New Age Wayfinder 2018 Review

If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it! That was obviously New Age’s mission with its first, production-ready camper trailer, the Wayfinder, which broke cover at this year’s Melbourne Leisurefest.

But that didn’t rule out refining a good idea to make it even better in some ways than its Jayco, Goldstream and Golf, etc. predecessors, that have helped popularise the wind-up camper over the past 35-plus years.

The concept is simple and effective and initially was designed to bridge the gap between tents and caravans, delivering an off-the-ground, quick-to-erect, yet tent-like camping experience.

Unclip four over-centre latches; wind up the roof; pull out the canvas-topped bed ends; connect the two door halves and step inside to find a much bigger than expected living space that feels much more connected to your surroundings than a caravan.

Winning recipe

That’s the camper trailer feeling that New Age has sought to capture for a new generation of travellers with the Wayfinder, which is available in two models – the 12ft WF12 ‘family’ model with twin slide-out beds (RRP $32,990) that’s similar in size to a Jayco  Swan, and the slightly larger 13ft WF13 couple’s camper (RRP $28,990), in which there’s a single fixed double bed, similar to a Jayco Penguin.

Both models can be ordered with an optional $4000 ‘Comfort’ pack, which adds Raptor protective coating to the camper’s front, rear and sides, a single 100AH AGM battery, a microwave and an entertainment system consisting of a 24-inch smart TV with an antenna and a two-speaker stereo to its base specification.

Alternatively, for an extra $10,000 over either Wayfinder model’s base price, you can order the ‘Adventurer’ pack, which includes all the Comfort option features, but adds sturdier AL-KO Enduro Outback independent trailing arm suspension, an off-road coupling, larger 16-inch wheels and tyres, a box awning, AL-KO ESC sway control  and a mains pressure water connection, amongst other items.

Built for Comfort

Our review Wayfinder WF12F ‘family camper’ came equipped with the Comfort pack, which took its RRP to $36,990 – premium-pricing against its direct market rivals. However the Wayfinder has a number of features that will appeal to many cashed-up travellers.

For a start, it has been designed and engineered by the Walkinshaw Group, which now has a major stake in New Age Caravans. Walkinshaw has been involved internationally in Formula 1, Sportscar and Touring Car racing over the years and since 1987, performance enhancements for Holden and other General Motors products.

However more recently, they’ve taken a stake in the Australian RV industry through New Age and with the Wayfinder have brought their own style and technical expertise to the humble camper trailer.

Externally, the camper’s white Alucobond aluminium exterior cladding certainly looks smart and modern, contrasting with its black aluminium top, black Raptor lower body coating and two-tone grey canvas.

Walkinshaw’s automotive influences can also be found at the Wayfinder’s rear, in the recessed spare wheel and automotive-style tail-light cluster.

Raising the aluminium roof – via a lengthy 90-odd cranks of its manual handle – is still an ‘old school’ idea though. If it was mine, I’d be heading to Bunnings to buy a simple battery-powered impact wrench and an adapter to make the job easier, as New Age at this stage don’t offer a power-lift option. As a bonus, you could then use the same tool to lower and raise the camper’s four sturdy corner stability legs.

Trick bed supports

Once the roof is raised, the next job is to pull out the beds from each end and to support the extended bases with two specially-designed and adjustable supporting poles.

While other camper trailers usually make do with fixed-length struts that slot into keepers in the chassis and brackets under the bed, Walkinshaw’s more high-tech solution is a white, tubular length-adjustable rod with eyelets at each end and removable locking pins.

Car enthusiasts will delight at the rose-joints at the bed end, but it can be tricky to line up the holes and the retaining pins until you become practiced.

The next job is to head inside and raise the curved steel hoops at each end, holding the canvas upright with a ‘hockey stick’ shaped rod that slots without undue effort into a rubber grommet in the roof. Having previously owned three campers, this is a significant improvement over the systems of old.

You then stretch the canvas over the hoop and secure it under the bed ends via a large Velcro band and the tent sections are set up.

