Conqueror UEV 490

WHAT WE LIKED:

• Tough, go-anywhere ‘bushability’
• Easy and quick to set-up
• Long list of standard features

NOT SO MUCH:
• Pricey for a camper trailer

There are some tough off-road camper trailers on the market these days and one deserving of further investigation is the Conqueror UEV 490, which with its military looks and background has been generating a bit of excitement since arriving in Australia recently.

The ‘UEV’ denotes ‘urban escape vehicle’ and from our brief review of this trailer it seems to be more than capable of living up to its name.

Its inherent strength is in the chassis which forms part of a hot dipped galvanised skeletal frame with sandwich aluminium and foam cladding used for the walls and partitions; all designed to minimise weight.

All parts fixed to the trailer are galvanised and then epoxy coated for durability and then the chassis bed mounted on a patented independent suspension featuring coil springs, adjustable Koni shockers and 2500kg axles.

Twelve inch electric off-road brakes are a standard feature on this camper.

BUILT FOR THE BUSH

There are a surprising number of features that come standard on this trailer to make life in the bush practicable. One of them is the rear stabilisers which unclip and drop down at which point a strut is positioned to suit the height of that particular side of the vehicle above the ground.

A cantilever is placed in the appropriate anchor point and the strut is pushed to lock it in place. It packs away just as easily.

The bottom rear of the body has an acute angle upwards for ground clearance in rough terrain likely to be encountered such as when crossing deep creeks.

The obligatory pair of lockable jerry cans can be found mounted on the back, each side of the spare wheel which has a lockable, removable framework covering it. This frame can also be used as a BBQ over an open fire.

Above the wheel is a full width tray with tie-down points suitable for stowing an Oz Tent RV-1 model tent should you have visitors overnight, or it may second as a firewood tie-down rack.

A telescopic base for the TV antenna is fixed to a corner with the wiring plug close by mounted in the panelling. The flat screen TV/DVD player is mounted on a swing bracket inside of the trailer and viewable from the bed/inside dining area or transported to outside and fixed externally.

QUICK SET-UP

The UEV-490 is designed as a quick set-up trailer with all the trimmings and options should you want to enjoy comfort in the outback, especially over a longer stay.

All the necessary equipment required to live day to day is close at hand in two rear hatches on the side of the trailer while gas bottles are accessible in the side of the front mounted box that also holds a diesel hot water service which may be optioned up with a heating fan.

The galley and kitchen/pantry may stay closed while the double bed is easily accessed at short notice.

If you have the luxury of time the bed converts to a dining table while a double bed folds out, supported over the drawbar. A pop out tent constructed of quality canvas covers this front bed and is held taught by spring steel struts.

The bulkhead in the passageway inside the trailer supporting this second double bed has strapped to it the long outdoors dining table.

Snap bayonet hose connectors are used on both gas and water lines and connection to the galley is quick and simple. Should the electric pump on the water system fail, a gravity fed tap in the tank near the A-frame will access the water storage.

WHAT’S COOKING?

The galley slides out from the near side at the front of the camper body and when the awning and walls are zipped in place this area is sheltered from wind and rain.

A fold up frame attached to the side of the two burner cooker base holds two plastic tubs for washing and rinsing dishes and utensils.

A National Luna 80l fridge/freezer is mounted, handy to the cooker which features a larger and a smaller draw set holding all of the necessary plates, glasses, cups and cutlery.

The inside of the entry door hosts a bottle rack below which canvas pockets swing off sail track fittings. Toward the rear and still on the near side a large hatch holding canvas storage pockets swings open to reveal a drop down food preparation table with fixed shelving for condiments at its back.

A second entry door is installed on the far side, directly opposite that on the near; its inside lined with shelving and storage pouches for bathroom gear while a short drawer opposite the galley opens to reveal the vanity basin.

This breezeway will no doubt provide the ventilation you require to sleep on those hot balmy nights.

The awning on the offside closes the area in for privacy and to prevent any draft when showering.

BOTTOM LINE

There has been a lot of attention to detail and design on this trailer with all available space put to good use.

The list of options on its own covers half a page!

A base model will cost around $41,500 and as tested this trailer would retail around $58,000.

That’s at the top end of the off-road trailer market, but for that you do get a rugged bush trailer with serious potential for travel in the remote Badlands while having many of the attributes that you usually only get in a caravan.

The Conqueror UEV-490 is definitely worth a second look.

CONQUEROR UEV-490

Tare: 1350kg
ATM: 1800kg
Brakes: electric off-road
Water: 150 litre
12-volt outlets: 2 x external
Price as tested: $58,000
Website: www.ConquerorAustralia.com.au