Mountain Trail electrifies hard floor market

Award-winning off-road camper trailer manufacturer, Mountain Trail, has released its first hard-floor model. But not just any old flip-over, canvas-roofed camper; incorporating an electric folding mechanism designed to take the hard work out of setting and packing up the camper.

Like the electro-assist option introduced earlier this year on its premium soft-floor models, the Mountain Trail system on the new EDX (Electric Design Extreme) model automatically folds or unfolds the gas strut-assisted main tent and hard floor/lid at the push of a button.

It runs off the 12V system, but can be over-ridden manually in case of malfunction or battery failure. It also has a number of safety features including a two-switch operation and automatic cut-out to prevent jamming or injury.

Designed to be “rot free, corrosion free, rust free” according to Mountain Trail’s Nick Edwards, the new EDX comprises more than 250 laser-cut parts made from Zincseal or galvanised steel, aluminium and composite parts, including a German-sourced, 30mm fibreglass/honeycomb laminated floor that weighs just 20kg.

Adding to its bush-bashing credentials is a hot dipped galvanised chassis suspended by Cruisemaster independent coil suspension, a Hitchmaster D035 coupling, 130 litre stainless steel water tank, 12 inch electric brakes and 12oz Wax Converters tent canvas.

The stainless steel, slide-out outdoor kitchen comes with 2.4m benchspace, 40 litre fridge, and various storage compartments including two slide-out pantry drawers with dividers.

Designed to keep the lights and fridge going for up to 10 days in the bush, the hi-tech 12V/240V electrical system includes three, 100aH AGM batteries, battery and water management system, inverter, 120W portable solar panel, as well as external and internal USB, AUX and 240V sockets. There’s also internal and external LED lighting.

The main bed features a queen size innerspring mattress with a slide-out internal clothing drawer underneath, while three other large storage compartments are accessed externally.

Measuring 5.0m long, 1.89m wide and 1.4m high when folded, the EDX also comes with an ensuite ‘tent’ that offers some privacy when using the external hot/cold shower.

Helping keep weight down to a respectable 1360kg (Tare) and 2000kg (ATM) are other weight saving measures including an “all aluminium front end”.

The large alloy storage box on the drawbar has three vented compartments for carrying two, 4kg gas bottles, two 20L jerry cans and the fuel tank for the Webasto diesel hot water service and internal heater.

Mountain Trail plans to only offer the one, fully-equipped hard-floor model, with the only option annexe walls for the removable annexe roof.

While the electric actuation folding mechanism and other cutting-edge engineering has pushed the EDX’s price around $15,000 higher than Mountain Trail’s top-spec Evolution soft-floor camper, Edwards defends the $59,925 price tag by arguing “there was no compromise on quality”.

“We don’t try and get really cheap parts and put them in; we don’t compete on price basically,” he says. “It just is what it is; you can’t make this any cheaper.”

With a strong take-up so far of the $1376 electro-assist, soft floor option, Edwards expects the EDX to comprise up to 50 per cent of all Mountain Trail sales. He already has a number of orders, with first deliveries expected in February.

The new hard-floor model will be built alongside Mountain Trail’s four-model soft-floor range at the company's 18-month-old, 4000 sq.m Albury, NSW factory. In order to produce EDX body panels in-house, Mountain Trail recently invested $200,000 on new equipment including a break press.

For videos on the EDX opening and closing, visit Mountain Trail's Facebook site.