8
NEWS
More tech for Kimberley Kamper
King of campers gets more tech to retain off-road, hard-floor crownThe self-proclaimed ‘King’ of camper trailers, Kimberley, has added a raft of high tech equipment to its range-topping Platinum to stay ahead of its major off-road rivals.
The Ballina, NSW-based specialist manufacturer has long-prided itself on being Australia’s technology leader in hard-floor camper trailers and off-road caravans, previously bringing innovations like waterless toilets, 12-volt air conditioners, lithium batteries and 12v electric blankets to market before its rivals.
The 2017 Kamper continues that high-tech path, with new refrigeration, solar charging, instant water dispensing and suspension equipment making their debut at this year’s Sydney Supershow, with Kimberley claiming the new Kamper series “sets the scene for the next 6-7 years”.
While outwardly similar to the previous Kamper from the wheels back, the 2017 Platinum priced from $59,990, has a new auto opening system that raises the leading edge of the hard floor before flipping the entire section to the camper’s rear.
There’s a completely new kitchen on the left-hand side that for the first time houses an upright 85-litre 12-volt compressor fridge incorporating an ice-maker that is claimed to use 50 per cent less power than a conventional tub-type unit.
This is paired on the right-hand side with a new Italian-made IndelB 12v freezer that can be used to snap-freeze beverages before the entire unit is dropped into your 4WD tow car for day trips away from camp.
However, the star of the new Kamper kitchen is the Super-Hot Water dispenser that issues water at up to 100 degrees Celsius to make a quick coffee, tea, or bed-time cocoa. And, like the freezer, it’s modular so it can be removed for day use.
While you’re in the kitchen, you can be entertained by Kimberley’s own branded 40W sound bar, which pipes music wirelessly from the Kamper’s internal head unit, or you can stream it from your phone or music player.
A 600W Pure Sine Wave inverter is standard to run your coffee pod machine.
More to boot
The front boot area is also new on the latest campers, with a 70W Optima Black flexible solar panel following the curves of the boot lid.
New stone-deflecting moulded black plastic shields now form the front line of stone defence up front, replacing the previous truck mesh screen.
A 120L main water tank and a 70L auxiliary tank allow water to be received via a quick-fill inlet from a mains supply, or pumped from a creek.
The 2017 Model Series II Waterless Toilet now has automatic control and a removable liner, with Kimberley claiming “no smell, no looking for a dump station and 80 uses”.
All up it weighs less than 8kg, with Kimberley saying the dynamic dunny “will set a new standard for decades to come”.
The Platinum’s standard battery power is two 105AH AGMs, but a 200AH Lithium is optional, which lowers the Platinum’s overall weight by 80kg.
Standard suspension remains Kimberley’s own coil spring and trailing arm independent system, but new large-bore 66mm diameter mono shock absorbers are claimed to produce a softer ride over corrugations and are said to be equivalent to the damping power of four conventional twin tube shockers.
Air bag suspension is optional, and disc brakes remain standard wear on Platinum models.
Kimberley has also improved its awning system to make it simpler to erect, while the main tent section now offers more headroom.
Finally, for Land Rover owners who for years have had to settle for different offset wheels to their tow car, Kimberley has made the latest Kampers compatible with 120mm PCD wheels.
Despite, or as well as all this, the latest Kimberly Kampers remain a hard act to follow into remote areas and with tare weights of 950-1200kg and ATMs of 1600-2000kg they must remain on any remote area traveller’s short list.
Share this article
Written byMichael Browning
See all articlesStay up to dateBecome a caravancampingsales member and get the latest news, reviews and advice straight to your inbox.
Subscribe todayDisclaimer
Please see our Editorial Guidelines & Code of Ethics (including for more information about sponsored content and paid events). The information published on this website is of a general nature only and doesn’t consider your particular circumstances or needs.
Please see our Editorial Guidelines & Code of Ethics (including for more information about sponsored content and paid events). The information published on this website is of a general nature only and doesn’t consider your particular circumstances or needs.
Love every move.
Buy it. Sell it.Love it.
®Contact
Advertise with us
Local marketplaces
International marketplaces
Consent
Download the caravancampingsales app
