Trak Shak

The chance to go camping in the Flinders Ranges had finally arrived, and Viv and I found ourselves towing a Trak Shak camper north from Adelaide to one of our favourite spots – the spectacular range country of Wilpena Pound in South Australia.

Trak Shak Campers has been around for a few years and its range includes standard, midway, hybrid and deluxe models. The standard is designed to sleep two to four, but other units will accommodate four, six and even eight.

Our camper was a standard version, and is pretty typical of the Trak Shak line-up. All are centred around a large 2100 x 1200 x 500mm steel box-like trailer that has a separate dust-proof suitcase-style arrangement on top that contains the canvas tent, beds and required sleeping gear.

A well-sealed front door opens for ready access to a 32 litre Engel fridge mounted inside. A spare tyre is on the front gate above the A-frame along with the onboard battery box and charging control unit. We also had the optional outboard motor bracket mounted here, suitable for a 15hp motor.

Across the front is a framework and cloth stone protector, which also stops stones ricocheting into the vehicle’s back window. It’s a good idea, but the framework is a bit fiddly and slows access to the front of the trailer and the fridge. We were assured that it becomes easier with regular use.

The rear tailgate, which opens into the tent area when the camper is set up, carries a camp kitchen. This self-standing unit is quickly accessible in travelling mode. To set up, the legs fold down and more bench space slides out. The standard Coleman gas stove is excellent, with plastic storage boxes underneath and accessible from front and rear.

Six jerry cans are mounted on the nearside with two more on the offside and two removable gas bottles at the front. A long pole box for tent poles, ropes, pegs and hammers is on the offside above the mudguard.

The heavy-duty axle, with its demountable stub axles, can carry any wheel and stub axle setup required – ours was set up with 15in wheels wearing 215R15 tyres.

Standard suspension is a strong eight-leaf eye-to-eye design backed up by gas shocks. An optional independent coil spring and gas shock setup is also available. The standard tow coupling is a poly-block Treg coupling, with mechanical override brakes. Electric brakes are optional.

Our camper had an optional solar panel display and a boat rack for a 60kg tinnie. The solar panel consists of three 64-watt displays; more than enough to keep the fridge running as a freezer. Such a large solar charging system demands a regulator.

The camper is 640kg in standard ‘dry’ trim. The solar system and boat rack add another 110kg, while the fridge frame and boat motor mount add another 15kg each, giving an overall weight (without water, empty jerry cans and storage boxes) of 780kg. Ball weight is around 80kg.

To erect the camper, deploy the boat and solar panel as required and open the metal ‘suitcase’ of the camper right up so the top of the box is again horizontal.

Legs open automatically to support the lid, which is now the base for the second double bed.

To set up the tent, partly lift the frame until half-erect. Then, grabbing the annexe section of the canvas, pull out the tent canvas to its full extension, which lifts to fully erect the frame and tent. Two poles are used to support the annexe, which effectively bears (with the interior frame) the whole tent. A few pegs and guy ropes in place and the camper is fully operational, the beds accessible by a short, sturdy ladder.

Reasonably quick to erect, the attraction with this unit is that two double beds are immediately available for use and there is a lot more living room under canvas. To pack the camper down is basically the reverse of the setup and, as with most campers, takes a little longer to complete.

Our V6 Nissan Pathfinder easily handled the camper under a variety of conditions. The trailer tracks well on the road, but the reasonably long drawbar means it does cut corners a little on tight offroad situations. I’d opt for electric brakes and the coil suspension.

To improve its all-round usability, I’d like to see an option that allows the fridge to be shifted on a slideout tray at the back of the camper close to the stove and bench area. It’s a pain having to go outside the tent and around to the front of the trailer for food, especially on a cold or wet day.

Having to remove the gas bottles and take them to the stove is also fiddly and time consuming, especially for a quick brew on the side of the road – better to have the option of a fixed gas pipe and a quick-disconnect system.

Summing Up

I liked the camper’s size and available living area. It’s well made and proved to be exceptionally dust-proof. The pole box is a good idea, and the space to carry a decent-sized tinnie and a motor will endear itself to the fishing public. The solar panel setup is first-class, and the ability to fold these features away quickly and easily is one of the best I’ve seen.

Pricing of the standard camper in normal trim costs $17,700. The solar panel and boat rack is an expensive option, setting you back $4500. Still, the camper we tested was a very reasonable $22,200.

Trak Shak, 338 South Road, Croydon Park, SA, (08) 8241 7888, www.trakshak.com.au

Manufacturer      Trak Shak

Model         Standard

Advised Tare weight    640kg

Advised ATM     1250kg

Advised ball weight     55kg

Price (Dec 2004)  $22,085