Hitch Madigan elevates hybrid experience

Queensland's Hitch Campers recently unveiled its first hybrid pop-top caravan at the 2025 Queensland Caravan & Camping Supershow.

Like other Hitch models, including the Canning box camper, Gibb toy hauler trailer and OTT truck motorhome, the new 2-5 berth hybrid is largely 'canvas-free', except for the vinyl around the off-the-ground, fold-out shower enclosure.

Instead of a more conventional pop-top roof, Hitch has opted for a Kimberley Karavan-style hard-shell roof lift, with four electric actuators raising the side walls and roof from the 2.34m travel height, to deliver an internal height of just over 2.0m when camping.

The side fold-out shower/toilet enclosure on the new Madigan off-roader is also similar in design to that on the BRS Pursuit we reviewed a few years back. Accessed from inside, the shower base is self supporting and designed to carry up to 200kg, along with a portable toilet.

Cooking is outside on a large rear recessed kitchen with top-hinged lid, which packs in a stainless steel slide-out benchtop with induction cooktop, 130L fridge/freezer, sink with mixer tap and a microwave, with a 'pass-through' tunnel into the interior living area.

The floorplan includes a north-south queen bed and two-person dinette, with quite a bit of storage available both internally and externally considering the compact 4.0m x 1.74m interior dimensions, including some drawers and a large tunnel boot under the bed.

The 'gas-free' set-up includes a 400Ah lithium battery system with Redarc 3000W inverter and Rogue switching and 600W rooftop solar, with an air-conditioner, 32in TV, twin 12V fans, powered awning, inside/outside LED lighting, wireless bedside phone charging and an automated dust suppression system also part of the standard package.

Otherwise, the new locally-made Hitch Madigan presents as an upmarket build with a hot dipped galvanised chassis, fibreglass sandwich body panels and PVC composite internal cabinetry, together with Cruisemaster ATX airbag suspension, an ARK jockey wheel, DO-35 coupling and 17in alloys with AT rubber.

It all delivers a Tare mass from around 1600kg, and an ATM of 2800kg. There's also a 10L electric heater drawing fresh water from two 90L tanks, and a 70L grey water tank.

RRP pricing starts at $114,990 tow-away, with the Madigan prototype on display fitted with a number of options including electric underfloor heating, Cruisemaster BCS, 600W additional solar, Redarc Alpha 100, hydraulic disc brakes, extra grey/fresh water tanks and an internal TVMS screen, taking the price to $124,884 tow-away.

Hitch Campers' Sales and Marketing Manager Tim Bowman said the new Madigan is designed to compete directly with other six-figure priced, Aussie-built hybrids from the likes of Kimberley, Rhinomax, Mountain Trail and Offline Campers.

Finished just hours before the show started, he said there are likely to be a few changes made to the prototype before final production units roll out from the Gold Coast factory around late-2025.