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NEWS
Heatseeker raises toy hauler stakes
Trick new toy hauler with removable camper and six figure price tag breaks coverQueensland’s Patriot Campers set the RV world alight when it introduced the
eye-catching TH560 toy hauler in 2014, and now a West Australian manufacturer has taken the tough, toy hauler camper concept to another level with an all-new, premium five-berth toy trailer dubbed the HeatSeeker.
While sharing a similar design to the Patriot, including front camper, rear ‘garage’ and tough underpinnings, the HeatSeeker features a more complete camper trailer set-up that can sleep up to five inside.
The design also echoes imported toy haulers like the
Forest River Rockwood, although unlike the American camper the HeatSeeker features a removable camper module (not unlike a
slide-on ute camper), so the basic trailer can be used for other purposes such as a car carrier.
The HeatSeeker is the brainchild of Shannon Steele, who runs Muchea, West Australia-based SRS Fabrication. The metal fabrication specialist normally focuses on ute trays, work trailers, boat construction and mining industry parts, but could turn to RV manufacturing if there’s demand for the HeatSeeker.
SRS used laser cut aluminium for the camper module and trailer, with canvas walls for the pop-top roof and front queen and side single, slide-out beds. The independent trailing arm suspension system was sourced locally and features disc brakes and airbags while an on-board air compressor also operates the pop-top roof.
The 140 litre water storage and water pump are built into the trailer, while the camper has external storage lockers and slide-outs for a stainless steel kitchen and BBQ, along with a 12V battery system incorporating solar panels and Redarc battery manager.
The two fixed single beds inside can be converted to a dinette, and Steele has also created an elaborate awning system so that another undercover, above-ground living area can be created on the rear platform when the motorised toys are off-loaded using the supplied ramps.
There’s also a metal piece on the side of the rear platform that flips down to form the base for a shower tent.
Steele said the 3500kg-rated trailer has a payload up to 2500kg, or around two tonnes with the drop-in camper fitted.
Since finishing the trailer late last year, he said images of the HeatSeeker
posted on Facebook this week
have gone “viral” with 50,000 views within 48 hours. “It has actually blown me away,” Steele said.
While admitting a proposed price tag of around $130,000 for the top-spec version is “big money for a camper trailer”, he’s keen to build more if buyers are out there. The first one was built for his brother-in-law, but he’s hoping to complete another one later this year for display at camping shows.
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Written byChris Fincham
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