Lumberjack Sorrento 2022 Review

Many of us are suffering from COVID cabin fever after cancelled holidays, overseas travel, wars and floods have kept us home for most of the past two years.

One solution an increasing number of people are looking at is escaping off the grid, but self-sufficiency ‘going bush’ doesn’t have to come with a high price tag.

This is important, as many of today’s younger RV adventurers could be tomorrow’s International travellers, base-jumpers, mountain climbers, or whatever, so a sizeable outlay for a high-quality off-road RV is not always warranted and too large an investment could limit future travel options.

Pitched at first-timers

The imported Lumberjack range of campers, particularly the Sorrento Pod camper we have just reviewed, could be the answer.

At a compact 5.5 metres long, 1.85 metres wide and 2.5 metres tall, including the optional rooftop tent, the 1270kg Sorrento with its independent trailing arm suspension and twin shocks per wheel, will follow a 4WD tow car most places you are game to take it, yet will slip into most garages after the adventure ready for its next outing.

On site, by a great fishing river, or remote inland spot, the Sorrento pod camper is easy to live with. A standard batwing 270-degree wrap around awning shields most of the left side and rear from the elements, allowing under-cover access to one of its two entry doors.

For cooking, there's a stainless steel twin gas burner cooktop that drops down out of its cavity in the left hand rear body and exposes the rear stainless steel sink and prep area when you swing out the rear-mounted spare wheel and open the dust-sealed access door.

Accessing the optional 95-litre cabinet fridge that glides out from the A-frame-mounted toolbox involves a rain dance, but otherwise with its impressive 600kg-plus payload, the Sorrento has you covered for outdoor living.

Power to the people

That rear prep area also houses the Lumberjack Sorrento’s power hub, which includes its main power switches, plus individual buttons for the interior, cooktop and other lights, plus gauges to show the water level in the separate 80 litre and 40 litre stainless steel water tanks, as well as power remaining in the single 12v deep cycle battery.

Storage cupboards on the door and rack to hold bottles, should cover most short-term camping needs.

As there are no fixed solar panels, and with a 150W portable panel optional, you're going to want to stock up on extra power if you plan to linger longer off the grid, but Lumberjack expects many buyers will come from a camping background and will already have some equipment to bring to the party.

Still, at least the optional 200 Watt rooftop-mounted solar panel and a second AGM  battery should be standard equipment, given the Sorrento’s $42,500 asking price and its intended remote area operation.

While you’re ticking boxes, you could also specify a second hot water service to feed the hot/cold water manifold on the A-frame and also the optional double ensuite shower tent that can also house a portable camping toilet...

Other standard features

Twin 9kg gas bottle and twin jerrycans are also housed on the A-frame behind the standard DO-35 off-road hitch and protective stone-mesh.

There’s room for firewood on top of the storage box, while the right side of the A-frame box is reserved for things like ground matting, hoses and power cords.

But don’t get too carried away, or you’ll defeat the Sorrento’s purpose of being a basic, budget pod camper that's not to be confused with a luxury off-road hybrid.

Off-road capable it certainly is. Apart from its slim width to take it easily down bush tracks, the hot-dipped galvanised chassis looks suitably tough, while the trailing arm independent coil suspension and 12-inch brakes are on the money for its purpose.

Externally, the finish of the Sorrento’s hail-resistant Styromax fibreglass bodywork is impressively smooth and ripple-free, while the camper’s underside is well protected from sharp objects.

Cosy comforts

Inside is where the Lumberjack Sorrento will win many friends, firstly because it can be accessed by either of two identical fly wire-equipped doors and folding aluminium steps on either side.

Once there on the queen-size foam mattress, you can kick-back and watch the standard 17in TV (if you fit a rooftop antenna), or listen to the multimedia sound system through the Sorrento’s built-in dual speakers.

As this is not intended to be a long-term home, interior storage on each side, beneath the mattress and in the wall-mounted cupboards at the foot of the bed is perfectly adequate.

The flywire doors provide some cross-breeze, while a rooftop vent and twin in-wall mounted 12-volt fans aid cooling, but this could still be marginal on those sweltering tropical nights.

The included roof bars hold the Sorrento’s standard Kings batwing awning, leaving room for an (optional) rooftop air conditioner, although I doubt that you’ll need it unless you're planning extended tropical living.

But that’s not the Lumberjack Sorrento’s market.

It’s designed for couples or young families looking to break out of lockdown for a few days to a couple of weeks, that can be towed by a medium-sized 4WD and is quick and easy to set-up for an outdoor lifestyle.

Of course you can option it up to be more than that, but you then risk running up to the lower price level of locally-built hybrid camper trailers and in the process you may spend the money saved up for your next big trip.

So, my tip is if you buy a Sorrento, tick the options lightly and then keep it safely tucked away in your garage until the weather beckons for a getaway. Then embrace its comfort and simplicity to explore new places.

Summing up

The Lumberjack Sorrento is a good entry-level pod camper designed for outdoor living that makes a great step-up from a soft-floor camper or a tent.

How much is the 2022 Lumberjack Sorrento?

Price: $42,500
Travel length: 5550mm
Body width: 1850mm
Travel height: 2500mm (including rooftop tent)
Tare weight: 1270kg
ATM: 1900kg
Ball weight (Tare): 140kg
Body: Styromax composite fibreglass walls
Chassis: Hot dipped galvanized, 100 x 50 x 4mm steel A-frame
Suspension: Independent trailing arm coil spring
Brakes: 12-inch electric drums
Wheels: Alloy 16-inch with mud-terrain tyres
Fresh water: 1 x 80L and 1 x 40L
Battery: 1 x 110Ah AGM
Solar: Optional 200W rooftop panel, or portable 150W panel
Gas: 2 x 9kg
Hot water: Portable water heater
Cooking: Two gas burner hobs
Fridge:  Optional 95L dual zone cabinet fridge
Shower: Separate external shower and tent optional
Lighting: LED throughout
Supplied by: Pickering Caravans & Camper Trailers, Arundel, Queensland
More info: Lumberjack Camper Trailers