Lifestyle Adventure Trek AT10

WE LIKED:
>> Easy-to-operate pop-top and bed extension
>> Slide-out kitchen bench
>> Simple electrical set-up
>> Generous external storage

NOT SO MUCH:
>> Too many options -- second gas cylinder, solar panel and 12V sockets should be standard

An emerging niche in the RV market is the hard shell camper trailer, or the lightweight offroad caravan. These are made popular by customers who desire an offroad-ready rig, without the enormous weight to contend with.

Enter the Adventure Trek AT10 from Lifestyle Camper Trailers. Yes, this is a company best known for its camper trailers, but it will soon become obvious that the AT10 is more caravan than camper.

Under the direction of John Swinglehurst, Lifestyle Camper Trailers grabbed the opportunity to acquire and develop the existing Adventure Trek range of pop-top caravans.

There are several different products across the AT10 and AT12 ranges, with several layouts and options of bunks and single beds. However, a common characteristic throughout all the Adventure Treks is their relatively short length and light weight.

RIDING TOUGH

The AT10 is designed as an offroad pop-top caravan, so after a quick review at the Brisbane factory, we headed out to bush country to give the van a run. Although our tow vehicle was a LandCruiser, the rig’s 1100kg ATM and 80kg ball weight meant a much smaller tow vehicle could be utilised.

Underpinning the AT10 is a 6in SupaGal chassis with 150mm rails. I was surprised at the size of the rails, but John assured me the company had investigated a few options and decided that a larger cross-section rail offered more strength.

Between the rails, a spare wheel is mounted at the front, and a 65 litre polyethylene water tank is mounted at the rear.

The AT10 normally rides on leaf-spring suspension, but the customer who ordered this particular van opted for the Cruisemaster independent suspension option. Similarly for the tow coupling, a DO35 is usually supplied but the customer opted for a Hyland hitch.

On the drawbar, there are two 4.5kg gas cylinder holders, but only one supplied (I’d want two for bush travel), and a swing-up jockey wheel.

I generally like swing-up jockey wheels, but one disadvantage came to light when I unhitched the van: because of the height of the Cruiser’s tow hitch, the jockey wheel could not be extended far enough. You’d want to either settle for the conventional caravan kind, or carry some wooden blocks on tour.

Unlike most caravans, the AT10 comes with a galvanised steel frame as well as insulation, and aluminium cladding. The pop-top roof has aluminium framing and cladding.

POP-TOP AND POP-OUT

As well as a pop-top roof, the AT10 has a pop-out end. It’s very easy to set up – the rear wall lifts up, the side walls hinge out, another rear wall emerges, and hey, presto – the internal queen bed is in position.

Because of the design, only the rear wall has windows, but it’s quite spacious inside.

Another option on the AT10 is the Aussie Trek Coolabah awning. Although well suited to a pop-top caravan, it’s a bit fiddly to set up and can, as I discovered, catch tree branches on narrow bush tracks.

It may only be a little van, but the AT10 still comes with a front boot, with access doors at the front and side and an additional fishing rod holder above. Seitz acrylic hopper windows are used all round, plus the traditional Camec security door.

Unlike its big brother, the AT10 has neither an internal kitchen (except for the fridge) nor an internal bathroom. It does, however, have a nearside slide-out kitchen, camper trailer style, and a simple external shower hose.

The slide-out kitchen is a simple affair, with two-burner cooktop and stainless steel sink, plus storage underneath. What it lacks is a camper-style bench extension, though this van did have the optional drop-down picnic table – very useful in my view.

Another option I should mention is the 14 litre Truma water heater, for the sink and shower.

SIMPLICITY PLUS

Inside the AT10, the layout is quite simple but very workable. The innerspring queen mattress occupies most of the rear area, while the rest of the van is dominated by a small dinette on the offside and the Waeco 110 litre 12V fridge on the front wall.

The little dinette comes with a tri-fold table, and cupboards are placed everywhere they possibly could be.

AT10 electrics are quite simple – the van comes wired for both 240V and 12V, has 12V LED lighting and a 120Ah deep-cycle battery, 15A mains charger and DC- DC charger.

Given the 12V compressor fridge, I’d be opting for a solar panel or two, and the owner of our test van obviously agreed.

The very extensive options list on this van is also worth consideration if you’re budget is tight. Some features I would consider to be non-optional, but Lifestyle’s policy is to supply all the basics at an affordable level, and then let the purchaser select what else they need.

VERDICT

Although there are quite a few good offroad caravans around, many of them are relatively large and heavy, making them a bit daunting for some.

The Adventure Trek caravan fills the need for a smaller, bush-ready rig very nicely. The longer (and more expensive) AT12 has a shower/toilet onboard, but both models should fulfil the basic needs of the offroad traveller.

LIFESTYLE CAMPER TRAILERS ADVENTURE TREK AT10

Overall length: 4.5m (14ft 9in) 
External length: 3.05m (10ft)
External width: 2.0m (6ft 7in)
Travel height: 2.39m (7ft 10in)
Internal height: 2.03m (6ft 8in) 
Nameplate ATM: 1750kg
Nameplate Tare: 1100kg
Ball weight (advised): 80kg
Frame: Galvanised steel
Chassis: SupaGal 150mm (6in) rail
Suspension: Cruisemaster independent
Cooktop: Smev two-burner
Fridge: Waeco 110 litre 12V
Microwave: None
Shower: External
Toilet: None
Lighting: 12V LED
Gas: 1 x 4.5kg
Fresh water: 65 litre
Price $46,000 (on-road, Qld)
Supplied by:
Lifestyle Camper Trailers, Slacks Creek, Qld