Michael Browning•12 Nov 2016

REVIEW

Trakmaster Pilbara Extreme

Extreme off-roader has changed Trakmaster’s image

Changing your image within the conservative Australian caravan industry is a challenge for many manufacturers, but it’s one that custom off-road builder Trakmaster appears to have done with little or no fallout from its loyal owner and club base.

Until its radical-looking Pilbara with its smooth composite walls and extreme rear cutaway chassis broke cover just over three years ago, Trakmasters were revered, but slightly ‘old world’ off-road caravans.

Full-composite walls had been introduced on the then range-topping Tanami and were optional, but rarely chosen on other models. Most Trakmasters were delivered with stipple-finished ribbed aluminium body cladding atop Meranti timber framing; meanwhile picture-frame traditional timber cabinetry, fabric covered seats and pelmeted curtains were usually found inside.

That’s the way most traditional Trakmaster customers – many of them well-travelled retirees on their second or third van – liked it, but

the new Pilbara with its tough Tonka-toy styling drew them and a cluster of potential new buyers, like bees to a hive.

It looked chunky, purposeful and very different to other off-road caravans and the order books started to fill, particularly when they looked inside and saw the modern high gloss interior cabinetry.

EXTREME ACT

So when Trakmaster was looking for an image carrier model for its 20th Anniversary in 2015, it didn’t take too much dot-joining to settle on a limited production version of the Pilbara, which it has called the Extreme.

In the time-honoured tradition of ‘Anniversary’ models, be they cars or caravans, the Extreme is a distinctive version of the Pilbara, with many of its high-end options included in an attractive package price.

It was due to be released in the first half of 2015, but delays with the firm’s traditional chassis and suspension suppliers as they struggled to keep pace with increased Trakmaster sales saw its introduction pushed out to late-2015 – two years after the Pilbara on which it was based made its debut.

However, for patient would-be customers, the wait was worthwhile. A year on, more than half of all new Trakmasters under construction at any given time are smooth-walled Pilbaras, with most of the planned 20 Extreme models already spoken for.

Unlike the Pilbara, which is available as a pop-top or full-height caravan in various sizes, the Extreme currently is offered in only one standard measurement: a full-height 5.1m (16ft 10in) x 2.3m (7ft 6in) caravan.

It’s a good size for most potential buyers, who have the choice of queen or (as seen here) twin single bed layouts, as it delivers enough living space for an extended remote area trip combined with a maneuverable length that should allow access to most camping spots. Not to mention the vast ground clearance beneath its 150mm x 50mm hot dipped galvanized ‘Newgen’ chassis with its up-swept rear end.

There’s no problem picking the Extreme from other Pilbaras. While all employ similar white composite fibreglass walls joined by timber-framed but fibreglass-clad front and rear panels and roof, the Extreme wears distinctive lime green body flashes and matching rear-mounted MaxTrax recovery sleds with similarly painted rear recovery hooks.

The trailing arms of the standard Trakair self-levelling, tandem axle airbag suspension are also colour coded, while a galvanised carry-all or woodrack that sits on the rear bumper is flanked by twin jerry can holders.

The Extreme also wears CSA Monster alloy wheels shod with Toyota Landcruiser-size 265/75R16 BF Goodrich A/T tyres as standard, with the single spare tucked underneath the raked rear chassis as on regular Pilbaras.

However, it’s in the details where the Extreme becomes a good choice for buyers looking for a serious remote area, long-term caravan.

These include standard 12in Dexter electric off-road spec brakes fitted to 2000kg stub axles and matching Dexter DSC sway control. While up front there’s a DO-35 hitch ahead of a substantial truck mesh stone shield, an A-frame stone mesh and five separate mud flaps to protect the front bodywork, it’s folding aluminium step and front corner jacks.

RIDING ON AIR

Inside, apart from the Ultraglaze gloss cabinetry, most of the Extreme’s other highlights are out of sight.

Lift the cushion of the L-shaped lounge on the off-side and you’ll find the model’s standard Enerdrive 200Ah lithium ion battery system with its 240V charger, DC to DC booster, solar regulator and monitoring system – all carefully mounted on a purpose-built board.

Combined with twin 135W flexible roof-mounted solar panels and twin 82-litre fresh water tanks, it should allow owners to exist off the grid for weeks at a time.

The other feature that’s really appreciated when free-camping is the height adjustment built into the Trakair system that allows it to be lowered or raised from side to side, ensuring that you can level the van without resorting to ramps or blocks.

The other great by-product of the air suspension is its ability to deliver stored air for tyre inflation via an ARB twin on-board air compressor mounted in the large lockable front boot, that comes packaged with a six metre hose, ARB E-Z tyre deflator and ARB Speedy Seal tyre repair kit.

A standard 12V Fantastic automatic roof-vent that can be used to extract hot or draw in cool air, a Truma Aventa roof-mounted air conditioner and a trademark Trakmaster front roof-mounted scupper vent are other proven off-road features.

