Tough Trakka heads further off-road

Want the luxury and convenience of a Volkswagen Transporter-based campervan, but with the ability to cross the Simpson Desert with ease?

NSW conversion specialist Trakka has answered your call by further enhancing the off-road capability of its toughest, all-wheel drive pop-top campervan, with the addition of more off-road accessories from German VW specialist Seikel.

Trakka general manager, Martin Poate, said the 2014 upgrade of the 5.29m long Trakkadu ORP (Off-Road Pak) is designed to further differentiate it from the similarly equipped but slightly less extreme Trakkadu AT (All-Terrain), which is Trakka’s most popular model.

Currently, the biggest difference is the dual-range, six-speed manual transmission used in the Trakkadu ORP, as opposed to the smooth-shifting, seven-speed DSG automatic ‘box in the AT model.

The additional kit from Seikel, which beefs up Transporter vans for their role as support vehicles during the gruelling Paris-Dakar Rally, includes underbody protective guards for the engine, gearbox, muffler, rear diff, and side sills.

Also new is an air filter snorkel, specially designed for the 132kW, 2.0-litre bi-turbo diesel engine, along with a diesel pre-filter and water separater, and gearbox and differential breathers -- all designed to keep the Trakkadu out of trouble through everything from dusty terrain to deep water crossings.

The low-range gearbox gains a shorter first gear ratio for better crawling ability on tricky surfaces, while new Cooper Discoverer AT/3 235/65 R17 rubber is also designed to take the vehicle “to another level”.

The off-road pack also includes Seikel Maxi DD raised suspension, which boosts road clearance to an impressive 250mm, plus a spare wheel carrier and bottle jack.

Otherwise, the 5.29m long, pop-top camper remains pretty similar to the AT Trakkadu, sharing a long list of standard features including a rear diff lock, awning, diesel-powered stove, 80 litre fridge, 100aH AGM battery and charger, and 93 litre fresh water storage.

Priced from $137,500, the updated Trakkadu ORP will cost $6000 more than the current version (and $16,000 more than the AT model) when it goes on sale in early-2014.

Meanwhile, NSW-based Trakka, which celebrates its 40th anniversary this year, is also planning to introduce a new, flagship range of coach-built motorhomes later this year, based on the rear-drive Mercedes-Benz Sprinter.

Poate said the new motorhome will be slightly shorter but more “advanced” than Trakka’s current range-topper, the front-drive, Fiat Ducato-based Trakkaway 860 (also pictured). The new model will also introduce some innovative new features to the Trakka range.

“It’s something quite different to what we’re doing with the Trakkaway range at the moment,” he said. “It will be something quite special and probably end up as our premium range.”

See the Trakka website for full details. And click on the video below to see how the current Trakkadu ORP tackles the dunes...