Tall, tough Troopy camper returns

Brookvale, NSW-based campervan conversion specialist Frontline marked its return to the tough, simple off-road camper market at the NSW Caravan, Camping and Holiday Supershow this week with the release of a 2019-model Escape Campervan.

Based on the latest V8 turbo-diesel Toyota LandCruiser 78 series Troopcarrier, the conversion starts with the Toyota’s steel roof being replaced with a high-top fibreglass roof with two screened windows within, (optional) roof bed and LED lights.

Frontline has also added three screened side windows, plywood cupboards in beech or grey, a stainless steel sink, 12v/240v 38-litre chest fridge-freezer, auxiliary battery system with engine charging, 46-litre fresh water tank, day and night bed/lounge, table and two-burner stove.

Marine-grade carpet lines the conversion, while vinyl is laid down over the 10mm ply flooring.

The last time Frontline converted the long-lived Troopy was in the early 2000s, but demand petered out. However, rental companies approached Frontline to once again build Troopy camper conversions last year and with more than a dozen built over the past six months, Frontline has decided to once again to market the model to the public.

The fibreglass hightop is made in-house and if there’s sufficient demand may be joined by a pop-top roof version, similar to Frontline’s Volkswagen Transporter and Toyota HiAce camper conversions. It takes three weeks for the conversion and the Escape Camper is available for order now from $99,000 drive- away.

Frontline has an array of options for the Troopy, such as solar charging system with 100-watt roof-mounted panel for $1500, a slide-out roof bed for $680, a shower (hooked up to the standard 46-litre water tanks) for $450, 240-volt power (inlet with circuit breaker, outlets and a 10-metre lead) for $850, a 240-volt battery charger $350, a canvas rear door tent with a flyscreen door for $890, a canvas shade awning with poles for $450 and Maxtrax mounted to the rear of the roof for $450.

For those interested in a more affordable and bitumen highway-friendly camper, Frontline will also soon be working on a conversion of the all-new HiAce commercial van, which arrives in Toyota dealerships this month.