By Doug McIvor
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You could argue that the Pioneer Sundowner camper trailer has the edge over its offroad siblings, being 6ft 7in (1.9m) wide compared with the Argyle’s 5ft 6in (1.7m) and Onyx’s 5ft 11in (1.8m). 
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But can the new Diamond Series on-road model, from Pioneer’s Wangara factory in Perth’s northern suburbs, live up to the family’s renowned toughness and build quality? Company director and resident engineer Nigel Fleet answers in the affirmative.
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“The same building principles have been used in the Sundowner as those found in Pioneer’s offroad range,” he said.
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“Despite it being essentially an on-road model, we have every confidence it will handle the rough stuff if subjected to it.” 
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Width is a major restriction with offroad camper trailers because if made wider than your typical 4WD, you run the risk of it scraping on trees and bushes. It also won’t make it down narrow tracks and won’t get around tight corners. 
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“However,” Nigel continued, “the advantage of the Sundowner being 1.9m wide is that you can use more imagination with the design, especially in the sleeping arrangements. It can take a queen sized bed longwise, two single beds separated by a small cupboard or a double bed positioned crossways, providing more room in the kitchen area.”
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Because buyers of the Sundowner are unlikely to travel over anything rougher than a gravel road leading to a national park, Pioneer has been able to make it longer, wider, lighter and lower than the company’s core products which cater for serious offroad camping. 
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Nigel indicates that the Sundowner came about because of calls from dealers that not every customer wanted such toughness – which adds weight and cost – as the Argyle or Onyx models have.
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“They wanted an option for clients with smaller, lighter vehicles – such as family sedans and soft-roader 4WDs – yet it had to retain the quality and integrity of our offroad model,” Nigel said.
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With the increasing price of fuel, lightness is a major consideration and Pioneer has been able keep the Tare weight to 540kg, with 60kg on the ball. 
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The quality factor has been covered by employing the same staff on the Sundowner that builds the Argyle and Onyx campers. 
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Tough but elegant
The new Diamond Series on-roader has 75mm x 50mm chassis rails and a 100mm x 50mm drawbar. The suspension is leaf-sprung rated to 1100kg, with shock absorbers an option should someone want the unit upgraded for rougher work.
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Such an upgrade would also include stoneguards, brakes (disc or electric drum) and wheels fitted with all-terrain tyres to suit the towing vehicle.
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Being a hard-top trailer, the Sundowner can take a certain amount of luggage on top but should a boat-rack be required, it would have to be engineered into the unit from the outset. 
Another area in which Nigel and his staff can do alterations is in the kitchen. 
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The typical Pioneer arrangement features a slide-out kitchen at the front of the camper, complemented by an optional pantry drawer. 
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“Our dealers told us that potential clients wanted internal cooking facilities,” Nigel said, “so we decided to listen to what people wanted – to cater to their needs, not try to change their minds.”
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In the Sundowner, Pioneer not only offers a new drawer-style kitchen, which is ideal for cooking fish and meat outside, but it can be ordered with a two-burner cooker with a grill – perfect for boiling the kettle or heating up food indoors.
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The inside cooking section is complemented by a built-in fridge so should the weather turn foul, meal preparation can continue. 
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The drawer kitchen pulls out from the side of the camper, leaving more storage space under the sleeping area. The kitchen has a stainless steel cover which flaps over to form a sizeable work bench for food preparation and cleaning dishes.
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Another bonus of having the bed base positioned longwise and on gas struts is that it can be lifted up to expose extra ‘seats’ on either side should the whole family want to come in out of the rain.
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The Sundowner on-roader has three chassis lengths – 7ft 10in (2.4m), 8ft 10in (2.7m) and 9ft 10 in (3m) – with the longer model providing the most room for the internal kitchen option. All three provide an expansive living area once the unit is erected, with enough room for a children’s sleeping area to be partitioned off to allow for family camping.
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The tent style is rear-fold with a wide doorway and five windows. 
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The standard awning, like the rest of the canvas, is cut by laser for precision fitting. It features a wall at one end for weather protection and privacy. 
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Also included are a 240V power system and a 60L water tank. 
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The bottom line
“With a base price of $16,950, we believe the Sundowner represents a good ‘starter’ camper,” Nigel said, “it has the well-tested qualities of the Pioneer brand and customers will be able to option it up to their specific requirements.
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“Many people already have a lot of camping gear, such as cookers, gas bottles and an Engel or Waeco fridge, so they don’t need to go to the expense adding a kitchen.” 
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Being the start of the Diamond Series, it certainly shapes up as a little gem.
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For information or your nearest dealer contact Pioneer Camper Trailers, 57 Challenge Bld, Wangara WA 6065 (08) 9302 2500, fax: (08) 9302 2400, email: sales@pioneercampers.com, web: www.pioneercampers.com
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We Liked:
• Smooth on-road feel with comfortable interior
• Great kitchen facilities
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&nbsp;We would have liked:
• Not much else – it’s a well thought-out camper
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Pioneer Sundowner

Advised Tare 540kg

Ball mass: 60kg

Advised ATM: 750g

Chassis: Hot dipped galvanised steel

Coupling: Ball

Suspension: Leaf spring

Brakes: Optional

Gas cylinder: 1 x 4kg

Stove: Two-burner

Fridge: Optional

Water tank: 60L

Battery: Optional

Style: Rear-fold

Lighting (12V): Optional

Awning: Yes

Price as reviewed: $16,950: 
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Pioneer Sundowner Camper Trailer

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