Johnno's Evolution

Johnno's Camper Trailers celebrated its 15th anniversary in 2014 with the release of the X-Calibur (since renamed JCT-X-C15) – a premium hard floor/hybrid-style, off-road camper costing double that of its previous range-topper.

Yet despite the move upmarket, it’s Johnno’s four-model range of Aussie-built, on- and off-road soft-floor models, starting around $15,000, that remain the focus of the Queensland-based company, available for both buying and renting from the 23-strong network of franchised outlets dotted around the country.

The subject of this review, the Evolution, sits atop the soft-floor range and first hit the headlines in 2012 with a Camper Trailer of the Year gong. Priced from $25,990, it’s best described as a quality, entry level camper with many of the “bells and whistles” required for rugged off-road adventures as well being suitable for comfortable family getaways.

Like the rest of Johnno’s range, the Evolution is built at the impressive Cub Campers factory in Sydney, although the Wax Converters tent canvas is still stitched together at Johnno’s headquarters in Maryborough, Queensland.

Around 12 months old, our review camper is the personal plaything of Johnno’s Melbourne East franchisee, Kellie Casey, who has used it on a few off-road adventures including a recent owners’ get-together in the Victorian High Country.

However, despite the abuse it remains in good nick, a testament to quality construction including powder-coated, 1.6mm Zincaneal pressed body panels, 50x50mm ( chassis) and 100x50mm (drawbar) Duragal RHS, liberal use of aluminium checker plate and bash plates for the two, underslung 60 litre poly water tanks.

Adding to its off-road credentials is 50mm extra road clearance, 15 x 7in black steel wheels with chunky Goodyear Wranglers, a Hyland coupling, heavy-duty removable jockey wheel with dual mounts, 45mm solid square axle, off-road nine-leaf shackle suspension, and 10in electric brakes.

While we didn’t take it too far off the beaten track during a five-day family trip to Victoria’s Wilson’s Promontory, it did tow like a dream behind our Toyota HiLux on a range of surfaces, barely troubling the dual cab ute with an ATM of 1500kg and ball weight of 100kg.

SIMPLE SET-UP

While erecting a soft-floor camper is never a simple task, with all that canvas, poles, guy ropes and pegs to negotiate into position, setting up (and packing up) the Evolution is about as easy as it gets. Aided by illustrated, step-by-step instructions (aimed at first time renters) it took two of us a couple of hours. 

But with practice, and help from smaller family members, we could probably get this down to an hour or less. Or under 30 minutes, if we did without the awning and optional ‘sleepout’ tent, which you would for quick, overnight stops.

Doubling as a stand-alone tent, the sleepout zips on easily to the main tent, adding 2.4m x 2.4m of floorspace to easily fit two stretcher beds for the kids. While a pricey $1600 option, it’s money well spent as it literally doubles inside floor space, freeing up the main living area for a table and chairs or in our case, all our luggage.

The 6.5m x 2.4m awning, after attaching guy ropes to three of the four outer poles to counter some serious winds, provides excellent cover over the entry door and stainless steel kitchen, which swings out from the rear door. There’s a built-in side flap for extra wind and rain protection while cooking, and optional canvas walls can be added to create an annexe.

A quality unit, the kitchen incorporates a small bench, spice rack, cutlery drawer, bin/storage bag, and detachable support leg. Cooking is taken care of by a family-friendly Sovereign Outback BBQ and Bromic wok burner, both hooked up to the 4.5kg gas bottle located in a separate locker.

There’s no built-in tap for the removable alloy basin; instead a hose sprayer runs off a 12V pump for general washing duties, with a couple of handy hooks provided for ‘hands-free’ use. 

Our only gripe with the kitchen is the flimsy shelf at the end, which won’t hold much more than a couple of drinks before buckling under the weight and was already bent out of shape.

For hot water, another external locker contains a water hose (and separate manual tap) for a gas-powered Coleman portable hot water unit. Although we didn’t need them, there’s also a shower pole extension and fiddly-to-pack shower tent for some privacy in the bush.

STORAGE KING

The Evolution also excels when it comes to storing and accessing your gear. The compartment under the lift-up bed base (also accessible from the rear door and inside) easily swallowed our bags, chairs, tables, stretchers, and foam mattresses, as well as accommodating a slide-out for an optional 85 litre Evakool fridge/freezer, accessible from inside the tent.

A big checker plate ‘nose cone’ toolbox on the drawbar also swallows plenty of gear, including a dedicated section for the poles, although it takes a bit of muscle to open and close the gas-strut assisted lid with its heavy spare wheel on top.