Otherwise the Extreme inside is a relatively conventional, well laid out caravan, and surprisingly roomy considering its relatively modest dimensions by current off-road standards.

There’s sufficient room for a couple to co-exist on a big trip, thanks to nice touches like rounded bench ends, a dining table for the L-shaped lounge that pivots out of the way on an eccentric mount when not required and the location of everything at sensible, accessible height.

However, the use of champagne-coloured cabinets combined with white walls and large double-glazed Dometic SP7 windows with built in block-out and insect blinds, amplifies its perceived size.

SINGLES NIGHT

The twin single beds on the review van were separated by a robe with double doors with buyers getting their choice of hanging space, shelves or both. The overhead cupboards that line the upper walls all rise on quality gas struts and combined with storage space under both single beds should house enough for a gallop along the ‘Gibb’.

The standard fridge is a handy-sized EvaKool compressor-driven 146L two-door located conveniently next to the security-screened entry door with the front kitchen to its right.

This is not exactly a Masterchef-sized space, but with its four-burner Swift cooktop, grill and microwave below and the bench return towards the entry door, there’s enough room for most cooking jobs, combined with good utensil storage below and more storage cupboards above.

A moulded combined shower and toilet fibreglass ensuite sit in the right hand front corner and this should work well for most travellers. However, if you wish to have a separate shower and toilet ensuite, with perhaps a vanity in between, Trakmaster will probably direct you to the alternative Pilbara range, where custom-building of this feature into caravans from 15ft 6in in length upwards is possible.

So what’s it like to tow and live with? Well towing is simple, as Trakmaster is meticulous about the ability of their vans to track properly whether laden or unladen, with the Extreme’s extended A-frame adding to this inherent stability.

The beauty of the Trakair suspension is that the van rides more smoothly than on conventional coil spring and shock absorber suspension and also allows you to run lower tyre pressures than you would otherwise. We settled on cold pressures of around 32psi all round for this 2424kg tare weight caravan on bitumen and started off with about 24psi cold pressures all round on the dirt.

I guess the best testament that I can give the Extreme’s ride is that at one stage we inadvertently left a magazine and cup on the dining table before spending several hours on a corrugated major Outback road and they were still in place when we stopped for lunch, while neither of our bath towels had slipped off their rails!

Living with the Extreme is also pretty easy. You can drop the van’s travel height in seconds via the manual air compressor switches once you arrive for the night, making entry easy via the Thule aluminium folding strep and the optional fold-out Fiamma security handle fitted to the test van.

The interior layout works well, allowing someone to sit on the L-shaped lounge out of the way while the other works the galley or accesses the ensuite, while outside the drop-down picnic table and standard Dometic 8500-series fold-out awning extend the living area.

We used the folding rear bumper rack to carry a 2kVa generator at one stage, something Trakmaster assured us that its 50kg load limit would handle easily, while others may use it to carry wood into National Parks.

A through-the-body pole carrier, an A-frame tap mounted on the inside out of stone’s way, an exterior merit plug to connect a portable additional solar panel and an exterior gas bayonet behind a protective cover are other useful, off-road additions.

WE LIKED:
>> Quality construction

>> Genuine off-road ability and towing ease

>> Equipment packaging

NOT SO MUCH:

>> Would prefer a separate shower and toilet ensuite

>> A grey water tank should be included at this price

VERDICT

With a packaged price of $104,850, the Trakmaster Pilbara Extreme with its standard lithium power system and air suspension is well-priced by current Australian off-road caravan standards, particularly as it comes ‘off-the-rack’ with everything that the intrepid traveller needs to survive for weeks at a time off the beaten track.

TRAKMASTER PILBARA EXTREME

Travel length: 6930mm

Interior body length: 5100mm

External body width: 2300mm

Travel height: 2950mm

Internal height: 2020mm

Tare weight: 2424kg

ATM: 3200kg

Ball weight: 240kg

Body: Fibreglass composite walls and fibreglass-clad ends and roof

Chassis: Hot dipped galvanised 150mmx50mm chassis and A-frame

Suspension: Height-adjustable air suspension with twin telescopic shock absorbers per wheel

Brakes: 12-inch Dexter electric

Wheels/tyres: 16 x 8in alloy/265/75R16 B.F.Goodrich A/T

Fresh water: 2 x 82L

Battery: 1 x 200Ah lithium

Solar: 2 x 135W roof-mounted panels

Air-conditioner: Truma Aventa roof-mounted reverse cycle

Gas: 2 x 8.5kg

Hot water: Suburban 23L gas/electric

Cooking: Swift four-burner gas cooktop with grill

Fridge: EvaKool 146L 12V compressor

Microwave: Dlluxe

Shower/toilet: Ceramic cassette type in combined moulded fibreglass shower/toilet module

Shower: Interior and exterior hot/cold shower

Lighting: LED throughout

Price $104,850

Options fitted: Fiamma door handle ($225), 12V Sirocco interior fan ($255).

Supplied by:

Trakmaster, Bayswater, Vic

Trakmaster Pilbara Extreme

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