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NEWS
Australia’s first boat-loading pop-top?
New compact, off-road pop-top carries fishing boat on its power-operated roofNew Queensland brand, Extreme Outback Campers, is claiming an Australian-first caravan that can carry and unload an aluminium fishing boat from its pop-top roof.
Most pop-top caravans built in Australia don’t have sufficient strength in the roof to support much more than a couple of solar panels or an air-conditioner.
However, the first prototype of the 14ft 8in (body length) Curlew model features a heavy-duty, reinforced roof structure, rated to support around 350kg and fit a tinnie up to 4m long.
“We’re the only pop-top at the moment that can legally take a tinnie on its roof,” Sheree Davies from Extreme Outback Campers said.
“Pressing a button lifts the roof up via rams, and you don’t have to remove the boat to lift the roof. A lot of engineering has gone into the roof structure itself including internal framing, and the (three 12V-powered) rams can lift 1.2 tonnes each,” she said.
A specially adapted, roof-mounted, winch operated boat loader is used to lower the tinnie automatically to the ground via rollers at the rear, and Davies said it’s a one-person job that takes around 90 seconds.
There’s room on the rear bumper to store an outboard motor, in lieu of one of the two spare wheels fitted to the prototype.
Loaded with features
Despite its compact dimensions, the 2.0m wide, tandem axle Curlew packs in an internal queen-sized inner spring mattress bed, kitchen with two-burner cooker, hot/cold sink and 121 litre three-way fridge, and a combination shower/toilet.
Despite its compact dimensions, the 2.0m wide, tandem axle Curlew packs in an internal queen-sized inner spring mattress bed, kitchen with two-burner cooker, hot/cold sink and 121 litre three-way fridge, and a combination shower/toilet.
The body is built from welded, aluminium composite panels with a galvanized chassis, and there are plenty of off-road features including a Hitchmaster DO35 hitch, self-levelling airbag suspension, rock sliders, front toolbox with swing-out BBQ and generator, twin gas bottles and two 125 water tanks plus a 35 litre stainless tank for filtered water.
There’s also an external shower and slide-out kitchen, lifting the Tare weight of the prototype to 2500kg with an ATM of 3400kg.
Two years in the making, the Curlew is the brainchild of Davies and her partner Mark Timms, who has run a shop-fitting business for the past 16 years. The Curlew will be built in a factory alongside the existing business in Brendale.
Pricing for the top-spec Curlew is expected to be around $95,000, which includes the boat and plenty of luxuries like Bluetooth radio, diesel heater, air-conditioner, and comprehensive 12V battery system including twin 180W solar panels.
However, cheaper, less luxurious versions will also be available, as well as a bigger 16ft family bunk model.
The Curlew prototype will be on display at the Mackay Caravan Camping Expo (May 19-21) as well as the Queensland Caravan Supershow (June 7-12) at the Brisbane Showgrounds.
Videos of the boat loader in action should be uploaded to the Extreme Outback Campers Facebook page shortly.
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Written byChris Fincham
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Please see our Editorial Guidelines & Code of Ethics (including for more information about sponsored content and paid events). The information published on this website is of a general nature only and doesn’t consider your particular circumstances or needs.
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