Kea Conqueror 4WD

WE LIKED

• Ease of setting up for overnight camp
• Good sized 80 litre fridge
• Interior lighting and solar panel as standard

NOT SO MUCH

• No hot water heater, so no hot showers!
• For long term travel, refillable gas cylinders (disposables are expensive) are preferable

Kea Campers is well known for its wide range of rental motorhomes. Most of these former vehicles for hire end up back on the roads in the hands of private travellers, or for those who really like the Kea style, but desire something new, brand new Kea campers are available.

The Conqueror is something of an oddity in the Kea range. It’s not the manufacturer’s only pop-top, but it’s the only 4WD. And in a part of the market where true 4WD vehicles are rare, such rough road ability is a major asset. 

Unfortunately, I didn’t have a great deal of time to play with the Conqueror. But when I picked it up from Kea’s Milperra depot in Sydney, I decided the best place to conduct a brief test drive, as well as take in some stunning scenery, was the north-western area of the Blue Mountains, including the areas around Newnes and Gardens of Stone.

Based on a LandCruiser 70 Series (also known as a Troopie), this rig is a little more basic than Toyota’s more upmarket 200 series. But it definitely has everything for the hardcore off-roader, along with the legendary Toyota reliability.

On the road, the rumbling 151kW/430Nm, 4.5-litre V8 turbodiesel handles everything with ease, including some rough mountain tracks.

As a lover of manual machines, I didn’t mind the five-speed gearbox, not that too many gear shifts were necessary with the torquey diesel. I did occasionally find the power steering a bit sluggish, but the turning circle of 13.2m meant that wasn’t a problem.

For my travels, which were a mix of freeway and offroad tracks, fuel consumption came in at about 13L/100km.

QUICK STOP

As the result of many years’ experience in the rental market, and plenty of knowledge of the private sector, Kea has successfully refined the Conqueror’s setting up process so it requires minimal effort. It’s a simple matter of undoing the corner clips and pushing the roof up from the inside.

Although the interior of the Conqueror might be relatively small, the feeling of space is significantly enhanced by the 2.0m height of the pop-top, plus the large screened windows all-round.

Relatively small compared to most motorhomes, the Conqueror’s layout is fairly simple – but multi-functional at the same time. A kitchen bench and cupboard take up the offside wall, while an L-shaped lounge and small table fill the rest of the space.

The lounge and table can be used to form a 2.0 x 1.0m bed, which is made-up by lowering the table and fitting cushions in various gaps. There’s also some storage space under the seat.

Behind the cab, a Waeco 80 litre chest-style fridge sits under the seat. A handy, and discreetly hidden, valuables strongbox sits between the fridge and the nearside wall.

In addition to the lower bed, a second 2.0 x 1.3m option can be made-up by sliding an extension tray from above the driver’s cab. Although this one is a little more awkward to climb into, it does have several advantages over the lower bed: it’s much easier to make up on warm summer nights, has plenty of fresh air circulation and is a bit larger. It’s also possible to use some of the lower area of the camper with the top bed made up.

Side-mounted fluorescent lights offer good after dark illumination for sleepers in either bed.

OUTDOOR CUISINE

Catering is a fairly simple affair in the Conqueror. A small single-burner cooktop hides in one of the lower storage compartments in the kitchen bench. When being used, it sits on a hinged shelf fitted to the (open) rear offside door. The small awning that can fit over the doors to protect against outback sun and rain is a very welcome feature.

In the kitchen bench itself, the moulded benchtop has a sink with both tank and filtered water supplies. There’s a surprising amount of benchtop space, as well as two cupboards and three drawers underneath.

Storage space in a vehicle like this is always going to be finite, but the cupboard behind the driver’s seat offers several shelves for clothing or food, and features a mirror on the inside of the door.

In addition, the rear-facing panel is a central mounting point for the 12V electrical controls, water tank gauges and a 12V socket.

The Conqueror’s electrics are quite simple, with both 240V and 12V systems. A roof-mounted 68W solar panel charges up the 90Ah house battery when needed.

Although it comes with an external shower, a hot water heater is not a standard item. A gas system isn’t required (the cooktop uses small disposable cylinders), so no space is required for a gas bin or gas lines.

VERDICT

I have to say I had fun during my brief travels in the Conqueror. It’s the only 4WD in the Kea range and definitely fills a niche. That said, this vehicle is not for all motorhomers; it’s for those who like their travelling off the bitumen and away from civilisation. 

It’s also set up for hardier bush types, with no standard hot water, fancy cooktop or giant fridge.

But with most of the camping comforts fitted and minimal setting up time and effort required, the Conqueror has plenty to offer the keen adventurer.


KEA CAMPERS CONQUEROR 4WD  

Base vehicle: Toyota LandCruiser 70 Series Troop Carrier 
Engine: 4.5-litre V8 turbodiesel 
Gearbox: five-speed manual  
Power/torque: 151kW @ 3400rpm/ 430Nm @ 1200rpm  
Brakes: Disc  
Tare: 2660kg 
GVM: 3300kg  
Length (external): 5.3m (17ft 5in)
Width (external): 1.8m (5ft 11in)
Height (external): 2.3m (7ft 6in)
Height (internal): 1.9m (6ft 3in) 
Cooktop: single-burner  
Fridge: Waeco 80-litre  
Gas: disposable cylinders  
Lighting: 12V fluorescent
Shower: external  
Fresh water: 80 litre    
Price: $116,000 (on-road, NSW) 
More info: Kea Campers