However, like many aspects of the Evolution, it’s reassuring to see sturdy parts being used, like heavy-duty gas struts, cam locks and automotive seals on external lockers and quality zips for the tent.

Moving inside, the 2.2m x 2.7m space below the bed, combined with high ceilings and extra room in the sleepout, makes many caravan interiors feel decidedly squishy by comparison.

Also palatial is the double bed, which features a comfy 125mm high density foam mattress measuring a decent 1.55m by 2.05m. There’s room around the mattress to store books and magazines, and a handy tent ‘pocket’ for mobile phones and wallets, although another one or two would be nice. 

A removable alloy ladder gets you up into bed, although far-side sleepers will require some flexibility in order to climb over their bed mate at night.

The Evolution comes standard with two 75Ah deep cycle batteries, two 12V sockets, Anderson plug, and LED light strips for inside and out, although this unit had an upgraded 12V system including battery monitor.

CANVAS CAPERS

While the heavy-duty canvas quickly trapped the heat on sunny days, getting a cooling breeze blowing through was easy enough with seven large windows in total, all with flyscreens. On really hot days a flap can be opened in the PVC floor under the bed for further relief.

But it was some wet and wild weather over a couple of nights that really put the Evolution’s weather resistant properties to the test. While the internal tent structure stood up well to the howling winds, some water found its way through seams above the bed during a heavy downpour, as well as onto the floor near the door.

According to Kellie Casey, strong winds ‘pushing’ on the tent structure and releasing some tension in the walls and roof due to movement of the adjustable, internal spreader bars, may have contributed to this.

More of an issue were major leaks in the sleep-out section, which prompted a night-time evacuation of one of the kids to the main tent. As the sleep-out looked brand new, we lay blame on the Aussie-made Dynaproofed canvas not being suitably ‘seasoned’ prior to use, and allowing the stitching to expand and plug the needle holes.

Human error, in the tent’s roof not set up as taut as possible, resulting in water ‘pooling’ instead of running off on two sections where the leaks occurred, would also have played a part in almost a bucket of water filtering through.

Fortunately, nobody (or thing) got wet and the offending water was easily sponged off the heavy-duty, sewn-in PVC tub floor. The Evolution certainly fared better than a nearby tent, which buckled and collapsed in the howling gales.

Adding to its rugged looks as well as practicality, the Evolution also comes with recovery gear that includes two bright orange MaxTrax, high lift recovery jack, shovel, axe, rear recovery point, snatch strap, and a storage box for a (small) chainsaw.

VERDICT

Johnno’s rental experience comes to the fore with the Evolution, which is solidly built, practical and user-friendly. But in Evolution spec it’s far from a rental hack, with enough features and equipment to make it an asset on the most adventurous trip.

It’s not perfect, as we discovered with a pretty basic 12V system incorporating some stray wiring and evidence of rough edges on the bodywork.

Our 'leaking' drama also highlights the importance of seasoning new canvas prior to use, even if it's top-notch Aussie material, and perhaps applying a bit of beeswax to seams as further back-up.

At $25,990 the Evolution is competitively priced compared to similarly-equipped, all-Aussie campers, although larger families will want to keep some room in the budget for desirable options like the sleepout tent.

WHAT WE LIKED:
>> Rugged construction
>> Relatively easy set-up
>> Huge storage
>> Off-road extras

NOT SO MUCH:
>> Basic 12V system
>> Flimsy kitchen shelf
>> Heavy-lifting toolbox lid
>> Canvas hassles

JOHNNO’S CAMPER TRAILERS EVOLUTION

Overall length: 4.3m
Overall width: 1.9m
Travel height: 1.5m
Tare: 1049kg
ATM: 1500kg
Ball weight: 100kg
Coupling: Hyland
Body: 2080m x 1275 x 500mm Zincaneal, powdercoated
Drawbar: 100 x 50 x 2.5mm Duragal
Chassis: 50 x 50 x 2.5mm Duragal
Suspension: off-road nine leaf shackle with rebound spring
Brakes: 10in electric
Wheels/tyres: 15x7 steel//Goodyear Wrangler MT
Kitchen: swing-out stainless steel with sink, sprayer, BBQ and Wok burner 
Fridge/freezer: 85 litre optional
Toilet: optional
Shower: external hose, 12V pump
Tent: 12/15oz Wax Converters
Water: 2 x 60L
Hot water: Coleman portable
Gas: 4.5kg
Lighting: 12V LED
Battery: 2 x 75Ah deep cycle
Priced from (RRP): $25,990
Supplied by: Johnno’s Camper Trailers – Melbourne East
More info: Johnno’s Camper Trailers