Michael Browning•9 Aug 2017

REVIEW

Track Trailer Tvan MK5

Trend-setting Tvan gets better with age but you pay for the privilege

It would have been a brave, if not foolhardy move for Melbourne's Track Trailer to tamper too much with the core concept and style of its trend-setting Tvan camper trailer, which first hit the market late in the last century.

But while still winning praise close to two decades after its launch, the truth is that the novel clam-shell, hard-roof camper has been caught and even surpassed in some areas, by its pursuing posse of wannabes.

The Vista RV and Pioneer Mitchell both brought faster set-ups to the market, via their pop-top roofs; Rhinomax offered another take on compact off-road comfort with its mini-hybrid Scorpion; while Australian Off-Road redefined its Odyssey.

Nevertheless, in the face of mounting opposition, it was time for ‘the king’ to respond to its challengers and in the Tvan Mk5, Track Trailer has once again set the bar that little bit higher, albeit at a cost that now invites potential purchasers to look in a higher price bracket.

TINKER, NOT TAMPER

Track Trailer’s dilemma, not shared by its major market rivals, is that it dared not tamper too much with the Tvan’s distinctive styling, just like it would be market suicide for Porsche to change the profile or core mechanical layout of the iconic 911.

To do that would bring it back to the pack and risk losing its enviable repeat business, cutting rungs from the Track Trailer stairway that leads canvas-weary buyers to the larger pop-top Topaz and, soon, a new premium tandem axle model.

So, they haven’t. To the casual observer, the latest Mk5 is unmistakably a Tvan, but owners of earlier models should immediately recognise many of the 200-plus tweaks and changes that combined, have created the most comprehensively re-designed Tvan in the camper’s 19 year history.

KEY CHANGES

Let’s start with the major differences…

While maintaining the distinctive Tvan profile, the Mk5’s roofline is subtly different, adopting the higher profile version previewed in the recent special edition Mk4 Firetail to provide more headroom above the fixed north-south internal bed.

But the bigger news is at its tail end where Track Trailer has added a completely new tailgate, trade marked as the ‘Skyward Lift-Up Deck’.

One major advantage of the Tvan has always been its great access to your equipment and living space by opening the rear of the van, but the new Lift-up Deck simplifies and improves the process.

Earlier Tvans required the camper’s distinctive folded rear metal floor deck to be dropped before you could raise the top-hinged fibreglass rear lid containing the tent section.

Now on the Mk5, a press of a button releases electric locks holding the hatch in place and allows it to lift with the deck to provide immediate, full access to the rear of the van, without having to lower the deck to the ground or stand on it while loading.

To close the new lid, you simply shut it as you would your car boot, with a satisfying thud to match.

When you want to deploy the deck in the traditional way, simply leave the Lift-up Deck latched and lower the deck as per previous models.

This truly is the best of both worlds and cuts the Tvan’s set-up time for on-the-fly overnight stops. The deck itself is also a lighter, composite structure than in previous models.

MAGNETS INSTEAD OF VELCRO

The Mk5’s external changes are more than just sheet metal and the new tent bristles with magnetic technology, making it quicker – and more importantly, easier – to set up and pack up.

This new tent no longer relies on elastic cords to lace it to the deck, instead using self-locating magnetic catches which are recessed into the deck’s floor and mounted around its perimeter.

Similar technology, quick-release magnetic catches have been used for all door and window straps, replacing traditional, fiddly Velcro tabs and allowing for partial opening of the main window with ease.

Magnetic catches also replace the carabiner when packing up the tent, making for a significantly easier tent pack up, with self-locating catches on the tent net making the final phase of pack up simpler than ever.

The new MK5 Tvan tent also includes a pocket over the rear bulkhead of the van – a perfect spot to store small items such as torches, for quick access.

In another thoughtful feature, a clothes-line has been integrated along the rear wall of the tent to allow airing of towels and drying of ‘smalls’ out of the weather.

AWNING’S QUICK TOO!

To further speed up overnight stops, which has been a winning boast of the Tvan’s erstwhile rivals, the Mk5 also features a Quick Cover awning.

Based on the same principal as the well-known ‘Foxwing’, this awning is stowed permanently on the kerb side of the Tvan under a vinyl cover and can be deployed in around two minutes, packed up in the same time and provides substantial coverage over the kitchen, front box and side of the Tvan.

With arms that pivot both to the front and rear of the van, the Quick Cover awning can be used with any level of van set-up, including deck closed or tent deployed. When the tent is deployed, there’s an additional awning piece which can be used to provide complete coverage over the entry door of the tent.

Importantly for quick stops, or camping on rocky ground or hard-stands, this shell-shaped awning doesn’t require the use of upright poles in calm weather, making a shady roadside lunch stop now simple, with hooks built into each end of the awning attached to the drawbar and the rear of the van to hold it erect.

If the wind picks up, you can install upright poles which, in the first instance don’t require guy ropes, but simply hook into the awning at the top and peg to the ground. If the wind is becoming more serious then guy ropes can be added.

KITCHEN GOOD AS EVER

The Tvan’s kitchen is one of the best in the business, with a new premium look and feel introduced in the Tvan Mk4, so little needed to be done to improve it.

Like so many other Tvan features that make you want this camper for its look and feel and attention to detail, rather than simply its utilitarian purpose, its beautiful sheet metal includes rounded edges, while the clever pop-up L-shaped windshield is a great piece of industrial design and its many storage drawers easy to access.

