cooking level; locking at a 90 degree angle to the bench. After attaching the support leg you’re ready to cook.

Along with a single bowl and four burner cooker with open griller and removable wind guard, the bench features a couple of flush hatches that open to reveal cavernous storage areas. The splash back also comes with some handy storage hatches.

We also liked how the front of the lids, which lift on gas struts, fold down perpendicular so your knees won’t clash with them when standing against the bench.

Redarc’s BMS system is mounted in the splashback and a push of a button determines the level of power input, battery output and solar panels. Water storage levels in the two underslung tanks are also indicated by separate gauges.

Mounted on the drawbar is a storage box which in this case included an Engel 60 litre fridge mounted in the central compartment. With the lid closed, an electric exhaust fan powered by a mini solar panel on the lid vents the built-up heat.

A large lockable storage box also forms part of this unit and another opposite swings out on an arm to access the 9kg gas bottle. This compartment is open at the top and would be a good spot to store a spare water bottle, firewood or rubbish bags.

The spare wheel is mounted on a short tailgate at the rear and, when unclipped it folds down with the tyre resting on the ground.

EASY SET-UP

Folded into the bed base, the tent is withdrawn like a huge drawer from the inner trailer. It then spins on a turn-table 90 degrees and the bed base folds open and struts are deployed to support it on the ground.

After folding out the canvas all that’s required are two tent pegs to hold it taut. The canvas roof is supported by three, built in struts so there’s no messing around with poles and ropes.

The large, insect-screened living and dining areas are erected in quick time, while sleeping is on a king size double bed.

The pull-out awning is stored in a purpose-built box above the kitchen, and features a handy, pre-bent rib in the centre to encourage rain to run off both sides rather than pooling in the centre.

When the awning is attached to the main tent, a waterproof gutter also allows rainwater to flow away from the walking area inside.

Optional walls may be installed on the sides and front of the awning and an optional spare room (with weatherproof door joins) is available for attachment to the back wall of the main tent.

The canvas finish quality is excellent with 10oz used on the side walls and 12oz on the roof and awning top.

The floor in the living area is heavy duty PVC and double stitched along the bottom edge. While that’s OK, it would be good to see a welded tub type floor here to alleviate any water seepage...

A fly roof is also quickly installed on the drawbar to keep the sun off the fridge box.

RUGGED UNDERPINNINGS

We were also impressed with the build quality and running gear of the Adventure Grand Tourer.

Although the suspension isn’t independent, as is the case with many of its high-priced rivals, it's built from tough, quality components.

The chassis is 75 x 50mm powdercoated steel, mounted on nine-leaf eye-to-eye off-road springs with rebound helpers and shock absorbers.

The axle is a 1500kg-rated, 50 x 50mm solid bar with mag wheels and quality off-road tyres. Brakes are electric drum type and there are front and rear recovery points for when you get stuck right in it!

The box panels are powdercoated zinc annealed and nicely finished with silicon sealant in all the joins. Good quality dust seals are deployed on all compartments which swing on heavy-duty stainless steel hinges.

Adventure Campers has taken a slightly different approach to the prevention of annoying stone chips. Typically the skirt-style guards that mount on the drawbar allow some projectiles through, which can then bounce back into the rear windows and panels of the tow vehicle.

The guard used on the Adventure trailer forms a continuous barrier between the bottom of the tow vehicle and the front of the camper. While it doesn’t look the smartest, it’s among the best we’ve seen for effectively arresting stones in flight.

The ‘static’ boat rack attached to our review camper was a base model but serviceable all the same. A tilt model rack is also available as an option to make life easier when getting the tinny up and down.

Also of note is the full length storage basket between the front and rear rails. This seems ideal for storing many of the items that would normally gobble up valuable storage space in the compartments below, including fuel and water containers or even a collapsible boat trailer.

Our camper also came fitted with two 65W tilting solar panels hooked into the Redarc system. Cleverly, they can be fully deployed without opening the storage compartment door; offering some all-important security for when you’re away from the trailer and want to recharge the battery.

VERDICT

While we didn’t get a chance to run it right through its paces, we’d still rate this top-spec camper trailer as being up there with the very best made in this country.

If we had to find fault it would be with the pretty traditional leaf suspension set-up, which is a step behind some of the more sophisticated, swinging arm independent suspensions offered by other manufacturers at this end of the market.

But while it's true the Grand Tourer may not ride as ‘softly’ as an independent set-up, it shouldn’t be a major concern as it looks tough enough to cope with arduous off-road conditions and then some.

The price of just under $50,000 is also up there with the best but then quality has never been cheap.

You’re also paying for an innovative design that’s among the quickest to transition from on-the-road to in-the-bed... something that’s hard to put a dollar figure on if you plan to spend weeks if not months moving around out in the desert or bush.

ADVENTURE OFFROAD CAMPERS GRAND TOURER

Overall length: 4.2m           
External width: 1.86m       
Internal height: 2.0m-plus        
Nameplate tare: 1050 kg      
Nameplate ATM: 1500 kg     
Ball weight: 110 kg    
Cooktop: Spinflo four-burner              
Fridge: Engel 60-litre portable                           
Gas: 9kg                               
Freshwater: 146 litres
Suspension: leaf springs, shock absorbers
Price: $49,750
Supplied by: Adventure Offroad Campers, Edwardstown, South Australia