New look Pioneer campers at Melbourne show

Pioneer Campers will display its revamped 2013 range of hard-floor, off-road camper trailers at the Victorian Caravan, Camping & Touring Supershow, which runs from March 7-12 at Caulfield Racecourse.

Featuring a stylish new design incorporating black, light grey, blue and red colour schemes, the five-model range has been extensively redesigned including improved features and upgraded specification across the range.

A major improvement is that the campers can now be closed up with the detachable 2.0m awning in situ, which is designed to make setting up as well as packing down quicker and easier.

There are also more dedicated storage areas on the drawbar, including a 50 litre wood box, and the old stone guard has been replaced by a Rhino coated, enclosed jerry can and gas bottle holders.

Also revamped are the range of stainless steel roll-out kitchens, which now feature a Wok burner instead of two-burner stove on some models.

Inside, a more comfortable, heavy-duty slat bed base replaces the old, carpet-lined solid base, while top-spec models are also available with new leather lined bedhead and side rests, and a CD/DVD/MP3 multimedia unit with Bluetooth connectivity and USB charging, plus four speakers.

Otherwise, Pioneer’s ‘tried and tested’ camper construction remains largely unchanged, including a hot dipped galvanised chassis and Zincanneal/aluminium body, with choice of leaf or coil spring suspension, Pedders gas shocks, and 50mm ball, or Treg or Hitchmaster off-road, hitches.

Tare weights remain low, ranging from 670kg to 1010kg, coupled with generous payloads.

Pricing has increased marginally, ranging from the entry-level Prospector 4x4 which starts at $25,895, to the feature-packed, top-spec Gascoyne 4x4 from $46,875.

Like most premium camper manufacturers, Pioneer offers a long list of options, from underbed storage drawers and secondary 90 litre water tanks to canvas add-ons like a kids room and ensuite.

Pioneer campers are covered by a five year warranty on the Australian wax converted canvas and three years on the chassis and suspension.

Originally manufactured in Perth, the hard-floor campers are now built at the Dandenong, Victoria headquarters of sheet metal fabrication specialists Actco-Pickering Metal Industries, which purchased Pioneer Campers in late-2011.