Desert Edge Catch and Relax

WE LIKED

- Good finish on most of the metalwork
- Top quality welding
- Light and good value for money

NOT SO MUCH

- Some machine cut edges on the bar work a bit rough

It's not that long ago that we reviewed Desert Edge's entry-level Breeze Deluxe camper. The recent transformation of this camper trailer into one that totes a fishing/boating package caught our attention and so we thought it worth a revisit.

The chassis’s had a few changes so let's look at that first. Hot dipped galvanised, it consists of 100 x 50 x 2.5mm RHS running from the hitch to the tailgate.

The remainder of the base frame is 50mm square box section and it all rides on independent sprung Alko 750 IRS running gear.

I've had the opportunity to test this style of axle on my own bush trailer, and while not having the length of travel in independent arms compared with a full blown off road system, it can handle rough terrain and provides super smooth riding on unsealed roads.

Also, you don't have the concerns related to upkeep of springs, shackles and U Bolts.

The tub base for the camper top is 7 x 4 foot in diameter and half a metre deep giving plenty of height for high profile storage tubs. It's constructed from 2mm marine grade aluminium and stitch welded together.

A neat kitchen is installed on the inside of the tailgate and plumbing for the gas is easily installed on the bottle housed on the offside rear of the box section. An optional extra, this Oasis model kitchen is not included in the quoted price.

The tailgate opens on a gas strut and a locking device must be manually released before closing the tail gate. This is a precautionary measure to prevent the gate being closed while the top of the kitchen is being used for any purpose.

EXTERNAL FITTINGS

There's a large lockable storage box sitting on the draw bar on which the spare tyre mounting block is fixed.

Straddling the draw bar in front of the storage box on a bracket is a Vortex 2.5-hp two stroke outboard motor. This brand of engine is pretty new, being one of the more recent imports from China and distributed by Desert Edge's parent company Telwater.

This particular model weighs in at 14.5kg and features a 1.5 litre internal fuel tank under the cowl. It has a miniscule engine displacement of 0.0746 of a litre and is the baby in a range of two strokes and four-strokes now available in Australia.

Telwater claims these engines on average, come in at around 25 percent less in cost than their competitors', a factor that has kept the drive away price of this Catch and Relax package unbelievably low.

This area is protected from stone chips coming from the tow vehicle by a removable mesh guard that has posts fitted into inserts on the draw bar, although this is also an optional extra.

The inclusion of a stone guard means there’s no room for a swing up style jockey wheel, so that's now removable and stored across the draw bar, secured by a second clamp.

Also different to the trailer we originally reviewed is the hitch. On this camper it's a Hyland brand offering full rotation. Once again, the Hyland hitch and 10-inch electric brakes fitted aren't included in the standard price.

The external brackets for the gas bottle and jerry can remain the same as does the overall workmanship, which on this trailer was excellent with neatly finished guards and brackets.

LET'S GO BOATING

There's nothing new with the camper’ canvas top, so let's move onwards and upwards to the boat loader.

The cross member located front and back of the box section, may be removed if you're not carting your boat around (or for that matter the camper top) and instead want to use the trailer around your house or farm for other purposes.

On top of these cross members are two heavy alloy pieces of box section, hinged to open to the offside. When the boat is on the loader, another removable section spans between in order to keep them from spreading apart.

Should you leave the boat at home, this last piece also stays behind so the camper can be erected. It folds out to the nearside while the boat loading rack remains in place.

Two heavy-duty gas struts lift the boat and its rack and with a rope attached the boat is easily brought back down and secured for travel. Lifting the boat while on the rack is relatively easy and I was able to do this one handed.

The boat’s removed from the loader by undoing the straps and pulling it off toward the rear.

The Desert Edge aluminium hull is 3.5m in length, with a beam of 1.25m and a depth of 0.63m. It weighs in at just 55kg so is manageable by one person, although two would take some of the 'grunt' out of the operation.

Telwater, which also manufactures the hull, recommends a 10hp outboard with a maximum of 15hp. According to Vortex, these engines will increase the weight on the draw bar by 16kg, which might unduly influence the tow ball weight and also push up the price of the package.

VERDICT

Although the boat and motor are lightweight, they'll get the job done but more importantly, are easily handled on and off the trailer provided you’re close to water.

Later this year there should be an option to upgrade the motor to 4hp, and there are a number of lightweight collapsible trailers that would readily fit inside the camper to make life even easier when launching and retrieving.

Don't be surprised to see a collapsible trailer appear as part of a future Desert Edge Catch and Relax package. For the moment though, at an all-in-one price beginning at $13,800, there aren't too many reasons why this rig shouldn't be on your browsing list.

DESERT EDGE CATCH AND RELAX

Overall length:  4.2m            
External width: 1.85m            
Nameplate tare:  1000kg          
Nameplate ATM: 1100kg           
Ball weight: 60kg               
Cooktop:  Gas two burners                        
Fridge:  nil                          
Gas:  portable 4.0kg bottle                              
Freshwater:  90 litre hand pumped                
Suspension: Alko IRS independent
Price: from $13,800
Supplied by: Austyle Campers & Trailers, Beenleigh Qld
More info: Desert Edge Trailers