The final set-up job is to unlatch the top half of the entry door from the Wayfinder’s roof and drop it onto its lower half, securing it in place with Dzus-type fasteners and more Velcro.

With the aforementioned drill and some practice, the whole operation should take less than 10 minutes.

Room to move

Once inside, you’ll find a large living space, with no intrusion from the double beds at either end. Speaking of the beds, each is equipped with a relatively thin foam mattress and it would be nice to see an innerspring mattress option here.

The joy of camper trailers like this is to unzip all the plastic inner clear plastic walls and to feel part of the surrounding outdoors, with insect mesh all round, plus on the Wayfinder you can zip down most of the wall rear of the door to create a breakfast bar.

Otherwise, there’s more usable space inside the family Wayfinder than you’ll find in many larger caravans, with an upmarket black and white presentation that immediately sets the Wayfinder apart from most wind-up camper trailers.

In the WF12’s interior, New Age has managed to fit a huge faux-granite-topped bench that stretches most of the way along the wall opposite the door, interrupted by the camper’s three-burner gas cooktop and stainless steel basin, with the Wayfinder’s standard 93-litre three-way fridge and the Comfort pack’s neighbouring microwave oven slotted under the left hand side of the benchtop, while the rest of the under-bench space is filled with solid ply cupboards and drawers.

The door-side wall is occupied by a dinette that will seat two adults comfortably, or four children at a pinch and a storage cupboard. This is supplemented on the opposite side by a larger U-shaped lounge with a separate central table that’s slightly wobbly on its single central pedestal, creating two separate seating or dining areas – great for families.

At first glance it looks like this large lounge area could be converted into another bed, but strangely, there’s no provision to drop the table and re-arrange cushions to do this (although there is an option for a lounge/bed conversion available).

Decent storage

Storage in a wind-up camper trailer can sometimes be limited, but the Wayfinder manages this well. At the front there’s a slim, but deep boot that can be accessed with the front bed extended, while there’s also an L-shaped tunnel boot immediately to its rear in the camper’s body.

At first glance, it looks like large objects might find their way to inaccessible places, but further inspection revealed that this void can be accessed by hatches under the front lounge cushions.

Like the first camper trailers, the base Wayfinder comes with basic suspension – a square-tubed single axle, U-clamped to simple leaf springs – but with a Tare weight of 1400kg and low roofline when folded up, it tracks and tows easily and will work perfectly well for the majority of users who don’t plan to venture far off the beaten track.

For those who do, AL-KO’s Enduro Outback independent trailing arm suspension is there as part of the Adventurer pack.

Summing up

New Age and Walkinshaw haven’t attempted to reinvent the wind-up, pull-out-bed camper trailer in its development of the new Wayfinder.

Rather, it has brought a near 40-year-old concept up to date with modern décor, and refinement to its pull-out tent sections and entry door.

Offering the above-ground comforts and easy erection of a hybrid camper, with the outdoor inclusive feel of tent camping, it should appeal to the emerging Millennial market that New Age is clearly targeting.

Specs: New Age Wayfinder WF12 Comfort

Wayfarer Travel length: 5900mm
External body length: 4630mm
External body width: 2145mm
Travel height: 1760mm
Tare: 1400kg
ATM: 1700kg
Ball weight (Tare): 160kg
Body: Alucobond aluminium exterior cladding over timber-framing. Aluminium roof.
Chassis: Galvanised steel
Suspension: Leaf spring and beam axle
Brakes: Electric drums
Wheels: 15x6in alloy with 205/70-15 tyres
Fresh water: 1 x 80L
Battery: Optional 1 x 100Ah AGM with Comfort pack
Solar: Optional with Adventurer pack
Gas: 1 x 9kg bottle
Cooking: 3 burner gas internal cooktop and microwave oven
Fridge: 93L 3-way
Bathroom: None
Lighting: LED throughout                                                                                              Price: Base price $32,990. As reviewed with Comfort pack - $36,990
Supplied by: New Age Melbourne, Campbellfield, Victoria
Website: New Age Caravans, Epping, Victoria