Track Trailer Tvan Tanami

WHAT WE LIKED

* Awesome offroad
* Quick setup
* Good storage
* Kid friendly

NOT SO MUCH

* Better battery would be nice
* Can only fit Nato jerry cans in holders

Recent winner of Camper Trailer Australia’s Offroad Camper of the Year – Hardfloor category, the Tvan had a huge reputation ahead of it when I picked one up at the Melbourne showroom on the way to Alice Springs.

We were planning to shoot up about half of the Oodnadatta track from Coober Pedy, then shoot up the Old Ghan via Dalhousie Springs and Finke, with further adventures around Alice. Along the way, I had several flats, including my first camper trailer flat tyre ever. But one thing that never got on my nerves was setting up the Tvan.

Of course, without Hunter, my one-year old, on this leg of the trip I was able to drive much further each day. And that was ameliorated considerably by being able to set up, and pack up, in minutes. One morning, getting up hours before the sun, I was out of bed and in the driver’s seat in ten minutes flat.

Needless to say, I was impressed. When Hunter and Christina arrived in Alice a few days after my gruelling trip up the dirt tracks of the centre, marvelling at the track the Finke Desert Race competitors have to endure the whole way, we finally set up the canvas section of the Tvan, which is stowed in the hatch, well away from the bedding.

Even setting up the whole thing, with the awning and everything, only took two of us about 15 minutes. The hardest thing was trying to drive pegs into that firm, dry red earth. And we easily fitted Hunter’s portacot onto the hard floor, with plenty of room to move around and get into the bed.

STORAGE GALORE

Without ever properly touring in a Tvan, I was always suspicious of its ability to carry everything I usually do on these types of trips. When you open the door, there is a lot of room above the bed, but nobody wants to store anything on their sheets.

What I hadn’t counted on was that space between the bed and the hatch, and the under-bed storage. I reckon I had about ten plastic storage boxes stacked in the back of the Tvan at one point, alongside boxes of water, a case of beer and various other implements of destruction.

The only thing I stored on the bed was a couple of bags of clothes, just to clear out the car. We actually ended up carrying enough food for three people and a baby, including everyone’s clothes and enough baby gear to have a major garage sale. We had to move a couple of boxes to get into bed, but when that’s all it entails, man, that’s convenient.

It would have been nice to have had more compartmentalised storage around the camper. The toolbox on the offside was used mainly for the awning and poles, though I fitted a toolbox and air compressor in there too.

The kitchen is a deceptively simple design. Just push down on the twin yellow tabs and it glides out from the nearside of the camper. The sink with 12V pump slides out from the end, and there is enough space for most meals. Three burners would be better, but two big ones is pretty good. Also, you have to hook the gas up each time you use the stove.

I like the back-up hand pump on the nearside – great for quick washups without pulling the kitchen out.

Offroad, the Tanami is a dream to tow. The MC2 asymmetric link suspension featured on all Track Trailer campers was tried and tested by the Australian military using Track Trailer products for years before being fitted to ‘civilian’ products. The clearance this system provides is brilliant too.

I almost felt flat tyre on the camper as soon as it happened, the trailer responds so smoothly normally. Turns out I had my pressures up too high on the trailer tyres in the heat.

A few other things to note on the Tanami: The firewood rack on the back works great for mulga wood on the way to your bush camp; it is cooler inside the insulated camper than under canvas when the sun is out; ball weigh is never an issue, because there is no toolbox up front.

SUMMING UP

The Tvan’s simple, clean design belies its extreme functionality. It reminds me of that old adage, if we don’t have it, you don’t need it. If it isn’t on the Tvan, is it really important? The Tanami answers yes to some of my most important questions: Can it go anywhere? Can I take my kid? Can I drive all day and not have to worry about setting up the tent every night?

And at $38,069, the only thing missing is a fridge. I like to carry that in my 4WD, personally, but there’s plenty of room for a fridge, with tie-downs, at the foot of the bed.

TRACK TRAILER TVAN TANAMI

Tare 850kg
ATM 1250kg
Suspension Independent MC2 asymmetric link coil with Koni shocks
Brakes offroad electric drum
Coupling DO35
Price $38,069 (on-road, Vic)