Patriot slides into third model

Fast growing Queensland off-road specialist, Patriot Campers, has provided a sneak peek of its third new model in less than two years – a slide-on camper with trick, electric-operated roof-top tent and boat loader.

The first Patriot slide-on camper mounted on the back of a ‘chopped’ Toyota 200 Series LandCruiser was displayed at a special event at Patriot’s new Gold Coast factory last week, prior to it being used during filming of Series 7 of the All 4 Adventure TV show in far North Queensland.

Patriot is one of the sponsors of the popular off-road travel show co-hosted by Jason Andrews and Simon Anderson.

“The boys will give it a hiding up north for the next 12 weeks and give us feedback prior to release to the market,” the company said on its Facebook site.

Patriot said the factory “worked around the clock for the past eight or so weeks to get this exciting new product completed (in time)”.

“This innovative new design is on a whole new level and will completely redefine the slide on market with an electric opening roof, queen size bed, integrated boat loader and a fit out that only a Patriot Camper delivers,” the Queensland manufacturer said.

While yet to release full specifications and pricing of the new slide-on model, the photos suggest a similarly high level of fit and finish and trademark modular design as seen on Patriot’s first two models.

Some of the features fitted include a drop down kitchen, 110 litre Waeco fridge, Redarc battery management system, Fusion stereo, Goal Zero Yeti solar generator, Cotek pure sine wave invertor, and Revolution Power Australia lithium deep cycle battery system.

There’s also a compartment for a slide-out holder for the Honda outboard that powers the roof-top tinny, which itself has its own, power operated rear loading system.

Likewise, the side-opening roof-top tent opens and closes at the touch of a button, even with the tinny on top, and there’s a couple of swing-out spare tyre mounts at the back.

Patriot in conjunction with 4WD conversion specialist Creative Conversions has also designed a new aluminium ‘camper tray’ for the show vehicle, which incorporates slide-out storage, mini kitchen,, external speakers and lights, 70 litre water tank and space for recovery gear including Maxtrax and hi-lift jack .

Patriot says the new 300kg camper tray is available to fit most dual and single cab utes, and in some cases can be fitted with a rear winch.

It’s been a whirlwind two years for Patriot Campers since launching its first model, the hard-core, lightweight X1 camper trailer in mid-2013.

Since then it’s picked up consecutive Camper Trailer of the Year awards, launched an X1-based toy hauler, and moved into a new factory on the Gold Coast that produces six campers a month and counting.