Michael Browning•19 Dec 2016

REVIEW

Pioneer Mitchell

New Mitchell model is no pioneer, but worthy newcomer to hardcore hardtop camper market

What’s that line about ‘imitation being the sincerest form of flattery’?

It certainly wasn’t appreciated by Track Trailer when the Vista RV built by its former sheet metal supplier looked uncomfortably like a Tvan on steroids.

Fingers are wagging again today at Pioneer Camper’s new entry-level Wilpena and full spec Mitchell hard roof camper models for their synthesis of what many believe are signature features of both the Track Trailer and Vista models.

However as Australian Off Road founder Steve Budden once told me (bitterly) after seeing a rip-off of his original Odyssey folding hard-floor camper design, it’s not worth patenting anything in the caravan and camper market, as someone will have a copy out before you have gone through the lengthy and expensive legal process.

The other point here is that most buyers don’t really care; they simply want a great design that works and a product that does what it’s intended to do and they will happily slap down their money without worrying about the backroom issues.

STRONG EARLY SIGNS

Of course, it’s hard to judge the longevity of the new Pioneer products given that they have only been on the market since October 2015, but based on market acceptance to date and our brief experience, their future looks rosy.

Let’s deal with the $63,450 Mitchell we reviewed from now on, as there have been few takers to date for the entry-level $58,895 Wilpena given the premium model’s better value.

In concept, it appears to incorporate many of the best features of both the Tvan and the Vista RV, while providing solutions for a few of their design shortcomings.

Its body construction is similar to both: powder-coated zincanneal and marine-grade aluminium panels, insulated fibreglass/aluminium walls and a fibreglass pop-roof and floor, all sitting on a fully-welded heavy duty hot-dipped chassis of Pioneer’s own design and making.

OK, it doesn’t have the military grade MC2 asymmetrical trailing arm suspension of the Tvan, but similar to the rugged Pioneer hard-floor camper trailers first built in WA (before the company was purchased by its current Victorian owners around four years ago), it employs trailing arm and coil spring suspension with Dual Ridepro twin tube gas shock absorbers, King springs and a Vehicle Components D0-35 off-road hitch up front to deal with serious off-road work.

A five-year warranty on both the chassis and suspension gives extra confidence that it will last the distance, while bolt-on stub axles make repairs simple and easy in the bush.

Like Track Trailer’s Topaz pop-top, the chassis is wide enough at the midriff to accommodate a wind-up spare wheel, keeping the Mitchell’s centre of gravity admirably low. The next generation of the Tvan may have this too – stay tuned.

EASIER TO ERECT

Viewed in profile, the Mitchell’s teardrop design looks similar to a Tvan. The fibreglass rear clamshell panel lifts up and the floor folds down, leaving a bow to be extended to erect the rear tent.

However, as the locally-made and high quality Wax Converters (11oz weight in the walls; 15oz for the roof) canvas is sewn into the floor, you don’t have to attach bungee cords around the tent base as you do with the Tvan.

Overall, I’d say that the Mitchell’s tent takes about 25 per cent less time to erect than the Tvan’s.

The idea that the Mitchell borrows from the Vista RV stems from its hinged roof. However, rather than being front-hinged as in the Vista, where it provides head room over the inside seating and galley area, the Mitchell’s is rear hinged, to deliver more room over the longitudinal bed with its inner-spring queen-size mattress on a tilting frame for easier under-bed access.

This space can also be accessed via the tailgate when in travel mode.

The pop-top roof overcomes any criticism of the Mitchell being claustrophobic inside, as good airflow is provided through the fly mesh front canvas section window, while the top-hinged trapezoidal-shaped side windows on each side of the sleeping area also open for great cross-flow ventilation on steamy nights.

DESIGNED FOR OUTDOOR COOKING

The Pioneer Mitchell is designed for outdoor cooking, so you get a large pull-out stainless steel sink unit with a mixer tap and loads of prep space, while the two-burner cooktop is located in another section that swings through 90 degrees and attaches to the side of the camper.

