Patriot unveils cut-price X2

Queensland’s Patriot Campers has unveiled a new, entry-level camper based on its volume-selling X1, at this week’s Adelaide Caravan Show.

Dubbed the X2, the compact off-road trailer is around 200mm shorter, and up to 150kg lighter, than the award-winning, go-anywhere X1 on which it’s based.

As a result the main, fold-out bed mattress is a slightly smaller ‘queen’ rather than ‘king’ size.

The X2 comes standard with the X1’s latest integrated, fold-out soft-floor tent but unlike its more expensive brother, it cannot be replaced with the optional James Baroud roof-top tent.

The X2 also has a more basic stainless steel kitchen that slides out from the rear rather than side, incorporating a lockable ‘pantry’ box, cutlery drawer and plastic basin, with room for an optional 60 litre portable fridge.

A 12V powered hose and sprayer located towards the front of the camper, connected to a 90 litre water tank, is long enough to reach the kitchen sink.

Aimed more at couples or single travelers that like to travel light, the hard-core X2 has slightly less storage than the X1 (1400 versus 1800 litres), but still plenty of usable space in lockable compartments under and around the bed, accessible both inside and out, as well as a lockable toolbox up front.

Items like the awning, hitch and overall body construction are shared with the X1, and like its bigger brother a multi (kids’) room attachment is available for an extra $890 to increase interior living space.

Ground clearance and departure angles are similar, but the X2’s shorter drawbar and special axle-less suspension should make it even more capable off-road than the X1.

The Patriot X2 starts at $28,990, or $6000 less than the standard X1. Seventeen options in total are available, but it misses out on a range of possible X1 upgrades including a Fusion stereo, second battery and water tank, and awning walls.

Suspension is vastly different to the X1’s, with the more traditional coils and shocks replaced by a lighter, independent Aeon progressive rubber spring set-up from Canadian company Timbren.

Standard exterior colour is ‘Patriot green’, with the option of graphite or white for an additional $895.

Like the latest X1, the new entry-level model features laser-cut decals instead of stick-ons, adding to the hi-tech industrial look.

The prototype on display in South Australia, and next week’s Melbourne Caravan Supershow, has been subject to real world testing, with only minor changes expected for production versions expected to start rolling out from  Patriot’s new Molendinar, Queensland factory in April.

Check out Patriot's X2 promotional video below...