The ultimate Cruiser camper?

The Aussie founder of Clearview towing mirrors has just taken delivery of his ultimate get-away vehicle.

Mike Cowan, who introduced a new range of factory-look, extendable tow mirrors in 2010 and has just taken over production of Black Widow 4x4 slides, was looking for a comfy, go-anywhere camping rig as suitable for overseas overland expeditions as remote Outback treks.

After enjoying a super-sized Ford F-Series and fifth-wheeler caravan, and taking a modified Tru Blu camper trailer to Cape York, Cowan was after something that could tackle tough desert drives like the Canning Stock Route, as well as a planned overland trip by vehicle to London.

“I’ve been looking for a long time for the ultimate package and we’ve gone away from a camper trailer, even though we had that set up pretty well,” he said. 

“You can’t do the Canning Stock Route and the Simpson with a trailer, even though I know guys do it but they do it pretty hard…”

The answer for Cowan was a brand new Toyota LandCruiser 200 Series wagon, ‘cut'. 'shut’ and 'stretched' into a four-door cab chassis ute with a custom-built, aluminium camper canopy that slides onto the back.

The ute conversion undertaken by Queensland-based conversion specialists, Creative Conversions, includes a 650mm chassis extension while the aluminium tray and camper ‘box’ is the work of fellow Queenslanders, Metalink.

The Metalink SLR camping canopy features a unique, side-opening roof driven by electric actuators that, at the push of a button, provides almost instant access (via a small rear 'dressing room') to elevated sleeping quarters on a canvas-protected double mattress.

However, unlike most 'pop-tops', the Metalink’s one-piece roof is longer and stronger to enable carriage of long, heavy items like kayaks.

The suspension is also beefed up, to provide an additional 300kg payload (up to 3850kg GVM), and to make the most of the numerous, enclosed storage options below the bed.

With a dry weight of 330kg, the camper module is set up for “some serious travelling”, with two water tanks, a 12V system including two roof-mounted solar panels, two 120aH deep cycle batteries and inverter, hot water service and shower, wrap-around awning, and portable gas cooker and toilet.

Not surprisingly, Cowan also plans to add Clearview mirrors and a Black Widow fridge slide, as well as a tow bar for carrying either a spare wheel or to tow a tinnie to the Kimberley.

However, with an estimated final bill approaching $150,000, he said the whole set-up had already cost him “an arm and a leg”. He also plans to spend another $20,000 on 4x4 accessories including a bullbar and winch, extended side steps, upgraded exhaust and engine chip, and a long-range fuel tank.

Metalink boss Kel Kruger said the SLR canopy alone is worth around $32,000, although non-camper versions like that on the Pat Callinan giveaway ute, start at around $15,000.

After driving the camping Cruiser from Brisbane to Melbourne last week, Cowan described the neat package as a “work of art”.

“I’m really pleased with it. We haven’t used it yet, but we’re planning a trip away on the Labour Day long week-end to the High Country,” he said.

And in case you were wondering, Cowan went with a more dramatic ‘chopped’ 200 Series LandCruiser over a ready-to-roll, dual cab 79 Series ute, due to the wagon offering a much more refined and comfortable ride for longer trips.

If you want to see the ‘ultimate off-road rig’ in person, it should appear at a few caravan and 4x4 shows this year, including the Brisbane 4x4 Show in March.