Van Cruiser's new indestructible camper

First there was the compact Pod trailer, then multi-coloured Jellybean campers.

Now Victorian RV manufacturer Van Cruiser has gone down the rotomoulded plastic camper route with a new lightweight, budget-priced tent trailer.

While resembling a basic box trailer with conventional steel chassis and leaf suspension, the new Trekmaster camper features a moulded 6 x 4ft tub made from the same tough, polyethylene material as domestic water tanks.

"It’s crack resistant, UV resistant, it will even float," said Van Cruiser boss, Enzo Gnocato.

Gnocato said the plastic tub and tent can be easily removed when not camping, so the unit can also be used as a garden or work trailer.

"The way I’ve designed for the top to be mounted, it comes off, so you can stand it up on the side of your garage, and it's a conventional trailer," he said.

"It's as simple as eight bolts that go in the nylex, that are fitted into the polyurethane, and to refit it you just drop the bolts back in and tighten them up."

Two years in development, the plastic tub was designed in conjunction with a plastic water tank specialist, and it took "a lot of man hours" to perfect the square-edged design.

"We had a lot of trouble as (the rotomoulding process) actually shrinks five percent, so for it to become square when it cools down was the biggest challenge," Gnocato explained.

"We’ve kept this square, so it's all usable as far as the characteristics of stacking or putting stock in there."

The tub has also been ‘double spun’ with an inner and outer skin to ensures it's extra tough.

"If people are going to use it as a garden trailer and put in rocks and dirt, two skins was the obvious way to go to get the strength out of the polyurethane," he said.

While continuing to build caravans, Van Cruiser is eventually planning to replace its current steel trailer range with plastic versions.

"I'm going to get right out of the steel trailers in the next couple of years, and concentrate purely on the polyethelene trailers," Gnocato said.
 
"I think there are enough of us doing the same thing out there, so the point of difference with us will be basically the indestructible trailer."

The plastic tubs will be available in six colours, and there will be the option of duragal or hot dipped galvanized chassis for additional rust resistance.

Priced at $5390, the Titan 6x4 rotomoulded camper features an extended draw bar, on-road suspension, two wind down jacks, front toolbox, two jerry can holders, jockey wheel, light truck tyres, 12oz Ripstop canvas, foam mattress, sunroom and floor.

Van Cruiser also has plans to introduce a larger 5 x 7ft  version with an optional moulded plastic ‘tub’ kitchen built into the rear.

Visit the Van Cruiser website for further details.