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NEWS
Trakmaster unleashes new compact pop-top
Fresh-faced 13ft 6in off-road Explorer van comes fully equipped for less than $80,000Rather than follow the trend towards micro-hybrids, Bayswater, Victoria-based Trakmaster has taken a higher, but equally rugged road with its new 13ft 6in (body length) Explorer pop-top that has just gone on sale.
Joining the off-road specialist’s nine-model range, the Explorer with its distinctive red graphics sits on a hot dipped galvanised version of the rugged extreme rear cutaway 150mm x 50mm chassis employed under the top-selling Pilbara model.
However instead of ribbed aluminium cladding, it has the Pilbara’s one-piece composite fibreglass panel walls, plus timber-framed and Filon (fibreglass) clad roof and end panels.
Unlike other Trakmasters, the Explorer has no built-in front boot, instead fitted with a large aluminium (white painted) checker-plate storage box immediately behind its twin 4.5kg gas bottles on the van’s A-frame.
With large opening side doors and a top lid, it’s capable of housing a generator, a large portable fridge and the various cable, hoses and recovery gear that Explorer owners might want to carry for the remote areas that the pop-top is designed to access.
Also new on the Explorer is a rear slide-out stainless steel kitchen equipped with a Swift two-burner gas BBQ/hot plate, a prep area and a sink with a hot and cold water mixer tap which, like the pop-top’s internal taps, draws on the Explorer’s 23-litre Suburban hot water service and its twin 82-litre fresh water tanks.
With its 6ft 5in full queen-size transverse rear bed, the 13ft 6in x 7ft wide Explorer is slightly larger than the 13ft x 6ft 6in Gibson, weighs in at around 250kg heavier at a Tare of 1765kg, but has more carrying capacity, with its Prado-friendly ATM of 2350kg allowing a load of nearly 500kg.
Technically, Trakmaster has cut no corners and the new Explorer comes with a suite of high-end equipment.
The company’s self-levelling Trakair Air suspension has been specially configured for the single axle pop-top, with its twin Powerdown LTS shock absorbers per wheel re-orientated to offer superior rebound damping.
A Revolution Power 160AH lithium battery and twin 120W roof-mounted solar panels are also standard, with their charging managed by a Redarc BMS.
The Explorer also wears 265/75-16 BF Goodrich off-road tyres on eight inch diameter Speedy alloy wheels, has a pair of red MaxTrax recovery planks on its rear wall (to match its decals) and twin rear jerry-can holders.
Inside, the Explorer gets an almost identical layout to the outgoing Gibson, with its transverse rear bed above the pop-top’s steeply-raked rear end, a full central galley with a four-burner Swift cook top and grill, a 110 litre EvaKool compressor fridge/freezer with adjacent pantry and a front café dinette with a bifold table.
While the Explorer’s size doesn’t allow space for an interior ensuite, there’s external locker space for a portable toilet, plus an exterior shower.
Operations manager Richard Metcalfe said Trakmaster had been able to keep the price of the Explorer down to $79,300 by standardising on its chassis, architecture and its high standard specification, leaving customers free to choose their own décor in Ultraglaze Stylite gloss acrylic furniture and range of furnishing fabrics.
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Written byMichael Browning
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Please see our Editorial Guidelines & Code of Ethics (including for more information about sponsored content and paid events). The information published on this website is of a general nature only and doesn’t consider your particular circumstances or needs.
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