Pioneer Verve hybrid caravan breaks cover

Melbourne's Track Trailer has finally taken the wraps off its boxy all-new Pioneer Verve hybrid off-road caravan, continuing the brand that was born 25 years ago in Western Australia as a flip-over full sheet metal construction camper, but lapsed in Melbourne three owners later in 2020.

Unlike its later hard shell camper trailer progenitors, the Verve has now evolved into a 16ft 8in, full-height off-road caravan and becomes a sibling to Track's existing and innovative Tvan and T4 hybrid models.

Priced from $128,500, delivered in Victoria, the single axle Pioneer Verve is a base-spec building-block that with different individually-priced options will spawn many ultimate versions, targeting the needs of couples and families. 

Unique design

The design philosophy of the Verve is different to its predecessors, with its walls and roof manufactured in a new Track factory in Melbourne using a unique frameless design that is lighter than conventionally clad vans and said to be stronger than fibreglass finishes.

The Melbourne-built Pioneer Verve features a custom designed hot-dipped galvanised steel chassis that Track claims offers a 393 per cent increase in protection when compared to DuraGal and similar alternatives.

The trailing arm single axle ‘Trak Two’ coil spring suspension with twin shocks per wheel combined with the custom design of the chassis have been tuned to ensure optimum weight distribution and a manageable ball load regardless of the Verve’s final configuration.

Despite its lack of an airbag spring option, the suspension has been tuned to reduce sway during long corners or moments of wind buffeting such as by a passing truck.

The spare wheel winds up between the chassis rails, with its location varying with each van’s configuration.

Cruisemaster 12-inch drum brakes and 16x8in wheels are standard. Standard travel height is 2855mm, with a bush-ready 2035mm travel width and 6091mm travel length. Base Tare weight is 1871kg with an ATM of 2600kg delivering a payload of up to 729kg.

Indoor comforts with outside living

While its compact design is focused on outdoor living, the external slide-out kitchen and its large (115 litre) external pantry recessed into the Verve’s wall are both positioned in the middle of the large 3.9 metre x 2.5 metre wind-out awning for maximum weather protection.

Two external kitchens are available – the aluminium ‘Standard’ with twin burners, a sink with electric water pump feeding a flick mixer tap and a cutlery drawer – and the Premium kitchen option that has twice the preparation and serving space with its stainless steel benchtop, plus a Thetford three-burner glass-topped cooktop and integrated pull-up wind-shields.

There's also a large pull-out external drawer that accommodates a 95-litre dual cabinet fridge plus additional storage space.

Outdoor storage has also been maximized, with the 660-litre dust-sealed front clamshell ‘bonnet’ and three other spacious in-body storage areas.

Indoor cooking and cooling optional

If you’d rather cook inside, there’s a large bench set at the same height as a domestic kitchen on the rear wall that allows you to choose which water tank – front 150 litre fresh, mid 100litre fresh or rear 50 litre grey – to draw from. There's a wide range of kitchen options for storage and cookers that allow it to be fully customised.

The combined shower and cassette toilet ensuite to the kitchen’s left features a large entry door, with the toilet seat and adjustable shower rose both set at comfortable domestic heights.

The bed, cooled by twin Sirocco 12v fans comes standard in east/west orientation to maximise living space and dinette seating, and to allow for easy configuration of the bunk option. However, there's also the option of a full queen size bed in the north/south configuration or twin king single beds with a step through.

Any seat location can also be upgraded for additional storage; a full height wardrobe can be installed alongside the shower, while a low two-drawer benchtop system can be located in lieu of any seat. The table position changes to accommodate seat location.

Built for rough roads

Like its Track T4 big brother, the Pioneer Verve’s overhead lockers are secured with strong magnets rather than locks. Towards the bed head end these lockers morph into quick storage for smaller items, while in the case of a north/south queen bed configuration there are also two bedside consoles that offer additional storage.

There's also a manual central locking system to keep the rear drawers secured over rough tracks.

Standard battery set-up is two Revolution lithium LiFePO4 batteries fed by twin roof-mounted 160W solar panels, along with a 1000 watt inverter and Redarc's Redvision management system to keep an eye on it all.

Production of the new Pioneer Verve will take place on a third production line in a new factory adjacent to Track's existing Bayswater, Melbourne headquarters, with first deliveries expected in November this year.

Because it's a new model, Track plans to user its immediate availability as a marketing tool against its many Australian hybrid rivals, which include those of AOR, Rhinomax and Mountain Trail.