The lock-in/lock-out handle makes extracting the kitchen a one-hand operation. The whole unit slides out on Track Trailer’s own design of ball bearing runners, while the kitchen itself is anchored to the Tvan chassis so there’s no need for an outrigger support to trip over.

Another Mk4/Firetail area left largely untouched is the Tvan’s integrated, ‘Interior Command Console’ (ICC).

Specs for this ICC vary according to the model and options, but can include the master switch for electrical isolation, all main switches for lighting, water pump, fans, a battery monitor, 240V, USB chargers, 12V outlets, a 7amp solar controller or Redarc DC-DC controller, water gauges for either a single or two water tanks, an optional 150W or 300W inverter, a Projecta 15A or 25A charger and various stereo options.

It’s a neat solution, with perforated removable panels allowing room for the optional equipment to be fitted, but the best part is that the entire control module can be removed and replaced in minutes for servicing or changeover, if required.

MORE WATER OPTIONS

The Tvan has always been easy to fill and carry water, but the Tvan MK5 now integrates the ability to draw water from an external source, meaning that you can take a shower using water from a local water source, such as a bore or a creek, without compromising your on-board drinking water supply.

Simply select the correct water supply using the on-board valve system and connect the hose to the external water source. Your on-board pump will then draw water from the external source and leave your tanks alone. However, you’ll need to purge water you don’t want to drink from plumbing lines after using this option.

Also available as an option and fitted to the top-spec Murrunji model we looked at, is the buyer’s choice of one or two 90Ah lithium batteries.

These are direct replacements for the 105AH AGM batteries supplied with the Tvan, but each has equivalent capacity to a 126Ah lead acid battery and represent a weight saving of approximately 15kg per battery.

Combined with much longer battery life (8000 cycles for 30 per cent depth of discharge compared to approximately 1800 for a typical AGM), three times the life expectancy, a four-times faster charging rate and a three-year warranty, they are a compelling option for the serious remote area traveller, despite their pricey premium.

Another interesting new option from the marine area on the new Tvan is the new modular Fusion stereo system, which allows you to take your music outside to the kitchen, or campfire.

The Fusion’s main speaker is docked on the head unit puck-mounted the Tvan, which is powered to ensure it’s always fully charged and enables AM/FM/USB and Bluetooth streaming from your phone or music device. Being designed for water sports, it’s also waterproof and even floats, if required.

Additional pucks can be purchased to mount the Stereoactive wherever you like and the puck also incorporates a safe option to keep your phone or keys in a waterproof container for when you’re out and about, such as fishing in your 'tinnie'.

WAIT, THERE’S MORE…

Other new features built into the Tvan Mk5 include improved interior LED lighting, bedside USB points, and new LED awning lights.

As none of its rivals, except for the Vista RV which employs a similar sturdy galvanised steel chassis and independent suspension underpinnings, can claim to offer the durability or rough track ability of the Tvan’s patented MC2 Asymmetrical multi-link, trailing arm independent suspension, Track Trailer wisely left these features alone and from our experience with previous models, you’ll struggle to find a better suspension system under any camper trailer.

Disappointments? There’s only a few. We’d hoped to see the ‘bowed’ chassis of the Topaz used in the new model, allowing the spare wheel to be wound up by chain beneath the chassis rails to keep its centre of gravity even lower and reduce clutter on the commodious A-frame box, but perhaps this will have to wait for Tvan Mk6!

WE LIKED:

>>New rear hatch

>> Magnetic, self-seeking tent catches

>> New Quick Cover awning

NOT SO MUCH:

>> Underslung spare tyre would be nice

>> Bit heavier than before

>> Getting pricey, particularly with options

VERDICT

The substantial overhaul rather than mild facelift, should be enough to convince many owners of earlier Tvans to upgrade.

However, while the Tvan Mk5 starts at $52,990 (not much more than the previous generation and with a higher spec), top-spec versions like the Murranji jump to $76,990, with our loaded-up test van just over $85,000 drive-away.

However, the Tvan’s well-justified reputation as the benchmark hard-shell camper should ensure the latest iteration remains on the shopping list of serious, remote areas travellers for some time to come.

TRACK TRAILER TVAN MK5 MURRANJI

Travel length: 4900mm (16ft)

External body width: 1920mm (6t 3in)

Travel height: 2050mm (6ft 8in)

Interior height: 1900mm(6ft 4in)

Tare weight: 1237kg

ATM: 1800kg

Ball weight: 157kg

Body: Vacuum-pressed aluminium composite

Chassis: Hot-dipped galvanised steel

Suspension: MC2 Asymmetrical multi-link, trailing arm independent suspension with twin Koni shock absorbers per wheel

Brakes: 12-inch electric drum

Stability Control: N/A

Wheels: 16 x 8in off-road alloy with 265/75-16 off-road tyres

Fresh water: 108L with marine pump

Battery: 2 x 90Ah lithium

Solar: 120W rooftop-mounted panel

Air-conditioner: N/A

Gas: 2 x 4kg

Hot water: Diesel instant, shower and kitchen outlets

Cooking: Three-burner stainless steel slide-out kitchen

Fridge: Portable fridge/freezer up to 80L

Microwave: N/A

Toilet: Optional

Shower: Exterior shower

Lighting: LED

TV: N/A

Price: From $76,900 (Tvan Murranji). As tested: $85.550

Options fitted: Two 90Ah lithium batteries, 1.8T suspension, under-bed drawers, sliding glass windows, additional 70L water tank

Supplied by: Outback HQ, Bayswater, Victoria

More info: Track Trailer

Track Trailer Tvan MK5

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