Patriot for US hot rod show?

It’s normally reserved for mega-powered V8 street machines, factory-sponsored hot rods and the odd, no-expense-spared fantasy motorhome.

But now one of Australia’s most dynamic and fastest-growing camper trailer manufacturers is planning an assault on this year’s SEMA aftermarket show in Las Vegas.

Fresh off a third-straight win in Australia’s biggest camper trailer of the year awards, the boss of Gold Coast-based Patriot Campers, Justin Montesalvo has told Caravancampingsales that the three-year-old premium off-road manufacturer is “investigating exhibiting at SEMA this year in Las Vegas”.

While not elaborating any further, the high cost of exhibiting at one of the highest profile automotive events in the world could pay off for Patriot Campers for at least two reasons.

The first is that the company already has a growing export market, with its compact X1 volume-seller already attracting five buyers in New Zealand, USA, England and Dubai.

Patriot also has a short but proven history in producing the sort of show-stopping models likely to catch the eye of the SEMA crowd and media, including the unique TH560 toy hauler, chopped LandCruiser super-ute and trick, all-electric roof-top camper…

Meanwhile, never a company to stand still, Patriot is set to release a new entry-level camper dubbed the X2, set to be unveiled at next month’s South Australian caravan show followed by the Melbourne Supershow.

“I can’t give any specific details at the moment other than it will be an entry level Patriot under $30,000,” Montesalvo said.

The move will follow the recent release of a special edition version of its lightweight X1 bush-basher, first released in 2013 but subject to countless tweaks and improvements since.

Over 20 individual changes were made for the 2016 X1 Special Edition, many of which will also feature on the base X1 model.

Chief among the upgrades is a new, integral soft-floor tent that folds out from the top of the camper and is an alternative to the usual, after-market roof-top tent (see video below for full details).

To cope with an increase in monthly production from six in late-2014 to 15 campers currently, Patriot also recently moved into a newer, larger factory in Molendinar, Queensland – it’s third production facility in less than four years.