There’s nothing as elegant as the Tvan’s pop-up wind shield, but there is loads of prep, serving and utensil storage space when you access all the Mitchell kitchen’s features.

An adjacent fridge slide is designed to hold a large portable fridge freezer such as a 110-litre EvaKool.

The whole outdoor area is well covered by a lightweight sail awning which, because it mounts almost horizontally to the pop-top roof, offers great headroom and complete coverage of the cooking area and is very quickly erected.

Further optional canvas with full annexe enclosures include an ensuite, a draft curtain and a kids’ room – all excellent add-ons for a travelling family.

POWER TO THE PEOPLE

The Mitchell’s power system consists of a Redarc 12V 80W polycrystalline solar panel hardwired to a Redarc BMS and its inbuilt charger to maintain power to its rear mounted 110Ah deep cycle battery.

A second battery and the ability to connect to a portable solar panel would be desirable for extended remote area stays.

Up front there are four large storage areas – a combined wood box that can also hold up to three jerry cans, twin large through-body lockers with drop-down covers on the left-hand side and another voluminous storage area beneath the solar panel that is ideal for awnings and the like. There’s also a separate pole storage compartment.

In a nutshell, if you have a compulsion to ‘take it with you’, it would be quite easy to utilise most of the Mitchell’s generous 670kg payload.

Out back is a 50mm square hitch receiver solely for recovery, reflectors, submersible LED tail lights

The other thing we liked about the Mitchell is that a Truma gas hot water system that feeds the kitchen and external shower is part of the package. And if the Mitchell’s standard 120-litre rear-mounted fresh water tank isn’t enough, you can option a second 60-litre unit.

With a Tare of 1330kg, a 145kg ball weight and 1950mm body width, the Mitchell will track effortless and unobtrusively behind any medium-sized 4WD and gives you confidence that it will keep doing this for many trips.

TOUGH TYRE TRACKS TO FILL

Of course, the big thing in favour of its opposition in this rarefied market segment is their ‘track’ records – pun intended. With 18 years of owner feedback under its belt, nothing can match the Tvan, while for rapid set-up with the option of internal cooking, the Vista RV is on its own.

However, by walking the middle road and including many items as standard that are optional on the others, Pioneer’s Mitchell has found a niche in this market that has already attracted a following.

When the Mitchell was launched at Melbourne Leisurefest in October 2015, Pioneer thought it might sell 20-25 a year. When we took out the test Mitchell 15 months later, the 55th Mitchell was on the line at Pioneer’s South Dandenong, Melbourne factory.

The market has spoken!

WE LIKED:

>> Practical, compact design

>> Quick set-up and towing ease

>> Huge storage and payload

NOT SO MUCH:

>> More solar would be good

>> Price pushes it into micro-hybrid territory

>> Unproven over long term

VERDICT

There are relatively few innovations in the Mitchell. Pioneer has simply looked at the best in the market and taken or modified their design cues.

But it has done the job very well and the high-quality, hardtop camper that has emerged deserves to find a strong following by cashed up adventurers.

PIUONEER MITCHELL

Travel length: 5300mm

Body length: 2900mm

Interior body length: 1850mm

External body width: 1950mm

Travel height: 2050mm

Tare weight: 1330kg

ATM: 2000kg

Ball weight: 145kg

Body: Powder-coated marine grade aluminium and fibreglass

Chassis: Hot dipped galvanised steel

Suspension: Independent trailing arms and coil springs with dual core gas shockers

Brakes: 12-inch electric

Wheels: 16 x 8in alloy with 265/75R16 off-road tyres

Fresh water: 1 x 120L

Battery: 1 x 80Ah deep cycle AGM

Solar: Optional 80W roof-mounted panel

Air-conditioner: Optional under-bed

Gas: 2 x 9.0kg

Hot water: Truma gas

Cooking: 2-burner gas external cooktop with exterior BBQ bayonet gas port

Fridge: Optional 110L EvaKool

Shower: External hot/cold shower

Lighting: 12V LED

Price (As reviewed, ex-Melbourne): $63,450

Options fitted: None

Supplied by: Pioneer Campers, Dandenong, Victoria

Pioneer Mitchell

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