Track Trailer Topaz Series II: Part 2

We reviewed Track Trailer’s new Topaz Series II hybrid pop-top caravan a few months back but the chance to do some serious kilometres to the top of Cape York was an experience we jumped at.

It’s not often that you get the opportunity to really live with a review vehicle and appreciate its good and not so good features.

Let's talk about the good first...

CHASSIS, SUSPENSION AND TOWING

Track Trailer’s MC2 Asymmetrical Link Suspension has lost nothing in translation from the Tvan to the Topaz and despite the extra 170kg of weight carried by the Series II.

Ball weight is still under 100kg, but the Topaz is so balanced and surefooted on all surfaces and tracks so faithfully in the same wheel tracks as most large 4WD tow vehicles that it’s easy to forget it’s there.

The standard Hitchmaster DO-35 V2-R off-road coupling, which is rated to 3.5 tonnes and has a 360-degree articulation, is simple and secure to use.

Locating the spare wheel between the new bowed chassis rails has not only lowered the vehicle’s centre of gravity for better stability but also freed up considerable storage space.

SETTING UP

The Topaz is designed for quick set-up and all it takes is to release the four external pop-top latches (you may need a step if you’re under 175cm tall), then step inside and pull up the boomerang-shaped front over-centre lever inside and push up the back of the roof on its telescopic struts.

The jockey wheel (or tow hitch) provides the front support, while two very sturdy rear supports slot into a tube under the rear of the van for rock-steady stability.

The standard wind-out awning provides shade and rain shelter in seconds, even for lunch stops.

COOKING

Like its predecessor, the Topaz Series II has probably the best internal kitchen in the hybrid caravan business, with generous bench space each side of the Swift four-burner cooktop.

The 80 litre Waeco 12/240v volt fridge is a good size and switches automatically between available voltages, but I’d prefer a three-way fridge with gas operation for longer stays as then there’s no drain on the van’s two, 105aH AGM deep cycle batteries and less risk of losing your ‘cool’.

There’s a slide out BBQ outside, but you need to remove one of the two 4kg gas bottles from its rear compartment to fire it up and there’s no provision to do anything but grill. A full slide-out kitchen may be a better option or else a Weber Mini Q or similar.

SLEEPING

The Topaz has an east-west queen-size bed with the most comfortable foam mattress we’ve ever slept on.

The original Topaz didn’t have opening windows and relied on opening ‘draught’ panels in each side for air circulation around the bed, but the Series II has wind-out hopper-style windows, although they only open to 45 degrees.

They can be fully dust sealed by throwing internal over-centre latches, but you must lift up and balance the hinged internal fly screens first to do this.

ENSUITE

The ablutions are out the back of the Topaz, with hot and cold water mixer tap behind a panel beneath the rear window and the portable toilet tucked away in the offside rear locker.

The well-made rear ensuite tent takes only a few minutes to erect after a little practice, but again short people will need a step.

While the system works well, to be honest it’s all too much bother to put up for overnight stops and if it’s raining or cold it doesn’t compare to an internal ensuite. However that would invariably mean loss of the wardrobe and, more significantly, a reduction in kitchen size.

Camping in warm weather up the Cape, it all worked a treat, particularly on many bush sites, where no shower tent was required

BUILD QUALITY

The Topaz is built like a bank vault, with an industrial internal look we liked and seemingly bulletproof powdercoating on most internal surfaces. It’s smart, modern and functional.

Outside it’s the same story, from the solid full height door with built-in flyscreen to the sturdy locker doors which, like the windows, can be pulled tight on their seals with compression locks to keep out dist and water.

Most impressively, no red dust penetrated these lockers on our Cape trip and the entire vehicle was cleaned in a car wash and with a chamois inside in an hour or so after the trip – much quicker than the tow vehicle.

New, stronger axles and uprated springs and telescopic shockers have been fitted to the latest Topaz to handle its elevated 2200kg ATM.

Stone protection is also excellent. After 10,000km, including nearly 2000km off-road, only the removable (and re-paintable) metal deflectors on the nose had any chipping, making refurbishment after a major trip cheap and easy.

AND THE NOT SO GOOD...

The twin front storage areas can only be closed via their compression locks which means you have to carry the key around with you or they will blow open.

Despite the zip-down mesh ‘windows’ in the pop-top the interior gets hot when cooking. A wind-out rear window would aid air circulation, as would a wind-out front window.

The single pedestal swing-around internal table should store under the bed when travelling or not in use to free up more interior space.

The overhead cupboards are great but two came open on bad corrugations, spilling their contents on the floor. Simple external or ‘bungy’ latches would solve this. Similarly, the spice bottle rack behind the cooktop needs a net to retain its content.

It costs $79,900 ex-factory in Victoria, but with the extras you might like to add, including a wood or bike rack, twin 60W lightweight roof-mounted solar panels, 22inch TV/DVD player, two 12 volt bed fans and a 240v microwave, as fitted to our test Topaz, expect to pay closer to $85,000-$90,000.

VERDICT

My wife, who isn’t a tent camper, summed it up succinctly:

“If I was planning to take a caravan to the top of Cape York it would have to be a Topaz.”

ALSO SEE: Cape York by RV and Taking the ute to the Tip

TRACK TRAILER TOPAZ SERIES II

Travel length: 6.15m
Interior length: 4.3m
External width: 1.938m
Overall height (roof down): 2.45m
Interior height (with roof raised): 2.07m
Wheel track: 1.65m
Departure angle: 20 degrees
Suspension travel: 230mm
Tare: 1670kg
ATM: 2200kg
Ball weight: 88.5kg
Body: Aluminium bonded and riveted sandwich
Chassis: Galvanised steel fabricated box section
Suspension: Track Trailer MC2 with twin Koni telescopic shock absorbers per wheel
Price: from $79,900, ex-factory, Victoria
Supplied by Track Trailer, Bayswater, Victoria