Trakmaster unveils new compact off-roader

Responding to the rash of new compact ‘off-road’ caravans to hit the marketplace in recent years, Melbourne’s Trakmaster will introduce a new 16ft internal length Pilbara pop-top model in late January.

Sharing a similar impact resistant CFP (Compressed Fibreglass Panel) wall construction to its current Tanami caravan models, the Pilbara will have extreme off-road capability, with a steeply cut-away rear end, long-travel (150mm) Sugarglider tandem independent coil spring suspension and 40mm large bore Trakrider shock absorbers and 16-inch wheels as standard.

A key asset of the 16ft internal length van will be its tare weight of less than two tonnes, pitching it squarely against the entry models of its two major true off-road capable competitors, Queensland’s Kedron and Bushtracker and staving off the pretenders to their crown.

Like the Tanami, with which it shares some structural similarity, the Pilbara represents a new direction for Trakmaster, which since 1995 has been building tough off-road caravans and pop-tops primarily using traditional meranti wall frame and aluminium cladding. ??

With the Pilbara, Trakmaster claims a 20 per cent increase in wall thickness, better thermal insulation and greater impact resistance for its new structure.

Although a prototype shown recently at the Melbourne Leisurefest show had blacked-out windows as its interior was unfinished, a floorplan that caravancampingsales.com.au saw indicated production models would be equipped with a rear combined shower/toilet ensuite and a north-south queen-sized bed, with a front galley.

However, like all Trakmasters it will be custom built to order, with a range of floorplans expected to be offered.

Like other ‘Trakkies’, it will also have a high volume pressure hatch for dust sealing off the beaten track, where production models can expect to spend many of their days.

Pricing has not yet been finalised, but being a premium product, it can be expected to be in the $85,000 region.