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NEWS
Third Rhinomax hybrid coming
Queensland off-road specialist targets AOR Quantum with new range-topping 15ft Outback DefenderNot content with upstaging its established Queensland off-road rivals earlier this year with its 10ft micro-hybrid Scorpion, fledgling Maroochydore camper and caravan manufacturer Rhinomax will take the fight to their heartland with the introduction of its new 15ft Outback Defender pop-top in October.
Unashamedly taking Australian Off-Road’s Quantum and fellow Caloundra-based Northcoast Campers’ Titanium head-on, the Outback Defender is a 300mm longer version of Rhinomax’s Discovery Pop-Top, with a roomy built-in corner combined shower and toilet ensuite rather than the Discovery’s rear shower-pod.
Built like its siblings on hot-dipped 150mm x 50mm x 3mm steel underpinnings, with a TIG welded aluminium wall-frame and reinforced fibreglass panels, the 15ft Defender will be equipped as standard with rugged Cruisemaster XT trailing arm coil spring and twin shock absorber suspension, although premium Cruisemaster airbag suspension could replace this as original equipment, or at least will be offered as an option on launch.
A full north-south front queen bed, a three-seater central dinette astride the wheel boxes, the rear right hand corner ensuite and an internal hot and cold water sink built into a chest of drawers to the right of the rear-entry door, are other features similar to its Quantum and Titanium market rivals.
However Rhinomax’s Steve Punton says a key focus of the Defender’s design was to create a “reasonable sized” ensuite to lure potential off-road caravan buyers and larger customers.
“To some extent we are targeting purchasers in the southern states like Victoria and South Australia who like to travel in the winter months,” he said. “With the features we have given the Defender we expect it will appeal to many off-road caravan buyers.”
The Defender will match and perhaps trump its Caloundra hybrid pop-top opposition with its external storage, starting with a versatile new A-frame mounted, multi-purpose storage box reminiscent of that found on
Track Trailer’s Topaz, that can be tailored to house a portable fridge, jerry cans, gas bottles and/or a generator (depending on customer preference) and is topped by a wood rack.
Track Trailer’s Topaz, that can be tailored to house a portable fridge, jerry cans, gas bottles and/or a generator (depending on customer preference) and is topped by a wood rack.
Massive under-floor storage is another feature of the Defender, with its large external through-body lockers able to accommodate a range of features, including a modular air-conditioning system.
A newly designed external kitchen will make its debut on the Defender, although – like the Quantum – buyers can also specify an internal cooktop and compressor fridge for cold climate travel, if they wish.
Twin roof-mounted solar panels – double that of the Discovery – will feed two 100Ah batteries to facilitate off-the-grid camping.
At this stage Rhinomax founders – expatriate Brits Steve Punton and Andy Dean – hope to introduce the Outback Defender at Melbourne’s Leisurefest from October 6-9, although the way things are progressing this may be pushed back to the Brisbane Caravan & Camping Show later that month.
Either way, Rhinomax is not worried about demand – just meeting it – as they have already sold 10 Outback Defenders ‘off the plan’ and production slots for the new model are already filled until mid-2017.
This may allow the new model to become their top-selling hybrid, although Punton says it’s too early to know whether sales will be to new customers or substitution sales for Discovery pop-tops.
Pricing has yet to be announced, but is expected to match that of Northcoast Campers’ Titanium in the early to mid-$80,000 bracket depending on configuration, undercutting the $92,900 of AOR’s Quantum.
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Written byMichael Browning
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