New Stockman Trekka mini toy hauler arrives

We're not sure how many were sold over the four days, but if there was a prize for the number of 'walk-throughs' of any 'van at this year's Melbourne Leisurefest show, then the new Stockman Trekka hybrid camper might have nabbed it.

Always curious, we dropped in to see what the fuss was about and learned two main things:

1. Some people are prepared to pay for a better solution to carry their bikes and other toys.

2. The Trekka was inspired by Stockman owner and head designer, Phil Savory’s own passion for heading off camping with his mountain bikes.

“I saw a gap in the market for a camper that is genuinely designed to accommodate bikes," Phil told us on Day 1 of this year's Melbourne Leisurefest at Sandown Racecourse.

"So, I worked on something that met my personal needs. I wanted a camper that kept my bikes protected from the weather and locked up, out of sight from potential thieves.

"I wanted a solution that made it easy to get the bikes on board without breaking your back – particularly given the growing popularity of e-bikes that are substantially heavier than regular bikes. I knew my solution would also be ideal for carrying other toys like surfboards or inflatable paddle boards, for example.”

The end result is a lot different to the very simple but robust polymer trailer that Stockman started off with in 2006. Used for everything from little weekend getaways through to Outback expeditions, and after years of innovation and development, the super lightweight base trailers are still part of the Stockman range.

As are the sleek pod style campers Stockman followed up with about five years ago, that are basically tiny go-anywhere caravans with enough room for a bed inside.

Stockman’s heritage and Savory’s latest design endeavour, has culminated in the 6.5m total length, 3100kg ATM dual-axle Trekka pop-top camper model that was swarming with showgoers throughout this year's Leisurefest.

Available in three different variants and produced in China, the 'gasless' hybrid campers all share a galvanised steel chassis and use 29mm composite panels with an aluminium outer skin and fibreglass interior skin for the roof, walls and floor panels. They all come with a decent Renogy smart power system too, including a 3000W inverter, 50A DC to DC and 40A solar charging.

Tare weights are between 2400kg-2500kg depending on the variant, resulting in a payload up to 665kg.

Priced from $99,990, the entry-level Trekka On-Road runs Cruisemaster XT coil spring suspension and a 300Ah lithium battery with 400W solar panels, while the $114,990 Trekka Ultra XT runs Cruisemaster XT suspension with airbag springs, and a 600Ah lithium battery system with 600W solar panels.

The top-spec Trekka Platinum XT boasts Cruisemaster XT airbags with automatic levelling, a 900Ah battery capacity and 800W solar panels, bringing the price up to $129,990.

While the toy carrying was important to Phil, the Trekka still needed to deliver on all the usual livability needs. However, because the front storage compartment is quite large, the living quarters are relatively compact.

When you first look through the door, the Trekka is reminiscent of the Stockman pod camper, with the bed taking up a fair bit of the layout. Yet once you step in, you see there's a lot more room to accommodate a neat little kitchen, including a 130L upright fridge, an induction cooker, kitchen sink and three deep drawers.

A combination shower toilet and petite seating complete the package, with creature comforts extending to a diesel water/space heater (fitted to all variants) and an air-conditioner (fitted to the two pricier variants).

The pop-top roof helps with towing and storage, but Stockman has fitted electronic roof actuators for easier push-button raising and lowering, while an electric awning and entry steps also add to the user friendliness.

The Trekka's outdoor kitchen is also reminiscent of the Stockman pod camper's, and includes another induction cooktop, a sink and a slide-out cutlery drawer. Neat storage compartments provide space for kitchen essentials, while a 30L drawer fridge comes standard in the Platinum XT and is available as an option on other variants.

Phil said the substantial front storage nose cone is a fibreglass construction and comes standard as an empty shell, allowing owners to customise it to their needs or just keep it as an empty space for carrying all kinds of stuff, from golf clubs to archery equipment.  

However, Phil reckons the optional Stockman bike slide ($3499) is a serious piece of kit for cycling enthusiasts.

“It’s a great investment because e-bikes can be so expensive now," he explains. "The slide holds the bikes securely, so they won’t get damaged in transit or become a target for thieves. The built-in ramp means it’s very easy to roll the bikes up into position, avoiding any strenuous lifting.”

It all begs the question: What else can you get for similar price and weight to carry your toys?

You're probably looking at a 'big-box' style toy hauler with rear garage and drop-down doors, with the cheapest 15ft toy hauler caravan from Jayco , for example, starting at around $70,000.

However, we're not sure any of the big-box toy haulers available for similar money will get as far off the beaten track, or look as good while they do it!